TWO WEEKS!!!!

Yup, you read that right--only two weeks till Paco and the girls fly into Houston from Lima, Peru! TWO WEEKS!!! Dos semanas. 14 days. 336 hours. Two episodes of Survivor. Ten Lettermans. A dozen gallons of milk. About 10 loads of laundry. One holiday (and some people don't even count Halloween as a holiday!) TWO WEEKS--I CAN DO THIS!!!!

It's all official! Paco picked up the visas on Thursday. The only thing keeping my husband and daughters from being here now is 2 weeks and a plane ride. That's it!!! Wow--that was easy--NOT!!! But you know what? Often it's the best things in life that take the most effort, and getting Paco and the girls here was no exception...and definitely worth everything we've been through.

I have to thank my father-in-law, Pancho Torero (seen in picture above), who sat in his car outside of the US Embassy for 7+ hours last Monday. We had no idea the long ordeal Paco and the girls were about to endure. And since cell phones were confiscated upon entering the embassy, Paco had no way to contact his dad and fill him in on what was happening.

Paco's interview was scheduled for 7:30 a.m. After waiting for an hour he was called in and interviewed for an hour by a lady. She asked many questions about our relationship--and many of the same questions over and over. Finally he was asked to take a seat in the waiting area.

Three hours later he was called again--this time to be interviewed by a man. Again, the same questions were asked...and asked again...and again. Paco patiently answered everything they asked...over and over. And even though he remained calm and composed on the outside, on the inside he was getting very frustrated with these people. Sure, they're just doing their job, but all we're trying to do is to bring our family together. Trying to be with the ones we love most in this world.

Eventually it was determined that one document was missing and Paco was told that he needed to send a certified/notarized copy of this document to the embassy by 5 p.m. so the immigration process wouldn't be delayed further. If the document was sent by 5, he'd have the visas by the end of the week.

It was already after 2:00 p.m.!!!!

So Paco and the girls (who hadn't eaten since 5 am) ran out to Paco's dad in his waiting car and my father-in-law pulled a Steve McQueen (Lightening McQueen for you younger folks), and managed to get Paco to his attorney's office in no time. If you know the streets of Lima, Peru, you know what a miracle this was.

Paco ran into the office, approached the lady at the desk and requested a certified/notarized copy of this document they had in his file. "But Mr. Torero," the receptionist said. "Our notary is out of the office for a few hours. I'll need to call her. I'm not sure I can have this to you in time."

Now if you know my husband, you know that he is a take-charge person who can make things happen. He looked into this woman's eyes and said, "Senora, I'm in desperate need of your help right now. I have to have this document to the US Embassy in two and a half hours. Please, I need your help. I'm a sales manager for my company and with my resources there can see to it that many repairs you might need in your home are worked on--locks, windows, etc. You help me...and I'll help you."

"Well, Mr. Torero, let me see what I can do."

"Thank you," Paco said. "We'll be around the corner having lunch. Here's my cell phone number. Please call me as soon as you can."

Just as Paco, his dad, and the girls were finishing their lunch, Paco's cell phone rang. The document was ready--certified and notarized. Within minutes it was on its way to the US Embassy.

Sure enough, on Thursday the visas arrived...along with 3 sealed envelopes, each weighing about 6 pounds. These sealed envelopes contain every document compiled over this 15 month process, and will be turned over to US Customs as soon as they arrive in the United States. That's okay by me. They can keep every last document as long as I get to keep the 3 who will carry them into The States!

Now the big question is... On November 8th (our 15 month anniversary) what will I wear to the airport?

Stay tuned...

Maki's Lucky Dress

Tomorrow morning, Monday, October 18, 2010, Maki Torero will be wearing her "lucky dress." Paco had no idea his daughter even had a "lucky dress" until he asked the 9-year-old what she was wearing to the US Embassy for their visa interview.

"I'm wearing my lucky dress. You know--the one I wore on the day you married Mommy Tami."

"Oh, that's nice," Paco said.

"You were so happy and smiling that day," Maki continued. "If I wear it, I know it will be our lucky day, and you will be smiling forever because we'll get to live with Mommy Tami."

Have I mentioned how much I love this brilliant little girl...as well as her beautiful big sister (not to mention their incredibly handsome dad?!!!)

Yup...Monday is THE BIG DAY! We've been talking about and anticipating this day for well over a year now--THE VISA INTERVIEW!

Every form we've filled out, every document we've had stamped, sealed, and translated, every fee we've paid, every overnight express package we've mailed (to each other or to The National Visa Center) has lead us to Monday morning at 7:30 (Central as well as Peruvian time). The outcome of this interview will allow us to FINALLY be the family that we've been anxious to be since the day Paco proposed to me. See the picture to the left? Just add in 7 more kids and there you have our not-so-little happy family. (Updated family picture to come AS SOON AS WE'RE ALL FINALLY TOGETHER!)

We're so sure everything will go well at the US Embassy tomorrow that Paco has already purchased their airline tickets. That's the other BIG DAY--the REALLY BIG DAY--November 8, 2010. 15 months from the day we were married, Paco and I will finally be together again...and this time, FOREVER!!!

I LOVE YOU, PACO!!! Good luck in the interview tomorrow. Just be yourself and you'll do great. We have played by all the rules of this immigration ordeal, and now it's our turn... Go claim your visa, pack your bags, and get ready. We have our Happily Ever After ahead of us!

As for me tomorrow... I think I'll follow the example of a brilliant 9-year-old and at 7:30 put on my "lucky dress." Yeah, it's a little formal...but that's okay. Tomorrow is THE BIG DAY!!!

More to come...