Home Again

Well we made it. We left last Tuesday night for Missouri and made it to my grandparents at 2:30 Wednesday afternoon. Toby and I spent 2 days hanging with our buddies Kelly and Skyler and a day hanging out at the Hospital visiting PapPap and a day with my Aunt Tracie. We really enjoyed seeing everyone, despite our reason for traveling. PapPap's surgery went well and he's suppose to get to go home today. I'm really glad that my mom was able to be there and that we were able to take her.

After visiting PapPap one last time Monday we set out on our journey home. We decided to stop at Bob Evans for some good food at the St Louis Mills before taking off down the road. Well let me just say I will never eat at Bob Evans again. I got food poisoning! I was so sick it wasn't even funny. After driving about an hour and a half I had to pull over and let Mom drive. Let me premise this part as saying Mom told me not to get sick in the car. When I tell her I'm about to, does she slow down? No. Does she pull over? No. I have four words for you people High speed projectile vomit. And I will leave it at that. After hurling I felt immediatley better but it wasn't for long and after only 3.5 hours on the road we had to stop for the night so that I could just be sick. Well it's two days later and I still don't feel right. It was a miserable rest of the trip home yesterday. I am very happy to be in the comforts of my own home. It is going to be a very long rest of the week as I still have all my Christmas shopping to do. Yikes!

Liliana update: The lab received her sample yesterday. They told me it takes 7-10 days to process. So hopefully we will know something next week.

ORANGE

Hot Diggity Dog!!! Labcorp charged my credit card which DNA was taken today. I am so excited. It should be about 3 weeks to travel. DNA takes 10-12 days round trip, which means we should get PINK for Christmas detailing our appointment dates and then travel a week later. I will be IN Guatemala the first of the year. Now I can enjoy my time here in Missouri with my family and my adoption friends. And while I have you here, please pray for my PapPap who is undergoing surgery to remove his spleen tomorrow. (the last step in his cancer treatment) I am soo happy I can be out here with him right now. Love to all and I'll let you know when I here anything. T

Orange on the Brain

Okay everyone I need you to think ORANGE thoughts. We need that orange slip to get DNA done (the last step to bringing Liliana home). I am constantly checking my email and my bank account looking to see is DNA has been done. I'm losing it over here, we are sooo close. Here's how the rest of the time will play out...

1. Submitted to the Embassy and receive the Orange DNA slip
2. DNA is taken and sent to Lab Corp in NC
3. DNA is processed (about seven days)
4. DNA is sent to US Embassy in Guatemala
5. Embassy receives results and issues the Pink slip with our appointment date in 24-72 hours
6. Liliana gets her medical clearance from an Embassy approved doctor
7. I travel to Guatemala
8. Embassy Appointment
9. Pick up visa the next day
10. Fly home the day after that

Once we get to step 5 the rest of the steps will happen in a matter of days. Right now it seems as though it takes the DNA a roundtrip (from being taken to going to the embassy) of about 10-12 days. We will most likely get our travel dates right around Christmas, either before or after. And I'll probably travel sometime during the first or second week of January. I'd love to be home with Liliana for Mom's 55th birthday as that is also Lili's 7 month bday. So in order to do this everyone must pray and think ORANGE. Hell wear some orange if you have to, whatever it takes! I promise to keep everyone updated. Love Tina

A Bunch of Randomness and a Tree

Multitasking...Playing Guitar and Driving

Our version of a Photo Album

Scrollin Down to find "Yilye"

Toby's Version of a Kitty Cat (Sorry kinda pale)

Charming Mommy

Friday was Nate's 2nd Birthday

Blowing Out the Candles

I Wanna Taste Too

Ice Cream Face

When Do I Get Some??

Playing His Guitar Ornament

Farmer Toby and His Sheep Dog Off to Work

On the Hunt for the Perfect Tree Tonight

Taking a Break with Daddy

Love this one...Too Cool

I'll Help You Daddy!

Our tree

Our Tree with All the Lights

So tonight we went tree hunting. Due to cleaning, and napping, and decorating, we got off to a very late start. So we didn't get to go to Hozaks. Instead we went to Wanye Ridge. We were very disappointed with the tree selection. At Hozaks all the trees are oragnized by type, but not here. We wandered and wandered figuring the hour we had until dark set in was plenty of time, but alas as I said it was slim pickins. We eventually found a decent one and after trimming a foot of the bottom and taking off some branches and rearranging the entire living room (a feat we've never had to do)... it is up and looking pretty. Tomorrow after church we will decoarte it. Maybe by then the rash and the pain from thousands of pine needles stabbing me as I trimmed, screwed in, moved, and placed lights on will be gone. It seriously hurts! Oh well no pain...no Christmas Spirit in my house. Tomorrow I'll show you all the finished pics of the house. (But not the outside cause there is still pumpkins out there! lol)