The slowdown continues...

Less than a week's worth of referrals were sent this month. Many agencies are now announcing a a 12-18 month wait from when the dossiers get logged in (I'm Feb 06)...sigh..very disheartening news.
All those dossiers through August 05 just waiting to be matched with a child's file. All those parents longing to be matched with their child.

And the quilt squares keep rolling in!

The February DTC group "emblem"!

So many quilt squares have been rollin' in that I'm setting up a separate link so you all can see them at Elena's 100 Wishes Quilt.

THANK YOU, everyone, for sending your lovely wishes and fabric to us. It's going to be a beautiful quilt!

P.S. We're not quite at 100 wishes, so if you would like to add to the project, please email me. =)

The First OHGW Quilt Square

Lisa in Utah sent me my first fabric square. Lisa is in my DTC Group and like the rest of us, is waiting "oh so NOT patiently" for her daughter, little Tate. Lisa is of Norwegian heritage, which to me is very cool as I lived in Norway back in the early '80's. Please check out her site and leave a message...her blogs are always a mix of the heartfelt and wacky! =) Thank you Lisa and Tate!

DTC Secret Pal Thank You

Many thanks to my February DTC Group Secret Pal! She sent me two wonderful books (great multicutural themes!) for Elena. As my friends know, I *love* children's books, but these two were off my radar. Thank you Secret Pal for bringing them to my attention. (I've already shared them with the school librarian!) We also received, (not pictured for obvious reasons) some Ghirardelli chocolate squares and rawhide bones for Bernie and Gracie! My Secret Pal knows how to touch a girls' (and a dogs'!) heart!

Oooh, baby!

Yesterday I got to see and listen to my new niece/nephew's heartbeat! The little bean's beating heart was so vivid on the ultrasound. So cool! Of course that was the *only* distinct feature I could pick out on the screen! I feel so lucky that I got to share in such an exciting event!

Spaaaaahhh Weekend

After running our PR's (personal records) at the Shamrock 8K (ok, so it was our first 8K ever!) Angie and I headed up to DC for an amazing spa retreat! We stayed at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and indulged ourselves with massages, body scrub and wrap, mani/pedis...the works! The whole treatment was amazing! The hotel was gorgeous and our room had a view of the Jefferson Memorial. The bathroom even had a flatscreen tv next to the huge tub! Ahhh, what luxury! The cherry blossoms will be popping soon so we were served cherry flavored treats each night for turndown. In the evenings we dined with our friends Frank and Katie. It all made for a wonderful weekend! One can certainly get used to living in such a luxurious lifestyle *very* quickly! I wonder if Empress Elena would like a stay at the Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong one day?!
Room with a View
P.S. Ang has all the people pix on her camera!=)

Rockin' the Shamrock!

Last year my friend Angie made a special visit from SF to run the Shamrock 8K with me. Unfortunately, her flight the night before was delayed and by the time we finished "catching up" it was almost time to run and well...need I tell you that we didn't quite get to the race! This year all we really had to do was *arrive* at the race to be successful but we did better than that! I am proud to announce that we actually got to, shivered at, ran, and finished! It was a very cold windy run on the boardwalk, but WE DID IT!! Yay for Ang, D and me! =)

Province Poll Update

The "elena, r you" poll seems to have some leaders! Hunan and Sichuan! Either you all have strong gut feelings about where Elena is or your gut is telling you that you're hungry! Are you all logging in around lunch/dinner time?!! Wherever she is, I hope she's safe, warm and fed. Hurry up CCAA so I can come and get my baby!

The OHGWQ square quest

As many of you know, my mom is quite the quilter and she promised that she would help me make a 100 Good Wishes Quilt for Elena. (Amazingly so, as I’ve only made one quilt top in my life and she nearly disowned me after that experience!) Anyway, I’m on a quest for squares and wishes for Elena! If you would like to send one our way please email me.

Here are the basics: send one 8" square that you think is particularly pretty or fun or special. Then tape an extra little swatch of it on a card with a "wish" or favorite quote/saying/wisdom of yours. Anything nice, funny, meaningful to you...whatever you'd like to send on. I will put all the cards with the matching swatches in a little book so Elena and I can cuddle up in the quilt and look at the book and share the wishes/quotes/love that everyone sent while we were all so "patiently" waiting for her arrival!

I’m really excited about this project and hope to show you all the finished product before her 18th birthday! =)

Read more about the history of the 100 Good Wishes Quilt here.

Mailbox Blues

I have a question for my friends who have BTDT or are waiting for their referral...
WHEN IS MY BROWN ENVELOPE GONNA ARRIVE?!!
For the rest of my friends and family, the brown envelope will let me know that the US Embassy in China is expecting me and has been informed of my intent to adopt.
My fingerprint appointment was 12/22/05 and I received my I-171H on 12/29/05 (I know, pretty fast and with the Christmas holiday too!!) Somehow I feel that receiving 'the brown envelope' will make me feel like this process is still moving forward! So any ideas on when this paperwork is gonna grace my mailbox?!! Thank you!!

The Girls

My girls, Gracie and Bernadette (Bernie).
They're outside howling goodnight to Elena over
in China right now. I'd better go quiet them up....

CCAA Update

Just to update everyone on where we are in the process: The China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before July 31, 2005.

The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before May 25, 2005. I'm February 7, 2006........sigh

In My Heart

Sweet child of my dreams...
destined never to part.
No love could be deeper...
you grew in my heart.

HAPPY NEWS!!

Yes, my niece is going to be a BIG sister! Which means I am going to be an aunt again!! Whoo-hoo! Congratulations S and D!
Although K looks a bit more interested in watching what's on tv in this picture, this Fall she's going to have a little brother or sister to capture her attention! Pssst...K, I'll start passing on the big sister secrets/tricks to you soon!! =)