Friday, October 31, 2008

My Trip

Well apparently I'm not the world's best blogger this trip. Guess I should catch everyone up.
Well I left home on Tuesday morning. I had an ok flight Charlotte to Chicago. I got really sick though. I don't do little planes. I didn't take Dramamine before I left though. Not my smartest moment. I got to Chicago in one piece with all my stomach contents still on the inside. I had a 5 hour layover. I just kind of wandered around. It didn't seem that long. After my flight finally showed up on the departure board, I went to my gate. I wandered around some more, then settled in to get ready to board in an hour or so. I wasn't really looking forward to the long flight. I took my vitamins and my Dramamine and some melatonin. I got on the plane and was quickly falling asleep. I learned I was sitting next to 2 nurses from the US going to India for 2 weeks to work in a hospital in Chennai. I was jealous. Going through immigration, I met a woman adopting from Nepal. They are staying 3 weeks. I had a food flight, didn't get sick or anything.
Once in India, I glued myself to the nurses I was sitting next to. When it was time to look for my driver, I just acted like I belong here and had done this a million times. I couldn't find the hotel driver so I went to the Avis stand and got a prepaid taxi. The driver was super sweet. He was telling me about his family. He made sure I knew the number for the police (which I promptly forgot). He got me safely to the hotel. I quickly got checked in and found which room Kristi and Jason were in. Once in my room, I called Kristi and they came to me. I was so happy to finally meet Kristi. Its so scary how it feels to meet someone that you have talked to for so long. Kristi and I have been friends for like 3 years. We finally got to meet in person. She is an absolute hoot.
My hotel is gorgeous. My bed is so comfy. I love the shower. It has a square bathtub and then a shower stall. The only thing is the mirrors. There is a mirror at the end of the bathtub, another mirror over the toilet, and then a wall of mirrors next to the bed. The mirror next to the bed freaks me out. I surprise myself every once in a while.
Thursday we went to the Embassy after breakfast. Again I say, Kristi and Jason are a hoot. We laughed all day. Kristi said they got attacked by "flying malaria" on Wednesday. She kept getting paranoid that they weren't sending us to the right places at the Embassy because the process is different. Jason and I kept telling her it was ok, to just calm down. 2 hours and we were completely done. I didn't have any problems because of Prasun's passport. The man was just like "ok".
We spent all day yesterday wandering around Delhi. I got some shopping done. I got some clothes for Prasun. Got them at a good price too. I found a couple of gifts. It was a good day. We ate a good restaurant called O! Calcutta!. Me, Jason, and Kuldeep had the buffet. It was so good. Me and Jason killed the tandoori chicken. It was so good. We found a Barista and got some Iced Mochas. We went to dinner with Kuldeep and his family on Thursday night. He picked an awesome restraunt. The name is over on Kristi's blog.
I spent all day Friday sleeping. I mean ALL DAY. I got up for breakfast then laid down for a nap. I decided to get up about 10pm. Really. I loved it. I didn't even eat again all day. I just slept.
I'm sorry my posting has been so sparse. My internet service was horrible. I'll try to do better now.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

I'm Here and Online













I've been gone and apparently freaked a few people out.
It took me a while get my internet to work.
We went to the Embassy this morning. Then motored around Delhi all day. I'm loving my visit with Kristi and Jason. See Kristi's blog for the Jason and the monkey story. It was hilarious. Well I'll leave you with some pictures. I've got a kicking headache tonight. I'll write again tomorrow
when I'm relaxing. I'm so sorry the formatting is so bad. I'll work on it later.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Waiting

I'm sitting at the airport. Boarding my flight in an hour. Tomorrow I'll be in Delhi. I'm very excited about my trip. Just alittle nervous sitting alone in the airport. Oh well. Before long I'll be meeting Kristi at the hotel. I'm just hoping I didn't forget anything at home.
I'll probably write from Chicago seeing as I have a 7 hour layover.
Namaste.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Tomorrow I Leave

I can't believe it. In the morning, I'm getting up and going to the airport. I can't even believe it. It has been such a long process for us. We literally started waiting in January and I'm finally leaving. I just checked out this blog of a family who picked up their son a few hours ago. It was different. I could finally feel it coming. My time is near. I'm getting our son and bringing him home. It is such an incredible feeling. One I obviously am not articulating very well.
7 days. 7 days and I'm a mom to 3. Physically taking care of 3 everyday. Wow. I'm just excited.
They still have not issued Prasun's passport. I can only hope I get the email before I leave in the morning. If not then I'll deal with it in India. Our director gave me several scenarios about getting it at different times. Dillon is very hands on and always provides tons of information.
Well I'm going to finish my last few things. Trying not to leave Patrick with a ton of laundry while I'm gone. My next post should be from India.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Pictures



Crazy

I've been in a panic the last couple days. So much stuff to do and not enough days. I'm trying to cram in some extra time with the kids. I know that sounds crazy since I'm with them constantly. I'm going to miss my babies.
I've got several books to keep me busy until I get Prasun. I went to a rather small library but got some good ones. I'll add them to the side bar at some point. Maybe from India.
Heres a rundown of what I'm planning:
Leave Charlotte Tuesday at about noon.
6 hour layover in Chicago then fly to Delhi (nonstop)
Land at about 9pm.
I'll be staying at the Hyatt. I picked it because I'll be in Delhi by myself for a couple days. I planned it that way and am looking forward to the time. I may look into getting a private yoga lesson. That will be the highlight of my trip.
Sunday morning I leave for Kolkata (unfortunately my plane leaves at 7am).
I get to Kolkata and am staying at the Peerless. Kristi and Jason will be there later that night.
Monday is supposed to be the big day. I get to hold my baby.
We have to do some Embassy paperwork. Hopefully alittle sightseeing.
On Wednesday I leave to come home at like 530pm. I'll be in Delhi for about 5 hours. We leave to come home at 1255am. YIKES!!!!!!
I'll be in Chicago at 5am. (let me know your phone number and I'll let you know I landed safely) HEHE!!!
I have a 2 hour layover in Chicago. Then I get home at about 9:30am. YEAH!!!
Well I have a soccer game to go to. Then home to do more paperwork.

Monday, October 20, 2008

I'M GOING TO INDIA!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so excited. I booked my tickets on Sunday morning and am leaving on Tuesday the 28th. I'll have an Embassy day on Thursday. Then I get 2 uninterrupted days of alone time to relax. Sunday morning (655 am) I fly out of Delhi to Kolkata. On the 3rd I finally get to hold my boy again. He'll be mine forever.
I'm so excited and have a busy week ahead of trying to get everything together to leave.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Check This Out

Anthony just put a slide show on his blog. Go over and check it out.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

I just have to say...

you ladies ROCK!!!!
Thank you for your kind words. I'm so happy that I can share this experience with you guys. Thanks.
Amanda

I Fell Off Cloud Nine

and boy did it hurt.
Last week when we got the legals, I went into a euphoria. I was just ecstatic. I was ready to go. I was jumping on paperwork. Planning my departure. Counting days. Then reality kicked my butt. Several times over. And it stunk.
The officer at the passport office that issues orphan passports went on vacation after a week long holiday closing. Now we are waiting for Saturday or Monday to find out how fast he can work. I was doing moderately well, and then...
This sweet man comes back to work for a day unexpectedly. He issues a passport. Its not Prasun's. I'm heartbroken. Monday night and all day Tuesday were not good hours. I'm recovering. It was one of the moments in life where I was totally selfish. I didn't care that another baby was coming home. It wasn't my baby and so therefore, I didn't want to be happy. I just wanted to crawl in a hole and cry. Then life kicks me in the pants and I have to keep moving. I don't have to be happy, I just have to keep moving. We have preschool, therapy, and I have to work.
I'm recovering alittle bit of my optimism back. Today I'm not so down. I just needed the chance to scream and yell about how unfair both of our adoptions have been. I have a hard time remembering that it is all for a reason. It all works out in the end. I want to congratulate all the families that are in India or on their way soon.
Our time is fast approaching. It will all work out for he best in the end. Today I have to remember that.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Paperwork!!!

I'm drowning in paperwork!!!
I got the legal documents for Prasun's guardianship on Wednesday. I got word today that our state has given verbal approval on our ICPC paperwork for Prasun.
We are just waiting on Prasun's passport to be issued. We won't know until the 18th what is going on with that. Our expected travel date is probably pushed back by a week unfortunately.
I'm ready to go to India right now.
I'll keep you updated.

Such a Big Boy!!

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My Sissy

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Big Brother

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