Now, this is about a month ahead of when we expected to get the call. Which is about a month ahead of when parents are told to expect the call. So the whole system must have accelerated like crazy lately for us to get Clark before he turns four months old.

So we're a little unprepared. The nursery is more or less fine; we finished his room last weekend. The work world is another story. Both of us figured we'd have another month to set up contingencies and training for our subs... and now we're both bailing out on FMLA with nary a meeting. As happy as we'll be bonding with our new baby, I don't imagine our offices will be as contented.

Beyond the work issue, we get to scramble to make travel arrangements, housesitting and set up for a bare minimum baby arrival. For example, we have no baby food or formula. Duh-whoops! But we have this weekend to devote to the last minute prep work, so I'm not too worried about bringing Clark home to a house with only Tang and Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper to drink.

The adventure begins Monday with our flight to Korea, with brief stopovers in Detroit and Tokyo. It will be a long flight, so hopefully we won't hit any of those luddite flight attendants who get nasty about Game Boys and the like. I'm picking up Kirby Canvas Curse tomorrow just for the occasion.

We'll be in the Land of Morning Calm for five days, back in the US next Saturday. We might have 'net access while we're there. If so, I hope to spit up some weblog updates live from Seoul. We'll be taking pictures, naturally, but look for those once we get back (unless we have really nice web access and an image editor.)

If you've been keeping track, you'll note this trip directly conflicts with our annual migration to Columbus for Origins. Well. It is a harsh irony that the travel call arrived right alongside our one single planned vacation for the year (for the last five years, really.) But I think it's obvious which trip we'd rather take.

We are wildly excited. The end of our adoption journey is coming, and sooner than we ever would have anticipated. I feel such a massive, soothing relief right now - even in the face of one of the longest plane flights available and the unknowable challenges to come. It's just so nice to know that we made this happen, and that it is almost over.