Day 3

 

Dear Cora,
You have such a great personality, are so strong, and so full of life. I am starting to see the little girl that you are going to be. I love your spark and energy. You cannot sit still; always trying to figure out what is going on and taking control. You are so smart; learning English after only a few days. You are a perfect fit for our family and I am starting to see that you may soon be happy with us.

We got up early today so we had plenty of time to make it to our Civil Affairs appointment to finalize our adoption of Cora. It was very hard to wake Cora because she had such a bad nights sleep. I was very surprised when she woke up and decided that I was her mommy and Auntie Cheryl should not touch her anymore. It was great that Cheryl was able to comfort Cora, but I am so happy to be able to hold her.

It has been a long time since I have carried a child and tried to make a plate while keeping her hands out of everything. I feel like I have never done this before. I am so out of shape! Thank goodness for Auntie Cheryl. She helped make all of our plates, ran for new things for Cora to try, and still found the time to eat her breakfast. One thing that I can say is that with all that Cora has been through she really loves to eat.

Returning to the Civil Affairs office was a huge worry for me. I can tell that Cora is tolerating me because she knows she has no other choice. She watches everyone and every now and then she leans as if she hopes they will take her. She wants to be held but she wants to sit by herself. It breaks my heart to see her this way. I worry that as soon as we walk in the building that she is going to break down again. Amazingly she was very quiet but she does OK. I sign some more papers, take a pledge to care for her as if she was my own and give her all the rights of a child that was born to me, and take some pictures. Now it is official, Cora ShuYan is legally our daughter.

We already had our bags in the taxi so we could leave the Civil Affairs Office and go straight to the train station … we were on our way to Ningbo. My goodness, how I dislike train stations. I have never traveled by train in the US so I have nothing to compare them to. Going down steps with two suitcases and carrying a child to have to go up again just does not make since to me. Poor Cheryl, trying to take some of my luggage to help me and me having a hard time carrying a child and pulling my suitcases. Thank God that a young man took pity on us and helped with our bags. I am not sure if we would have ever made the train.

On the train to Ningbo we finally got to see some of the real Cora come through. She is almost always distracted by food. She seemed fairly content looking around and picking at the snacks we brought with us. She wants to eat trail mix, well at least the M&M’s out of them. She wants one after another and must do it by herself like a big girl. She ends up with most of it on the floor, her lap, and all over her seat. Many people are not real happy seeing this. There is an elderly man sitting behind us. He keeps playing with her. He speaks a little English and asks about Cora. He is the first Chinese person that tells us they are happy that we are adopting a Chinese child. He is very grateful that we are loving and caring for her. This child never stops moving and is getting hard to keep happy so I start picking her up over my head and dropping her towards my face. She starts laughing like crazy. This is the first time we have seen her smile much less laugh. I cannot get enough. We are now totally the center of attention but for the first time I do not care. This is the child the ayis at the orphanage described to us.

We are excited to finally be in the city that my daughter has spent her whole life. We are hoping to see her orphanage but we are starting the think it is a bad idea. Cora is having such a hard time adjusting to us. We will make that decision when we know if Enmei will even allow us to visit. We are very happy to finally be at The Crown Plaza City Center Ningbo Hotel; our home for the next few days.

 

 

Day 2 Gotcha Day!

Dear Cora,
This has been a day I have waited for so long and I am so glad it is here but it has been the hardest day that I (and probably you) have ever lived through. I am so sorry to have broken your heart when I took you from the only family that you have ever known but I hope it will heal and you will learn to love us as much as we love you.  I promise that we will love you unconditionally, forever, and  give you all that you will ever need for the rest of your life.

I woke up every hour worried that I was going to over sleep. Finally at 2:30 am China time we got up, ate, showered, and tried to keep busy until it was time to meet Emma. The hotel had a great buffet. It was like eating at a restaurant. People were there cooking as well as having prepared food. They had American and Chinese style food. We were not feeling very adventurous. After breakfast, Cheryl and I went for a walk around the hotel and took some pictures.

 When we arrived at the Civil Affairs Office we sat in a big room with a red banner across the back. We waited while Emma went to find out how the day was going to work. There was another family waiting for their daughter. I think they were from North Carolina. We traded stories about our adoption processes. I felt very rude because I was so distracted waiting and looking for Cora. We worked on our paperwork while we waited for our children. There were only 4 children to be adopted today. The family from North Carolina’s daughter came first. She was asleep when she arrived and stayed that way for the whole time they were in the Civil Affairs Office. It was so beautiful to see the parents get to look her over; her fingers, her face, her feet. She seemed so content. Then a little boy arrived but his parents were not here yet. He was adorable! He had very chubby cheeks and was happy watching what was going on in the office while his Ayis took care of his paperwork. Cora was the third child to arrive. At 10:20 Cora finally came through the door. She was so cute and very scared. They walked up tp me an just gave her to me. Tried to give he to me would be a better way to say it. She was not dealing with the fact that she was going to me and not staying with her Ayi. This was her favorite Ayi. She was in all of the pictures we got of Cora. You could tell by the look on Cora’s face that she knew what was happening.  Cora did not want me to touch her and would not come to me. The Ayi and director talked to Cora and showed her pictures of us in the photo album we sent. Cora knew our names and was saying that I was her mama but would not let me touch her. They offered Cora her favorite snacks to distract her so I could take her. Nothing worked. They spent quite a bit of time trying to coax her to me. Finally they told me I had to take her and just let her scream, and that she did at the top of her lungs. She screamed for her “mama” until we left. I have had two children and have lived through my share of temper tantrums but I have never seen anything like this. She arched her back, pushed away from me, pulled her hair. She was crying so much that she was getting over heated. He skin was blood red. She started to sound as if she was hyperventilating. I was asked to take her to a different room because she was so disrupting. I walked with her, bounced her, talked to her, and hummed… anything I could think of. Nothing worked. This was the most heart wrenching thing I have ever had to do. I loved her so much already and there was nothing I could do for her. If anyone walked by she would try to go with them. Total strangers; anyone was better than me. Cheryl came over to the room we were in to ask me about the gifts for the children because the Ayis were leaving and Cora even wanted to go to her. I was so scared when they finally said it was time to go because I never thought she would stop crying. She started calming down as we walked out of the building and instantly stopped crying when we went outside. She was so wide eyed watching everything!

We had to walk down the street to find a photo shop so we could take pictures of us (our first family photo) for the adoption certificate. Then a short walk to a taxi to find a market for needed items to care for Cora. Emma asked Cora what she wanted/ is used to eating. She asked for a bottle! The Ayis said she was still getting formula but I was surprised from a bottle at 5 years old. She asked for chocolate for being a big girl because they promised her I would buy it for her. ANYTHING to make her happy.

Cora was very scared in the car. Emma had to talk to her constantly to keep her from screaming. Simple questions like her favorite color, what she likes to do, toys she likes, etc.

As soon as we get to our hotel room she starts crying again. We put her on the bed with a lot of her toys trying to get her mind off of things. It worked for a little while. The I pod was her favorite; she was not much interested in the toys. The sucker was a good choice. Later we tried the bath just because we had run out of ideas and she loved it. She laughed and talked and sang and played and it was the most amazing thing I have ever seen. I was so relieved that we found something that worked to make her happy.

Cora does not like the bed. We try to get her to play and copy what we are doing to get her to prepare for bed. She cried and screamed; finally I just let Cheryl take her because that is where she wanted to be. I needed her to be happy. I will worry about bonding later.  It is breaking my heart to hear her cry so much. She went to sleep finally. I hope things get better for her soon.

Day 1

Dear Cora,
It is so exciting to finally be on my way to china to bring you home. We have waited so long to get to meet you, to hold you, and to love you forever.

It was very hard to get out of the car and leave my family behind. I wanted to have everyone there to say good bye. Once I was in the airport the excitement of being on my way to get my daughter and bring her home took over. I will be holding her in one more day!

The flight went faster than I thought it would. I watched a few movies, read my book, and ate often. I think they were trying to keep us busy by feeding us. The flight was about 7,100 miles in 14hours (give or take a few min).

When we arrived, our guide Sofie was waiting for us. She was very nice and ready to help. She helped bring our suitcases to the taxi. The train station was next to the other airport that was about an hour away. Sofie got the tickets while we waited. The trains run every hour or so but they were full so we had to wait 3 hours for a train. We told Sofie we were good and she could go home, there was no reason for her to wait too. She was happy to stay and talked to us about all that we could do, where to eat, and who to ask for help. We did finally talk her into believing we would be OK if she left.

 Waiting was horrible! We were so tired we were falling asleep sitting in our chairs. There was nothing we could do because we would have to drag all of our luggage with us. We did a lot of people watching, they like to watch us too. Then we decided it was time to get up and move or take a chance on falling asleep and missing out train. We went in search of a bathroom with all luggage in tow. Of course they were squatty potties. It is always a new adventure. Ukraine had them too but we were lucky that we always could find a normal toilet when we needed one. Not so lucky this trip. I am just going to say that as a woman our bodies are not capable of shooting a straight steam and it is almost impossible to judge where you need to stand to keep in the potty, it is different every time. Try holding up your pants legs so they do not touch the floor but keeping your pants down and out of the way so they stay dry.

Getting to the train was a whole new adventure. We had to go down a long flight of stairs with two suit cases each. They are on wheels but there are a lot of people and no room to move. We put the suitcases one on top of the other but on the stairs they would not stay. We were getting worried about missing our train when we rounded  a corner only to find out we needed to go right back up the same length of stairs! It was quite the workout but we made it. The ride was only 45 mins.  The ride was very smooth. It was dark out so we could not see the sights.

Emma was waiting for us when we got off the train. It was nice to have help again. She got a taxi and while driving to the hotel she talked about what we would be doing the next day and the time that we would meet. We would be meeting at 8:20 in the lobby and travel a short distance by taxi to the Civil Affairs Office to wait for Cora.

The hotel was very nice and after calling home to let them know we were safe we went to bed. Well, not exactly right to bed. I had to put together the children’s backpacks and stuff them with gifts and then put together the nannies gifts. I still had to put together what I wanted to bring for Cora. It felt like forever before we went to bed but at least we were so tired that the worry about the next day did not keep me up all night.

I am so close to finally holding my daughter!

Sorry no posts while in China!

We were not able to post while in China. Once we were home Cora decided that we should not be on the computer. She is very convincing when she knows what she wants. I will post the progress of our trip as if we were there so everyone can see how the adoption progressed as well as updates and pictures of how she is doing at home.

Cora is a very happy, busy girl and we are so glad that she is part of our lives!

On our way!

I can't believe that we are finally on the way! I am trying to get the finishing touches on our packing and then off to bed. We will be up early to make it to the airport on time. Two more days until Cora is finally ours!

"Leaving on a Jetplane"

My husband walks around the house singing the old song lyrics "leaving on a jet plane; don't know when she'll be back again". I am not quite sure how to feel about this. Is he happy I am finally leaving to bring Cora home in 10 days OR is he hoping I will not come back? I will stick with the first one!

This is the copy of our itinerary:

 

3/31     Arrive in Shanghai on flight DL181 at 2:50 pm. A guide will meet and escort you to the train station so you can travel to Hangzhou by bullet train. Your guide will meet you at the train station and escort you to the Ramada Haihua Hotel.

4/1       Meet and take custody of Cora (Shu, Yan) at the Civil Affairs office

4/2       Complete adoption paperwork and travel by bullet train to Ningbo where you will stay at the Crowne Plaza City Center Ningbo Hotel.

4/3       Complete adoption paperwork and visit the orphanage if approved

4/4       Return to Hangzhou by bullet train

4/5       Fly from Hangzhou to Guangzhou.

4/6       Visa medical examination and TB test

4/7       City tour

4/8       City tour

4/9       Free day

4/10     Pick up medical documents and prepare for the visa interview with the help of your guide

4/11     Visa interview at the US Consulate            

4/12     Pick up Cora’s visa then take the train to Hong Kong where you will stay at the Harbour Plaza Hotel

4/13     Depart Hong Kong

 

10 MORE DAYS UNTILWE TRAVEL TO CHINA TO BRING CORA HOME!

We are going to China! March 30, 2013

We have our Consulate appointment on April 11, 2013 which means that we will finally get to hold our beautiful daughter on April 1^st! We have been waiting so long to hold her, tell her how much we love her, and will always keep her safe.

2 weeks to finish everything in Cora’s and Sasha’s bedroom, finish making backpacks for the children that we are filling with gifts and treats, and shopping for the Ayi’s. I am very close to being done with all of the shopping and just need to find a way to get it all in one suitcase.

Then the hard part starts; being in a country when you do not know the language, being totally dependent on others to complete something so important to us. Having to keep calm, happy and smiling even though you are so scared something bad will happen and you will not be able to do anything about it. We just have to trust that we are doing what we were called to do and that the plan will work because it was meant to be. It is the hard times that show us how hard it can be to keep the faith.

We got our Travel Approval tonight!

We put in our 5 dates for our Consulate appointment and hope to hear tomorrow what date we are approved for. The Consulate appointment is our last appointment before we come home. We asked for April 11, 16, 17, 18 and 23. The adoption agency feels that they should approve us for April 11 but there is no way to know. If they do approve us for the 1st it means that we will be leaving for China on March 28 or 29! We will get to meet Cora on April 1 (Gotcha Day) and she will be officially our daughter on April 2, 2013!

Email about the Article 5 for travel date

We received the email about the article 5 for our

travel date. This is a copy of the email explaining

the rest of the process to bring Cora home.
 

Dear Adoptive Parent,

 The Adopted Children's Immigrant Visa Unit (ACIVU) at U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou has finished processing your child's Article 5, and your file is ready to be returned to your adoption agency's facilitator. 

 Next, your agency will deliver the Article 5 and Letter of Seeking Confirmation to the China Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA), which will issue the Travel Approval (TA).  The TA allows you to come to China to finalize the adoption, so once the CCCWA issues the TA, your agency can email us to request an immigrant visa appointment at the Consulate.  When your agency requests an appointment, they are required to submit your five choices in rank order.  The ACIVU strives to schedule every family for their top appointment choice on which we still have available visa appointments.  We do not reserve certain days for children of certain ages.  All appointments are open to adopted children of any age and medical condition, and they are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.  We then notify your agency of the scheduled date and time. 

 We understand that plans change and occasionally an agency must request to change an appointment, but we ask them to minimize such requests and only make them in the case of true emergencies because frequent appointment changes impede our ability to give other families their top choices.   In order to avoid the need to reschedule, please coordinate closely with your agency in formulating your list of five preferred appointment dates. Regarding booking flights to return to the United States: Please be aware that difficulties that are completely beyond our control often arise in the approval and printing of visas.

 When you book flights for your return travel, please be aware that while we make every effort to issue visas the afternoon following the immigrant visa interview, from time to time issues beyond our control prevent us from keeping to this schedule.  Guangzhou’s  Consular Section issues thousands of visas each business day, and problems, while rare, do occur.  In order to avoid the costly need to change your travel plans, we strongly recommend that you allow at least 48 hours after the time of your visa interview to depart Guangzhou.

 We look forward to meeting you and your new family member when you come to the Consulate for your visa appointment!

 Best regards,

 Adopted Children's Immigrant Visa Unit (ACIVU)
U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou
Phone: (86)(20) 8518 7653
Fax: (86)(20) 3884 4420

 

We are getting so excited! To be able to see her,

hold her, and finally be able to show her how

much we love her.

Article 5 was scheduled to be picked up today

Our Article 5 was scheduled to be picked up today, March 1, 2013. Lauren will receive confirmation when it has been picked up and sent to the CCCWA in Beijing and will let us know as soon as she hears from them. We may also receive an email directly from the consulate letting you know the Article 5 has been signed and has been picked up.

THE NEXT (AND LAST) STEP IS A TRAVEL DATE!!

I cannot believe it is finally almost time to travel half way around the world to Ningbo China and bring home our beautiful little daughter Cora Yan. It has felt like we have been waiting forever but now that the time is here I feel like we have so much to do to get ready to travel and for her to come home.

I am putting finishing touches on the girls room, buying the last few things that are needed and practicing packing it all into a suitcase that is not supposed to be over 44 pounds. You should try it... clothes for 2 for 14 days, toys, gifts for ayi's and director, donations for the children left behind, food and snacks, medicines, extra shoes, shampoo, lotions, pull ups (just in case)... and the list goes on. The suitcase has filled up quick!

Baba and I went shopping for Cora

I took daddy, papa, baba (he needs a few more names!) shopping to pick out some toys for Cora. The toys were a lot harder to pick out than I thought. Everything needs to be on the small side and packable. She is 4 but we were thinking a blend of toddler and baby toys. We could not find anything we liked! Baba picked out a Michigan State tee shirt and a Michigan State cheer leading outfit. It seems that he will have a new cheering squad for football season this year.

I ordered a book that is for adopted children. It is meant to be filled out by the Ayi at the orphanage. It is called The Red Book of Questions. Maureen, an adoptive mother that is a book binder by trade, makes them. She has two styles; basic and deluxe. This refers to the cover and quality of paper and design. The book has 88 questions that an adoptive parent may need or want to know. In the front of the book is a letter to the Ayi stating that we understand that her time is very valuable but we would be greatly appreciative if she could fill out the ones we have marked as the most important to us. A family that adopted from the orphanage that Cora is in sent a book a month before traveled. They got the book on Gotcha Day filled out! The book is done in silk and is a display item. Her website is sharpbooks.com. I will put up a picture when it comes in.

Waiting...

I was looking at blogs today trying to find information about Gotcha Day and packing for the trip. I came across a posting that gave me the "reality check" that I was in need of. I spent most of yesterday angry and pouting; feeling very tired of waiting, tired of paperwork, and tired of dealing with the process. I am ready to just travel and get my girl home.

I am hoping the family does not mind that I borrowed this but it is worth passing along.

Waiting...

Most of us don't like to wait. (Waiting in line at the grocery, waiting in the lobby for a dental appointment that's running behind, waiting for that train to finish as you’re already late). Waiting is ANNOYING and not one of us will disagree as we sit there tapping our foot and muttering under our breath.

Now, if you've ever been part of the adoption world "waiting" takes on a whole different meaning. Not to say that we aren't tapping our foot or muttering under our breath, but it's painfully different and hard for those outside our circle to completely understand.

Why is it so different? It's really quite simple and one word can explain it: L-O-V-E.

Love and complete devotion for someone you've yet to meet, a little someone who you've only seen a few photos of and read a few pages of vague information about. For me, the feelings are intimately similar to when I was pregnant. The hopes and dreams and complete feeling of awe that I had for the unseen, unknown child(ren) I had I carried within my body are the same for those that are born in my heart.

Adoption is waiting. Everything is a deadline and a countdown. Do this, copy that, mail form D-E-F, but not until you receive document A-B-C.

Await this approval, file this government form, notarized this, authenticate that. USCIS, CCCWA, NBC, NVC, Secretary of State, I-800, Article 5, I797, US Consulate, Chinese Consulate. The list goes on and on.

Submit a form and await your approval. Count the days between submission and approval then start again with another part of the process. Tens of hours of work turn into weeks, weeks into months and sometimes months into years.

Around the world a child waits for their family, OUR children wait. Our children wait for someone to love them unconditionally, to hold and comfort them when they need it or simply to the give one-on-one attention where they've never had. This wait keeps them from the opportunities they may never have in their birth country.

Our children are "taken care" of to the best of the ability of the ayi's (nannies) with sometimes scant resources and we are forever indebted to them for this care, but it's not the love of a family that children need and deserve.

As I sit here in the comfort of my home, with running water, electricity, ample food and the love of my family I begin to feel very selfish, no I am selfish. I am spoiled and lack patience. Where else can I be channeling this wasted energy for a greater good? The process is what it is and I need to find peace in it, I am not in control.

YES!!! I want my kids home but my wait is nothing in comparison to theirs. I need to recognize that before I delve into a case of "woe-is-me" and rant about why it takes so long. I have to step off the pity train and remember this isn’t about me no matter how I spin it; it’s my sense of entitlement that’s annoying, not the waiting.

As I look at photos of Cora I know I am not the one waiting, she is, and it gives me the good slap I need to regain my perspective of the waiting game knows as adoption.

February 10th is the Chinese New Year

I was so caught up in the fact that our paperwork was moving along at such a fast rate that I totally forgot about the fact the February 10th is the Chinese New Year (I even sent Cora and her class gifts!) and that the whole country closes down for two weeks! The U.S. Consulate office closures during Chinese New Year and President’s Day will affect the processing time of our Article 5. WACAP's representative confirmed that our documents were dropped off at the U.S. Consulate and our Article 5 is scheduled to be picked up on March 1. We will receive confirmation when it has been picked up and sent to the CCCWA in Beijing. We may also receive an email directly from the consulate letting us know the Article 5 has been signed.

We found a company that researches finding adds for Chinese orphans. Brian at research-china.org has been collecting newspapers from China and organizing the finding adds for many years. I think as far back as 1999. He not only found Cora's finding add at a few days old, but had an extra copy of the whole newspaper which he sent to us. He made a CD with the information on it and a copy of her add that was photo quality. We were worried that it may not be true so we sent a copy to our adoption agent and she verified the information matched Cora's (there is no way to be 100% sure). The add included the fact that the infant girl had a leg deformity and was found in the same location on the same day and born on the same day as Cora. We are pretty sure it is Cora. It is amazing to have a newborn picture of a child that you are adopting at 4 years of age!

Sasha (big sister/Jei Jei) is getting very excited to get her baby sister (Mei Mei) home and is hoping that Cora will love her new room and home. She is going through clothes, toys, and books and getting everything organized. Sasha even cleaned her room and is keeping it clean to make room for Cora.

New timeline because of the Chinese New Year:
March 1, 2013 Article 5
March 15, 2013 Travel Notice
March 29, Travel to China to bring Cora home!!

I-800 petition forwarded to the US Embassy

We received our letter from NVC today notifying us that our I-800 petition has been forwarded to the US Embassy visa department in Guangzhou, China. It is waiting for us there as part of our adoption interview process.

Now we wait for 10 business days for our Article 5. This should be February 20,2013.

Our visas came in today!

Our visas are done

Our visas are on the way home from the Chinese Consulate! It is really starting to set in that I am traveling to China soon to bring our daughter home.

Received our Provisional Approval

We received our Provisional Approval for Cora today! This letter is from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Department (USCIS) giving us permission to bring Cora into the United States as our daughter. This approval will be sent to the National Visa Center (NVC).

The next step is the Article 5. A representative from WACAP will take the letter from the NVC and supporting documents to the US Consulate in Guangzhou, China. They will review Cora’s US Entry Visa and supporting documents and issue the Article 5. This is the notice needed for the CCCWA to issue us our travel date.

Our new timeline:

Letter from NVC (1-2 weeks) Feb 08, 2013

Article “5” (10 business days) Feb 22, 2013

Travel Notice (2-4 weeks) March 08, 2013

Travel to China March 22, 2013!!

We sent a package to Cora and her class today for the Chinese New Year. It is the first package that she will get from us that she will know is from her Mama, Baba (Dad), brothers, and sister. It is traditional to get new clothes and money from loved ones. We sent her a traditional dress and a new winter outfit. Her class will also get a cake and snacks to have a party. Part of the “package” is to translate a note to Cora to put in a card.  It is custom to offer blessings for the New Year. This is the letter I wrote:

May God guard you and keep you safe. May He give you comfort, health, and strength. May He send you so many blessings that the day is not long enough for them all. Every morning we look at the stars and wonder if you are looking at them as you are going to bed and we say this prayer to you. We cannot wait to hold you and whisper this to you as you fall to sleep in our arms. We love you, Baba, Mama, Mike, Shawn, Rey, Max and Sasha

The reason I am sharing this is because I received an email saying that this letter would never make it to Cora. All email in China is scanned and censored. The email would just disappear. If it did make it to the Orphanage Director he would not give it to her because he could get into trouble. I have totally forgotten about the government’s control over the people. I forget how good we have it and all of the things we take for granted in the United States.

Visas arrived at the Chinese Consulate

Our Visas arrived at the Chinese Consulate in Chicago  yesterday (01/29/2013) and they will be ready to be picked up on February 4, 2013. Thank you Denise at There's Always Hope for doing this for our family! Denise also took care of our Power of Attorney paperwork that needed to be done for us so Shawn can stay home with the children when I travel to China to get Cora. Cheryl will be my travel buddy so I do not have to travel alone... Get ready travel buddy, we will be leaving before you know it.

I-800 application was received

Today we received our notice that our I-800 application was received, we were not expecting to see this until February 4, 2013! We are once again ahead of schedule; we will be traveling to bring Cora home before we know it. I am starting to worry about traveling. There is so much left to do! Now I am thinking about what to pack for all of us. I am back to making lists and reading blogs to get ready.

New Timeline to Cora:

Provisional Approval (2-3 weeks) February 8

Letter from NVC to the Consulate (1-2 weeks) February 15

Article “5” (10 business days) March 1

Travel Notice (2-4 weeks) March 15

 

We received our Letter of Seeking Confirmation

The best birthday present ever! We received our Letter of Seeking Confirmation. Shawn's guess was for the Letter to be here on the 14th of February but when we think about the day the story started we remember it this way... "I asked his guess for a day the letter would be here because he is so close every time but he said he was not feeling like it was the right time and would let me know later. He returned later and said the 14th. I asked the 14th of what January or February and  he blurted out in a very undecided way February". We will leave it up to you to decide if he was right or not. Maybe under the pressure he blurted out the wrong month when I asked him to decide on one.  We know that we are doing the right thing because we can feel that we are being led down this road.

We were able to get it signed and returned via e mail so that Lauren can send out our I-800 paperwork today. 

The new timeline is:

       I -800 application returned in 3 to 7 weeks (Feb 4)

       Provisional Approval "Article 5" 6 weeks (March 18)

       Travel Notice 2 to 4 weeks (April 1)

We are getting very close to travel to Ningbo China and bring home our little girl!

The craziest thing happened

The craziest thing happened and we thought it was worth putting in the blog to remind us about this later but also so other parents look for the little "signs" that they are on track and following the plan that was placed for them. 

I was packing a gift for Grandma for Christmas. Among the items that was being packed was one of those fuzzy pictures we bought for the children to color over Christmas vacation to keep them busy and decorate the house. For some reason I felt that I needed to turn it over and look at the back. I was amazed to see that the picture had a stamp on it "Made in Ningbo, Zhejiang, China. I was very surprised to see this. We all are used to the "Made in China" stamps but never have I seen where in China. This is exactly where my little girl is right now!  I wounder what she was thinking about or what she was doing at that exact moment?

It is amazing the little reminders that our daughter is still very much a part of our life that help us feel connected to her even though she is so far away. In China there is a belief that when a child is born an invisible Red Thread connects the child's soul to all those people, present and future, who will play a part in that child's life. As each birthday passes those threads tighten and shorten bringing closer those people who are fated to be together. We are feeling closer to her everyday.