One Year Down

Well, today marks the first anniversary of waiting...I'm not sure if that is something worth celebrating or not, but I just thought that I would mention it. Of course, I am talking about waiting for the China adoption. In some respects, it seems like the year went by pretty fast but when I think of everything that has happened in the last year, it seems like a whole lifetime.

When we started this process in September 2006, the wait was about 12-18 months. When we were "logged in" in April 2007, the wait was 18-24 months. Nowadays, they tell me that the wait is currently 27 months but continue to grow. Some people may have to wait up to four years! I'm planning on total of three from log in and hoping for sooner. The process will be slow this summer with the Olympics heading to China.

It all works out for the best though. I'd rather wait for our little girl than get someone elses. Here's to one year down and ??? to go!!

Not So Good Adoption update

Well - I actually have a couple of pieces of news for this post. Unfortunately, one piece of news is not so good so I will get that out of the way first.

After many unsuccessful attempts to get in contact with Baby Mama since our return from China, we have heard from her Grandmother that she is flip-flopping on whether or not to keep the baby. I guess this explains why she hasn't called me back. Yes, I am upset but for the most part, I am dealing with it okay. We have decided to act as if the adoption will not happen but hope that it does. We have found out that the baby is a boy...that doesn't make it easier. While we were in China, my mom and dad bought and installed the baby furniture so we are ready and waiting...for this baby, or another in the future. Although we are managing our expectations, we would ask you to continue praying over the situation. We are praying that the baby is healthy and Baby Mama is taking good care of herself. We are also praying that when the time comes Baby Mama will make the best decision for the baby...we are praying that the decision she makes will also be the best for us :)

On a more positive note, we have traveled to the other side of the world and returned safely. We had a busy and interesting trip in China. We didn't see the sights much, as we were on the clock for Thoma's Plant Basket, but we did learn about a new culture and I can tell you that there is nothing like traveling to another country to make you appreciate what you have at home. We met some good business partners and some good friends. We ate alot of food that we weren't sure what it was. We lost at least two years off of our lives due to smog and pollution. We learned about Chinese culture and history from our amazing translator Binson. We tried, and failed miserably, to learn Chinese. We dreamt about our next trip, when we get the baby from China and wondered how we would take a six month old home on a 18 hour flight!! I have attached some pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Thanks for reading, if you're interested in more updates, please subscribe to my blog below and you will be e-mailed when I post messages...which has been happening about every other month.

Love you!

Jennifer

A New Blog

I am so sorry to be so late...I know I promised you the end of the month for updates and two month ends have come and gone. Please forgive me...

My previous site was a little difficult to update so I thought I would give a "real" blog a try...did you know these things are free?? Try www.blogger.com. It's fun.

China Adoption Update - No news is good news, right? Due to recent newsletter updates, we anticipate this to be a longer wait than originally expected, which may work out better in the long run. It's all about God's timing isn't it? I saw a t-shirt advertised on an adoption mothers website that said "Yes, I'm still adopting. No, I haven't heard anything." I seriously considered getting it.

Missouri Adoption Update - Baby Mama is over her morning sickness, finally. She's 24 weeks and has officially confirmed the due date of February 3, 2008. She has been to the doctor only for her lab work and it seems all is well. We are hoping to go any day now for an Ultrasound. For some reason, she's not nearly as anxious and excited as I am. I really want to know everything is okay...and maybe find out what we're having. It's not like we care...healthy and happy is the most important. Some days I'd like a boy since we will probably be adopting a girl from China - then we'd have one of each. Some days I'd like a girl so I would have two sisters close in age. Most days I lean toward boy but maybe with two girls we could get a boy later. Don't tell Chris I said that :)

We have emptied the "spare bedroom" and are in the process of turning it into "the nursery". Right now it's empty with the exception of a small table and chair set given to me by a friend, one stuffed animal skunk, and a book titled "Tell Me Again About The Day I Was Born", given to me by another friend. We have painted two walls, one olive green and one cabin red. The other two remain Chris's favorite - a shade of tan. We have curtains up and fabric in hand but have not made the bedding yet. Thanks to Arbonne, I will be recieving a large Target gift card soon and plan on purchasing the bed and dresser I have picked out. I'm getting a little freaked out that it's less than four months before the baby is here!! It doesn't help when someone tells me how expensive diapers and formula are...I have thought about starting to register. My very good friend, Lori - mother of two, will be taking me "shopping" in the city after we find out the sex. That's the only information now. Next update - It's A _________ !!

On another note -
We leave for China in just over a week. I am so excited to go and see the city. It will be a very quick trip, Oct 23 - 31 but an adventure none-the-less. I will try to send updates from Guangzhou if I get the chance.

Thanks for visiting - feel free to comment or e-mail me.

8/2/07 An Unexpected Blessing

I know, I'm a little late with this update but the past two weeks has been unbelievable. In case you haven't heard, we have been informed by a family (here in Missouri) that we have been chosen to adopt their child which will be born in February 2008.

We are so excited about this unexpected blessing. In fact, when we originally heard that this may be an option, we could hardly believe it. We were even concerned it wouldn't be possible with the China adoption well under way. Turns out that the agency does not have a problem with us completing this adoption in the meantime.

There is a long story but the summarized version is this. The granddaughter of close friends of Chris's parents is expecting her fifth child and does not have the means or resources to provide appropriately for this child. She knew of our situation and asked if we would be interested in adopting. She has indicated that I will be able to attend Doctor visits and possibly be at the hospital when the baby is born. Can you believe it!!! Me Neither. Now remember, nothing is "official" until the baby is born but it seems like this is the real deal. Keep praying over this situation and our birth mother.

Thanks for your support, we'll keep you posted.

6-26-07 Initial Posting from Previous Site

Many friends and family have mentioned to me that they would like to keep up to date with the our adoption and I thought this would be the best way to do that. This will be our blog of sorts. Just simple updates of where we stand in the process or what we've been thinking.

We were officially on the waiting list (it's called Logged In) since 4/27/07 (that's our log in date (LID)). The means as of tomorrow we will be two months into the waiting process. That two months went pretty fast. They've told us that the wait until referral (when we find out who the baby is) will be 18-24 months. We're hoping for 18 which puts us at October 2008. As of our last newsletter, there were approximately 840 people on the list in front of us. We have joined a chat group with other China adoption parents that have LID's in April 2007. This has been fun since these are some of the families we will most likely travel with when the time comes.

As you probably know, 95% of the adoptions from China are girls. We have been told to expect between the ages of 6-12 months at the time of referral. We have tentatively named our little girl Isabel and plan to call her Izzy. The tentative part is based on the fact that 5% are boys, obviously we won't call him Isabel. I have started some reading, both fact and fiction on China's history and I have also started keeping a journal for the baby so she's knows that we were thinking about her and praying for her...probably before she was conceived.

We will be traveling to China in October for a trade show for Chris's business and are anxious to learn more about China but nervous about being so close to our little one and not even knowing her. Lots of families in the chat room talk about going to the Pacific Ocean and waving to their baby...we will be so much closer. I think I will be watching every pregnant woman that goes by wondering.

If you would like to join the prayer effort, our requests would be for the health of the birth mother and comfort in her upcoming decisions. Health of the baby, and also, patience for us, this is a long wait. Thanks for caring. Don't expect updates too often, I'll shoot for once a month around the 27th.