Hi everyone...I'm not dead, just busy

I just thought I would pop in on my own blog and say hello to my friends, to my family and to my baby girl (who I will read all of these messages to some day)! It's been such a busy month...my schedule is hectic and the boys homework is sucking the life out of me. It's all I can do to survive having a 4th grader and 6th grader!

On a very happy note, we finished our application for our "free" I 600A and were approved and fingerprinted earlier this month. Seven days after our fingerprinting appointment, we received our new I 171H! This is the third time we have renewed this document and, thankfully, it will be the last!!! This one doesn't expire until March of 2010. I think it's safe to say that we are officially done with our adoption paperwork. Thats is, of course, until we land in China. It's just a waiting game now....what else is new, huh?! Thank goodness I've learned to wait, I'm good at it now (I'm also done with it)! I guess I better finish up the nursery...I think there's actually going to be a baby in it soon!!!

On a sadder, and somewhat distressing note, our agency is being forced to do some restructuring. As a result of many factors, not the least of which is the current economy, they are having to shut down all of their branch offices. The only office that will remain open is their corporate headquaters in St. Louis. All of our files of being transferred there. What this means for us personally is that we will no longer have our agent, Marianne Adams, at our side. She runs the Arizona branch and has worked for CHI for 14 years. I can't express how much Marianne has meant to me personally over the past three years. I don't think I could have made it through all the paperwork and this dreaded wait without her. I have spent countless hours with her on the phone and corresponding thru emails. She has helped to keep me strong and on track from the very begining of our journey. It brings me to tears to think that she won't be with us when we receive our referral. Her last day with CHI will be September 30th. Although I've tried to express my appreciation to her, I don't think she will ever fully understand what she has meant to me and to all the families she has helped to unite. She's truly an amazing woman (and a mother to two adoptive daughters...one of which is from China)!

I'll post again soon....hopefully with referral news!!!!

September referrals are in!!

We received the following announcement from our agency today! Reading the announcement gave me goosbumps...with this batch of referrals we are now only 29 LID days away from being matched. Finally, finally, finally there are less than 30 days ahead of us in line! There are only 19 days left to match in February and then they will start March! It feels like it's right around the corner....

Children's Hope International received 22 referrals today, September 2, 2008. There were 21 beautiful girls and one handsome little boy in this group of referrals. The families that received referrals had LID's of February 9, 2006 and there was one Chinese expedited family with a LID of January 22, 2007. The children are from Beijing and the Jiangxi , Shaanxi , and the Guangdong Provinces . These beautiful children ranged in ages of 5 months to 9 months old. In addition there was a 29 month old, a 3 year one month old, 3 year 2 month old, 3 year 11 month old, and a 4 year 1 month. The parents that received the children over 24 months fell within the range of what the families requested or the parents were with in the age guidelines for a toddler. Congratulations to all of these families!

Families waited 31 months for their referrals and the Chinese expedited families waited 19 months. The CCAA sent referrals out for families with LID's of 2/1/06 through 2/9/06. The next LID for Children's Hope families is 2/17/06.

We have a tween!!!

My Jacob turned 12 today!! I just can't believe it. First thing this morning he asked what time it was, then he asked what time he was born. It hit me like a ton of bricks...OMG you're 12! !! I welled up with tears (don't ask me why) and told him he was born sometime between 8:00 and 8:30 in the morning. Seeing as how I was flat on my back in the middle of an O.R. I can't really say for sure what time he was born....the time was the last thing on my mind.

Jacob has come so far since his rough start in life. He's a strong, brave, kind, patient, active, bright young man. Although I'm nervous about the whole teenage thing, I have so much confidence in Jacob. I'm really excited to see what the next few years will hold for him.

I told Jacob I would put his favorite song on the blog this week....he can't seem to decide on one, so Sheryl Crow will have to remain for now.

The picture above was taken off my cell phone, so it's not the greatest, but Jacob sure is!!!

We love you Jacob!

Bye Bye Bird's Nest

Well, the Olympics have officially come and gone. We have really enjoyed tuning in each evening and catching some of the events. The boys have become little Olympic addicts. I, of course, have mostly just enjoyed all the coverage of China. It's been so nice to turn on the TV, almost anytime of the day, and hear talk of China. For that, I will miss the Olympics. There is, however, another side of me that is excited to see it all end. Although I don't personally believe the hosting of the games in China has had anything to do with the "slowdown", I feel peace of mind in knowing that soon things will return to "business as usual" in Beijing. I don't expect some big speed up, I just desire to see them continue to move forward with their 6/5 day average. Knowing that the Olympics are behind them makes me feel all the more confident that they will do just that.

Other than that, life is moving right along. The boys are doing great in school and I am really enjoying my work there. It's been a busy couple of weeks, but that's OK. I love it when time flies...well, kind of. Jacob will be turning 12 on Friday...I'm not loving that so much! He's a great kid and I love watching him grow, but 12..really?! That's 1 year away from 13!! Where did that time go?!

I went ahead and took the Olympic theme song off the blog....I know you're all going to miss it, but the games are over and it's time for us all to move on. (tee hee) I've added a Sheryl Crow song for now. Since everyday that passes is shortening this winding road to our baby girl, I thought this one would be fitting. Benji has been begging me to put Sheryl Crow on the blog, so he'll be thrilled!

Can I hear a hallelujah?!

We were notified today by our agency that the CCAA has finally finished matching the January 2006 families!!!! Referrals arrived today and included the families logged in from January 26th thru January 31st 2006!! It has taken 6 months for them to match the January families and I am thrilled that they are finally done!

Now it's on to February, and then MARCH!!!! I can't believe there is only ONE month in front of us to be matched...ONE!!!

We are 38 LID days away from seeing our daughter's face for the first time! If the CCAA continues with their 6 day average per batch, we would probably see a referral in the March 2009 batch! That is only 7 months away!!!

Champagne anyone?!!

First day of school for the boys...and me!

Today was the first day of school for Jacob and Benjamin. Jacob is in 6th grade and Benji is in 4th (boo hoo)! I don't remember telling them they could grow up so fast. I'm actually joining the boys at school this year. I'm going to be working there as a teacher's aid 2 1/2 days a week. Surprisingly enough, the boys are very excited about it. I asked Jacob before I accepted the job whether or not he cared if his mom worked at the school. He response, "Why would I care?" To which I said, "Because I'll be at your school during the day, working with some of your classmates and everyone knows I'm your mom." Jacobs response, "So...I think it's cool, now I can see you whenever I want." Alrighty then! Had my mom asked me the same question at his age my response would have been a resounding, "H%*L NO!!" I guess Jacob is just a nicer person than me. Benjamin is excited as well, but that didn't surprise me in the least.

Anyway, summer is over (well, at least the break is)! It's back to a routine and a schedule...GROSS!

The picture above isn't very good because I took it off my cell phone. I'm back to not having a camera. Sorry about the Olympic theme song....I'll change it later!

8-8-08, All eye's are on China

Tonight marks the start of the 2008 Olympics, hosted by China. The opening ceremonies, I'm sure will be impressive. It's been interesting, endearing and at times heart wrenching to hear and see all the news coverage of China over the past few weeks. Trying to put the adoption out of mind has been near to impossible. But thats OK, I love to think about it...and her!

Referrals should be arriving soon, although the rumors say that this may be a very small batch.

Doug and Jacob leave tonight for a two day canoe trip!! Scary for me, fun for them.

Monday is the first day of school.....UUUGGGHHH! Wish us luck getting up on time.

Gotta run....I'm getting ready to curl up on the couch with Benji (my snuggle bunny) and watch the opening ceremonies.