Children Waiting In China

Looks like these little ones are ready to come home dont they? I know I'm ready for my daughter.....so why the wait???

Waiting is all I can do right now. Wait for homestudy to be written-up and then the dreaded LONG Wait for my log in date, Wait for my referral and Wait to go get my baby. When I started this process the wait time for referral was only 8 months. Currently the CCAA has increased the wait time to 12-14 months and possibly longer. With the Waiting Children's Program the wait is currently 3-6 months for referral. Rumors around on the message boards and the blogs that I read from the informal China adoption community I have become a part of....... The CCAA has received too many dossiers at one time so they are backed up, The CCAA office is moving/has moved resulting in a slow down, There just aren't as many Chinese babies available for adoption as before, There are not as many Chinese babies that are "paper ready" for adoption just to name a few. I don't think anyone really knows for sure but we all suffer the wait together. Only time will tell and I continue to have faith in the CCAA and that I will receive my daughter when the time is right for both of us.....

Share My Favourites!!!

One of my survival tricks to help me get through this "wait" is to read or watch about China adoption. Last summer I purchased this National Geographic DVD called China's Lost Girls. It is such a moving story on the adoption process in China, which is hosted by Lisa Ling. If you can get your hands on this....it is a MUST watch!!


My favourite and 1st book that I have read is the Lost Daughters Of China by Karin Evans. It is an amazing story which will make you laugh and cry. This book is also a MUST to read.

I find our local library is really lacking books on International Adoption, so I have had to buy mine mostly from Chapter's online. It actually has worked out better this way, so I can have them forever and a mini library for my daughter.

For my family and friends who live close, I would love to share these with you if you want!!!

Life of a 2 year old!!

Well today was another cold, rainy day. We ended up going out to the lake and cleaning out the garage and boat house. Chores that needed to be done and great to do on a rainy day!! H (nephew) always loves to be outside, especially at the lake. He got a new swing set for his 2nd birthday and could spend the whole day on his "fwing". Me & S took a break and headed to the new store at the lake to warm up with a capaccino, H got his licorice and we got dad a piece of a home-ade Saskatoon Pie. Mom has been up at my grandparents since thursday as my grandma got rushed to S'toon for an emergency operation. Grandma is now at home so mom has to stay up there and look after her & grandpa for a few more days. I'm so glad your doing better Grandma Cookie (worlds greatest chocolate chip cookies.......by my grandma!!!)

Word Cloud

Well not to much to report today. Today was a rainy cold day which is a big difference from a week ago. It almost felt like a FALL day out at the lake....so not much playing outside. I thought I would have a bit of fun with this word cloud. All the words in the cloud are words that I have used so far in my blog!!!

Why China???

Many people have asked why
I chose China.......

Because that is where my
daughter is!!!!

Sticky Rice Nursery Bedding

Now isnt this the greatest crib set??
I fell in love with it as soon as I seen it.
Its only available from the US that I have seen.
I have purchased a bedding
set already from Sears that is from the "Malawi"
collection which matches so great with the wall color.
I just painted the walls a Georgian Green which is
so nice........but if I decide to buy this Sticky Rice set
I will have to re-paint the walls.

OMG......Too ADORABLE!!!

Just had to post this picture of 16 pandas born in October 2005 in China.....They are so darn cute!!!

....Below are the steps in the

"Journey to my Daughter"....

The dates in BLUE are steps I have already completed.

The dates in YELLOW are steps I'm currently on.

The dates in RED are steps that have yet happened.

June 23/05..........We were celebrating Mom & Dad's birthday supper at H Pizza and told my family that I have decided to adopt from China.

June 30/05..........Requested adoption information package arrived from Family Outreach International Adoption Agency.

July 12/05..........Met with L at DCRE (Social Services) and handed my Adoption Application in.

Sept 15/05.........Attended a Children's Bridge seminar in S'toon on "How to Adopt from China"

Sept 17/05..........Attended an International Adoption Conference in S'toon. Some Agencies did presentations on different countries and procedures, DCRE talked about international Adoption, National Bank of Canada did a presentation on their Adoption Loan Program, Sk Government delivered a speech on the Adoption Tax Credit and there was a session on Attachment & Bonding.At the end we listened to a parent panel of people who have recently returned home with their child.

Nov 27/05..........Just received news that Vietnam was opening back up to International Adoptions. Really looking at that program since they don't have a quota for singles.

Nov 29/05..........Went and had my passport pictures taken.

Nov 30/05..........Went to our local Police Station and had my fingerprints taken for Interpol check.

Nov 30/05..........Mailed passport and Interpol check away.

Dec 5/05.............Talked with Tan at Children's Bridge about the Vietnam Program. He said they were accepting applications and he would add my name to his mailing list for updates.

Dec 6/05.............Talked with L at DCRE and told her I was switching over to the Vietnam program.

Dec 8/05.............Hired D to do my Home Study for me.

Dec 8/05.............Told my family that Vietnam it is!!!! My mom was very upset as her heart is already set on China..

Dec 9/05.............Sent my membership fee into Children's Bridge.

Dec 12/05...........Met with L and handed my application into her for Vietnam.

Dec 16/05..........Home Study began!!! First visit with D.

• Handed in my references
• Paid 1st portion of Home Study fee
• Signed a number of papers

Dec 27/05..........Received my Interpol check back.

Jan 3/06............Received my passport in the mail.

Feb 4/06...........Attended another Children's Bridge seminar on "How to Adopt from China and Vietnam". Mom and S came with me also!!!

Feb 7/06...........I decided I wanted to get newsletters from another agency which is in Manitoba so I sent my membership into CAFAC.

Feb 7/06..........Talked with L at DCRE and told her my heart is so with China and I need to stay with that program.

Feb 22/06.......Talked with J at DCRE in Regina and expressed my concerns on SK not having a waiting list for singles to put there name on. She said they may start one and she will get back to me.

April 9/06.......FINALLY I'm the BIG 30......

April 10/06.....Met with L (again) and handed my application in for China...application accepted by her.

April 11/06......Talked with L on the phone and told her that I was going to adopt through the Waiting Child Program but wanted my name to stay on the singles list. L gave me the go ahead to continue my Home Study.

April 11/06......Sent my registration into Family Outreach international....Officially my agency!!!

April 19/06......Drove and handed my homework into D

• Original Birth Certificate
• Passport (4 copies)
• Finacial Report
• Criminal Record/Interpol Check
• FOI Snapshot Certificate
• General Range of Acceptance
• Personal History Form

April 25/06......Met with D for 2nd Home Study visit.

• Letter of Request to China to Adopt
• Statement of Non-Homosexuality and Single
• Employment Certificates
• Letter from Designated Guardians

April 25/06.....My 5 references received there letters from D.

April 25/06.....Met with my Lawyer and had my WILL done up.

April 26/06.....Got a letter from Family Outreach accepting my registration and outlining the FEES that are needed.

May 2/06........Had my medical done and blood work taken. My doctor is very excited for me and did say she will have a look at my child's medical file once I have been referred a child. She gave me a prescription for some immunizations and said she would give me the shots instead of going to the International Travel Clinic.

May 4/06.......Had my home visit by D today, which went great. S behaved and D really liked my home. She said only one more visit will be necessary in her office and that will be to sign off on my home study once she has it written-up.

May 5/06.......Met with L at DCRE and got my Child Abuse check done.

May 8/06.......Received my Child Abuse check back in the mail.

May 9/06.......All reference letters are now into D. Just have to wait for her to finish writting my Home Study. D said she should have it done the first week in June.

May 20/06.....Went and had my passport pictures taken for my Dossier.

May 26/06......Today I got a call from L at DCRE telling me that I have been released off the single list for China. So this means that the SK Government has enough couples so they can send a single applicant. I can now choose to adopt through the regular program instead of the Waiting Child program. Now the BIG decision......I have until Monday to decide if I want to let my single spot go....

May 29/06.......Got a call from my doctors office and my test results are now in. I have to go to the doctor on June 1st to get them.

May 30/06.......Got an email from D and my homestudy will be ready for me to sign off on June 6th in her office....Yeehaw!!!

May 31/06.......Talked with L at DCRE and told her that I will be staying with the Waiting Child Program and they can remove me from the singles list.

June 1/06..........Got my medical blood work tests back and everything is clear sailing!!! Also got my first dose of Twinrix done.

June 6/06...........Went to sign my homestudy and recived the APPROVAL from D my Independent Practitioner.

June 7/06............Handed in my supporting documents for my dossier to L at DCRE. She should get my homestudy today or tomorrow from D. Now the wait is on to get the Provincial APPROVAL!!! Go L Go!!!

June 15/06...........11:14am got a call from L at DCRE and said that I got my Provincial approval to adopt from China..........Thanks so much L!!!

June 16/06............Dropped a few more pictures of me INSIDE my house off to L so she can add them to my dossier.

June 22/06.........Got an email from FOI and they received my DOSSIER today. They will begin to process it.

June 23/06.........Sent my first installment of $$$ to FOI.

July 5/06.......... Got an email from FOI and they are now done translating, notarizing- authentication of my dossier. They will be sending my dossier to the Sk Govt who will then send it to China. So it only took FOI 12 days to prepare my dossier for CCAA...they are miracle people!!!

July 14/06........Today my dossier has been sent to China....DTC!!!!

July 17/06.........Talked to L at DCRE and she told me my DTC was July 14th.

July 17/06..........My dossier arrived to CCAA in Beijing, China. So now the wait for my LID.

July 17/06...........Received myImmigration/Sponsorship application in the mail. Now just have to go through all the forms and start filling them out.

August 9/06.........Went to the doctors office to have my second injection of Twinrix.

August 28/06.........Got a phone call from L at DCRE and my LID is August 9/06.

September 6/06......Grandma & Grandpa went and had their first Hep A & B shot.

September 9/06........Confirmation with FOI that they received the new batch of 12 WC files yesterday.

September 11/06........Mailed my Immigration/Sponsorship application away!!!

September 22/06........Received my Immigration/Sponsorship member & Kit ID #'s.

October 18/06...........First day working on the quilt. R, B and I met at the clubhouse and spent 2 hours looking at patterns and getting ideas. Next week the FUN begins!!!

November 3/06........Sent registration to CB for the AdopTalk Seminar in S'toon in January.

January 9/07........Today is my 5 month LID-iversary!!! Plus I received news that FOI received 8 new WC files and matched should be made within the week.

January 11/07.......Received a call from FOI. They didnt have a match that met my request but did talk about 2 other files.

January 12/07.......Received info on C!!! HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY MY GIRL!!!

February 12/07........Officially was presented C referral. Signed my acceptance letters and handed in my LOI.

February 21/07........LOI & Provincial Approval letter received at FOI.

February 25/07.........LOI & Provincial Approval letter received in China (SK Gov't copies)

February 24/07........LOI was sent from FOI to CCAA

February 27/07...........Talked with Y at FOI and she said my LOI was sent to China on Saturday......yeah!!!

March 5/07................LOI was deliverd to CCAA by Y brother.

April 3/07..................Y confirmed with CCAA that my dossier has now been requested and found. This means my dossier is in the REVIEW room.

April 10/07.............Talked to Y at FOI and she said everything is OK with my dossier, LOI and that I could be travelling in about 2 months.

April 11/07.........Received my 3 Twinrix shot. Series is now complete!!!

April 29/07..........Y called and gave me an update on C!!! She also confirmed that as of yesterday I was still in the REVIEW ROOM!!!

May 21/07.........B emailed me and said that I have been approved by China and that my LOA is sitting on the Director's desk at CCAA waiting for his signature. He should be back and I should receive it within a week.

June 4/07........Today is DAY 100 of LOA wait!!! B also confirmed that C care package has been delivered to her SWI.

June 6/07........L emailed me and my LOA arrived at CO in Regina.

June 7/07........Met with my doctor and got my prescriptions for me and C to travel with. Also got my tetnus shot.

June 8/07........LOA arrived and I signed it!!

June 11/07........LOA sent to China!!!!

June 14/07........FOI called and gave me travel dates

June 15/07.......LOA was delivered to CCAA!!!

Beginning My Journey

Beginning My Journey!!!
A lot of my family and friends know about my decision to adopt, but for those who don’t, I’ll give a brief history of how I began this wonderful journey I am on. One day last June I was really thinking about where I want my life to go. I knew I always wanted to get married and have a family, but havent found "Mr. Right" yet. I also knew that I have wanted to adopt a baby since I was a child, and have always been fascinated by the Chinese culture. I went online and did a google search on adopting from China and little did I know, but SINGLES could adopt. So I thought "just because I'm not married doesnt mean I cannot start my family now". I started surfing the web, and requested adoption information from a number of different agencies in BC, Manitoba, Alberta and Ontario. The requested adoption information started to come in, and there was one agency that really clicked with me, but with so many agency choices (and it being a very important decision) I needed to research them some. So I began calling the agencies and interviewing them and asking for refrences so I could follow-up with others who have adopted. I was ecstatic....I have talked with agencies!!! Ok - long story short.... The one rule with the Chinese Governtment is that all applicants adopting from China MUST be 30 years old, and for singles they have a 8% quota unless you adopt through the Waiting Child Program. Since I was 9 months away from my 30th birthday, I continued and researched, planned, and started gathering the necessary paperwork.....Nothing was stopping me!!!
Please see my Adoption Timeline on all the steps I have taken and the steps to come to reach my GIRL in China!!!

First Post

Okay....Today is my first post to my blog...I have been wanting to start this blog for quite sometime, but I'm sooo not smart with blogging. I have been debating whether to pay someone to create my website or try this blogging. I really like all the neat tricks and designs people use on their blogs, so I'm going to try really hard to figure this out. I also want to have a site where I can post too once I'm in China, so everyone can follow that part of my journey and especially "gotcha day".
I'm so glad that today is the beginning to the May long weekend. I have a wedding to go to tomorrow and then will spend the rest of the weekend at the lake.
Hope you all enjoy the lllonnng weekend....