Travel Plans and Tsunamis, Oh My!

Lots of news, but this will be a short post because I am just exhausted after the past three days.  Here's the breakdown:

Francis had his visa appointment on Tuesday.  We didn't hear a word until Thursday, and that was that the interview went well and we could book our flights for any time after the 15th.  I was not having it.  By leaving on the 15th, we would be with Francis one day after his birthday.  I had to get the extra day.  We had so been hoping to leave the 4th.

Yesterday we got clearance from ICAB to book our tickets the 12th or later.  I spent the better part of the afternoon with the travel agent working on flights.  We'll be leaving here on the 12th and coming back the 26th.  I will have my son in my arms for his birthday.

Today there was an earthquake about 100 miles south of where Francis is.  That triggered a tsunami warning for his area, and the better part of my day was spent in prayer and terror as we waited to hear something.  Thank God, there was no tsunami and he is OK.  

Twelve more days to takeoff!

Visa medical: Passed!

After anxiously waiting all week, yesterday brought the news that Francis passed his visa medical exam!  Yay!  Yahoo!  Yippee!  (Just a few of the things that were said on the phone when the news was revealed.)  His visa exit interview will be on Tuesday, due to a holiday (Hero’s Day) on Monday in the Philippines.  After that, we see if we have approval to book our travel dates.  I say again – Yay!  Yahoo!  Yippee!  We had a phone conference call with our agency yesterday to prepare us for travel, and it all finally seemed so very close and so very – right about time!  I have been so emotionally overwhelmed it’s been hard to stop myself from crying at the drop of a hat the past few days. 

Francis – it’s almost time!!!

Wishes for You, for Your Country, and for Our Family

One year ago today, I concluded a blog post with these words:

That my child-to-be is happy, healthy, safe, and loved, wherever s/he is, and that his or her heart might be ready and willing to accept parents who will love and cherish him or her forever.

That is what I’m wishing for today.  

One year later, I know it is Francis we are waiting for.  I know he is healthy and safe and loved.  I know where he is and I know he has loving caregivers preparing him to be part of a family.  I know that on July 19 he told our agency’s liaison in Manila that he is “happy and excited” to meet his mommy and daddy.  This in and of itself is the best birthday gift I could possibly ask for today.

Ironically, we were given a picture of Francis that was taken the day another family from our agency went to his RSCC to bring home their child, taken one year ago today.  The irony of the situation is that the very day that I wished happiness for my child, wherever he was, he looked absolutely – well – miserable!  You can feel his sadness looking at this picture, as he could not understand why every time a family came for a child they never came for him.  Francis, we love you and we are coming soon.  My wish for you again this year is for your happiness, and that you will share the beautiful smile we have come to love so much with those around you today. 

At the same time, my heart has been breaking over this week’s flooding in Manila.  This tragic loss of life and mass destruction tears at my heart.  My wish for the people of the Philippines is for an end to this devastation and a quick reconstruction.  Our prayers are with them.

A visa appointment had been requested for Francis prior to the flooding, and I received word on Wednesday morning that his medical appointment was to be on Monday, August 13, with the visa appointment presumably on Wednesday the 15^th.  He was to be in Manila for five days.  Yesterday morning, however, I received word that the appointments were going to be pushed back to “the 20^th and onward.”  My wish for our family is that the appointments will remain fixed at the week of the 20^th and we will be able to travel soon afterward.  Prayers in this regard would be welcomed.

But What About Your DOG?

First thing yesterday morning, I put Lakota in the car and took her to the vet’s office for her yearly shots and checkup.  Our vet is a lovely, patient woman who is terrific with Lakota, thank goodness, because from the moment we get out of the car to the moment we get back in Lakota is 60 pounds of “Get Me OUT Of Here!”  I am normally exhausted by the end of her appointment.  We had a good chat yesterday about keeping Lakota calm through the transition of bringing Francis home and all the best ways of introducing boy and dog.  It went well, and one of us (ahem, NOT Lakota) left the exam room happy.

Then we went back out to the waiting area to pay.

There was a woman with a small dog having a conversation with an older couple who had two cats.  They all started telling me what a beautiful Husky I had.  The gentleman asked if I wanted to trade her for two cats.  “No thanks.  I have six of my own,” I said.  The lady with the dog wanted to know how old Lakota is.  She’s 12.  Apparently she must be a groomer, because she kept telling me how great it would be to get her hands on Lakota and groom her.  I told her politely that Lakota did not like to be groomed and fought hard when we groomed her, and since she had been stressed recently, I was not pushing it.  But thank you. 

Then the vet tech came out and gave me the special pheromone collar I needed to keep Lakota calm and soothed through the transition.  She wished me luck with our trip and the adoption.  And wouldn’t you know it?  Miss Groomer couldn’t keep her mouth shut when she heard that one.  “You waited until the dog was 12 years old to adopt a kid?  How could you do that to her?  You made her live with six cats and now a kid at age 12?  Really?”

Are you KIDDING ME?  The nerve this woman touched was unbelievable.  My dog has been my baby for the last 12 years.  Gregg and I have been trying to adopt since she was three.  It would have been a million times easier on her if we brought a child into her world when she was a young dog.  And you don’t think I don’t know that?  I think every day about how this will impact her.  She already knows change is coming and shows signs of stress.  She’s like the baby of the family who feels their position is being usurped by a new baby. 

When Gregg and I brought the cats into the family, they were tiny kittens and we had heard that Huskies were known for killing kittens.  The two of us sat with the dog and the cats day after day, helping them to bond to the point that the dog thinks she’s the cats’ mother and they love her just as much.  Those were our cats.  Now we’re talking about our son and his safety, and we will go to any length to keep them all safe and happy.

And one more thing while I’m ranting.  The next person who considers saying to me, “Gee, you better hope Francis isn’t allergic to cats or dogs” better reconsider.  I’ve heard it one too many times.  Yes, we think about it.  Yes, we think about it often, and we know what the consequences are and what our priorities are.  We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, but thanks anyway.

 Lakota and Boots are waiting for you, Francis!

Surprise Update

Francis had a successful trip to Manila last week for his passport. We are now anxiously awaiting Monday, when his passport will be ready and his visa appointments can be scheduled. While we are waiting, we are especially lucky to have received some new pictures of Francis! The letter that we mailed him in early June finally arrived, so our agency's liaison in Manila hand-delivered it to Francis when he met him on Thursday. The result of that meeting and Francis openings his letter was a few great photos. It does make the wait much easier.  The other bit of news that we received from the agency's liaison was that Francis is a "very sweet and charming boy" and he is "happy and excited" to meet his mommy and daddy. Obviously, this gives us a good feeling and we are happy and excited to meet him, too.

Passport Appearance Scheduled

We just got the terrific news that Francis’ passport appearance has been scheduled!  Fortunately, it didn’t take a very long time to schedule after we initially heard of the delay.  Francis and his caseworker will be flying into Manila on Thursday the 19^th, having the passport appearance the 20^th, and flying back to Ligao City the 21^st.

In an ironic twist, I also found out quite randomly that one of the major cities not far from Ligao City will be opening their own DFA (passport) office in early September.  One of those, “oh, that figures – ha, ha” moments.

It will take 10 days to process the passport, at which point it’s all systems GO to schedule Francis’ visa appointment.  It looks to me like that should be anytime after July 31.  I’m still focusing on September with “late August could be a miracle,” but we’ll see what happens.   We’re getting closer!

Here Come The Delays

I promised myself (and just about everyone else) that I wasn’t going to get cranky/moody/upset with the wait to go get Francis.  I was doing so well with that promise.  Until this week.  Yup.  Here come the delays.  I knew if we were going to hit any kind of major delays in the process to get Francis, we would encounter them after our NVC approval landed at the embassy. 

NVC approval was cabled to the embassy in Manila on July 3.  I was so excited because we were just about to the home stretch.  All we needed to do was wait for the visa and medical appointments to be scheduled and we would be off! 

Or not.  It turns out that while we were under the impression that everything had been taken care of with Francis’ passport, he had not made his passport appearance in Manila yet.  (This will make the first of two flights that Francis and his caseworker need to take from Ligao City to Manila before we get there.  He will be quite an experienced flier.)  In fact, there are some issues with the DFA and our agency’s liaison in Manila is hoping that news will come next week.  (Even if we hear on Monday, there will have been a full week with no news.)

So what does this mean? 

The passport appearance still needs to be scheduled.  Once it is scheduled and he appears, it will take 10 days to process the passport.  Only after the passport is in hand can the visa appointments be scheduled.  After that, we can go.

Realistically?  We’re looking at September travel now.  Maybe, if we’re lucky, the very end of August.  We’d just as soon look at September and be surprised if we get called early.  Either way, it’s a delay of about 3-4 weeks from our original estimate, and that’s a kick in the gut.  I just hope we’re with Francis for his birthday in September.

I’ve discovered that reason doesn’t sit well when the one thing you want is to hold your son in your arms – today.  I knew the delays were probably coming, but boy, I would love to know where we stand now.  How much time really is left?  Reassurance in that department would be nice.  Eventually just doesn’t cut it on a week like this.

In other news, Gregg and I are going through the anxiety-inducing process of finding a pet sitter for Lakota and the kitties for while we’re away.  Lakota has separation anxiety and is a big dog, so finding someone who is willing to take care of her is quite the chore.  Praying we’ll find the right person and they’ll be available on short notice when we go. 

Francis – Mommy and Daddy are coming.  We don’t know when, but we’ll be there as soon as we can.  We love you so much and hope you can feel the kisses we send you each day.  xoxo