Shopping and packing continues

I have basically completed the medicine kit, just a few more things and its done, plus I need to compile a first aid kit.

I have all of Holly's clothing for the trip, and a bunch of toys. All I have left to get for the trip is some food items for us and an ID badge for Holly. I can actually start packing what I have based on the distribution lists. It will be nice to see how it pans out and how I will need to rethink my list, if at all.

All documents were delivered safely

I love Fedex. All three packages of documents were delivered safely by noon today, less than 24 hours from when I sent them out.

Now the I800 packet that went to USCIS in Texas will be reviewed, takes about 10 days. After that, they send it to the National Visa Center, which is an office in the Dept of Homeland Security. They complete it's processing, which also takes 10 days, and cables the consulate in Guangzhou , China that we are approved. By then Lily will have our DS230 and our LOA and have delivered them to the consulate to meet up with the cable. It takes about another 5 days for the consulate to sort it out, and finish their part of the approval process, and then Lily will overnight the whole thing to the CCAA for them to process our Travel Approval letter (TA).

Worst case scenario right now is 50 to 80 days for this entire process from LOA to TA. I am really hoping for more like 40, but, would be thrilled if we can get the whole process done in much less than that.

LOA headed back to China

I got the LOA via Fedex today, quickly signed it, made the necessary copies, and sent the original back to SWA along with the DS230 consulate approval form. They will send that onto Lily in China.

Also sent the I800 and accompanying documents to USCIS. They will do their thing with them, and then tell the consulate that we are okay to bring the child to the US.

I also sent our visa applications and passports to the Assistant Stork to be walked into the Chinese Embassy so we can enter China when the time finally comes to travel.

Now we wait for the last piece of paper, a Travel Approval letter. Really praying we get that quickly, I want her home for Christmas. Now its time to finish the shopping list for the trip, and think about packing.

LOA LOA LOA

It's here it's here. Josh from SWA emailed me today to tell me our LOA arrived!!! I think he was as surprised as anyone. It should arrive here at the house on Monday and the next step in the process begins, the wait for Travel Approval (TA).

We still have a shot at getting her home before Christmas, and we could even arrive in China in time for her birthday. It's not likely, since timeframes are longer than that lately, but, anything's possible.

Update!!

Josh from Small World contacted me today to say that the CCAA told their in China coordinator that our LOA would be coming soon. Josh said that usually means it will arrive in a week or so.

According to what I have been reading on other blog sites, the person who signs the LOA's has been out of the office, and everyone is expecting a batch of them to come in next week. Maybe ours really will be in that batch.

75 Days.

I was sure we would know something by now, but, not even a whisper of a rumor. Everyone else that is waiting for news from China is wondering why it is taking so long. A lot of speculation going around, but, nothing concrete. I just want a hint of what to expect. Is that too much to ask?

For now, I am content to send the third box, it went on it's way yesterday, and in it is a stuffed bunny I made at Build A Bear that has a voice recorder in it. I included a letter to the orphanage workers with instructions for Holly to be shown to press the paw and she will hear my voice telling her I love her in both Chinese and English. As always, I tossed in a bag of candy for her to share with the other children and some new clothes for her. I also put in a warmer coat as the weather will begin to turn chilly, at least as chilly as it gets in Hubei, which is about 55 at the coldest in January. Still, for someone who lives there, I'm sure that feels pretty cold.

Her pictures are on our fridge, and it helps some to see how happy she appears to be. At least I can believe someone cares about her and shows her enough affection and attention that she can have such a ready and sparkly smile.

We have an update!!! And pictures!!

We heard back already from Lady bugs in love. They were able to get two new pictures of Holly Jun. She looks so beautiful and healthy. What a sweet smile and such bright eyes. In the first picture she is wearing the hat I got her and the dress Tim got her. In the second picture she is playing with one of the toys we sent. I also noticed that she is still wearing, in both pictures, the same necklace she was wearing in the first pictures we got of her four months ago. It must be very special to her.

We also got answers to the questions we asked. I'll just copy and paste it here.

Does she know about us?
Yes. We have shown her your pictures.

Has she gotten the gifts we sent?
Yes. She has the clothes on, looks at the pictures and plays with the toys every day.

What is her favorite color?
Red.

What is her favorite food?
Sweet food.

How is she doing in school?
Our teacher teaches her sing some children songs, recite poems.

Does she have a favorite friend?
Yes. Huang Fu Yi.

Is she happy about being adopted?
She doesn’t understand it yet. But she knows she will have new daddy and mommy.

Does she like to dance?
Yes.

Is there anything she wants to tell us?
She hopes she can meet daddy and mommy soon.

Has she been using the coloring book we sent to learn about what her adoption trip will be like?We have told her about what it says in the book. She’s been coloring/reading the coloring book.

Her updated measurements:
Height: 106cm; Weight: 32kg; Head: 49cm; Chest: 51cm.

We are even more anxious to bring her home that we were before, but, we are so grateful for the new pictures.

A sad day in the law enforcement community

We lost one of our own yesterday. She was a friend. We'll miss you Shauna.

ladybugs in love

I contacted a service called ladybugs in love. They offer a service where they contact the orphanage in China and request updated information and pictures of the child, and also allow you to send them ten questions that you may want to ask the workers there about your child. It all cost 40 dollars, and they often get information in as little as one week. Im thinking more like two weeks. It would be so exciting to see a new picture of Holly. The most recent ones we have are from June. I am also hoping to have the questions answered. I asked the basics about her favorites, and likes and dislikes, but, specifically asked if she has gotten the boxes we sent, does she know about us, what does she feel about being adopted, and has she been using the coloring book I sent to prepare her for the adoption. I also asked if she had anything she wanted to say to us. How precious these answers would be if we actually got them. Ladybugs in love warns you that not all orphanages will give you information, some will answer questions but not send pictures, and some give you more than you ask for. So far, the experiences of other parents has been very positive, so, I guess we'll see.

66 Days.....

Referrals came in today for Non Special Needs adoptions. They are for people who sent their request to China on either March 27th or 28th of 2006. Yes, I said 2006. That is how long it is currently taking for China to process the paperwork for families who are requesting a healthy infant. To make it worse, they are continuing to slow the process. Each day that China recieves paperwork for NSN adoptions is called a log in date, similar to the special needs process. This month they sent out two days worth of requests, and next month they will likely do the same, sending out the next two days worth, and only finishing with March 2006 after having started on it months ago. At the rate of only two days per month being processed, it will take years just to finish all of 2006. I guess if I look at it that way, waiting more than 66 days for our LOA doesn't sound so bad.

Then again, they don't have a four year old child looking back at them from a picture taken months ago. Their babies won't be born until about a year before they get their referral. My baby girl is waiting right now, and every day that passes is another she will wait, and another day I don't get to hold her and be her mom.

60 Days

We are at 60 days waiting for LOA. I'm getting a little stir crazy. My emotions go up and down all day long. I toss and turn when I really need to be sleeping. Now that it is the Harvest Moon Festival in China, no one is working and no one will be back in the CCAA offices until Thursday. That means at least another week with no word.

We spent the official Moon Festival day, Saturday Oct 3rd, sitting around a bon fire in the back yard, eating moon pies instead of moon cakes, and I told the story of Chang Er. It is a bit of Chinese folklore, and the kids expect that I will tell her story as we all sit around looking at the moon. It had been cloudy all day, and I was sure there was no way we would see the moon, except perhaps a bit of a glow behind the thick layer of clouds. It was such a nice surprise to see the clouds had parted, the rain had stopped, and it was actually a warm night.

Next year, on the Harvest Moon night, we will again gather together around a bon fire in the back yard. Holly will be there, and our family will be complete. Now if we can just get that LOA in the next batch, my prayers will be answered.