It Figures...

It figures, here we are, 4 days from leaving, and I am sicker than I have been in a very long time. We have so much we need to do, and I don't feel like doing any of them. Matt keeps telling me to keep thinking positively, but he needs to tell that to my stomach. :)

Today is my last day at school until we get back from Thailand. I had a lot of plans for today to make it a fun and special day for my kids, and I'll try to muddle through... I will miss them all very much!

On a much brighter note, Holt sent us some unexpected new photos of Abe this week! Apparently, Tuk took him to get his passport picture made, and it looks like the pictures were made at McDonald's. The pictures were titled "My Dad" and "My Mom" and he is pointing to each of us. Is it me, or is he smiling more about Matt's picture than mine??? :) I hope is is ready to come home!

Schedule for while we are there.

Schedule for Gaskins



May 9, 2010 ( Sunday )

10.00 a.m. Meet Mo at the lobby of the Panthip Court. Will have a brief discussion of schedule and update information of your child.

10:30 a.m. Tuk will accompany Pataradanai to meet you at the hotel. Please take time to get to know him. Will have lunch at the hotel’s restaurant. Will accompany him to your room to see other hotel facilities and relax afterwards.

03:30 p.m. Will return to Mahamek Home for Boys and you will join this trip to informally visit his friends and caretakers. It is time to take photos for Pataradanai’s memory.

NOTE: Pataradanai wants to treat his friends (31 children in his house with 2 caretakers) with pizza. If you agree with this idea then we can make plan to order pizza from a shop near the home for boys for them on Sunday evening.

May 10, 2010 ( Monday )
09.00 a.m. Meet Tuk at the lobby of the hotel. She will accompany you to the Home for Boys. Will courtesy meet with the superintendent, Mr. Somsak Phantia and the Home for Boys staff. You will sign paper for taking custody of the child.

Your child will say good-bye to his caretakers and the entire Home for Boys staff and return to the hotel with you. He will be placed to you from today then will leave the hotel with Tuk or do some shopping for Pataradanai afterwards.

May 11, 2010 (Tuesday)

Free on your own schedule.

May 12, 2010 ( Wednesday )

08:00 a.m. Meet Mo at the lobby of the hotel. Will accompany you to attend DSDW meeting, which will begin at 09:00 am. You will meet with Khun Angkhana Homhual, the Social Worker of the Child Adoption Center, who process for your adoption case up to approval.

It is suggested to bring along water, snack and toys for your children since it will be long waiting there.

The memorandum of agreement will be given to you after the meeting.

Afternoon : Free


May 13, 2010 (Thursday) The Day for visa interview

08:30 a.m. Meet Mo at the waiting area of visa section inside of US. Embassy. Please prepare your passport to show at the security checking.

You will wait at the waiting area until your name will be announced. Please prepare to spend couple hours there.

One parent can go to pick up the child’s visa at visa section the same day or the next afternoon.

We are staying super busy!

Being teachers, there are a lot of responsibilities we have to take care of before we go. Amy and I both have tests, or testing to get finished. We have to gather up all our books. Get our substitute in line, and make sure that our students are doing quality work that is worthwhile while we are gone. Bills, house, animals, etc. It is funny how the little stuff you do everyday adds up when you have to prepare to be gone for 3 weeks. It is also strange to think that we will be going to two different countries and that we will be staying 10 days in Thailand. Neither of us has been out of the country except on a cruise ship, and I am not sure that counts.

Started Packing...

We decided that we needed to start packing some things to make next week a little easier and less complicated (is that even possible right now?). So we started pulling out all the clothes we have in different sizes (Thanks Angie Cox!) and pick some to take with us since we have no idea what he will have with him when we leave. We picked up a button-up shirt and little tie for him to wear to our Adoption Board Meeting (I hope it fits). Other than that, we packed some shorts and things for him to wear home. We have been trying to think of things to have on the plane to keep Abe entertained on the way home. We have lots of things for him to play with that don't require much instruction like Leggos, etc.