Are we criminals??

We don't know yet, but we get to find out later this week! Joy of joy, we get to go to the county jail to have background checks run on both of us ... Doesn't this sound like fun!

Blood!!

Both Eammon and I went for our required physicals and other than my passing out when my blood was drawn, it wasn't too bad. We found out that we both are doing well healthwise ... Yeah! We have to go back later in the week to get the results of our blood work and hopefully to pick up the completed medical reports and final doctor letters.

More paperwork

Now that I received our marriage certificate, I can mail off my passport to renew it and have the name changed to my married name. You would think I would have done it sometime during the past six years, but why rush things? Eammon has to have his renewed too, so we have to find out how to do that for a UK passport. Hopefully it will not be a long and involved process.

Mail

Yeah! Our marriage license arrived today and has already been certified by the Secretary of State, so it is ready to be sent in to the Chinese Consulate for authentication. We will hold it until we have all the other documents, and send it in one package.

Home visit with the social worker

Tonight we met with the social worker and had our home visit, which took almost 3 hours. The questions weren't too bad or probing and I feel that we did O.K. We each have to meet with her again individually and then one more time together as a couple. Hopefully we will complete this part of the process and have the home study report written up and submitted by the 2nd week in May. That of course depends on us receiving all the documentation in a timely manner.

Hannah Frank referral!

Our friends Donna & Eric, just received their referral, for their lovely daughter Hannah!! Check out that adorable face!!

Birth and marriage certificate requests

Today I mailed off requests for a copy of our marriage license and a copy of my birth certificate. Eammon has to have one of his brothers get a copy of his birth certificate, and then once it is received, his brother will have to take it, in person, to the Chinese Consulate in London. What a pain, the consulate does not accept items through the post, only in person!

Home Study Orientation meeting

I am so sick with bronchial pneumonia, I really should have spent the day in bed, not going near anyone. Had I done that though, we'd have had to wait an entire month before we could start our home study. Our agency CCAI, requires that all families attend a Home Study Orientation Meeting which thankfully counts as the first of the four required pre-adoption home study visits. So, this morning Eammon and I attended the meeting with a room full of hopeful adoptive families. In my drugged cough drop popping state, it seemed as though many of the families had not read a single page of the documentation that had been previously sent to them so there were lots and lots and lots of questions.

We didn't really have the opportunity to talk to any of the other people as I think they were avoiding us. Truth be told, I do sound like a hacking, boozing, chain smoking Barry White...Shoot I'd stay away from me if I could!

In the end though, we submitted our autobiographies, our home study service agreement, our home study payment, copies of our water and sewer bills and our safe home checklist. Reference letters have been sent and received by our listed references. Now that we have attended this meeting, our assigned social worker should be contacting us within the next week to start our visits.

Now finally, a piece of advice. If you're going to be popping lots and lots of cough drops, make sure to use the ones with sugar, not the sugarless as they cause other problems and when you're already sick you don't need these problems too! Take my word, lesson learned.

We can start our paperwork

The CCAI Service agreement and first agency fee were received and accepted in the Denver office. We received our Adoption Dossier Guide which is a 50 page document to help us in preparing our China Dossier. Our next step will be to attend a Home Study Orientation meeting, which is only held once a month. We have started working on our autobiographies and compiling some of the paperwork required by the social worker.

2009 Travel Schedule

June 7-13: Florida ~ Heading to Animal Kingdom on Thursday June 11, email if you'd like to meet up with us!

June 23-29: Boston, MA/ Hartford, CT/ Nashua, NH

July 9-14: Salt Lake City, UT

October: 7-day Western Caribbean cruise

December, 1st half: Aruba

Christmas - New Year: London, UK

Chocolate mint brownies

Brownies:
1 box fudge brownie mix (for a 13 x 9-inch pan)
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup water
2 large eggs
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract

Peppermint Butter cream layer:
2/3 cup butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoon milk
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chocolate Ganache:
1/3 cup whole milk
1/4 cup butter
1 (12 ounce) bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 325. Then prepare a 13 x 9-inch baking dish by spraying lightly with non-stick cooking spray. Cut a piece of parchment paper to the width of the bottom of the pan and long enough to extend over the long edges. Spray parchment lightly with non-stick cooking spray.

To the brownie mix, add melted butter, water, eggs and 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract. Mix by hand just until dry ingredients are incorporated. Pour into prepared pan and bake according to package directions. Let cool completely.

To prepare the mint butter cream layer, beat together the powdered sugar and softened butter. Add the milk, peppermint and vanilla extracts and mix until smooth. Spread the butter cream evenly over the top of the cooled brownies. Place brownies in fridge to firm up the butter cream.

For the chocolate ganache, place the milk and butter in a microwave safe bowl and heat on 50%until the butter has melted. Add the chocolate chips and mix with an electric mixer on low until the chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla and mix until incorporated. Beat in 1 cup powdered sugar until frosting is smooth. Spread chocolate ganache over the mint butter cream on the brownies.

Place back in fridge for about an hour to firm up frosting. Using the parchment paper, remove the brownies from the pan and while cold, cut into squares. They must be cut when cold otherwise the layers mush. Though delicious cold, these brownies are even better when served at room temperature.

Enjoy!

Yes you can go carry-on-only!!

Lisa
Pack 4 shirts, wear 1
1 zip-up fleece (wear on plane)
Pack 2 pants, wear 1
Pack 4 prs Undies, wear 1
Pacl 1 set silk long underware
Pack 2 Bras, wear 1
Pack 4 prs socks, wear 1
Pack 2 Night shirts
Pack 1 pr slippers
1 pr Tennies (wear)1
Winter jacket, gloves & hat
Feminine products
Razor
Toothbrush1
6pk. contact lenses
1 Travel size saline solution
Contact lens case
Glasses

Eammon
Pack 4 shirts, wear 1
1 zip-up fleece (wear on plane)
Pack 2 prs Pants, wear 1
Pack 4 prs Boxers, wear 1
Pack 4 prs socks, wear 1
Pack 1 pr Lounge/sleep pants
Pack 1 pr slippers1
pr Tennies (wear)
1 Winter jacket & gloves
Sunglasses
1 Travel size Shaving cream
After shave gel
RazorToothbrush
Body Spray
Hair brush/comb

Shared Toiletries
2 small body wash
2 travel size shampoo
2 travel size conditioner
1 travel size mousse
1 Travel size Deodorant
2 Travel size Toothpaste
2 Travel size Mouth wash
1 Travel size Gold Bond Powder
1 Travel pack Q-tips
1 Dental floss
Nail clippers
Emery board
Tweezers
Ear plugs

Meds Lisa & Eammon
Ibuprophen
Aleve
Excedrin
Allergy pills
Stomach relief tabs
Anti-diarrhea tabs
Laxative tabs
Mucinex tabs
Vitamins
E’s prescriptions
L’s prescriptions
Prescription antibiotics
Scabies cream
Ambien
Medrol dose pak
Darvocet
Hydrocortisone cream
Triple antibiotic ointment
Lotrisome
Cough drops
Dental repair kit
Paper tape & gauze

Non Specifics
3 pkgs. Travel Kleenex
2- 33 pk. Cottonelle Fresh wipes
2 Travel sz Purell on keychains
Travel size Dawn dish liquid
1 pr wooden chop sticks (for fishing nipples from hot water)
90 Antibacterial wipes
Ziploc bags, various sizes
Sewing kit
12 Granola/Protein Bars
Blistex
Deck of playing cards
1 black sharpie pen
2 black ink pens
1 Small notebook/travel diary
1 Tide pen
1 Travel umbrella
2 Travel pillows
Laptop
Memory sticks
Digital camera, cable, extra battery, charger
Video camera
DVDs
Converter
Neck security wallet
2 copies of each passport
2 each passport photos
1 Book each
Travel Sudoku
Travel Tekkin
Gifts
Red envelopes

Maisie
8 Outfits (I plan to shop!)
2 Sweaters/jackets
1 Thermal unionsuit
1 Winter coat/hat/mittens
3 prs Footie PJ’s
1 Sleep hat
8 prs Socks
2 Blankets
1 Hat
Hair bows
Shoes
Slippers

Meds and Maisie Specific
Feeding:
2 Plastic coated bibs
2 Playtex bottles 8 oz
75 bottle liners
6 Fast flow nipples
Formula container
Nipple brush
Small thermos
Bottle toppers
Cheerios
Cheerios container
Disposable baby spoons
3 Disposable bowls with covers

Diapering:
6 Overnight diapers (In China buy green pks, avoid Red pkg diapers)
40 Baby wipes
50 Diaper disposal bags
Cornstarch powder
Diaper cream

Bathing:
14 Disp. dry foaming washcloths
Baby toothbrush and toothpaste

Meds:
Baby Advil
Baby Motrin
Baby Tylenol
Baby Tylenol Cold & Cough
Baby Triaminic cough strips
Prescription Antibiotics
Prescription scabies cream
Mylicon gas drops
Baby Ora-Gel
Baby Glycerin suppositories
Baby nose spray
12 pkgs Pedialyte powder

Misc.
Baby nail clippers
Diaper pins
Binky and clip (just in case)
Thermometer
Medicine syringes
3 Soft toys & teething toy
Baby books
Chinese lullaby CD
Blow up ball

More Stuff!
Hip Hammock
Baby Bjorn
Bum bags
When You Were Born in China book(for Nannies, travel mates & guides to sign)

Our Never Ending Adoption Timeline

(approx. 12-14 months)

2/7/2005 Application sent to CCAI

2/14/2005 Adoption application approved!

3/12/2005 Home Study orientation meeting

3/15/2005 Requests for marriage and birth certificates sent

3/25/2005 First home study visit with both of us

3/26/2005 Certified marriage certificate received

3/28/2005 Eammon's required physical

3/29/2005 Lisa's required physical

4/1/2005 Lisa's birth certificate received

4/1/2005 Received completed physical forms for both Lisa and Eammon

4/1/2005 Police background checks run, and notarized

4/5/2005 Lisa's passport renewal mailed

4/5/2005 Lisa's birth certificate sent to Massachusetts Secretary of State

4/9/2005 Eammon's individual home study visit

4/9/2005 Lisa & Eammon's 2nd joint home study visit

4/11/2005 Eammon's passport renewal mailed to the British Embassy

4/13/2005 Lisa's individual home study visit

4/14/2005 Lisa's certified birth certificate received from the Massachusetts Secretary of State

4/18/2005 Lisa's new passport received

4/27/2005 Eammon's fully authenticated birth certificate received

4/27/2005 Lisa's birth certificate sent to the Chinese Embassy in NYC

4/27/2005 I-600A mailed to USCIS

5/3/2005 All required documents given to the social worker

5/4/2005 Eammon's new passport received

5/11/2005 I-600A fingerprint appointment letter received

5/14/2005 Lisa's fully authenticated birth certificate received from the Chinese Embassy in NYC

5/18/2005 Lisa and Eammon fingerprinted

5/23/2005 Home study completed & filed with I-171H to USCIS

5/24/2005 Home study & I-171H application received by Atlanta USCIS

6/29/2005 I-171H approval received from Atlanta USCIS after 36 day wait

6/30/2005 Documents sent to Chinese Consulate Houston for authentication

7/2/2005 Documents received at Chinese Consulate Houston

7/12/2005 Final Authenticated Documents received from Chinese Consulate Houston

7/13/2005 Dossier documents overnighted to CCAI Denver

7/14/2005 Dossier in critical review

7/20/2005 Dossier passed critical review

7/20/2005 Dossier being translated

7/22/2005 Dossier sent to China (DTC)!!!

8/10/2005 Infamous brown envelope arrives.

8/10/2005 Official LID (log in date at CCAA)

8/22/2006 Lisa and Eammon re-fingerprinted

9/25/2006 Re-filed for I-600A/I-171H

Wait for Referral (approx. 8, 10, 12, 13, 14 month wait??)

11/3/2006 REFERRAL!!!!! After being logged in for 451 days and 635 days since agency application approval

12/7/2006 Travel to China

12/11/2006 Maisie Day!!! We become a family of 3 this day!!!

12/25/2006 Home from China!

We've been accepted!

Kathi from the Denver CCAI office called and informed us that our application has been accepted. We have now officially started the adoption process!

Our application is complete

After waiting almost a month for our doctor to write a short letter, I was finally able to pick the letter up today, and I mailed our completed application to CCAI (Chinese Children Adoption International).

We picked an agency

After months of looking at numerous adoption agencies, and talking to adoptive parents and attending orientation meetings, we have decided that our first choice agency is CCAI (Chinese Children Adoption International). We have completed the application and only need to obtain a letter from our primary care physician, before we can submit the package.