Happy New Years!

Happy New Years! This was the first year in a very long time that we stayed in but it was nice and relaxing! We just didn't have it in us for a big night out. December kicked my butt and I need to save all my fun for a good friends upcoming wedding! We enjoyed a nice night with great friends and the kids stayed up very late and were not in bed until 10:30!!! We will be paying for that tomorrow! The CCAA has also kicked my butt again and only referred through December 19th this month. Agencies started receiving referrals today, so congrats to all those who will see their babies faces for this first time. We are still a long way off. 2008 will be our year but I have no idea when. Overall 2007 was a great year. We went to Disney, my niece was born, we moved into our new house, Shea started Kindergarten and Bryce started preschool, the Red Sox won the World Series, the Patriots won all 12 of their regular season games, and three families from the "99ers" brought their girls home! Hopefully 2008 will bring everyone health and happiness and of course we hope this is the year we bring Lily home!

Christmas Pictures

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas. We had a fantastic Christmas Eve. Started at 4:00 mass and then our Christmas Eve party at our house with family and friends. I cooked an 11 pound tenderloin and I was so happy it came out great. I was a bit nervous...nobody wants to ruin Christmas Eve dinner for 30 people!! The night was so much fun and Santa Clause even paid us a visit. By 10:00 the kids could barely get through our traditional reading of "Polar Express" before they were fast asleep. This morning it was clear the Devine family had been good all year because the living room was filled with presents. Shea couldn't believe Santa got everything from his list, including the electric Scooter, and Bryce is loving his Scooby Doo people! Pat was very generous and bought a new video camera for me from Lily. I am sure I will be figuring out how to download video very soon! Stay tuned...

Welcome Home!

Welcome home Lia!

The "99ers" are home! We went into the airport with Dave and Sandy and had quite a night! Nothing in the China adoption world happens easily or quickly so of course their flight was delayed 2 1/2 hours. A 9:30 landing turned into a midnight arrival. The four of us were kept busy watching the Celtics and having a few drinks until all the airport bars were closed down at 9:00. With 3 hours left of waiting we were on a mission and ended up taking a shuttle to the airport Hilton and they had a great lounge. We even made a new friend at the airport and we invited Sally along with us. Sally was at the airport picking up Sean, Laura and new baby Sophia! Well as the time came to leave for the terminal again I could bearly keep myself together, I was just so excited to see the new families. Then at 12:05 the first family came down the staircase and we met Sophia and then shortly after cam Nancy and Tom with Caroline and Dave and Marile with Lia. They all had the babies in their carriers and they looked like they had been with these girls forever. The girls are so precious and they just looked around and took everything in. It wasn't long before they were giving smiles and showing us all their new tricks. It was quite an emotional evening and one that I will never forget.

It's a First!

Both my boys sat on Santa's lap without tears!! Shea was more than happy to walk right up to Santa and give him his list but Bryce was a little more hesitant. Once Bryce saw Shea sit on Santa's lap he figured the man with the white beard couldn't be so bad! Of course they both told Santa that they wanted a toy that I have not bought yet. Off to the store I went; we can not have tears on Christmas morning! I think I am recovered from the blow of the small referral batch last month, I can at least talk about it without tears. I am still praying for a May referral and in a few weeks when the next batch comes out we will have a better idea. Onto better news... Our "99"er friends will be home in Boston with their daughters this Wednesday night. I will be at the airport to welcome them home. It sounds like their trip to China has gone smoothly and both the babies and the parents have adjusted nicely. They have private blogs so I can't post the pictures but I will tell you they are beautiful children and seeing the pictures of the girls being placed in their parents arms are just amazing. I know how long they waited and I have seen all their tears of frustration but to see their tears of joy is just wonderful! Our time will come...

Referrals

Referrals finally arrived today and the cutoff was December 14, 2005. 6 Days. We are not getting our referral in April. I can't believe I am writing that but it is just not going to happen. 6 lousy days of referrals just sucks! My agency let us know last Friday what the cutoff was so I have had a few days to process it and I can honestly say that I am dealing with it the best I can. I was angry all weekend but I am now just trying to get in the mood for a joyous Christmas season! Oh, but first we have to do another home study update! Yes, our social worker is coming out to the house tomorrow and we will have our 3rd home study written and then we will go and have our fingerprints taken for a third time. The fun never ends.

Happy Birthday Lia!

November 30th friends who are traveling next week!!

Yesterday (11/30) was our friends, Marile and Dave, daughter's birthday. They are traveling on Thursday 12/6 to China and will be united with Lia on 12/9. We decided to celebrate with all our "99er" friends with dinner at our house. The night was fantastic and ended with cake and presents for Lia. It is hard to believe that the next time we see Dave and Marile, Nancy and Tom and Laura and Sean will be at Logan airport with their daughters! Our friends Dave and Sandy (who we will travel with) plan on going to the airport to welcome them all home. Nothing will keep me away! We can't wait to meet all the girls!

Dave and Sandy, and Pat and myself... Traveling sometime in the future!