Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Paper, Paper, Everywhere Paper

Last night, The Boss and I sat down to compile the many packing lists I've been collecting. One of the many benefits I've found in this community of bloggers, and more specifically adoptive mom bloggers, is that they are so willing to share information. So I set about picking the brains of those who have done this trip. I really keyed in on those who have done it more than once. Momma didn't raise no dummy - why make the work harder on myself when there are plenty who have paved the way already?! All of these moms have been gracious to send me the lists they worked from, most of them gathered from other moms who have gone before them! In addition, we had some items listed for us from Living Hope to coordinate into the planning.

Here's the pile we started with (note that the pile
consists of about 6-8 separate piles of 3-5 pages each!):


Here's the final compilation of all the notes and lists and ideas we've been collecting. I have no doubt that I will be exceedingly grateful for this particular skill that The Boss possesses, when we actually start placing objects in suitcases. And more so when we go back to China for Aidan's baby sister. . . someday . . .


I'm an old-fashioned kind of girl, so while The Boss was busy creating his handy dandy spreadsheet and organizing it into neat little categories, I was making hand-written lists. Things to buy now for the trip. Things we still need here at home. Car seats and strollers I especially love. Questions for the doctors and for the agency. My lists have been penned neatly into my handy-dandy notebook, which will be my constant companion until we are home and settled in.


Finally, it occurred to us late last week that the one thing we missed in all of our planning, charting and organizing is our immunizations. With travel dates now only weeks away, we are too late to start the process now, as many of the ones "recommended" for adults are series of immunizations to be done over a specified amount of time and in a specified order (according to our doctors' directive). After consulting with them, we agreed to let that one go and trust the Lord to protect us. The immunizations are not required for us, they are just a series of recommendations to consider. We did a good job of tracking and completing the kids' shots, so we feel okay with the steps we took to protect them from things Aidan might carry and to protect Aidan from childhood illnesses she is not equipped to fight. Please pray with us for our protection and health. We made the best decision we could under the circumstances, but I admit that this question is one that sometimes interrupts my sleep. . .

5 comments:

Livin' Life said...

Just to encourage you when Ethan and I went to China for 10 days I was unable to take the extra vaccinations. I do have my Hep-B shots but we did fine. Ethan was up-to-date with all of his shots but we never got anything even being in the very rural areas eating native foods. God will protect you guys. Don't worry!!!

Anonymous said...

What about Hep A? It's a two round vaccine but they told us you would be 80% covered with the first round. When we asked how soon before travel we needed to have that one done, they told us 2 weeks.
Ok, so just tell me to shut up but I'm worried about the food and such that is exposed to Hep A in China. I'm worried about you guys! I know that God will protect you but I still feel compelled to say something.
Ok, I'm shutting up now!! Don't kill me, ok?! Just ignore me, if you need too!
Luv ya:)

Mariann said...

Ahhhh. Well, I have varying opinions on immunizations to begin with, but I also believe that you can pray a prayer of sanctification over everything you eat. See Mark 16:18. Marlee just went to China for 2 weeks. She ate food out at a farm out of a wok that was never cleaned and there were flies everywhere. She's doing just fine.

Amelia Antwiler said...

Read over Ps. 91. The sickness and plagues spoken of apply. :-) It's good stuff.

the list pictures tickled me.

Amelia Antwiler said...

Wait. That didn't sound right.
*L* I hope you can disassemble my brain to make it sound correct.

Ps. 91 applies today. :-)