World's Greatest Secret Pal

I don't even know where to begin in thanking my Secret Pal for this month's gifts. First, she got us the Yixing Teapot and tea (pronounced EE SHING). She had no idea how perfect it was. I have been collecting teapots for years. This one makes my 30th one! Yes, I had to count mine. This will be a beautiful addition to the collection. I have them from all over the world - and this is my very first Chinese one. The info she sent along with it was so interesting too. Now I know it's history and how to make my perfect cup of Chinese Oolong tea. Yeah! Second, she got us the "Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats" book which is this amazing children's book that talks about Chinese food and culture. I can't wait to share it with our daughter.

Fingerprint Renewal Time!

Well, our I-171H form and fingerprints are expired or are in the process of expiring and it's renewal time! We just got our letters in the mail today from USCIS (Dept of Homeland Security). We are scheduled to get our fingerprints re-done done on October 16th. Thankfully, right BEFORE we leave for Ireland. I was a bit worried that these letters were going to come while we were gone. Well, now we just need to keep our hands moisturized in order to get our "perfect prints." After our fingerprints (or biometrics as they like to call them) are done, we should be getting our I-171H form (favorable determination letter from our govt. saying we can adopt a child) soon thereafter... That is, until another 18 months goes by and we have to go through all of this again (although I hope not!!)

July is out of Review!

Here's the official notice from the CCAA website. As of Sunday night at 10:30 p.m., our dossier made it through the Review Room! Our next step is to wait for our referrals! I don't think they can come fast enough...

The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before July 31, 2006.

The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before November 25, 2005

Aug/Sept Referrals are in...

Well, some sad news. Today the CCAA posted the cut-off date for referrals for the month. They only matched 4 days! Not exactly a stellar performance. They are now through November 25th. While we all have been aware that November is a HUGE month with lots of waiting families, it's still hard to come to terms with this long wait. We should be hearing any day now that our dossiers will be through the Review Room. Just one more step closer to our daughter...

My Secret Pal

Today I got my first gift from my Secret Pal. Every month from now through December, our daughter gets presents in the mail. Isn't she so lucky! Each month has a different theme. This month was "Fun in the Sun". Today she got two adorable summery outfits and the cutest hats. I can't wait to see her in them.

A break in the storms

Well, we've finally had a break from all the rain that we've been having. Today is day 2 without rain. Yeah! It was so nice to have a little sunshine finally! So, today, Robert could finally mow the back yard, which until today was swampland. You couldn't even step on the ground without it trying to swallow you up whole! Our grass got way too long - it's the longest our grass has ever been. The photos are what our backyard looked like a few days ago, and then what it looks like today. The ducks liked the swampy version...

Not just cute, handy too!

Today, Robert fixed the brakes on my car for me. He just loves to fix things. Now, if only I could have him finish working on the baseboards in our bathroom. It's only been 4.5 years... Some day...

Happy Birthday, Sweetheart!

Today is Robert's 45th birthday! He wears it well! Now, he fears, he's on that downward spiral towards 50. Being politics week, here... I felt he needed a political card as well. He loved it, of course!

Tonight is beer and pizza night (his request) with some friends.

I love you so much! Happy Birthday, sweetie!

Meeting State Senator Fred Risser, D-WI

Well, today I met with Senator Fred Risser, President of the Wisconsin State Senate. I shared my meeting with Anne (my home study social worker). Believe it or not, he spent 1.25 hours talking with us! I found out that he is a father of 3 domestically adopted children. He was so sorry to hear about what we've been having to go through - with all of the varying expiration dates of our fingerprints, I-171H, and home studies and especially the longer than 2 years that we will be having to wait. Since he is on the state level, and not the federal level there is really not much he can do. He suggested that Anne and I write an article and try to get one of our local papers to publish it. He also offered to write letters or to help in any way that he could.

After leaving his office, we headed over to meet Andrea Baglowski - in Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin's office. She is in charge of the fingerprinting and adoption section in the Congresswoman's office. Congresswoman Baldwin is on the Judiciary Committee to approve H.R. 628 to extend the I-171H to 2 years. The one good thing we found out is that our fingerprints will be renewed once for FREE! The USCIS had been so unclear on that, so that was so nice - saves us $160. Yeah! She seemed to think that it would be hard to bring about change, but that's what we all thought about the I-171H's and now we are getting our FREE renewals on those, too. The squeaky wheel is the one who gets things done...

My next stop is to get in touch with the lobby group in D.C. that deals specifically with children's issues regarding international adoption. I have an e-mail out to them already. Just waiting on a response. Wish me luck!

Ma Ma Sisterhood is born!

I would like to introduce our new logo that I designed for my cyber "sisters" who have been instrumental in my sanity these last months - as we are all still waiting for our daughters to come home from China. What started out as a "chat" has now become our mantra - we are all sisters, going thru the same pains of childbirth (albeit, not the normal way and a heck of a lot longer...). This group of about 25 women usually send on average about 75 emails a day! Mind-blowing, isn't it! We are all logged-in during July 2006 and are keeping our fingers crossed that we all get to travel together. For those who don't read Chinese, the characters say "Ma Ma," and the Ma Ma Sisterhood is born! The red thread saying is a saying picked up by the adoption community, stemming from an Ancient Chinese belief.

If you'd like to check out our "Ma Ma Sisterhood" gear, see my CafePress store.
http://www.cafepress.com/blackkatstudio