Updated photo of our Sophie Su!

Well..the long awaited update and photo we've waited 3 wks for came yesterday! this photo was taken on June 26th. Our poor sweet baby girl had heat rash pretty bad all over her little body at the time of this photo, so she is covered in the red rash w/little bumpies, and one of her eyes was swollen a bit due to the rash being above it, and it was quite upsetting initially for me to see(but Thankyou to my friend Georgette for turning the photo into black and white for us to cover up her pink rashy cheeks more!!)
...the mama bear in me just wanted to jump on ANY plane quite frankly and rush over there to rescue my poor girl and fix her up...BUT..after talking to Grandy..(aka my mom)..she and her Doctor friends at work all looked at the pic and said she would be just fine...AND the update reported that as of today, her heat rash is gone and she if fine..but still..so hard to see! AND..see those tears in her precious eyes?..UGH..just rips my heart out...but as her daddy says..only a couple wks left and we will FOREVER be there to wipe the rest away.
The report was too simple and disappointing as far as I'm concerned..there really was not much info there...

She at 6months old is: 17.6 lbs, 26.3 in long, and head and chest c are 16.5in..
and look at this..I pulled Charlie's developmental records out and here were his at the same age of 6mos: 16.9 lbs, 26.5 in long, and head and chest c are 16.5in...

WOW!!! She really is my child isn't she(esp w/all that hair..does she have good hair or what!..just like her mama again..hahah!!!!!) LOL!!!!!!!

The report also states that she has been there at the Social Welfare Inst since she was born on Nov 26th...and that she sleeps on her own in a crib...(which will prob change soon..I can't imagine leaving her in a crib down the hall!!!)
And as we can see in those sweet chunky cheeks she is obviously being fed and well cared for...
As much as we hoped she was in a foster home..according to many veterans in the adoption world..these reports are not always completly accurate as far as where the girls go during the day or night so it does not necessarily mean she was not in foster care..or that there is not a nanny there that is souly w/her...but reguardless, she's ours..which means shes a survivor, and we know and have faith she is just fine, AND...we'll be there shortly!

And at the end of the day, all that we've really prayed for and all that matters... is that someone out there, across the world right now, is loving on her and feeding her and holding her...and from the other reports on Monday that we got that stated she likes grabbing for her nannies food while the nanny is eating, and she likes to be held a lot, and she likes "bustling a/b the market place"...it sounds to me that she is getting the attention she needs until we get there!

Oh Sophie Su Ruth...the love we have for you has grown beyond any words can describe...I just can NOT wait to kiss those sweet cheeks of yours!!!
Love Mommy xoxoxo

Some News....

Our agency called today and said they have two travel plans for us..it will be one of these two plans:

PLAN A: leave here and fly to Hong Kong Thursday, July 30th and return home, Thursday August 13th...

OR..

PLAN B: leave here and fly to Hong Kong Thursday, August 6th and return home, Thursday August 20th!

OMG..I can't believe this is actually going to happen!!!!
Of course we are praying for Plan A just b/c we want to go get her ASAP..but we are okay w/Plan B too, and it will still give our Charlie boy a good wk home to get situated before starting first grade!!!

We want our sweet baby girl home NOW!!!

Today I sit here full of so much love for you my sweet baby girl.

Waiting for you has been one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. You are 7 months old right now, but to me that is just 7 months too long w/o us, your forever family.

I have an ache in my heart that is always there, it's constant, and I know it won't go away until the day they place you in my arms.

We received your shot records and a formal developmental report this week filled w/tidbits of info on you!

Here are a few things it read:
.."she can stand upright w/support under her arms"
.."when pulling her wrists lightly, she can sit up"
.."She can bounce on an adults legs while being supported under her arms"
.."she can sit steadily when leaning against the wall or w/her back supported"
.."she often giggles loudly" (oh how I love this one!)
.."her baby sounds consist of "yiyiyaya"
.."she knows her name and responds to Su or SuSu"
.."she enjoys bathtime and giggles throughout bathtime" (again, love this one)
.."she wants to be held often"(Oh I'll never put her down!)
.."..is very energetic..fairly open..and lively personality"(apple doesnt fall far..LOL!!!!)

Reading this report, with many more bits of info inside it, is bittersweet for me. It fills my heart w/such joy that it clearly sounds like someone kind and loving is taking care of her, and knows who she is thus far. There are other things in this report that indicate to us that she may very likely be in a home/foster home environment(which had been our prayer all along).
But as I said, bittersweet...I am filled w/an urgency to go get her NOW..especially when I read a/b "her"..I want to replace the words "she" and "her" with "Sophia", our daugther..not just another baby being reported on.

We are still dealing with the last couple wks of this wait, but at least the wait no longer feels endless as it did for so many years. Only a couple wks left. We are praying to hear a/b our travel approval this week, and should be getting updated pic's of her, so if you could say a prayer along with us that would be great!
Other than that..we are ready!
-suitcase packed, minus personal items...check!
-visa's issued and returned..check!
-$ ready..check!
-papers to travel in order..check!
-One very ready family ready to hold, snuggle, kiss, hug, love and care for one sweet baby Sophie forever...CHECK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We love you our Sophia Su Ruth, to the moon and the stars and the sun and back and back and back!!!!!!

Enjoying First Half of Summer Break 2009!

A basket full of pink, and that sweet smell of dr*ft!

Well, I did it...I FINALLY washed all her little 3-6mo and 6-9mo clothing...I FINALLY was able to rip those tags off those clothes and wash them KNOWING FINALLY how old she really is and what I can pack to bring for her! And as the laundry rolled around in that washing machine and then went into the dryer and that sweet smell of dr*ft blew threw the outside vent and into the backyard where we sat I was overcome w/emotion and graditude that I could FINALLY smell again that sweet baby smell we all know so well!!! I Praise God for that sweet moment I will forever cherish...it's those little things in life that make it all so worth while!!!

Happy 4th of July 2009!!

We are keeping busy during this FINAL home stretch of the wait for Sophie!!! Only 3 or so weeks left until we hop on a jet plane to China...
There are still so many moments this is all so surreal to me...I just stare at her sweet little face in those pictures and am overcome w/so many diff emotions....hard to put into words..but absolutly the most amazing feeling EVER and I am in love w/her EXACTLY as I fell in love w/Charlie the first time I saw him...it's just a miracle..and a most amazing blessing...Children..no matter how the Lord gets them to you..they are the biggest blessing a human being can ever receive..without a doubt...

So...as of Friday, all our papers were signed, notarized and fedexed off to our agency..our visa's are being processed as I type this today, Monday morning...and we should have them back in our hands by this Friday...
And then..we wait patiently for our Travel Approval which will be on it's way any time now....
Then after receiving our T.A, our agency makes our consulate appt at the Chinese Embassy and then we book our flights and we are off!!!
I have dreamed of that airplane ride so many times over these last 3yrs...several dreams of us sitting there in disbelief that we were finally on our way..and I truly believe that in 'real life' when we board that plane in a few wks it will feel EXACTLY that way...again surreal...

Oh Sophie Su..every bit of this wait is beyond worth it for you..I'd do it again and again just to receive your referral as we did on that magical day, June 22nd.

I was at the bank preparing the many bills we needed to order in "mint condition" to travel..and the lady at the window, (who has been waiting right along w/us these last 3 yrs), asked me if I'd ever do this again or if I felt after going through all this, was it worth it, and I was overcome w/emotion because I didn't have the words to express how much this has been worth it...SO MUCH!!!! I thank God EVERY day, sometimes multiple times a day, for leading us down this path of adoption. I thank Him for putting Sophie Su in my heart long before I ever saw her face. I thank Him for these plans he laid out for me and my family, I will forever praise Him and be grateful to Him, forever and ever!!!!

Another one of Sophie Su's future BFF's!!!

OK..so since this last week has been such a whirlwind..I have not had time to post another AMAZING happening last Monday when we got our Sophie's referral...
Some may know the story of me and Georgette...but here's a recap...

Back two years ago.one day I was sitting at my computer surfing the web of all the chinese adoption websites and blogs..dreaming of our Sophie girl..and I had something come over me(clearly now the Lord) to go to an old yahoo group I had joined the year before(but had long forgotten a/b)and send out a random post just asking if anyone else "out there" had the same log in date to Chi*a as us.... I normally do not do stuff like this..and still do not..but sure enough within a day..this girl...(or "lady" I should say..LOL)responded to my post and said YES..she too sent her paper work that same day in March of 2006....she and her husband lived in Nashville, TN and "one day" we chatted we'd probably meet when flying off to get our baby girls...
Well...who knew then that "one day" would literally be in a few weeks of this first email...
Two wks later from the day I "met" her online she writes me to tell me that her husband's being transferred to none other than where we live right now!!! OMG...what a small world I thought..here is someone I will one day go to chi*a w/and now she is moving here to my hometown....
But it gets better...
So the past two yrs since her and her husband have been here she and I have been able to be such a support system to one another...we've vented a/b this whole process on a daily basis..gone out to movie and dinner nt's w/the girls to get our minds on other things during the wait...shopped for our girls more than we should've...and then...and always dreamed our girls would somehow be together in Chi*a..(but knew that may not be an option, and prepared ourselves that that very well may not happen..it all depended on where our girls were born)so we knew we may not travel together b/c our girls could very likely be in diff.orphanages....
And that brings us to last Monday... that magical day last Monday..our refferal day..and Guess what?

OUR BABY GIRLS ARE TOGETHER!!!!

Right now..always have been since November 2008 when they both were born and dropped off at the SAME exact orphanage(what are the odds of this?? again...only God!)
And now we will be traveling together the entire trip and our girls will have been together from day one..and can come home here and grow up together from here on out and only live 10min's apart!
And all because I posted a question on a yahoo group two years ago!!!

OK..that's my recap...a "short" version for me!
So that's them up above out on referral night celebrating w/us at a local chinese restaurant!
OH..and Sophie's little BFF is..Jaden Elise!!! She was born only two wks before Sophie! I just can't wait to meet her!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Signing papers...rushing around..mailing checks..mailing packages...applying for visas....checking air fare..
That's been our life the past week since we saw our sweet Sophie's face!
I have a feeling these next four wks before we leave are going to fly by!
We are praying Sophie's nanny sends along more pic's and updates on her very, very soon!
It's so bittersweet looking at her picture every day and night....we are all so in love with her...but it's hard to not be able to hold her in our arms yet...
WE CAN NOT WAIT TO GO!!!!

Sophie's care package ready to go and one of her future BFF's!

Well, her care package is packed up and ready to go to her...I pray her nannies actually open it up and show Sophie Su the photo album I made her filled w/pictures of us! Charlie and I also stopped at an international store today and picked up a few fun Chinese goodies and candies...some treats for the nannies...a pink rattle and teeny, tiny ladybug blankie sprayed to death w/my fav perfume(and kearston, this is the special blankie you bought Sophie 3, yes 3, years ago!) Plus two disposable cameras so they can take pic's of Sophie right now and where she is and mail them back to us, or give them to us when we get her next month.

And yesterday, my sweet little Addie spotted Sophie's photo book on the kitchen table so she grabbed it, and then took it and laid down on the floor w/it and just stared for a while..then I caught her very candidly kissing "sophies" face in the picture and saying.."there's baby sophie!" How sweet is that!!!

YEAH the Fed Ex lady came!!

Okay, crazy day..had six kiddos here under 6! But we did manage to get Caden to take my photo w/the fed ex lady and Charlie videoed the moment!
The pic's don't look too diff from her original "mug shot", but it's fun to have more of her!
According to our agency, the orphanage that Sophie is at is very good a/b taking current pics each wk or 2 and sending them to us w/updates on her while we wait out this next few weeks before we go!

Photos from the actual phone call!!! And celebrating out!

Fuzhou City Social Welfare Institute..Sophie's orphange

Hard to see, but glad it's so "pretty" looking...this is where our Sophie Su is right now!

Introducing our baby girl, Sophie Su Ruth!!!

Here is the day I have dreamed long and hard of...the introduction of our sweet baby girl!!! This is the first pic we've received today, tomorrow Fed Ex will be bringing more pics, some of her in an exersaucer and such....I can't even believe this happened..and OMG...she was born on my birthday!!!!!! Novemember 26th 2008!!!
more to come, i can't think!

Today is the Day, June 22nd, 2009!!!!

Today is the day....this morning is the very last time I will Post on this blog w/o knowing who our daugther is....in the "real world" of course. I've known who she is in my heart for 3+yrs now. For 3+yrs, this baby girl was born into my heart and soul and has grown there. Through, excitement, and disappointment, through laughter and tears, through patience and frustration, we made it through this wait, this long, long wait.

Sophia Ruth Rogers we would not trade this journey to you for ANYTHING!!!!! Waiting for you has allowed God to make me just who I need to be for you and your big brother! And I couldn't be a more proud mommy!!!!

The first words out of charlie's mouth as he woke this morning and ran into my room and jumped on top of me were: "mooooommmmmyyyyy...guess who's picture we're gonna see todayyyyyy!!!!!!!!!"

Those words....priceless!!!!!

And now we wait one more time for that phone to ring....RING PHONE RING!!!!!!!

It's official, we will be seeing Sophie Ruth for the first time THIS COMING MONDAY...IN 3 DAYS!!!!!!!!!

6/19/2009
Matches Arrived!!!



We just received a group of matches today! The CCAA matched our families with log in dates of March 15, 2006! We also received matches for our expedited families due to Chinese Descent who were logged in through April 10, 2007! At this time, the CCAA has not updated their intranet website, so we do not know the official cut off date.

Congratulations to all of our families who were matched in this group! We are excited to be calling these families on Monday!

We will update this website when more information becomes available.



Again, OMG, OMG, OMG this is all that's running through my brain!!!!!
This is it, it's official, we will all be seeing Sophia Ruth THIS MONDAY, as in THREE DAYS!!!!! OMG!!!

HOLY CRAPOLY!!!!!

OMG, OMG, OMG!!!!!....agencies in Europe are receiving their phone calls!!!!! OMG, OMG, OMG....which for all of you out there that have not adopted..that means, European agencies, who are 6 or so hrs ahead of us, are calling their families that were waiting and rt now those families are getting the phone call and looking at their babies faces right now!!!!! So for us, since our agency is not even open today yet,they will be opening their mail in a few hours and it WILL have Sophies picture matched to us and they will be calling us......????? I'm going to be on the safe side and say probably not until Monday, but there is that slight chance our phone will ring tonight!!!!!....Or maybe Saturday?????

I just can't beleive this, I really can't....

Oh Sophie, you will never truly know until one day, when you grow up and wait to become a mommy how this love feels...how it is so real and alive in you...how you can love someone so completely that you have never even met yet. You are so, so loved..more than we will ever be able to probably have words to explain to you. This wait has been so long and hard, but I would NEVER trade it for the world. Knowing we are only days/hours away from seeing your sweet face, and then only weeks aways from holding you in our arms is absolutly priceless!

Keep watching ya'll!!!!!! She's on her way!!!!!

OMG!!!!! It's almost a/b to happen!!!!!!

Matches Completed!



We have learned the CCAA has completed the next group of matches. We do not know the cut off date for the next set of matches at this time. We do hope the CCAA mails matches soon!

We will update this website as soon as we have new information



This,above, is a direct quote from our adoption agency!! We are in, it's a done deal, WE HAVE BEEN MATCHED!!!!!
Now all we have to do is wait for them to be put in the mail in the next day or so and then we will get the phone call and see our sweet babies face!!!!!
I can't believe this is about to happen!
I do not even have any more words at the moment...I'm just silently FREAKING OUT(good freaking out..LOL!!!!!)

Enjoying the sunshine and early summer fun!

Praying this is the Week!!!

Well, so far nothing yet....BUT there are some rumors out there that papers are moving and in the air here from China for people's travel approvals from the last May 21st batch of families that received their babies...and USUALLY, once travel approvals come out..the next batch of referrals follow....WHICH WILL BE US!!!!!!

Trying to stay patient and calm..but rarely succeeding.....LOL

This past girls weekend away helped!
Thanks to you, Kearston, Jen, and Georgie;) I had the best time away w/the best girls around...I can't imagine going through any of this w/o the support of my amazing friends and family! Love ya guys to pieces!!!! I pray Sophia one day has friends like you all in her life too!!!

OK...please pray along w/us that one of the next posts you see our sweet baby girls face!!!!

Our official First Grader to be!!

Schools out for summer!!!!

Charlie had his little "graduation" last day of school party on Monday and it was so much fun! His teacher brought each of them up to the front of the circle time carpet and dedicated a special award with a folder full of treats! Then we headed outside to the field for rely races and an ice cream social!
Our sweet big boy is growing up so fast, and his daddy and I couldnt be prouder of what a amazing little boy he is!

We love you buddy to the moon, and stars, and sun and back and back and back! xoxox

And to my sweet Sophie Ruth....we will soon be able to begin all over again with you! This past three years of waiting for you has truly flown by....Your big Brother Charlie was only 3 years old at the start of this journey to get to you.....and back then we thought the two of you would be a/b 2 or 3yrs apart.....and here we are now...and you'll be 5 yrs apart...but I would'nt trade this age gap for the world..
I am so thankful to God that I've had these past 6 years to focus on your big brother and give him all the one on one we did..and now you my sweet girl will be able to get the same...all my one on one next year while your big brother tackels first grade!!! We will be able to have "mommy and Sophie" days just like I've had "mommy and Charlie" days the past 6yrs...oh how I treasure those days with him and will soon again w/you!
Any day now....any day now....we wait patiently(well some days I'm patient-LOL) and hopefully for the phone call that will change our lives forever....the introduction of sweet wonderful YOU!!!!
We are coming soon baby girl!!!
Mommy xoxoxo

Last half day of school ever!!!

Well, this past Thursday was my baby's last half/two hour day of school EVER! I can't beleive kindergarten is over...where oh where did those 9 months go?
Tomorrow morning he will walk one last morning as a kindergartener to go have his final day and graduation....I already packed my kleenexes:(
And then it's official summer break and official prepare to go get Miss Sophie Ruth!

We are praying and keeping our hopes up that this week we hear good news that referrals are on their way!!!!!!

It's so thrilling and overwhelming and yet calming all at the same time to know that one of my very next few posts will include the introduction of our daughter and her beautiful face!

Happy Memorial Day...and WE ARE NEXT!!!!

As biased as I am....isn't he the cutest thing ever?!!!!

Poor Charlie....I know he secretly hates that his mommy is a photo taking/scrapbook making nut....-LOL!!
But oh how sweet he is to comply w/me and endure my make shift photo shoots out in our yard!!!

Hope everyone had a blessed Memorial Day weekend celebrating the wonderful men and women that served the very country we are all blessed to live in!

Oh..and WE ARE NEXT-LOL!!!!!! (I wake up every day now telling myself this w/the biggest smile on my face!)

We are coming soooon my sweet baby girl to be!!!!!

We Are Next!!!!!!!!

Well...as much as I've said these last couple months.."I think we MAY be next"...today, I can finally say with 100% certaintly...WE ARE NEXT!!!!

People logged into the program through March 14, 2006 receieved there baby referrals yesterday.....and if you havent memorized it by now(lol)....our log in date is March 15, 2006!!!! NEXT, NEXT, NEXT DATE IN LINE!!!!!!

The when factor is not completley determined at this point...some rumors are pointing towards the next week or two...if all goes well, and the CCAA resumes sending out referrals as they always did...we should start hearing something towards the end of next week!!!!!!
I can't believe we are next...I can't believe it!

Somewhere..across the world today...two files sit.....
One w/pictures of us...
One w/pictures of her...
Two files matched together at last...

Oh Lord, keep her safe...please guard her with your angels...
guard her mind, body, soul and spirit....
Oh keep her safe, our sweet Sophie Ruth...

Hold on tight sweet baby girl...your forever family is coming soon!
Love mommy xoxoxo

Positive Rumors...ladybug signs and Thankyous!

Well, FINALLY after 3 wks of waiting to hear SOMETHING we are hearing "some" things....all good...all pointing towards things moving along again w/baby referrals(fingers crosssed)....no word that we are IN this time...but HOPEFULLY if things do resume...we will be in the following batch!

Last wk was a hard one with everything going so still and quiet b/c of the swine flu(even thought the CCAA does not admitt to this being the reason)..but anyway, I had to dig deep and do lots of "talking" w/God to help get me through that quiet uncertain wk last wk and as ALWAYS, He did answer me in SOOOO many diff ways...(too many to share on here)...but one quick way I can share....he sent me so many ladybugs...and as all of you out there in adoption land know, ladybugs are a good luck sign in the land of Chinese adoption....so each day since last Monday I have not only seen them, but a few days, including yesterday, they've landed directly ON me out of no where!!!

"But as for me, O God, I will always have hope; I will praise You more and more"
- Ps.71:14

And lastly, a big thankyou to all you out there that have called/emailed us daily the past week and a half to check on us and offer sweet encouraging words! You all are a big part of this wait w/us and your support and encouragement have meant the world to us...we are so blessed w/the best family and friends around, thankyou, thankyou!

So heres to more hope, more faith and more praise that Sophie Ruth IS on her way SOON!!!

You are six..my first love..my first joy...

Dear Charlie,

Here you are six, six today...
I love watching you play...
My first love, my first joy...

Apple of my eye...
My love for you surpasses the sky...

Love Mommy xoxoxo

Oh Swine Flu PLEASE go away.....

I feel like I'm in a bad dream....one I desperately want to wake out of....

How can it be that we were RIGHT there...so close..NEXT to be matched....
And then, as life would have it, the Swine Flu is introduced...and has now thrown China into a hysterical panic...one in which they are manhunting down anyone that has had flu symptoms and quarantining them until it's gone.....one that the gov't is not even letting parents in or out of schools to pick up their children....one that is taking temp's of every human on that land and having it reported to their gov't....one that is denying visa's to travel to most places in China.

So as you can conclude...we probably wont be going to get Sophie anytime soon(or as soon as we had thought)....not even a match.....Is it possible to get through this...of course it is...are we giving up...of course we are NOT...but does it suck and make my heart ache daily and my stomach a ball of nerves....YES..a thousand times YES.

Someone said to me on Monday.."I don't know how you can go through this and wait anymore..if I were you I would have pulled out of the adoption program long ago"
Is this someone a good friend, NO.....but still.....it just goes to show they have no clue how we feel a/b Sophie, and it made me so mad.

Sophie may not be "real" to any of you..but she is to us. We feel God planted her soul into our hearts 3+yrs ago and since then she has been growing....growing into a love like the love we have for our first....it's no different....

I said nothing to this person..just shrugged...but what I wanted to say..what I should have said was this...

Imagine carrying a child..being pregnant....(maybe as long as an elephant-LOL)and then that child has to be taken out of you for whatever reason...and taken away for awhile...you can't hold this child..you can't see this child..you cant smell this child....but you are told all you have to do is wait...how long you say? No one knows for sure...but if you wait, you will get to her....

And I should have said to this person, "would you wait" -OF course you would wait..it's your child...your baby...the baby the Lord made just for you....
And that's what Sophie Ruth is to us..our child....our child the Lord made just for us....and we will wait...through my tears and aching stomach I will wait and be strong and keep my faith......
Sophia Ruth I will NEVER give up on you....Love mommy xoxoxo

All is Quiet....

Well, as our luck would have it, we heard NOTHING yesterday.....same rumors floating around that we are in...but no word from China or our agency....so that means we just do some more waiting(think I've got that down pat)until Monday...
Ok guys..so heres to this week....here's to getting our phone call...heres to seeing our sweet baby girls face for the very first time....
Please pray w/us for Miss Sophie Ruth Rogers!!!
Stay Tuned!!!!!

And the Rumor Says....!!!!

OK..so trying to stay calm here....BUT...hard to....there are a few agencies out there, and the famous "rumor Queen" herself, all saying that things are pointing in the direction of our favor and we may very well be in for this next batch of referrals!!!!!!!! OMG...did I really just write that?

OK..so, nothings for sure yet, but just the fact that we are FINALLY after 3 long yrs involved in a "rumor" that says we are NEXT makes me beam from ear to ear....

Did I sleep last night? Well....I did a good job of composing myself after reading that we may be getting the phone call next, and falling asleep...UNTIL..my personal cheerleader..aka..Kearston, rings me out of bed at 11pm...freaking out b/c she too had just discovered and heard we may be in!!!(thanks K-LOL!!)So then did I fall back asleep...??? Of course not!

Thoughts of you my Sophie dear consumed my mind and I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed w/so many, many diff emotions.....

Part of me feels like we are on a game show, playing a game that has lasted 3 yrs too long...and now we are a/b to hear.."and the winner is..."...AHHHHHHHH "The Rogers Family!!!!!"....-LOL!

Stay tuned...we are holding on w/both hands.....!!!!!!!..and holding our breath!

The Kentucky Derby 09, and STILL waiting to hear a/b Sophie!!!!

Here we are again back from our annual Kentucky Derby week long celebration! I would never have guessed back 15 years ago when my family was relocated to Louisville, that going to the Derby would soon become one of my favorite things to do each year, but it has!!
It really is an amazing event and one that the whole town goes nuts over! We had such a great time, although no big win's at the track, we had a blast all around!
We had three newbies join the gang this year, Uncle Dougie's girlfriend, Anna, her brother Anthony, and our dear friend Mark. I really wish I could add little Miss Sophie to the list of "new" people at Derby this past week, but not quite yet!

So on that note...we have the swine flu thing that may or may not slow things down a bit for this next batch of baby referrals.....figures.....time will tell. So our agency is reporting that although the Chinese Gov't is asking you to use common sense when traveling and maybe holding off a wk or so, they are not stopping the matching process...so....that being true we will hear ANY DAY NOW!!!!!!

Hard to believe that we are only one or so weeks away vs the months away we've been for so long...

Oh my Sophie Ruth, one day soon you will be with us gracing the Kentucky Derby track with your sweet presence!!!!! WE love you so, so much!!!! -mommy xoxoxo

Kentucky Derby Weekend 2009!!!!!