Locked In

Flights and hotels booked!  We had our itinerary approved and the hotel had a good address so we just booked it all!  I seriously feel like I could throw up!  It's like a kid before Christmas times a gajillion and nerves because we switch planes so many times that I worry about delays or lost luggage (which would mean lost clothing donations).

I am seriously shaking right now.

I will copy all of our confirmations tomorrow, deposit the purolator'd cheque for the Moscow CHOC representative, figure out how much we will need to have on hand to pay all of our drivers, interpreters, and hosts while we are there. I am also making a photo album for Mak.

The album is so we can leave 'us' there with him.  It will also have pictures of Leia and Howie (who, by the way, will be living the high life with K&T while we are away - thanks!) and his room so that we can hope he recognizes it when he finally gets here.

We will also be compiling an album, for his future reference, about the orphanage, city, and our journey there.  We want to show him that we recognize that he has history before us - we may not know a lot about it but we are not ashamed or in denial over it either.  I have also decided that every year, for Christmas, Mak will give his grandparents the gift of a donation to the orphanage.  While visiting I will ask about our ability to send packages, either through CHOC or regular mail, each year to help give back to what gave him to our family.  I have also saved all the emails from everyone who has shown excitement over his possibility and I am writing a journal to him about my feelings from the moment he was offered to us.  He may want to read them all one day, he may not.  The option will be there, bursting with love, if he ever chooses to explore it.

Wow.  It is happening very fast but it is HAPPENING!