My projections.....

So my friends John and Jenny have the timeline right now of DTC then 10 days later they had LID and then 25 days after that it was LOA. (at least I think that's the right numbers!!!). Sooo....I started thinking and am praying for LESS time for us and that we can get this moved along!!! If we are on their timeline though it could very well be LID of 12/31/10 (today!!) and then get our LOA on 1/25/11. That would work out great but would be even better if it was quicker! I'm hoping our LOA is in January so I can send him a birthday package for his 2/15 birthday.

Shopping today I went into Hallmark and found the softest, sweetest Snoopy. He's light blue and brown and is so dang cute I had to buy it. Of course, I turned the corner and found the same one but pink...so had to buy both!! I'm thinking I might sleep with JD's for a few nights before I can mail it so hopefully he gets it and there's a scent of his new mama on it. I know he's going to be 9 years old but really.....it's soft and cuddly and I think he will love it.

wow!

So...the weather has been yucky in both Minnesota and Washington (our agency) BUTTTTT....our social worker called and has ALL documents and is planning on our dossier going to China tomorrow....WE ARE DTC!!!!

I'm changing my sidebar but know if there is a glitch...I'll change it back. This is so exciting and really came out of the blue. I wanted it sent by Christmas but really was so sure it wouldn't go until after!

So far I know 2 families that received their LOA within a month of being DTC. Let's pray it goes that fast for us!

happy happy happy happy!

4 years, 6 months and 24 days ago.....

that was our first LID (log in date) when we had Zoe's dossier sent to China. Just yesterday and possibly more on Monday/Tuesday the referrals for babies are coming in for people with that LID. Can you imagine waiting that long?!?! it's pure craziness. We started our journey to Zoe with the idea of a healthy baby girl as young as possible. After much waiting we went "special needs" route and were so happy we did....it was 2 1/2 year old Yidi we got!!! She's a perfect fit for our family and really has brought much joy and happiness to our family. She had heart surgery as a baby but other than that....PERFECT!!! God knew she was meant for our family before we did and we are thankful that she is.

So now.....4 years, 6 months and 24 days since that LID....we are home with Zoe almost 3 years and going back for another sweet orphan child. The wait is hard but oh so worth it. I'm happy for the new families that are finally getting their dreams made and am not the least bit upset that we didn't wait it out....that we took a leap of faith in the "special needs" and said yes to Zoe.

Happy dance for John and Jenny!!!

Our friends are officially LOA (letter of acceptance) for their next sweet girl! We're right behind them in this process and I hope it goes as smoothly and quickly for us as it did them. They received their LOA within a month of their dossier hitting China!! That is quick quick quick and I so pray we get ours to China and have the same quickness.

John and Jenny traveled with us when we adopted the first time. It's fun to be doing this together again but sad that we wont' travel together. Our girls love their China sister reunions and will be seeing them in February before we all travel again. I can't even imagine our next travel reunion. There will be 5 of us families that are adopting again out of our original 9 or 10 families...that's pretty good odds!

Anyway.....Congrats to Jenny and John...hope you hear about traveling REAL soon to get your new sweet girl. I can't wait to follow your journey and know I'm right behind you.

If I don't post again...Merry Christmas to you all! Be thankful for family and friends and remember the reason for the season is Jesus. Without Him...nothing is possible!

love
Liz

Oh how I hate waiting......

Still waiting for our documents to make it from Chicago to Washington (where our agency is) and am hating it. I guess part of me is happy knowing it's not in WA yet as that means there was an issue and needs to be fixed and re-sent but really I wish they had it done it record speed. I can safely assume it's being worked on so for that....I'm happy. Realistically it probably won't make it to our agency by Christmas but hopefully soon after it will.

This is the part of the adoption process I hate. It's all a hurry up and then wait process and repeats itself several times over. I'm so anxious to get ON WITH THIS ALREADY and want to see my son...to meet him, get to know him, to hug and kiss him and for him to meet us! I've got his suitcase packed, his room ready....so really, I can leave NOW! LOL

We'll have a white Christmas!!

it snowed and snowed and snowed some more this weekend! wowzers....I think I heard somewhere between 14 and 20 inches but not exactly sure.

Colleen and Lia came to visit us from Michigan and I'm not sure if they will want to ever come back. We took the train to Minneapolis in the blizzard and had quite the adventurous day. We had to walk through really high snow....at times to my knees. I even lost a shoe and some teenager dug it out for me and Zoe refers to that as "the guy that saved mommy's life"!! We had (not so) wonderful lunchables for our dinner while sitting at a window ledge inside the skyways of Minneapolis. We managed to get on the 7:00 train to head home around 8:00 and it finally left MPLS at about 10:48! We left home at 1:20 and returned about 11:30 so it was a LONG LONG day. We were able to stay warm in the train and had snacks and drinks so it was not too terrible. I was so happy to finally make it home. Sadly, Colleen and Lia left today so now it's back to normal for us.

No news on the adoption front but our paperwork is in Chicago and hopefully their weather is better and employees can make it to work and get my paperwork authenticated so it can makes it's way to our agency.

Only 12 days until Christmas and that means...only 17 until my birthday!! LOL

It's here....It's here....It's here!!!!!!!!

It finally came today!!! I'm so happy! We managed to get to the bank to have it notorized about 10 minutes before they closed! I will be heading to St. Paul tomorrow for the state seal and then off to Chicago it will go to be authenticated! Hoping for speedy service and that our dossier will be sent to China BEFORE Christmas!

happy happy happy

What in the world!

The mail STILL hasn't come and it's after 5:00!!!! aren't there rules on this?!?!?! Is she messing with me?!?!!?!?

Dream

yesterday we had our Chinese playgroup Christmas and had such a fun time! I was talking to others about blogging and saying how I love to read blogs and love when people are faithful about blogging daily (okay, I'm not but get over it!!!). I did mention that I was great at blogging though while in China with Zoe. So last night I dreamt that it was my last day in China getting JD and I realized that I hadn't posted one thing and never skyped home to talk to Steve and the kids!!! bad girl I was! I'm hoping that is one dream that does not come true!!! LOL

I'm hoping for 2 posts today....come on mail lady...bring my I800A!!! please please please!!!

24 days ago....

we were fingerprinted and yet we still dont' have our I800A!!! We were told it takes about 2-3 weeks but are over the 3 weeks. I'm sure it's because of Thanksgiving landing in there but really?!?!!? do they not get that I'm anxious?!?!!? I'm sure all the others they are processing aren't as anxious as I am!!!

But, today, Jake got mail....his passport has arrived! yipeee for that!!!

new camera

I ordered a new camera on Thanksgiving for an early "black Friday" deal. It was about 50 or 60% off so that was WAY cool! Anyway, I accidentally erased my email about it and when I called office max they had no record of me! Hellloooo?!?!!?!.....what?!?!!? So I was quite bummed. Well, the UPS man showed up and gave me my camera!!! yiippppeeeeee!

It's a Kodak with 12mp and 10X zoom. Perfect size for traveling to China! FYI....my other camera has died and didn't have great zoom.

Now if someone would deliver my I800A I'd be even happier!

It's getting old!

I'm a HUGE whiner today so bear with me! I am really tired of waiting for this I800A and am getting really frustrated and have to admit...a bit defeated about it. I just want to bring our son home so we can start bonding/attaching. Frankly, I just want to meet the kid!

I'm told by our SW that we need to wait until mid next week before I should call and find out! So, I wait.... and wait.....and wait....and wait! isn't adoption fun?!?!!?

a true Thankful Thursday!

So many people do "thankful Thursday" blogs and every Thursday they write something they are thankful for. Well, today being Thanksgiving makes that a true thankful Thursday I guess!!

I'm of course thankful for my husband as he is truly my better half! We just celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary this month and I do believe each day gets better with him. Oh don't get me wrong....he can really DRIVE ME NUTS but overall....I'm so in love with him and am happy to report that I KNOW he's in love with me! Who could ask for more!

I'm thankful for my children! Our 3 kids at home have mostly been joys to raise and watch grow. They too can DRIVE ME NUTS! but I do admit that most days they are wonderful. We can't wait to get our 4th kiddo home so we can be complete. Funny....when we brought Zoe home I thought we were complete but was wrong, we need JD home for that.

I am also thankful for our extended families. I would be lost without being able to talk to my mom and sister every day! I love that they "get" me and still kinda like me!! Family is by far the most important thing to me and I thank God he gave me mine. I'm also lucky that I was blessed with great in-laws and enjoy being with them.

We have the love a joy of knowing God, we both have jobs, we have a house, we have love and healthy, happy kids....life is good on this Thanksgiving Thursday and I'm one thankful Mama/Wife!

Where's JD?

Currently JD is in foster care in Henan province. The name of the province Henan comes from its geographic location. Henan means 'the south of the river', indicating that Henan lies south of China's Yellow River. The province covers an area of over 160,000 square kilometers (about 62,000 square miles). It is populated by Han, Hui, Manchu, Mongolian and other ethnic groups totaling 92,560,000 people.

Henan has a humid warm-temperate climate. Dry and windy in winter and spring, the province is hot and rainy in summer and bakes in strong sunlight during the autumn months. Rainfall averages about 600-1000 millimeters increasing from north to south, as does the annual temperature which increases from about 12.8C in the north to 15.5C in the south.

When we travel we will go to Zhenzhou, the capital city. I have 2 maps to show China and one that is the closeup of Henan province. With a pleasant climate, Zhengzhou is welcoming all year round. The hottest month is July and the average temperature is about 27C (80.6F) while the coldest month is January with an average temperature of -0.2C (31.64F). Autumn and spring are the best and the peak tourist seasons.

Sounds like our poor little guy will NOT be accustomed to colder weather so our winters will be long for him (well, it's long for all us Minnesotans!!).

He is in foster care right now and although I love that knowing he's being cared for in a family setting and has been given love it also makes me sad as we will be taking him from his only family he has. Having Jake with will hopefully help him and make him know how much he's loved.

Waiting is hard work!

I'm so not patient and this waiting crap for our I800A is not fun. I'm really getting frustrated with the wait...it's been almost 2 weeks since we were fingerprinted and really I thought we would have the results by now. Today would have been our day to actually get fingerprinted so just maybe it will be coming anytime now. With this being the start of Holiday lineups I need to have extra patience!

My goal was dossier to China by Thanksgiving.....so now....it's dossier by Christmas! I was really hoping for an April travel but need to start telling myself it's probably going to be May or even June so that I won't be disappointed in April. God knows the timing so I need to trust Him. I am loving all this little boy stuff again and hope the sizes I'm getting him will fit! I'm finding some great deals though so not spending a fortune but will be able to have a suitcase packed for him with some cute and nice clothes.

praying tomorrow is our I800A day!

Exciting news!

1st off no paperwork yet so that's not the news!

We were trying to work it to bring the boys with as they would be so awesome to help JD with the transition of leaving his "family" and coming to his new family. After MUCH discussion it has been decided that Jake is going to China with us!!! I am sooooo happy with that and can't wait for him to experience another country for 2 weeks and to help with JD's bonding and attachment to us. Joey has decided he's rather stay home as he thinks going to China sounds "boring". BORING?!?! are you kidding me child?!!?!? We are not bringing Zoe as we just don't feel she's ready for that big of a trip and with Steve not going she'd be soooo clingy with me and it would be hard to get JD to bond/attach and get comfortable with us. Zoe is so stubborn and such a mama's girl that we feel she's better off at home with Steve and Joey and keeping her normal routine. When I talk about going to China she is good with it and we never say "wish you could go" or letting her even think that is a possibility so she will be fine with her daddy!!

So, today we will apply for Jake's passport. He has a passport card that we got for the cruise but that is only good for land/sea and NOT for China!! I just want to get going so still praying for April travel!!

oh and the picture is from Jake's birthday last October but it's what I had available to add!

NADA....NOTHING...NOPE

We still haven't received our I800A in the mail yet!!! I gotta say I was really sure by today we'd have it. But, I'm wrong.

I got an email that perhaps I need to call the national benefits center in MO to let them know I walked in early and that they should look for my results to come sooner. I did call and got the "we will add a note to your file". So, does that mean....yep, we'll hop right on it?!?!?!?! I doubt it but at least I felt I did something.

I can't believe we're a week away from Thanksgiving and that Christmas is only 37 days away. That is coming up WAY too fast but I know that for the kids....not fast enough. It's weird to think that we won't have JD home but I know that he's okay where's he is at right now. He's with a foster family that is giving him love and will soon be home with our family to give him love! I just can't imagine the day I can hug him and kiss on him....it still doesn't seem real, like I'm dreaming or something.

It's happening though and when it finally does....I'll cry!!! LOL

Darn mail....

is showing up empty for our letter we're waiting for! I'm so sure it's coming this week that I worry about dissapointment. Each day I get very excited and then nothing. I just want our dossier to get to China and then I'll be very patient!! yeah...right! I won't be patient until after I'm home with him. I want to post his picture here but not allowed to yet so need to wait.

new Luggage

Okay China...I can come now, bought new luggage!!

Wouldn't it be great if that's all it took?!?!!? !!! We found a 3 piece set of luggage at Kohls. It was originally $229.99 (yeah right) and on sale for $99.99 and then we had a 30% off so it came to about $69.99! Actually, Steve bought it for me for Christmas!! a bit early but we had a great coupon so...had to do it. I love it and have some of JD's stuff already packed! See, I'm ready to travel!!

I believe we were fingerprinted and then it will generate an I800A which we need for our dossier. I've heard a few differant "reports" that it can come within a week after fingerprints or it could take about 3 weeks! If you want my opinion...I like the less than a week. I'll be watching my mailbox for the next several weeks pretty darn close.

two down....none to go!

We are fingerprinted!!! Steve went after work and since there was nobody there they said they would get his done! So now we wait for our I800 (I think) and then once it's authenticated...we sent our dossier to China. I hear that can come really fast so praying for that!

One down....one to go!

I did my fingerprints this morning and Steve is planning on going this afternoon! I had no troubles getting them done early so hopefully Steve will sail through as well.

Our actual appointment is November 23rd so getting in early is wonderful!! They never even looked at the appointment time and didn't say a word about it so it worked fabulously!! I'm really hoping Steve has the same experience so we're both done and getting that going. I'm really anxious to get our paperwork to China and get closer to traveling to get him. I'm really praying for April travel but will be happy whenever I can go....I'm so not patient.

Steve and I just got back from Vegas and had a great time. We didn't realize how we needed that time to reconnect and just be together without kids interrupting. We were so happy to get home to the kids though and it made me think about being away from Steve and the kids for 2 weeks when I go to China....I will miss them terribly. We went to Vegas with our friends, Colleen and Charlie Hall, and had so much fun with them. They are so easy to be with and it's so effortless to have a good time with them. It was sad to say goodbye but we will see Colleen and Lia in about a month and know that we will see the rest of the family in February.

Great news!!!

When we started our journey there was a $4200 grant associated with our son to help aid in the adoption expenses. I inquired about this last week and was told...oh, we didn't know that and when it got looked in to we found out we mis-read and it's "MAY have a grant UP TO $4200". So the other day we applied with heavy hearts and today I got an email....APPROVED AND FOR THE FULL AMOUNT!!!!!! Thank you Jesus! We are thrilled and so happy and glad we didn't get totally discouraged and moved forward.

So, this week is NOT working for our fingerprints but I'm dealing with that. We are going to Vegas Saturday - Tuesday so our first day to try for them will be next Wednesday. So, pray hard that we get in and not hassled and we can keep this process moving quickly.

Oh, as long as your praying....pray for April travel!

thanks....wooo hoooo!

We have an appt......

Our appointment for our fingerprinting came today! WWHOOOO HOOOOOO!!!! I'm so happy. The appointment is for 11/23 but wanting to try and get in early and so now need to find out when we can! Steve has a bad week this week so may not be able to try until next week. I just wanted to go tomorrow morning but he can't. GRRRRR....I need that patience thing to kick in right about now.

Happy thoughts though and we will get in soon and will post when it happens. We are getting SOOOO close to DTC (dossier to China) that I'm trembling! My goal is to really be DTC by Thanksgiving so we'll see if God's goal is the same!

Chicago

Well, we did indeed get our documents from Chicago only to turn around and send them to our agency in Washington!! I didn't think when I had them done to just have it sent right to Washington and skip me....oh well, keeping the post office in business I guess.

Waiting on fingerprint appt...please come this week...PLEASE!!!

smiles

we have made one teeny tiny step...we got our receipt from homeland security telling us they will be issuing our fingerprint appt. It's not a huge step but we were told we'd get this receipt like 2 or 3 weeks and it came in just 1 so that makes me happy! Praying they will be as quick with our appointment time and processing them!

I hate waiting

why does adoption have to be so hard! First your running around like mad to get your paperwork in then you wait. Then things start rolling again so your rushing again only to have to wait some more. And you know...you'll be rushing and waiting and rushing and waiting again!!!

So....I'm in the waiting stage right now. I'm waiting for our I800a to come so they allow us to get fingerprinted and waiting on my packet from Chicago to arrive so I can send it to our agency in Washington. I keep checking my computer even though it's not going to give me any info. I just need to wait for the info to come in the mail but since the mail already came today....I check my computer! dumb I know...but it's what I do.

Good news is we're going to Vegas in a couple weeks so that will be a nice little distraction and hoping we can get fingerprinted before we leave. But if not, it's something to look forward to when we come home.

the Excitement builds!

We just got a call from WACAP and we are sooooo getting closer!!! I still have many steps to take still but the end is in sight. We were told hopefully in about 5.5 to 7.5 months until we hear when we travel. So....anytime after March we will be on pins and needles waiting and waiting for "the call". Once we get the travel approval we will probably travel about 2 weeks later.

Oh and we will go to Zhenzhou for a week and then to Guanzhou for it to be finalized. I'm so pumped right now! I know it's still a long way off but it's so exciting to just get a glimpse of the end and know...it's coming!

UGH!

I got all my paperwork back on Saturday that I sent to Chicago! Dummy me didn't get the cover sheets with the Seal of Minnesota on our birth certificates or our marriage one because I thought they didn't need it! Sooooo....they NOW have them and tomorrow I will go back to the post office and get them sent....correctly!

It just set me back a week....but in the grand scheme of things it shouldn't matter too much.

I just want to get this to China so I can get there sooner to get our little guy!!! The wait is killing me

Chicago or bust!

and I'm really hoping for Chicago!! I sent about 10 differant documents that are needed for our dossier to Chicago to the CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC of CHINA. Sounds fancy huh? well it should be fancy since they charge $20 per document to authenticate them! Once I get them back I'm hoping it will be time to get fingerprinted and then....it's off to China for our dossier!! I just love these little steps as they are that many steps closer to JD.

Now, I'm really praying that somehow we'll get extra money and our whole family will be able to got to China to get him. How I would love for the boys to see China and Zoe to see her homeland. It's such a long shot but God willing...it will happen. If not, I'm okay with that too.

Happy dance is starting.....

I'm feeling the happy dance today! Our homestudy is pretty much done and APPROVED!! Our SW just has some minor tweaking with some spelling and it's done done done! We are going to be sending our paperwork next to Chicago to the Conselate General of the People's Republic of China!! Doesn't that just sound so official? Well it should since it's going to cost over $200 for them to authenticate our documents! I keep thinking...all worth it...it's all worth it! The great news is though is once we get this back I do believe we will be sending our dossier to China so it's that close!

I'm not quite sure of our timeframe though but keep praying we go between June/July and not any later than that!! Earlier is fine...but NOT later.

I'm not sure when I'm allowed to post his photo but itching to do that as well.

Next step....

well, I rested for a few days with no paperwork! I'm happy to do it all though as it just means we are working our way towards getting JD home.

I'm sending off our I800 with a check for $830. That is for immigration and to get fingerprinted. We also are told to get cracking on getting the great seal of Minnesota put on our documents that will be included in our dossier! yippeee.....it's getting closer. So now I'm hoping our social worker is getting close to getting our home study done because then we can get fingerprinted and then we can get our dossier sent to China!!

So, happily back to some paperwork

One step closer.....

We just got word from our homestudy agency (here in Minnesota) that we have all our required paperwork in for our homestudy and they are waiting for our background clearance from Minnesota! We're getting there slowly but surely. We do need to send our immigration paperwork though to our adoption agency which is located in WA. Our main agency is WACAP but since they are out of state we needed an agency in state to do our homestudy so we went with IAS in Edina.

So, we now WAIT and feel good about knowing at this moment we have nothing to do for the adoption! Now, that will change and I'm not sure exactly when but hoping it's soon so I can get all this paperwork sent to China and get in the process to bring JD home! Once that happens though....we have lots to do! We have to move my office down a level and then get him a bed and prepare his room. I can't wait to get some measurements on this sweet boy and get him some clothes and shoes! wooo hooo! At this point though I haven't a clue as to what sizes but can guarantee those little legs will require me to learn how to hem pants!

Throw me a life jacket, I"m......

drowning in paperwork!!! It's been quite stressful around here for me. I'm doing the adoption paperwork with the help of my sister, doing school work (nobody's help!) and of course working part time! Can you say....ARRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!

Schoolwork is hard but I'm loving learning about the stenographer machine. It's crazy how they do things and I feel cool doing it! Next semester though I'm going to concentrate on my electives and other classes and Fall 2010 or even Spring 2011 I'll resume the realtime (the stenograph part) of my classes so I can really concentrate on learning it and getting my speed up. To be a stenographer you need to be able to type like 225 or 250 WPM! To achieve that you need to practice at least 15 hours per week in addition to doing assignments and lab time. You can imagine how easy all that is while raising a family to boot! Thankfully my family is very supportive and we're working through it all.

Work....well work is good. I'm only part time and know that even sometimes that feels like too much. I have a great job though that's flexible and work from home and know I'm so lucky to have that. Unfortunately for me though....it's a dead end job for me! I really can't see moving up anywhere so a new career is what I"m looking for I guess!! I am very excited to be a court reporter someday and know it's going to be a wonderful job. My teacher at school has been doing it for over 20 years and still can't say enough about it....so there ya go!

Adoption! ahhh, the joy that keeps me going. I can't even describe how lucky I am to have 3 great children at home now and one that I'll bring home SOON. We are all getting excited to meet JD and just to show him what a family is about. After going through adoption already with Zoe I know there will be some challenges but nothing we can't handle (I hope!). We have so much paperwork to go through but really think I'm at the "waiting" stage again. That's the craziness of adoption, you rush around and work like crazy to get your paperwork done and then you sit and wait. And wait. And wait. And then some more waiting! Finally, you get news and then start the rushing around all over again. But it's all worth it knowing that I should be traveling back to China sometime between June and July. I'm praying it's June or July as summer would be a perfect time to bring him home to spend time with him and get him adjusted before starting school again.

So, right now I don't have much to share but can't wait to get all my paperwork to China and wait for their approval! We've been pre-pre-approved so I'm sure we will not have problems with getting the approval to adopt him. So for now....I will let you wait with me!! LOL

I can't wait to post him pictures.....he's so dang cute but until it's official that he's ours I can only show pictures face to face....not online as I don't want to jeopardize getting approved!

thanks all
Liz

Homestudy

Tomorrow is our first homestudy and my house is a MESS! ugh! I hate that and will need to clean clean clean tonight!

Today my sister came over and sat down with all my paperwork and told me what to do! She's great at organizing (and being bossy) and I sooooo appreciate all she's doing to help me out. I think we have it all figured out and will be able to get our dossier in order pretty easily. It's so nice to have the extra eyes and hands to get it all straightened out.

Today on my to do list was make our doctors appointments (done) get fingerprinted for the Adam Walsh thingy (done) and get Steve to sign some forms (done done and done). It's a great feeling to see some progress and I have to do another huge thank you to Sue!! love you sister!!!

Now...off to clean so we won't be rejected right away!

later
Liz

He's off the list!

Just a quick update....we found out that Qing Qing is off the shared list and is being specifically held for us! We now need to get going as quickly as we can on his paperwork so it can get to China to be processed and get him home!

This will be a VERY trying period as I'm starting school (graduated 25 years ago!!!), working (at least only part time), being a parent (full time!!!) and completing all the adopting requirements and paperwork! My sister is going to help me sort through the adoption paperwork and basically be telling me what to do....I'll need that.

For now I be really thankful he's been pulled off the shared list and available to only us! It's pretty surreal right now. I can't believe this is happening as we were not planning on adopting again. I always thought about it but Steve was a NO WAY! He's come around and I know he gets nervous about the money aspect but once he's home and in our family I really believe he'll be a perfect fit just like Zoe was.

Anyway...off to bed, it is a school night ya know!

love,
Liz

Where we're at

Well we've been in touch with our new adoption agency called WACAP and they are out of Seattle, Washington so....needless to say we do lots by email and phone! We had to get a differant agency that is local to do our homestudy though as we need to be able to meet with the social worker and have them in our state. We did find a place in Edina so that isn't so bad and they sound very nice.

We have a HUGE HUGE pile of papers so that is way fun! (hear the sarcasm?!?!). We also have been in touch with the local LPA (little people of America) and it sounds like a great organization. I'm feeling a bit more closer even though we have a long way to go.

So...where is our son located? He's in Kaifeng in the Henen provence. I figured we'd travel around June and guess what??!?! great news.....that's the rainiest month there!!! yippee! sounds fun. I put a map up so you all can just see for yourself where it's at! Rain or no rain I just want to get there and get him and bring him on home!

As far as I can tell from his paperwork I believe he's in foster care. He has not been to school but has a small group of kids that get tutored together so he's getting some type of education. He will be turning 9 years old in February and I just don't know what "age" he'll be like when we get him. He's got a great smile and it says he is wonderful with other kids and when someone enters the room he's in he talks NON-STOP! It will be fun to see him in a family setting and learning to rely on a mom and dad and have siblings that dote on him and yes....fight with him!!!

Anyway....off to do more paperwork!

Still waiting.......

I have no clue when we'll hear but keep checking e-mail to see if there is any word. I'm truly feeling he will be ours but need that confirmation as really....anything can happen! So I sit here trying to figure out stupid student loans that I thought were all set and waiting to hear if we have another son and just wondering.....WHERE IS MY PATIENCE?!?!!?!?!!? UGGHHH! I'm not so good at this waiting stuff and really need to get better at it. The thing is if we are told we are approved then the fun begins and we start ALL the paperwork and start the paying for it all. But I'll love it knowing it's working towards getting our son home!

So....I"m off to book club tonight and will worry about the wait at bedtime!!! LOL

Feeling anxious....

as we are waiting for our PA (pre-approval). This process is all so new to me but we sent in our financial and medical info and then it went to China. They look it over and make a decision if we can adopt this little boy or not. It sounds so scary doesn't it? I mean...if they don't like what they see...buh-bye. I'm so wanting to be his mother but know that if we get turned down it just means that God has other plans and it's not having him added to our family. I just want to make that official announcement and get the excitement out there!! I'm sure many will think we're nuts but also happy for us.

This past weekend we went to Tennessee for a reunion with the families we traveled with to China to get Zoe. It was an amazing time and I did share with them our news of adoption and all were excited and said they saw his post and how darn cute he is!! I agree of course! We had 9 families vacationing together (43 of us in all!!) and 2 of them already added again to their families with adopting. One family added a 13 year old girl from Ethiopia and she is absolutely gorgeous! and then another just got home a few weeks ago with the most adorable little 2 1/2 year old boy from China! There are 3 of us that are starting the process to adopt from China again. It's fun to talk to the others about this as we all "get it". We will be relying on them through the very long paper stage and the waiting for all our stuff to be approved and then finally travel! I just want him sooooooo bad!!!!

Anyway...off to a date with my dear hubby!

Time will tell

We finished our financial forms and family forms and the WACAP (World association for children and parents) will be sending them next week to China to see if they will approve us to adopt him. ARRGGGGGG....can I tell you I'm glad I'll be on vacation next week as I'm a nervous wreck over this. I know the possibility that we may not be approved but it's sooo hard when you want it so bad.

So for now....I wait and pray that OUR new son is safe and happy and will be receptive to being adopted!

Next post could be announcing our new son to you all!!!!!!

Our son made the "star" of the week

Our boy made the "child of the week" in promoting him for adoption! It's wonderful as if we are not meant to be his family....hopefully someone will see this and become his. However, I WANT HIM IN OUR FAMILY!!!! Anyway...here's the article on the LWB site..................Oh, and apparanlty they call him Aiden on this sight! Not really super fond of that name.
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Aiden from Kaifeng, Henan Province, just turned eight. While he is a little shy, you wouldn’t guess it from his grin! He’s currently a student in LWB’s Kaifeng Education program where he receives tutoring. Every day before class, he helps the teacher move the table and carry the chairs. He also likes to help his fellow students. He helps pick up books off the ground, helps other children move their chairs and loves to help his fellow student, Grace, learn her numbers.

He can recite about five pieces of poetry such as “Early Spring” and “The Goose”. Aiden’s recent big accomplishment is to start reading the time on the clock. He likes to draw and can count from 1 to 100, as well as doing single digit addition and subtraction.

Aiden knows the four directions correctly. He is respectful to his teacher and always eager to learn new things. We look forward to getting his reports each month since we always get a big, sweet smile in his photos.
Doesn’t he look proud of his accomplishments? All he needs now is a family to share in his pride! Aiden is currently living in our Kaifeng foster care program and is on the shared list in China’s Waiting Child program with a special need of Dwarfism. Please contact adoptionassistance@lwbmail.com for more information!
Love Without Boundaries proudly advocates for adoption but is not an adoption agency. We invite you to contact adoptionassistance@lwbmail.com with questions about a child we have featured and encourage you to contact your local adoption agency for more information about China’s Waiting Child Program.

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Wish I could put his cute pictures on here....soon soon soon I'm hoping!!!

I'm already nervous...

I can't believe we haven't even really started the process and I'm already a bundle of nerves! I mean...part of me knows if this isn't going through it's really not meant to be and God has another family for him. BBBBUUUUTTTTTTT.......I don't want that to happen!!! I want him in our family and it's scary the crap out of me that we could very well get turned down from China about him. I know I need to have faith and trust in God but darn...that's sometimes so tough! We have to fill out a pre-approval sheet for China with all our income, debt, and medical histories. That's really really hard to do as this economy has changed our income a bit and of course we have NO equity in our home! It's so easy to say...I need to get my paperwork in and trust in the Lord and know it's all in His hands but....it's hard when you start to really really want this sweet boy and will be devastated if he's not meant to be in our family. Plus I want to shout it from the rooftops and let you all in on this! share in our joy (or call us crazy!!!).

So for now....I will keep this blog to myself and pray that soon I will be sharing it will all to read!

pray pray pray!

If it's God's plan......

....we will be bringing another child home from China!! I'm so very excited to start this journey and be able to hopefully add another son to our family. We have a LONG journey of paperwork, jumping through hoops and waiting ahead of us but I do feel we are led to this little boy. We can't post picture until our agency okays it as he's technically not ours. I can tell you one thing....he's DARN cute!

Let me start at the beginning....

On our previous adoption chat room there is a wonderful lady, Karin, who is a big advocate for getting older kids with disabilities a family. On September 28, 2009 she sent a picture of Qing Qing and asked if anybody out there was his family. He really touched my heart at that time but I knew we weren't adopting again so dismissed the feelings and went on with life. WEEELLLLLL....I started really thinking of him again and on July 11, 2010 I just needed to know if he was matched with a family yet. We found out he was NOT matched yet and I just knew we needed to pursue this. I talked to Steve and after many discussions (okay...me keeping on asking!!!) we decided to go for it. We need to get approved from the agency first and then approved from China before it's official though so it just may not happen. I do feel God has placed him on my heart for a reason and hoping that reason is that he is to be our son.

So....He is named Qing Qing right now and I think we may name him James Douglas. He was born 2/15/02 and has dwarfism. We don't have much information on this but are willing to learn and pray we can give him the life he deserves.

The boys are excited about this and we haven't really told Zoe as she doesn't understand time frames and will frankly drive me insane asking every 5 minutes if it's time!!