We leave in 3 days and I will be the one holding her just 6 days after that!  It's so hard to believe it's almost time.  I can't wait to see this silly grin, and hug her little body.  I can't wait for all our firsts together.  Like her first time she sees her sister, her house, her room, her dogs, our park, our friends....and more importantly the first time she sees us as HER family, the first time she trusts us, and loves us and knows this is forever.

This picture was taken for me two weeks ago by a family whose daughter came home from  Josephine's orphanage.

 The family was not able to get close to Josephine because she is afraid of strangers...which tells me our first few days together will likely be difficult for her.  In China, you meet in a room, and they hand the child off in a matter of moments.  I pray she can sense our love for her and her fears and grief will not last too long.  This day is often called "family day" because it is when the child joins her own family.  And for us, it is March 19th.   However, at the tender age of 1 1/2 she does not know that her caregivers are not her forever family....and it will hurt her as much as it would hurt any child taken from their family.  This is the hard part of adoption.  Also, she is not used to seeing people with blue eyes and lighter hair....I imagine we will be quite scary to her at first.  Here's hoping our Madalyn can offer some consolation as she gets to know her mom, grandma, aunt, and big sister.

The family that took this picture for me came home last week with their beautiful and oh-so-sweet daughter.   Please pray for their new daughter as their team of doctors plans for open heart surgery to heal her heart and free her from oxygen deprivation and fatigue she has faced all of her short life.  Their daughter is the same age as Josephine.

J O S E P H I N E

Madalyn made the J and the I.  Grandma made the O.  Aunt Nikki made the S.  Maddie Claire made the E.  Vivian made the E.  Vivian's mom made the N.  Maddie Claire's mom made the H.  And it spells
 J O S E P H I N E!

I went to pick it up at the Mosaic place and I didn't have the heart to take it from their wall.  Besides, now everyone that goes to the store will see that we are WAITING for Josephine:)  I will pick it up before we leave...and hang it in her bedroom.  Our 10 month project to endure the wait it complete!!!!

Thank you, Dr. Parker!

This is Dr. Parker, Madalyn's neurologist.  Six years ago, Dr. Denney made the wise choice to refer us to her after noting "spasticity".  She was the person to tell me about Madalyn's stroke, risk of seizures, etc., as well as to tell me how great our precious Madalyn was doing at just 9 months of age!  Dr. Parker is also the special person that reviewed Josephine's file and gave me the confidence that with our doctors, therapists, family, and friends....we are more than ready to take care of our Jospehine!   Madalyn had a follow-up visit with Dr. Parker last week since she started medicine for seizures and all is well.... and the next time we see Dr. Parker, we will be bringing BOTH girls! :)

Update picture

Josephine's room

Every day It's a getting closer, going faster than a roller coaster

Almost time to go to China!!!  Beijing to Hanghjou to Guangzhou!!!

Finished her letters!

So great to have sweet friends to help us finish Josephine's letters!   I am so thankful that Josephine now has the whole St. Anthony family ready to love and embrace her....now, it's just time to go get her and bring her home!!!

LOA is here

Letter of Acceptance is the official document that China has APPROVED us for Josephine.  We had Preapproval, so we weren't too worried, but nevertheless, it's a giant step ahead.  With this document in our hands, our agency can better estimate travel dates.....and they estimate March!  So, yesterday I spent several hours completing the I-800 (Provisional Approval with the USCIS), I-864, and gathering supporting documents to show compliance with Hague, such as my 10 hours of training certficiates, copies of all child material, and signed copy of LOA.

 Then, I dropped it off at Federal Express, once again close to tears knowing the unbelievable impact these documents have on our family and a precious child across the wold waiting  to be united forever!!!  The federal express worker, looked at me as I held the documents out to her  and said "she'd take good care of them".

Waiting for Josephine

Parenthood is amazing, and the way you bond with your children is nothing short of a miracle.  If you've never bonded to a picture of a child thousands of miles away, and immediately felt like you would walk through fire to get to her, I'm here to tell you it happens. Day by day, and week by week, and suddenly when you think of her your heart leaps....and you know you've become her mom.  Even though you've only met her picture.

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It's amazing how once you fall in love with that picture, your fears melt away.  I know she will be okay, and that we will be more than okay, we will be thrilled and blessed beyond belief to have the privilege of having not one perfect child in our family, but two!