Daughters of China

There’s an unseen tie that binds them
A red thread that will not break.
They are woven in a tapestry
It took five thousand years to make.

Their eyes are wide with wonder
Tiny hands reach out to touch
The faces of the families
Who have wanted them so much.

The daughters of China now fly across the seas,
Off to unseen places and possibilities.
They are gifts to those who cherish them
By those who just could not.
Acts of hope and faith and love
That we never will forget.

They were given up for reasons
That most will never know.
Now they are daughters to the families
Who have come to take them home.

And someday they’ll too be mothers
And have children and a home.
Thread by thread they will tie the knots
To weave new tapestries all their own.

The daughters of China now fly across the seas,
Off to unseen places and possibilities.
They are gifts to those who cherish them
By those who just could not.
Acts of hope and faith and love
That we never will forget.

written by Tim Chauvin

A Banner Weekend

On friday we mailed our 1600A to immigration. The turn around for that may be as little as two weeks in we are lucky. On Monday we are paper complete. We will send our photos and autobiographies to the agency in Boston. Then once immigration turns our 1600A into an I171H. Then we send our I171H into our agency. During this time our documents will be authenticated. I don't know how long this takes. I have heard four weeks. Let's hope it's faster. Then our dossier will be complete and will be sent to China. Once there it will be translated (unless the agency does this beforehand) and logged in. This is our DTC ....Dossier to China milestone. Then it gets sent to another department with China Adoptive Affairs and they will begin to review and approve us. If that goes smoothly then our dossier will be sent to the "matching room" where we will be matched to our child using any number of mysterious criteria. We have heard they match based on the mothers face but who knows how true that really is. All we care about is that she is happy and healthy. So that is where we are at in our process. As far as I can tell this is an accurate description.

Signs....yeah baby!

OK....whether you believe in signs or not.... Back in August Jeff and I were out running errands the day after he told me he wanted to adopt. I was so scared and filled with fear about whether or not I was ready to be a parent. We were driving and talking about our concerns regarding being "older" parents and whether or not we could handle the lifestyle changes. We decided to stop at a yard sale where we saw a little boy selling lemonade. As I was browsing I saw a book titled , Planning a Wedding for Older Couples. I laughed and said, "Geez we could have used this." The lady hosting the yard sale said, "Well, becoming a parent at 40...now that's a real challenge." Then she went on to say how much she loved it and how she had been afraid but it was totally worth it. I was sort of gobsmacked since we had just been discussing that very thing. I told her of our possible adoption decision and she handed me six huge baby rearing books! She said, " I want you to have these." and she refused to let me pay her the 25 cents per book. Jeffrey and I got in the car and I was smiling from ear to ear because I KNEW it was a sign. He was more reserved but he did own up to the coincidence of the timing. So on we went to Walmart. While we were at walmart we entered the baby section for the first time as a couple or with any sense of purpose. Jeffrey was determined to buy a pink Red Sox uniform, size 12 months. We figured 12 months was about what our mysterious future daughter would be. I had alot of fear about buying ANYTHING because then it would be real. I would really have to be a parent. I would really have to stop sleeping in and be responsible and change diapers. So he searched and searched and found nothing. Then as we were walking away there it was...hanging on the end of an oddball rack. The only one. A size 12 months. He was super pleased with himself but yet did not want to admit that this was another sign.

OK....so two weeks later I am sick as a dog. I took some cold medicine and it caused my heart to go way too fast for several hours. My heart is the reason pregnancy may be too high risk and it is a very discouraging part of my life. The meds to control my heart should I have issues during pregnancy present very serious risks to a fetus. My options presented by my DR. seem very "lose/lose" hence the decision to adopt. Anyway, I wound up in the ER and they had to cardio convert me which means they shot medincine into my heart which is supposed to breifly stop your heart, breaking the abnormal rhythm and then your heart will restart at a more normal pace . It was a terrifying experience and just reminded me how messed up my heart can be. The next day I was driving to my DR. to make sure everything was back to normal. I was so sad at how unfit I was and so discouraged by how hard it is to exercise with an arrhythmia. I was doubting my ability to keep up with a child and just plain bummed out. On the side of the road was this gorgeous couple jogging along with a stroller and I was envious of the ease of their fitness and health. They were my age, they had a baby, they didn't worry about their tickers. I hated them. They looked like an LL Bean advertisement. I glanced at the jogging stroller and there was a little chinese face looking right at me. Even though I felt like I was whizzing by... time stood still and she smiled at me and then she waved.
Now that's a sign! Even Jeff had to agree.
Go ahead.....make fun of me. I don't care! :)

Our adoption photo. Not too shabby considering we did it ourselves.

Busy paperchase

On Tuesday Oct. 3 we went to Boston to interview at the offices of China Adoption with Love. We made our way to Brookline just on the outskirts of the city. The area was close to where Jeff used to work and live so he got us there easily enough. I had never been to that part of town and it was very interesting and cool to drive through. We found parking at a grocery and found the office tucked away on a second floor above the shops. The office had the feel of an old elementary school. Very modest and small. They seemed to be focused on the kids as little happy faces lined their walls. Money was not being spend on office furnishings. We felt welcome and comfortable. Our interview went well. I think the CAWLI representative got a good feel for us and we for her. She was very open and helpful. When we couldn't think of just the right questions to ask she guided us and kept the information coming. It was generous and reassuring. We could not be happier with our decision to switch agencies. It's a very serious relationship and if trust is not there then you have to do what is right for your future family.

On wednesday we met Jamie at the Raymond Town hall to get a number of documents notarized. I got my first insensitive comment at the town hall. A woman said,"China...what a barbaric country. They kill children." Ummm.... not sure how to respond so we just stood quietly while the documents were finished. On Thursday Jeff got up at 6AM to drive to Windham to get his adoption physical and to Derry to get a blood draw. Poor guy had to fly home to be at work. That same day I went to Concord to deliver the notarized Documents to DCYF and the State Police. While I was at the state police they ran Jeff, Jamies and my police records and cleared us. Then I went and had my blood drawn. It was a hectic week. Saturday we went leaf peeping and to the fryburg fair. The weather was incredible. Sunday we went to Jamies store and shopping in Newington. We took the remainder of our adoption photos in the beautiful foliage. We need five pictures of Jeff and I both seperate and together. We need pics of the inside and outside of this house as well as the outside of the southern house. And tonight we have to write our autobiographies!!!! The paperchase is hectic!