Video

This video is a touching reminder of what birth mothers go through in China and the reason we have our little blessing. Please scroll all the way down to the bottom of my blog and click the pause button (located in the upper left hand corner just below the song title) on play list, prior to viewing.

Approved to Adopt a SN Child

My agency has confirmed that I can switch from NSN (non speical need) to SN (special need)! I had to fill out a medical checklist of what special needs I felt I could handle. After way to much time spent on the Internet researching, meeting with DD #1' pediatrician, and taking many things into consideration, most importantly DD #1, I completed the check list and sent it to my agency on Tuesday June 19th. This check list gives them an idea of what types of special needs I can handle.

What happens next? Come on, just one guess..........give up? We wait. Each agency handles how the SN children are matched with families differently. Some post every list they receive from CCAA for all of their clients to view. Should a family be interested, they let their agency know. If more than one family is interested, the agency decides which family is the best match for the child.

My agency does it a bit differently. When they receive a list of special needs children, they match a child to a family that is able to best care for them and the child's special need. So, my agency knows what special needs I can handle. Should a child become available that fits our family, the childs profile will be sent to me for review. I will then frantically meet with DD #1 pediatrician and any specialists I may need to consult with. I can accept or deny (can't see this happening) the child. Then, more paperwork and waiting. But the current time frame for a SN adoption is about 4-6 months from acceptance to travel. So, still much shorter that the current anticipated 3 year wait for a NSN child.

If we are meant to bring a SN child home, she is most likely already born and in an orphanage in China waiting for us. We trust what is meant to happen, will happen. I have no doubt Uncle (my brother who passed away in 1999) is watching over this whole process and knows exactly what will happen. And I trust, he knows what is best for us and will see to it that it all goes as plans.

Well, my original intention was to post an update every month. As you can see, that hasn't happened. Life if busy!

There is no new news, only that the wait seems to continue to get longer. CCAA has just matched famlies with a LID of 11/7/2005. The wait for these familes was 19 months. But when they started the process the wait was 6-9 months. Our LID is 12/26/2006 so there are thousands of families in front of us. Rumors are it could get to 24 months, some saying 36 months. That would get us a referral somewhere between December of 2008 and December of 2009. I am still hoping things will speed up. We waited 14 months for DD #1 and the wait for folks after me and once SARS was under control dropped to 6 months. So, there is always a chance things could speed up.

In the meantime I have contacted my agency to discuss the possibility of looking at their WC (waiting child) lists. The children available on my agencies waiting child list have minor correctable special needs such as a repaired cleft lip and/or palate, skin issues, eye issues......However, with CCAA's new rules in place, they are not sure we qualify to switch from NSN to SN. They are looking into it for me. If I do qualify, and a WC is matched with me, the process is more like 6-8 months.

I do believe there is already a plan in place to bring Mei Mei home. Somewhere in China there is a women that has found out she is pregnant. She has realized keeping the baby is not an option. She does know she will carry the child to term, and do the best she knows how to give her child a good future. Please pray for us, Mei Mei, and her birth mother while we wait.