Gottcha Day is May 13!

On Tuesday, April 9, we received our travel approval from China and by Thursday we booked our round-trip flights for China.  We leave Friday, May 10, Gottcha Day is Monday, May 13, and we return home on Thursday, May 23.  See Our China Itinerary for the details on our adventure to China.

Two weeks ago we met with the University of Minnesota surgeon who will be doing Ashlynn’s lip and palate repair.  She was very helpful in explaining the most likely treatment plan.  Ashlynn will have her first surgery in June to repair her lip and a second surgery about two to three months later to repair her palate.  Both surgeries will require a one to three night hospital stay.  Ashlynn should not need another surgery until she is school-aged and her adult teeth start to come in.  At that time, they will fill the gap in her bridge with a bone from her hip.  She may need other cosmetic surgeries as she grows.  Once she is fully grown, the repair of her cleft lip and palate should be complete!

Preparations for our trip are well underway.  Derek and Mason will be spending the two weeks with grandparents and their aunts and uncles.  While it will be very hard to be away from the boys, we are so fortunate to have such a wonderful support system.  The boys are sure to be well taken care of while we are away.   

What an exciting few weeks it has been!  Many of the unknowns of our journey are becoming known.   And the wonderful day when our family of 5 is together is now only a few weeks away.