It's Official...We're Overdue

I feel like a pregnant woman a week past her due date.

While I didn't experience that with Ian, I CLEARLY remember my mom being 2 weeks overdue with my little sister (I was 10). She wouldn't leave the house...every time she did, people would say, "you haven't that baby yet?". Of course, my response would be: "No, I have, I'm just this fat! Obviously, I haven't! Thanks for pointing that out, I might not have known otherwise." (of course, I didn't get the snide remark skills from her, she would NEVER have thought--let alone say--such a thing!) Anyways, she got very sick of it. So we rode our bikes to the store for the small incidentals so people wouldn't ask the question. (I grew up in a small town, everyone was in everyone's business.)

No...the baby's not here yet. We're officially past our due date. In fact, as of last night, they hadn't even been mailed to our agency yet!? News is it will likely be the beginning of next week before they arrive. How in the world am I supposed to wait ANOTHER weekend? HOW? Do tell...

Maybe I should stay in the house...and not answer the phone.

Update: The agency called DHL...they were sent yesterday (or was that today, only yesterday our time? anyways....)they will arrive Monday!! I don't know what time...but MONDAY! For sure!

It's close!

Apparently referrals are arriving in Europe!!! WOOHOO!!! So, it's likely they will begin arriving in the US later today! Typically (for some reason), they arrive on the West Coast before they arrive on the East Coast. And as luck would have it, our China agency is in NY. Although I'm still holding out hope we'll receive it today, tomorrow is more likely.

I'll take Thursday...that's only 24 hours away!!!!

We are finally down to HOURS!

We're almost there!!!

So...I wake up this morning...after a weekend of realizing Monday is not going to be "the" day either since we've heard NOTHING...to see that a couple of large agencies are telling their families that matching have begun. What's matching? It's where they match babies with families. What's this mean? Well, typically it means that referrals will begin arriving within the next couple of days! For some reason, by the time we hear about matching, they are likely done or almost done matching and the referrals are getting ready to be mailed...oh my gosh we've almost reached the summit!!!

I've been waiting for this news...and now it's here!!! WOOHOO!!! Only a couple days of waiting left! What's your best guess? Tuesday? Wednesday? or Thursday? I'm guessing Wednesday...I'm hoping Wednesday...I'm praying Tuesday! (But, I'll take Wednesday!)

Well, It's Not Today!

Referrals are not going to arrive on Friday, the 25th. Darn it. In fact, there has pretty much been not a stitch of rumor news. Since China is 12 hrs ahead of us...it's already the weekend. So, lookin' like Sunday night/Monday morning before we'll hear anything. Bummer. It's going to be a busy weekend anyways...and...

Hopefully, our LAST weekend without our referral!

What a week!

And it's only Wednesday!!!! So, let's see...


1. WE BOUGHT A NEW CAR! Our Explorer has been giving us problems for a few months and we pretty much knew it's days were numbered. So, we've spent the past couple of weeks researching and went looking (aka shopping for us, we never just look!) on Monday. We test drove this one...and realized it was THE car (even though we had planned on buying a used one)! The new model has quite a few more safety features the previous models do not--it was a huge factor in our decision, and the price was not really all that much different. So, there you have it. We are the new owners of a 2008 Ford Escape. The color is interesting, officially called "Light Sage", but looks a little gray or cream with a hint of green. Interior is a light tan (they call it camel). Can I just say: LOVE IT!

2. The Spring semester started yesterday...figured out yesterday there were things that were screwed up in the class, so I frantically worked on fixing them before the students figured it out! Man, I swear I can do all the planning in the world...and it STILL does not go right! And I really need to figure out a routine for checking 2 classes...tracking it all, etc. I'm trying not to get stressed, yet anyways!

3. We are just days away from referral...I'm hoping they will be mailed on Friday so we'll get them the beginning of next week. I'm thinking though, with not one rumor, they'll likely not be mailed this week. As long as we get it next week, I'll be happy! (Of course, if I had a choice, I'd prefer it be toward the beginning of the week! haha)

So there you have it...a crazy, exciting week! And next week...well, it will top them all!

One week left...

(Well, and maybe a few days)...but it's so exciting!!!! It just doesn't seem possible! The day is finally arriving!!!! It brings back memories when I was pregnant with Ian and they told me I was having him that weekend (over a month early). I remember thinking, "you have GOT to be kidding me! The day has arrived"...and I didn't really even get to think about it..until I was in labor for 36 hours...had lots of thinking time then! haha.

So...we are in the final days of this pregnancy with a gestation period longer than an elephant....25 months not counting the time of gathering the documents, etc. which would bring it up to 32 months. geesh.

No rumors...which why would THIS month be any different than the previous few!? I'm just hoping they are mailed THIS week...so we'll have our referral the beginning of next week...please let it be so!

It is Finished...Kinda

I am finished with the doctorate from the standpoint of the coursework. I passed my oral exams on Thursday morning (although technically I think it was around noon). At any rate, that part is finished. Now, I have the part most people falter at--the dissertation. See at this point you don't have regularly scheduled classes or a syllabus schedule created by someone else to follow. It's simply you. All up to your dedication, focus and discipline. My discipline says a year...we'll see if I can get it done in that time frame. I sure hope so! I want to be able to strictly focus on Megan as soon as possible! Yes, I will do that for a few months, but beginning this summer, research and writing is going to have to move up on the to-do list so I can ultimately get it off the list!

So there you have it...I'm officially a "Doctoral Candidate"...whatever that means!

And then there were 2...

Two weeks to go...I am truly in shock.

It seems unbelievable. I sure wish I knew WHEN exactly we'll get the THE call. And I sure wish Keith & I could be together when we did get the call...but doesn't look like that will happen, unfortunately. Oh yes, I could (aka maybe should) wait to open the email with her photo until he comes home. But seeing as how I cannot wait to give him his birthday presents once I buy them....I'm thinking I couldn't wait to open the email until he gets home. Unless, of course, he is on his way home...but even then, I honestly don't think I could wait!

Will it be Friday the 25th??? Monday the 28th???? (Or Tuesday or Wednesday?) Or not until Thursday the 31st???

Matter how to you look at it...very soon!!!

TWO WEEKS!

1 down, 3 to go

At least that's my best guess...three weeks left before we get referral! AAAAHHHHHH!!!!! I will admit that the excitement has not yet returned to the level it was last month (when we thought we'd be getting it at the beginning of Jan), but I'm sure it will return soon. Heck right now most of my friends and family are almost more excited than I feel right now. Don't get me wrong, I am excited, but I'm not like I was last month. Last month, I couldn't stop smiling every time I thought about it. This month...not yet. I'm sure next week or maybe the week after that the smile will return and not leave!

Since I spent so much time the week of Christmas working on finalizing my packing list and purchasing items, I'm turning my focus to house and school things. My classes are all ready for the semester to begin, so I can focus on the dissertation and creating the plan. (No, I haven't gotten that done yet! Unfortunately. And the motivation to do so seems to have dissipated, I'm sad to report.) I have to do this now. I just have to. I'll never get this done by my goal date if I don't get moving on it! I'm meeting with my major professor next week--after my oral exams. So I need to be ready to truly discuss it with her. At this point, I'm not really ready. But I have a week, so I'll be ready by then. Short goal deadlines...that's the only way it's going to get done!

To make it even more complicated right now...my only living grandparent--my grandma--turns 90 in March. My dad & uncle want to have an open house for her and they have opted for late April so that I can be there too. (I am so thankful! I wanted to be there but thought I'd have to miss it because we'd be in China!) Apparently, Grandma is really excited about Megan; she loves babies! So, somehow it's all going to work out. I had planned on taking Megan back to SD at the end of April, but it might end up being a little earlier in April than I had planned. Now, let's pray we return from China by the end of March so I've got a few more weeks to recover before leaving again! And how am I going to grade online postings and papers for up to 44 students this semester as well? (And that's 4 papers per student, too!) I have no idea whatsoever. Can we say stress????? Yep. I'm a glutton for punishment.

Stylin' and Profilin'

A few weeks ago I was at Hobby Lobby and saw this pre-made flannel material. It was a bit spendy (for my likings anyways), but absolutely adorable. They had a couple of similar ones that were really cute, too. I talked to my MIL, who sews literally hundreds of blankets a month, to see if she'd be willing to simply sew a piece of flannel on the back and tie it. She agreed and did it in a matter of hours. It turned out SO CUTE! I absolutely love it! It's not too thick because it doesn't have any batting in it, but not too light since it's double thickness.

Megan will be stylin' and profilin' with this cute blanket with her! Now the question is...should we take it to China or not? Hhhmmm...

February or Bust

Well, our agency just called...they are not hopeful that we are in this month. The cutoff is still not official, but it seem it is 12/19. Man does that stink.

So...onward and upward...looking forward to the next batch. They will do at least one day (us) next month. Last year the February batch came on the 1st...so looks like it will be the last week of Jan or first few days of Feb. Then travel sometime in March.