What was I thinking?

I completely and totally forgot that it was July now. That means it was my 35th month LID not my 34th!!! I am so happy and now on cloud nine. Not like it means less of a wait, but hooray for us 35 months down!!!!

Another LID down!

Happy 34th month LID to us! We made it this far...so we're in it for the long haul!!!

Renewel Time!

Yes, it's that time of the year again. Just sent all the updates to the agency and will shortly be making an appointment with the lovely officers at the immigration office. I just love this time of year. It brings such joy to my life. Alas, it is necessary and will be done in a heartbeat as it is just one of the stepping stones on the path that leads to my daughter.

Thank you USCIS!!!

Another missed LID!

Wow...another LID completely missed. I don't know how this happens as I feel each day beginning and ending in this wait for our daughter. Our 34 month LID anniversary was on the 11th. I really and truly cannot believe we have waited this long.

I don't know if the wait feels harder now or back in the beginning. People I know are now receiving their referrals and that is very exciting to see happen. I keep thinking it won't be long now...but the CC*A hasn't referred for a whopping 69 days. Just hearing that makes me feel bummed. I was thinking we might go next year, but I'm just not so sure now.

Things that are keeping me busy right now are vacations, family get-togethers and Lyssa-Lou and her ever complicated rotating and spinning schedule. She will be attending Girls camp in about 3 weeks and them Pioneer Trek two weeks after that. I can't believe how busy kids are today with all their activities. When I was a kid we had to find stuff to entertain us.

Here's to hoping that referrals start speeding up and that someday hopefully soon all those waiting mommies including me will see our sweet babies faces.

We cool

So my last post was about the dumb swine flu and what was left in it's wake. While I know it's serious sometimes I think people go a we bit crazy nuts over stuff like this.

The hubs and I are so excited to get outta town, doesn't matter where or under what circumstances we always have fun together...NO MATTER WHAT. Who knows what adventures cruising in the rain might bring...hmmm maybe we'll have to make our own. wink.wink.nod.nod

In just a few days we will pass our 1,000th day of waiting for our daughter. We will also have our 33 month LID anniversary.

What do I think about this?

1. Never expected to wait more than 16 months.

2. The longer wait time has brought much sorrow.

3. The longer wait time has made me more appreciative of the gift she will be to us.

4. Waiting is really, really hard when you've wanted something for so long.

5. Once she entered my heart, she became real and I miss her.

6. I have imagined her face and body and feel in my arms one thousand times.

7. I will wait for however long it takes to get her.

8. Some things are worth waiting for.

9. My husband and I have grown closer together because of this.

10. I am a better person because of her and this wait.

Yeah, well it's been happening lately...

Well it seems as though I've had another LID anniversary and I've totally forgotten about it. I have noticed this has been going on the last 4 or so months. This wait seems excruiating when you sit and think about it...but the earth keeps on turning from day to day slowing passing the months and then years. I even posted a LID anniversary like two months ahead of time.

I've got the head spinning, delusional, crazy thing of having to count my months over and over to figure out where I'm at. So here's to another LID reached and passed. I think we are 32 months now???

#32 and some eye candy!

Am I Mystified or Mortified?

I was told since the beginning of our paperchase to not put much stock into RQ, and to just know that our child was coming. Well, RQ recently posted the projections and other not fun stuff and I just don't know how to feel about all of this. Right now we have been waiting for Emma for 2 years and 7 months to be precise. Referrals now are at a 36 month wait. Things have slowed down in China adoption referrals and nobody really knows why. I don't think I complain very much, but I just can't wrap my head around the fact that people who were logged in earlier (say March of 2006) are getting their referrals now at 36 months and that my LID in August of 2006 would be 41 months later????

Okay check me if I'm wrong but 36 months referrals are happening now in 03/09. RQ predicts that if the CCAA does what it has been for the last 3 months (which is approximately 3 day batches per month); that I will receive my referral in 09/2013!! Which is by my math 41 more months. Am I insane??? That will increase my wait of 12-18 months (which was the estimate in the beginning) to 72 months....or in other words....6 YEARS!!

I honestly know that Emma is in China, or will be in 3 more years...but I can't help but feeling disappointed, feeling a little stupid, sad and perhaps a bit misguided. I shouldn't have put all my eggs (not literally...snort) in China's basket. I will be into my 40's before I should see Emma and while I know that lots of you are older and adopting, it just wasn't my plan. I guess I can always adjust to thinking about becoming a parent at an older age, I was just hoping that Scott and I could blend the family (Lyssa Lou and whomever came into our home) into one semi-close in ages family. I guess it just wasn't meant to be this way, and while I still hope that things will speed up, I'm just not so sure they will. If by some miracle the CCAA matches on average of 10 days per month I just might get my referral around July 2010. I guess I will hope and pray for that!

Another one bites the dust

Here we are again, another month bites the dust. How many more before we see our precious baby? Don't know just hope it's sooner than later. Here's to making it 30 months!

Thirty months logged in with the CCAA!!!

On another note, I love my neighborhood. Everyone has a different neighborhood some are better than others, but ours is great. We have met wonderful people over the 6 years we have lived here and we wouldn't change it for the world.

Last night we were "Heart-attacked" by some of the kids in our neighborhood who are around Lyssie-Lou's age. You should have seen the huge cookie-eatin' grin on her face when we found the goodies. I'll post a few pic's for you to see.

2009?!

Holy Cow it is 2009! Time seems to fly and yet at times it passes so slowly. Yes we are still waiting for Emma. I haven't talked about this in a while and sometimes it helps me to remember how far we have come. We started our paper chase in February of 2006. Our LID was August 11, 2006. That means today we will celebrate our

LID-a-versary.

I really hope we will see Emma by the end of this year, but I also know that when we see her depends entirely on the CCAA.

I wanted to say hello to the friends I don't see very much any more. They feel like home every time I'm able to spend time with them and I appreciate each of their individual impacts they have made on me. Nelly, DeAnn, Brooke...You guys are great. Please know that I think of you often. DeAnn, I will always have your back, no matter what you need. I know you have the inner strength to beat all the difficult things that you face.

On another note all of the fun people I met back in the summer of 2006 at a big blog party are now starting to receive their referrals. It's amazing to see this. I am so happy for you all, I shed tears of joy when I see your little ones and I wish you all the best in the future.

The Hubs and Lyssie Lou did some Utah redneck sledding and I've got some cute pictures to show. Hope you all enjoy!!