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Friday, December 30, 2005

We Have Legals In Our Hands

Today, I picked up Ian's legals from the Dillon office. It was great to actually see the document that grants guardianship to Charlie. Just seeing it in print makes it even more real to me. Charlie didn't seem as "geeked" about it as I was. I'm bouncing off the walls.

There is another bit of paperwork to do, but not nearly as much as the acceptance paperwork. We will work on that this weekend. What a way to ring in the new year.

Hopefully next week we'll hear more about his passport. Again, once the passport is issued, we can book our travel. I'm trying not to count days, but geesh that's tough.

One more day and then 2005 comes to a close. It's hard to believe that another year has gone by. Before we know it, we'll be traveling to India to pick up our precious little guy and then we'll turn around and he'll be graduating high school. Yikes!!!

Today we're one more step closer to Ian. Thanks be to God.

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Soon, Baby, Soon

Today we received and email from Jynger. Our court orders (legals / guardianship) arrived at the Dillon office today. She will process it and hopefully get it to us by the end of the week.

We still cannot book our travel yet. We need to wait until his passport has been issued. Either way we go, it's kind of scary. If we book before his passport is issued, we run the risk of having to change our tickets, which can be very expensive. If we don't book now, we run the risk of not having enough notice to get a good fare. So...we're just not sure which way to go at this point. I know as soon as we get word his passport has been issued, I'll want to leave that day and get him. Now, I know that's not realistic...but I'll want to get there as soon as I possibly can. We'll figure it out I guess.

Sunday, December 25, 2005

Christmas 2005

Today was a pretty laid back day in the Conner household. I cooked, we ate, took a nap and then we went to the movie. We saw The Producers. Good movie. I love the stage version, but this was pretty good.

We were sitting in the movie theatre this evening and the realization hit us (again)....if all goes as planned, we'll have Ian in our arms in less than a month. Overwhelming feeling...but a great feeling at the same time.

Char did put the high chair together today. He looked so cute doing it. Just like a Daddy....putting stuff together on Christmas Day. Since he's off this week, I have lots of little projects like that planned for him. He'll also have some down time too. But, we do have quite a bit of "stuff" to do before we travel to India.

We can't wait until next year to have Ian home with us for Christmas. We watched his video several times today. It was kind of like having him with us for just a few minutes.

Saturday, December 24, 2005

9 Months Old

Today Ian is 9 months old. Hopefully we'll have him in our arms before he is 10 months old.

Friday, December 23, 2005

Legals

Finally...I'm posting. We received word on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 that our legals have been issued. Woo, hoo....India here we come.

Ian's passport has been filed for and SHOULD be issued in 10 business days. Hopefully all goes well. We are looking to travel either the 2nd or 3rd week in January. If everything goes as planned we should have Ian in our arms in about a month. We're so excited.

I didn't post until today because we told some very close friends last night and we wanted to surprise them. I'm not sure they read this blog, but I didn't want to risk ruining the surprise. Everyone was shocked and thrilled. We had a little champagne toast while we watched his video.

We are going to fill out the paperwork for our Visas tomorrow and get those in the mail on Tuesday. That should take about 2 weeks.

While we still have a lot to do, this part of the journey is getting close to an end and a new one will begin.

The Chris Tomlin song "How Great Is Our God" keeps going through my head. He truly is a GREAT and gracious God. As we get ready to celebrate Christmas, Charlie and I are reminded of the birth of our Savior....How Great Is our God.

More Ian news as we have it.

Sunday, December 18, 2005

Meaningful Day

Well today would have been my Mom's 75th birthday. I wish she could be here to experience this with us. She's been gone for 11 years now and I still miss her. She would have been a fabulous grandmother. Ian will not know her, but I'll sure tell him about her and he will know that she loves him from a far. Happy Birthday Mom!!!

More News

On Thursday, 12/15/05, we received word that our legals should be out of the Kolkata court within a day or two. What does that mean? That means that we have only one more big step and then we travel. Once guardianship is issued, Mrs. Roy (the director of the orphanage) will file for his passport. She will then send the guardianship paperwork to Jynger at Dillon. His passport will take 15-20 business days.

So....now we are beginning to really look at travel dates. Hopefully by the end of January...maybe sooner...we'll have Ian in our arms and we'll be a family forever. What a glorious day that will be.

I'm beginning to panic just a little. Since neither Charlie or I have traveled internationally before, I'm concerned that we won't know what to do, where to go, etc. Worry and panic...not a good combination. I'm not worried about getting him. While that's going to be amazing and overwhelming at the same time, I think we're ready for that. Being in a strange place while being amazed and overwhelmed....that concerns me. But...we'll get through it. We know that God will be watching our every single move and will be protecting us all along the way.

Maybe my next post will be about our travel plans.

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Video

We received the video of Ian today. I'm so overwhelmed. He is absolutely adorable. I just can't wait to actually have this little guy in my arms.

He's very alert. He certainly seems happy and content. It looks like he loves being on his tummy. He's just precious.

I'm also impressed with the loving touches of the caregivers. It warmed my heart to see how they really care for him.

I'm so in love with this baby already and I haven't even held him yet.

Monday, December 12, 2005

Updated Information

I spoke with the director of the India program, Jynger, today. I tried to hold off for as long as I could to call her. Today was her first day back in the office since her trip to India. I used restraint and waited to call her until after lunch. I had to know exactly how our little guy is doing.

She said that he is a laid back baby. He's very content and happy. She said that he smiles a lot. He recognizes his caregiver and responds well to her. She said that he loves being held. He will be 9 months old on Christmas Eve. He is doing age appropriate things, but, we do realize that he will be somewhat delayed due to the time he has spent in the orphanage. The ladies in the orphanage obviously take very good care of him, but there are so many children there that there's no way any of them can get the individual attention and stimulation they need.

His shunt is working beautifully. The doctor said that he has not had any problems at all with it.

He now weights 7.6kg (16.75 pounds) and is 65cm tall (21.65 inches). So...he's still a little guy. But...when I look at the Indian growth charts, he's pretty much right on track.

We're still waiting on guardianship and hopefully that will come by the end of the year. So maybe in the next 8 weeks or so we will be traveling. I certainly hope so. I just want to get him home now.

Jynger is working on editing the video footage she took while she was there. Maybe by Wednesday evening we'll have the video to look at.

Sunday, December 11, 2005

Another Precious Photo


We love the smiling picture, but this one is just too cute.

Hang on baby....mommy and daddy are coming soon.

Difficult Day

Well, today was surprisingly difficult. Since we received Ian's referral in September, the wait has been a little easier than I thought it would be. Well....today...for some reason....that changed. I'm having a really hard time right now because I want to hop on an airplane and go to India and get my baby. Seeing his new pictures this week was wonderful. But, now, I want him to be home with us even more. I'm sure I'll get through this phase, but right now I'm not exactly sure how. I know this is all in God's hands and His perfect timing, but I have this intense longing in my heart.

Tomorrow will be another day and I have to think that it's just one more day closer to the day we will get Ian.

Friday, December 09, 2005

New Photos


Jynger, the director of the India program for Dillon International, has been in India since November 28th. She emailed us on Tuesday night and when I opened my email on Wednesday...ta da....new pictures of Ian. He is changing so much and looks so, so good. I was estatic. I just can't wait to go get this little guy. I'm posting his picture now so everyone can see our beautiful baby boy.

Ian Everett Kushal Conner
Born March 24, 2005