One step closer...

I just got the approval from CIS on my fingerprints (for the third time)!!!! This is required for me to be able to travel so I am REALLY relieved that the approval came through.

Now we want Travel Approval to come in this week so I can know my travel dates...

Malia Update

I just got updated measurements on Malia. The other measurements were from September. I am so excited because this helps me to know what size she might be in when I travel to get her.

Height: 34 inches
Weight: 26.9 lbs
Foot length: 4.8 inches

This puts her now closer to the 50th percentile for weight and height on the U.S. charts.

As far as I can tell this means that she might be in a maybe a size 5 shoe and 24 month/2T clothes. Whew, our initial guess is right based on the growth charts we did.

No update on travel approval yet. I am hoping to hear in the next week or two.

Spend, spend, spend, spend..

OK, you know me and shopping. I have to say that some of the outfits are gifts also.

Guanzhou Social Welfare Institute

So I found some pictures of the Guangzhou SWI that Malia was at from April 2006 until November 2007. Half the Sky (non-profit) helps at this orphange and created the playground and the classrooms. China is also renovating sections of the building which is great.

Referral Acceptance and Happy Chinese New Year

This week has been a blur but it was wonderful. I can't believe that it will be a week tomorrow since I first saw Malia Feng Sha. I turned in my letter of acceptance on Thursday and went out to dinner with friends that all have 2 year old girls from China. I also hosted a Chinese New Year party at my house on Saturday. Thank you to those that made it with the snow and really cold winds. It was a great time and awesome to think Malia will be here next year for the celebration.

Now, I am waiting for acceptances to go back to China so we can get travel approval. The estimated time for travel approval is 2-3 weeks. From there it might be another 3-4 weeks until I travel to CHINA!!!!

I believe in the red thread.....

I don't know how it is possible that this little girl is so perfect for me. Not only was she born on Christmas day, which is the ultimate holiday in my family but her personality is such a match.

• She loves watching singing and dancing shows on TV (OK, we can watch American Idol and Dancing with the Star together).
• She is quiet and fairly introverted but she adjusts well to strangers and new environments
• Her favorite place is to play outdoors and if she is upset you can calm her by going outside (glad we are coming home in the spring)
• She is speaking one to two syllable words (oh, oh - better practice my Chinese)
• She has 16 teeth but loves candies (better think about the dentist appointment)
• She goes by the name Feng Sha (so this will be her middle name)

I just had the pediatrician appointment and everything looks really good. She even typed in all of Malia's measurements over the past two years and printed off height and weight growth charts for me. It was so neat to see how she progressed over this time.

Thank you to everyone for the kind words and support. This is an awesome journey and I love that you are all in it with me.

It's a Girl!!!

It’s a girl!!!!!!!!!!!!

Name: Li Feng Sha
Bday: 12/25/05 (Christmas baby)
Province: Guangdong
She is in foster care.

Height: 31.5 in
Weight: 23.8 lbs

Stork Update...

So it looks like it might be Friday or Monday.... What a roller coaster ride but I know it will not be coming today but it is so close!

More coming....

Stork Alert????

From what I am hearing, the referrals might be on their way here and I should be in it!!!!!!

Oh my God!!!!!

More rumors... still including 12/22 for this month...

So here is the latest from the Rumor Queen.

Still hearing that the 22nd will be included.
Just to be clear, this rumor is not that the cut off is the 22nd, this rumor is that the 22nd will be included.
We’re still at the R2 level

I know most of you may not be familiar with the ratings. So here is quick summary.
R1 - A rumor that is very, very suspect
R2 - A rumor to keep an eye on
R3 - A rumor we feel good about as accurate
R4 - A very, very, very reliable rumor.

We want to see this hit an R3 and find out when they might be coming. I am continuing to work on projects this weekend so I will be really ready for the call if it comes next week. My prediction is Tuesday or Wednesday because I am in all day classes at work those days. My agency was checking that all of my paperwork was ready so I take that also as a good sign that it might happen soon.

Everyone keep your fingers crossed. It seems like it might be working. I believe.... I believe....

Referral Rumors Starting!!!

The referral rumors for this months are starting and I like the sound of this one. One agency said that 12/22 would be getting referrals this month (that would be my date). However, since this is only one agency and it is still a little early in the month, I am not counting on it yet. It would be great if they can get thru 12/22 but it would be even better if they could go farther for the people that are behind me in this wait.

Continue to keep your fingers crossed. It might actually work!!

P.S. I had another dream last night about getting "the call" for my referral.

Rumors on next set of referrals

It is still unclear whether I will be included in the next set of referrals or not since 12/20 is so big. But here is the information on when we might see the next update.

"The soonest I’d expect to see them this month is Friday, January 25 and the latest is Monday, February 4. The most likely arrival based on the numbers would be Thursday, January 31."

I am so excited that I should finally see Malia in February (hopeful) or March (at the worst). YEA!!! KEEP YOUR FINGERS, TOES, ETC CROSSED!!!

For my birthday?

Referrals came over the New Years holiday and they did 5 days (12/15 - 12/19). This means that we need them to match 3 days for February. In theory this should be no problem; however, 12/20 has a ton of families. Please, please, please.... let them match 3 days during this month. I think this means that I will get a referral early February (just in time for my birthday). But, even if it is not February, the longest it could be would be March.

As for other updates, Christmas was good. It was so weird to think that next year I will be celebrating Christmas with Malia!!! I spent time with family and friends. Even though it snowed a lot, I still was able to have fun. New Years was also a nice time. I watched some movies with my parents and we welcomed 2008. I just know that 2008 will be special because I will be getting my referral, I will finally see Malia's face and learn about her personality. I am so looking forward to going to China and meeting/holding my daughter for the first time. I hope everyone also has a great 2008!

Next week???

It is rumored that the next set of referrals may be coming next week. I need everyone to wish and pray really hard that 12/22 is included this month. I know they can match 8 days... the question is will they? I will keep you posted!

P.S. I hope everyone had a nice Christmas.

2 years ago today...

So it was exactly two years ago today that China officially logged my paperwork into their system and the clock started. I am having fun with the Christmas season knowing that next year I will be celebrating it with Malia. Also, just this morning I received my finished 100 wishes quilt for Malia and it is gorgeous. My grandma Betty and her friends in Arizona assembled it for me and I can't believe how wonderful it turned out. They also surprised me and made two pillow cases that match it. Later today I am also celebrating Christmas with my friends I have know since childhood. Finally, my sister, brother in law, and new baby Jude are coming in from Chicago to celebrate Christmas. I hope everyone has a great Christmas!!!

....maybe January...

So I have heard more from my agency and others that are waiting with similar log in dates and it seems like January is pretty possible. According to my agency "The month prior, the CCAA was able to match 8 days of LIDs. What this means for you is that since your LID is 8 days out from 12/14, you have a good chance of being referred in January, though it is also possible you won't be matched until February. I've got my fingers crossed for January though!".

Hey, I will take a good chance for January!!!

Here is a new pictures of Jude.

Well, still waiting for Malia....

So they just updated the CCAA website a couple minutes ago and only matched 12/9 - 12/14. This still leaves me 8 days out log in date from my referral of Malia. It is hard to be so close and yet so far from seeing her face for the first time. I really hope they can still match me with Malia for January but it is going to be hard to know for sure at this point. I continue to do my best to enjoy the holidays knowing that shortly I will be with my daughter forever.

On a happier note, my sister gave birth to her son, Jude Christopher Hall, on November 21st. He was about a month early but they are both doing well. I lucked out and was already planning to be in Chicago with her for Thanksgiving so I was one of the first people to see him and hold him. He is a wonderful baby and made me realize how badly I am looking forward to being a mother. I can't wait for the moment when my life will change forever. Congratulations to the Hall family and their new addition!!!

In November, I also had my neighbors and friends shower. It was a ton of fun and I can't believe how everyone is so excited to see Malia. Thank you again for Donna and Betsy for hosting such a great event. Every little detail was perfect. They did a Nursery Book theme where everyone brought one of their favorite books for Malia. It will be so cool to read these books to Malia someday and be able to tell her who bought her each book while I was waiting.

My friend, Elizabeth, is also in China to get her daughter, Taylan. They return tomorrow and I will be going to the airport to welcome them home. It is so exciting to see more parents and children united forever. Elizabeth and Taylan - my best wishes go out to both of you!

I hope you all have a special, memorable Christmas. I can't wait until next year when my family will be complete. It is a great feeling to know that this isn't a dream and that my future is within reach. Always reach and work towards what you want out of life....

Getting Closer...

So it seems like this wait has been never ending but I am starting to feel like it will soon end. The November batch of referral covered 8 days so I am 14 log in days out yet. I think it looks like I should get a referral for January. It would be a wonderful New Years gift.

As for other events it was fun celebrating Halloween with my brother, sister in law, and nephew. Garrett was a really cute Donald Duck. I had to dress up as Mickey to surprise him since he did so well at Disney World this summer. Unfortunately I think I confused him versus making him happy. At least I didn't scare him :)

I also visited my sister and brother in law in Chicago and we had a great weekend shopping and enjoying the nice fall weather.

Elizabeth, the single mom who got her referral in October, got her travel approval and consulate date so she will be going to China in a couple weeks to get her daughter, Taylan. I am so excited to see this happen for her since we have waited about the same amount of time. I went to her shower a couple weeks ago and it is exciting to see everything happening.

I am looking forward to my sisters baby which is due December 12th. We also found out my sister in law is having a girl this time and she is due in March. It will be so much fun this summer with the little kids around. Thank you to everyone for your support during the wait and I can't wait to share my good news soon. I will keep you posted!!!

Fall is here...

So fall is here, again, and I am still waiting. Referrals came today and my friend Elizabeth got matched to her daughter. They will hopefully be together by her daughters first birthday in November. So the official site was not updated due to CCAA being out for the Fall Festival this week. It appears that they matched at least through the end of November 2005 but we are unsure if they matched anyone between Dec 1-4 or not. We will have to wait until they come back and update their site to know for sure. This means that I am either 22 or 18 paperwork days away. I am currently thinking this leads to a referral in December or maybe January. Only time, and CCAA, will tell when I will finally see my daughter.

As for how I am spending my time during the wait, September was busy. As I last posted, I went to Disney (I know... again) and I had my first shower (see pictures). I also helped host a shower for my sister and all of our grandparents were in town. She is due December 11th with her first child. I attended some China events with our group, including dinner out for the Moon Festival on Sept. 25th. I saw movies and went to a Wild hockey game (sorry Susie but we beat Chicago 5-2). Thanks again for the support while I am waiting and CONGRATULATIONS to Elizabeth and her daughter Taylan!!

The roller coaster....

So, the new analogy for the adoption is the roller coaster. The ups when you think that they will finally start going faster and the dips when they don't make as much progress as you think. This month was a dip for referrals. They only matched 4 days of paperwork for the entire month!!!~!!!@@!!! You have to keep in mind that they used to match a month for a month and then a half month for a month so that is why 4 days is so frustrating. They are now through Nov. 25th, 2005 so they are 27 days away from my paperwork date. It is really hard to say what impact this will have on me getting my referral before Christmas so we will all have to keep praying and see what happens. I figure it should be time for an up month so here is hoping that October is better.

As for other news, I just got back from Disney World with my parents, and my brother and his family. It was so cool to see Disney through the eyes of a little kid. Garrett had a blast. Also, I had my first baby shower and it was wonderful how nice everything was. The decorations and everything was coordinated so well and the gifts were perfect to get ready for Malia. It was a ladybug and China theme (the ladybug is an adoption sign of referrals coming).

Well, that is it for now. I will keep everyone posted as we hope to see Malia's face by Christmas (.... this year.... ha, ha...).