EP submitted 1/4/2011, EP approved 1/14?, Visa physical appointment 1/26, Travel call 1/31 !!!!!

I cannot believe it. This baby brother that Shayne and Norah were quickly becoming disenchanted with (as they thought it was pretty lame to have a baby brother that was only a picture on the computer) is finally coming home!!! We are asked by the agency to make travel arrangements to be in Korea no later than 7-10 days from travel call. Seriously, who can square away life with work and twin toddlers in 7-10 days? The agency then advised us to delay travel by about a week so as to avoid the hassle of closures due to the Lunar New Year (2/3/2011). Using mileage points from my parents has also limited our travel dates somewhat and delayed our trip until 2/13. Though we can't grab onto lil' T soon enough, we are relieved to have the extra time.

So, the last few months, we've entered into numerous stressful discussions about who would care for Shayne and Norah as we travel to meet Tobers. You travel alone. No, I travel alone. No I'll travel with a friend. No, we have to go together. How about we just bring girls with us? They're too young. How about we just pick the escort option and pick him up at LAX? Maybe my parents will stay with the girls, we hire a babysitter to come bathe them and house-keep some?

So, grandma and grandpa had lovingly agreed that they would stay with the girls when it would be time to travel to Korea. Unfortunately, grandma was hit with shingles about 4 months ago. Her energy is still far to low to contend with 3 year old twin toddlers. Grandpa needs to spend most of his time caring for grandma and picking up the slack around the house.

Then, God gave us Holly. I'll write more about dear Holly in a later post, but she is the darling that will be caring for and loving our girls while we go to Korea for about 8 days. The girls are ecstatic. I have random fits of hysteria as I imagine leaving my girls for so long a period. But our great God knows what each of us needs and I know that they will be OK.