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.