And the pendulum swings again
A couple of agencies have recently stated that the wait is not going to go over the 14 to 15 months mark.
The maximum wait in the last batch of referrals was 14.76 months. If they are going to keep it in the 14 to 15 month range then they are going to have to begin referring something close to full months soon, and then keep it up.
So, what does this mean? It means that some agencies are being told by the CCAA that the current trends will continue and others are being told that a speed up is about to happen. Who is right? I wish I knew.
At this point I’m not really believing either one. I’m not riding this particular rollercoaster anymore, I’m just standing at the side watching it and seeing if I can figure out where it is going.
November 15th, 2006 at 7:38 am
I agree with you. No more rollercoasters. Just wait and see. Thanks for all your info. Have a great day.
Gloria
LID 9-8-05
November 15th, 2006 at 7:51 am
Sidelines it is RQ! I’m getting my soccer Mom chair out, a cool drink and some good friends and watching and waiting…and waiting…and waiting. Oh…who the heck am I kidding! I hope we do see some stabilization. What a great holiday gift to all this would be.
November 15th, 2006 at 8:06 am
I whole heartedly agree! :) Detach emotionally as much as you can from this one and wait it out. What else will I do with all of that energy? LOL! I think I shall fold the revolving basket of socks that never get matched and in the dresser. My dh will be so happy. :)
November 15th, 2006 at 8:09 am
Thanks RQ! Please let this “ride” be a good one! Thanks also for your last post – gave us some real food for thought and discussion in our family as we prepare for our daughter. We had already read much, but we need to keep all aspects of the adoption in our minds as we ready our lives for the newest member of our family. This site has meant so much to us and has given us so much information to help us as we wait. Looking for good news for the holidays – large batches of referrals!
November 15th, 2006 at 8:09 am
We were at a travel meeting last night with our agency. There were 2 families who had been in China in September. They said our agency’s in-China coordinator said the slow down was going to continue. But then one if the social workers at the meeting said that they were more optimistic about the wait since there are more orphanages being opened to international adoption.
I guess we will have to wait to see.
November 15th, 2006 at 8:14 am
I am so burnt out by all the ups and downs of ALL these rumors, most have been false by the way, that I am very detatched. I agree, let’s just sit back and wait to see what happens.
November 15th, 2006 at 8:23 am
It’s hard for me to be detached this month, my LID is Sept. 13th. But I am so busy around the house at least my mind is occupied. Numb may be a better word to describe my feelings!
November 15th, 2006 at 8:56 am
I want to watch from the sidelines too, but I have got to be honest this month I feel more like the rope in a tug of war game. Which side will the mark land on and it just keeps going back and forth in my mind, we are so close and yet so far away with a 9/12 LID. It is really hard being right on that bubble to keep all the emotions I have so carefully hidden away from over taking me now!
Thanks again RQ for all you do.
November 15th, 2006 at 9:01 am
Thanks RQ! The DTC yahoo groups are buzzing with rumors that the wait will not extend beyond 14 to 15 months. The families with a DEC LID will get their referrals in February. Sure would be nice– MORE THAN NICE! But, I don’t quite buy it. I think agencies are simply stating this based on where the current wait to referral is, which as we all know, is misleading.
That is one good thing about my agency. They consistently tell us what the current wait is and they expect the wait to continue to lengthen but nobody is really sure what will happen. Frustrating as it is, I think it is the most accurate response.
Anybody else hearing flipping Christmas music on the radio already???!!! I am sooooooooo not ready for the holidays.
LID 12/20/05
November 15th, 2006 at 9:06 am
WHATEVER! How’s that for detached…… Now, I just wish I really felt that way.
November 15th, 2006 at 9:15 am
I’ve been watching this “tennis match” for a loonnnggg time now…and am ready for a change of scenery. I’m getting dizzy!
Lisa LID 9-9-05 (holding my breath to see how far the November Pendulum will swing)
November 15th, 2006 at 9:16 am
Calamity – We have the same LID as you – 12/20/05. Yes, I am hearing Christmas music and am totally bummed. A neighbor already has decor up – give me a break!! I am thankful for what we have, but it is not much of a mood of celebration being the 2nd Christmas without our daughter here.
Like others above, I will stay on the sidelines and see what happens, I just cannot get crushed again. But I hope its true.
I have heard so many people on DTC Yahoo group saying their agency told them February for Dec LIDs’. I just cant believe it.
November 15th, 2006 at 9:22 am
“Just a Swingin” We sure could use a speed up, but I am fully prepared to not hear anything until Jan.
And as for Christmas, sorry to say I have been wrapping presents already.
LID 10/10/05
November 15th, 2006 at 9:27 am
Hi there.
I’ve decided that the people who think the wait will “stabilize” at 14 – 15 months are eternal optimists, the people who think the wait will go to three years are pessimists, and the people who expect current trends to continue are realists – not that any one way of thinking is better than the others.
I would love to think the wait will hold at 14 – 15 months, but I just don’t see any evidence that that will happen. And I don’t think there’s any impetus for the for the CCAA to speed things up. In my experience so far, people tend to think things will speed up merely because the wait has never gone to two years and they can’t believe the wait could go to two years. Things did slow down and speed up again pre- and post-SARS, but that was a much different situation than we now have.
Oh, I really, really hope the optimists prove me wrong! ….
Jackie
LID May 2006
November 15th, 2006 at 9:29 am
I have been really down this week. With the wait possibly going out to 24 months and the possible new restrictions – it’s all just so hard. I feel like I could wait a lifetime for our little one but there is that sense of what if! What if I wait and in the end they change the restrictions one more time and all that waiting was pointless.
Thanks RQ this post was a little sparkle to cheer us up today!
November 15th, 2006 at 9:32 am
I think I’ve got enough in me to believe….close to full months coming. With a 10/21/05 LID I’ve got a little more time. Those of you in Sept who are so close, but don’t know whether to get excited or not are certainly in a different place than me, so I can understand where you are coming from with ’sitting this one out on the sidelines’.
There are live Chirstmas trees at the grocery store already! I thougt that was just crazy. It would be dead four times over by Christmas. LOL
November 15th, 2006 at 9:36 am
Yep, I was emailing my adoption coordinator just last week about starting the re-do on my 171 (LID 11/30, 171 expires in May), she told me it probably wouldn’t be necessary as the referrals are running 14-15 months. I almost upchucked then and there! I wanted to shout, “Do you have your head up your a**! Have you not been watching what has happened this past year with wait times?”
I also wanted to tell her she really needs to check RQ site for accurate information, but I didn’t! tee hee:o)
I promptly let her know that I would be monitoring wait times to see if they continue at the current rate and if so, I will need to re-do, or if indeed a stabilization occurs. Thanks RQ, for empowering me with information!!!
So there you have it. I didn’t even get my hopes up. In the past I would have thought that maybe my coordinator had some inside info….but not now. I too, am not even getting in line for this month’s roller coaster ride. Instead I am laying a plan for my 171 re-do.
November 15th, 2006 at 9:43 am
Since we get our LID (may 06), I strongly believed in a spead up. But now…. no, I don’t believe it any more. Maybe stabilize at 15-16 months, that would be great. I don’t believe, but I do have hope!!!
Waiting and see it is, what else we can do :-(
Have a nice day everyone!!!
November 15th, 2006 at 9:50 am
It is only a few weeks before the anniversary of the tragic death of John Lennon and I think he put this whole roller coaster thing in perspective when he wrote: “I’m just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round, I really love to watch them roll, no longer riding on the merry-go-round, I just had to let it go.” That’s exactly how I feel now whenever we hear a rumor like this one.
November 15th, 2006 at 9:54 am
Wunone16~
I thought of the old Paula Abdul song:
two steps forward, two steps back…
We can change the words to months ;)
Jo-Anne
November 15th, 2006 at 10:09 am
Since I get terrible motion sickness, I don’t want to ride anymore either. There’s not enough Dramamine in the world :). Our LID is soooo far into the future (6/13) that I’m beginning to hope we have a referral before my son graduates (he’s currently 6). Anything sooner then that can be a pleasant surprise.
That’s what I’m telling myself anyway.
November 15th, 2006 at 10:12 am
Ok, Mom222b, please admit to being just a *bit* embarrassed about being able to quote a Paula Abdul song! :)
Beth
November 15th, 2006 at 10:13 am
Ignore this post if the thought of another Christmas without your daughter home makes you crazy…
Speaking on songs…
I read about a song (on a Yahoo site)that is really sweet although destine to bring tears to many eyes. It’s a Christmas song about a little girl waiting in China for her family. I found it on itunes but I’m sure it is available many places.
It’s by Third Day, on their “Christmas Offerings” album, the 13th track called “Merry Christmas”.
I was glad to find it, but it’s not for everyone.
November 15th, 2006 at 10:19 am
Correct me if I’m wrong, but hasn’t the CCAA recently hired more staff? I’m normally a pessimist, but if that is the case, then I think it’s reasonable to conjecture that the wait may stop lengthening and start to stabilize. Granted that will do nothing to offset the shortage of available children, but if they’re planning to do that and make more orphanages eligible to participate (I was under this impression as well), then things might not get much worse than they are now. Well, let me rephrase I think we’ll see a little more lengthening and then a little shortening back down to about where we are now. Assuming that the CCAA does actually take these actions. I have to believe that they’re going to go this way rather than keep us waiting forever or just start rejecting lots of applicants. Otherwise, I will totally go insane. I don’t have much faith in the good of humanity either, but I’d like to believe that at least some people out there in the CCAA want to make things better for these babies and even us families.
Mercredi
LID Aug 06
November 15th, 2006 at 10:20 am
This post is not for you if you’re overwhelmed by the thought of another Christmas without your daughter.
Speaking of songs…
I heard a sweet if not tearful Christmas song about a family waiting for their daughter in China. Merry Christmas by Third Day. Get a hankie.
November 15th, 2006 at 10:21 am
Sorry about the double post!!
November 15th, 2006 at 10:27 am
SuzyQ
Everyone in my agency that got our referrals this month have had to redo our I-171H and we waited 14.5 months. So how she can say that is beyond me. So even if it stays exactly the same, chances are you will have to redo it. You agency rep needs to do a little research.
Chuck
November 15th, 2006 at 10:30 am
SuzyQ
“referrals are running 14-15 months. I almost upchucked then and there! I wanted to shout, “Do you have your head up your a**!”
Thanks for the laugh! I’ve been having “one of those days,” for the past 3 weeks!
:-D
November 15th, 2006 at 10:40 am
Hey, SuzyQ, I recently e-mailed my coordinator that I’m figuring to start redoing my I-171H right after the holidays since I probably won’t see a referral before April at the earliest and my paperwork expires May 1. I got a very noncommittal “I’m glad you’re keeping an eye on your paperwork” in response. At least she didn’t profer the “14- to 15-month” crapola and force me to ponder that head-up-the-arse question you were mulling the other day. ;o)
November 15th, 2006 at 10:40 am
Great song- thank you for the post! I just downloaded it. With a 12/9/05 LID, I’m going with the expectation that we will travel sometime between April and September 2007. I think that is safe.
November 15th, 2006 at 10:41 am
RQ and friends -
I was on the Dec Yahoo boards yesterday too and saw that they were saying Feb for referral … I didn’t even flinch… I just thought “these people have no clue” and went on about my day. I think that we are all just numb.
I’m a little bummed about Christmas too – my DH says this year we celebrate the “Second, Last Christmas” without our baby… last year was the “First, Last Christmas”… I actually had to chuckle when he said this… it’s so unbelievable that I if I didn’t laugh I”d probably cry my eyes out.
I want to hope that a speed up is true but at this point, I just can’t allow myself to think like that.
On a better note, saw Jimmy Buffet in concert last night… it was like a religious experience – everyone singing and dancing in hula skirts and coconut bras. I even had a couple of frozen fruity drinks – I was able to totally unplug for a few hours – I think I’m just gonna put his cd on repeat for the next few months.
November 15th, 2006 at 10:44 am
SuzyQ …your post made me laugh …especially the point about where the woman at your agency had her head!!!
Hard to keep a sense of humor in all this…but trying.
November 15th, 2006 at 10:44 am
WaitingforOliviainFL,
Oh, what I wouldn’t do for a few days in Margaritaville! You lucky girl!
November 15th, 2006 at 10:47 am
Well you know what guys,I BELIEVE I BELIEVE I BELIEVE!!!!!With a dec.LID,i will not except a referral past april,and will travel no later than June…..I have been busting my butt off at work all year with out any vacation(do to shortage of staff)and by gosh i deserve a summer off!!!!!!!so I BELIEVE!!!!!!!!!!
dianne(can)
now if only i can convince the ccaa~wink~
November 15th, 2006 at 11:07 am
please don’t shoot me but I am so excited that Christmas is almost here…even though I was sure I would have may baby home by now when I first started paperchasing. Anyway, I feel like if I can just get through the holidays, it will be January already and that much closer to seeing my baby girls face. I want the time to go by very fast and then stop when I get her. Bring on those Christmas Carols.
As far as the wait time goes….your’re guess is as good as mine, I just know that with each passing day she gets closer and closer.
LID 1/23/06
November 15th, 2006 at 11:08 am
With a LID of 1/24/06 I had been on the sidelines until the last batch of referrals. Even though we now know that it may not have reflected as much of a speed up as we first thought I decided to remain hugely optimistic and to just keep “Believing”. And so I am on the rollercoaster on this one, in the first car yelling my head off (on the inside) to the CCAA to Get ALL of September done in this next batch. Why not? It can happen just as easily as not happen so I am choosing to be crazy positive. Also, my little agency told me that they believe the wait has stabilized.
Good luck to all!!
M.
November 15th, 2006 at 11:10 am
is it too early for TA (or TN) rumours?
*ducks head down to avoid things being thrown my way*
lol
November 15th, 2006 at 11:15 am
Browneyedgirl -
It was an awesome concert and believe me you were all with me in spirit – he even sang a song about you…”you my brown eyed girl.”
beatr1ce – I understand your feelings about Christmas too – for me this is the busiest time of the year and time just flies by – making us that much closer to our seeing our little one. I love the holidays – it’s just a little bitter sweet!! I’m already playing the new Sarah McClaughlin Christmas CD in my car – it is wonderful – she’s an amazing artist and it’s like she poured her whole heart and soul into this cd – it gives me chills and here in South Florida that’s pretty hard to do!!
November 15th, 2006 at 11:18 am
I’m really hoping that once the make it thru the monster month of November, they will start going back to whole months. Trying to stay positive.
November 15th, 2006 at 11:18 am
tg, nobody could blame you for being antsy about TA rumors. Saw your little girl’s photo on your blog, she is a total sweetheart. CONGRATULATIONS to you and goftg, here’s hoping that TA comes very soon!
November 15th, 2006 at 11:19 am
We have an 14 september-05-Lid, and I also want to belive that a speedup is comming. But the swedish agencies are conservative and saying that the wait will increase….but I really wish for a christmas-referral.
Talk about christmas-songs, were I work (in a store) there has been christmas-decorations since beginning of october…..
LID 9/14/05
November 15th, 2006 at 11:19 am
I have been told this exact thing by a large China only agency. They did not state this as fact (i.e. something they heard direct from the CCAA). What they said was that they strongly believed that because China is fully committed to IA, allowing the wait to go too long would have too many families go to other countries and in effect damage China’s program too much. They felt that 18 mos. was the max, but felt strongly that the wait would level out at 14 to 15 mos. As someone who is paperchasing now, I feel like my time frame is too far out to really ascertain any sort of time frame. I am just going to focus on the paperchase right now, and then find other things (like reading books on attachment) to keep me busy until I get closer in line to referral. I mentally prepared for as high as a 3 year wait, and will be pleasantly surprised for anything less. For my sanity, I have no expectations.
November 15th, 2006 at 11:28 am
TG –
We would never throw anything at you… you are always a breath of fresh air and have such great, funny comments. Wishing you and G very quick travel to go get that adorable baby!!!
November 15th, 2006 at 11:29 am
My dad passed away Saturday morning, so we really need some good news. This glimmer of hope helps. We have a 9/15/05 LID and it would be wonderful for our whole family if we were to receive our referral in the next batch. I BELIEVE!!!
November 15th, 2006 at 11:31 am
thanks CWS!
yeah we’re antsy…but i was kind of throwing that out there to be funny admist the talk of ‘how long the wait’.
i think now around this time of year it’s probably good to take a step back and decompress…i would if we were still in the wait. so basically what i’m saying is that I think all of you who are sitting on the sidelines for this round of “wait time” rumours have the right idea. :)
on a side note: i used to work alot in the retail industry and oh how I hated Christmas music after awhile. which is really sad. but it’s just crazy how much earlier and earlier the decorations and things come out each passing year. Target had a back wall of decorations and lights behind all their Halloween stuff. Next thing you know there will be skeletons with santa hats on and bats hanging from Christmas trees.
of course someone already made a movie like that hehe ;)
November 15th, 2006 at 11:41 am
momto6boys;sorry to hear about your Dad(hope he did not suffer).
dianne
November 15th, 2006 at 11:44 am
Thanks, firstchinababy. He’d been battling cancer for a while, so at this point, it was time. We were just hoping he’d get to see his granddaughter.
November 15th, 2006 at 11:46 am
momto6boys-
so sorry for your loss. it is especially difficult close to the holidays I know. the husband of one of my cousins was killed on his motorcycle over the weekend when someone came across into the lane in front of him. and there was a family that was mowed down by a drunk driver in downtown Denver over the weekend while they were legally crossing a crosswalk. the husband survived, but his wife, 4yr old girl, and 2yr old boy were lost. it bothers me very much..especially now that we’re about to have our own child and I have had too many experiences of people (sober even) blowing through crosswalks when there’s people trying to cross.
moments like these in life makes me appreciate the opportunity we’ve been given even through the ups, downs, and frustrations.
November 15th, 2006 at 12:03 pm
momt06boys – sorry to hear your sad news. Without getting into religion mumbo jumbo, I’m confident he HAS seen his granddaughter. Her referral would be an awesome Christmas present! N
November 15th, 2006 at 12:20 pm
WaitingforOliviaFl – fellow parrot head here. You’re right one of his concerts is like a 3 hour vacation! Thanks for sharing your dh’s comments about Christmas. I laughed out loud! Everything we did last year we kept saying…next year we’ll have Lily home and we will…… This year will feel like deja vu.
TJ
10.18.05
November 15th, 2006 at 12:20 pm
momto6boys-
I am so sorry for your loss. It is so hard to lose a loved one.
TG- Man, you crack me up!! Bats and skeletons in santa hats… too funny..
I work retail right now. Can I tell you how much I am beginning to hate the holidays??? I work at Petsmart, though, so it’s not too horrible. At least it is dog and cat toys only and I don’t have to deal with all the other junk in a regualar place like Target or Walmart. Now, Christmas Eve sucks wind around there.. UGH!!Let me tell you how many people come in to buy hamsters and birds that day! Luckily, I will open that day and get off by 1pm this year instead of 7pm. Aaaaaaa…. the perks of being a supervisor..lol
Our Christian radio station is doing a poll to see when they should begin playing Christmas music this year. I keep saying the week before Christmas. Every year they start playing it on Thanksgiving and that is all they play until New Year’s.. Needless to say, my cd player is very busy at that time since I get tired of listening to it all the time..
BTW, love the new Third Day song.. I cried..
Claire
LID 10/10/05
November 15th, 2006 at 12:29 pm
Momto6boys-Know that we are thinking of you and your family.
TG-The horrible incident in LoDo is haunting everyone, even my middle schoolers are talking about it.
Also, talked with our agency Monday and they thought the earliest we might hear about TA would be next week.
November 15th, 2006 at 12:54 pm
Our agency has posted that SN TA’s are on their way…not sure when they will arrive but there was a post that they were on their way :)
YIPEEEEEE
November 15th, 2006 at 12:54 pm
Hi all~
As a former “Targeteer” I know all about the holiday season. It used to infuriate me that I would have to be to work at 5:30 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving for all the “early bird” specials. However Target did provide pizza for us to eat while we decorated the fake Christmas trees in the store. :)
On a more somber note, it’s pretty quiet around work today, most of my fellow peace officers are at a funeral for one of our fallen colleagues. A bright young man who apparently just couldn’t handle the stresses of day to day living any more. What a shame. Sigh.
November 15th, 2006 at 12:57 pm
TGRT-
I just read the story of that poor man and his family on Air1 Christian radio website. I can’t imagine his grief and don’t know how you survive a loss like that.
Trust me, you have never in your life worried about all of the crazy people and weird stuff in this world like you will now with this little girl to protect. (”Your heart walking around outside your body” )
Leslie in TN
http://www.myadoptionwebsite.com/bringingzoiehome
November 15th, 2006 at 12:58 pm
I’m so sorry for your loss, momto6boys. You know I usually want to throttle people who tell me that “it’ll all work out for the best” and “the delays just mean that the right little girl for you isn’t ready yet” blah, blah, blah.
But, in your case I strongly suspect that the powers that be worked in your favor. Perhaps you were meant to be with your dad and your family concentrating on that, rather than be guilty because you had to focus all your attention on your new daughter. Or, heaven forbid he’d passed while you were out of the company.
I truly hope that your referral comes soon and brings you and your whole family some much-needed comfort and joy.
November 15th, 2006 at 1:34 pm
wrig-
nice to know our agency is thinking as early as next week…i’m guessing the week of the 27th…
also guessing referrals will start showing up that week as well… remembering that the CCAA had ‘finished’ matching over a week before they started actually arriving. :)
November 15th, 2006 at 1:43 pm
zoies mom,
I do think that you notice those stories and pay more attention when you have kids, but I don’t think that I worry more. I do think that parenting is different now than when I was a kid and could go anywhere alone and do anything (”just be home for dinner”). I think that parenthood has made me much more assertive and confident. I stick up for them like I never did for myself and I follow my gut. It’s funny how a mother’s protective instinct kicks in once you have a little one. Watch out world!
November 15th, 2006 at 1:47 pm
momto6boys,
I’m so sorry to hear of your fathers passing. My dear father passed away one week after we returned home from China with our new daughter. He was able to meet her, which was a great comfort to me. But knowing that he will never get to see my children grow and that they will not know this wonderful man, makes me sad more often than not.
Allow yourself to be happy (pending referral) and sad all at once. It’s okay. I found this to be the hardest thing…having the most incredible wonderful thing happen to me and then having the death of my father too. All those emotions can really take their toll.
I hope you find peace with everything good and sad in your life right now.
waiting for Sophie
http://makes-four.blogspot.com/
November 15th, 2006 at 1:57 pm
momto6boys – i am so sorry for your loss. in my family, we have been very blessed to have a pregnancy right after each of our loved ones has died (almost to the point that it is starting to freak people out). when my grandmother passed away in january, our home study was finished the same day. strange. so i’m sure your dad is somewhere greasing the wheels a little bit! :)
November 15th, 2006 at 2:00 pm
Hi RQ,
wondering if these are fresh rumours/info,
or a reminder of what some agencies have been saying
for a while?
CCAA on its Euro and Australian visits has only talked of slowing; all (most?) in-China sources seem to be pointing to a slowdown. So I’m wondering what sort of sources are giving the 14-15 month info? Is this based on inside info from agencies or is it just what the agencies are telling waiting parents? (I’m eyeing the rollercoaster, yeah, but noticing all the rusty screws, and the guy who’s running it looks likes he’s stoned…) To ride or not to ride: hence all the questions.
I doubt the additional orphanges will speed things up; at best, they may slow down the slowdown.
November 15th, 2006 at 2:07 pm
Hey TG,
Don’t laugh, I actually was able to get a Halloween tree, it’s a 4′ fake Xmas tree w/o any leaves, the branches are painted black with orange xmas lights and jack-o-lanterns on it. We picked it up a couple of years ago from k-mart, it was a hoot.
November 15th, 2006 at 2:08 pm
So sorry to hear about some of the recent losses. It really does put waiting into perspective!
We have decided to literally tear up our house and give it a much needed face lift starting 12/1! So with that, a six week Chinese course, and 4 new books on Attachment & Bonding (thank you RQ) I will be at that 15 month wait before I know it!
Hang in there everyone. I too will sit on the sidelines until the dust settles (literally here!) and the new paint drys! -DJR 10/24 LID
November 15th, 2006 at 2:08 pm
Hello waitingforOlivia! Sorry we missed the concert, the FCC meeting on attachment was great, but still…the fruity drinks and cocnut bras would have been a nice getaway….we were all jealous that we weren’t joining you!
November 15th, 2006 at 2:11 pm
DJR – hey! I know you :) Good luck with the house project!
November 15th, 2006 at 2:12 pm
Thanks for that funny post, SuzyQ. Don’t you just love begin in the position of telling your agency when it’s time to redo the immigration work? Mine must love it that I never ask them anything. We’ve completed our homestudy update, filed our I600A, and are going for our fingerprints in the morning. Our immigration work expires February 8th and our little one will not make it into the country by then.
Ellen 10.25.05
November 15th, 2006 at 2:16 pm
Trace7 – email me via my blog…. I want to know the connection! Thanks
November 15th, 2006 at 2:21 pm
DaddyOOO- that’s awesome! and at K-Mart no less…
I’ll have to keep an eye out (not literally of course) next Halloween for stuff like that!
Jack Skellington would be proud. :)
November 15th, 2006 at 2:35 pm
KB -
Glad that the meeting was good. I was bummed that I couldn’t do both the meeting & the concert but Jimmy B. was amazing and the DH had such a blast. Don’t worry I was singing and dancing in honor of all my waiting FWCC families. I wish I could go again next week – it was great therapy!!
Take Care – glad to see some of my South Florida peeps on the RQ site!!
November 15th, 2006 at 2:43 pm
tgredthread…I laughed out loud at your “keep an eye out” comment….of course just as someone was walking up to my desk at work (when I am supposed to be working). Hope I can hold on to my job long enough to get my referral! It is getting harder and harder to stay off this site the closer I get to my referral.
November 15th, 2006 at 2:49 pm
beatr1ce-
i think they’ll have to have a special RQ readers line at the unemployment offices… as many of us are guilty of such acts at work. ;)
November 15th, 2006 at 3:14 pm
My husband and I own our own business. Can you believe that even I feel guilty when someone walks up on me when I’m reading RQ! I think it’s old habit from all the years I worked for someone else!
November 15th, 2006 at 3:19 pm
Luna…don’t get me wrong…I am not feeling guilty, only really bad about not having more time for this site….I could care less about work any more……just kidding….
November 15th, 2006 at 3:39 pm
Hilarious Luna – I cracked up when I read your post. I try to take breaks from RQ throughout the work day but for the most part, checking this site is my #1 priority each and every day. I’m just thankful that I can access this site from work, otherwise I’d be going nuts right now!!
November 15th, 2006 at 4:25 pm
SuzyQ, my LID is 11/3 and my agency asked me about two weeks to start our re-do. We sent in payment for the fingerprint stuff and got the appt.letter in under 2 weeks. Our fingerprinting appt is day after Thanksgiving and we have to drive 4 hours to Atlanta. My homestudy is being updated now. so far it’s only money – $1,000 here in GA. The agency also said that they have several families that are being held up in traveling to China because they have not acted to re-do. They said in that case, the family is pulled out of the packet at CCAA, placed on Hold, and then placed back in to A DIFFERENT group. – and a longer wait..
I’m counting on having my referral in February or first of March. Everyone’s right, to get it in January ahead of the Feb. Dec. LID’s …will certainly be a push. Wait and see.
As far as redoing your stuff, monitoring the dates is good.
Mary
Mary
November 15th, 2006 at 4:29 pm
Cungar, Calamity4e, Janey1245, Blossombaby and CWS~
Stepped away from the computer today…lots of errands to run. Glad there could be a little comic relief today. It’s the only way to get through some days.
Blossombaby~
Thank goodness I’m not waiting on pins and needles for and update from my coordinator. Yes it is interesting to now be the one in the position of “knowing” this process so darn well, and telling to “expert” what I need to do next regarding all this adoption paperwork.
Calamity4e~
Here’s big ((((((((((((HUG)))))))) It’s so awesome that we all have each other!
Waitingforolivia & Wetbird~
Cheers from this Cincinnati fellow Parrot Head, I think a margarita is just what the doctor ordered this fine rainy evening! Heading out with some girlfriends tonight for a drink.
TG
Your daughter is just precious! Please stick around….yah, we know, you’re gonna be busy with your little one but we sure do need your sense of levity.
November 15th, 2006 at 4:40 pm
georgiabrown,
Is your agency saying that CCAA finds out who has expired I171H after referral and then they hold up travel approval for those people until they receive a current I171H? I always thought that you had so many days (which is over a several month period to travel). But do you have to travel within so many days of the TA? Anyone know any more about this part of the process?
November 15th, 2006 at 4:41 pm
Georgiabrownmb~
Sounds like your agency is quite realistic here. paperwork. How terribly upsetting for these people to wait all this time and then get bumped. So they received their referral with expired paperwork, thus causing them to not be able to travel? How scary! Wake up call to all of us to be dilligent and timely with our paperwork updates…
November 15th, 2006 at 4:51 pm
SuzyQ–You’re in Cincy? I’m in Columbus — staying in out of the rain.
As for Christmas, we also have neighbors putting up decorations, but at least they aren’t turning them on yet. There are neighbors across the street that we call the “Grizzwolds” because we don’t know their real names, and every year they go crazy with the lights.
I for one am always glad to get through the season, but I go nuts in February. Good thing it’s a short month!
clem
November 15th, 2006 at 5:02 pm
okay so i have to say it because of the Cincy and Columbus representation here…
GO BUCKS! :)
probably THE most anticipated (and hyped obviously) NCAA game ever this weekend.
*playing my ‘Fight the Team’ mp3 as I type this. LOL
and sorry to all the Wolverine fans. ;p
November 15th, 2006 at 5:05 pm
Luna says,
my husband and I also own our own business and he gets SO irritated with how much I look at the site! He thinks that I should be setting an example and not be on the internet so much…I can’t help it!!! I may soon be fired by my husband…:)
Having a hard time staying completely off of the roller coaster…I seem to ride up and down with every rumor…I’m being a little more cautious, but I just so want this one to be true! Atleast, my business is a pharmacy…maybe I will just go pop a pill! BTW, we are in the south and sell moon pies at our pharmacy(for those of you who remember that thread).
November 15th, 2006 at 5:06 pm
I have been so busy with work and trying to get all the travel stuff done, but I have not forgotten about my friends who are still waiting for a referral. It will happen! Hang in there! I wanted to make a few comments. 1) I do believe that the wait will stabilize–mostly b/c we are out of the way now…there has to be a spped up now! But also b/c our referral is from a new orphanage–only opened in 2005 and has only had one other group of 4 babies adopted last year and now we have a group of 4-5. So it is slow but it is progress. I do believe that China has been working to get new orphanages online and it will pay off soon. I want everyone to get referrals soon and bring those babies home!
2) I do encourage you to be prepared with the redo. I held off as long I thought was safe, but did not count on the SW being slow…so I have been sweating it. But I just got an email that DSS approved everything AGAIN and it should be at USCIS Monday and they have promised to turn it around by the end of the week!
And 3) the comments about losing loved ones fits with the last few days. My husband esp is really missing his dad who passed tragically in June 2005– just days before our little one in China was born (as it turns out). He misses his dad so much b/c he was such an encourager and we know he would be crazy about Kylee. But I do believe that Dad met Kylee and held her and told her all about us and that he sees us now as we prepare to bring her home. His sudden death on the plane to Colorado during our son’s graduation from the USAF Academy and wedding and took what should have been a joyful time and brought sorrow and even now the joy of referral is overshadowed somewhat by the loss. But there will be a new little one to wear His name and we just can’t wait to go get her!
Sorry for the long post! Take Care! And keep believing!!!!!!
November 15th, 2006 at 5:28 pm
I’m with ya TG…Go BUCKS! I too live in the Columbus area and am FIRED up about the big game!
November 15th, 2006 at 5:32 pm
Yes, TG, we are counting down the days, hours and minutes to kickoff. Omigosh, it is crazy!! I have some in-laws who are Michigan fans, so I am not looking forward to Thanksgiving if we lose. But if we win. . . ha!
O-H-I-O!
clem
buckeye fan
November 15th, 2006 at 6:31 pm
MAY THIS MONTH BE THE MONTH THEY START MATCHING FULL MONTHS!! Oh I would just about DIE from excitement!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let them match all this month at once!!!!
His,
Mrs. U
LID 9-12-05
http://www.makingahouseahome.blogspot.com
November 15th, 2006 at 8:34 pm
I want to thank everyone for your thoughtful and kind words. It has been a difficult past few days, but knowing that we will hopefully see our daughter’s face soon will bring joy to our family.
November 15th, 2006 at 8:44 pm
I have to say I am a little nervous about what is going to happen when RQ gets her referral (the girl will be a little busy packing, changing daipers, all that good stuff). Who is going to take over and fill us in on all this information. This information keeps me going everyday, I would be going totally nuts without it. God knows my agency won’t speculate on anything. I nearly died when her blog went down a few weeks ago. Any volunteers out there to take over?
LID 11/30
November 15th, 2006 at 9:06 pm
Hi All,
I talked with my small agency about a number of things today and at the end of the conversation asked if there was ANY news from the CCAA about new regs. wait times etc.. I was told that there is big meeting in Bejing next month and a rep from our agency was going. They were fully expecting some light to be shed on wait times, SN issues and possibly new regs. Here’s hoping next month brings on some good news. I agree that trying to stay off the rollercoaster is difficult. I can’t access this site from work and it is probably a good thing, because I know I would not get a thing done! I am at the point of being numb right now. When it gets closer to referral time this month I will probably be jumping on, arms in the air, hopefully going up! Hang in there everyone…tonight I am hanging out with some Corona and lime!
November 15th, 2006 at 9:24 pm
bruno1, I agree with you… who will run the show? although, we will be traveling with RQ – ok, i’m speculating but it’s hard to not imagine her having any other LID of 9/29/05 like the rest of the “late Sept. LIDer’s”… RQ… WILL you identify yourself in China? Perhaps only to your travel group? Or maybe give us some sneaky hints and we will pretend we are in the movie “Clue” and have to figure out who you are!!!! how fun! i am excited to think we will meet the very famous RQ – although, at this point i’m not sure who is more excited about this potential crossing of paths… me or my DH! haha he’s a full blown RQ-addict! :-)
November 15th, 2006 at 9:44 pm
jmlance-
Have missed you. Where have you been? Being a 9/29 also I am really feeling RQ will be traveling with us. First to identify her (if she comes incognito) buys margaritas! Okay, maybe I have it a bit mixed up here. First to identify her gets margaritas on me one night. (Are there margaritas in China?)
Meg
November 15th, 2006 at 9:46 pm
jmlance-
Missed you. Where have you been? Okay-I think RQ is also a 9/29er. I have been having dreams of a month of referrals, making us next! Some sort of prize for the first to recognize RQ. Hmmmm-chocolate martinis on me!
Meg
November 15th, 2006 at 9:54 pm
In the forum, RQ said that she would not be revealing her identity during the China trip.
November 15th, 2006 at 9:58 pm
I can’t blame her. She really needs to focus on her daughter, not fielding questions, etc. I guess a little stardom while you are in the middle of trying to bond with your newly adopted daughter is not real glamourous.
Meg
November 15th, 2006 at 10:05 pm
bruno1-
I’m so glad you raised the issue of what will happen with RQ gets her referral and is off to China. Have been thinking about this (ok, worrying about this) for the past few days. Of course we will all be THRILLED that RQ will be meeting her baby, but am a little selfishly thinking about myslef in wondering how I will get info. when this happens.
RQ, I’m sure you had no idea when you started your blog that is would turn into such a phenomenon. We have been blessed to have all your hard work and great logical thinking provide more information at our fingertips than folks in Chinese adoptionland have probably ever had. I worry about what the absense of this will be like when your focus changes. (I’m already having separation anxiety.) I would never assume that you would continue doing what you have been doing to the degree you have been doing it. Am just wondering what happens here for those of us who will still be waiting. I know you have said you will continue your blog with a bit more focus on parenting issues, and that makes total sense since it is your blog, but am wondering at some point if we all need to “discuss” what happens next. Hope that makes sense and I am not making too many assumptions.
November 15th, 2006 at 10:24 pm
mcwannab~ I am with you. I respect that RQ will be a Mom to two (I think I am right) and will be a busy woman. I agree this is her site and I know she talks about having the forum be a place where new parents can share. While I can’t wait to be in the forum group as a new parent, I do wonder what us later LID folks will do without the Queen, her royal subjects and of course the invaluable information she shares
I do not want to sound selfish or rude asking, but can’t help myself. Please forgive me :)
November 15th, 2006 at 10:58 pm
Just thinking out loud… and looking at the stats, it seems that even if they DID do a whole month (September) at once, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to keep doing whole months, because October looks lots bigger, and November ever bigger than October.
November 15th, 2006 at 11:59 pm
Hello everyone! Just wanted to let you know that we are leaving Friday! After 20 months, it is finally about to happen. Thanks for all the great advice and suggestions! I will be off of RQ for a couple of weeks and I will return. How will I survive without RQ?
Mendy
November 16th, 2006 at 1:21 am
gnanna- Thanks for the encouragement. I hope you have a wonderful trip with everything going smoothly to get your little Kylee. Sounds like she will hear wonderful stories of a dear grandpa.
Blessings :)
November 16th, 2006 at 8:33 am
sodergal- Thanks! She already has a picture of him in her soft photo album that we sent in the care package and she will definitely be hearing all about Pop-Pop. So Come on TAs. we have a little girl waiting!
tgredthread- any chance our paths might cross in China? I’d love to meet some RQ friends in China!
November 16th, 2006 at 8:52 am
mendy-
that is wonderful news! may you have a safe and wonderful trip!
November 16th, 2006 at 8:56 am
Mendy, WOO-HOOO!!! Safe and happy travels to you!!!
November 16th, 2006 at 9:12 am
This is my first comment, but I’ve been addicted to RQ for a longer time now! For all you people waiting on your refferal, hang in there!!! We have a LID of 06/13/06 for our 2nd Chinese Rose so we just have to sit back and “enjoy” the ride! Please know that everything will fall into place, once you hold your long awaited child in your arms, and yes we also had a not so rosey start with our first, but now everything will be alright, with a little patience!!! RQ thanx, for all your hard work. Greetings from Holland!
November 16th, 2006 at 9:16 am
Possible speed up???
Here is my horoscope today….I am LID 1/23/06
“If you don’t have a passport, get one! Whether or not you travel to a foreign land before the year is up, you’ll at least be changing your mindset to a global mode. This expansion touches every part of your life.”
November 16th, 2006 at 9:30 am
WaitingforOliviaFL…sorry if this is off topic, where in FL are you?? We are in Cape Coral; LID 11/07/05.
I too am a first time poster, but addicted to RQ too, thanks for all you do.
November 16th, 2006 at 9:43 am
gnanna-
it’s possible our paths may cross in China. :)
hopefully soon those TAs will arrive and we can start getting an idea of when we’re all going to be over there!
November 16th, 2006 at 9:48 am
Hi waitingforamelia!
I’m up in Jacksonville. Nice to meet a fellow Floridian.
:-)
Laureen
http://www.babysites.com/sites/laureenmary