Another step completed... fingerprinting!!

I got the letter from USCIS last night that I was scheduled to get fingerprinted on Dec. 20th.  I have to be away for a 2 week TDY (Military for business trip), so I took a chance and drove the 2 hours to Helena this morning... AND THEY FIT ME IN!!

Now I am off to Couer d'Alene, ID and Yakima, WA, without any worries of missing my appointment.  YEAH!!

Week of UPS and downs...

The week started out Great.  It was my mom's birthday and I woke up to an email from Ann at Red Thread China with an update on BeLanna, along with pictures.  The next day I had another email with pictures of the care package she put together.  YEAH!!  She said it should be to the Zhengzhou SWI within a few days.



Blanket, Camera, Fish bag, Candies, Dolly, PJ's, Book w/ Chinese and English, Collage pillow.

In addition, I was able to put together a 400 word letter.  Mine ended up being mostly questions, but this is what I came up with and I am really praying that I will get this letter back on her Gotcha Day with most (or all) of the questions answered.
 

Dear Director and Nannies,

Thank-you for taking care of my daughter, Yin Yue.  She looks beautiful, happy and 

very well cared for in her pictures.  Please give her many hugs, kisses and cuddles 

from me. On the pillow are pictures of me, grandma, grandma’s two sisters, my dog 

and cat.  Please keep telling her, I am eager to bring her into my home and her 

entire family is eager to meet her especially the family dog who will happily clean 

her face for her.  Please take many pictures of Yin Yue with her friends, nannies, 

and the orphanage, so I will be able to show her where her life started and the 

wonderful people who cared for her.

Enclosed is a list of questions about my daughter Yin Yue. Answers to these 

questions will help me to make the transition easier for her.  Thank-you for 

taking time to answer these questions.

• Can her hair not be cut and be allowed to grow long?

• Where and how was she found?  

• Who found her?

• Was a note or memento with her?

• Do you have her finding ad?  Can I have a copy?

• Who chose her name and why? 

• Does she have a nickname?

• Is she potty trained??  

• Has she had any allergies? 

• What are her favorite foods and activities? 

• What makes her happy?

• How would you describe her personality?

• Does she have any likes/dislikes/sensitivities? 

• Is she close to a particular nanny? What is this nanny’s name?

• Is she close to a particular child(ren)? What is this child’s name?

• What was her first word? How old was she when she said it?   

  Is there a story that she should know about how/when/why she said her first word?

• How old was she when she started walking?

• What else would you like to tell me about her?

• Is there anything I should buy in China to take home for her that has special meaning?

• Is there anything you want to ask me?

       Sincerely, Carmel Finch

 
And then the downs started... I started to feel a deep cold coming on... and then my mom called to tell me she had been rear-ended in MY CAR!!   Luckily, she is OK and my car can be repaired... but MY CAR!!!

When she was driving over to Montana for my grandmother's deathbed vigil and the funeral, it was late at night, snowing TONS and she was driving slow... but that didn't stop the deer from jumping out in front of her.  Hence, her car was in the shop for a few weeks and I ended up with her rental... and she had to take my car and get back to work!!   And then.... she got into an accident with MY CAR!!!

Update, pictures and Grandma's Birthday!!

Today started off with a GREAT 62ND BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR MY MOM (Grandma)!!  I started off the day... like most... reading through my emails to catch up on what was posted on the blogs overnight.  So I am reading through them one by one, and then I hit one written directly to me.   It was from Ann at Red Thread China!!  I ordered a care package on Nov 30th and she had replied to many of my questions and requests the following day on Dec. 1st.   I wasn't expecting to hear back from her for at least another week.

Then...SURPRISE...Ann had called the Zhengzhou orphanage and got an update and 5 pictures!!!!   She emailed me later to clarify that she will be sending the care package later this week.... after she had her measurements.

This is the quick update she sent to me (I added the conversions into American Standards).  I am very happy to see that BeLanna is doing pretty well after her surgery and is still on track with her growth. FYI.. BeLanna is currently 20.8 months.

"Zhou yin yue can not go to toilet by herself ,she wear diaper .

She drinks from bottle .

After her operation,she can control her pee and bowel ,but her bowel is not very open ,each time she only has a little bit shit ,but if her nanny use Kaiselu to help her with her bowel ,then she will have quite a few .

height :79cm (31.10 inches)  Approx. 10th percentile

head:45cm  (17.72 inches)  Between 5th & 10th percentile

chest:47.5cm (18.70 inches)

weight:9.25kg  (20.39 lbs)  Approx. 3rd percentile

foot:12cm (4.72 inches)   SIZE 5
 Have a wonderful day,love,Ann"

Look at this Beautiful SMILE!!!

So Pensive...

She looks HUGE compared to this crib.

I-797C... The Receipt!!

I was getting worried it had gotten lost, but when I got home today, I found my I-797C in the mail from USCIS...with Receipt date of 11/23/2011.  Basically, this is letting me know that they received my homestudy and application paperwork and to be looking in the mail for a letter telling me when to go get fingerprinted.   Please let it come quickly and let me be able to get fingerprinted between Dec. 27-29th!!!!  Please, Please, Please. 

I am at a conference the week of the 13th and then studying for my next advancement exam the following week in Washington State... so basically unavailable for TWO WEEKS!!!

Oh yes... I ordered a care package for BeLanna and sent a follow on email to Ann at Red Thread China a couple of days ago.  Ann got back to me the next day and answered all of my questions, requests and concerns.   Keeping my fingers crossed I will have an update by the end of next week... with PICTURES... hopefully.   Then I will be able to take them to our annual command conference and show off all her pictures like a proud MOMMA!!!

Patience is a virtue... I'm not that virtuous!!

I have traveled over half the world, experienced MANY different cultures... AND learned a lot of patience in the Navy.   But the wait for a stupid email giving me a Receipt Date at USCIS is KILLING ME!!!

I know my paperwork made it to Texas... they deposited my check right away.  hahahahaha.... money first, email a very anxiously awaiting mom-to-be, second, third, fourth... who knows!!

Oh well... I have my Posideon and Saffy to try and ease the time.

Posideon in the Leaves

Saffy tolerating her picture being taken.

Finally off to USCIS!!!

YEAH!!  My paperwork is off to USCIS in Texas.  Keeping my fingers crossed for a shorter timeline to get my I-797 back.

Life's Ups and Downs!!

On November 16th... I woke up to find out my Grandmother had died.  She was 93 years old and had been on comfort care, without food or water, for 17 days when she finally went to the angels!!

Later that same day, I got a call from my Social Worker that my Home Study is FINISHED!!!!   YEAH!!!!  Want to party, but not exactly the time.  Will send it off the USCIS next week when I am back home.

Care Package!

Finally... got my act together and sent my 1st care package.  This is what was in it:

• Bracelet - for the Director
• 4 boxes of Chocolates - For the Nannies
• 2 boxes of Animal Crackers - To share with her friends.
• 2 Winter outfits
• 10 pairs of socks of 12-24mo olds
• 1 Toy phone
• 1 Bead Ball
• 1 Oball Rainstick version
• 1 Wooden Puzzle - 4 piece
• 1 Picture book with 7 pictures
• 2 Books

Light on the Horizon

I got word from ANA today... VA is mailing the CPS check tomorrow!!!  Hopefully it will be here by Monday!!

Some update photos...

She is looking proud of herself
(see that dimple!!)
for taking a step!!

So the update said she isn't walking yet...
so in this picture she is still grabbing the wall.

I think she is thinking...
Well OK, I'll try this walking thing.

We call this her Dancing Picture.

I think she is toddeling a few steps here.
My family calls this her Karate picture.

Some Match Photos

OK... so I have made my own story to go
along with Zhou Yin Yue's photos.
I call this her "Finding" photo,
I think it is one of the 1st photos taken of her,
probably when she was admitted to the orphanage.

I think she is about 12 months in this photo.  It is one of my favorites!!   I love that she is looking at the camera and her hair is sticking up!!

Again, I think she is about 12 months in this photo,
just starting to stand... and curious about toys!! 

I was helping my mom sell her jewelry at a Christmas bazaar recently, and another vendor was selling the cutest hats.  I told her I was adopting this little girl when she would be about 24 months old and asked what size hat I should get.   I was thinking a small one, she is only in the 3rd percentile, but the lady looked at my pictures and went for a larger size and said "She had a big head on that little body."   I laughed and said, I would take the brain, because it means it is developing and she will be smart, her body can catch up when she is home with me.

Getting Started!!

I am excited to start my story to my much waited for, much loved daughter!!  I started my adoption paperwork by applying to and being accepted by Chinese Children Adoption Agency (CCAI) on August 26th, 2011.  I immediately started all the paperwork they wanted for them and the home study agency.  Since I live in Montana, there is only one Hague-accredited agency, A New Arrival Inc.   Both Agencies have been WONDERFUL!!  And patient with my over-analyzing self. hahahahaha. 


I have to have 4 home visits for China, and since I am single... none of them can be double-up like they can for married folks.  So I had my first visit on Sept. 12th with Katie, my Social Worker.  She was great!!  Checked out the house, asked a ton of questions of me... and answered a bunch of mine in turn... and my mom's who was visiting for the long weekend.  


Then it was paperwork, paperwork, paperwork.  Worked on Dossier paperwork - Birth Certificate, fiinancials, guardianship, employer verification, etc, etc, etc.   Finished up online Parenting classes....


And then my 1st MIRACLE HAPPENED!!!   I was at work on Sept 20, 2011 and got a call with a Colorado area code... I was trepidatious to answer... what if China had changed their rules about singles adopting.   But I answered and it was Sarah Harmon (the most beautiful person I have never met),,, and she told me if I want to accept... I have been MATCHED WITH A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRL!!!    I was so excited and completely unproductive for the rest of the day!!!  

I called my Mom and forwarded all the information I had about Zhou Yin Yue (Respectful Moon) and I got in touch with my doctor.  I had a sit down meeting with her about Yin Yue's Special Need. (In China, Singles can only apply to adopt children with special medical conditions.)  her special need is significant, but with the support of my mom and aunts, it something I can deal with and help her manage as she grows.  So I sent in my Letter of Intent (LOI) to CCAI on 9/22/2011, they sent it to China on 9/26.  I also completed by last 3 home visits this week.  


On 10/8/2011 I got my Official Pre-Approval!!!   Now I just need to get my home study done, USCIS completed, etc, etc, etc    And not go crazy waiting!!


Currently, everything is ready on my home study, including CCAIs review and verbal approval, we are just waiting for ONE document from Virginia to arrive, and it feels like it is taking FOREVER!!  Once it arrives, Katie will finish up her report, let CCAI know and they will send their approval letter and then I should be able to submit it to USCIS.   Hopefully next week... keeping my fingers crossed.