2008 Olympics in Beijing

There is talk on the yahoo groups that we may see a speed up after the 2008 Olympics in Beijing this summer. They are scheduled to take place on 8/8/08...this if very significant because the number 8 is considered to be very lucky in China.

From what I have been reading, China has been planning this for years. When the Olympics were held in Korea, the US news media really played up that Korea's largest export was children to American families and this embarrassed the country.

This is the last thing that China wants to see...the talk is that because they have been planning for years to host this years event that it is a planned slow down so that they (the Chinese) can point out to the world that they are not the baby brokers that some people may think they are...I can only hope and pray that there is some truth to this...could we possible see a speed up in referrals after the Olympics...I hope so.

Concurrent Adoption

With the long wait for referrals from China, I have been thinking about possibly doing a concurrent adoption with either another country or domestically. Our adoption agency did not allow concurrent adoptions until a couple of months ago.

When the agency first said that they would allow a concurrent adoption we were told that whatever referral came in first, if the referral was accepted, that the other countries paperwork would be pulled and the file closed. There was no way that you could keep your place in line.

Well, we have just received word that now if you apply for a concurrent adoption, you MAY be able to keep your place in line for China, but you MAY be subject to the new guidelines and that would automatically disqualify us from staying in China.

I can't help but feel that we have no control over our family, how we can form our family and IF we can even HAVE a family.

I'm just so disappointed with this entire situation. My whole heart and soul has been in China for over a year now and I know that I have a daughter just waiting to come home to us, but I also want to have more than one child. If we stay in line with China it could be another 4-5 years before we receive a referral--I'll be closer to 50 years old and this will basically be our ONLY opportunity to have a family.

I was so hoping to be able to start a concurrent adoption and possibly have a child home for a year or two and then go to China to bring our daughter home...It's never going to happen that way.

How can I as a mother, (yes...I am a mother right now! I have loved this child for so long...) just give up on my daughter. HOW? How do you tell yourself that it's okay to forget about this child that you have loved for so long, because you were to impatient to wait for her to come home?

How do you then deal with the fact that things are still uncertain with China and you STILL may not get a referral for your child...how do I live with the fact that I put OUR FAMILY on hold when so many things are uncertain.

Am I just shooting myself in the foot?? It just brings up the question that we keep asking ourselves...will we ever be parents...I just don't know.

Meet My New Little Ladybug...

I want to Build a Bear with my sister Cindy, my nephew Alex and two of his friends today and I just fell in love with my new little ladybug...Isn't she cute...she is a purple Hippo dressed up as Tinkerbell. She will be perfect for the nursery...all the colors are perfect AND she is a fairy! I just love her and of course named her Ladybug on her birth certificate. Today is her birthday.

WOW...11 MONTHS DOWN...

Today is our 11 month LID (log in date) with the CCAA. I can't say that time is flying by because it isn't...we had a nice reprieve during the holiday season, but the wondering and worrying are right back to where they were before the holidays.

Will we be to old when we finally get our referral?

Will we become sick before we get our referral?

Will we have a life changing something that will disqualify us from adopting?

There are so many questions and no answers.

Love Without Boundaries...

I've recently been made aware of this wonderful organization. One of my yahoo groups is organizing a basket of books to be auctioned off to help the sick children of China. The books are a mix of Attachment, Adoption and Children's books. The money raised will go to help the children in China that need medical attention.

I'm putting a link to their blog on my favorite blog section here on our blog as well as a link to their official web site...it truly is amazing what these "volunteers" are doing to help children. We have donated three books to the cause, all children's books, the basket is currently up to 24 books and one DVD. Who knows, maybe we can get two basket of books before the auction date.

This makes number 4....

THANKS SO MUCH!!



I received this adorable hat from my February Secret Buddy...she was out Christmas shopping and thought of us...isn't she sweet!!

This make 4 for our hat collection!!

Thank you Secret Buddy!!

I'm so happy that I joined the secret buddy swaps. You wouldn't believe how it makes you feel to come home and find a surprise waiting for you...it does wonders!

I hadn't heard from my January Secret buddy for a couple of months and I was starting to get concerned that something may have been going on for them...I'm glad to say that it's a case of "Life Happens" and that's so good to know. It's always nice to get a present, but the notes and cards mean just as much and they help you know that you are not alone.

We got two sets of presents in December.

Here is our November Secret Buddy present (bath theme) from my January Buddy:






December presents we go the cutest woobbie (sp?) and the softest blanket...take a peak:





Thank you so much for all the thought that you put into the presents you send. The woobbie has all the colors that I plan to use in the nursery...I love it and the blanket...my goodness, I've never felt anything softer.

Thanks again!

This just say's it all...

Thanks to "waiting4olivia" on RQ...I love this!!

Is It Meant To Be...

I don't know if we are meant to have a child or not. I hope we are, but, sometimes I feel that fate will have her way whether you like it or not...

I wonder...

Is it enough to want a child...

Is it enough to know that you will love this child...

Is it enough to want to be a good parent...it will be trial and error...

Is it enough to say I will love you always and kiss your hurts away...when ever I can...if I can...

Is it enough to say I can now provide you with a future you deserve...

I don't know...Is it meant to be...I hope so...

Happy New Year...

Let's hope that 2008 brings speedier referrals for our waiting families!!

The holidays are over and they were great for keeping busy and not thinking to often about the wait but now it's back to reality!!

The current rummer is that the CCAA has referred for the month of December 2007 up to December 19, 2005...this means that from the November to December referrals, the CCAA has only referred 3 days worth of applications...ONLY THREE DAYS!!!

If the CCAA keeps up referring such small number of days I really think that Michael and I will age out before we even come close to our LID's batch of referral.

WHAT A WAY TO START OFF THE NEW YEAR!! Let's just pray that things speed up.