What's been going on?
August 5, 2005Well, it has been a long time since this was updated. The raffle was great- some people won some fun prizes. Alot has happened since the last updated. Our homestudy has been approved- that was a big step. Now mom is getting lots of paperwork together to get notarized and has been ordering files on waiting kids from China. She actually got a file on a little boy- I panicked! Whew- he already has a family. Mom and Dad decided on a little girl named Xi Li. She is very cute!! But then, another family also wanted her so she is going to them. Mom and Dad were very upset but Mom says that everything happens for a reason and maybe another child is meant for us. So, here she is.
Mom says it is not carved in stone just yet but Xi Fang is likely going to be my little sister. She will be 3 years old on May 26th. Her favorite toy is toy trumpets so as soon as it is carved in stone- Mom is running out and getting a new trumpet. I get one too so we can play them together. The report on her also says she LOVES snacks! My kind of kid! She eats 6 times a day!! It doesn't look like we will be able to bring her home by Christmas but Mom says she doesn't lose hope for that. But, if it is after Christmas, then that's the way it is. Well, that is the latest for now. Thanks, everybody, for playing in our raffle and for your thoughts and prayers for our new family member. We will keep posting updates!
A man named Steven came over to our house tonight to see me and my parents to to make sure we have a safe house for a new sister. Mom and Dad sat and answered lots of questions and then they took a tour of the house. He liked my room but Mom really wished I had changed my hamsters cage before he got there but I had track practice and didn't have time. He thinks that my sisters room will be great when my Mom and I are done decorating it. I get to help pick the colors and everything so I am ready to get started on that. Mom told him all about the plans she has for remodeling the house- she has lots of really big plans. He liked all of her ideas. He also liked that we are at the end of the road so there are no cars. Actually, I think he liked all of us.
The next step- My Dad needs to get some letter from his doctor. Steven was pretty amazed at his story of survival and how he still seems to be a great Dad. I agree and my Mom says he always amazes her with his story. But he says that the people in China don't know him or see him so they need to get some note. Then, he has everything he needs! He will come back to our house next Tuesday to pick up that note. Then he will write a big paper about everything he thinks and my parents will look at it to make sure it is right. Then it goes to Seattle to be approved and this big step will be out of the way!
My mom has had alot of people ask alot of questions about what we are doing and where we are in the process. On Tuesday the 24th, somebody is coming to my house to meet me and my parents. He will make sure the house is safe and my parents seem ok to be parents again. I think he will see that this is a great place to be a kid. Then, he will put together all of the paperwork they have done and write a story about them- this is their homestudy. Then there is MORE paperwork that goes to some government people. They look at the homestudy and all of the other paperwork and then say 'ok' and everything goes to China. Mom says China should have everything they need by the end of the summer.
Mom says that we have really great health insurance so they are in the Waiting Child program. These are kids that need parents right now and might need some special care. Some kids need surgery and some kids need medicine and Mom says we can do that. Since they need a mommy and daddy right away, we don't have to wait so long to bring her home. Hopefully she will meet me, her new big sister, by Christmas. Then I can teach her how Christmas works (stockings, cookies, family, everything). I think she will really like that day! It is my favorite.
Well, that is where we are and what we are doing. Check back, I will keep you updated!
I had always told my mom and dad that I wanted a sister, but when it really seemed like it was going to happen, I wasn't quite as happy anymore. I didn't think I was ready to share my Grandma and Grandpa with a stranger and the same goes for all of my uncles. I talked to some friends and one of my gym friends, Haylee, told me how great it is to have a big sister. She said it is so fun to go shopping and when her big sister baby-sits her. That is when I realized that this might be kind of cool. Then, one of my Best friends, Erin promised that she will help with my sister- she is like a sister too because we were both born from China. My mom and dad were very happy that I wasn't throwing quite such a fit anymore. In fact, I was helping come up with some names- which we haven't decided on yet.
Mom and Dad decided to go through a place call WACAP and they are very happy they made that decision. The people there are super great people. You can meet them at www.wacap.org. There are papers all over the house with the words WACAP on them- it is busy stuff.
Since my Dad did not go to China to get me, he is going to go on this trip to get my sister. My Dad's very best friend (my Uncle Larry) is going to go with him. Mom will stay with me and we can get the new room all ready. I get to help pick out the colors, help paint and help decide what the room will look like. We are hoping that she will come home before Christmas so Mom and I will probably do some Christmas shopping too.