what a day....

What a crazy couple of days! Fall is in the air and it has been nice and a bit cool at times. My sister hired me yesterday to do some fall decorating shopping for her...fun! It's always nice to spend someone elses money. This morning I went over to put everything together...pumpkins, gordes....wreaths. I realized I had forgotten a pot at my house just a mile away. Jumped in my car and went around the corner only to hear...thump thump....I had forgotten to close my back hatch! Ha ha.....3 pumpkins were rolling down the country road! I managed to save two out of three....and just for effect...I had to leave the one. Now I know how that happens. It's usually watermelons I see on the sides of roads! LOl!

After being over at my sister's house and decorating I decided to go home and get lunch....as I have been doing for months...I checked my email for anything from Erin. It was titled "Good News"!!!! I am going back to Kaz to get my little sweet pumpkin!! Stella's passport should be ready and I have appointments lined up for the International clinic and our exit interview for October 18th and 20th!! We should be home on October 23!!!!!! I can hardly believe it. It is really happening! the longest I had gone without seeing Stella since June was about 20 days....this time seemed so much longer, it's been about 43 days so far. You start to think that it was a dream and that it was never really going to happen. It is and I am going back to get my baby girl!

just thinking out loud......

Yesterday was Miss Stella's 15 month mark...I met her at 11 months so 4 since I met my little lamb. I wish that I was with her. I miss our time and can't wait to start our full time life together. I have that weird feeling in my stomach right now...not sure what it means. Originally I'd be on my way to Kazakhstan around October 1, just 10 days from now. With the passport slow down I am just not sure when I will go. I was lucky enough to get a double entry visa but it expires on October 12. I am thinking about a couple things to do:

1. renew my visa in DC now so that I won't be scrambling last minute

2. Go now for a visit, come home then back again

3. Stop in AMS on the way to renew my visa and head on over to Kaz and take custody and wait it out

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? Beth who, was with the same team, I met in June, is there now finishing up with her little one, it took her 8.5 weeks to go back and the couple before just 6 weeks. So it does look like it will take longer. Who knows? 8.5 weeks puts me there around October 18 but my visa will be expired by then....then there is a big party that my family and friends are having for Stella on October 29. What to do???

In the mean time I have been dolling up Stella's room......do you remember my dream about the baby bed and spiderman toys? Miss Becki remembered and I got the sweetest gift in the mail last week! Love love it!!!

my name is Lisa.....

Hi, my name is Lisa....I visit this blog often just to get a glimpse of this sweet little star Stella. I can not get enough. I dream of the day that I can whisk her away on a multi colored rainbow to a land that exists of milk and honey...of green grass to roll on, of puppies and kitties to play with, of endless treasures to discover, of love that is never, never ending. I yearn for my life with Stella. My family who didn't exactly understand what I was thinking, asks daily..."now when can you go back and bring her home? She needs to be home....it's time...."

It is time...I have dreamed of this child since I was in my 20's or was it earlier? This child that is not of my loins but of my heart. My heart is bursting to kiss those chubby cheeks and to see that smile explode on her face! I need to be with her.....I wish to go take her away today....is she being shown affection at all...God I pray so. I know that her needs are being met, she is well cared for and well fed....but love......does she know what that is yet? Does she miss the lady that would take her to play, with more toys and attention that she has ever known? Does she miss the attention and the kisses? I miss it all. My heart is with Stella and it always will be.....I miss my girl. God bless my girl and keep her safe. God speed little one.....I am saying this with all my heart...please hear me.....please let her know that I love her and that even though I have left her 3 times already, that I will never, ever leave her again. Love you Miss Stella.......Mama is trying to get back to you....very soon.........................

Stella playing with her new purse from Tina and Rattle from Lou Ann!

Home sweet home again

Wow...what a fast paced few days...this was trip #3 and court. I left on august 11th and sat in coach on Continental, stayed over in AMS with a friend who was laying over close by (saved money on a day room) and then KLM upgraded me to Business Class! My lucky Star shines again for me. On my 3 trips, 12 flights, I have been upgraded to business class on 1 leg out of two on each trip...very lucky!

I arrived in Almaty on Friday, stayed in yet another apt which was a very nice one bedroom located very close to the Silk Way Mall. That afternoon we walked to the Baby House to see Miss Stella. She was shining in her usual way. She recognized me and came to me right away, she loved her new pink toy purse I got her and she is sitting totally unassisted AND trying to pull up to stand! Shine on sweet girl!! I got to see Stella 4 of the six days I was there.

Court was Tuesday. It was tough. I stood up most of the time and felt I was grilled endlessly. I was dripping with sweat by the time it was all over. One because of the heat, and two because of the Judge. They said he liked me and he did tease me but the comments and questions were unmerciful! Here is a sample of what I can remember......Can you have your own child? I don't know.......Is that because you like yourself too much to suffer? No.....There are banks in the US with sperm you can buy, why didn't you do that? Because I wanted to help a child that was already here....Did you choose Kaz because it is a quick program? (WTF!!!!) No, it took me over 3 years to get to this day. If you were Muslim you could be the third wife to a man. Maybe I could have 3 husbands? Will Sabrina be a flight attendant some day? Maybe she will fly the plane? Where is the hardest airport to go through? Really you want to go there with me?? Okay I didn't say that but come on! Needless to say when I got the YES, I was beyond thrilled!! Oh did I forget to mention that part....I got a YES! I have a daughter and her name is Stella Sabrina Schultz!! Amen!

They tell me it will be about 45 days before I can return. 15 days for the waiting period after court, then they will start her passport and her new birth certificate with her new name and my name listed as her mother. I still can't believe it and I am so happy! There is a new Schultz and a new Mama is born!

When Stella was very, very small.......

Love love this!! Thanks Jane...I have never heard of this...I am going to have to buy the whole series for sure!

I leave tomorrow for my court trip...I still can't believe this is finally happening for me!!

Signs

Stella Sabrina shining!

Sabrina on bonding day 1

I just had to post these pictures...I can talk all day long about how my Stella shines. But when I look at her pictures of the first bonding day back in June...I can hardly believe it's the same child. I met Sabrina and knew immediately that she was "there" but it took me a good day after talking to so many of you...that I needed to give her a chance to shine. She is my Stella and boy does she shine!

If you read my posts from Looking for Sam, you know that I believe in signs and all sorts of kookiness ! In the end I know it is because the big Guy upstairs had these plans for me all along but for me it's entertaining and interesting. Sometimes it is motivating and makes me feel as if I am on the right path. I wonder about all the signs I had for the little guy. What did those mean? Did someone know me so well that they had to use the little guy to get me to Kaz in order for me to meet Stella? Maybe? I am stubborn and I was on course to meet a little boy.

Want to hear my latest signs? Way back, a psychic had told me that the little guy would be called "little sunshine" Stella means "star" which is a little sunshine. When I chose the name for her, I didn't know that. The other day for my blog I chose a song called "shine on", I had never heard it before then...it just seemed to fit for Stella. I was in a Claire's accessory store and while in there I heard "shine on". The tv was in the living room on Friday and the announcer was talking about something and said 'shine on". Last night I was watching a movie, I think the movie with Helen Hunt about tornadoes and on the ending credits they played a different song with the chorus....shine on!!

I can't wait to see Miss Stella, my lucky star, to see what surprises she has in store for me. I don't know if I will get to see her other then after court. WHEN...I get my big YES!!! Praying for a big YES!! I think it depends on the Chief doctor and she is by the book so maybe not. I will be leaving for Kaz on the 11th and arrive there on the 13th, court on the 17th, home on the 18th. I have packed clothes for Stella and things that I think I will need on the last trip. My interpreter has been gracious enough to let me leave things there for the remaining two trips.

I am going the apartment route again...I saved so much money even though it is not the most luxurious way to go. I spent over $4,000 on the first trip, (the trip that didn't count) and a lot of that cost was the $150 a night hotel and the team fee. Ouch! This apartment is only on the 3rd floor but it doesn't have A/C. It looks like it's in the high 80's and 50's and 60's at night so it shouldn't be as bad as that HOT week on my 2nd trip. That was HOT!! Cost per night is about $41 US a night. I can do anything for a week...right??

Wish me luck! Paka for now.......