19 Months and Counting

It has been 19 months into our 6-8 month wait! That means we are 25 months pregnant!!

Here are the answers to a few more commonly asked questions:

What is the CCAA? China Center for Adoption Affairs.

What is a referral? WHAT WE ARE WAITING FOR! A referral is when the CCAA actually matches us to a child, and then we receive information on Olivia - what province she is from, how old she is, her picture, etc.

What is an LID? Log In Date - When the CCAA logs you into their system.

What is your LID again? Our LID is 3-13-06 - the time-frame counts down from this date - so when it was 6-8 months, we could "estimate" when we might get a referral. Because of the unpredictable wait, we are no longer able to estimate that.

When do you think you will be going to China? AHHH, the million dollar question...we still have no idea, but what we are now hoping to get our referral by Spring. Then, we have a 6-8 week wait before we travel.

PLEASE PRAY that China will not shut down adoptions because of the OLYMPICS!! We also don't really want to travel around that time since it will likely be crowded and much more expensive, but at this point we will go whenever we can!!

ok, they DID get through November

I had a few emails from folks who really thought that the CCAA made it all the way through November, but I wanted to wait until they updated their website before I posted again.

The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before August 31, 2006.
The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before November 30, 2005.

The rumors have long said that November was a heavy month, so HOPEFULLY, PRAYERFULLY the next few months have less log in dates and we can SOON get to our DAUGHTER!!

This is Getting Ridiculous

The CCAA* has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before August 31, 2006. The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before November 25, 2005.

SO from August to October, they have process FOUR DAYS of paperwork. Instead of our hope that things would speed up, there is an even greater slowdown. At this pace we will be lucky if we get Olivia home by the end of 2008! I need some good news, people!!

*ccaa - china center for adoption affairs

I Cut My Hair

Well, my friend did. My friend Sindy was my hair stylist for years before we realized we were soul sisters. She was hanging out at my house a few weeks ago and we decided to cut my hair at about 11:30 at night! The reason? We were talking about my mom and how she likes my hair short, so we cut it. Plus, I've been thinking, if my mom has to lose her hair, I can lose five inches of mine. The funniest part was seeing my mom at the hospital the next day for her appointment and she said, "I liked your hair the way it was yesterday!" Oh well. It is a nice change and has been a distraction of sorts.

When Sindy was cutting my hair I asked her, "How much is on the floor?" and she said, "Mmmm, a small dog." So, we took a picture of the little dog...

Treatment Update

I decided not to title this a "cancer update", but a "treatment update". The first day of chemo went fine but was long, longer than we expected. From the time we got the hospital to the time we left was nearly nine hours, but aside from the tape they removed from her arm when removing the IV, it was pain free. Overall, it was a very good day and she felt good enough to go shopping for hats afterward.

Some of my friends from the adoption community have asked her name, since I always refer to her as "my mom"! Her name is Pauline. Thanks to EVERYONE praying for her!

Mom is doing well, feeling well, so that is good! We pray for the chemo to attack only what it should, that her health will be strong through this, and that the long list of side effects for these meds will stay away!!! (This picture was taken on my parent's 59th anniversary, last month.)

"Congratulations, You Have Ovarian Cancer"

That is what my mom heard from her doctor last Friday. He was genuinely happy, because in the grand scheme of things, this is good news. If they were unable to narrow down the primary origin of her cancer, then we would be facing a far more difficult prognosis. He also said that if she was going to have to deal with cancer, this is the one to have as it is far easier to treat than other abdominal primaries.

She starts chemotherapy this Tuesday. Our family is of strong faith and has prayers pouring over us, which is wonderful. We are still a bit in shock, and we are definitely learning more about cancer and treatment than we ever dreamed, but we are rallying, too! My mom said she is determined to face it.

If you are praying for my mom, can you please post a comment here or email me and tell me the city and state in which you live? I'd like to add you to our "Prayer Map", a project I am working on to give me something to do and to give my mom a "visual" of how many people are praying for her. If you live in a small town, please list the town and the nearest big city, too. THANK YOU!

One of her dear friends said, "Maybe this is why you are having to wait for Olivia...God knew your mom needed you to take care of her right now." As I was growing up, when I was burdened about something, my mom told me to visualize placing that burden on God's lap. Right now, I am placing our burden there, but I am also visualizing God's arms around my dear, sweet Mama, lifting her up and holding her close.

More on "Bail and Sail"

I had to post this beautiful email we got from my cousin. Please make sure you read my post from September 12 before you read this.

Dear Dawn and family,

In recent days I have been reading and rereading the story of the storm, the disciples, and Jesus. It must have been one terrific storm for even the fishermen to be afraid. I wonder what they woke Jesus up for. It seems that they might have wanted to blame him as he suggested the trip. It seems that they might have just wanted Him to worry with them, for when He answered their fears by calming the storm immediately, they were more terrified of His power than they were the storm. I think they finally began to realize just whom they were dealing with and that it wasn't just about them, but for His glory. My prayer for you all today is that that same Jesus will be so near to you today that you will physically as well as spiritually feel His presence and experience His answers. I pray for incredible and deep wisdom for the doctors as they look into this situation with Aunt Pauline. I suppose that it wouldn't hurt all of us to be reminded that Jesus doesn't need to sleep anymore. God bless you all as you go through this time.

Much love,
Carolyn

I wonder when I will run out of cute numbers! Today it has been 18 months since our paperwork was logged in (LID) to China's system. To an original time-line of 6-8 months. The last batch of referrals came in at 21 months from LID so perhaps we are actually getting closer. We refuse to hold our breaths on the 21 month idea though it would be a wonderful Christmas present. Right now our energy is focused on my Mama. (See one post prior.)

Bail & Sail

(here are the five kids with Mom and Dad at our family reunion 07-07-07)

The evening of our adoptiversary (09-06-07) was devastating. I had waited with my dad in the hospital for the surgeons to come and tell us how my mom's surgery went. When the time went longer than we expected, my imagination went wild. "What if something really serious happened? What if she doesn't do well during surgery?" I was relieved and excited to see the two surgeons come around the corner. They were familiar - they were the same men that operated on my dad for prostate cancer just last year. The relief lasted only seconds. One said, "The surgery went well, she did great...but we found some cancer while we were in there."

These are words that have definitely changed the lives of the Wilson clan. We found out Saturday the 8th that it is inoperable. My sweet mama, my dear mama, has inoperable cancer! How? Why? What in the world? Well, if you know my mom, you will not be surprised that she is being positive. She went from being shocked and saying, "I just can't believe it" and wondering, "Why me?" on Saturday to saying, "Why not me? Millions of people deal with illness all the time - why should I be exempt?" on Sunday. I think that is remarkable to come to terms with it that much, that fast.

I called my brother Paul early this morning. He reminded me of the story of the Sea of Galilee when the disciples were afraid on their boat, caught in the sudden storm. Jesus was sleeping. They woke him up and accused Him of not caring about what happened to them. Jesus calmed the storm and He asked them, "Why are you so afraid? Where is your faith?"

As the disciples were afraid, with the water rising and filling the boat, my fears are also swelling. I am trying to follow my parents' remarkable example of strong, amazing faith in God and I am grateful to my brother for reminding me of this story. He said, "We are in a storm and we need to bail and sail."

After other tests this week, we will find out on Friday if they can narrow down the primary origin of the cancer so that they will know how to best treat it and what the prognosis is.

Please pray for our family as we bail and sail and deal with the news to come and the continuing changes that are ahead.

Two Years and Counting...

Exactly two years ago today we decided to adopt. That is a 24 month pregnancy so far. The one thing I can guarantee you in all of this is that Lee and I never thought that this adoption would take from 2005 to 2008 to complete. We know people who have had two kids during that time!

We wanted to use this post to answer some FAQs:

1. We are not the only waiting family affected by the wait (how flattering, though…)

2. It will NOT help us to change agencies. We have a wonderful Christian agency (http://www.awaa.org/) and the wait is NOT their fault.

3. We could change to another country that our agency works with, but we do NOT choose to do this, because now, as before, we believe the Lord has a daughter for us in China.

4. We don’t know why it is taking so long. That is the million dollar question. Our personal theory is that it is related to the Olympics somehow.

5. The soonest we will get a referral as of right now is JANUARY. It will more likely be closer to MAY.

6. No, it is not an option for us to cease this adoption for any reason. As difficult as this may be for some to understand, we are emotionally attached to our CHINESE daughter. Even though we still have a desire to have a child biologically, this is the path we started on, and we are finishing the race. I am saddened to be asked if it would “matter” if we didn’t adopt. Isn’t getting pregnant what we want anyway? We will see what happens with that when we get home from China, but adoption is not a last resort for us.

7. Yes, the longer we wait, the more the costs increase (all updates with the U.S. Government) Already the delays have cost us an additional $1100, just in the last six months.

8. Yes, it is stretching our faith and patience. YES, it is hard. But we trust in God for the “right” child for us and in His perfect timing.

9. Yes, please pray for the millions of orphans and children needing homes waiting around the world.

10. Yes, please pray for the three of us. For Olivia, for our finances, and for us to all be together very soon.

Thanks to all who have been praying for us and supporting us during this time. We greatly appreciate it!