Almost DTC...

It looks like our dossier will be mailed on 1/6/2012, so only a week to go until we are DTC!! Was hoping to catch today's mailer since we, much to my surprise, were able to get our authentifications done the week prior to Christmas but with the Consulate's holiday schedule we didn't get the needed certifications. Our Dossier Specialist expects our final docs back either Tue or Wed next week allowing enough time for them to assemble our completed dossier and get it out the door.

Wishing a great 2012 to everyone!!

I 800A approval and final dossier documents...

We received our approved i800A from USCIS the other day with an approval date of 12/6. Not that we (ok, I was) counting, but receipt date to approval date took 71 days for this all important approval from our government. With that, we are now able to submit the balance of our dossier documents to Great Wall so they can obtain the needed Authentifications and Certifications and finally get our Dossier to China (DTC). It could take up to six weeks to get all that done before the finalized dossier makes it way to Beijing. Hoping it doesn't, but the Christmas and New Year's holiday may delays things a bit.

We are hoping for a quick log-in (LID) with the CCCWA and even faster Letter(s) Seeking Confirmation (LSC) for the kids. I still hold out hope for summer travel.

The Fed-ex will ship today with our USCIS approval notice (a copy, the original goes with us to China), Home Study with the necessary attachments and original reference letters (thanks to everyone for all the nice thing they said about us), 10 family photos, passport photos, copies of our passports, dossier cover sheets, Client Contact Info Sheet, Post Adoption Verification, Notary letter verifying copies are true originals and last but not least the final agency contract fee and China Registration and Wiring fees.

It will be nice to have a clear adoption plate (no paperchasing, deadlines to beat, forms to fill out, etc.) over the holidays so we can just hang with the kids and play with all their new toys, gizmos and gadgets.

From our home to yours - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!

You Lookin' At Me...

Thanks to Heidi and Bob for taking photos of Tristan when they were at Enmei picking up their little one. Big congrats to them!! It's nice to know someone is checking in on them when we can't be there ourselves and to, at the very least, be able to see the kids.

It would seem that our young man doesn't like to have his photo taken. In each of his pictures he has what we've termed his "stare down look". Len's going to have his hands full with two of us who can give the "look" so well.

Can't wait to meet you little man!

Marin Loves Cake...

What a nice surprise to finally check emails this evening and to see one from Angela with Ladybugs N Love with photos of Marin. Last week our girl celebrated her 2nd birthday so we sent a cake to her. Cake seems to be a very, very big hit with our little lady. In all but one photo she's digging into her cake. She'll fit right in here! Happy birthday baby doll.

And here they are...

Tristan James Xuan - Enmei Ningo CWI in Zhejiang Province.



Tristan was born in July 2009. He is a congenital amputee (right arm just below the elbow). He likes to eat and isn't picky and his favorite toys are ones that make noise.






Marin Elizabeth HeYi - Zhongshan CWI in Guangdong Province.






Marin was born in November 2009. She has Fibular Hemimelia (right leg). She is a happy little girl who is full of smiles and loves to run around. She is currently with a foster family.

We have PA #2

We received word today that our PA was approved on 11/1, a mere 7 days from submission of our LOI. We can breath a sigh of relieve that we now have both PA's and now wait (not so patiently) for our I800a approval so we can get DTC.

What a Difference...

If we hadn't already found two little ones that stole our hearts and are working to bring them home, this little guy would be it, just can't stop thinking about him. Liam is only 10 months old and is on the Great Wall China Adoption agency specific list. Like William and Little Man, he was born missing his arm below the elbow (left) and that's about it.

What pains me most is that he sits on our agencies list because no families either requested a boy or a child with a limb difference. How can that be?? Missing part of arm is such a non issue as far as abilities and what these kids can do. And boys, well they are wonderful! For those that know our William, they know he can do anything that other kids can do, it may/may not need a little adjustment for it to work for him, but that's about it.

I know for some the fact that it's a right there, in your face medical condition vs. something perhaps much more severe, but not visible to naked eye can be worrisome. But honestly, it's that special little arm or leg, foot or hand that makes its even possible that they could be your child. Like William will say when asked about his arm "God made me that way" and if he hadn't, he wouldn't be ours.

If you are currently looking for "your" child or are considering adoption, won't you consider a little one with a limb difference. The only difference you will see is how much more wonderful your world became because they are in it.