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

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CDC rules that Scruggs family must leave adopted daughter in China

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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?!