TO DO LIST
(All underlined areas
have links)
WHILE WAITING FOR REFERRAL
WHEN EXPECTING REFERRAL
- Have
list of questions and a pad and pen by each phone!
- Pull together
items to mail to your daughter after referral, including camera and translated questions, blanket, stuffed
animal, etc.
- Compile
paperwork for China, i.e; tax returns, I-864, copies of
passports, copies of dossier, insurance cards, etc.
AT REFERRAL
- Become deliriously happy!
- Make color copies of referral
pictures and laminate. Safely put away originals.
- Send copy of referral photo for
your web page to [email protected] so that we can ooh and aah over your
baby.
- Order Baby
Announcements.
- Make a will with an estate
attorney.
- Order Texas Medical Kit or compile your own medical kit.
- Call pediatrician and schedule
"well visit" for two weeks after return.
- Meet with pediatrician now to review: medical needs/questions
including Tex Med kit; Ask for powdered antibiotics for
baby that don't need refrigeration - understand mixing
info for that weight and dispensing. Get a syringe
without a needle for dispensing meds in pocket of baby's
cheek; eye/ear infection drops;
ear-numbing drops; scabies cream; 1 % diaper ointment;
Elimite Cream, and any other prescription meds; What to
feed/switching/ How much based on age/weight, etc.; Ask
for any pre-measured formula samples and sample size
meds; Ask about quantities of Tylenol/Motrin for
her weight, etc.
- Send camera/translated questions to
orphanage.
- Get information about your child's
province and Welfare Institute.
- Tear out or copy pages on travel
locations from guide books. Know how to use video cam/pack
instructions/buy appropriate adaptors/extra batteries.
- Ask bank to start collecting
clean big bills (talk to agency about money.)
- Call Int'l adoption Medical
Specialists regarding baby's health.
- Buy baby seat and any other
necessary baby items.
- Start Yahoo e-list for friends
and family for email in China.
- Get last Hepatitis shot.
TRAVEL INFO/DATES RECEIVED
- If on East Coast, may want to
consider arranging with agency/travel agent to leave for
west coast day before/and spend extra night on west coast
on return (be sure to request a crib in the room)
- Talk to travel agency about
upgrading; reserving basinet/bulkhead seats for return
trip; non-smoking hotel rooms. Request necessary
special meals on airlines.
- Research hotels online.
- Research
luggage restrictions for airlines. (China has a strict 44
lb. weight limit per suitcase.)
- Buy/Borrow luggage as needed.
- Research weather online
- Finalize
shopping from packing list. Pack/pack again! Wash all
clothes in sink ahead of time - if not dry don't bring!
Wash baby clothes and any other items.
- Look into airline frequent flyer
mileage
- Call pediatrician. & alert
re: anticipated "emergency visit" date.
- Get antibiotics for adults from
family dr. (for sinus infections and Cipro)
- Ask if they have any travel/sample
size meds you can have too!
- Reduce Xerox and bring any info.
afraid of forgetting.
- Notify insurance company &
alert credit card companies (so they'll expect charges
from China).
- Arrange pet care schedule/food
supply.
- Arrange who will drive to
airport.
- Arrange who will pick up at
airport with car seat.
- Make meals and freeze/buy paper
plates/cups/plastic utensils.
- Make sure have everything we
need for the baby at home for return.
- Arrange ahead of time a
responsible, sane person who can fax/receive faxes as
necessary (leave numbers/copies of paperwork, etc. near
fax or phone at home or with someone) in case you need
something faxed to you.
- Arrange a long-distance plan. (China
to U.S. and U.S. to China)
- Record
and bring along
credit card numbers/phone numbers; family phone numbers;
insurance phone numbers, pediatrician and doctor's phone
numbers, etc.
JUST BEFORE LEAVING
HAVE THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME, OH, AND TAKE
LOTS OF PICTURES!!!
A very BIG Thank You to Kelly for
putting this page together.