Monday, November 30, 2009
Still here and we have news...... but it isn't about the adoption.
So way back when I first met Mike in College, he told me that his career goal was to work for the US Marshal Service. Well, he is so close to realizing that dream right now. I can't say anything officially right now, but it is looking good. Although I am so proud of him and know this is great for our family in the long run, right now I am very worried. He will be required to go to training for 17 weeks! Yes that is correct...... 4 months. Just wrapping my head around the idea. Thanks for the "ear".
Friday, October 30, 2009
Big sister
Today while Ramzie was getting her hair cut she was asked if she had brothers or sisters? She said "No but we are trying to get my little sister from China."
For the last 6 months or so we have not had a day when Ramzie has not asked about or mentioned a little sister. Mike and I are just unsure of how to respond. On one hand we have educated Ramzie about orphans in China and how they need families, yet we keep telling her we don't know "if" we are going to be able to adopt another baby from China because........... We really do not have the answer to finish that one. To a four year old the two thoughts just don't make since. Truth be told- they don't add up for her parents either. When we started this adoption there were children being adopted from China and the wait was about 15 months. EVERY month since that time the number of referrals for adoption has dropped dramatically. WHY? Has child abandonment become a non issue suddenly? Are all the children in orphanages being adopted and made a part of families in their home country? If this were the case I would happily drop the adoption. After all adoption is more about a child receiving a home than a family receiving a child- at least for practical purposes. But this is not the case. Babies are still being abandon in China. The difference is the Chinese government is not referring these babies for international adoption at the rate it was just 3 years ago. so WHY? No one seems to know and that is the heartbreaking part of this. I just can't help but wonder if Ramzie will not get to experience the feeling of being a big sister.
For the last 6 months or so we have not had a day when Ramzie has not asked about or mentioned a little sister. Mike and I are just unsure of how to respond. On one hand we have educated Ramzie about orphans in China and how they need families, yet we keep telling her we don't know "if" we are going to be able to adopt another baby from China because........... We really do not have the answer to finish that one. To a four year old the two thoughts just don't make since. Truth be told- they don't add up for her parents either. When we started this adoption there were children being adopted from China and the wait was about 15 months. EVERY month since that time the number of referrals for adoption has dropped dramatically. WHY? Has child abandonment become a non issue suddenly? Are all the children in orphanages being adopted and made a part of families in their home country? If this were the case I would happily drop the adoption. After all adoption is more about a child receiving a home than a family receiving a child- at least for practical purposes. But this is not the case. Babies are still being abandon in China. The difference is the Chinese government is not referring these babies for international adoption at the rate it was just 3 years ago. so WHY? No one seems to know and that is the heartbreaking part of this. I just can't help but wonder if Ramzie will not get to experience the feeling of being a big sister.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Waiting
Hello-
I decided to start this blog to keep journal the (hopefully) last part of our wait for daughter # 2 from China. In November 2005 we adopted the sweetest little girl from Hubei ,China. We decided immediately upon our return with her to adopt a second child. In August 2006, we began the process so that our paperwork could be logged into China right around the 1 year mark from our first adoption. We would have done this earlier if we could have but China mandated that we wait 1 year. Anyway, we have a LID (logged in date) of 12/31/06. When we adopted Ramzie the wait was only about 6 months from LID to referral but since that time the wait has steadily climbed and is currently at 36 months! With the current referral trends it could take another 3 years before we get a referral! BUT..... 2/29/08 we turned in a medical needs checklist that puts us on the list for a child with certain medical needs. We were very realistic on our checklist about what would be right for our family and we know in our hearts a child just right for our family will join our family.
So at this point, our agency is placing children with families who have similar medical checklists with dates about 1 month ahead of ours. We would love to think that we might hear something about our new daughter by the end of the year. Only time will tell..............
Best and love,
Joanie
I decided to start this blog to keep journal the (hopefully) last part of our wait for daughter # 2 from China. In November 2005 we adopted the sweetest little girl from Hubei ,China. We decided immediately upon our return with her to adopt a second child. In August 2006, we began the process so that our paperwork could be logged into China right around the 1 year mark from our first adoption. We would have done this earlier if we could have but China mandated that we wait 1 year. Anyway, we have a LID (logged in date) of 12/31/06. When we adopted Ramzie the wait was only about 6 months from LID to referral but since that time the wait has steadily climbed and is currently at 36 months! With the current referral trends it could take another 3 years before we get a referral! BUT..... 2/29/08 we turned in a medical needs checklist that puts us on the list for a child with certain medical needs. We were very realistic on our checklist about what would be right for our family and we know in our hearts a child just right for our family will join our family.
So at this point, our agency is placing children with families who have similar medical checklists with dates about 1 month ahead of ours. We would love to think that we might hear something about our new daughter by the end of the year. Only time will tell..............
Best and love,
Joanie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)