CCAA has moved

Well, according to information obtained by the Rumor Queen, www.isorumors.blogspot.com (This site has some interesting and somewhat encouraging speculations today. Check it out if you follow that sort of thing. Come on, admit it, you are probably as addicted as the rest of us,) the CCAA has finally embarked upon the move to another building. You know the one...........the move we have all be talking about and dreading since last fall? Supposedly, the move is almost complete and employees are already working in the new building.

It is also surmised that this exceedingly small batch of referrals resulted from a combination of factors including the Hunan trials which has resulted in orphanages being extra cautious in submitting paperwork, and this huge move. Now that both are over, the hope is that referrals will speed up just a bit.

The new rumor is that we may get another batch before the end of the April---although I dont know how thats different since we have been getting them in the last week of the month anyway???

Most agencies are still saying the referral window is 10-12 months from LID..............until I see my agency change that, then I guess I'm going to assume my window is still between July and October. Frankly, I've made it this far, so that doesnt really seem so bad anymore.

Jimmy and I were at dinner last night and he said that we wouldnt be bothered by this at all if we had started out thinking a year from the beginning, and even if we knew the slow down would occur, it wouldnt have changed our plans. he's right. We wouldnt have thought a year was a big deal--after all, we've been trying to become parents for almost a decade!

I also have been in contact with Deniece in the waiting child dept. at CCAI and they have new waiting child files that are in translation. I think its awesome that the waiting child program has taken off like it has. I love the idea of adopting a child with a special need. Who knows, maybe Amelia will be on this list.

I'm only a bil.....and I'm livin on capital hill.....

Remember that song???? It was one of those saturday morning things when I was a kid.

anyway.........

Most of you know that there is a bill in the house proposing to increase the adoption tax credit to 15,000. Please go to the link below to read more about this proposal and to contact your reps to advocate for this increase.

As the rumor queen reminded us on her site, and e-mail is great, but snail mail or fax has more impact.

Great point, RQ!

http://www.rainbowkids.com/2005/08/news/adoption_bill.chtml

Review Room feels good to me!!!

Well, we may be moving a little slower, but.................

September LIDS are in the review room,

and the match room is next!!!!

Now, granted...........it could take us 3 months to move through those 2 rooms, 6 months, who knows? but still...........we're there.

and thats closer than we've ever been before.

So I celebrated today with a couple of injectible cocktails

Hep A and B follow up vaccines, that is!

Rumors, Reasons, and Ramblings--on the slowdown

• The twenty million dollar question these days is “what is causing this slow down?” We all debate it constantly. Matter of fact, there is a whole blog dedicated to sorting through and compiling the rumors regarding this issue. http://www.isorumors.blogspot.com/ I know, because I am absolutely addicted to that blog(thanks for contributing to what I fondly call: my habit, Julie!)
  
  You know, when it really comes down to it, I don’t think there IS one simple answer to the “Why” of the slowdown. I think it boils down to a whole soup of beaurocratic issues that are bubbling to the surface in China right now. This information will be redundant to those who surf the rumors with the same religious fervor that I do, but I suppose that friends and family are curious as to why I’m not traveling to China in the next month to get my daughter, as originally planned. I want to address this issue for them, and for those just getting their feet wet in the adoption world.
  
  NOTE: EVERYTHING I TALK ABOUT BELOW IS RUMOR AND SPECULATION. This is a compilation of the various factors that MAY be contributing to the slowing of referrals. I have no inside info whatsoever.
  
  First, when you look at the history of international adoption in China, it has always been cyclical. When things first started slowing down, my heart lurched. I just knew that this was one more thing that wasn’t going to happen in our jumbled march to parenthood---talk about “the long march.” But as I began to listen to those who have been in this community a long time, I realized that there have been times when the process started out at 11 or 12 months and was shortened to 6 months during the wait, and times when the wait went from a short amount of time to a whopping 14 months. There has always been an ebb and flow to the speed with which referrals are handed out. Matter of fact, L, my China adoption inspiration, recently reminded me that she expected the referral for her second daughter in 8 months, but in fact, waited a full 14 months. Funny, I hadn’t remembered that…………but then again, when you aren’t in this process yourself, you don’t really get how it feels to wait for that referral with baited breath.
  
  Second, there are some real changes going on with the CCAA (China Center for Adoption Affairs) This is the governmental agency in China that oversees adoptions.
  They have a new director who probably has some different priorities regarding the direction and scope of International Adoption. For instance, the CCAA is reporting that they intend to increase the focus domestic adoption and to make more children available for adoption by Chinese people.
  
• The CCAA has a whole slew of new responsibilities, including the administration (and promotion of) the domestic adoption program. They are also now responsible for the management and quality of care provided in the orphanages. Along with new responsibilities, come an increased work load, the need for additional employees, and reportedly new paperwork systems. All of these new challenges create wrinkles in efficiency that takes time to iron out.
  
• Adoption applications are reportedly up by about 25 to 50%---this is not substantiated, but there are numerous percentages being thrown out there. China has a quota on how many children they make available to International adoption per year. It stands to reason, that if the same number of babies are available, but have to be distributed among increased numbers of applicants, it will take longer to get to everyone. There was some speculation that China was in process to open up additional orphanages to adoption (and thus increase the numbers of children available), but recent rumors indicate that China does not intend to increase the numbers of children slated for international adoption. Therefore the wait will increase, and some say, may end up at around 18 months eventually. This will be a gradual increase. Right now the wait is about 11 months.
  There has been a huge scandal in the Hunan Province of China involving baby trafficking. This is to everyone’s horror, since no one wants to adopt a child that has not been legitimately abandoned. There were some bogus new stories about kidnapping, but hard news reports, indicate that the incidents involved the selling of infants who were then put up for adoption---with some orphanage directors pocketing money. China is coming down hard on the offenders and the trials have just recently been completed. Hunan orphanages did not stop processing adoptions altogether during this time, but one or two of them closed down and the rest slowed referrals to a trickle. A huge number of International adoptions have historically come from this province.
  
• Several sources indicate that China’s (EVENTUAL) goal is to increase domestic adoptions, adoptions to those of Chinese ancestry, and waiting child adoptions, and to decrease the number of non special needs international adoptions. I haven’t heard anyone speak of stopping adoptions, just tilting the scale a little in the other direction.
  
  
  Clearly, there aren’t enough paper ready babies to match with the number of applicants logged in during any given month. I believe that ALL those things listed above are impacting the number of babies available for adoption each month. While I don’t expect them to go back to processing things as fast as in previous years, I do think there’s some wiggle room to go a little faster. For instance, now that the trials are over in Hunan, the orphanages there can hopefully breathe a sigh of relief and get back to business (although I’m sure they will proceed with caution considering the scrutiny they have been under), and once the new responsibilities and paperwork systems are in place for the CCAA and orphanage directors, they may be able to prepare a somewhat greater number of files than in the past few months.
  
  Nothing in life is simple is it? And historically, when the wait for referral has become backlogged and the wait got long, people have started oobling off in other directions. A few choosing waiting child program, some choosing other countries for adoption, and waaaala! The line went down, and the wait times decreased. I have little doubt that this is what will happen again, unfortunately, we happened to sign on cusp of the backlog, and now we just have to wait it out.

To Thine Own Self Be True

You're blessed when you're content with just who you are--no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought. Matthew 5:5 from The Message

This came to me at the bottom of an e-mail from a good friend in Alabama. I trade lots of e-mails with friends, but once in a while, I'll read something that strikes such a chord within me, like this quote above. Never heard a truer thing.

The Weekend in Pictures

Jimmy posing with his favorite Amelia outfit. Daddy's girl.........what a grin.

We were both pretty bummed about the small group of referrals this time. It kind of feels like one step forward.......2 steps back. We did alot of pep talking this weekend. We both feel absolutely confident that Amelia is in China and that we'll get her this year. It just gets hard to wait...and wait...and wait. But if you're reading this blog, then chances are, you know just what I mean.

I had lunch and did some shopping with 3 other waiting moms on Saturday, and that helped my spirits alot. As mentioned in a previous post, one was expecting a referral early next week, and now it will be another month. Although dissappointed, my friend has a great attitude, and I bet that referral will be that much sweeter for the waiting, right?
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J's clam imitation

Saturday night, we went to game night at the home of some friends. This is Jimmy being a clam in the game of Crainium. See why I married him? multi-talented!
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Relaxing

Brody and Peanut watching us get ready for a night out, and having a little snuggle.
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No Shower!

Sunday is Brody's shower day. Can you guess how he feels about that?
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Can you get this woman off me??? anyone???

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I cant even look at you!

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hows abouts a little kiss?

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Good News, Bad News

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Wow. What a week. As the title suggests, this week has been a little a little bit of a roller coaster all on its on.

Good News: The CCAA has posted that August LIDs have passed through the review room. One would surmise that they are now moving into the match room.

September LIDS have been in the review room for several weeks it appears, so they will probably be through reviewing those soon. (that's us)

CCAI has placed 44 of the waiting children on the January list. How fabulous, for children who were not considered adoptable in the regular program to now have families. Warms my cockles, girls! (whatever a cockle is) We are still hoping to find our baby on the next waiting child list which is due in April. Jimmy and I have done a lot of soul searching and we feel drawn to a waiting child, but we are very realistic about the types of problems we feel equipped to handle. Hopefully, there will be some younger babies with minor needs on the next list, and hopefully we will find Amelia there!

CCAA has sent out the next batch of referrals, and they should be here early next week.

Congratulations to all the new families!

Now for the bad news:

Even though the referral packages have been smaller this last several months (hence the slow down--we were originally due a referral THIS month) they have usually included 10 to 15 days of log in dates.

Several agencies have indicated the cut off date this time to be either 5/30 or 5/31---a mere 5 or 6 days worth of log ins. Needless to say, we are ALL crushed.

You know, I don't know what to think at this point. CCAI is still estimating "approx. 10 month wait from LID to referral" on their web site, but some Swedish agencies are reportedly telling their NEW folks that the wait my stretch to 18 months! Unbelievable. I don't normally whine, but I cant help just a teeny one here: it is so our luck to start our application right on the cusp of this slow down! For a couple of years prior to that, the referrals were coming at 6 months like clockwork! And a couple people have reported that they received there referrals a mere 5.5 months after LID.

The bottom line is, China could start sending out bigger batches next month, or the next, or the next, or never. We don't have any way to predict what is coming. July is 10 months for us, but if they keep sending out batches this small, it may be December, January, February, who knows?

There are lots of things that could contribute to this slowdown, and I'm going to do a post about my theories on that (nothing earthshaking.........Just a compilation of possible reasons--for those not in adoption circles)

But I don't have time right now, because I am going nursery fabric shopping with some local China moms, and then for lunch and Margaritas. One of those moms has a log in of June 3rd, and we are all CRUSHED that she didn't make this cut off!!!!!!!

But that's ok, because SURELY she's really NEXT this time, and we'll soothe our souls today with a few laughs, good food, good drinks, and some really good friends.

Thank You Secret Pal!

Boy, dont you know how to make people smile, secret pal! we have so enjoyed your gift, cards, and well wishes. and your son's cute picture is hanging on my fridge. You have made this wait so much more fun. Thanks a million.

My September secret pal chose a ladybug theme this month, hoping that all the ladybugs will speed up referrals. I'm with ya sister! She really outdid herself this month (and every month)

Here's what she sent:
Two very nice toys. The ladybug book crackles and has textures and sounds. I just love those dangling feet. Jimmy and I have a pool on how long it takes Amelia to rip them off. :)

A gift for daddy, who grinned ear to ear when he saw it. :) 

very cute ladybug outfit.......with accessories, of course. 

my favorite part. the ladybug on the tushy 

Matching hat 

Brody sporting a new look. Dont ya just love my chic outfit there? 

Front side of a very soft ladybug blanket. you cant tell in the picture, but the background is pink with red trim. see the other side pictured below. 

Back side of the blanket 

more vacation pics--city of huguey

Apparently, Elvis IS alive...........and playing nightly in Huguey, Dominican Republic

Dominican Ice Cream Truck 

Sausages ready for purchase on the streets of Huguey. Can we talk food borne illness??? 

The drive to Huguey. Its kind of surreal to see palm trees on a cattle ranch. 

CCAI update

CCAI has posted an update: Dossiers registered in July have completed review. That means they are next in the match room.

..........And means that August Dossiers are now being reviewed

..................And that September Dossiers (us!) are next in the review room---there have been rumors that September files are already in the review room, but this hasnt been confirmed, and even if they are there, August still has to be reviewed prior to ours.

I am so happy to be this close! next in the review room sounds great to me.

The original 6 months that we expected to wait has already passed, and when I think about it, this 6 months has really flown by. I definately feel that we are over the hump now, and I'm once again thinking of all the things I want to get done prior to referral. Some things kind of got put on the back burner since referral seemed so far away--like putting my nursery together!

We're still several months away, but CCAI is estimating approx. 10 mo. for referral, and that prediction and my gut feeling is that we are likely to get our referral in July or August.

If that pans out, then we are only about 3.5 months away from our referral "window".

wow

Our local adoption group met for the monthly dinner at Classic Gourmet in Marietta. As usual, we had a great time. In our group, we have one family with a new referral (see below for the link), 4 families back with their little ones (Emily-10 months--Journey to Emily Faith Fubo, Ansley--12 months--pictured below, twins-Amelia and Evelyn, and Charleigh, age 3) It makes all the difference in the world to those of us still waiting, to have the opportunity to spend time with the newly adopted babies. What a great community of people.

Daddys little girl

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Tracy and family (seated to the right) just received their referral and she is gorgeous! They expect to travel early May, and we cant wait to hear about their trip. Check out the referral pics on their blog--- One More Tracy---listed to the left. Congratulations guys!