Her first missing tooth

Jenna has had a loose tooth for about two weeks. Tonight she decided she wanted me to pull it out. I was so glad I got to be here for it. I know it sounds wierd but I've missed so many of her first things, I wanted to be here for this. She wanted me to pull it, so it was really special. All except she bleeds a lot and it really started to freak her out. She told me not to stop so after three good pulls, that tiny little tooth popped out and boy was she excited and proud. She is a big girl now for sure!

Man this roller coaster ride is crazy

After yesterday's down hill ride,today has been all up hill and smooth. Looks like TA will be arriving Monday or Tuesday for us after all!! We have the best agency, I love you guys for all your hard work and caring so much. If they can find us a room that we can afford we will be leaving November 3rd and come home November 18th. That's if we get the consulate appt they ask for and we can get a hotel room! Lots of prayers please!!

SO BUMMED..

My agency said at the earliest we would get TA October 10th week, could be the week after because of the holiday. I was thinking the 10th all along, but he says could be a week later. Then he says the consulate dates are booking up very fast, but the biggest problem is the trade fair in Guangzhou in early November has taken up almost every hotel already there are no open rooms, so we won't be able to travel until middle to late November. So we will for sure miss her 2nd birthday November 1st.
I am bummed. It's just are luck, but what are you going to do. Can't fight with anyone, it won't change things, it is what it is.

I am looking for C. Ragan.

I'm hoping that C. Ragan has saved our website information and will read this. Our adoption agency says that you have made a donation on our behalf on their website. Before they will accept it and apply it towards our account I have to verify your first name? Since I have past out our blog information and request for donations to so many people I don't know how to reach you, first to thank you and second to ask your first name so that the donation goes towards Leah's adoption expenses.

So if you are or you know C. Ragan please email me at KOlges@aol.com soon so that I can get this information to our adoption agency. I just need your first name.

Thanks
Kristie and Scott

A good news day

Yesterday was a good news day. Adam called and was offered a job at UPS. He has worked at Red Lobster for almost 3 years now and plans on keeping that job on the side, but UPS will be steady hours and better pay. They will also help pay for his college which is a plus.

Yesterday afternoon we learned that the girls cardiologist Dr. V donated some money to help bring Leah home! We are so touched by this, he is such a wonderful and giving man. Jenna adores him, and we are so grateful for his love and care that he gives to Jenna and his other patients. Thank you so much Dr. V, you are amazing. Now we are down to around $1400.00 that we need in about 5 weeks, hopefully the airfare isn't more then what i've planned on.

Now if our TA could come this week, it would truly be an awesome week! Come on TA, come just a little early..

Here is a link to our new blog. We will be using it duringour travels to China. Hope you follow along.
http://www.myadoptionwebsite.com/leahgrace/index.htm

TA week??

This is the week before China closes it's offices for their Harvest Moon festival. They will be closed for an entire week! It would be great to get TA (travel announcement) this week, but I really think it will be October 10th week. Regardless I'm praying to hear good news this week and I would for sure be holding Leah in my arms on her birthday November 1st!
I'll post if we got the call saying TA arrived.
Have a great week everyone.

Article 5 was picked up and the wait for TA begins

The Article 5 was picked up yesterday and now we wait for TA. The average wait time is 2-4 weeks. We hope CCCWA is in hurry to clean up their desks before holiday and we will pushed on through sooner than later. We realy hope that we are able to fly out of here October 27th and that would make Gotcha Day November 1st, Leah's 2nd birthday. I can't believe we are just a little over a month away from holding her and discovering her little or big personality.
We are still trying to come up with the last $2000 we need for the trip. I'm trying hard not to stress, God will provide a way. We are still gladly accepting donations.

Also if ANYONE has or knows someone that would be willing to donate frequent flyer miles to help us get cheaper airfare, that would be wonderful!
We are currently doing an Avon sale that we will get 40% of the sales and a massage gift card raffle, chances are $5.00 each. Please let me know if you would like to purchase or donate in anyway to help us out.
Who know the next time I update I could be saying TA has arrived!

Not a whole lot happening

Tomorrow our Article 5 should be picked up. We are so excited to be waiting on TA travel anoucement. We are thinking it should arrive October 10th week. We a little luck and a lot of prayers we hope to fly out of here October 27th, that would make our Gotcha Day November 1st (her 2nd birthday). We are thrilled to so close. We are trying to come up with our last $2000.00 we need for the trip.
I'm running out of time and ways to come up with the money. If you would like to help please we would appreciate.

Have a great week.

We are getting really close

Our article 5 is schedule to be picked up on Tuesday then we will be waiting for TA to arrive. We should be heading out of here in around 6 weeks! I can't beleive it, we are so close to holding her little butt in our arms. I'm looking forward to seeingher sweet face, I cant' imagine how much she has probably changed since the end of June. I look forward to getting to know her personality, hear her giggle, feed her a bottle, watch her find her position in her new family.
With us leaving in 6 weeks, it makes me realize all that we still have left to do. First of all we are still $2500.00 shy of what we need, so we are needing a miracle for that. Then we are needing a new car seat still, buy gifts for the orphanage staff, go to the doctor to get our medicines for the trip, get things squared away with the kids and then start packing.
Those 6 weeks will fly by.

The grand total is.... And the winners are.....

The grand total raised from the yard sale, bake sale, hair bow sale and raffles was $2872.00. We are very pleased considering the weather Friday was not the greatest. We still had a good turn out both days. Our goal we had set was $3000.00, so we got very close.
We are still in need of close to $4000 by the end of October.
We will be doing an Avon fund raisor and a Massage gift card fund raisor staring next week!

The winners of the raffles were.. Laurie Clute $50.00 Kroger card, Crystal P winner of Gas card, Wendy S winner of baby Blanket and Candence Searcy winner of Gatlinburg weekend! Congrats to you four and thank you everyone who bought chances.

Rain rain go away.. It's time for our Adoption Yard Sale

Friday and Saturday is our big community yard sale. We have had several people donate items to help us raise money for the travel portion of our adoption. We have several raffles going on right now during the yard sale. First is the big one, the 2 night Gatlinburg cabin weekend, a $50.00 gas card, a $50.00 Kroger card and a beautiful baby blanket donated by Razzberry Giggles. We will also be having a bake sale and candy sale. Scott's cousin Missy donated some really cute hair bows for me to sale and the money from the sales we can keep. We are praying and keeping our fingers crossed for the rain to stay away and we have a very good turn out. We are only about 8 weeks away from holding Ms. Leah in our arms and working very hard to come up with the last of the money needed! If you would like to help us and donate we would appreciate any help we can get!

NVC letter came

Tonight at 11:25 pm our NVC cable letter finally came through email. It's now been forwarded to A Helping Hand and China. There is nothing left for us to do paper work wise, boy am I glad about that.
Hoping to have TA by middle October and travel early November.
Now working even harder to come up with the last part of travel money.

We are Cabled...

I spoke to a wonderful and helpful supervisor at the NVC who went above and beyond to help us. She located our package, entered it in last night. I called today and she was walking it over to be Cabled to Guangzhou today. Tomorrow I will have the letter A Helping Hands needs.
We are OFFICIALLY DONE with our part.
Now we are waiting for Travel Annoucement (TA).
Fingers are crossed for a speedy TA.
Two months from today our baby girl will be 2 years old!
We love you Leah and we are getting VERY close to having you in our arms.