This is just a short post to let everyone know where we are in the adoption process now. We received our LSC (letter seeking consent from adopter) on June 13th. This is our official referral for Song Song (aka Zane)!
We are working on our final fundraiser. The fundraiser is an ice cream social/ silent auction that will be held on June 30th. I plan to post more about the fundraiser and items we will be auctioning off here soon. Stay tuned!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Logged In and Other Happenings
We now know our logged in date (LID) - it was 5/22/12 (our dossier was sent to China 5/15/12). LID is when the CCCWA (China's child welfare authority) officially acknowledges receipt of your dossier paperwork. We also got a notice in the mail today that our I-800 was received at the USCIS (Homeland Security) lockbox in Texas. Now all we lack is our LSC (or LOA, or whatever) from CCCWA (which is our official referral) before our I-800 application can be approved. After that we need to send our form DS-230 (and required documentation attachments) to the US Consulate in Guangzhou. Head spinning yet? Yeah, mine too.
In other news, we've been taking 'gastronomic cultural outings' (eating at some local Chinese buffets) to get the kids more acclimated to asian cuisine before Zane/SongSong arrives. Even though his report states that he is 'not chosey to food', we'll likely be eating a lot more Chinese food in the next few months. Our 3 girls came to us VERY 'chosey to food' (Oscar not so much). If it wasn't bland or sweet, they wouldn't eat it - and forget about vegetables! Since then we've got them eating all kinds of different foods - now including seafood, dim sum, dumplings, clams & mussels, etc. and loving them :). Just more preparation - and trying to be out in front of some issues we may encounter in the not too distant future. Today we even tried out some chopsticks (didn't really eat with them, just practiced how to hold them).
Other preparations made: I ordered Oscar and Zane's loft beds - unfinished pine, assembly required AND 2 unfinished pine four drawer chests (eBay!). Bought a night stand (also unfinished pine) that will hold a couple of fabric storage cubes, also a new mattress, all the bedding for Zane's bed, and bath towels for him too.
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Thursday night I fell asleep before 9:00 PM and before the kids were finished with their showers and bedtime routine. I've been getting up early and going in to work at 7:00 AM for two reasons 1) to get extra time in so I have paid time off for our trip and 2) because I have a major project I'm trying to finish up at work before we get called off to China in July. (Right now, my project is supposed to be finished by July 16th. We have to travel before July 27th. Talk about cutting it close.) I'm not a morning person, but it beats having to work on Saturdays (which is what I was doing since March and before summer school started) trying to get everything done in time on all fronts. I'll be so glad when July is here (actually, make that when it's over). That's when the real fun begins.
In other news, we've been taking 'gastronomic cultural outings' (eating at some local Chinese buffets) to get the kids more acclimated to asian cuisine before Zane/SongSong arrives. Even though his report states that he is 'not chosey to food', we'll likely be eating a lot more Chinese food in the next few months. Our 3 girls came to us VERY 'chosey to food' (Oscar not so much). If it wasn't bland or sweet, they wouldn't eat it - and forget about vegetables! Since then we've got them eating all kinds of different foods - now including seafood, dim sum, dumplings, clams & mussels, etc. and loving them :). Just more preparation - and trying to be out in front of some issues we may encounter in the not too distant future. Today we even tried out some chopsticks (didn't really eat with them, just practiced how to hold them).
Other preparations made: I ordered Oscar and Zane's loft beds - unfinished pine, assembly required AND 2 unfinished pine four drawer chests (eBay!). Bought a night stand (also unfinished pine) that will hold a couple of fabric storage cubes, also a new mattress, all the bedding for Zane's bed, and bath towels for him too.
N4LBPcJ6H12Tg~~60_3.jpg)
Thursday night I fell asleep before 9:00 PM and before the kids were finished with their showers and bedtime routine. I've been getting up early and going in to work at 7:00 AM for two reasons 1) to get extra time in so I have paid time off for our trip and 2) because I have a major project I'm trying to finish up at work before we get called off to China in July. (Right now, my project is supposed to be finished by July 16th. We have to travel before July 27th. Talk about cutting it close.) I'm not a morning person, but it beats having to work on Saturdays (which is what I was doing since March and before summer school started) trying to get everything done in time on all fronts. I'll be so glad when July is here (actually, make that when it's over). That's when the real fun begins.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Week of Fundraisers
Last weekend was an insane flurry of fundraising. Our church sponsored a taco dinner for us, our friends the Simmons, Sanders and Sherers held a garage sale for us and we had our iPod Giveaway finale. Oscar also did some 'cat sitting' for our neighbors and earned some money which he donated to help bring his brother home. Total: we raised $2,995. Thanks to all who supported/sponsored and otherwise participated in all these events!
On May 15th our dossier finally went to China (that's DTC in China adoption speak). I still don't know if we have a logged in date (LID) yet. I suspect we have it, our agency just hasn't told me what it is yet (note to self - ASK). They did tell me to expect our official referral (LSC - I think this is letter seeking confirmation) very soon though. Chinese adoption has so many acronyms... I can't keep it straight as to what all those letters stand for!
This past week was a week of transition at home. School ended early for our kids, I pulled them out the last couple of days so that they could start our public system's summer school program on time (it started on Thursday). This changed everything in the middle of the week - therapy appointments, work schedule, sleep schedule... It's been a rough last couple of days (oh yeah, and Tim pulled an 'all-nighter at work Thursday night too). Hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things again come Tuesday morning.
We are waiting to hear back on some grants that we have applied for (and we still have a couple of grants that we have yet to apply for). We believe we have been awarded at least one grant for $500. All funds received from here on out go to support our travel to China. It is our sincere hope that we can afford to take Oscar with us on our trip. It would be a good experience for him to see where his brother comes from and it likely would be very helpful with Zane's transition into our family. We already have his passport. The only thing keeping us from taking him right now is the money :(. I see more fundraisers in our future!
On May 15th our dossier finally went to China (that's DTC in China adoption speak). I still don't know if we have a logged in date (LID) yet. I suspect we have it, our agency just hasn't told me what it is yet (note to self - ASK). They did tell me to expect our official referral (LSC - I think this is letter seeking confirmation) very soon though. Chinese adoption has so many acronyms... I can't keep it straight as to what all those letters stand for!
This past week was a week of transition at home. School ended early for our kids, I pulled them out the last couple of days so that they could start our public system's summer school program on time (it started on Thursday). This changed everything in the middle of the week - therapy appointments, work schedule, sleep schedule... It's been a rough last couple of days (oh yeah, and Tim pulled an 'all-nighter at work Thursday night too). Hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things again come Tuesday morning.
We are waiting to hear back on some grants that we have applied for (and we still have a couple of grants that we have yet to apply for). We believe we have been awarded at least one grant for $500. All funds received from here on out go to support our travel to China. It is our sincere hope that we can afford to take Oscar with us on our trip. It would be a good experience for him to see where his brother comes from and it likely would be very helpful with Zane's transition into our family. We already have his passport. The only thing keeping us from taking him right now is the money :(. I see more fundraisers in our future!
Monday, May 21, 2012
and the WINNER is...
Here's my spreadsheet with all the names of the people who entered.
Here they are all cut out.
Here they are folded and put in a basket (cheery yellow, no?)
Mayerly getting ONE tiny slip of paper out while Oscar holds the basket.
Deana Griffin!!!
Just let us know if you want black or white :).
Deana is Oscar and Diana's teacher at their school. THANK YOU to all who donated and helped us get one step closer to bringing SongSong/Zane home!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Announcing Our Next Fundraiser
Less than a week left! Donate now and help us bring our son home from China! We are getting so close to traeveling to get him now! And to all who have already donated THANK YOU!
***UPDATE: We now have enough donations to buy the iPod - all donations from here on go straight toward adoption expenses***
We are giving away an Apple iPod touch 8GB 4th Generation - your choice of black or white - click here for more information about the iPod.
For chances to win:
1 chance to win - $10 donation
3 chances to win - $25 donation (the 1st ten people to donate $25 will each receive 5 chances to win!)
6 chances for $50, 9 chances for $75, and so on.
Just click the Donate button to the right to donate online via PayPal. If you prefer not to donate online, PM me on facebook or leave your email address in a post so I can send you my mailing address. All donations must be received no later than 5:00pm on May 21, 2012.
For 1 free chance to win the iPod, post or share this on your facebook wall or post on your blog (maximum of 2 free chances per person). Just post your blog address to the comments on this blog your posting can verified. Friend me on facebook (if you haven't already) so that your share or wall posting may be verified.
The iPod will ship directly to the winner's home from the retailer. We'll announce the winner right here on the blog.
Sorry, this giveaway is only open to United States residents!
Thanks for supporting our adoption fundraiser!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
If I'd Only Checked My 'Trash' Folder on Friday...
I would have seen that our I-797 had been approved (permission from Homeland Security/USCIS to bring a child into this country)! So - more documents off to the Secretary of State to be certified... We're getting close, very close! Next stop is the Chinese Consulate in Chicago - then the dossier goes to CCCWA!
Friday, April 20, 2012
Moving Right Along
Yesterday we went to USCIS and got our fingerprints done. The experience this time was much better than it was four years ago when we did it. This time the people working there actually talked to us like we were... well, people - instead of suspicious someones not to be trusted. The guards who ran us throught the metal detector and our stuff through the X-ray machine actually engaged us in conversation - asking us where we were adopting from and then saying 'Ni hao ma!' (I believe this is 'Hello Mom!' - I really need to work on that basic Chinese) to me. The technician who took our biometrics (electronic fingerprinting) actually engaged me in conversation instead of just grunting orders to me. And then the guards wished us well with our adoption as we were leaving the building. Totally.Different.Experience.
Today I took documents for our dossier to the post office (sent priority flat rate with a paid return priority envelope enclosed) to send to the Secretary of State offices of Kansas and Missouri. Tim's employment letter went to Kansas to be certified/ authenticated and all the rest of our documents went to Missouri to be certified/ authenticated. For my Colombian adoption friends, this is the exact same process as an apostille. For some reason China doesn't require an apostille even though it's a Hague country just like Colombia. Whatever, I just do what the adoption agency tells me at this point...
Our dossier consultant at our main agency called USCIS yesterday and left a message - and again today and spoke with the officer for our case asking him to expedite us due to the fact that our son is aging out soon. We'll see what happens since he made her no promises... Just know that I'm not ruling out calling my Senator to make our case move up on the officer's list of priorites if I have to. This is a different USCIS office than the fingerprinting office, maybe they moved the old staff over there (they are in the same metropolitan area)? I'm just sayin'...
Below is the latest picture we have of Zane/SongSong (thank you Sanders! - that's Stacey with her 4-year-old Jayden also in the picture). I hope he looks this happy to see us when we come for him :).
Today I took documents for our dossier to the post office (sent priority flat rate with a paid return priority envelope enclosed) to send to the Secretary of State offices of Kansas and Missouri. Tim's employment letter went to Kansas to be certified/ authenticated and all the rest of our documents went to Missouri to be certified/ authenticated. For my Colombian adoption friends, this is the exact same process as an apostille. For some reason China doesn't require an apostille even though it's a Hague country just like Colombia. Whatever, I just do what the adoption agency tells me at this point...
Our dossier consultant at our main agency called USCIS yesterday and left a message - and again today and spoke with the officer for our case asking him to expedite us due to the fact that our son is aging out soon. We'll see what happens since he made her no promises... Just know that I'm not ruling out calling my Senator to make our case move up on the officer's list of priorites if I have to. This is a different USCIS office than the fingerprinting office, maybe they moved the old staff over there (they are in the same metropolitan area)? I'm just sayin'...
Below is the latest picture we have of Zane/SongSong (thank you Sanders! - that's Stacey with her 4-year-old Jayden also in the picture). I hope he looks this happy to see us when we come for him :).
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