Still cooling my jets

Well, it has been a nail-biter this month.  They are later than usual with referrals for July, by about 10 days and during those 10 days, things have been really silent, no rumors at all.  Things finally broke today and it has been posted by China that they have referrals on the way for LIDs through 9/19....my LID is 9/20.  Yep, missed me by a day.

The good news is that I WILL be in next month's referrals and this gives me a few more days to prepare.  I am in the process of extending my paperwork so I can get to China and back before it expires.  Since it now seems likely that we will travel to China in November, the extension is definitely necessary.  And I think I have some painting to do...

A word about the Red Thread

As my wait comes down to days and weeks rather than months and years, a word about the red thread legend and adoption from China.  I have not bought into a lot of the trappings, but this particular proverb (shown above) did strike a chord with me.  My interpretation (and of course I had one) was to assemble a bracelet of small red glass beads which I donned on 9/20/2006 and have worn every day for the last 5 years, 9 months and 18 days.  I looked at it every day even when I was putting thoughts of the adoption on the back burner to maintain my sanity during this horrendous wait...it's been a good reminder. 

For more about the Legend of the Red Thread (aka the "red string of fate"):  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_string_of_fate

The thread is growing shorter as my match date/referral date approaches! 

Will it be July or August?

The Rumor Queen (a blog that many in the China adoption community follow) posted her predictions yesterday and today.  Despite a larger than usual batch of referrals for June, her predictions show that they still may not get to me (9/20/2006) next month.  She thinks perhaps only to 9/19, which would mean August for my match.  So, down to the wire, but still keeping me guessing.  Talk about pins and needles!

The Rumor Queen also predicts that referrals for July will come around the 23rd.  And I should mention that they blew by the prediction for June by 3 days, so there is still a lot of hope for July.

Unbelievable...

Well, well, well, referrals came yesterday and they made it through 09/15/06.  My referral date is 09/20/06.  09/15 was a Friday, so theoretically, the next referral date is 09/18/06.  Based on that (and I don't like to get my hopes up), it is almost certain that I will receive my match in July...OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so ready.

The Waiting Game Picks Up

Been a while since I updated, but the good news now is that things are picking up on the adoption journey (who would have though, right?).  Last month, they started processing dossiers from the month of September, 2006!!  While they only got to September 4, they are still FINALLY in September.

What this means, I will most certainly receive a referral THIS YEAR!!!!   I know, I've said that before, but unless they stop completely, I am very close.  Right now they are processing just a couple days at a time...there are so few people still waiting, that there are very few referrals on any given day.  Referrals for May will most likely come this week--each batch gives a better view of how much they are processing and when they will get to me, but best bet is July or August...coming really quick.  Note that the July or August would be for the referral then we (Aunt Susan and I) would travel to China about 3 months later in October or November.  Unless something drastic happens, Hazel will be home with her family for Christmas this year!

HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS PEOPLE!!!!

UGH!!!!!!

Referrals came in again yesterday. After a surge last month (10 days!) that had everyone in the adoption community dreaming of a speed up, they only did 6 days this month and they were very small days. This is the smallest batch in a long time and at this rate, I would have to say it may not be this year, ugh!! They got to July 6, 2006 and it is important to note that we are now officially passing the 5-year-wait mark...another big ugh!!

On the bright side, they did fit a batch into the month of June which is good as it keeps them on a monthly batch pace. Another bright note, got the mattresses for Hazel's bed yesterday and the room is coming together very nicely. Will post some shots when it is further along.

Official Blog Launch!!! - November 2, 2010

It's early November, 2010 and referrals just came in for the month...small group, they got to May 23, 2006. It is fun again now for me to look at the referrals since I am sure it will be me one day soon enough. For a while there when I was starting to waver a bit (human nature as it stretched to 5 years) it became less of a happy thing, still a way to go though...

Things just started up for me, again...yes, I am in the paperchase again for the third time. Well really only 2.5 times since I did let some things expire during the second renewal while I was in the middle of moving. And so, I will be re-filing under the new Hague rules. Kicked things off last week with a meeting with my new social worker. Yes, new home, new state, new social worker = new homestudy. The paperwork requirements aren't as daunting as they might be since I have been through it before. Very good possibility that we can wrap things up by year end, then I don't have this hanging over my head as we move into what promises to be a very exciting 2011.

We'll officially call this blog active now, and I do firmly believe that within the year, I will have my child. I'll be trying to post here more often as things continue to move along and I allow myself to think about this more positively. Fasten your seat belts!!
JCC