What Are YOU Going To Do About Santa?

Well as we were out finishing up the last minute shopping for the trip it was hard to ignore the Christmas season being hauled into the stores. We were finally headed home when Sydney pipes up from the back seat (she was quiet until then which in teenager means heavy thinking or sleeping) and says "Mom what are YOU going to do about Santa? The boys don't know about Santa. YOU better figure out something. We had Santa, the boys should have Santa. YOU better think of something to tell them. Their friends will know about Santa they have to know too. What are YOU going to tell them?"

#1 There were 2 parents in the car (the "other" one was mysteriously quiet.)

#2 Whoever said Mom had to have all the answers?

#3 Oh man, how on earth do you explain Santa?

I guess it boils down to that it doesn't matter if the kids are bio or adopted, a lot of parenting is done by the seat of your pants and you'd better be able to think on your feet and as Sydney found out - her parents don't have all the answers but we'll work on it.

Can You Say Typhoon Mirinae?

Yep - you've got it - another typhoon hit Luzon today (Saturday in the Philippines). It's on a path towards Manila moving quicker than the one that hit earlier. The reports are that it should move out to sea and towards Vietnam by nightfall Saturday (Saturday a.m. here). Typhoons are usually winding down in November but apparently Mirinae didn't get the message. I've been checking the weather this week, mainly just to see what the temperature highs have been to help with packing. They had been reporting chances of thunderstorms but I checked this afternoon and here comes Typhoon Mirinae. The boys will think our thunderstorms are spring showers - I wonder if it thunders and lightenings in a typhoon? I'm guessing maybe not.

How Come I Always Have the Most Stuff?

I'm not sure how but no matter how few items I set out to pack my suitcase is always overloaded. Sitting on the bed my stack of clothes looked no bigger than the piles for Mike and Sydney, yet when loaded into the 3 suitcases mine is level full while I was able to put items for the boys in both Mike's and Syd's. My good intentions of only taking the minimum amount of clothes always gets over-ruled by the part of me that hates not having an option in case of bad weather, bad mood, change of plans, change of mood...you kind of see where this is headed. As long as I keep it under 44 lbs my suitcase is ok right up until I'm at the end of 30 hours of no sleep trying to drag this suitcase through a foreign airport and that's if we're lucky and our suitcases aren't m.i.a. Anyway the suitcases are loaded (yes a week early but it won't matter cause by the time we reach Manila it's all a wadded up mess anyway). I do feel better about the preparations than I did last night. At least there is progress and now you can walk into the boys room - you just can't see the beds as that's where the suitcases are!

Packing and Planning...

"Two weeks should be plenty of time to pack 3 suitcases for 3 people."

"How much can suitcases weigh when you fly internationally?"

"Who's picking us up at the airport in Manila at 11:00 p.m.?"

"What time is our appointment to meet the boys?"

"Why is it taking me 3 days and counting to pack one suitcase?"

I really thought that once we reached this point that I'd have had this part down as I've had a lot of time to think about this. But these past two days trying to figure out what to pack for the 3 of us and what items to take with us for the boys has really jammed my brain. Could be that I'm also obsessing about finishing sub plans at work and trying to keep things on an even keel with day to day stuff until we leave. Let's see there's Halloween, Rachel traveling this week-end, Sydney in the high school play the night before we fly out and Alison and troups to install in the house for house sitting duty. Plus did I mention the PACKING which at the moment has exploded into the boys' room as it seemed to be the most out of traffic area. Good plan but now I can't stand that their room which was all set and cleaned is now ground zero. I know, I know it will come together and I won't remember this after they get home. Then I also have the reassurance of friends with sons that this is to become a permanent state of housekeeping --I'll strive for a happy medium. 12 days and counting......

Hotel Is Reserved

Called Manila last night and reserved rooms at the Holiday Inn Galleria. It was actually easier than booking a room within the U.S. We didn't use the Holiday Inn website to book because the size of room we needed it just kept saying we exceeded the maximum people allowed per room. It was a whole lot less frustrating to talk with a live person and tell her what we were doing and what we needed. She gave us 3 options and we were all set. Still hate the fact that we are coming back early Sunday afternoon, Rachel will only have a couple hours at most before she has to head back. Can't be helped doesn't mean we have to like it.

Making Travel Plans!!!

Yes - we were expecting only to hear if Lucas passed his chest x-ray (which he did thank God) but we also got the best news so far... Eva said to go ahead and begin making travel plans. Many hours later we now have flights for November 7 and arriving home on the 15th. Not exactly the dates we hoped for (I wanted to leave now - guess that was overboard). We'll have to come back on a Sunday instead of Saturday. The thing we've learned tonight is that it's fairly easy to get to Manila but harder to get a flight out. Now for the fun time of calling hotels in Manila and seeing what we can get for a hotel reservation.

Bracing For Yet Another Storm!

Yes it's true...there is another typhoon headed for the eastern and northern portion of the island Manila is on. There are evacuations in the north and emergency measures being taken everywhere. The devastating pictures from the Philippines are heart rending. Everyone looks so exhausted from the soldiers, to relief workers, orphanage workers and everyday residents. Keep them in your prayers.

Physicals and Immunizations and X-Ray

Well here's what we know today. Eli and Lucas had their physicals on the 14th. Eli passed his and won the "lucky" opportunity to have 3 vaccinations (MMR, HepB and Chicken Pox) even though our doctor here will be repeating all their vaccinations. Welcome to our country! Lucas had to have a follow up chest x-ray which will be read Monday, the 19th and hopefully do his shots then too. Then both boys go on Friday, October 23 for their visa interview. Boy I sure hope that all goes off as planned. Another week-end of waiting, but possibly just a little closer than we were.

Psych! Not Yet

Well the appointments didn't happen last Friday due to ICAB not being able to release the funds yet. Today we recieved word that the funds are now available and Eva is trying to see if they can schedule the boys' physicals for the 14th and the embassy appointments for next week. Now it's looking like we may hit traveling right before Thanksgiving - don't want to jinx anything but international holiday travel doesn't sound like fun but if that's when they say go we're gone!

Visa Medical Appointment???

Not sure but after checking the Embassy in Manila website on Wednesday, it showed the boys' were scheduled for the visa medicals Friday, October 9 at St. Luke's. I was able to email Kristine at Holt to double check as we hadn't heard anything from them. She said they had not heard anything from Eva about it being scheduled and that the embassy website is not reliable. I'll take the positive (and uninformed) and say that the embassy didn't pull the boys' case numbers and randomly put them on the site for no reason...hopeful thinking I know but as we move into week 6 of waiting on ICAB to release the funds I'll take any ray of sunshine out there.