Trip One - Part One

A few days ago, I finally had a chance to write down everything from trip one. Here's part one:

Friday

I was supposed to leave my hometown airport at 11:31 am on Friday, July 10. The flight was delayed about 15 minutes though as there was a backup of planes waiting to land at Chicago O'Hare. We were schedule to arrive at 11:29 am Chicago time and still managed to arrive on time.

My layover at O’Hare was an hour and 42 minutes. At about 1:11 pm, I left O’Hare for Dulles (Washington DC). We arrived there at about 4:10 pm. The layover there was another hour and 45 minutes. At 5:55, I was off to Vienna! I slept most of the time. When I wasn't sleeping, I was watching movies. They offered us TWO meals, dinner and breakfast. The food was delicious, way better than I thought it would be! The flight was scheduled to be just under 10 hours but we actually arrived about an hour and a half early (about 7:00 am instead of our scheduled 8:40 landing).

Saturday

During my 13 hour, 40 minute layover, I got to explore Vienna. I went on a sightseeing tour and walked around the city for a bit before returning (too early) to the airport. They had a baggage storage area and for about $5 per bag, I got to keep my bags there so I didn’t have to bring them around Vienna with me. My flight wasn’t scheduled to leave until 10:20 Vienna time but I was nervous that I would get lost or something so I returned to the airport at about 5:00. If I had planned better, I probably would have done more sightseeing and stayed out another hour or so.

I got to see a lot of old places. If I could do it again, I would have gotten off the tour bus (it makes several stops along the route) and actually gone inside a few of the places.

My flight to Eastern Europe was supposed to leave at 10:20 but we actually left late. The flight was overbooked and they asked for volunteers to stay, offering $200 each. I would have had I known what was going to happen (more on that below). I arrived on Sunday, July 12 between 3:00 am and 3:35 am (our scheduled landing was 3:35 but I believe we arrived early again).

Sunday

When I arrived, they checked my passport and on my way out to baggage claim, I met my driver. After I met my driver, we went and got my bags and took the 10-15 minute drive to the apartment I was staying in.

After settling in to the apartment, I took a 4 hour nap before getting up and getting ready for the day. After I got up on Sunday and calling the translator (they give us prepaid cell phones), I found out that the government would be closed on Monday and I wouldn’t be able to meet Peaches until Tuesday. If I had known this while I was still in Vienna, I would have taken the next day’s flight and gained $200!

On Sunday, I went with the translator and another family, the L family, they were on their pick-up trip to get their daughter and had just gotten her the day before, to the open air market. This place is so cool! I bought a few souvenirs here. It’s typically only held on the weekends during the summer but during peak tourist season (like when I was there), some vendors are there every day or most days. After the market, the translator and I walked back to my apartment, first stopping at the market that was just two buildings away from my apartment to get my money converted and pick up a few groceries. I ended up going to the market a few times throughout the week for fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat. It was so nice to get stuff fresh. Food there is very inexpensive compared to here. I was able to make my own meals or eat out for less than it would cost per day here. I was also able to walk everywhere, which made it even more cheaper.

We went out to dinner and then walked around town a little bit. The holiday is called Vardavar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_Day). People were dousing others with water from buckets. Thankfully, none of us got wet. I think it’s because the family I was walking around with had their child with them and little kids are off limits. People were in the water fountains and throwing water from cars and off balconies, it was crazy! It was really cool to witness though, too.

Love Down Syndrome!

I am selling these shirts on Booster. The ribbon is the Down syndrome awareness ribbon and blue and yellow are the official colors of Down syndrome (like how pink is the official color of breast cancer).

Love Down Syndrome

T-Shirts - $18 - sizes Youth XS - Adult XXXXL
Long Sleeve Shirts - $22 - sizes Youth S - Adult XXXXXL
Sweatshirts - $30 - sizes Youth XS - Adult XXXXXL

Campaign ends on November 10!

Approvals!

I have received my final USCIS approval! Now, I am waiting for my NVC numbers so my DS-260 can be filed.

There is nothing I can do right now but wait. Wait for the government to process all of their paperwork and then wait to hear about a court date in EE!

Please don't forget to check out the sale on Facebook: Buy It Now Sale -- Feel free to make an offer on anything, I'd really love to get rid of this stuff!

A few small updates!

I am SO close to bringing Peaches home! I'm hoping that I will have a court date for mid- to late-November. When I am there, I will need to be in-country for approximately 24 days. This will be both a great time to bond with Peaches and a time for the both of us to explore her native city.

The Updates:

- Even though I have done many fundraisers, I am still a long way from being fully funded because none of them have been too successful. I have also sold many personal items and have had items donated so I could sell those, too. I am still approximately $6,500 away from being fully funded. So close, yet so far away.

- I am currently having a "Buy It Now" Sale on Facebook. You can check it out here. I added a few more things tonight and will be adding more items tomorrow evening.

- I had a $400 matching grant that was matched today!

- I am considering doing a last minute t-shirt fundraiser or something. I have a few ideas in my head right now but need to work on the details this weekend. Any other last minute fundraising ideas?

- I have applied for several grants but have been denied for all of them.

As I have said before, thank you for your support! ♥

The Great "Buy It Now" Sale is Here!

October 1 has arrived and so has my Buy It Now (BIN) Sale! I have posted over 60 items posted already and will be adding more over the next few days. BIN Sale! Please check back often. If there's something you're looking for, please don't hesitate to ask. I could very well have it!

If you bought something from my Pampered Chef party, or even just shared the link, thank you! It was a pretty successful party.

One last thing: I received my I-800 Package last Thursday, which means court could be in 6-8 weeks. Eek! So exciting and nerve wracking at the same time.

Pampered Chef Party + Update on BIN Sale

I am having a Pampered Chef party through September 30! All proceeds help bring Peaches home. Pampered Chef Link

Mark your calendars: Thursday, November 1, is when the BIN sale will start.

Apologies

I cannot believe that it's been more than a month since I've updated my blog. I am truly so sorry for that! I have been busy working. A lot. I've also been getting things ready for a BIN sale that is going to be starting very soon (before the end of the week). The sale will be on Facebook (Buy It Now Sale to Help Bring "Peaches" Home). There are already 75+ items to list and I'm finding more and more stuff to add!

I cannot believe that it has been 2 months since I left Peaches. Hopefully, that means I will be there in less than two months to bring her home! She is 10 months old now!!! On September 10, I received word from my agency that I received my final PM approval and the in-country representative is currently working on getting the paperwork together for my Article 16  package. This could take up to a month to complete. Once my agency has my Article 16 package, they will put together my I-800 package for me to review and once I approve, they will send it to USCIS for me.

We're in the final stretch now. So surreal! Thank you all for your support. It has meant to much to me throughout my journey. ♥

Feelings

Words hurt.

"I am praying that lil Peaches' never gets home to a selfish baby buyer like YOU!" - I will leave the author unnamed because his/her "name" in unimportant.

I don't care whether or not you agree with international adoption. I don't care whether or not you agree with fundraising adoptions. This is NOT something that needs to be said.

It's unfortunate that some people seem to think that a child is better off left in an orphanage, growing up without love, affection, and attention than to thrive in a family.

You know what though? I don't know you nor do I care to know you. Your opinion of me means absolutely nothing. Just know that my daughter is loved beyond measure, even now, before she gets home.

You try to bully and belittle many adoptive families and a lot of them just ignore you and your hateful words. Your words hurt people, though, and discourage a lot from posting their amazing, wonderful journey.

To all adoptive parents and potential adoptive parents: There are people out there who will try to hurt you through their words. This is not a reflection of anything you are doing wrong. If anything, it's a reflection of what you are doing right. Please do not let these bullies belittle you and discourage you. You are not alone. We are in this together. You are doing what's right. Never forget that.

A Beanie Baby Update!

UPDATE: July 29, 2015
ALL BEANIES HAVE BEEN SPONSORED!!!!! Thank you to all who have donated! Your donations are truly appreciated!!


I ended up bringing 22 Beanie Babies with me on trip one. I gave a few to a privately run orphanage (run by nuns, wonderful people) and gave the rest to two groups of older children at Peaches' orphanage. The Beanies were hits with all three groups! I even got to meet some children currently listed as available for international adoption. Which means I got to meet one of my favorite kids. Oh, how I wish I could have scooped him up and loved on him!

I have 5 Beanies that were not sponsored before my first trip but I would like to bring them with me next trip. For a $5 donation to my FSP, one of these Beanies can be "yours".

(top, left to right) Almond the Bear sponsored by Madeleine W., Spinner the Spider sponsored by Laurie M., and Claude the Crab sponsored by Jocelyn

(bottom, left to right) Rosalie the Bear sponsored by Laurie M., Bongo the Teenie Beanie Monkey sponsored by Laurie M.

Time Flies

I seriously cannot believe that it has been a week since I updated. It's also been 5 days since I left Eastern Europe.

I had two visits per day with Peaches. One in the morning and one in the afternoon. Each visit lasted about two hours. Peaches fell asleep in my arms three times. It was so precious! Every day, I got to see more and more of her personality. After the first visit, she really opened up and towards the end of the week, she would smile at me every time I went into her room to get her. She has a gorgeous smile. I cannot wait to share a picture of her face. You guys will melt.

On Friday, I had my morning visit with her like usual and in the afternoon, I only had half a visit because I had to go down to the Minister of Justice and officially register with Peaches. In 4-6 months, hopefully, Peaches will be an orphan no more! The team in-country is hoping that I will have court in November or early December so she can be home before Christmas. Wouldn't that be the best Christmas present ever?