DETAILS, DETAILS AND MORE DETAILS

WE AREN'T PAYING ATTENTION TO DETAILS. I'VE JUST NOTICED AFTER TRYING SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE WEEK-END TO GET ONTO THE CONSULATES WEBSITE, THAT, THEY RECOMMEND YOU USE FED-X OR UPS AND NOT CANADA POST(TO SEND FOR THE VISAS), WELL GUESS WHAT WE USED? CANADA POST EXPRESS! NOW WE WAIT PATIENTLY FOR OUR AGENCY TO CALL US BACK...BUT I THINK I WILL CALL HER AGAIN!!! WE'VE BECOME VERY CONFUSED WITH ALL THE ACTION AND EXCITEMENT, THAT WE DON'T ASK QUESTIONS ANYMORE, WE DO AS WE ARE TOLD!!!! I BELIEVE THE EXPRESSION IS IGNORANCE IS BLISS, BUT I DON'T FEEL BLISSFUL TODAY!!!!

FOR THE FUTURE PAPs;
WE'VE DECIDED THAT WE WILL BRING 4 BIG ROLL LUGGAGE'S AND 2 BACKPACKS
WE ARE ALSO ADDING A BLOW UP MATTRESS, BECAUSE OUR NEW BUDDIES THAT ARE THERE TOLD US THE MATTRESS IS 3"THICK...WE NEED A THICK COMFY MATTRESS!

THE FEELINGS THAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH;
IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING? I BELIEVE SO!
WILL THEIR BE A CHILD FOR US? PLEASE PRAY FOR A HEALTHY BABY!
DO WE HAVE EVERYTHING? OH WELL, IF WE DON'T WE WILL BUY IT THERE!
DO WE REALIZE WE WILL BE PARENTS (HOPEFULLY) BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK OR BEFORE THE NEW YEAR? THAT IS THE QUESTION OF ALL QUESTIONS, AND WE WILL HAVE TIME ON OUR LONG FLIGHTS TO LET IT SINK IN!

WE ARE SO EXCITED AND YET WE ARE TRYING VERY HARD NOT TO LET IT AFFECT US...ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. HOPE FOR THE BEST, PLAN FOR THE WORST!!!!

TAAAADDDDAAAA!!!!! I'M THE PACKING HOODINI.

We are packed, and I do mean fully packed!!! I am the incredible, super packer. Now I have to unpack and write everything down. This helps when you lose luggage and need to know what you lost! Also a hint for those that will go on extended trips:

1. Bring only dark colors (because the water might change the color of your whites)
2. nobody cares what you are wearing unless it looks really nice and they want it off your back!
3. pack lightly and make sure that each luggage contains the same items (just in case you lose one)
4. always bring a paper and several pens (because they do run out of ink when you need it the most)
5. things you could live without, please leave it at home! We tend to think something will come in handy (but it still doesn't)
6. Bring ear plugs and eye mask for the plane and go to sleep right away (apparently it helps with the jet lag, as per our friend JM the master of travel) we will try this tip!!!
7.One thing that is really important, try out your winter gear. We are lucky because tonight is - 13Celsius but real feel is -20 no wind but humid. And I was pretty comfortable in my coat but I need to wear a sweater for the sleeves and need to roll my socks up until my long johns.
8. appreciate the joys of home because you will definitely be missing these comforts!!! Hell Ya!
9. See your friends, I know it is not part of packing but I'm bringing pictures of everyone because we are going to miss you guys!

I'M GOING TO BE ILL!!!!

We are officially invited for the 20th of Dec 2007!!!!! However, we reserved flights for the 24th and will get there after Christmas and maybe meet our child on the Friday or Monday. I'm having dreams about him and every night I wake up at 3:45 am, I'm starting to think it is stress.

I finished my Christmas cards and gift wrapping, so that comes off the list but I still have so much more to do. Yet I'm sitting here typing!@#!#!*.... I will up date more later.

Oh ya I forgot, my darling husband decided he will help with the blog ->pour tous nos ami(e)s qui ne lisent pas en Anglais, Daniel va ecrire.

CRUNCH TIME!!!

We are so stressed right now, I spoke to Ana (our agency) and she said to reserve tickets for the 18th of December to arrive in Almaty on the 20th and then we are off to URALSK. I'm feeling really sick to my stomach!!! She said that she is still waiting for the LOI(letter of invitation) but she will tell me more tomorrow, she doesn't want us to go there and end up stuck in the holiday season with everybody taking vacations. Anyways I will let everybody know tomorrow and hopefully be less stressed!!!

Things that are left to do;

1. Holiday cards
2. Inquire about presents to bring
3. Re assess my luggage and packing
4. Give our holiday gifts to our friends kiddos
5. Blue cross coverage
6.Visa when we get the LOI
7.Blackberry set up

the baby's room is already set up so we don't have to do that!!!!! Yahoo!!! we are on our way!

TIME IS FLYING OVER HERE!!!!

WELL IT DOESN'T HELP THAT IT GETS DARK SO SOON...I'M ALWAYS TIRED!!!

OK UPDATE TIME;

WE SPOKE TO OUR AGENCY YESTERDAY AND SHE REASSURES US THAT WE WILL BE LEAVING BEFORE CHRISTMAS, SO THAT TRANSLATES INTO-> WE WILL BE PARENTS IN 5 OR 6 WEEKS FROM NOW. THE EMOTIONS THAT ARE RUNNING THROUGH US IS MAKING US SO TIRED, BUT YESTERDAY I DECIDED I'M NOT GOING TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT I FORGOT TO PACK. AS LONG AS I HAVE MY MEDS FOR ILLNESSES I COULD ENCOUNTER DOWN THERE I'M GOOD TO GO...I NEVER WANT TO EXPERIENCE ANOTHER HOSPITAL ABROAD, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU DON'T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE.

SPEAKING OF LANGUAGE, THE RUSSIAN CD'S WILL BE PUT TO GOOD USE AND WE WILL BE USING AN ECTACO TRANSLATOR...WE ARE SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS TRIP.

NOW FOR THE OTHER FUTUR PAP'S, THAT WANT TO KNOW TIMELINE SO FAR;

AUG 19TH 2007: SUBMITTED OUR DOSSIER
SEPT 14TH 2007: DOSSIER WAS SENT TO THE CONSULATE OF KAZ IN TORONTO
OCT 7TH 2007 ; DOSSIER REACH MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN KAZAKHSTAN
NOV 20TH ;BEING PICKED UP FROM THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION
DEC 7 RECEIVED THE LETTER OF INVITATION


AS FOR ME, I'M OFF TO DO SOME PACKING

these are pictures of Kazakhstan, I can't wait to see it for myself.

SO MUCH TO DO SO LITTLE TIME...

I’M TRYING TO BE ORGANIZED BUT MAN, THERE IS WAY TOO MUCH GOING ON!!! IT IS DEFINITELY NOT THE TIME TO BE SICK. WHAT WE’VE DONE SO FAR;

WE BABY PROOFED THE HOUSE SINCE OUR BABY WILL BE UNDER 2 YEARS OLD BUT WE ARE HOPING AND EXPECTING UNDER 12 MONTHS.

WE BOUGHT SOME CLOTHES & PJ’S ALL UNDER 18 MONTHS, MOSTLY 12 MONTHS. WE FIGURE WHEN WE ARE OVER THERE WE ONLY NEED FOR ABOUT A WEEK OF CLOTHES, SO WE WILL DO SOME SHOPPING ( KAZ STYLE)

SO OUR DOCUMENTS HAVE LEFT THE CONSULATE AND WILL BE AT THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON OCT 12TH…IT TAKES THAT LONG BY FED-EX!!! AFTER THAT I HAVE NO IDEA HOW LONG IT STAYS THERE BUT THEY SAID BETWEEN 3 TO 4 WEEKS, THEN OFF TO ITS NEXT STOP.

AS FOR US, WHEN WE FIND OUT WHAT AREA/BABY HOUSE OUR CHILD LIVES IN, WE WILL DECIDE IF WE WILL BE MAKING 1 TRIP, 2 OR EVEN 3.