GOING AWAY PARTY AND OTHER THOUGHTS

Yesterday my office had a GOOD BYE PARTY! I think it was more like thank god I am leaving party, they've all had just about enough of me! I work with a great team of people and have been so supportive during this journey. Of course the theme was Chinese and we had Chinese Food! Thanks Amy for putting it all together! Here are a couple of pictures of the big day!!!

Today I came into work and my boss gave me a beautiful journal, she said she wants me to be able to record our journey to bringing our son home, but I think it's really because she wants to be sure I remember all the details of how Bob and I spent 11 days/24 hours a day together and managed to both get home alive so I can share at the lunch table! LOL I really don't think Bob and I have every spent this much time together all at once, this should be very interesting!

I think we are finally packed! I did it over the weekend but I've packed and repacked Owens suit case at least three times. It's very hard to pack for a little guy that you haven't met yet. I have both 2T and 3T cloths and a couple of 24 months just in case. I know I can buy stuff there but I really wanted to be prepared and not have to go cloths shopping right away.

Well, I think that's about it! The next time I journal I am sure we will have Owen and I will be a mommy...........That is so strange to say, MOMMY!

Thanks for all the kinds words, emails, phone calls, all are very much appreciated and please continue sending good thoughts while we are away!

Love,

Tracy

THIS TIME NEXT WEEK....

It's now 10:50 p.m. in China! We will just be finishing our first full day as new parents! I can't wait to see that little face in person for the first time. I wonder if his nanny is telling him that he is about to begin a new journey, that he is going to have a mommy and daddy in one short week. Does he even know what that means??

We are all packed, it took three suit cases to make sure we have everything. But I am sure we will be on the plane and realize we forgot something, everyone keeps telling me not to worry whatever we forgot can be found in China! I hope they are right.

Tonight my parents are coming over to take Bob and me out to dinner. You would think we would go for Chinese food right?? Nope, we are going to a jewish restaurant because my dad wants a corned beef sandwich and potato pancakes! I am sure Bob and I will be getting plenty of chinese food in the next couple of weeks!

I can't believe I only have three more days of work, my boss can't believe it either! LOL She's starting to get nervous! I've only been preparing her for this for 2 years!

Well, I am sure I will post before we leave and I am hoping to be able to post once in China. We aren't taking the laptop but the hotels we are staying at all have business centers so I am sure at some point I will be able to get online.

IN JUST TWO SHORT WEEKS....

Bob and I will officially be parents! I am trying to imagine what that day is going to be like??? How will we all handle the transition?? What will be going through our sons mind as he is handed over to us and away from the only caregivers he has none for the last 24 months?

I am sure I will be feeling a multitude of emotions, happy, overwhelmed, scared just to name a few. I have been dreaming about this moment for so long that I can't believe the wait is almost over! Everyone keeps asking me if I am excited? Well, of course I am excited but right now it is being over shadowed by fear and not to mention all the things I have to do before we leave.

Bob and I had a GREAT date night Saturday. We spent the entire day together just doing fun stuff. It was good for us, we really needed a day like that and the weather was just beautiful. I love this time of year!

OUR BIG TRAVEL MEETING

Today was our travel meeting at the agency. I was sooo nervous, I guess I didn't know what to expect and it was the first time we were meeting our travel group. Thankfully, it went very well and everyone is very nice. Owen will be the only boy!!!

The paper work was overwhelming that we need to bring with us to China, just when you think you are done with paper work they give you more! LOL

Our GOTCHA DAY is Monday, October 29th and the adoption will become official on Tuesday, October 30th! I can not tell you how excited I am to see my son's face in person for the first time.

This weekend is the last weekend that Bob and I will have to spend together before going to China. Next weekend is his weekend to work so I hardly see him. Tomorrow is our last official date night as a married couple without children. Honestly, I am happy to see that chapter of our lives close and extremely excited to start the next as a family.

Have a great weekend!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR SON!

Well, today is Owen Qiao 2nd Birthday! I can't believe we are not with him. I had definitely thought we would be celebrating his birthday at Chucky Cheese, but instead he is half a world away, Bob had to work and I stayed home and felt sorry for myself. I did meet Bob at work and we sang happy birthday and enjoyed cupcakes in honor of Owen.

Here is a picture of Bob with the cupcakes.

Today I gave a lot of thought about his birth mom and how she must have felt the moment she realized she couldn't take care of her son and needed to say goodbye? I wonder what thoughts are going through her mind today as she remembers that she gave birthday to a son? I wish I could tell her that she doesn't have to worry, she doesn't have to feel sad about her choice. I would want to say thank you to her, thank you for giving me the opporunity to be a mommy, thank you for giving me the opporutnity to make everyday of his life special, thank you for giving me our son.

I know there will be a time when Owen will want to know all about the woman that gave him life, and why she didn't want him. I know that I will tell him that that it was never a matter of her not wanting him, she just knew that there was somebody out there that needed him more, and that somebody is ME.

Here is a blurb to a poem that I really like "I didn't give you the gift of life, but life gave me the gift of you" that is truly how I feel.

So, Happy Birthday to our boy!

WE LOVE YOU AND WE ARE COMING TO BRING YOU HOME!

WHERE DID THE WEEK GO??????

It feels like it was just yesterday when we got our travel dates, has it really been a week?? I am not sure where the time has gone. I haven't really done a whole lot in preparation for the big trip! I did pack Owen's suit case and probably this weekend will start on ours and we booked our airline tickets.

Bob and I spent two nights in the city this week. My boss/friend went away for a couple of days and has a 8 month old bishon frise puppy. She asked me if I wanted to puppy sit and stay at her apartment. Although I am not a big fan for staying in the city, it worked out since Bob worked a double on Wednesday and instead of having to drive home to only have to go back to work in 4 hours he was able to walk from the hospital to Carolee's apartment and get a good nights sleep. I think he liked being able to get up at 6:00 a.m. and walk to the hospital. We made it more like a mini getaway and had a nice two nights. The weather is beautiful in New York definitely more like summer then fall, but must admit I would like to start feeling more like fall.

Owen should receive his birthday package tomorrow!!! This is the third box we've sent to him, the first two I didn't wrap in paper, but this time I thought since it was his birthday I would wrap them in birthday paper!! BAD IDEA! Apparently customs didn't like that and decided to hold the package and unwrap them....more like tear them. And with the holiday in China our package was delayed by almost a week. THANKFULLY, it has arrived at redthreadchina and Ann is sending it priority mail within China. I am keeping fingers, toes and eyes crossed that he gets in tomorrow since Sunday is his birthday.

He received his first birthday card from my parents!!!! My mom and dad are so excited about Owen, actually my entire family is excited about Owen. They have all decided that they will be at the airport when we come home. Aunts, Uncles, cousins, Nana, Papa, Aunt Rhonda and of course his cousin Matthew. I can't imagine what will be going through our sons mind when he sees all these crazy people waiting for him, because we know they didn't come to see us! LOL

This is Bob's weekend to work, I have plenty to do to keep me busy. Tomorrow I am having lunch with my girlfriend, I have know her since I am 12 years old. She is getting married and I missed her bridal shower. So tomorrow we will have a girls day and talk about her wedding plans and my baby plans. Bob and I will miss the wedding, it's our first day in China!!! Funny how I know Suz since grammer school, we've been through many things together and on the day that she begins her new journey as a wife I begin my new journey as a mother!!

Well, I guess that's it for now! Hope everyone has a safe and happy weekend!