I am wiped out!
My adrenaline was on overdrive for now what is about a week, and literally, my body is conking out. I told Emma and Eden yesterday I was going upstairs to rest for 20 minutes. It was 5:15 pm. I wound up sleeping for 3.5 hours, sleeping through what would have been their dinner time (!!!), sleeping through Gary’s arrival home and his feeding them and putting them to bed. I would have slept longer had the phone not rung. I am bone tired. Mentally exhausted … but yet, keeping my eye on the prize.
Thankfully, I am organized — a nice beginning portion of my bags are packed, and what is packed is labeled with each item in it in my little notebook, with a notation for how many pounds the bag is. There is still clothes to pack, technology to organize, Amazon.com shipments to wait for, homeopathic remedies still to arrive to keep us flu and parasite free while there, and other technological and electrical needs to purchase. But it feels doable now, albeit still rushed.
I have gotten wonderful packing lists from blog friends so I am going over them with a fine tooth comb.
Gary has not yet packed, not yet bought his winter coat or hat or any long sleeve shirts. He’s in denial, what am I gonna do? The past has shown me that he always comes through in the end.
This weekend is super busy for him work-wise. He will work a 7 day week, as he has parties on Saturday and a HUGE show case on Sunday, which at this rate, he’ll likely be at. He’ll be so happy as it’s important for him to be there to generate more business for the coming months.
Will this weekend be the last weekend I spend with my daughters for almost a month? Likely. I want to be finished by Friday, I need to focus on family time this weekend. Based on original dates, I keep thinking I’m leaving on Monday, but who knows. I have heard nothing definite yet. I think Emma is getting nervous as our pending departure looms ahead. She was supposed to get a habit breaker at the orthodontist today — a device that would be part of her mouth for 9 months to prevent night time thumbs to wander there. I cancelled the appointment — The girl might very well need her thumb while we’re gone and no way will I prevent that. If I sucked my thumb, I’d need it now too. (That’s why I keep eating the Halloween candy, I guess.)
Thursday I am going to get my hand carry documents notarized.
Friday, my dear dad takes me into Manhattan once again for our final trip before I leave for Kaz to get the paperwork sealed with the Apostille. I remember long ago over the summer when we did this I told him I’d need him one more time to help me and that it would be right before our trip. It felt far away, like I would never arrive at this place.
I feel surreal. And I recall Katherine telling me that waiting for the Director of the Baby House to come out, she couldn’t believe it was really real. And I recall Steve and KJ’s post stating that when their seat belts are buckled on the plane, there would be this rush of relief that all they had planned and prepared for was behind them, and the rest was just about the child. And I recall McP telling me that while on the plane, he got his head in the game because there was a child there waiting and they were the only ones who’d be able to be there for this child going forward. And I recall the gentle retelling of how they met their children over and over by Carolyn and Lea so that I’ll be prepared for my own adoption story and all that the journey entailed. And I recall the moment I met Henry for the first time and my joy at seeing how Emma and Eden responded to him and continue to do so to this day. And Catalina and her dear children Yulia and Gabi coming to visit me 10 days after they arrived in America and my eyes flooding with tears. And so many moms whose blogs I have read and spoken to on the phone as friends, including Sara and Regina and Amanda and Julie. And Heather, with her wise ways, who long ago told me that I must give my husband time and never to push, that it would all work out as it was meant to. And countless moms who shared emails and stories and posted such encouragement for me over the two years since I began my blog and never was sure what the outcome would be. And Colleen who led me to JHA (now WHAL) in such a wonderful way. And Julie, along with the whole With Hope and Love team, who has held my hand and guided me so well to this place. And my Mom, who already cries thinking about her grandson.
On this journey, I take you all with me. I would never have been able to get this far without your support and love. I am so very grateful!
Steph
I can't believe it is so close now. I have goosebumps! I feel in a way that your journey is my journey that I did not take- if that makes any sense at all… I'll be with you every step! Don't worry about Gary. My experiences have shown me that men do everything last minute 😉
I can't believe it is so close now. I have goosebumps! I feel in a way that your journey is my journey that I did not take- if that makes any sense at all… I'll be with you every step! Don't worry about Gary. My experiences have shown me that men do everything last minute 😉
I can't believe it is so close now. I have goosebumps! I feel in a way that your journey is my journey that I did not take- if that makes any sense at all… I'll be with you every step! Don't worry about Gary. My experiences have shown me that men do everything last minute 😉
We're sending our support, and we are so excited for you. Really enjoying your blog posts — and in awe that you have time to blog! We're sending positive multi-tasking vibes so that you do indeed have time with your girls this weekend. BTW, my husband will admit to anyone who asks that he did next to nothing to bring our Max home — but of course he got the first smile out of Max! 🙂 It will all get done, and it will be so wonderful!
We're sending our support, and we are so excited for you. Really enjoying your blog posts — and in awe that you have time to blog! We're sending positive multi-tasking vibes so that you do indeed have time with your girls this weekend. BTW, my husband will admit to anyone who asks that he did next to nothing to bring our Max home — but of course he got the first smile out of Max! 🙂 It will all get done, and it will be so wonderful!
I feel such excitement and love and hope for you as the final countdown really is here!!! No doubt Gary will get in gear in enough time. A visit to a store or two will be all he needs.
So glad you are not only "on the bus" but you are actually about to be let off at the big bus stop halfway around the world!
xoxo
I feel such excitement and love and hope for you as the final countdown really is here!!! No doubt Gary will get in gear in enough time. A visit to a store or two will be all he needs.
So glad you are not only "on the bus" but you are actually about to be let off at the big bus stop halfway around the world!
xoxo
I feel such excitement and love and hope for you as the final countdown really is here!!! No doubt Gary will get in gear in enough time. A visit to a store or two will be all he needs.
So glad you are not only "on the bus" but you are actually about to be let off at the big bus stop halfway around the world!
xoxo
What a great post.You will love being amongst the Kazamommy world. I have met the most amazing women thru this process and sounds like you are well on your way to meeting everyone! Hope we will meet one year at Kazapalooza. So excited for your journey….
What a great post.You will love being amongst the Kazamommy world. I have met the most amazing women thru this process and sounds like you are well on your way to meeting everyone! Hope we will meet one year at Kazapalooza. So excited for your journey….
What a great post.You will love being amongst the Kazamommy world. I have met the most amazing women thru this process and sounds like you are well on your way to meeting everyone! Hope we will meet one year at Kazapalooza. So excited for your journey….
I can't believe it is so close now. I have goosebumps! I feel in a way that your journey is my journey that I did not take- if that makes any sense at all… I'll be with you every step! Don't worry about Gary. My experiences have shown me that men do everything last minute 😉
I can't believe it is so close now. I have goosebumps! I feel in a way that your journey is my journey that I did not take- if that makes any sense at all… I'll be with you every step! Don't worry about Gary. My experiences have shown me that men do everything last minute 😉
I can't believe it is so close now. I have goosebumps! I feel in a way that your journey is my journey that I did not take- if that makes any sense at all… I'll be with you every step! Don't worry about Gary. My experiences have shown me that men do everything last minute 😉
keep breathing!!! and THANK YOU for inviting us along on your journey!!
can't wait to follow along!
oh, and husbands have a way of "dealing" with the stress and reality all on their own!! HA! my husband was jogging the fish tank across the street to the neighbors while the limo driver was waiting in the driveway to zip us up to the airport for baby #2! talk about denial -his to-do list was clothes, fish and houseplants!!!
have a great weekend – and there is another family from Brooklyn in Karaganda right now – i will send you their email. they will be thru Almaty while you are in town!
Jean in NJ
(Henry's future mother-in-law!HA!)
Mom to Colin and Molly
keep breathing!!! and THANK YOU for inviting us along on your journey!!
can't wait to follow along!
oh, and husbands have a way of "dealing" with the stress and reality all on their own!! HA! my husband was jogging the fish tank across the street to the neighbors while the limo driver was waiting in the driveway to zip us up to the airport for baby #2! talk about denial -his to-do list was clothes, fish and houseplants!!!
have a great weekend – and there is another family from Brooklyn in Karaganda right now – i will send you their email. they will be thru Almaty while you are in town!
Jean in NJ
(Henry's future mother-in-law!HA!)
Mom to Colin and Molly
Love u…The funny thing about all of this is we make ourselves crazy with the lists and packing etc,then use half of it..lol
Love u…The funny thing about all of this is we make ourselves crazy with the lists and packing etc,then use half of it..lol
Love u…The funny thing about all of this is we make ourselves crazy with the lists and packing etc,then use half of it..lol
Oh – tears! You're so close!!
Oh – tears! You're so close!!
Oh – tears! You're so close!!