February Update

We got an update on Rylyn a few minutes ago. They said she weighs 15 pounds. She started eating solid food when she turned 6 months old on January 26th. We were told that she likes fruits and veggies very much. She went to the doctor last Friday and got her shots. Since then she has been sick with a runny nose and low grade temperature. They said her fever has gone away but she still has a snotty nose. Greg and I are sad (I know Rylyn is too) because one of her favorite people Miss Jennifer who helps take care of her, is going home soon. We are very thankful for her all all the people at HOGL who are loving her and caring for her so well. We were told that she is rolling over in her bed a little but not on the ground. They haven't put the babies on the ground much since it has been so cold there. As you can see, Rylyn is bundled up in layers since there is no heat or air there. We also found out that Rylyn has other half isters and brothers. I can't wait to find out more about them. Please continue to pray that the court date on Feb. 9th will go smoothly and everything will come together. I can't believe we are going to be parents in just a month or so! We can't wait.

WE HAVE A COURT DATE!!!

We couldn't be more excited!! This weekend was awesome. We had such a great great baby shower. It was amazing to have so many family and friends there. I felt very loved. We found out Saturday night when we called the orphanage that we have a already have the court date set!! We prayed specifically for this miracle. The HOGL got our papers on Monday. We were told that we wouldn't hear anything until Feb.6th-Feb 11th because the Chinese New Year just started. During the Chinese New Year everything shuts down...all businesses, postal services, etc. But guess what...the paperwork all passed through so super, duper fast!! We are also very thankful because the government is allowing the orphanage to contact the birth mother through a phone call to tell her when and where the court date will be held. This is also awesome since the postal service is shut down during the New Year she may not have found out about the court date until it was too late. So...on February 9th at 10am our time....is when the court date will be held. We are praying that all the papers will arrive to the court in time and the birth mother will show up. After the court date is over. We will know more information about when we can book our flights!!!

Got Paperwork back from TECO

We got our paperwork back from TECO. The HOGL should get our paperwork on Monday. Now we are praying for a quick court date! Once the court date is set and completed we can fly to go get Rylyn!! We are hoping for February but it may be March depending on how fast everything moves. ; )

Waiting for TECO papers

My awesome husband took care of all Rylyn's paperwork. He got everything done at the SOS office in Columbia this past Friday and overnighted the rest of the paperwork to the TECO office in Atlanta. We assumed TECO is closed since it is MLK day but we paid for overnight shipping for when TECO finishes the paperwork. Then we will send all the paperwork back to the orphanage and wait for a court date to be set. We are hoping and praying the court date will be sometime in February. After the court date is complete.....we will go get our baby girl! The wait is getting harder and harder. It is especially hard since there is nothing we can do but pray and wait. Please pray that Greg and I will use this time to connect better and God will teach us how to trust him more during this time. Optimistically thinking, we could have our baby girl by February?!!

Paperwork is here!

Wahoo!! Thank you FedEx for battling the wintery storm and delivering our paperwork. The paperwork arrived today around 4:30pm. Greg has been working hard to make sure he has everything ready to take to the Secretary of State tomorrow in Columbia. Next step, drive (or overnight the rest of the paperwork to the TECO office in Atlanta). From there it's another waiting game for Rylyn's court date to be set. We are so thankful that the paperwork has come though!! Thanks for your prayers. We are doing everything we can. We can't wait to bring you home Rylyn!!

Another Update

We got an email last night saying the hard copies of the paperwork we need have been Fedexed to us. If all goes well, the paperwork should arrive tomorrow morning around 10:30am. We had a crazy snow storm though and school was canceled and no mail came today so a day or two delay in mail may be possible. Come on papers!!!


We only have a few more little things to do and Rylyn's room will be complete. Here is a picture.

A little update...

We did get some good news saying the orphanage had received an emailed copy of Rylyn's translated home study on Wednesday. We are waiting for the HOGL to get the hard copy of it mailed to them and then they will mail it to us. Then it will be: drive to Columbia to get it notarized by the Secretary of State, drive to Atlanta to get the paperwork to TECO, wait for TECO to send it to Taiwan, wait for a court date to be set and followed through with and THEN....we will be so close to getting our baby girl!!

I just got back from Florida a few hours ago. Some of my mom's sweet book club friends wanted to throw Rylyn her 1st baby shower this weekend. It was great, despite the fact that I have been sick for over a week now. I didn't want to miss it. I flew down on one of those cheap Allegiant flights to Tampa and Christy and I rode to Orange Park together. Some of my best buds from high school got to come to the shower too, which was WONDERFUL!

We love you Rylyn and can't wait for you to come home!

January Update

We called Taiwan last night to check on Rylyn. Skype is only 2.2 cents a minute to call so we signed up for that. ; ) We got Rylyn's January update from the orphanage. They told us that Rylyn is doing much better playing by herself. She can sit in a Bumbo, facing the toy box, and play with the toys for quite a while. She also has her 4th tooth coming in! Most babies don't have teeth at all until a little later on. I can't believe she will already be 6 months old this month! We were told that some colds have been going through the house again and Rylyn has a bit of a runny nose. (which may be partially due to teething) So she, like others, are on medicine and they're all improving. We heard it has been cold this week and the babies all have extra layers of clothes and blankets on.
We were told that Rylyn is a very smily baby and she loves to squeal this high pitch squeal and break out into a huge smile when you talk to her. We are waiting for the home study translation paperwork to get done and are praying that it goes quickly.