I knew I couldn't keep my cool much longer-not when we're this close. Today I finally broke down and decided to call our agency's Philadelphia office. I know they hate when we do that.But.....we have been watching all day as large agencies report that referrals are arriving today and many people know their daughters' and sons' birthdates and weight, etc. We are still waiting to be notified that the referrals are indeed coming!
Blah, blah, blah. I shouldn't stir the pot this close to the end, but I can't take it anymore. We don't even know what the process of notification is!!!! Will Gracewood contact us, will AFTH, will Santa Claus????
I am TRULY disappointed that we did not get any info on July in JULia like we thought would be fitting due to her name. I am also VERY sad that instead of 4 weeks and a few days between referrals like the previous groups, our referral will take (if we do get it by Weds/Thurs) nearly SIX WEEKS!!!! And then we get to worry about the travel arrangements!!!
Can hardly take anymore, must go and get drunk!
Monday, July 31, 2006
Friday, July 28, 2006
Get set....
I just don't know which way to feel. One of the saddest things about this whole process is the inability to get excited for fear that you will just get flattened with disappointment. At the moment, we have heard that referrals are definitely on their way but don't know when they'll arrive. Some are guessing today, some say Monday. Nothing is definite, nothing is certain, blah, blah, blah!!!!!!! I so can't wait for this part to be OVER!
On the other side of news....we bought our house! It really is great. When y'all come over, I'm sure we'll end up in the kitchen. It's huge! We may even skip the table, put up a disco ball and just make it a dance floor! Plus, the whole house has great light-lots of windows! We've moved a few things in already, but won't have our furniture and all moved until the end of next week. UGH! But, we'll be painting and moving boxes between now and then. Plus, agonizing over our wait for Julia's picture and info! So, for now, to hold you over, here's a picture of our house.
The next post should say GO! Meaning we'll be ready to go to china, but won't quite be able to....we'll be much closer to being on our way and will need you to continue to keep your fingers crossed for Julia to remain safe and healthy where she is, and for us the same and then for all of us to arrive back home in the USA safely and soon!
On the other side of news....we bought our house! It really is great. When y'all come over, I'm sure we'll end up in the kitchen. It's huge! We may even skip the table, put up a disco ball and just make it a dance floor! Plus, the whole house has great light-lots of windows! We've moved a few things in already, but won't have our furniture and all moved until the end of next week. UGH! But, we'll be painting and moving boxes between now and then. Plus, agonizing over our wait for Julia's picture and info! So, for now, to hold you over, here's a picture of our house.
The next post should say GO! Meaning we'll be ready to go to china, but won't quite be able to....we'll be much closer to being on our way and will need you to continue to keep your fingers crossed for Julia to remain safe and healthy where she is, and for us the same and then for all of us to arrive back home in the USA safely and soon!
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Get ready......
Rumors, rumors, rumors....I can't wait to be rid of them....but for now, they are a lifeline!!! The CCAA website has not changed yet....but the RUMORS say that the referrals are on their way and that they include up to July 13. We have NO confirmation yet, but what the hell, one more hill and twist on the roller coaster won't kill us. If we're wrong, we'll drown ourselves in martinis and stay medicated until next month!
We make settlement tomorrow. We did the walk through yesterday. It's funny how you remember things...the two bedrooms are smaller than we remembered. The living room is big, the kitchen is huge and the master bedroom is plenty. The basement has lots of potential but for now will be for storage. The house is really great. I'm excited. It's like anything else we're you're nervous and excited. We'll post some photos soon. Tomorrow...just one more tomorrow.
Keep a lookout for news....we'll be watching for it ourselves!!!!
We make settlement tomorrow. We did the walk through yesterday. It's funny how you remember things...the two bedrooms are smaller than we remembered. The living room is big, the kitchen is huge and the master bedroom is plenty. The basement has lots of potential but for now will be for storage. The house is really great. I'm excited. It's like anything else we're you're nervous and excited. We'll post some photos soon. Tomorrow...just one more tomorrow.
Keep a lookout for news....we'll be watching for it ourselves!!!!
Sunday, July 23, 2006
On your mark.......
I'm going to go ahead and start the countdown anyway......tonight, the 23nd here-the 24th in China, is the night we expected would be the night that the CCAA website would change reflecting the new referral dates. At this point we don't know anything yet. It's only 6 pm here so it's not quite opening time for the CCAA (assuming they open at 8 am.)
We're doing our walk through for our house on Tuesday (very exciting). I had originally thought that we'd end up getting our referral the same day we're to make settlement (Thursday). I couldn't even describe the sheer exhiliration we would be going through-YOU JUST CAN'T IMAGINE! Either way, we're getting our house this week and still HOPING we get our picture of Julia, too.
When I'm calm I can sit back and think, "her picture is probably already in our file." Our fates may already be sealed. There is still the wait after we get her picture, which may only be worse than this wait since we will have her sweet picture to look. But on the other hand, that will make it nice. Somehow I'll be feeling like someon has my child and I just want to get to her. I don't think I've quite got a handle on this patience thing! I've had to endure it, but I still don't like it.
Oh well.....this is the crunch time....maybe by tomorrow we'll be ready for "get ready," then "get set".....and we can't wait to say, go!!!
We're doing our walk through for our house on Tuesday (very exciting). I had originally thought that we'd end up getting our referral the same day we're to make settlement (Thursday). I couldn't even describe the sheer exhiliration we would be going through-YOU JUST CAN'T IMAGINE! Either way, we're getting our house this week and still HOPING we get our picture of Julia, too.
When I'm calm I can sit back and think, "her picture is probably already in our file." Our fates may already be sealed. There is still the wait after we get her picture, which may only be worse than this wait since we will have her sweet picture to look. But on the other hand, that will make it nice. Somehow I'll be feeling like someon has my child and I just want to get to her. I don't think I've quite got a handle on this patience thing! I've had to endure it, but I still don't like it.
Oh well.....this is the crunch time....maybe by tomorrow we'll be ready for "get ready," then "get set".....and we can't wait to say, go!!!
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Ha Ha HA HA HAAAA!!!!!
Now seriously, this is just too funny! You know how we're finally getting there with this adoption stuff, right? I mean we're finally figuring we're bound to be next! The last cutoff was June 28th...sure they could cut it off and miss us...(they could be insane and do 1 DAY per month thus taking 8 MORE months.) But no, they're too clever for that. Instead...the move that the CCAA has been planning and warning of since March/April in NOW going to happen. Before you ask, the rumor is that this will DELAY things....ha, ha, ha, ha, ha no kidding, the Umberhockers were ABOUT to be next. I've actually finally learned how to cry myself into hysteria and it comes out as LAUGHTER!!!!!!! It's a great trick I'm sure will come in handy as a parent-whenever that day may be.
I'm giving serious thought to removing ourselves from the program so that all the other poor families who are suffering because of us will finally get to move forward. And then again, maybe one of those people are the one's who are jinxed and are holding US up. Just don't let me find out who it is or else I'll have to torture them!!!!
Bottom line....who the heck knows! At least the rumor is that the referrals should cut off some time after the 10th, which would mean we are in the next group. The question remains, "when will they come out?" The craziest part of this is that we are in a delicate time frame now. If we do not get our referral in the next 2 weeks (maybe 3), we are looking at a fine line for tavelling so as not to be affected by the lunar holiday (which closes most of China the 1st 2 weeks of October). If not, we wait again a bit LONGER until after the holiday....which we hope to make or else we will have to re-do a BIG immigration form that costs $$ and who knows how long it will take to get here (nothing seems to happen on time!).....not one step of this has been easy. Actually, I should take that back...the part they said was the most diificult was the paperwork (that took us NO time at all)...we knew waiting would be tough, but extending the wait has proved even more excrutiating.....
My (our) other site at www.youbelong.net shows a picture of a roller coaster.....you know it's been up and down and twisting and turning....I used to think I'd hate to go through labor....then I realized that I have been in labor for 18 MONTHS.....and the roller coaster has twisted and turned and jerked me and been upside down and backwards and now I'm just naseous....I would take 24 hours of the WORST labor pains right now for Julia to finally just arrive. Hell, I'll take 1 week of that kind of pain. Right now the roller coaster has chugged it's way to the top....I can just about see the bottom, and it's stuck...the darn thing is just sitting there. It has become beyond surreal to me now-it seems so impossible that this torture will ever end. But it will.....one way or another....and yes, SOON (ha, ha, don't laugh-I mean it!!!!)
I'm giving serious thought to removing ourselves from the program so that all the other poor families who are suffering because of us will finally get to move forward. And then again, maybe one of those people are the one's who are jinxed and are holding US up. Just don't let me find out who it is or else I'll have to torture them!!!!
Bottom line....who the heck knows! At least the rumor is that the referrals should cut off some time after the 10th, which would mean we are in the next group. The question remains, "when will they come out?" The craziest part of this is that we are in a delicate time frame now. If we do not get our referral in the next 2 weeks (maybe 3), we are looking at a fine line for tavelling so as not to be affected by the lunar holiday (which closes most of China the 1st 2 weeks of October). If not, we wait again a bit LONGER until after the holiday....which we hope to make or else we will have to re-do a BIG immigration form that costs $$ and who knows how long it will take to get here (nothing seems to happen on time!).....not one step of this has been easy. Actually, I should take that back...the part they said was the most diificult was the paperwork (that took us NO time at all)...we knew waiting would be tough, but extending the wait has proved even more excrutiating.....
My (our) other site at www.youbelong.net shows a picture of a roller coaster.....you know it's been up and down and twisting and turning....I used to think I'd hate to go through labor....then I realized that I have been in labor for 18 MONTHS.....and the roller coaster has twisted and turned and jerked me and been upside down and backwards and now I'm just naseous....I would take 24 hours of the WORST labor pains right now for Julia to finally just arrive. Hell, I'll take 1 week of that kind of pain. Right now the roller coaster has chugged it's way to the top....I can just about see the bottom, and it's stuck...the darn thing is just sitting there. It has become beyond surreal to me now-it seems so impossible that this torture will ever end. But it will.....one way or another....and yes, SOON (ha, ha, don't laugh-I mean it!!!!)
Monday, July 10, 2006
Maybe....only 2 more weeks????
We have been guessing all along, so don't get me wrong, we're still guessing....but if we are correct this time it could only be 2 more weeks until our referral is on its way. Last month the referrals were sent around the 22nd, so the week of the 24th is a safe bet for them to start arriving. And, so far, though it is early, all indicators reflect our LID (7/7) as being included in this batch. I have already lost circulation in my fingers and toes from having them crossed for so long, so please keep yours crossed for us. Back up that roller coaster hill....here we go!!!!!!
Friday, July 07, 2006
7/7 Day 520, or 1 YEAR anniversary of our LID
Today is the day that 1 year ago our paperwork was officially received in China. The date from which we were told it would only take 5-7 months until we met our daughter....One year and still counting. But at least now, we're practically counting in weeks (trying not to get ahead of ourselves). It is still funny to think we have passed....2 Valetine's, 2 Easters, 2 Memorial Days, 2 Mother's Days, 2 Father's Days, 2 of Jen's birthdays, 1 Christmas, 1 Thanksgiving, 1 Halloween, and a bunch of little days in there. We have passed 1 of Eric's birthdays but it looks like we may get to be in China for the 2nd....(since the adoption process started).
We're making settlement on July 27th (yeah!) and hope/believe that our picture of Julia should come that week as well. We were close on our plan to trick the universe. Now, it looks like that week will be filled with excitement (let's hope). We're afraid we'll get kicked out of our new neighborhood for celebrating too much-but someone will have to explain!!!
Hard to believe how long this has taken. It really still amazes me. And yet, time seems to be moving. It is surreal to think it could be over soon. I feel like a hostage who has just been told they'll be going home soon. Not sure if I believe it and can't believe it's real. Not to take away from anyone's wait time (either pregnant or adopting), but I feel like this has been harder to have had such a different expectation of time and to have it extended beyond "normal." The pattern of waiting and hoping has been going on for so long, I'm sure it will come with a grieving period. We won't know how to act. You mean our lives are completely within our control again?? Or at least as much as can be expected...
Hang in there y'all....it's gotta be coming soon.......we're pretty sure anyway......Prepare yourselves for the most ridiculous display of gushing, pride, excitement, happiness, and I don't know what else...a bunch of emotions!!! Can't wait!
We're making settlement on July 27th (yeah!) and hope/believe that our picture of Julia should come that week as well. We were close on our plan to trick the universe. Now, it looks like that week will be filled with excitement (let's hope). We're afraid we'll get kicked out of our new neighborhood for celebrating too much-but someone will have to explain!!!
Hard to believe how long this has taken. It really still amazes me. And yet, time seems to be moving. It is surreal to think it could be over soon. I feel like a hostage who has just been told they'll be going home soon. Not sure if I believe it and can't believe it's real. Not to take away from anyone's wait time (either pregnant or adopting), but I feel like this has been harder to have had such a different expectation of time and to have it extended beyond "normal." The pattern of waiting and hoping has been going on for so long, I'm sure it will come with a grieving period. We won't know how to act. You mean our lives are completely within our control again?? Or at least as much as can be expected...
Hang in there y'all....it's gotta be coming soon.......we're pretty sure anyway......Prepare yourselves for the most ridiculous display of gushing, pride, excitement, happiness, and I don't know what else...a bunch of emotions!!! Can't wait!
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