We have been matched!!!!!!

On June 25, 2007 I posted to our Blog the following:

"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."

Indeed, she was born and waiting for us at the time of my above post. And Uncle has definitely had a hand in making this match.



Introducing...........

Chen JianLei
DOB: 1/12/07
Currently Residing in Chengzhou Social Welfare Institute Located in Hunan China


JianLei is said to be a healthy and lovely baby. She is active with a ready smile and laughs loudly when tickled. She is s deep sleeper who likes to suck her fingers while going to sleep. She currently has very little hair that stands up on top of her head and no teeth!

DD # 1 is just over the moon with excitement of her new baby sister. She wanted the crib set up immediately, right next to her bed so she "can help her if she is afraid at night" I have no doubt she will be the best big sister ever!

We are hoping to travel to China in the Spring to bring Jianlei home. Until then, please keep her in your thoughts. We are lucky she is in an orphanage that is sponsored by Half The Sky. This is non profit agency that has provided many orphanages with new facilities, infant nurturing programs, Little Sister Pre-schools, Foster Family Villages, water systems for clean drinking water...this list goes on and on. Most importantly, with Half the Sky there, I know Jianlei is receiving the best of care one can receive in an orphanage setting until we can get there to take her home. If you are interested in seeing photo's or learning more about Chenzhou SWI, where JianLei is waiting for us, check out the Half The Sky link on the right side of the Blog.

Pictures coming soon!

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.

About our LID

The LID is an important piece to this journey because our LID date is when the clock starts ticking as we inch ever so slowly to a referral. We added a counter at the top of the blog so you can see how long we have waited to date. Currently, the wait is about 18 months from LID to referral. If the wait stabilizes, we should receive our referral in June of 2008.

Or the wait could get shorter or longer. If I take my rose colored glasses off, I see the wait could get longer.....put the glasses back on....it could get shorter! I think I will leave them on! Either way, although the wait seems unbearable, especially for DD # 1, the blessing at the end is all worth it!

For DD # 1, I just could not wait to hold her. It is no different this time, I can't wait to hold Mei Mei. But I also can't wait to watch DD #1 meet Mei Mei! She will be the best big sister ever! She is naturally caring, kind, and loves to give hugs, kisses, and cuddle! She already has quite a list of things she plans to "teach" Mei Mei.

The wait has gotten so long, many friends and family have asked "Are you still adopting?" YES YES YES!

We have a LID!

Our LID - December 26, 2006

As a girl I had a common dream to be a mom someday. My baby would have eyes of blue and hair the hue of hay. But now my dreams have been transformed. New visions fill my head. Now the tresses that I long to stroke are raven black instead. And in my dreams those eyes are not so big or blue or round. Now in my dreams they're almond shaped and colored cocoa brown. And in my dreams my arms can stretch across enormous seas. They reach half way 'round the world and hold you close to me. As you grow in your mother's womb, carefully knit together, you're also growing in our hearts where you'll stay forever. And in my dreams the moment that your mother says goodbye, I'll be right there to comfort you and hold you as you cry. Our features may not look alike: We're different as can be. But still I know the Father has created you for me. And though I've not yet seen your face, or held your tiny hands. And though we're half a world apart in very different lands, I'll be right there to get you just as soon as God allows. But til he says the time is right, I give to you this vow. I'll pray for your protection every day on bended knee. For God to hold you in His arms until you're here with me.

Written by: Gayle Leubecher

1st Post

Due to requests from family and friends to follow our journey to bring Mei Mei home, I am taking my first stab at blogging. We are very early in our process of adopting DD # 2 from China. I will posts updates and journal our trip to China on this site. And hopefully get photos up while in China. We were blessed on November 12, 2002 when DD # 1 was placed in my arms and our hearts forever! I am happy to share our journey this time with family in friend while in China for Mei Mei.

We are DTC (date dossier sent to China) 11/25/06 with no LID (log in date). The LID is critical in terms of getting that clock to begin ticking and closer to Mei Mei! Currently, the wait between LID and a referral (photo and medical info.) is 16 - 18 months. Depending on where you go, some say the wait will stabilize at 16 -18 months, and some the wait could get as long as 2-3 years. Yet others say, things could speed up. I like that scenario best :)

If the wait stabilizes at 16 - 18 months, we would receive our referral between June and August of 2008. We would travel 6-8 weeks after referral in September or October of 2008. At that point DD #1 will be entering 1st grade and will be turning 7 years old! Although I was bummed about the age difference between DD #1 and Mei Mei, I think she may be old enough to remember the sites and sounds of our journey to China to bring Mei Mei home which is a bonus.

With the long wait ahead of us, our motto has become: