Update on Abby

Today we received an update on Abby from March 3, 2007, as well as more pictures!

She now weighs approximately 8 kg. (17.64 lbs.) and is 26.4 inches long. Check out that hair! She has changed just since the pictures from referral...can't imagine how she will look when we get there! (Hopefully, she won't be in college yet ;-) )

We are still waiting for our consulate appointment. If we get the one we requested, then we leave on the 23rd...yep, THAT 23rd, as in NEXT WEEK. Needless to say, packing has begun! :-)

TA Baby!

We got our TA today (travel approval; permission papers; another-link-in-the-going-to-China-chain)!!!

Now that we have the TA, we are waiting on the CA (consulate appointment) so we can leave ASAP.

Will keep y'all posted! :-)

One Month Later...

Well, here we are. It has been a whole month since first seeing Abby's picture. I have been very busy this month, painting our monstrous fireplace (4 days); buying a new double stroller and car seat; and trying to clear out Kate and Jake's rooms so that their younger siblings can join them.

When will Abby join us? Hopefully at the end of this month. We are waiting (LOTS of practice doing that!) for our TA from China (Travel Approval...basically gives us permission to get on a plane.) After our TA arrives, our agency gets us a CA (Consulate Appointment with the American Consulate in Guangzhou.) This determines our dates of travel. We are praying we get out of here by the end of March, as there are trade fairs for the last 2 weeks of April in Guangzhou and our agency does not send people during the fairs. If we don't get out by the end of this month, it will probably be May before we go. Of course, I am being my ever-so-patient-self during this new part of the wait... ;-)

In the meantime, I am posting the pictures from referral day. The top one is me and my DH ("Dear Husband"...gotta use the adoption lingo whenever possible) as we look at our daughter's face for the first time. The bottom one includes our Coordinator, Sonja, as well as Gayle and Jorgie, two of the other moms in our travel group. The woman seated is Michele, who along with her husband, Art, received referrals for beautiful TWIN GIRLS who will turn a year old on 3/22! We are really blessed to be part of such a fantastic and supportive travel group. Our daughter will have many "cousins" right here with her in Arizona!

One more thing...remember when I said that I would try to remember what we were doing on Abby's birthday, once we found out her actual birthday? Well, it was easy to remember. It was Friday, June 23, 2006. It was cloudy that day; Kate and Jake were finishing up the last day of Vacation Bible School; my dad was here and going home that evening; Jeff's mom took Kate and Jake for the night; Jeff and I secretly packed for our surprise trip to Disneyland. The next morning, the day that Abby was being taken to her foster family, Jeff, Isaac, and I woke the kids up at Mom's with news that we were driving to Disneyland for Jacob's birthday. It was a wonderful trip and I am so happy now to realize that God was giving us an even bigger surprise and gift that weekend! I can't wait for the next Disneyland birthday trip... this time with Abby!!!

Introducing Abigail...

The stork landed early! Yesterday at 1:32 pm, Hand in Hand (our agency) called with the fantastic news.

Jeff came home early; we grabbed the kids out of school and took them to Mom's. Then we went to the agency to pick up our packet!!!

I will have more info soon, but for now...her birthday is 6/23/06 (2 days after Jacob's!) She is in foster care and was received when she was a day old.

We are so blessed!

God is Good and He Says It's Jiangxi For Us!!

Quick post...

News today... Our nine families were all matched and referrals should be here soon (Thurs. or Fri.?) Our babies are in southern China, in the Jiangxi province.

WE ARE ECSTATIC!!!!!

More news to follow! :-)

Train Wreck

This has been a train wreck of a day.

Our agency called at 1pm to tell us that they do not know where our referral package is. DHL has no record of a package being sent from China. The China contact person has not been able to be reached, and even if she is, she might not know.

We have no idea what is happening, or when we will get our child. And she is our child now, as we are pretty certain the match has already been made.

This sucks in so many ways I cannot even begin to describe. The emotional high of yesterday is replaced by the complete frustration and grief of today.

We are praying...that seems to be our only option. Hopefully, it will all turn around soon. In the meantime, I am going to go bury my head in an anatomy book and save my tears for tomorrow, after my test is done.

It is Almost Official

Well, here is what was just published on the CCAA website (Chinese Center Adoption Affairs):


"The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before October 13, 2005." In CCAA language, "before October 13, 2005 , actually INCLUDES OCtober 13, 2005.

(sigh)

WE ARE IN!!!!! WOO HOO!! OH YEAH!!!!

Our agency is expecting the referral packets tomorrow, Monday at latest. Stay tuned for the pictures and info...

All Praise and Glory to Our Father, who has made this all happen. He is GREAT!!! I am awestruck with his blessings. And, I am humbled by his love. I can't even describe how this feels!!!! :-) :-) :-)

Referral Day and Why God Created Anti-Anxiety Meds

Well, the stork seems to have landed everywhere BUT ARIZONA.

However, I have a little tidbit to share from a certain website that all of us here know and love, called "The Rumor Queen." This is from today:

"Current StatusFebruary 1st, 2007
We know the 13th is included..."

Our agency has not called yet. (Of course I called them, but they said they have no confirmation, as their contact has been dealing with a family emergency.) They think that our referrals will come tomorrow. It looks like the 13th is the cut-off. I am officially in Unable-to-do-anything-but-check-the-computer-and-phone mode. So much for that final on Saturday. Mommy's a happy basket case :-)

The stork is on its way...

Well, several confirmations that referrals were sent from China via DHL yesterday and will arrive in US in 2-4 business days.

Will the stork have a package for us? Please, please, please!!!!

Took a sick day today...my stomach is in knots. I think I have an actual illness, but could it be really bad nerves???

Will post results ASAP...whether good or bad news.

Sign me as...
"Hanging By a Thread"

Waiting, Part 2...The Sequel...

Ok, just one more...I just found this poem by another waiting mother and had to include it. It really says how much is involved with this whole process. While I sit and cry for my little one, I always try to remember the mother who had to give her up. As a mother to three very beloved children, I try to imagine the pain that she must bear, but I cannot even go there. It is too difficult; too emotional. I think I would die if I ever had to give up one of my children. They are my soul; the lifeforce that reminds me why I am even here. Somewhere, on the other side of the world, is a woman who is trusting that her child will be so beloved. And she will. She already is. The five of us have loved her since the day we started this journey; before she was even born.

Kissing the Moon

Ever so quietly she tip-toes to the gate,
she's dressed you in the finest outfit.
She places you where she knows that you will be found soon.
The tears flow freely down her red cheeks.
She kisses you softly on the forehead and wishes the best for the baby she can not keep.
She waits, the sun is coming up.
There is a man on his way to work.
He sees the tiny bundle at the gate.
He motions to the workers inside to come and open up.
They take you inside.
She hurries away, she knows that you are now going to be taken care of.

Somewhere she knows what your real birth date is.
Somewhere she knows what your real name is.
Somewhere she knows how much she loved you and wanted the best for you.
Somewhere she weeps knowing she missed your first tooth and your first steps.
Somewhere she looks at the moon hoping that you will find your way to a family that will love you as much as she does.

Many miles away that family has made room in their hearts for the little girl that has touched them in so many ways.
Many miles away, that family is making room in their home.
Many miles away, they talk about clothes, and new names for the little one they have only seen pictures of.
Soon they will travel across a big ocean.
They know this is the daughter that was meant for them.
If there were some way to let her know how much that family will love and cherish her beautiful baby girl.
They will never harm her, they will support her and take care of her.
She will be loved as though she is one of their own.
When we look at the moon, we hope and pray that she is seeing that same moon and will know in her heart that her baby is safe.
We love you sweet one.
We love the one that did the hardest thing she's ever had to do.
She shall live forever in our hearts as the one that brought us together.

By Melissa Wagner

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGEPjFfP5TQ&eurl (If you still have dry eyes... ;-)

While Waiting...

Well, we are STILL WAITING. No referrals yet, although I guess the longer they take to get here, the more chance we have of being included.

I was looking at some other blogs today (not like I have an anatomy final in five days or anything...) and found some poems/lyrics I would like to share. PLease bear with me...these are the words that get me through this part of the game:

Song Lyrics by Steven Curtis Chapman

I know you’ve heard the stories
But they all sound too good to be true
You’ve heard about a place called home
But there doesn’t seem to be one for you
So one more night you cry yourself to sleep
And drift off to a distant dream
Where love takes you in and everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart
When love takes you home and says you belong here
The loneliness ends and a new life begins
When love takes you in
And somewhere while you’re sleeping
Someone else is dreaming too
Counting down the days until
They hold you close and say I love you
And like the rain that falls into the seaI
n a moment what has been is lost in what will be
When love takes you in everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart
And this love will never let you go
There is nothing that could ever cause this love to lose its hold
When love takes you in everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart
When love takes you home and says you belong here
The loneliness ends and a new life begins
When love takes you in it takes you in for good
When love takes you in

Daughters of ChinaBy Tim Chauvin

There’s an unseen tie that binds them, a red thread that will not break.
They’re woven in a tapestry, took five thousand years to make.
And their eyes are wide with wonder,
Tiny hands reach out to touch
Faces of the families who have
Wanted them so much
And the daughters of China
They fly across the seas
Off to unseen places and possibilities.
They are gifts to those who cherish them by those who just could not
Acts of hope and faith and love
We never will forget
They were given up for reasons
That most will never know
Now they’re daughters to the families
Who have come to take them home
And some day they’ll, too, be mothers
And have children and a home
Thread by thread they’ll tie the knots
Weaving tapestries of their own

Ok, all done now...had my "China cry" for the day. On to exciting anatomy and hopefully some news tonight, when China is up and back matching those beautiful babies. I pray one of them is matched with us!

Time for the Monthly Thrill Ride

Well, it is my favorite time of the month again. It's the time when rumors start buzzing about the next batch of adoption referrals and when they will arrive. I have been grilling our agency relentlessly :-) and they are thinking we are in this time. They have confirmation that we are in the "matching room," and referrals usually follow very quickly.

If we get a referral, my guess is that it will arrive by next Wednesday or Thursday. If we are in, we will get our first pictures of our daughter and will find out all of her known information. If you know me at all, you know I am FREAKING OUT with excitement. It feels like being in those last weeks of pregnancy and thinking that every cramp is "THE BIG ONE."

If we don't get a referral this month, Chinese New Year will pass (Feb. 18th) and we will be sure bets for the end of Feb./beginning of March. The way I see it, it's a birthday gift for either Jeff (2/8) or me (3/6)!!

Sorry this blog is pretty boring at this stage...all my creativity is kinda sucked out of me until school wraps up (2/3.) I guarantee, however, that it will get VERY EXCITING when we post our little one's picture!!! Love to everyone...

What to Expect When You are Fifteen Months Pregnant

Wow! Fifteen months will be down January 13th. (Our paperwork was logged in in China on 10/13/05.) We are about to hit the 15 months "paper pregnancy" mark. I can't believe how much has happened since that day in February '05, when I called Jeff at work and told him that I thought that God was telling us it was time to adopt. Silly me, I thought that it would take about a year. Well, next month marks two years since I threw the kids in the trusty minivan and drove to Hand in Hand adoption agency to pick up our packet.

Now that I look back, I am glad that it took a little longer. I think that this has been, and will continue to be, an amazing life lesson for me. First of all, it has taught me unbelievable patience. I have never been a roll-with-the-punches-kinda-gal, but I have had to through this. Each month, when China sends referrals, and the line scoots up only a small bit, I go through a little grief, followed by a renewed sense of spirit.

Referrals were received last week, which means that the next ones should come in 3-4 weeks. The referrals covered log in dates (LIDs) through September 27, 2005. We are Oct. 13, and they have been doing app. 2 weeks each time, which will put us on the cusp for the next referrals. It will most likely be a day before or a day after us.

The excitement I had when we started this process is coming back...full speed ahead! I can't wait to see my daughter's face, to know where she is, and to learn when she was born. (I know that I will try to remember what we were all doing that day, and wonder if we had any sense of what an important day it was.) I have a million tears that I have kept close inside through the last fifteen months. I know that they will all come the moment we get THE CALL. I will keep everyone posted...please keep our little girl in your prayers. We love you all!!!

The beginning...

Hi everyone. Well, here is the first post from this novice blogger! Please bear with me as I attempt to share our adoption story with y'all...unlike my dear husband (DH, in "adoption lingo"), I am not exactly technologically savvy.
This post is my first "test'....will write more very soon. Hope everyone is doing great and ready for the new year!!!