Big News!

What a busy time! So busy I haven't even been able to sit down and type in our very exciting news from last week. On Wednesday we received an e-mail from CCAI telling us that our dossier was logged into the Chinese system on December 9, 2005. The goal has been met and this is the last piece of the puzzle for several months to come. There is nothing for us to do but pray, wait and prepare Mara and ourselves for a new family member.

The bad news is that referrals have slowed down so much that it is possible we won't get our new daughter until 2007. However, this is just the most extreme, doomsday position according to our agency. They are still expecting referrals to come in at 8 to 10 months. We're going to expect that and hope for even sooner. CCAA, the agency in China that matches children is going through a big change in protocol and organization that is to make things more efficient and practical for the children. Jeff and I are choosing to believe that once that change has been made the referrals will speed up and our time will be much shorter than it looks right now.

Mara had bronchitis last week. Yuck! She coughed so much she could hardly sleep and she was very miserable. However, the antibiotics kicked in quickly and she is back to her old self. Sadly, Jeff, Nikki and I all caught the nasty cold that brought on her bronchitis. Hard to miss when you were coughed on for days. Katelynn, not being home during Mara's illness has so far avoided it. Thankfully we should all be feeling well by week's end when all the Christms festivities begin.

John and Max arrived in Colorado for Christmas on Saturday. Sharon doesn't get to come until Thursday and we miss her. Mark and Jacqui and family will be here in a few days and we look forward to a very merry Christmas with the entire extended family. Katelynn and Nikki will join their uncles, cousins and one aunt for a ski trip this week. They are really excited as Nikki has never skied and it has been many years since Katelynn has been. I'm sure there will be much shopping the remainder of this week as none of us are done. Nikki looks forward to her last final on Wednesday so she can begin celebrating. Yep, the Christmas season is in full swing and we are already having fun.

Katelynn and Mara went to Grandma's house today to make Christmas sugar cookies with Max. Mara is much enamored of her newly met cousin. I'm afraid she has not made such a favorable impression on him. Being the very touchy feely person Mara is, she wants to be hugging and touching Max all the time. He doesn't seem to view this as a manly activity and wishes she'd quit. (She can be just the wee bit overwhelming with such behavior!) Uncle John, on the other hand, is a different story. As her sisters before her, Mara has decided he is the greatest thing since sliced bread. He returns the affection and has her captivated. The rest of us are chopped liver when Uncle John is in the room. Hey, there may be a sandwich in there somewhere.

Well, back to baking cookies and wrapping gifts. Time to crank up the Christmas music and enjoy the free time for details while Mara is otherwise entertained. Thanks, Katelynn!