37 Month LID-iversary

I'm not sure why I bother. Maybe just to feel like I'm making progress.

T-Shirt Fundraiser for a Family I know

Here are some nice t-shirts a family I know is selling as a fundraiser. They are hoping to travel by summer to bring home their 12 year old daughter.
http://www.adoptionbug.com/bringingErinhome/
http://www.thewildbarrettfamily.blogspot.com

March, 2006 is Done!

The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were LID before March 31, 2006.

Finally done with March, 2006. It only took all of 2009. But at least now we can move on.

Oh, and it's my birthday today. Age is only a number, right?

3 Years LID-iversary.

Okay, it's now been 3 years, 36 months, since my dossier was logged in at CCAA. Instead of talking about how hard it is to wait so long and have no end in sight, I'm going to go with a Thankfulness Challenge like many are doing on Facebook.

I'm thankful for:

1. the many friends I've met and keep me going who have also waited 3 years give or take. I couldn't still be sane without you.

2. the many friends I have because I decided to adopt from China and/or decided to become a single mom. Most of my best friends I didn't know at all 10 or so years ago.

3. the opportunities for my children like the Chinese Dance Theater.

4. the flexibility and closeness of my work so that I can attend school functions if I want and so that my kids can finally go without daycare after school.

5. CCAA for matching me with the most wonderful daughters I could ever have dreamed for, and for giving me the chance to adopt another some day.

6. GWCA for giving me a single's slot when I was ready and for helping me get Jessica and Anna as well.

7. God for making miracles come true and for guiding my life even when I wonder why I have to put up with certain things.

8. my family: mom, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, for being supportive.

9. the internet and yahoo groups and blogs for helping during the waits for my children.

10. my children, who are the biggest blessing of all. I don't know where my life would be without them.

Christmas Music Already!

They're playing all Christmas music on the radio station I normally listen to at work. Don't know if I can handle that so soon. It's actually nice here for November 16th. 49 degrees and sunny.

It's been a rough couple of months. I feel a little better today after deciding to clear the air and find out where I stand here at work.

I'm totally addicted to my Facebook games. At least it's calming. Knitting is too. Anyone have any ideas for something really easy to make to give as gifts?

Other than that, not much new to report.

Fingerprinted - Again!

I got my fingerprints done for the 3rd time. They said mine had worn away probably from working with computers and paper! At least they got them.

35 Months

and still waiting... with no light at the end of the tunnel to guide my way or know when it will end... but I wait...

Better Late Than Never

I mailed my application to grandfather my I-171H to U.S. Citizenship & Immigration today. I think it expires on Sunday. I hope I'm not too late...

This gives me another 3 years before I have to pay again.

34 Months!

Paperwork Update

So after thinking about it for the last 2 months, I decided I'd better renew my BCIS approval under the I600a application rather than let it expire and go under the I800. I hope I'm not too late as my I171H expires next month. So I went and got fingerprints taken by my local police department for the Adam Walsh Clearance. Then I hand delived them to my homestudy agency. I also gave them the letters/forms from my and my girls' doctors saying we are healthy and free of communicable diseases. I still need to get another employment verification letter and financial statement before having an updated homestudy done. I guess I now have a motivation to clean the house! I also need to send the I600a application with the check. I sure hope I don't have to do this again. I figure I'll have to take advantage of the free renewal again, but I don't want to have to wait another 3 years, which is when all of that would expire. I know I'm not the only one doing this, but it sure would be nice to have a definitive answer as to whether it's absolutely best to renew.

A Poem From Jessica

I give you warm hugs from a few miles away to make you feel better through stressful times. And when it's stormy and I'm out side always know that I'm safe with an angel over our heads making sure we are safe. I know you may think this is weird but heres to hearts filled with love from your two favorite daughters.
-- Jessica

Had a Really Fun Camping Trip!

Loved this spot. It reminded me of the place we used to go camping at almost every summer when I was a kid. Nice private spots. The outhouse was cleaner and well lit and not in the woods. The water was from a spiget and not a pump. But we all really enjoyed this place and plan to go back again next year. Here are some photos:

33 Months

and not really counting. By my non-scientific calculation, I am set to get a referral in November, 2011. That would be 5 years from my Log-In Date. That's another 2 years. Jessica would be in 7th grade, and Anna would be in 5th grade. I want to wait it out, I really do. I believe in miracles! But right now I don't have the funds to renew my I-171H, which I have to do in the next 1.5 months, and am debating letting it expire and going under the new I-800. If anyone has a money tree growing in their back yard that they can share the crop from, or has strong feelings as to why I should do everything in my power not to let it expire, I think I have no other choice. The summer daycare/camp expenses have gotten the better of me. The good thing with that is, summer is almost over (the girls start school next week on Tuesday) and the girls are needing less daycare now.

CDC rules that Scruggs family must leave adopted daughter in China

click on article title to view article:
CDC rules that Scruggs family must leave adopted daughter in China

Posted using ShareThis

Month 32, and Referrals

Referrals came in yesterday for LID's of March 21 & March 22, 2006. I expected only 2-3 days by looking at my agency's list of LID's. CCAA seems to only do one batch per month, so I expect it will take at least 3 more months to finish up March, 2006. I wonder if things will speed up a little after that. I guess only time will tell.





And today is my 32nd LID-iversary. No end in sight. I'm now looking into renewing my I-600a application as my approval expires in October. I sent an email to my homestudy agency yesterday afternoon to find out what I need to do other than send in the application with more money. I figure I'll need to use the free extension after this one expires in April, 2011, but I hope I will get my referral before the free extension expires in October, 2012.

We Leave For Vacation Saturday

We are leaving for the Black Hills in South Dakota on Saturday. We're renting a lodge with 4 other moms and their kids. The girls are so excited they packed on Monday. I'm slowly getting ready, but would love to jump in the car and leave now. We'll be seeing all the main things: Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse, Bear Country, Deadwood, and maybe riding a train. Jessica wants to pan for gold, so we'll work that in as well. It'll be really nice to get away and hopefully relax.

Adoption Forecast and It's Jessica's Birthday!!!

Our prediction for LID 2006-11-22
China has 247 days of dossiers to be processed before they get to your dossier. China currently processes about 4.1 days of dossiers each month.
Our best guess: 2014-04-24

Jessica would be almost 15 and Anna 13. Holy Cow!

So with 247 days ahead of me, here's a look at roughly how long I will wait if the average number of dossiers processed each month is:

6 - 41 months
7 - 35 months
8 - 31 months
9 - 27 months
10 -25 months
11 -22 months
12 -20 months
13 -19 months
14 -18 months
15 - 16 months

I don't dare go with a higher average since even a 7 or 8 day batch is rare. So if CCAA could get to referring a half a month at a time, I'd get a referral by November next year. A 4 year wait. Right now that looks unlikely, but then again, March is a HUGE month and it looks like numbers drop off a lot after that.

Hey, and today Jessica turns 10. Double digits! Wow, where does the time go?!

Missed my 31 Month LID

My 31 month LID-iversary was 8 days ago (Monday, June 22nd). I was in the hospital with pneumonia and an asthma attack (I've never had asthma or even allergies before!). I'm better now and back working full days. The girls were with a friend and another friend took care of the dogs and cat. I've got a great circle of friends!

Now I need to start thinking about my girls' birthday parties and our vacation to the Black Hills, SD. We leave on July 11th. Jessica's birthday is July 7th and Anna's is July 14th. Jessica wants to just invite a couple friends and go to a waterpark. I wonder if we can fit that in before the Black Hills. Maybe. Anna just wants some friends over, but her Brownie troop just emailed asking about going to a production of Wizard of Oz. I'm wondering if I can somehow work that into a party. Have to check a little more. Otherwise, I know she is fine with a party after we get back from vacation. She's toned it down from a bowling or movie party to just cake and ice cream with 8 friends. That would be nice, too.

I can't believe tomorrow is July already! Where does the time go?!

Referrals Arrived Today Through March 20, 2006 LID's

6 days, but my agency still has 4 Log-In Dates in March, so I figure it'll take another 4 months to finish off March, 2006. I kind of figured March would take most of the year. Maybe things will speed up after that. I think the overall numbers are smaller for the few months after that. I could be wrong though.

Congratulations to those receiving referrals today!

LID Anniversary and Referrals Came Yesterday

Today is my 30 month LID'iversary. 2-1/2 years and I'm still who knows how long away from referral. What can I do but wait...

And yesterday referrals came for LID's through March 14, 2006. Still a lot of LID's left in March though. I do think it will get a little faster once March is through, but I've been wrong before.

We're heading out for a Memorial Day camping trip later this afternoon. We're going to Shades of Sherwood where we've been before on Memorial Day weekend. We're all very excited.

29th LID-iversary

So it's been 29 months and there's no end in sight. I've decided to not think about it as much and just go on and enjoy life and my kids. Amanda's name still comes up every now and then. I'm still waiting, just not obsessed anymore. I'll have to renew my I-600a again in October. Oh well, not many other choices and no reason not to keep waiting...

Family Day!!

Wow, 9 years ago today I walked into the Civil Affairs office in Chongqing and met my daughter for the first time. What a peanut! She was so curious. And I fell in love for the first time. She was mine, the baby meant to be mine and I knew it as soon as I held her in my arms.

After getting to know her for a little bit, we took a family picture and then went upstairs and filed the adoption paperwork. It almost seems like yesterday, but my baby is no longer a baby. She'll be 10 in July. Time really does fly and they grown up so fast.

UGH!

Things are crawling at a snail's pace!

And I feel like we're all running up against a brick wall!

Referrals are arriving for LID's of March 3rd through March 6th, 2006. So for the second month in a row, my large China-only agency has been skipped for referrals. Unbelievable!

I completely missed my 27th LID-iversary month. We've been extremely busy.

YOU MIGHT BE ADOPTING FROM CHINA IF......

you know that I-600 & I-171 aren't highways....
you've been expecting a baby for over 3 years....
you understand that it's 2006 in some parts of the world....
you've "paid for" 3 citizenships, but never brought anyone into the U.S....
you know that waiting for China has nothing to do with Dillards or dishes...
your homestudy is followed by a number (i.e. #3 or #4)...
you never know how many days next month will have...
you know that babies come in batches...
you've been fingerprinted four times, but never committed a crime...
you automatically assume everyone who is expecting is having a girl...
you own new clothing in 3 little sizes for all 4 seasons (because you don't know when or how big)...
you look twice when you see a lady bug...
you're more interested in what will happen in March 2006 than in March 2009...
you know people who understand when you talk about 2 day months & 5 day months...
your due date hasn't changed by days, but by years...
you know who the Rumor Queen is ... AND ... you don't know who she is...
you know that forecast doesn't have anything to do with the weather...
you've waited so long, they re-checked your fingerprints to see if they changed...
trying to understand why they're printing you again, you study your own fingerprints and wonder if fingerprints grow wrinkles...
when you speak of "that time of month" you're talking about CCAA updates & referrals...
And finally...
You might be adopting from China if you love someone you've never met with all your heart.

Planning

Do you ever get in one of those moods when you want to plan something? I think I'm there today. All the things I've been thinking about today:

1. Summer Camps/Daycare for my girls. I have a booklet from one YMCA, but the one closest to where I work doesn't have it available on the web yet. The Summer Spark for my city's community ed won't be out until the end of March. I'm sure we won't know anything about Dance Camp until around March.

2. February Cabin Fever event with my SMC (Single Mother's By Choice) group. We know the when and where, but I think we'll need one person to make a reservation so we can all try to get rooms near each other. I think I have a discount or waterpark passes at home, but I want to be sure.

3. Summer vacation to the Black Hills. Lodging is set, so there's not much to do until closer to the event - the second week of July.

4. When might I ever get a referral. The referral calculator says:
Our prediction for LID 2006-11-22
China has 265 days of dossiers to be processed before they get to your dossier. China currently processes about 5.6 days of dossiers each month.

Our best guess: 2012-11-21
I can't even imagine another 3+ years.

So I guess there's nothing to plan at this point other than the next few days activities.

Yearly Horoscope for Pig (in the Year of the Ox)

My Yearly Horoscope per http://chinese.astrology.com

Pig Ratings

53% (2 favorable 9 neutral and 1 unfavorable month)
The Pig has many opportunities to shine this year. Your generous nature is apparent in all aspects of your life. It is an admired quality that people respect. This year, your inherent generosity plays a large role in areas that you may not even be aware and may pave the way to a possible career change. You have an abundance of friends and you are well loved by your family. this year will only enhance these relations. One area that may create some issues is that you seem to overextend yourself to a point where there isn't any time left for you. This could lead to a change in priorities and could promote some better organizational skills.
Pig Career

The Pig may feel complacency in your current job position. This could be a year that you may need a change towards something that is more suitable for your needs. You may gravitate towards something that is more of a position that provides service to others, perhaps a non-profit organization or a customer service based position. Your busy schedule will also play a part in your work. You may be forced to choose between certain activities, as there are only seven, not eight days in a week. Whatever the course may be for your career, you will fit in well with your endearing personality.

Pig Relationships

Personally, 2009 will be a year that the Pig will enjoy much happiness. Both your social and domestic life will be endearing to you, providing you with encouragement and advice. Your family and friends will be the source of many memorable occasions this year. For the unattached Pig, there will be some romantic opportunities. Be careful who you let into your circle, as you tend to give others too much credit. July is a particularly favorable month for all Pigs.

Pig Health

The Pig would do well to watch your health this year. There may be an unforeseen incident that arises sometime during the year, most likely in late April or early May. This may cause you to look at your habits relating to your health. One area in particular is your diet. This year could provide a change in your eating habits, which could help other areas of your health.

Pig Wealth

There may be times this year when you are uncertain about your financial future, but there are things in your life that take precedence over money. You will be taken care of, but there may be times of financial uncertainty. A change will come in the second half of the year that will provide greater financial comfort and allow you to live at a means that is more accustomed to your liking. Be patient, as the change will come.

Gong Xi Fa Cai!!

Happy Chinese New Year!! The year of the Ox.

Another LID and 2 Whole Days :(

Yesterday was the 26th anniversary of my LID. I forgot again. Sad.

And yesterday referrals arrived for some. For those who received referrals, I know if was one of the happiest days of their lives. But CCAA appears to only have sent referrals for 2 days worth of LID's: March 1st - 2nd, 2006. March looks to be a HUGE month. I figured it would take at least 7 months to refer March, but again, my agency didn't receive any. Let's hope this was just an attempt to get some referrals out before the long Chinese New Year holiday. Maybe next month will be better. We can always hope, right?!

Just So Busy!

Sorry I haven't kept up with my posts. I'm now on my 48 hour work week schedule. I run around alot because I'm still trying to get by with no daycare. The girls are in a big Chinese New Year show on the 24th, so they have rehearsals Wednesday, Friday and then Saturday before the show. Jessica has Girl Scouts once a month on Mondays. Anna has Brownies every other week and we missed last night. They both have dance on Saturdays, but Jessica also has dance on Friday nights. Jessica has trumpet lessons Tuesday afternoons, and I have band practice Tuesday evenings. The girls both have religion class on Wednesday nights, but Anna has also had to be at church the last 2 Saturday mornings. And Anna still wants to do gymnastics, but I just can't see coming up with the time and money for that. I told her maybe this summer.

I got a new camera for my birthday, but I'm still trying to figure out how to work it, and I still need to get the program on my computer. I'll have to have Jessica teach me how to work the camera as she seems to have figured most of it out. Once I get it straight, I hope to be able to post a lot more pictures.

Happy 2009

I've decided that I will not live 2009 waiting for "Some Day". I still think of Amanda, still hope that one day I will receive a referral and travel to China, but I'm not going to live in a waiting mode.

We had a wonderful Christmas and New Year celebration. Now it's back to normalcy. Hopefully, I can catch up on some of the things I let slip in 2008 including keeping this blog up to date.