101 Days until we go to get Ella

101 days until we are scheduled to go and get our daughter, Ella. We got new pics yesterday, I got the pics and wept. It was a relief to see her and see that she had in fact gained some weight. She looked much healthier and attentive. It made me happy and sad all at the same time. I was happy to see her healthy and sad to see her and not be able to hold her. I ask everyone, how do you do it? How do you wait? I am having a really hard time with that--the waiting. It was okay, tolerable, before we had a child, but now...I am going out of my mind. That is why I know that there are 101 days until we leave. I think that it is easier to be able to count down the days. I also filled out my schedule, I am planning on having something to do everyday and night until we go.
I love someone I have never met. I love her more than I know how to love. She is my heart--I cant imagine how I will feel when we really meet.
We got word today that Ella will be moved to the HOH next week--we are really happy to hear that. We can get more updates more frequently--yeah. I look forward to every email and stare at every picture. I am an addict!

Referral Day!!! Charles and I were on our last day in New York at a trade show, we had finished there and headed out to see some sights. We stopped in for a bite at the Metro Cafe and just as we finished our lunch the phone rang. Charles never picks up if he doesn't recognize the call, but I had a feeling and told him to "Answer IT"! He did and was talking for a few minutes and hung up. I asked who it was and he answered that it was Toni, our adoption coordinator. Through the tears he told me we got a referral, a little girl!! We both cried and I am sure we looked like big idiots, but we didn't care!! We needed to call Toni back and she wanted to talk to us both at the same time--a quiet place in the heart of Manhattan? It was ridiculously cold outside, but we thought that our best option was the park--pretty empty on a cold day. We went and found a place and called back, but she was on the phone...we waited....and waited...and waited until I couldn't feel my feet or hands anymore and I said we needed to find a warm place to wait. We went to the bookstore and after waiting an hour or so, we got the call. She was abandoned and is 2 months old and weighs 5 lbs. She is really small, but all of her tests say she is healthy. We accepted our little miracle and are waiting to get a court date--that can take a while!!
I will keep you all posted.