Today Rafael is 14 months old. The time is passing so quickly and we can't wait to have him home with us. We would have especially loved to have been with him this morning when he woke up and opened his gift. Next year......
I hope that all you guys are having a Merry Christmas and that Santa has been good to you. For those of you still waiting to be matched, I think of you all everyday and pray that your turn is coming soon. For those of you still waiting to travel to your child, I also think of you everyday as well. Hopefully by next Christmas we will all have our children home and just imagine how much fun that will be!!!!!!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Medical appointment set!!!!
Today just before lunch I received an e-mail from our social worker saying that she had gotten an e-mail back from ICAB saying that Rafael's medical appointment has been scheduled for January 13th!!!!!! This is just the news I wanted to hear before Christmas!!! Hopefully he will pass his medical with flying colours and then his visa can be completed and we'll be almost finished our wait. I'm hoping that it will only be 4-6 weeks after Rafael's medical that we will get the call to travel. I don't know if anyone else can give me their timeline between the medical appointment and call to travel. This is such an exciting time. The final countdown is on!!!!!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
A little bit of everything.....
We've been busy for the past few weeks with lots of Christmas parties and events. I just love this time of year!! I've been eating chocolate for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Is there a rule about this???? I certainly hope not because I'm really enjoying it! I'm finished all my shopping and I even bought a Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head for Rafael. It was such a cute set that I couldn't pass it up.
I was talking to our social worker today and she is still waiting to hear back from ICAB with news on Rafael's medical and on news of the update we requested back in mid November. She e-mailed ICAB again today but she probably won't hear anything until after Christmas as things will soon be shut down over there for the holidays. We're really hoping that Rafael's medical will take place sometime in January because we are soooo anxious for him to finally come home. We are also anxious to receive the update as we're sure he has changed so much since the information given in the referral package.
It was seven weeks ago today that we found out that we had been matched with Rafael. I thought that I would post a few photos of that day and also of the day when we signed the acceptance papers on November 10. Such an exciting day!!
Care package for Rafael. I hope he enjoys it all!!!
Right after signing the acceptance papers. Brian still has his work clothes on as he had to leave work to come to the office. Such an exciting day!!! One we will never forget!!!
It was in the Bahamas that we found out about our referral. We'll never forget that vacation.
This was the internet cafe that we first found out about Rafael. I was there alone as Brian was sick on board the boat. My fingers were shaking like crazy as I e-mailed our social worker back telling her that I would call her right away to get the information on our child. All she told us in the initial e-mail was that we had be matched with a child. It was such a whirlwind that I forgot our social worker's phone number, which I know off by heart, and I ended up having to call work to get the number. That moment in time now seems like a dream.
After getting off the phone with our social worker, I headed out to buy Rafael his first gift. I thought a Bahamas shirt would be appropriate as it would always remind us of where we were when we found out about our son. I think that he has a bit of growing to do though before it will fit him.
Paradise Island, Bahamas
Cruising out of Miami
Washington D.C.
Our last photo together before finding out about Rafael. Life will never be the same again!!!!
I was talking to our social worker today and she is still waiting to hear back from ICAB with news on Rafael's medical and on news of the update we requested back in mid November. She e-mailed ICAB again today but she probably won't hear anything until after Christmas as things will soon be shut down over there for the holidays. We're really hoping that Rafael's medical will take place sometime in January because we are soooo anxious for him to finally come home. We are also anxious to receive the update as we're sure he has changed so much since the information given in the referral package.
It was seven weeks ago today that we found out that we had been matched with Rafael. I thought that I would post a few photos of that day and also of the day when we signed the acceptance papers on November 10. Such an exciting day!!
Care package for Rafael. I hope he enjoys it all!!!
Right after signing the acceptance papers. Brian still has his work clothes on as he had to leave work to come to the office. Such an exciting day!!! One we will never forget!!!
It was in the Bahamas that we found out about our referral. We'll never forget that vacation.
This was the internet cafe that we first found out about Rafael. I was there alone as Brian was sick on board the boat. My fingers were shaking like crazy as I e-mailed our social worker back telling her that I would call her right away to get the information on our child. All she told us in the initial e-mail was that we had be matched with a child. It was such a whirlwind that I forgot our social worker's phone number, which I know off by heart, and I ended up having to call work to get the number. That moment in time now seems like a dream.
After getting off the phone with our social worker, I headed out to buy Rafael his first gift. I thought a Bahamas shirt would be appropriate as it would always remind us of where we were when we found out about our son. I think that he has a bit of growing to do though before it will fit him.
Paradise Island, Bahamas
Cruising out of Miami
Washington D.C.
Our last photo together before finding out about Rafael. Life will never be the same again!!!!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Christmas party
Tonight we attended the Christmas party for the Filipino Association of Newfoundland. This was our first time attending and we had a great time. It was our first time trying pancit, pork adobo and lumpia. It was all really good and I'll have to try making it all at home sometime. We met lots of Filipino people and children. We were also lucky to meet the only other couple from Newfoundland, that I am aware of, who have adopted from the Philippines. Their boys are 12 and 8 so they're a little older than Rafael but it is still so nice to have that connection. There were several childrens games and we're looking forward to next Christmas when Rafael can take part!!!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Preparations
We just found out that Rafael received his care package yesterday. We were so happy to hear that he got it in time for Christmas. I hope that he likes all of his goodies. I have also managed to find a second hand chariot jogging stroller!!!! I was thrilled about this as I've been looking for a while because they are around $600 - $700 to buy new. I really wanted a chariot as it came highly recommended by some of my running friends. I am hoping to pick it up tomorrow. Another thing to scratch off my to do list. Next I'm going to look for some baby gates and monitors. Does anyone have a monitor that they recommend?
Thursday, December 2, 2010
1 month ago.....
It was one month ago today that we received the long awaited e-mail saying that we had finally been matched!!! I can't believe that a month has passed already! We were told last week that Rafael's medical will soon happen so we are hoping and praying that it happens before Christmas and then if things go smoothly maybe we could travel in January or February at the latest. It's all a guessing game!
Yesterday I bought a jungle themed quilt for his bed. We have a crib but we also plan to buy a bedroom set for him so the quilt will be for his big boy bed. He is still sleeping in a crib now so I'll guess that's where he will start out when he comes home. We haven't even started his room yet because Brian has to finish off the basement first so that we can move all the upstairs spare bedroom furniture downstairs. Then we can finish off Rafael's room. I sure hope that he likes it!!! As soon as we get started, I'll post some photos.
Yesterday I bought a jungle themed quilt for his bed. We have a crib but we also plan to buy a bedroom set for him so the quilt will be for his big boy bed. He is still sleeping in a crib now so I'll guess that's where he will start out when he comes home. We haven't even started his room yet because Brian has to finish off the basement first so that we can move all the upstairs spare bedroom furniture downstairs. Then we can finish off Rafael's room. I sure hope that he likes it!!! As soon as we get started, I'll post some photos.
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