Sent another package

Well, this Saturday is Holly's birthday. She turns 5 years old. I really hate that we are not going to be there with her, but, I guess I should have expected that there would be further delays. The USCIS has requested a homestudy addendum to address the fact that Mindy turned 18. That is going to slow us down for a bit, but, once that is done, things should start moving again, and be back in the hands of the Chinese government.

Anyway, since we won't make it in time for her birthday, I have sent Holly a birthday care package thru a service called Red Thread China. They have promised that she will get her cake, and presents on her birthday, and are going to translate a letter for us to the orphanage director. They will also call the orphanage and ask ten questions, just like the last service I used. I would have used the ladybugsinlove service again, but, they are closed from tomorrow thru January, due to the owner being busy helping a friend with her adoption trip, so, I went with Red Thread.

I can't wait to hear the answers to the questions and see pictures of Holly celebrating her birthday for the first time.

28 days waiting for I800 approval

Great big sigh.

Another waiting family, who's I800 paperwork was logged into the USCIS system the same day as ours was, has received word that they were approved. I am hoping we get the same word. I think I will call later today when I wake up.

If it's true, we are now waiting for the US Consulate in Guangzhou to receive an official cable from USCIS and issue the article 5 paperwork. That will be picked up by Lily in China, and taken to Beijing to be dropped off at the CCAA. Then, we just wait for TA from them to make our consulate appointment and travel arrangements.

Just a little progress

Our passports arrived yesterday from the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC with our Visa's stamped in them. Our DS230 is on it's way to the consulate in Guangzhou, China. My packing is moving along, more like nesting really. I'm putting Holly's clothes into zip loc bags, and dividing them among the three suitcases for the trip. I'm trying not to overpack, but, at the same time, since we are traveling in winter, I want to make sure she has a few outfits and pj's in case we get stuck in the hotel due to bad weather and she only has what we bring to wear until we can get out and shop.

I've organized the toys, and the medicines into the three suitcases, and those are also in zip loc bags. The reason for the zip locs is two fold. If there is bad weather at any of the airports, and our suitcases end up out in that weather, which does happen, at least what's inside will have a degree of waterproof protection, especially our clothes and electronics. Also, when traveling, I find it so much nicer to have things seperated into ziplocs to make it easier to find what I'm looking for, and to allow any security searches to not cause a huge mess in our suitcases.

So, now we are waiting for word that our I800 is logged into the NVC (National Visa Center) system. After that, we wait for the I800 approval and then the Article 5 cable. That will mark the end of the US side of the process, and we will have to wait again for TA from China.

11 Days and counting from LOA

We are on our 11th day since LOA, 8 days since sending our I800, and 7 days since it was received at the Texas lockbox office. Next week is the BYU ballroom competition, so, hopefully with that and the upcoming holidays my mind will be busy and not think too much about the wait this time.

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.

54 Days

Still waiting. The CCAA has sent out packages to the adoption agencies around the world. No one knows, not even the agencies, what is in the packages. All we know is that they are due to arrive sometime in the next few days. If our LOA is in there, we hopefully will get a phone call from our agency. So far, they have only communicated through email, so, maybe that is how we will get the news.

This weekend, on Oct 3rd, is the Harvest Moon Festival in China. We will be celebrating with a bonfire in our fire pit in the backyard, and homemade moon cakes, which are our version of the moon cakes made in China, except ours are sweet pastries, and theirs are often made of bean paste, or cheese, more savory and my kids just aren't into them. When I was in China on the adoption trip to bring Myleigh home, I bought some authentic moon cakes. On that first Harvest festival at home, we tried them. Not as yummy as they looked. They were very artistic looking though as they are made in special presses, that shape them and imprint designs on them. So, I found a moon cake press on ebay and use it to make our own cakes. I use cookie dough and fill them with different fillings, jams, preserves, that kind of thing. Even chocolate could be used. Then, before baking, you fold a note inside each cake, a message to the person who gets that cake, usually wishing them good luck or something or it can be a special message meant just for them. We sit around the fire and open our mooncakes and look at the huge moon. In China, the harvest festival is a time of family reunion. Families travel from all over China back to their family home. It lasts for the weekend.

Since we are now approaching this year's harvest festival weekend, the CCAA is planning to be closed for the next week due to families traveling to and from their reunions. This may have an affect on our wait. There are rumors that the CCAA is planning to clear their desks and send out a large amount of LOA's and TA's this week, and then have a fresh start when they come back to the office. Another rumor says they are not planning to send out anything until after the holiday.

All I know is, I want my LOA this week. I will be sleeping most of the day tomorrow, since I am working all night tonight, so, if it comes in and our agency calls or emails in the morning, I won't know it til I wake up. Maybe that's for the best. Nothing like waiting around for news, especially if it never comes.

46 days

Still waiting. Trying to get shopping done a little at a time for the trip. Pulling together the last few items for the final paperwork we will need to complete our travel arrangements, including our Visas.

39 days and counting

we are at 39 days since our LID, and tomorrow marks the day when we enter the timeframe where LOA's have been known to come in. We still have no idea when to expect ours, and could be waiting for two more months, but, I am so hopeful that ours will come in this week or next. Preferably this week.

More paperwork done....

I finished the I800, the I864W, and the DS230 forms . I read through the instructions Josh sent, and will have to send him an email to clarify some things he said. I believe I finished it all, but, I'm not certain, so I guess I will have that answer tomorrow. Now we just wait for the LOA. Then, the process looks like this...

SWA receives the LOA and Consulate Acceptance Letter (CLA).

SWA sends the original LOA, a photocopy of the CLA, a copy of our referral, and something he referred to as "the three letters" to us.

We sign the original LOA, keep a photocopy, and send the original back to SWA along with our completed DS230.

We send the photocopy of the signed LOA, the photocopy of the CLA, the referral, the completed I800, a photocopy of the i797C approval, and "the three letters" to USCIS

SWA sends our signed original LOA, the CLA, and our original DS230 to Lily in China

Once the USCIS approves our paperwork, they notify the consulate in Guangzhou China by cable. SWA is also notified by email or phone. Lily will delver the CLA, and the DS230 to the consulate.

After they consulate approves everything, Lily then takes the signed LOA to the CCAA who will then send our TA to SWA.

That is when we can make our consulate appointment, which all our travel dates revolve around. As soon as we have that confirmed, we can leave for China.

It's all a bit involved, but, as long as I keep my head and take it one step at a time, I can handle it.

32 days and counting

We are at 32 days waiting for our LOA. Josh at SWA emailed me that our dossier is through translation, and in review. He said the CCAA told him that dossiers are usually processed in six weeks from LID unless there are problems, and, that he also got LOA's today for three other families that came in at around 40 days, which would be next week for us, and an incredible miracle. Sept 18th if it is truly at six weeks.

I really don't expect it that soon, but, pray that whatever happens, we can have her home before her birthday. That's the main thing.

Josh also sent me a bunch of paperwork for us to get started on, at my request, so we can be ready when that LOA does come in. It includes the I800 , I864w and DS230 for USCIS. Yes, we still have more paperwork to process through the US government even after all the hoops we already jumped through. When our LOA comes, we will have Visa applications to fill out and send, and some back and forth mailing, but, we will be ready for that. We are praying that the Lord will bless us with our LOA arriving next week, probably closer to the end of the week. That would put us at 6 weeks post LID.