We have preapproval!!

Last Friday we got a very important email, our pre-approval letter. It basically states that our application will be processed, and our dossier moved into the waiting child program. YEA!

We now will wait 30-60 days for the final seal of approval - the letter seeking confirmation or LSC. After that is received, we will travel in 6 weeks. Hopefully travel will be in July, so there will not be any conflict with Jenna starting Kindergarten.

Beautiful Jenna in her Easter dress

WE HAVE A SON!!!!!!

Can I say that we are freaking out??

2 weeks after we put in our waiting child application, we were contacted by our agency to review the file of a 16 month old boy with 3rd degree cleft lip and palate, and Hepatitis B. His name was on the shared agency list, meaning all agencies and families had access to his file, and anyone could choose to pursue his adoption.

The severity of his condition was a concern for us, so it was important for us to review all of his information with our pediatrician and an international adoption specialist in Philadelphia. I tried to get a message to our doctor, who was not working that Friday, but the nurses would not pursue it. Bring the file in on Monday, and they would put it on her desk. So frustrating!! Later that afternoon as I took Jenna to soccer practice, who did we see at the soccer fields?? You guessed it - Jenna's pediatrician! I was absolutely stunned. Nearly dropped my sunglasses actually. Dr. Cindy is awesome, was happy to review the file, and called me back at 9:30 that night to discuss everything. WOW!

Then came the consult with the specialist. She looked through every detail of his medical information, good and bad. Some things were missing, which she wants us to pursue before we travel. The tests for his Hepatitis B were inconclusive, so that will have to be redone once home. Final conclusion - this was a low risk adoption. YEA!!

We contacted our agency Monday morning, and were able to "lock" his file for the adoption. No other family would be able to have access anymore, and basically, we will be his family! We had to send in some additional paperwork and pictures, and by Wednesday, our official application was sent to China.

We decided to name him Will - for Greg's dad. It makes me smile as I read this. I had a lady bug land on my leg at a park one day before our referral. A ladybug is a good luck symbol - and I guess it really worked in this case. We hope to travel to China by this summer.

After 2 years of waiting, we have a son. It feels strange to write it. We're happy, Jenna is excited - enough said!

March 23, 2009

We sent in our Waiting Child application to our agency, Great Wall China Adoption.

We have been waiting over 2 years to adopt our second child from China. Knowing that we want our daughter to have a sibling close to her age, and given the fact that the wait does not seem to be speeding up, we have decided to adopt a child with a special need. Greg and I discussed it many times. Parenting Jenna has given us the confidence we need.

We are asking for a girl or boy, up to 4 years old, with cleft lip/palate, hepatitis b, or heart defect.

Let the wait begin!