Getting closer!

Since my last post, we have jumped some major hurdles in the International Adoption world!  We received our LOA (China saying, "Yep, we give you permission to adopt Feng Lin"), our I-800 (the US saying, "Yep, we give you permission to go get your girl since China says it's ok"), and just last night I completed the FINAL document, the DS-260 (Feng Lin's Visa application to come to the US.)  Typically, that document would have been hand delivered to the US Consulate in Gunagzhou today, but the biggest Chinese holiday of the year just happened to start TODAY!  Puts us three days behind plus another day behind for Columbus Day off in a couple weeks.  All these holidays are keeping us from our girl!  At this point, all hopes of meeting Marin in October are gone.  Now, our hope is that we could be home by Thanksgiving.  With all the holidays holding up our paperwork in China, though, it may be a long shot:(

On the bright side, we are finished with paperwork...all paperwork...every single paper that I have filled out since January!  The paperwork pregnancy is over!  Now we are ready for the delivery!  So. So. Ready!  Nesting is in full swing.  Organizing, straightening, and organizing some more.  Re-reading all of my adoption books and making myself (and Chris) a nervous wreck.  We added Marin's bed and Quinn has been sleeping in it every night, though she assures us she will be moving back to her "tall" bed when Marin comes home because she knows that Marin is scared of heights:)
New room set up...

We have had a lot of contact recently with Marin's teacher.  She has been our guardian angel.  In a recent email she said that Marin is sometimes very stubborn, "cry for a long time over little thing."  She also told us that Marin loves to eat.  Considering the fact that Chris and I have already discussed taking out a loan to feed the three ravenous beasts we already have, I think we can handle that one!  She also continues to share how incredibly clever Marin is "learning new things."  Yet to be determined if that is a god or bad thing:)

The area of concern that we would love prayer over is that her teacher said she is still wearing her back brace all the time because without it she leans to the right.  Our doctor said this should not be the case.  Our concern is that she may need surgery very soon to replace the rods that she had inserted last August.  We won't know for sure until we get home and have her evaluated.  Prayers for Dr. wisdom and her comfort and health please.

Here are a couple recent pictures her teacher sent to us...

As you can see, Marin is thriving.  She is being stimulated.  She is being loved.  What more can we ask for.  Sure eases the angst as we wait.  Next post...Travel Approva!