How do we go from this post --http://chinaadopttalk.com/2009/03/31/the-day-before-april-fools-day/ to this post -- http://chinaadopttalk.com/2009/03/31/possibly-the-8th/? I mean, they're so different -- we go from having nothing to rate to possibly the 8th? Don't get me wrong -- I'm really excited. I guess I'm still working on the shock value thing.
With that said, I'm still expecting a phone call tomorrow. I don't know why since there is nothing pointing to getting a phone call tomorrow and I'll probably be disappointed when the phone doesn't ring but a girl can hope!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Frustrating
Today's post --
Well, this is frustratingMarch 27th, 2009
I’ve been everywhere. E v e r y w h e r e . Even places that haven’t had rumors for a year, places I don’t go to that often anymore.
I haven’t found anything new about a possible cut off date. And, there is still only one agency saying they are matching. There should be more agencies saying it.
The title pretty much sums it up for me. However, this post was made--
Second AgencyMarch 27th, 2009
A second agency confirms that the CCAA is matching.
So that is certainly good news.
On a side note, this weekend we are going to go try on shoes and shorts. For the last year or so, we thought we'd be travleing in the winter. But with our LID being pushed back, we will be traveling in late spring early summer. The average high temperature in Beijing in May and June is 78-85 and the average high temperature in Ghangzhou is 85 and 88. The good news is we will save room in our luggage by packing light clothes instead of needing to lug around all those layers and winter wear.
Well, this is frustratingMarch 27th, 2009
I’ve been everywhere. E v e r y w h e r e . Even places that haven’t had rumors for a year, places I don’t go to that often anymore.
I haven’t found anything new about a possible cut off date. And, there is still only one agency saying they are matching. There should be more agencies saying it.
The title pretty much sums it up for me. However, this post was made--
Second AgencyMarch 27th, 2009
A second agency confirms that the CCAA is matching.
So that is certainly good news.
On a side note, this weekend we are going to go try on shoes and shorts. For the last year or so, we thought we'd be travleing in the winter. But with our LID being pushed back, we will be traveling in late spring early summer. The average high temperature in Beijing in May and June is 78-85 and the average high temperature in Ghangzhou is 85 and 88. The good news is we will save room in our luggage by packing light clothes instead of needing to lug around all those layers and winter wear.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Even closer -- Matching?
Today's post --
Matching?March 26th, 2009
We have one agency saying matching has started.
I don’t see anything new about a possible cut-off date.
Oh, yeah, we're getting closer. (Hmmmmm, I sense a theme with the last few posts.)
Matching?March 26th, 2009
We have one agency saying matching has started.
I don’t see anything new about a possible cut-off date.
Oh, yeah, we're getting closer. (Hmmmmm, I sense a theme with the last few posts.)
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Not yet but getting closer
We still haven't heard anything yet. However, there are several people on a popular adoption rumor site have been calling their agencies and are being reassured they expect referrals in the next two weeks.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Closer?
This was posted on the Rumor Queen today:
Nothing yetMarch 24th, 2009
I don’t see anything new about cut off date or whether or not the CCAA has reached the matching part of the process.
The rumor about the CCAA having a “pay system” for information is back, and in this case is being used as the reason the box has not changed. At this point I’m not inclined to give the rumor any weight, but I guess (as always) time will tell.
I don’t know why the box hasn’t changed, once before it didn’t change and the reason was because the person who was responsible for changing it was out sick.
There were several people in the March room who called their agencies today and yesterday. They all reported they expect referrals next week. Can you believe it? We might have a picture of our little sweetie next week!! Knowing my luck the phone call will come on Tuesday, March 31. I have meeting after meeting after meeting scheduled for that day.
Nothing yetMarch 24th, 2009
I don’t see anything new about cut off date or whether or not the CCAA has reached the matching part of the process.
The rumor about the CCAA having a “pay system” for information is back, and in this case is being used as the reason the box has not changed. At this point I’m not inclined to give the rumor any weight, but I guess (as always) time will tell.
I don’t know why the box hasn’t changed, once before it didn’t change and the reason was because the person who was responsible for changing it was out sick.
There were several people in the March room who called their agencies today and yesterday. They all reported they expect referrals next week. Can you believe it? We might have a picture of our little sweetie next week!! Knowing my luck the phone call will come on Tuesday, March 31. I have meeting after meeting after meeting scheduled for that day.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
The Nursery
The last post was a little on the dry side so I thought it would be fun to include a lighter post for today -- The Nursery. It isn't quite complete as we still need shades and draperies for the window and a dresser but other than that, we are ready.
This was JD's bed when he was an infant. We used the original bedding but added a 100 wishes quilt and another blanket to the decor along with more girly type toys.
This chair was Scott's Great Aunt Grace's who is also MeiLin's namesake. JD and I spent a lot of quality time in this chair together and I'm looking forward to spending a lot of quality time with MeiLin in it, as well.
This dresser was Scott's mom's when she was a little girl. It seems fitting for it to be a part of her granddaugter's bedroom. It's also chock full of clothing and treasures!
As you can see from this picture, her closet already has beautiful clothes waiting for her. She has a few sleepers along with a swimsuit, coverup, beach shoes and some dresses. I've purchased some of these items and received some of these items such as the beach wear from other adoptive parents in swaps I participated.
This is the very first outfit I purchased. I purchased it almost four years ago when our paperwork was finally sent to China. It will more than likely be too small as it is a size 3-6 months but it is something I will always keep!
We're getting close part two
Not are we only getting closer but based on a post on a popular blog that tens of thousands of adoptive parents follow, the time could be getting closer for many other parents.
Early Rumors and a few tidbits March 19th, 2009
There are a few early rumors floating around, none are higher than an R2 at this point. The rumors range from a cut off of the 9th to the 14th.
I have confirmation that the CCAA internal box has not changed. The CCAA is apparently confirming a cut off of the 6th verbally, but for some unknown reason the box has not been updated.
There are some families in the most recent referral batch who will be boarding a plane less than a month after receiving referral. Quick TA and wide open CA times can work wonders on getting families to their babies quickly. Congrats to those families!
That is so wonderful!
I just realized that I haven't taken the time to fully explain the process we followed to get to this place in our journey. In August 2005 Scott and I decided we wanted to add to family through adoption. We investigated different programs including the United States. After much reading, discussion, and prayer we were led to China. We contacted an adoption agency in Lexington, KY after doing more reading, investigating, discussion and prayer. Then, came the paper chase. The paper chase is very thorough. We had to order new originals of our birth and marriage certificates as they could not be older than six months when sent to the CCAA. We all had to have phyicals including the family pets. We also had to provide information regarding our financial status. We met with a social worker who contacted some of our friends and coworkers who had to provide written documentation regarding our disposition, whether they believed we would/are good parents, etc. Our home was inspected by the social worker, as well. We then had to compile all the documents and have them notarized. The notarized documents then went to the Boone County Courthouse so notary who notarized our documents could be authenticated. The documents then went to Frankfort so the person who authenticated our documents in Boone County could be authenticated. Finally, the documents went to Washington DC for one more authentication. After all the authenticated documents returned from Washington, the documents including a set of photos were sent to China for translation and then finally to the CCAA. Now, I know the above sounds like it might be an okay process, but for us, it wasn't. I had to take my medical paperwork to the doctor three times before it was finally acceptable. Scott's had to go back twice. The notary who notarized our financials didn't properly document from what county he was a notary so that paperwork was sent back. And, finally, when our paperwork was on its way to Washington, it was detained because an official in the post office wanted to investigate it for Anthrax. In addition to all of this, we also had to be fingerprinted by USCIS. We had to travel to the Lousiville office and not the Cincinatti office because we reside in Kentucky. Crazy huh?
Now, in the past, the above documentation would be sent the family would wait and they would be referred a child. However, due to the increased waiting periods, we have, to date, completed a home study three times and fingerprinted three times. Why? Because the home study is only good for eighteen months and fingerprints for fifteen months. Our home study is good for about another year. Our fingerprints are good until the middle of June so if we do not travel and return prior to our fingerprints expiring, we will have to be fingerprinted for the fourth time.
Early Rumors and a few tidbits March 19th, 2009
There are a few early rumors floating around, none are higher than an R2 at this point. The rumors range from a cut off of the 9th to the 14th.
I have confirmation that the CCAA internal box has not changed. The CCAA is apparently confirming a cut off of the 6th verbally, but for some unknown reason the box has not been updated.
There are some families in the most recent referral batch who will be boarding a plane less than a month after receiving referral. Quick TA and wide open CA times can work wonders on getting families to their babies quickly. Congrats to those families!
That is so wonderful!
I just realized that I haven't taken the time to fully explain the process we followed to get to this place in our journey. In August 2005 Scott and I decided we wanted to add to family through adoption. We investigated different programs including the United States. After much reading, discussion, and prayer we were led to China. We contacted an adoption agency in Lexington, KY after doing more reading, investigating, discussion and prayer. Then, came the paper chase. The paper chase is very thorough. We had to order new originals of our birth and marriage certificates as they could not be older than six months when sent to the CCAA. We all had to have phyicals including the family pets. We also had to provide information regarding our financial status. We met with a social worker who contacted some of our friends and coworkers who had to provide written documentation regarding our disposition, whether they believed we would/are good parents, etc. Our home was inspected by the social worker, as well. We then had to compile all the documents and have them notarized. The notarized documents then went to the Boone County Courthouse so notary who notarized our documents could be authenticated. The documents then went to Frankfort so the person who authenticated our documents in Boone County could be authenticated. Finally, the documents went to Washington DC for one more authentication. After all the authenticated documents returned from Washington, the documents including a set of photos were sent to China for translation and then finally to the CCAA. Now, I know the above sounds like it might be an okay process, but for us, it wasn't. I had to take my medical paperwork to the doctor three times before it was finally acceptable. Scott's had to go back twice. The notary who notarized our financials didn't properly document from what county he was a notary so that paperwork was sent back. And, finally, when our paperwork was on its way to Washington, it was detained because an official in the post office wanted to investigate it for Anthrax. In addition to all of this, we also had to be fingerprinted by USCIS. We had to travel to the Lousiville office and not the Cincinatti office because we reside in Kentucky. Crazy huh?
Now, in the past, the above documentation would be sent the family would wait and they would be referred a child. However, due to the increased waiting periods, we have, to date, completed a home study three times and fingerprinted three times. Why? Because the home study is only good for eighteen months and fingerprints for fifteen months. Our home study is good for about another year. Our fingerprints are good until the middle of June so if we do not travel and return prior to our fingerprints expiring, we will have to be fingerprinted for the fourth time.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
We're getting close
Three years seven months ago we started the journey to adopt our daughter, Mei Lin. When we initially began, we were informed we would receive a referral about six months after our LID. Needless to say, that estimate was a little off. To date, there is no one left at the adoption agency with whom we started including our social worker who worked for a separate agency closer to home. The journey has been trying and difficult. There were times when we considered giving up but we knew in our hearts it wasn't the right thing for us. One of the toughest days was December 11, 2008. Since about April 2006 we had believed that our LID (log in date) was February 23, 2006. On December 11, our agency did not receive a package for us along with six other families. It was on December 12 we were notified that our LID had been incorrectly reported and that our true LID was March 7, 2006. We were devastated. We came to realize that Mei Lin just wasn't ready to come home yet. She needed more time. That's okay because our time to unite as a family is almost here!! Thank you for following along on our journey to meet our daughter and complete our family!
We've gotten older and put on some weight. Well, okay, I've put on weight and JD has gotten bigger. Scott just lost his hair by choice (he shaves it daily). But, our love for Mei Lin has grown daily.
I love pictures. Here's a picture of us when we started:
Here's what we look like now:
We've gotten older and put on some weight. Well, okay, I've put on weight and JD has gotten bigger. Scott just lost his hair by choice (he shaves it daily). But, our love for Mei Lin has grown daily.
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