Adoption Updates

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

OT, but how was Punta Cana? It looks absolutely beautiful!

 

[RUDisney]

OT, but how was Punta Cana? It looks absolutely beautiful!

It was our 2nd time there. Last year, we stayed at the Majestic Colonial. It was ok, as far as all-inclusives go. This year, we stayed at the Paradisus Palma Real. It was truly a 5-star resort. We'd go there again in a heartbeat. The food was very good. They had queen size bali beds around the pool and on the beach that were covered with palapas. Depending on where you were lounging, the bar staff would come around to serve you. The pool bar staff was very nice and entertaining.

It was the first relaxing vacation that I've had in years since our kids are old enough to do things on their own and I didn't have to be responsible for them 24X7. They loved the game room with PS, XBox and GameCube games. They made a lot of friends in that room.

I highly recommend Punta Cana, and www.cheapcaribbean.com for its service and pricing. They include travel insurance with every package for no additional fee. This time, we will be filing claims because our flight was delayed going down. (We were covered $100 pp per day through this.) We arrived the day after we were supposed to arrive. One of our bags didn't arrive until the day before we were coming home, and so we'll be compensated up to $200 for the items we had to purchase to get by since many of my DH's workout clothes, most of our shoes, and all of our toiletries were in that bag. While the insurance wasn't something that I wanted to use, I'm glad we had it. Oh, and as an added bonus, the sent us a card that we could get 10% back on any purchases that we made there. All I have to do now is organize our receipts and send them in.

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

That sounds wonderful... except for having to do the insurance claim part, but its great you had insurance. Dh and I are planning our 10th anniversary trip for next May and want to do all-inclusive. We were looking at Mexico, but keep coming across beautiful places in Punta Cana.

The claims thing reminds me... Micah LOVED Disneyland. Walked right up to Mickey and hugged him. When we started on Small World, he turned to me, eyes wide and huge and said "Mommy, DISNEYLAND!!" That was the first time he connected where we were to the Sing-A-Long DVD he watches daily. By the end of the ride he was singing (shouting) right along with the song. Dh and I couldn't get over how into it he was. I would have loved to know what he was thinking. Just a few months ago he was living in a grass hut, and to go from that to America and Disney no less has to be a pretty mind-blowing experience. We had one huge downer on the trip. I can't go into it, until things are resolved with Disney claims (no one was hurt or anything, but it did involve Anaheim PD and a big loss to us). Dh and I are pretty upset, and hoping they do the right thing. If they don't I don't know when dh will be ok with us going back to Disney.

Ok, I am going to go check out cheapcaribbean.com.

 

[RUDisney]

You brought a huge smile to my face with your description of IASW! That was always the first ride my family went on when we went to WDW. It just felt like Disney there.

I hope everything resolves well for you with Disney and APD. I hate when things go wrong in the happiest place on earth.

If you have any specific questions about DR, my brother has been to Sunscape and friends of ours have been to the Iberostars.

 

[ALittleDisneyFan]

UPDATE:

I forget if I mentioned this, we decided to name DD, Madeline. I am all over the place with her name. Poor kid.

I just got back a little over a wk ago from a full 10 days with her. She is SO beautiful, funny, sweet... and turning 1 in a few days! I was supposed to stay down there in Guatemala and foster but that did not work out.

Our case has been kicked out of the PGN (final court) for TWENTY FIVE weeks (for the most part, unheard of, and very bizarre) .. and we finally, FINALLY, went back in (for real this time, no lies from the agency) on Friday! So after a very LONG almost 6 months, we're back in the game.

And unfortunately... I am thinking of canceling our Disney vacation in December. My heart is just not into it, I am emotionally exhausted from this process.. and if anything, I just want to relax!

How is everyone else doing?

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

ALittleDisneyFan- I love the name Madeline! So much so, that it is my dd's middle name. That must have been so hard to leave Madeline behind and come home. But I'm glad you got to spend your 10 days with her. I really hope final court goes smoothly now that you are finally back in. I understand about your heart not being into your Disney trip right now, and just wanting to relax. I'm amazed you are still sane with all that you have gone through in the past six months!! I know I sure wouldn't be in your position. Hopefully not to much longer and you'll have your wonderful little girl in your arms again!

RUDisney- I'm looking a lot at Punta Cana now for our anniversary trip. I may PM you some questions soon.

Monami should be getting Rory today! I hope all is going well for her in China!

 

[monami7]

We are home! It was an amazing and crazy 3 weeks. I have not been online much at all. We got back to Utah yesterday and today I tried to get my house backtogether and went grocery shopping.
Lilly and Rory are both sleeping now so I have a minute. There are pictures on our blog.
Heidi

 

[Emmaline Lola]

Welcome home Monami and Rory!!!!

 

[RUDisney]

Heidi, if you guys don't already own a gun, I'd suggest you get one to keep the boys away from Rory as she gets older. (That's a joke for anyone who doesn't see that it is... I'm not condoning violence against teenage boys. )

Seriously, she is absolutely beautiful! I can't wait to see more pictures and to hear more about your trip. I want to see a complete family picture with Lilly in it, too.

Congratulations, Mom and Dad!!!

 

[belle&beast]

We are home! It was an amazing and crazy 3 weeks. I have not been online much at all. We got back to Utah yesterday and today I tried to get my house backtogether and went grocery shopping.
Lilly and Rory are both sleeping now so I have a minute. There are pictures on our blog.
Heidi

Congratulations! You were in China at the same time as my friends! They came home from the White Swan on August 22. I am happy you finally have another princess!

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

Rory is so beautiful. Congratulations!! I am so happy for you guys. Can't wait to see pics of oyur two girls together.

 

[kdibattista]

UPDATE:

I forget if I mentioned this, we decided to name DD, Madeline. I am all over the place with her name. Poor kid.

I just got back a little over a wk ago from a full 10 days with her. She is SO beautiful, funny, sweet... and turning 1 in a few days! I was supposed to stay down there in Guatemala and foster but that did not work out.

Our case has been kicked out of the PGN (final court) for TWENTY FIVE weeks (for the most part, unheard of, and very bizarre) .. and we finally, FINALLY, went back in (for real this time, no lies from the agency) on Friday! So after a very LONG almost 6 months, we're back in the game.

And unfortunately... I am thinking of canceling our Disney vacation in December. My heart is just not into it, I am emotionally exhausted from this process.. and if anything, I just want to relax!

How is everyone else doing?

Sorry I'm a little behind everyone .

I LOVE the name Madeline!!!

Monami -

I hope everyone else is well

 

[skoi]

While we were away at Disney, our PA (pre-approval) for our son arrived from China. All that's left is to process the dossier (went to China 8/29) and receive permission to travel. Hopefully it'll be about 5 months to get all this done.

His name is Zhi Jie, he just turned three and his living in Hubei Province. Unfortunately, we only have really old pictures, from when he was 16 months or so. I'll try to post them later.

Julie

 

[monami7]

Congratulations! I am very excited for you. Can't wait to see pics!
We were DTC when we were in Epcot in 05' It seems fitting to celebrate there!
Heidi

 

[skoi]

Sorry- not allowed to post it yet. oops.

 

[monami7]

He is very cute. I hope that knowing you are coming puts a big smile on his face!
Heidi

 

[ZPT1022]

That sounds wonderful... except for having to do the insurance claim part, but its great you had insurance. Dh and I are planning our 10th anniversary trip for next May and want to do all-inclusive. We were looking at Mexico, but keep coming across beautiful places in Punta Cana.

The claims thing reminds me... Micah LOVED Disneyland. Walked right up to Mickey and hugged him. When we started on Small World, he turned to me, eyes wide and huge and said "Mommy, DISNEYLAND!!" That was the first time he connected where we were to the Sing-A-Long DVD he watches daily. By the end of the ride he was singing (shouting) right along with the song. Dh and I couldn't get over how into it he was. I would have loved to know what he was thinking. Just a few months ago he was living in a grass hut, and to go from that to America and Disney no less has to be a pretty mind-blowing experience. We had one huge downer on the trip. I can't go into it, until things are resolved with Disney claims (no one was hurt or anything, but it did involve Anaheim PD and a big loss to us). Dh and I are pretty upset, and hoping they do the right thing. If they don't I don't know when dh will be ok with us going back to Disney.

Ok, I am going to go check out cheapcaribbean.com.

I was just reading back and saw this. What a great first trip, and you're right, it must be totally mind blowing! I hope that whatever bad thing happened has been resolved

 

[ZPT1022]

He's so sweet! How much longer will you have to wait to bring him home?

 

[skoi]

Thanks for the compliments. I can't wait to see how much he's changed.

Hopefully between five and seven months. It depends on how fast China processes our dossier.

 

[katedrew94]

We got our referral on Thursday! Our baby is 12 weeks old, and living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. We think she's beautiful. She looks really alert and well nourished.

We are completely thrilled, and can't wait to bring her home!