The road to Max: 10 days to go!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

10 days to go!

Our agency called yesterday morning with our travel dates!
October 18th - 25th

Actually, we were able to decide on travel dates - we could leave on either the week of the 18th or the 25th. We chose the earlier trip, not just because we're so anxious to meet our little man, but we can't miss Fin's trick-or-treating either. She's going as a pink flamingo this year - her FAVORITE bird (as she likes to say). I'm already worried about the possibility that we'll miss Christmas with her this year because we may be in Vlad for trip two - I can't miss Halloween.

I ended up spending the entire day yesterday searching frantically for the best flights and expedited visas. My stress levels have almost returned to a normal level and I think we'll be okay. Now all I have to do is get two weeks ahead on my classes and pack for the trip of a lifetime. I don't think it's sinking in yet. Although, I imagine it will by the time we land in Vlad.

Our itinerary has us leaving LA early on the morning of October 18th for DFW, then we'll fly 14 hours nonstop to Seoul with an 18hour layover at Incheon Airport...it's okay, we've booked a room. The next morning, the 20th, we'll have a 2 hour flight to Vladivostok. We should be holding our little man by the 21st if not the 20th.

This is going to be a very busy ten days! Next thing I know I'll be flying the friendly skies on my way to meet our son!

HERE WE COME MAX!!

1 comment:

Amy said...: Hi Sara!!

You should have spoken up sooner. You're so right, our timelines are scarily similiar!

Where are do you live -- what is your flight schedule? Email me @ danivann@aol.com if you get a chance! :) Nice to "meet" you!!; October 11, 2008 at 7:16 PM

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Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

- Robert Frost

Timeline

11/15/09 - HOME FOREVER!!
11/14/09 - Goodbye Russia
11/06/09 - 10 day wait is up - it's official!!
10/27/09 - GOTCHA DAY!!
10/26/09 - COURT!!
10/25/09 - FINALLY SAW MAX AGAIN (exactly one year later)
10/24/05 - Arrived in Vlad
10/22/09 - left for trip #2
10/01/09 - Received Court Date!!
09/29/09 - Case Submitted
09/16/09 - Received Release!
12/11/08 - Complete 2nd Dossier is in Russia
11/26/08 - INS I71-H approval arrives in mail
11/21/08 - Sent new 2nd Dossier
11/18/08 - Received Dossier
11/17/08 - Dossier needs to be redone
11/10/08 - 2nd Dossier Sent to Russia (sans I71-H form)
11/03/08 - Medical Evaluations
11/01/08 - Psych Evaluations :)
10/25/08 - Home again to tell Fin all about her little brother.
10/24/08 - Said "paka" to Max. We'll be right back. Left for Seoul.
10/23/08 - Spent the morning with Max.
10/22/08 - Max's first car ride.
10/21/08 - We met our son, Max.
10/20/08 - Arrive in Vladivostok and head straight for MOE to offically accept referral on Mom and Dad's 35th anniversary. (Stateside we were meeting Max on Oct 20th too!)
10/19/08 - Where did Sunday go?
10/18/08 - Leave for Vladivostok!
10/10/08 - Visas arrive.
10/07/08 - We have our travel dates!! Tickets and Visas ordered.
09/17/08 - We accepted our referral!! We're coming for you Max!!
09/16/08 - We received our referral!!
08/04/08 - Dossier has been translated and filed at the MOE (Ministry of Education) in Vladivostok - we are officially waiting for "THE CALL" (we've been told to expect one in early October!!)
07/25/08 - Called FBI - fingerprints were received and are being processed - should have copies within the week
07/23/08 - Back to USCIS in New Orleans for Biometrics (FBI fingerprints)
07/16/08 - MORE fingerprints at local station for John Walsh Child Protection Act
07/11/08 - Our Case Mgr. called - Dossier on it's way to the Primorsky Region of Russia (Vladivostok)!! - We may be looking at a first trip as early as September!!
07/08/08 - Went to USCIS in New Orleans to deliver I-600A form to Immigration
06/20/08 - Ordered Finley's passport & Sent pile of preliminary paperwork to agency to be apostilled
06/17/08 - paperwork completed and notarized (See, I can be very efficient when I want to be!)
06/16/08 - recieved first stack of paperwork to complete and have notarized and appostilled for Dossier
06/08/08 - Passports arrive! Fin names baby Max after Max & Ruby (she says if she has a sister we can name her Ruby)
06/07/08 - Sent our Russian Program application and contract from the Orlando Airport (on our way home from cruise) and bought baby his first doll - Mickey Mouse to commemorate the occasion
05/14/08 - Ordered passports & Contacted our social worker to inform her our homestudy needs to be updated for Int'l process
05/13/08 - Called agency with verbal agreement to switch to International process
05/11/08 (mother's day) - Steven and I decide to pursue a Russian adoption
03/13/08 - Homestudy update complete - FINALLY!
01/20/08 - References sent for homestudy
12/07/07 - Max's Birthday
11/13/07 - Dr visits for homestudy
10/08/07 - Our homestudy update begins
09/29/07 - We sent our application & contract for domestic adoption process
08/01/07 - We began our second adoption