Today our little girl half a world away turned 3 years old!! It's hard to believe we are adopting again but even harder to accept that we were not with her today. It was her last birthday as an orphan! We took the girls to TCBY and got yogurt as a mini-birthday celebration for AnaLei and sang Happy Birthday :). We pray we are only a month away from meeting our little angel. That is hard to believe considering our first homestudy was December 16th. For those that are not in adoption land - it usually take 9-12 months to successfully complete an adoption - Olivia's took 7 months as we knew she needed to come home. This adoption process has just been God filled! 3 months is like ridiculous - in the BEST way!
Our I-800 has been held up a bit b/c it hasn't reached our officer's desk yet. Its a little frustrating b/c we sent it early to avoid the wait but we are still waiting. We just got our LSC SUPER early so it didn't give our i800 time to get to where it had to go. It's a good problem sort of. Usually it's the opposite - you are waiting on the LSC. The good news is that we are on the US side of things during the CNY that has officially started. So, we should receive our 800 approval this week and then it moves directly to the NVC (the National Visa Center) where that can take 5-7 days and then everything goes to Guangzhou, China to get our article 5. Once that is picked up - it goes to Beijing where our Travel Approval is issued and we pray that comes the first week of March so we can leave March 12th and have a Gotcha day of March 15th - hopefully a Consulate Appointment at the US embassy March 24th and fly to Boston for an echo/ekg/MRI/heart cath - all starting March 26th. Whew! Well, that is what I've come up with so let's see what God says and what he has in store.
We do know that Children's of Boston is prepared to work with us. :) That is a huge answered prayer. We should get a phone call this week confirming we can have the MRI/heart cath during the same trip as our apt with the cardiologist and echo/ekg. That way - they can fully determine if she is operable and if so - what operation needs to take place. She will most likely need more than 1. We just pray she is operable. So, as bad as heart surgery is - we pray we get to do it!
Also, sorry for not updating on our fundraising efforts but Lifesong's reporting system has been down. I did get confirmation that we did meet our matching grant by AnaLei's birthday! Thank you so very much!!!! People have asked if we are done - we are sadly not! There are still many expense to pay so every donation still counts! So, if you feel called to give - you still can and it will still go 100% towards the adoption. They have us send receipts of only adoption related expenses and they are very thorough to go through each one. We are thankful for you giving and thankful you have decided to join us on this journey -whether it be financial giving, prayer, encouragement, or all 3!
God has been oh so good! I wish I could post everything here what God has done but i'd be typing for days :).
CANT BELIEVE I WILL BE HOLDING MY GIRL IN JUST OVER A MONTH!!!! Its surreal! Please pray that God is preparing her sweet heart to meet us and love us - and also for surgery :).
I"m already packing and want to be ready to go when we get the call. Please also pray for Danny and the girls as this will be a VERY hard separation. Olivia and I are like peas in a pod! We do not separate well and this is going to be VERY difficult on her. Elle is a little to small to understand so I think she will do fine but it's Olivia that I worry about. I also worry about me being away from those 3 :(. Last time in China - Danny was my rock and I was just sort of there :). I lost my mind for a few days wondering what had just happened to us. LOL! It's funny to look back on, but trust me - it was not funny then!
Much Love! I will update when we get our I-800 approval. We sent AnaLei a birthday package - we've asked for maybe a video of her opening it or a picture and will post if they send anything. We hope they do! Its medicine for our weary souls longing for our girl.
Julie
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
When daddy is away-the girls will play :).
So my precious husband had to got out of town this week for the first time in our married life! I will say that it is a little weird for him to be out of town and not me. You see, for the first 11 years of our marriage-it was my job that constantly took me out of town and my career we were following. Of course, introduce Olivia Mann and God changes things :)). Nonetheless-it's so weird for me to be home when it's always been him. We've done well so far. Oh-did I forget to mention. His mom had to come up to stay with is. You see-I'm afraid to be by myself. Yes, that's an actual problem! It's embarrassing-totally! But sadly true. Even worse, my mom is leaving to go visit my sister who moved to Alaska! Jonas, her husband is in the airforce and they are insanely stationed there :). Funny thing-my mom will no more land and unpack her bags before we head to china :)). Since daddy is out of town-Olivia gets to do her most favorite thing in the whole wide world and sleep with mommy :). Truth is-I'm loving this precious time before the craziness of what is about to happen. I am so excited about what is to Come but know it will be a sacrifice of time for my other two precious girls. I pray for that time already.
We joyfully received an email copy of LSC today so I was able to send off the applications for our chinese visas :). It's scary bc you have to send your passport too! So far, it looks like it will be mom and I and I think my dad has decided to go. He acts like he isnt sure but I think he really wants to go. I think mom and I will be fine solo but it makes everyone else happy that we will have a man with us :). It doesn't matter to me-I just want our girl. It will be nice if dad can video like he did with Olivia. We will also probably go see AnaLeis orphanage which is something we didn't do with Olivia. You go like 3 days into your trip and I rememebrr Olivia just wasn't doing well that day-grieving the loss so we didn't think it was best. But I think we have to go to her city to apply for her passport so we will most likely stop in. I'm excited to see where she's been and thank those who have poured love into her. It will be hard to see but if she's been able to live it-surely I can spend an hour seeing it.
We got a scare today that boston may not take our insurance. I think it's going to be fine but I will feel better once I confirm that all is well. I believe it is bc I believe God has led us there but I will update once we hear.
That's all for tonight. Just updating bc Danny isn't here to talk to me and felt like typing. :). Thanks for following our story to AnaLei. Like we've said-we never expected to adopt again so I can't even believe I could be just 5 weeks from meeting our daughter :). God has crazy plans sometimes :). Just thankful we didn't miss this one!
Julie
We joyfully received an email copy of LSC today so I was able to send off the applications for our chinese visas :). It's scary bc you have to send your passport too! So far, it looks like it will be mom and I and I think my dad has decided to go. He acts like he isnt sure but I think he really wants to go. I think mom and I will be fine solo but it makes everyone else happy that we will have a man with us :). It doesn't matter to me-I just want our girl. It will be nice if dad can video like he did with Olivia. We will also probably go see AnaLeis orphanage which is something we didn't do with Olivia. You go like 3 days into your trip and I rememebrr Olivia just wasn't doing well that day-grieving the loss so we didn't think it was best. But I think we have to go to her city to apply for her passport so we will most likely stop in. I'm excited to see where she's been and thank those who have poured love into her. It will be hard to see but if she's been able to live it-surely I can spend an hour seeing it.
We got a scare today that boston may not take our insurance. I think it's going to be fine but I will feel better once I confirm that all is well. I believe it is bc I believe God has led us there but I will update once we hear.
That's all for tonight. Just updating bc Danny isn't here to talk to me and felt like typing. :). Thanks for following our story to AnaLei. Like we've said-we never expected to adopt again so I can't even believe I could be just 5 weeks from meeting our daughter :). God has crazy plans sometimes :). Just thankful we didn't miss this one!
Julie
Exciting News all Around - God has been Good!
The adoption process is a funny thing. There are extreme highs and there are extreme lows. You are busy, busy, busy doing all the work and then you suddenly wait, wait, wait... There are frustrating times when adopting a child with particularly special needs that needed to come home long before now. However, we knew from the beginning that God was in this, that God made her our daughter before time began. And although we do not understand His timing and her spending 3 years in an orphanage - we Praise His Name b/c we pray and believe that He will get the glory for her life.
I will start our GREAT news with another story first. I have been calling physicians locally and afar to get the opinions on AnaLei's file and what we should do to best take care of her in China and on the plane flight home. We have felt very much "blown off" to say it best. They don't mean to - its just hard to give opinions or recommendations on a child they have never met. Yesterday, I actually had someone say to me, "Can I ask you a question" "Why would you adopt such a child? A child that will undergo such traumatic surgery IF she is even able to have surgery and then possibly die in surgery or a few years later? Why not adopt a child with more minor needs and one that can grow and learn and who knows - become something great?" Now - before everyone goes up in arms over the VERY inappropriate/ hurtful/unbelievable question - his intent was not to be offensive. His question was rather honest. In his defense - he wasn't a stranger and I had gone to him for medical advice. I thought back to this past Sunday when our pastor preached his first sermon on a seven sermon series of "The 7 saying of Jesus on the cross". One of the examples he gave is what I thought about on the way home. There are lives we consider "valuable" in this world and lives that we do not. But who are we? Did Jesus not ask for forgiveness for the very men nailing him to the cross? He died for them too! So, did he die in vain? OF COURSE NOT! Every life is valuable b/c every life comes from Him.
AnaLei has spent 3 years (as of next week) in an orphanage with no idea of what a familyeven is. She has spent her days calling numerous nannies, "mama". She hasn't experienced the love that we already feel for her. God has given us a love for her and a desire to bring her home. This is divine people! This is also the work of a Holy God. He says in his word that he will not leave the orphans. Well, for AnaLei - it's because He has called us to GO! I know everyone isn't called to go. But we are.
Now - off the sermon - sorry - that just had to be said! On to the GREAT NEWS!! We have been officially approved by China to adopted AnaLei as our LSC (Letter Seeking Confirmation) has been issued. Our agency will have it this week and scan it to us to send to the USCIS to meet our I-800 and then we move on the NVC (National Visa Center) where I have to get a number and fill out a DS-260 and then that goes to China (just as the new year ends) and they issue what's called an article 5 (have no idea what this is) and then finally our TA (travel approval). I honestly expect this the first week of March :)))
The other great news!! We found someone who values her life and hopes to give her hope! Through GOD SIZED events and contacts - God has led us to Children's of Boston! This is completely unexpected! However, when we reached out to our other options - we just didn't feel it was right this time. Nothing AT ALL against these institutions - it just wasn't God's plan for AnaLei. A precious adoptive mom who talked to me late one night - gave me the information I needed to contact the actual surgeon at Children's Boston. On a whim at midnight Saturday - I poured out my heart and sent him her entire file. To my DISBELIEF - he emailed me back THE VERY NEXT DAY!!!! No - not his assistant saying to make an appointment, or more - we just can't know until she gets here, but a thoughtful, precious email where he says what she is potentially a candidate for and is even asking questions like, how is her breathing, can I get images of her echo's from China? It's like he is my next door neighbor and we are just having a conversation. I am in awe of how obvious God can make His will when he knows we may not see it otherwise! Boston won't be easy for our family and logistically not our first choice! But they are #1 in the world for like everything - including pediatric cardiac care. We are just thankful. I got on my hands and knees yesterday morning, face to the floor and just praised His holy name! I'm not saying she will make it. I do not know God's ultimate plan for her. But I do know what He would have us do - and coming home - it is Boston Children's. The rest of His story will be written after that. I thank Him for his goodness and pray I will do the same even, when and if, bad news comes.
YAY for the LSC and YAY for finding the perfect medical facility for AnaLei! :) God can change plans - so who knows - but this is our plan as of today :)
I will start our GREAT news with another story first. I have been calling physicians locally and afar to get the opinions on AnaLei's file and what we should do to best take care of her in China and on the plane flight home. We have felt very much "blown off" to say it best. They don't mean to - its just hard to give opinions or recommendations on a child they have never met. Yesterday, I actually had someone say to me, "Can I ask you a question" "Why would you adopt such a child? A child that will undergo such traumatic surgery IF she is even able to have surgery and then possibly die in surgery or a few years later? Why not adopt a child with more minor needs and one that can grow and learn and who knows - become something great?" Now - before everyone goes up in arms over the VERY inappropriate/ hurtful/unbelievable question - his intent was not to be offensive. His question was rather honest. In his defense - he wasn't a stranger and I had gone to him for medical advice. I thought back to this past Sunday when our pastor preached his first sermon on a seven sermon series of "The 7 saying of Jesus on the cross". One of the examples he gave is what I thought about on the way home. There are lives we consider "valuable" in this world and lives that we do not. But who are we? Did Jesus not ask for forgiveness for the very men nailing him to the cross? He died for them too! So, did he die in vain? OF COURSE NOT! Every life is valuable b/c every life comes from Him.
AnaLei has spent 3 years (as of next week) in an orphanage with no idea of what a familyeven is. She has spent her days calling numerous nannies, "mama". She hasn't experienced the love that we already feel for her. God has given us a love for her and a desire to bring her home. This is divine people! This is also the work of a Holy God. He says in his word that he will not leave the orphans. Well, for AnaLei - it's because He has called us to GO! I know everyone isn't called to go. But we are.
Now - off the sermon - sorry - that just had to be said! On to the GREAT NEWS!! We have been officially approved by China to adopted AnaLei as our LSC (Letter Seeking Confirmation) has been issued. Our agency will have it this week and scan it to us to send to the USCIS to meet our I-800 and then we move on the NVC (National Visa Center) where I have to get a number and fill out a DS-260 and then that goes to China (just as the new year ends) and they issue what's called an article 5 (have no idea what this is) and then finally our TA (travel approval). I honestly expect this the first week of March :)))
The other great news!! We found someone who values her life and hopes to give her hope! Through GOD SIZED events and contacts - God has led us to Children's of Boston! This is completely unexpected! However, when we reached out to our other options - we just didn't feel it was right this time. Nothing AT ALL against these institutions - it just wasn't God's plan for AnaLei. A precious adoptive mom who talked to me late one night - gave me the information I needed to contact the actual surgeon at Children's Boston. On a whim at midnight Saturday - I poured out my heart and sent him her entire file. To my DISBELIEF - he emailed me back THE VERY NEXT DAY!!!! No - not his assistant saying to make an appointment, or more - we just can't know until she gets here, but a thoughtful, precious email where he says what she is potentially a candidate for and is even asking questions like, how is her breathing, can I get images of her echo's from China? It's like he is my next door neighbor and we are just having a conversation. I am in awe of how obvious God can make His will when he knows we may not see it otherwise! Boston won't be easy for our family and logistically not our first choice! But they are #1 in the world for like everything - including pediatric cardiac care. We are just thankful. I got on my hands and knees yesterday morning, face to the floor and just praised His holy name! I'm not saying she will make it. I do not know God's ultimate plan for her. But I do know what He would have us do - and coming home - it is Boston Children's. The rest of His story will be written after that. I thank Him for his goodness and pray I will do the same even, when and if, bad news comes.
YAY for the LSC and YAY for finding the perfect medical facility for AnaLei! :) God can change plans - so who knows - but this is our plan as of today :)
Thursday, February 5, 2015
No Way Around It - Just an Emotional Day
Okay - so this blog is like my therapy. And there is no way around the fact that today was an emotional day. Like the kind where you start laughing during dinner but then it turns into an ugly cry. The kind of ugly cry when you almost choke on your dinner and therefore are forced to spit it out. U.G.L.Y.... My poor Danny sure wished he had kept that last comment to himself ;) Poor thing couldn't know I was on the tipping point. I didn't even know until it happened.
The first thing we heard today was great news - we are now in the "process of being translated" :) YAY! That is great. That means our dossier is being translated and will then enter the review process before going into the matching process before finally being approved we pray! So, that is wonderful!
Upon reading in one of the new FB groups that I am a part of now that we are adopting AnaLei - I read pulmonary hypertension patients can have a hard time breathing at high altitudes, including flying. Someone mentioned it might be good to have oxygen on the airplane. I am so thankful for that person for informing me of something so important! Of course, I am completely naïve when it comes to PH, so I'm thinking that getting oxygen is like getting Tylenol or something from the pharmacy. "Hi doctor, we'd like some oxygen for the way home just in case" and the doctor in my mind said, "sure, let me call that in" All is well. Only if....
Turns out - this is a SUPER complicated thing! Actually, it turns out it may actually be impossible before going to China. The Chinese airlines actually do not allow ANY type of oxygen on their planes and the US airlines make you have a "fit to fly" letter I've learned. Also, you can't take a tank, it has to be a compressor type thing. And, one battery would never last long enough for a 14 hour flight- so I would have to get like 3 extra batteries. Oh yea, did I mention my cardiologist said he couldn't prescribe this for a patient he has never seen. HA! It's like it's a big joke someone is playing on me. Anyway, of course now I'm terrified my sweet baby will have a hard time breathing on the plane and that her oxygen stats will drop and put her in danger. Danger of what i'm not sure, but I've been told it wouldn't be good. We will have one short flight in country as we leave her province and go to Guangzhou (where everyone must go to get the child's visa and medical exam) so we should get an idea of how she does. If it's bad - I don't know what i'll do. I guess have to take her to a Chinese hospital and get oxygen and a letter to let us have it??? Your guess is as good as mine.
I know all of this sounds self-inflicted so to speak (or as some have said) but please know this is a path God has put us on. We couldn't have done it any other way. We are human and we are scared! But we take comfort in knowing He has worked all the details out. I know He has gone before me and prepared a path b/c He has made me her mother. Therefore, He will provide what I need to take care of her. This adoption has gone in world record time in adoption world so we know He is in it! Please join us in prayer nonetheless :) The human side of me, as evidenced by my ugly cry during dinner, is scared of how to take care of 3 girls, 2 having CHD and 1 going through way more than a 3 year old should ever have to (leaving all she's ever known, pokes and prods by our medical staff, a new home, new smells. new food, new bed, etc). We know she is coming to a family and we take comfort in that, but that does not yet bring her comfort. So, please pray. Pray for her. Pray for us. Pray we stay on His path and that we lean on Him in our weakness so that He may be glorified in it all.
Julie
The first thing we heard today was great news - we are now in the "process of being translated" :) YAY! That is great. That means our dossier is being translated and will then enter the review process before going into the matching process before finally being approved we pray! So, that is wonderful!
Upon reading in one of the new FB groups that I am a part of now that we are adopting AnaLei - I read pulmonary hypertension patients can have a hard time breathing at high altitudes, including flying. Someone mentioned it might be good to have oxygen on the airplane. I am so thankful for that person for informing me of something so important! Of course, I am completely naïve when it comes to PH, so I'm thinking that getting oxygen is like getting Tylenol or something from the pharmacy. "Hi doctor, we'd like some oxygen for the way home just in case" and the doctor in my mind said, "sure, let me call that in" All is well. Only if....
Turns out - this is a SUPER complicated thing! Actually, it turns out it may actually be impossible before going to China. The Chinese airlines actually do not allow ANY type of oxygen on their planes and the US airlines make you have a "fit to fly" letter I've learned. Also, you can't take a tank, it has to be a compressor type thing. And, one battery would never last long enough for a 14 hour flight- so I would have to get like 3 extra batteries. Oh yea, did I mention my cardiologist said he couldn't prescribe this for a patient he has never seen. HA! It's like it's a big joke someone is playing on me. Anyway, of course now I'm terrified my sweet baby will have a hard time breathing on the plane and that her oxygen stats will drop and put her in danger. Danger of what i'm not sure, but I've been told it wouldn't be good. We will have one short flight in country as we leave her province and go to Guangzhou (where everyone must go to get the child's visa and medical exam) so we should get an idea of how she does. If it's bad - I don't know what i'll do. I guess have to take her to a Chinese hospital and get oxygen and a letter to let us have it??? Your guess is as good as mine.
I know all of this sounds self-inflicted so to speak (or as some have said) but please know this is a path God has put us on. We couldn't have done it any other way. We are human and we are scared! But we take comfort in knowing He has worked all the details out. I know He has gone before me and prepared a path b/c He has made me her mother. Therefore, He will provide what I need to take care of her. This adoption has gone in world record time in adoption world so we know He is in it! Please join us in prayer nonetheless :) The human side of me, as evidenced by my ugly cry during dinner, is scared of how to take care of 3 girls, 2 having CHD and 1 going through way more than a 3 year old should ever have to (leaving all she's ever known, pokes and prods by our medical staff, a new home, new smells. new food, new bed, etc). We know she is coming to a family and we take comfort in that, but that does not yet bring her comfort. So, please pray. Pray for her. Pray for us. Pray we stay on His path and that we lean on Him in our weakness so that He may be glorified in it all.
Julie
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
LID
YAY! We received the news today that we are officially logged in in China giving us our LID. This is what we must have in order for our dossier to be translated and ultimately approved. We are so excited! We are praying to get our girl in March but it could easily be April. We will keep updating as we progress. An approval at 2 months in a process would be a God speed for sure. No doubting He intended her as our daughter :) Here is a recent picture.
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