My Preciousssss!

So we got our "Provisional Approval".
I find it more and more difficult to inform friends and family where we are and what is taking so long and what each little step means. It's like a Martian talking to a Fungo- others have absolutely no reference for this.
When we went through Ev's adoption I was lucky I guess. No Hague process. I must say that the seven gajillion steps between Letter of Acceptance and Travel is maddening.
I have this list on the fridge. It has the FIVE steps that must be completed between LOA and Travel. FIVE.
I also have my guesstimation for the length of time that each step may take.
I HATE THIS LIST.
 I have a relationship to this list the way Gollum has a realtionship to the One Ring. I hatessss it but I am obsessed with itssss. I can't get away from it. Some would say, take it down, throw it away. I can't.
 I can't do that because for one I can't wrap my mind around this final phase and, for two, I can't because it has taken over my soul. It wears me down. It makes me tired. It is kind of blackening my thoughts.
 Where we are is like this: We are somewhere in the third step. Little did I know that Step 3 has two parts? Yeah we get the Prov App and then we have to wait and contact the National Visa Center for confirmation of this approval and ask when they sent it along to the US Consulate in China, THEN we wait for a letter to tell us this in writing ( so I am unclear as to why I am told to stalk the NVC) so ok, we get the letter that re-states approval and has the date that we already know on it and we send that to Colorado so THEY can send it to China for someone to carry into either the the US Consulate or some other agency (?) there and THAT.... That person carrying a packet of things into some place is what STARTS the Travel Approval Process for China's end. So since May 2 we have been waiting for someone to verify an already existent Approval and send a redundant letter.
Holy Shepard of Judea!
Please to someone 'splain why this is?
Anybody?
No?
Alright.
There is good news. A Hobbit is going to come and steal my precious list from me and I will have to stalk him all of the way to Mordor, and...
Just kidding.
My guesstimation for STEP 3 was the second week in June. HA! If this radical speed keeps up, we may see Liam before he's shaving.
( Now listen Fates of Adoption. I am only kind of kidding here. Please don't punish a woman for being a bit bitter after watching a little Chinese boy the same age as her son toddle about the park all afternoon. Don't slow us up because I am a bit heartsick and venting. I am sorry his little red cheeks reminded too much of the son I am not yet holding. Please get us there. Please. He needs us.)