CCAA Update

Quote:
Currently there are cases of human infection of the swine flu found in some countries and regions. With the high infectivity of this disease, children are susceptible to it for their low resistance. In order to avoid cross infection during the process of adoption registration and protect the health of children in orphanages as well as the adoptive parents, we hereby announce that:

Adoption agencies are required to counsel the adoptive parents who have received Notice of Coming to China for Adoption to postpone their trip to China for the registration procedure.

The validity period of Notice of Coming to China for Adoption issued between March 1 to April 30 this year is prolonged from three months to five months (There is no need to update the paper).

Adoptive families are advised to follow the arrangement of local registration authorities and cooperate during the entrustment of child for the harmony period and the adoption registration process.

If adoptive parents feel unwell during their stay in China for the registration procedure, they shall go to the hospital for medical checkup in time and report to CCAA about relevant situation.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

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So, based on that, it looks like we will be waiting until the swine flu has been contained. I hope that the people who have TAs will be permitted to travel as the second last paragraph states that, "If adoptive parents feel unwell during their stay in China...".


I pray that my friends who have received their LOAs will be permitted to travel, as their flights are booked!

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Rumour or Truth?

It appears that Adoptions, Referrals, Travel Approvals, and LOAs could be halted for 20-30 days because of the Swine Flu.


The CCAA is closed right now as it is 3:15 am, so we won't know until tonight if it is true or not.


I will make another post when I know for sure.

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Waiting for LOA

We are still waiting for our LOA... surely it will come soon.


Today Jon announced (via email) at work, that we are adopting and sent a photo of Miah to his co-workers. He received quite a few responses-most were very positive and congratulatory. One response was totally inappropriate.


I am sure those of you who have adopted before, know exactly the question that was asked of him, "How much did that cost?". I really liked Jon's reply, which was, "If you do it right... everything."


I have a wonderful husband.

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More Photos of Miah's Birthday

Miah is wearing the dress we sent to her in some of the photos (green with flying lady bugs).

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What Is Miah Like?:

We have been told that Miah is a moderate sleeper, and she still naps during the day. She speaks a bit of mandarin and a bit of cantonese. She calls all her friends by name, and refers to herself as "Hua Yi" (which is pronounced Ahh Ye).


She has no problems voicing her wants and can be obstinate at times. She has a ready smile (that part is obvious from her photos). She's a little bit quiet, but they also list her as being fairly extroverted.


Miah can get around quite well with or without casts. Apparently, the casts do not slow her down any. There's often a trail of plaster marking her path.


Miah's favorite toys are puzzles and blocks. She doesn't use a soother but rather likes to be comforted by being held (I am looking forward to that).

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Happy Birthday Miah !!

Today Miah is 2 years old.


TCH has received two of our packages and cards for Miah, and gave them to her today.

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A Few Things We Are Thankful For

1) After 2 years of waiting for a NSN child, we switched to SN, updated our homestudy and received a referral in less than 1 month.

2) Miah is currently receiving exceptional care in a special children's home in China - from Chinese as well as western workers that speak to her in English and are open to communicating with us, as we wait.

3) The orphanage where Miah used to live, also has western workers/volunteers that used to take care of her and love her, and care about her "forever family".

4) That in the middle of tough economic times, God has provided us with a dependable income, that should at least last us long enough to get to China and back.

5) That Miah's big brothers and sisters are both supportive and ready to grow our family a little bit more.

6) Our church is excited, can't wait to have us bring Miah home, and wants to get involved and help out the waiting children in China.

7) ...I'm sure there's more, but that'll do for now...

Miah at TCH

Today is a good day. We received clear photographs of Miah at TCH. She looks very happy. Jenny has told us that Miah is being well cared for. I believe that to be true!

We decided to make this blog spot private as we do not have our official LOA yet, and we wanted to post these photographs of Miah.


Thanks for your prayers and good wishes for Miah. She recently had and recovered from the chicken pox. I will post another photograph of her with them soon.

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Angelina

I was going through some vacation photos, and I thought that this photo was cute. Angelina likes to pretend she is in martial arts.

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CNN Article

I was reading an interesting article on CNN this morning:


Link here


It is a blessing that waiting children are more likely to be adopted right now, with the wait times for a healthy baby in China approaching five years.

The adoption slow down has been an absolute blessing for us. Our second daughter from China waits for us in Guangdong province. We are excited to meet her!

How perfect God's timing is.

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Travel Ruminations

We have both been having "what if" fun lately around the subject of China travel plans. Last trip we flew to Toronto, Vancouver, then after a brief snooze, Beijing and finally Nanchang. In the handful of years since, Air Canada now have a direct Toronto / Beijing flight, so that seemed like a good option.

When we received our referral for Miah, we noted that Guangdong province is way down South, and doesn't appear to be a million miles away from Hong Kong. Maybe a fun option would be to fly Toronto / Hong Kong, spend a day or 2 in HK and then catch a train to Guangdong. Of course, we would have no guide with us, but hey, we are clearly blessed anyway, so that would just add to the adventure... wouldn't it?

I can't help feeling there's something healthy about bundling up our kids and heading several thousand miles east without a definitive travel plan.

The Sound of Silence

We are still excited about Miah and our journey to China to get her. But, we are in an odd calm before the storm kind-of period. We have told family and friends about Miah, we've shown pictures, we've created this blog, asked ourselves hypothetical questions about who she might be and what she might do...and now we are just waiting for the "machinery" to move. It's kind of a mish-mash of excitement, suspense, frustration and impatience all rolled into one.

Maybe I should start a Miah fan club or something, as I am disappointed every time that I check my email and find nothing.

Pre-Approved by CCAA

We received our pre-approval today. Now we wait for our official Letter of Approval. I am so excited. We will be there soon Miah!!

True Children's Home

Miah has had some Angels watching over her in the orphanage and now at TCH. It was a blessing to find out that Our Miah, since September 1 2008, has been at the TCH getting a whole lot of love and care. Thank you!

Miah

Looking Forward to our Journey to Miah

What's Next?

We have submitted our Letter of Intent (LOI) to China, and now we wait for our Letter of Approval (LOA) from CCAA. Normally, this process can take 8-18 days, but I do know people who have waited longer.

A travel date can be determined (usually 2-3 months following the signing of the LOA).