Two and Counting

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Christmas in China

Above: Adrian opens some of our gifts

Above: Naughty or nice? Or just trying to steal more candy from Santa?
Below: SUGAR HIGH!!!

Packages from Mom, Dad and sisters

Foster mom, Adrian and Evan (foster brother)

Newday had someone coordinate Christmas gifts for the children. We sponsored Adrian and Evan and sent them Christmas presents. This is the Christmas party to open presents.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Newday does many things for Christmas

Above: eating cake for the December b'days--
That's my boy. He loves his cake.

And if cake wasn't enough--baking and decorating Christmas cookies

Pfizer visits and brings gifts for the kids. Adrian gets colors.

Adrian sits quietly watching a show by Pfizer.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Thanksgiving in China

Our little Indian man (behind the girl in the pink jacket above) enjoys some good
Thanksgiving food (below).

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Merry Christmas to Adrian and Evan

Above: Adrian is getting a shape sorter bucket, a tool belt, a monkey hand puppet, and a puzzle.

Below: Evan is getting a shape sorter bucket, a pump and go Thomas the train, a dog hand puppet, and a puzzle.

On each of the packages to Adrian I put a picture of us. I'm hoping that maybe he will associate the gifts with us and think, "Wow, there are pictures of those weird people again."

Merry Christmas Adrian from MaMa , Baba (Dad in Chinese), Jie Jie (big sister) and Mei Mei (little sister)

There is a lady that is getting presents together for all of the kids at Newday. I sponsored Adrian and his foster brother Evan. I am preparing to send the packages on their way for Christmas. Here are the things Adrian and Evan will be getting for Christmas.

Adrian's Birthday party

Newday posted pics on their site today that they took when they celebrated the November birthdays. Adrian can actually blow out his candles this year and it looks like he is really enjoying the cake.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Happy Birthday Adrian!!!

Today is Adrian's second birthday. My prayer had been that we would have him home by now but our Heavenly Father's timing is perfect. We sang happy birthday to him. He has a present that we sent over with his care package. Newday is going to give it to him on Thursday when they celebrate November birthdays.

Happy Birthday Baby Boy!!!
We love you and can't wait to celebrate birthdays with you !!

Saturday, November 14, 2009

31 days and counting

Our paperwork has been logged in for 31 days as of today. Let's just make it through another 31 days--baby steps, baby steps. Come on LOA!!

Adoption Timeline

March 9, 2010--confirmed CA for 4/16. We leave for China on March 25th.
March 8, 2010 TRAVEL APPROVAL
Feb 11 2010 Article 5 sent to CCAA
Jan 23, 2010 I800 Cabled to Guangzhou
Jan 15, 2010 I800 Provisional approval
Dec 28, 2009 Letter of Acceptance
October 19, 2009 Adrian gets his care package
October 14, 2009 LID--log in date
September 21, 2009 DTC--Dossier to China
September 14,2009 --USCIS approval arrived!!!!
September 4, 2009 Fingerprinted by USCIS
August 21, 2009 Rec'd fingerprint appt letter. We go Sept 4 to be fingerprinted
August 20,2009 Rec'd USCIS "Receipt Acknowledgement" saying that they had rec'd our I800
August 6, 2009 USCIS received our I800
August 5, 2009 Mailed dossier to our social worker and Mailed I800 to USCIS
August 4,2009 Homestudy letter has been issued and I can officially mail our I800
July 16, 2009 Homestudy official went to DHR
July 15, 2009 Preapproval for Adrian arrived
July 7, 2009 Dr. at IAC confirms that Adrian is healthy
July 6 Got the call from our social worker that they had matched us with Adrian
July 5, 2009 Got all information to Janell so that we are ready to go should a referral come this week.
July 2, 2009 Janell Lucas, Special needs coordinator, sent me package of material to get ready so that we will be ready to accept a referral quickly
June 28, 2009 Chris wakes me up at 7:30 to tell me that our social worker sent an email. Our facilitator has found Adrian's file. CCAA has it and it is supposed to be uploaded to shared list "soon". Our facilitator will be watching for his file and try to match us with him if possible. Social worker interprets "soon" to mean in the next month .
June 27, 2009--Chris and I talk and take the weekend to pray through things. We feel that we must pursue Adrian until God closes the door. We contact Doug and Janice. Our social workekr sends Adrian's information on to our China facilitator. I request that the facilitator find Adrian's file if possible.
June 26,2009--Our social worker calls and leaves a message to call her. I miss her but an email explains that our facilitator is ready to match us with a child. I have a panic attack. She wants to know if we know anymore about Adrian
Early week of June 22--Our social worker contacts us to say that our homestudy is almost complete and just needs to be reviewed. Homestudy will be sent to DHR for about a month then onto Immigration for approval (3 months) and then dossier completion (about 2 months)
June 3, 2009 FBI finally clears Chris as a suitable parent--boy am I glad! :0
Month of May--many calls to our representative . After a little political pull, Chris' second set of prints are expedited.
Early May--Call FBI again and find out that Chris ' prints are denied.
Month of March and April --MANY phone calls to FBI to see if they have yet to receive his prints. Finally find out that ABI sent prints to FBI who denied them because a date was missing. FBI sends prints back to ABI . ABI writes the date on them and sends back to FBI sometime around April 27.
April 6, 2009 Very brief home tour for our homestudy
March 20, 2009 Homestudy visit at our agency's office and a trip to the zoo
March 5, 2009 Medical exams for our homestudy and dossier
March 3, 2009 Chris and I have both complete 10 LONG hours of Hague Treaty training
Feb 26, 2009 receive Chris' letter tha ABI cleared his prints. FBI has no record of ever receiving his prints. GREAT!
Feb 3, 2009 Receive clearances by ABI and FBI for Shawna's prints
Jan 18, 2009 Chris and I file our official adoption application to begin the adoption process
Jan 6, 2009 Chris and I are fingerprinted for criminal clearances
Dec 31, 2008 Chris and I decide to begin our 3rd adoption