This WILL be the last Christmas without my Butterfly!

We've had a great one, with most of the family here... we played our favorite 'gift exchange' game on Christmas eve and we all had a great laugh!

Santa brought me a lemon tree... it should have lemons by spring!

Missing my dad, of course, but I will visit his resting place and bring him his favorite chocolate... and we wish my sister's family and beautiful nieces could have joined us, but do hope to see them soon!  Would be really great to find a way to have us all together next year. A whole new experience with a little one running around.. for ME to keep an eye on.  Can't wait!

Great News!!

Finally got to head up to Boulder Creek and spend a night with one of my besties! Her son (just had is eighth birthday) was bursting with the news that his mom and my dear friend, Cheryl, will be able to join me on the last leg of this long journey and come to China with me!!  Thank you Kai and Tim for letting her come with me. I'm so very excited and absolutely couldn't have asked for a better friend to be by my side.  Very blessed am I and are we, little miss Butterfly :)

A fabulous way to start the day!

After a lot of 'no-news' this past month, today I finally opened the RQ site to find wonderful news that the latest referrals are in and they are now through May 29th matching!!  That is now, just 7 more match days away from June 5th... Woweeee!!!

The big question now is whether they can actually get through a full 7 days of matches before the Chinese New Year, and if my referral will be included.  If so, I could be traveling in March, but if not I will likely have to wait unitl April or May.  I so hope for March!  Please send all your good thoughts this way that they can get through a full 7 days in one batch!

Yipeeee!

[From RQ Site; http://chinaadopttalk.com/2010/12/18/babies-39/]
The following blogs have pictures to share from the latest set of referrals!

• All the Stars in the Sky
• Letters to Lula
• Penny for your Thoughts
• Lady Bug Spots
• mom23boys
• slider9499

Incredibly, still nothing solid on the next set of matches...

RQ has been excellent at keeping us all posted on anything going on. Although she is not waiting herself, she really cares, no doubt! It's so great to have her site to go to, and hear about anything new, and read other's post who are also waiting, and waiting... and waiting! I held off checking in today until just now...mainly because I was so busy with work, but also because I just didn't want to be disappointed in the results. I'm still not expecting to hear anything 'real' until ~February, but ever day that passes now without a new referral batch means that much less likely of getting my 'call' before the Chinese New Year.

Read about RQs latest analysis and numbers, that really just tell us, no one has any idea what CCAA is going to do!! 

Theories and correlations

No News yet...

RQ has reported that there is nothing concrete in the way of dates for the next set of matches, but hopefully by Monday, or early next week.  I need to schedule my leave with work!!

From RQ, China Adopt Talk:

Nada

December 3rd, 2010

The silence is deafening. I held off on creating a post because I really didn’t want to have to make another “there are no new rumors” post. But it’s almost noon and I can’t hold off any longer.
To run down what we know – three agencies confirm matching has started, no one knows the cut off date, and to my knowledge no agency is reporting that they’ve been mailed, either.

A Quiet Thanksgiving

No kids at the table this year... Mom and just the adult kids without any significant others, since we're all in a bit of transition right now; so it was pretty quiet, but actually really nice.  We had a great meal and played games afterwards with so much to be grateful for. This is the last year I'll be able to eat in peace for a while, so I really just enjoyed it all, but can not wait for next years holiday season.  So exciting!!

Maybe, just maybe we could even get my sister's family, including my darling nieces, out to see us in 2011!

Final Fingerprinting

yeahhh!  Got my appt. in the mail today for my final fingerprinting. It's not until mid December, but I believe that will still be good timing for me to get the I171-H processed. Let's hope so after 5 years of waiting!!

Long Wait For Home... director Dr. Changfu Chang

Last night I attended a screening of the latest in Dr. Chang's series of documentaries focused on Chinese adoption.  The Long Wait For Home was both heartfelt and heartbreaking.  It is an intimate and personal review of the birth parents who share their tough decisions and the emotional toll they suffer. It also shows an inside glimpse of orphanages and the living conditions of the children staying there. These orphanages very rarely let in anyone from the outside, especially with cameras, so it is amazing to see. One of the most interesting things was hearing the varied views, but nearly all very positive, that ordinary, Chinese citizens and scholars had to say on the subject of international adoption.

In some added discussions after the film, Dr. Chang talked freely, answered questions, and confirmed some speculations that the political reasons are the most prevalent related to the long waiting times and changes to the policies of Chinese adoptions. It's heartbreaking to think that there are still so many babies being "held back" from forever families. Although, I tend to believe it's wishful thinking, my hope is that they are well taken care of, get adopted by Chinese families and can integrate into the Chinese culture with ease to have a happy future.

Dr. Chang also the director of Love without Boundaries, which I will get and watch very soon.

I made some new connections and look forward to joining the NorCal chapter of FCC (Families with Children from China)  http://www.fccncalif.org/

Pre-confirmation for Round 4!!

For the past month, I've been concerned that the new process to get my latest, fourth and final I-171H form approved... I've been contacting my social worker and the government agency (NBC) for the past month, to confirm they received my HS updates from my local agency and that there were no issues to prevent my paperwork being accepted, fully processed, and approved... for the 4th time!  Today I got confirmation... through email anyway... so am VERY happy to have one more thing off my mind right now.  I will keep checking the mail for the 'official' confirmation and make sure my fingerprint appt. is included.  When that paper is in my hot little hand, I will feel even better!

From: NBC Adoptions 
To: Allison <allison616@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thu, November 18, 2010 1:55:15 PM
Subject: SIM8829300584

Please see your receipt number above. I can verify that we did receive the home study update on 10/13/2010, which is in time to grant an extension. Your SNAP appointment is for Dec 14 and the notice was mailed today. Let me know if there is anything else I can do.

 

LW

Immigration Service Officer, Orphans Adoption Unit

National Benefits Center , Lees Summit , MO

US Citizenship and Immigration Service

Department of Homeland Security

New laws in the works...

[From the Adopt Talk, Rumor Queen post]
The International Adoption Simplification Act basically fixes a few things that Hague compliance complicated.
Summary from: http://www.gop.gov/bill/111/2/s1376

Under current law, U.S. citizens can generally adopt children from foreign countries and have those children considered as being immediate relatives for immigration purposes if the children are adopted while under the age of sixteen.  However, adoptions are also allowed up to the age of 18 in instances where a U.S. citizen is seeking to adopt a child from a foreign country after having already adopted a sibling of the child.
The implementing legislation to the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoptions did not include this latter provision.  Therefore, the Immigration and Nationality Act’s provision allowing adoptions of siblings under the age of 18 does not apply to children adopted from countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention.  S. 1376 would extend the provision to these sibling adoptions.
The bill contains another provision related to the Hague Convention.  Under current law, prospective immigrants have to be vaccinated against certain diseases before they can enter the U.S.  There is an exemption for adopted children if they are 10 years of age or younger and the adoptive parents certify that the children will receive the necessary vaccinations within 30 days of entry into the U.S.  This exemption was enacted in 1997 to ensure that parents do not have to subject their children to unsafe immunizations in foreign nations.  However, the exemption does not apply to children adopted from countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention.  This bill would expand the exemption to also cover children adopted from Hague signatory countries.

According to this page and this page, it passed the house yesterday. It passed in the Senate on July 21st, so at this point is just needs the president’s signature to become law. Actually, I believe it will become law at some point even without his signature.

Predictions and Speculations...

RQ posts her predictions every month and does a fabulous job in keeping them up to date. Often times those of us who are still waiting post comments in response to her predictions, with questions and sometimes predictions of our own. This month was no exception and in fact, there was some fairly pointed comments about this subject and the reasons for all the extended delays.  Everyone has an opinion as to 'why' we are having to wait so long... I believe it's a myriad of factors and not just one reason.  Below is a post I'm choosing to side with specific to the predictions piece. I'll leave the 'reasons' piece for another post:

karmen65 Says:

1. November 9th, 2010 at 3:31 pm I’ve been doing my own little analysis, and have only been off by one day in the last six months. My prediction is that they will get through the end of June 2006 LIDs by March or April at the latest. They will complete July by June 2011. They will complete August by September 2011.
   I know my predictions may seem a little rosy … but I’ve decided to live in that rosy little world :) AND like I say I have been right on the money the last six months or so.
   According to RQs polls the numbers will get a lot smaller moving forward, and there is a LOT of attrition. I am LID 9-11-06 and in my August/September Yahoo group there are very few of us still waiting. Most have chosen to go the waiting child route.
   
   So don’t lose heart folks. I really believe our day is just around the corner.
   Keep your chins up! :)
   

Final course begins

Back from vacation and today, I begin the final course in my master's program!  This is a 14 week course and truly hope to be done right about the same time my plans to travel are being arranged.  My worry is that I will have to quit the program or not be able to finish in time... but I would gladly drop it all, just to get the call!

Vacation is too short!

Just spent over a week with one of my best friends (Cindy) from High School on the East Coast (Charleston and Myrtle Beach)! The place had been paid for for 4 years, with various intentions for using it. When I finally made the actual reservation and booked the dates, it was the absolute last week I could use it without it expiring forever. And it was the only week of time off between my final classes in the final stretch of my master's program. Needless to say, it was a no brainer that I would use it.

The beach is what I had in mind, when I originally booked it and was really thankful that the weather was still so nice in October. I had thought my Dear Butterfly would be with me and I could introduce her to the sand and the ocean of the Atlantic. Since that was not the case, Cindy and I went as two grown adult BFFs, who had an absolute ball, just hanging out and enjoying whatever came next! Lots of stories that we now have as reminders of our close friendship.

Now, back to reality of starting this final course to complete my Master's Thesis in the home stretch of the program!

Sleep Article

From Alecia - the social worker:

Sent: Thu, October 29, 2009 2:57:50 PM
Subject: FCCA: Sleep Article

Hello Families:
I attached an article about children's sleep when initially placed. I know
many of you are past this stage, but I thought the article could still be
helpful.


Alecia Gutierrez, MSW
Social Worker
Family Connections Christian Adoptions

Need to access from hard drive until I can save via attachment:

In personal docs folder:  FCCASCANNER20091029145134.pdf

Referrals in for November 2010

A bit of good news!  The Rumor Queen (RQ) has announced on her blog that referrals have arrived for November.  The CCAA (China Center for Adoption Affairs) has now matched up to May 23, 2006.  This means there are now only 13 days of dossiers in line ahead of mine!  Hallelujah!

When you have time, check out the blogs of some of the lucky folks who received referrals this month see RQ's site at: http://chinaadopttalk.com/

4th Time is 4 Sure!

Forget 3rd times a charm... that day has come and gone. Today marks the day I submitted my 4th set of paperwork to receive an updated I-171H (immigration document) that I can't go to China without, or will not be able to bring my baby home.  My current one expires the last day of this month!  Why do they have different expiration timeframes than the homestudy??  All part of this crazy, paperwork intensive and frustrating process... At least the paperwork is easier to put together now :)

Special thank you to all my dear friends who quickly returned the referrals to the agency. I know it's been a pain, but I promise (as long as there's no unforseen natural disasters and they don't close the program) this time is the last!

Cheryl, Joelle, Julia, Terri and my big brother Doug!

Baby 'love' Cookbook

I saw this on the Today show this am, and wanted to keep it so I can access it easily, once you're here!  I have big plans to keep us both healthy :)

Baby Love: Healthy, Easy, Delicious Meals for Your Baby and Toddler,” Norah O’Donnell and her husband, chef Geoff Tracy, teach young parents how easy and important it is to create fresh, nutritious and delicious food for their children, and in doing so, to create a foundation for nutritious eating throughout their lives.

todayshow.com
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/38995465/from/39035128

Recipe: Cinnamon apple oatmeal raisin

Norah O'Donnell and Chef Geoff Tracy

Ingredients

• 4 apples
• 1/2 cup golden raisins
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 12 ounces water or apple juice
• 1/2 cup baby oatmeal cereal

Preparation

Wash and peel the apples (peeling is optional). Cut each apple in half. Remove the seeds and stem with a melon baller. Cut each half into 6 pieces. Put the apple pieces, raisins, cinnamon, and water into a 4- quart pot. Turn the burner on high and cover with a lid. Cook for approximately 7 minutes, stirring once.
Add the oatmeal and cook for 1 more minute, stirring throughout the final minute. Pour everything into the blender. Puree until smooth. Pour into two ice cube trays and allow to cool.
Wrap and freeze.

Tips

Baby gets a little spice! Aromatics make food delightful. Just because your little one is eight months old doesn't mean life needs to be bland.
Watch the dried fruits or be prepared to scrub . . . I use dried fruits in a number of recipes. When I do, I increase the amount of liquid in the recipe. This prevents the recipe from burning the bottom of your pot. Keep an extra eye on recipes that have dried fruit to make sure they don't cook down too quickly. It is a mess to clean if they do.
But I only have regular raisins! It is just a recipe . . . modify it any way you want. That's cooking!

Serving Size

Yields 36 ounces for 8 months plus.

The Red Thread

When a child is born invisible red threads connect the child's soul to all the people, present and future, who will play a part in the child's life. As the child grows, the threads shorten and tighten, drawing closer those people who are destined to be together.  ~ an ancient Chinese legend

Welcome!

I am finally starting to get excited again!  The referrals seem to be somewhat consistent this past 6 months and we're getting closer to June '06 (Log in Dates- LID) each month. I started this process in Oct. of 2005, when I went to my first meeting in Oceanside, CA... before I moved to NorCal.  Once I moved to El Dorado Hills, CA, I was able to determine that China was where I would find my Dear Butterfly, so submitted my paperwork through to CCAI as a single applicant.  It has now been nearly 5 years since that date and there have been so many ups and downs throughout this time, but one thing has stayed steady - I have never wavered from my decision and know in my heart, my Dear Butterfly is out there waiting for me too!

I'm looking forward to my call, and at this point believe it will be sometime in January 2011. Five long years later. I have tried to make the most of this time... with lots of work to keep me busy, a promotion and nearly complete with getting my masters degree in Information Management.  I would have given all of it up to have held my Butterfly sooner, but they say... 'once she's arrived, all the waiting time will disappear.'  All I know is that I'll just be so excited to finally have her with me!

Wake... Eat, Work, Sleep, Repeat!

Not much else going on for me these days!  I look forward to a little girls weekend getaway to stay with good friends in San Diego over my Birthday weekend!  A little wine tasting, house warming party, Sun Brunch, and  SATC 2 - can't beat that!

Chinese New Year 2010!

Chinese Horoscope 2010 the Year of the Tiger

Now that Chinese New Year 2009 has passed for a while, it is time to look towards the future and find out the fortunes that will await us for Chinese New Year 2010. The Chinese Lunar Calendar and its horoscope are divided into twelve cycles, each with its own animal. The year 2010 will be the Year of the Tiger effective from 12th February 2010 up until 2nd February 2011. To know the fortunes that will be in store for you in the coming year ahead, we shall take a look at your horoscope based on the 12 Chinese Zodiac signs and its predictions for 2010:
If you do not know the animal assigned to your birth year check out How to Find your Chinese Zodiac Animal