Can anyone tell me why dear husband had to start nesting only 2 weeks before we leave? And why does the height of very noisy nesting activity have to begin precisely 3 minutes before my bedtime? But I have to say, new closet looks great. Shiny, new sink and tub fixtures looking pretty as well.

I think poor Indi (our first child with four paws and a tail) is starting to get the picture...

Dates! Dates! Dates!...you're welcome?

That's what Cameron yelled to me upstairs when he got the email this morning. He said, "Carolyn! Dates, dates, Omygawd, dates!" I was upstairs and misheard. Thought he said, "Thanks, thanks, thanks!" So I responded, "Ummm...You're welcome!?"

What he meant, of course, was that we've finally received our travel dates! We've been waiting on seat's edge for an appointment with the Consulate in China. Our travel dates centered around this particular appointment where paperwork allowing our girls to leave China would be finalized.

Cameron and I will be arriving in Beijing November 8th with 8 other families adopting through Holt International. We'll then travel to Guangzhou. "Gotcha' Day" is November 10th. This day, as well as many days to follow, will be filled with so many emotions - joy, love, new hope, as well as sadness, grief and loss. It will be an exciting time for us, but it's undeniable that the twins will be experiencing an extremely traumatic loss. We know that it will be trying. We've read many accounts of how infants deal with this grief. May God grant us wisdom, patience and lots of energy during this time.

AND we'll get it all on video for you to witness on the coolio new camera that we received from our dear friends, Ryan and Sarah.

If all goes well, we'll be home in time to celebrate a particularly special...and messy...Thanksgiving with friends and family. CAN'T WAIT!!!!

Happy Birthday Shayne and Norah!

BTW, the girls turned 1-year-old on the 29th of September. Cameron texted me mid-day, "Happy Birthday Shayne and Norah". This brought a smile to my face as I imagined the twins sporting a birthday hat and enjoying cake...chasing it down with formula (that's hopefully free of Melamine:)

During my lunch break, I went to run errands. Tears came to my eyes as I realized that I would be missing this big milestone. I wanted to hug them and tell them that I wished them a happiest first birthday, that mom and dad love them and would be there soon to give them endless hugs and kisses until they turned 13 and don't want anymore. Then, we'll force more hugs and kisses on them.

Hang in there girls! Enjoy your first birthday. Hope you got our package and like the gifts we sent you. Smile for the disposable camera we included:) Love, Mom

Typhoon Hagupit hits our daughters' orphanage!

Last week, our hearts skipped a beat when we heard about the big typhoon that hit southern China, primarily because it was going to hit Maoming city, where our daughters currently reside. Thankfully, they and their friends are doing just fine.

This is my opportunity to tell you a little about a program called Half The Sky (HTS), that has contributed greatly to the success of our daughters' physical and mental development. HTS is a Berkeley-based organization founded less than a decade ago by adoptive parents, Jenny and Richard Bowen. They started this program after realizing that children living in institutions are able to truly thrive under the care of HTS's trained, loving nannies. Shayne and Norah's orphanage is enrolled in HTS's wonderful program. To read more about HTS, go to http://www.halfthesky.org/.

Here is a report from Jenny Bowen that made us realize how thankful we should forever be to the nannies that love and care for our girls:

"For those of you who are worried about Typhoon Hagupit which hit Maoming, Guangdong on Wednesday, I have this report from ZZ, Half the Sky's managing director:"It was a big wind but not heavy rain, so a few brave people could still go out in the street. At Maoming CWI, they allowed the nannies to stay home and our program has stopped for one day. In the Family Village, some of the windows were broken due to strong wind, but they were immediately repaired."In Maonan CWI, (this is Shayne and Norah's orphanage!!) the nannies were so brave they came to work, but in the street they had to get help from the trees or the street light poles when the wind was too strong. Since they were told that the wind and stormwould arrive at about 6:30am, many of the nannies came before then –around 5:30am. What a group of dedicated and strong women!"All of the children are fine and there is no damage to either institution."

Thank the Lord that He's watching and protecting our little girls.