A lot has happened in less than 36 hours! Our A5 (article 5, paperwork from the US Embassy in Guangzhou) was picked up August 31. This is the last US step in our adoption process until we are in China. That paperwork basically tells the Chinese government that all of our ducks are in a row and that Colin and Cora will be allowed to enter the US upon completion of their adoption. Once the paperwork is delivered back to the adoption authority in China they will issue a TA (travel approval) that grants us permission to come to China!! We received our travel approval yesterday morning. Receiving TA allows us to ask for a CA (consulate appointment) in Guangzhou which is required for Colin and Cora to be issued their visa's to enter the US. We received our CA this morning and proceeded like crazy people to book flights and hotels.
Flights are booked and we leave October 3! We will return home as a family of SIX on October 21! We will spend a few days in Beijing while our entire travel group arrives and then make our way to Zhengzhou. We will meet the babies on October 9 (evening Oct 8 US time). Last time we were able to leave much quicker but this time is a little different due to the holiday. Our family day would have most likely been Sept 25 but there are no family days Sept 25 or Oct 2 due to government closures to celebrate. We are glad we made the cut off for Oct 9 as Colin's birthday is Oct 14. We will be blessed to share it with him.
More details to come as we prepare to leave. Now we must pack....
