Adoption Update!!
February, 2003: We hoped for word this month on the actual date our dossier was officially logged in to the Chinese Center for Adoption Affairs. This is the government agency that oversees adoptions and will ultimately make the match of a child to our application. Due to the Chinese New Year, the CCAA offices are closed through Feb 7, so we're expecting a mid-Feb log-in date. The end of Feb came and no word on the log-in date. We should hear in early March.
March, 2003: Another wacky and fun dream story from Lisa to add to the mix ... I awoke the morning of Mar 9 recalling a funny dream. We were in China, and in walked the nannies with our beautiful daughter ... and her TWIN SISTER! Yikes!! At least I'm keeping my sense of humor during the wait. Either that or I seriously need to be more careful about what I eat before I go to bed! On Mar 10 we received word from the agency that our dossier was logged-in on Feb 12. There have been rumors that the wait time for a referral will decrease, cutting the wait to as little as 8-10 months instead of a grueling 13-14 months. We'll be cautiously optimistic as we see what really happens, but it would be really nice to get our referral in late 2003 instead of Spring 2004! We finished up the month with a Spring Break trip to Destin with the kids ... a great time to relax and enjoy some precious family time.
April, 2003: Back to reality after vacation, but it was great! Drew is in the midst of track season, and we found out that he is the only junior high student to land a part in the high school production of "Fiddler on the Roof" and we are so proud of and excited for him. No updates of any significance on the adoption front ... referrals seem to be speeding up just slightly, and we are hopeful that will continue so we can get our little girl into our arms earlier than we originally thought. China and other parts of Asia are experiencing an outbreak of an influenza-type virus (SARS) that has us watching carefully. We can only hope it doesn't affect the status of international adoptions.
May, 2003: We're just staying busy and keeping up with the kids' activities. We enjoyed TJ's preschool graduation on May 22 ... what a great kid he is. Our dossier was logged in three months ago, so we're making some progress. Amid the rumors of a reduced wait time came the news on May 15 that the Chinese Center for Adoption Affairs was temporarily delaying the release of any new referrals for families due to the SARS outbreak. They have said they will continue to do the processing (matching) of children to families and will reassess the situation periodically. At this point it seems more of a bump in the road than a major roadblock, but only time will tell! No new referrals have come out since around April 1, so we're anxious to see that get rolling again soon!
June, 2003: Drew enjoyed some summer no-school freedom, and a week at church camp at Living Springs. He worked a lot of volunteer shifts at our community festival and marched in the parade with the Jr High Band. On the adoption front, the month began with positive news on SARS, with signs showing it may be coming under control in most parts of China. Another family from Tremont traveled to Anhui Province in China for their daughter and held her for the first time on June 2. We're so excited that our daughters will have someone in the area to share their heritage. On June 12 we're logged in four months! And finally on June 24 ... word came that China has lifted the temporary suspension on issuing new referrals, so the suspension ends and referrals will begin again soon!
July, 2003: Things are looking good for China referrals as we begin the month, with referrals for four months (Apr-May-Jun-Jul 02) coming in just one week. That is a big step toward a reduced wait time for us, so we're hopeful as we approach our 5-month log-in anniversary ... hopefully close to the half-way point of our waiting time! We spent the July 4th holiday weekend at our boat, and sent Drew off to Scout camp for a week, and TJ turned 5 on Jul 16. Also on Jul 16 we had a six-month follow visit from our social worker at our home, a requirement of the IL pre-adoption home licensing. On Jul 24 we had a special treat and got to meet the daughter of a Tremont family who arrived home from China about six weeks ago ... and it was also great to see their trip pics and video, and get a glimpse of what is in store for us! After I held her, TJ came over and said in a loud whisper, "I really like her, mom!" :-)
August, 2003: More good news on referrals, with the Aug-Sep 02 referrals coming in this month and reducing the wait to 11 months. Hoping for another double-month batch next month to reduce the wait even more. We're nearing the point in this process where it seems we have been waiting SO long, and it takes some patience to get through it! All in good time, but we are all anxious to get our daughter/ sister home. Aug 12 marks our 6 month log-in anniversary. The boys are getting ready for school, with Drew starting 8th grade on Aug 19 and TJ with his first school bus ride and kindergarten debut on Aug 21. Mitch and I will have a little "R&R" time on the evening of the 21st as we head to Chicago to be parrotheads for the night at the Jimmy Buffett concert. And before we know it, we'll slip into the school year routine and Fall will be upon us. Our little girl cannot be far behind!
September, 2003: Referrals just keep coming at a good pace, with the Oct-Nov 02's coming in the first week of this month. Soooo, that leaves just two months ahead of us, and could put us on pace for a referral in Dec. It's definitely getting harder to wait, and we're "only" approaching our 7 month log-in anniversary, when many have waited as long as 13-14 months ahead of us. Only time will tell! Hard to believe that we filed our application a year ago this month, and started this rollercoaster journey. We celebrated Mitch's birthday on Sep 16 and the boys are deep into school activities now. Fall always goes fast!
October, 2003: Well, October started with a bang ... two more months of referrals in from China, so we are NEXT! It is exciting and unbelieveable that we will have our referral sometime in early Nov ... barring any unforeseen circumstances (read: disclaimer). An "e-buddy" received a referral for their daughter on Oct 2 and we are so excited for them! Drew turned 14 on Oct 6 and was just elected to 8th Grade Student Council, he and TJ are both having a great year so far. Hard to imagine this is my last month to update prior to our referral ... stay tuned!