** We received a letter in the mail on Friday detailing the merger. LL will be merging with Lutheran Child and Family Services. The letter specifically states "We do not expect to have any delays or disruptions in our placements". I called our SW just to confirm a few things. Most importantly, she confirmed LCFS does not currently have any adoption programs. She agreed and added that this is good news; as the current Korean program will not change and our spot on the list will remain.
**Our HomeStudy has been approved by DCFS and our 1st Endorsement Letter has been sent to our SW. Now that this approval has been given,we can go ahead and submit our I600a --(Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition)
**I600a completed and sent to SW yesterday.
***I just love checking off steps in the process**** :)
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Gracie Started Soccer
Gracie started soccer this year. The games are on Saturday mornings....so cute and so fun. At this age, the kids all cluster around the ball and try their hardest just to get a kick in. She loves it and it is so much fun to watch too.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
1 Year of Waiting
Tomorrow marks our 1 YEAR anniversary on LL’s Korean Waiting list. We are currently #8 on the list….. which we are very happy about. If you would've asked me last year at this time where I’d thought we’d be; I would have told you much closer to #1. When we got on the list, waiting time to Referral was about 12 months and waiting time from Referral to Travel Call was 3-4 months. You may or may not recall, that babies in Korea are available for international adoption at 5 months of age (referrals are given to families when babies are 5 months old). So last year at this time, babies were coming home around 8 or 9 months of age. In the past year, the wait time from Referral to Travel call has significantly increased. Referrals are still given to families at 5 months but, the wait time until travel call has increased to 7-9months. This means babies are coming at about 13 – 14 months old.
I would be lying if I didn't say at times the wait really bothers me, and the idea of missing major milestones in our son's life makes me sad, and bringing home an older baby scares me a bit. But, most of the time, I'm okay with everything. It will all work itself out. We also now have all the uncertainty about how LL’s merger is going to affect of all this. We should know more about this by the end of the month. I’m hoping for positive news and not much change to the program….let’s all pray and keep our fingers crossed.
I would be lying if I didn't say at times the wait really bothers me, and the idea of missing major milestones in our son's life makes me sad, and bringing home an older baby scares me a bit. But, most of the time, I'm okay with everything. It will all work itself out. We also now have all the uncertainty about how LL’s merger is going to affect of all this. We should know more about this by the end of the month. I’m hoping for positive news and not much change to the program….let’s all pray and keep our fingers crossed.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
March..
March has been a pretty slow month at LL. There have been no boy referrals....which means we have not moved up on the list. LL announced earlier this month that they will be merging with another agency. This has us, and most families we talk with, feeling pretty uneasy. The reason being.... there are so many unknowns with this merger. How will this effect our "spot" on the list? How will this increase our wait time and what else will change? Money obligations, etc.?
I called the director of the International Program at LL to try and get some answers. But, there really wasn't much, "legally", she could share with us at that time. So, really we are just waiting until the final announcement is made to see what implications this will have on us. She did say one thing that sticks out in my mind. I asked her how this will effect our spot on the list and her response...."It's a good thing you are where you are and that you are already on a list"....Hmmm? Not sure what to think about that but, we'll just have to wait and see. Kirk and I just have to keep reminding ourselves that what was meant to happen will happen. Once you think you have everything figured out with the International Adoption Process....It will change ;)
A Huge positive....Our SW has finished our Home Study and sent it into DCFS...One more thing to check off the list.
I called the director of the International Program at LL to try and get some answers. But, there really wasn't much, "legally", she could share with us at that time. So, really we are just waiting until the final announcement is made to see what implications this will have on us. She did say one thing that sticks out in my mind. I asked her how this will effect our spot on the list and her response...."It's a good thing you are where you are and that you are already on a list"....Hmmm? Not sure what to think about that but, we'll just have to wait and see. Kirk and I just have to keep reminding ourselves that what was meant to happen will happen. Once you think you have everything figured out with the International Adoption Process....It will change ;)
A Huge positive....Our SW has finished our Home Study and sent it into DCFS...One more thing to check off the list.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
DCFS License
We received our DCFS license in the mail on Thursday. Since it seems like our journey has been a little slow lately, this was a nice reminder that things are still moving along.
I just finished reading I Wish for you a Beautiful Life: Letters from the Korean Birth Mothers of Ae Ran Won to Their Children. Our SW recommended this book to me a number of times but, really encouraged me to read it after our last meeting. I made some comments to her about how I can't even imagine the pain a birthmother feels knowing she will give up her baby. This book is a collection of letters written by birthmothers to the children they gave up for adoption. Many of the letters explain why the mother chose adoption and the life she hopes for her child. Some of the letters give some background leading up to the decision and some even speak specifically as to why the birth mother chose International adoption over domestic adoption.
Although, some of the cultural stigmas have changed since this book was published and it was very sad; I am SO glad I read it. It was almost like I was meant to read this book at this point in time. I’ve been thinking a lot lately that if referral timeframes stay on track (which as we all know, this could change at any time) our son has already been brought into the world and is just waiting to be placed with his forever family....our family.
I just finished reading I Wish for you a Beautiful Life: Letters from the Korean Birth Mothers of Ae Ran Won to Their Children. Our SW recommended this book to me a number of times but, really encouraged me to read it after our last meeting. I made some comments to her about how I can't even imagine the pain a birthmother feels knowing she will give up her baby. This book is a collection of letters written by birthmothers to the children they gave up for adoption. Many of the letters explain why the mother chose adoption and the life she hopes for her child. Some of the letters give some background leading up to the decision and some even speak specifically as to why the birth mother chose International adoption over domestic adoption.
Although, some of the cultural stigmas have changed since this book was published and it was very sad; I am SO glad I read it. It was almost like I was meant to read this book at this point in time. I’ve been thinking a lot lately that if referral timeframes stay on track (which as we all know, this could change at any time) our son has already been brought into the world and is just waiting to be placed with his forever family....our family.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Fractured Wrists
Our little princess went all out this time and fractured now 1 but 2 wrists. It's been about 2 weeks since she first hurt them. As most of you know, she is constantly moving...jumping, flipping, spinning. She is usually using some piece of furniture (even though we are repeatedly telling her..."you're going to hurt yourself")to practice her gymnastics and dance "moves". :)))) This time she was doing somersaults and jumping on our bed. We think she just landed wrong and her wrists buckled. They hurt a great deal at first but, she is doing really well now.
Here's a picture of her with her braces. We were so happy they did not have to cast them. She takes them off to shower and wash her hands and pretty much functions as normal. She's such a little trooper.
We go back to the doctor next week for more xrays. They will decide at this time if she can go without the braces or needs to wear them for a few more weeks.
Here's a picture of her with her braces. We were so happy they did not have to cast them. She takes them off to shower and wash her hands and pretty much functions as normal. She's such a little trooper.
We go back to the doctor next week for more xrays. They will decide at this time if she can go without the braces or needs to wear them for a few more weeks.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Short but SWEET!....
Adoption update. I sent our SW a quick note today just to check in and see how things are moving along. She let me know we are #9 or #10 on the waiting list and our Homestudy is next in line for her to complete.
This is wonderful, happy news :) Happy Valentine's Weekend!
I am hoping and praying those families that received referrals months and months ago, can soon go get their babies. To make a long story (or explanation of the process) short, there are quite a few families who received referrals back in May and June that are still waiting to be called to Travel. I can't imagine what this wait feels like and hope everyday that things speed up and get back on track. The wait for a referral is difficult but, the wait from referral to TC (travel call) must be agonizing.
This is wonderful, happy news :) Happy Valentine's Weekend!
I am hoping and praying those families that received referrals months and months ago, can soon go get their babies. To make a long story (or explanation of the process) short, there are quite a few families who received referrals back in May and June that are still waiting to be called to Travel. I can't imagine what this wait feels like and hope everyday that things speed up and get back on track. The wait for a referral is difficult but, the wait from referral to TC (travel call) must be agonizing.
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