Better Late Than Never?

We did use the webcam to video the referral call back on May 21. Excuse the VERY primitive editing. I had to remove our home address and other personal information. It could use some more work but I've got a packing list to obsess over. Enjoy.



UPDATED TO ADD: Just watched this again and I have to say that I have no idea what I was writing down since I only ended up with some pitiful scribble scrabble by the end of the call.

Referral Day

What a crazy few days it's been. Before the details of that crazy day are replaced with obsessing over travel dates, I wanted to capture some memories. Honestly if we had not videotaped the phone call, I would not even remember some of it.

We were very lucky on referral day, since Jon and I were both "working" from home that day and could receive the phone call together. I put working in quotes because although Jon was able to get in quite a bit of work, I think I managed to only get out a few emails before it got crazy.

I was in touch with my parents via phone and email and they were glued to the rumor sites as much as I was. I was also emailing and texting my sister and a couple of friends every few minutes.

The rumor was that referrals were coming and that the 14th would be in but here is what I did not include in my little updates in this post. Even after China announced that the cutoff date for referrals was March 14, our agency did not think we were in. They interpreted the announcement from China to mean that referrals would only include up to the 13th and that we would be next. Of course I am nothing if not stubborn so I was still thinking we were in.

I had just gone downstairs to force myself to eat something since I was started to feel really yucky. That's when the phone finally rang. I screamed at Jon to get ready and went running upstairs. Of course I had a list of questions to ask and had left space under each question for my notes. HA!!! It was all I could do to get name, province, date of birth. I was not calm, not even close. In fact, I could hardly breathe and therefore couldn't even speak for the first part of the call. Oh, and I was crying. I think the phone call lasted all of about 6 minutes. (Our agency calls with the news and the basic info first, then emails a picture and then has the full report translated.)


Once we received the phone call, we called immediate family and kept hitting refresh on the email looking for the picture. When the picture came in, I had a friend on one phone and my sister on the other. I sort of hung up on my friend, sorry Kristen!! When I saw the picture, I think I screamed "She's in a car.!!!" We emailed the picture to my parents and then skyped them in so we could see them open it.


After that it is a blur of visitors, phone calls, emails, etc. My friend Kristen stopped by to congratulate us and to see if we needed anything.

Since then we have been busy researching the city and orphanage where LuLu is currently living. We also went shopping on Saturday for a few things that we will need for our trip. Having this happen just before a three day weekend was great. We had time to soak it all in and maybe tomorrow I will even get in an honest days work!!

In Color

We Have A Daughter

Here she is!!!! If you click the picture, you should be able to see a larger version. These were emailed from the agency today. Should have the actuals in our hand tomorrow. Loving that car!!!

More details to come but here is what we know so far

Birthdate - July 20, 2008 so she is 10 months old
She lives in Jiangxi Province

Our agency is sending more information tomorrow.

We HOPE to travel in about 6 weeks.

I Need An Epidural...

Ok, if someone wants to call me with a referral, I am ready. I have pen, paper and a list of questions sitting by the phone. Heck, I've even had a shower.

9:18AM - A referral has arrived in Ireland.

9:50AM - The offfical CCAA box has changed to reflect that referrals will include up to March 14, 2006. WE ARE IN!!!! RING PHONE RING

11:49AM - Freaking out. Jon is playing classical music apparently trying to calm me down. Not working.

12:07PM - Just determined that I can check the RQ main blog, RQ discussion forums, yahoo March DTC group, email AND make sure the phone is working in exactly 33.2 seconds.

12:42PM - Someone in the US just got a call. Not sure of their LID.

1:21PM - Referrals are happening. Someone that shares our 3/14 LID has a referral. I'm about to vomit.

2:02PM - Comment moderation is now on. Some buzz kill individual TRIED to steal my joy with a nasty message. I knew it would happen sooner or later so I was ready. Sorry if anyone had to see it. Back to our regular programming.

3:10PM - We have a daughter. 10 months old. no picture yet. need to call family. more later.

STORK ALERT!!!!!

I really think this is it. SEVERAL agencies say referrals are on the way and the cutoff is March 14th. Hopefully we will see them soon!!! Due to a work committment, I could not be online most of the day. Jon and my parents did a fabulous job of watching out for info!!

I told my clients what was going on so they did not all think I had completely lost my mind. At one point during the day, I went to the restroom and forgot to bring my phone. It started ringing and one of my clients ran the phone into the restroom. It was only a work call but BLESS HER!!!

I saw my friend Leigh today and she gave me a lovely gift with a beautiful handmade card. She made the card two years ago - crazy. I was impressed that she still knew where it was.

I am hoping that by tomorrow morning there are reports of referrals arriving in Europe and we will get our calls tomorrow or Friday AT THE LATEST!!!!

Still haven't decided on a name.