7 Quick Takes Friday

--- 1 ---

It has been a wild and wooly week in Adoptionland, and it looks like it's going to get even more exciting.  Our social worker emailed on Wednesday to say that she is proofreading our home study.  Once the final copy is approved by her boss and our China agency, we can send our application off to U.S. Immigration and begin our wait for the last piece of paper we need to complete our China dossier.  I've been hoping to get to that step by the end of February.  That's not looking super likely, but I'm still holding out hope.

--- 2 ---

Jeremy and I are doing this diet.  We unknowingly started on the first day of Lent, appropriate since we are giving up a whole bunch of yummy things.  (Bread, I miss you!)  Thankfully the diet is only 17 days long - not 40!  Today is day three, and I am seriously craving a chai and BREAD (French bread, muffins, cereal, Goldfish...I'll take anything).

--- 3 ---

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know that we started this process hoping to adopt two children from Ghana.  Since then, our adoption journey has taken us in many different directions, but we've always planned on welcoming two new little ones to our family.  When our adoption in Texas fell through, we began talking with our China agency about adding a second child to our adoption.  They have been 100% supportive and are doing everything they can to match us with a second child.  China releases the profiles of available children once a month, usually on a Monday.  Our agency was notified last night that the new children for February will be added this Monday!  That means we could wake up to our little one's face on Tuesday morning.  Please pray for us to have peace and wisdom as we have the opportunity to consider another child.  Lil' Miss said to me the other day, "Mom, let's get all the kids in China cuz I really want a lot of kids."  Sweet girl, I am so with you on that one! :)

--- 4 ---

We had our little man's file reviewed by an international adoption doctor earlier this week.  The doctor had a couple of concerns about some of the early medical records in the file and asked us to try to get some updated growth and development information.  I have to confess to doing Go*gle medical research and pretty much completely freaking out after talking with the doctor.  It's pretty scary thinking about medical issues that your child who is thousands of miles away might be facing.  ACK!  

Thank goodness for my rock of husband who brought me back to earth. :)  I have taken a deep breath (or 2,000) and am feeling much calmer about everything.  (Forget bread, I need to give up worrying for Lent!)  We have asked for an update on our little guy, and I am counting the days until we receive it.  I can't wait to see how he's growing!  And, yes, I will totally share any new pictures here.

--- 5 ---

So. Ready. For. Spring.

--- 6 ---

I "met" this little girl last night, and my heart is incredibly heavy for her.

She's five years old, has a gorgeous smile, and loves folding paper airplanes with her foster brother.  She's in China waiting for her mama and papa to find her.  She's been waiting for over a year.  This little girl has two very manageable special needs.  She lived with her birth family for eight months, spent one day in an orphanage, and has lived with a foster family ever since.  If we didn't feel so strongly about adopting children younger than Lil' Miss, I would go get her tomorrow.  (I still might go get her tomorrow. :)  Feel free to share this sweetie's picture and information.  You are welcome to email me at whatitmeans2beheld@gmail.com if you have any questions or if you're interested in adopting "Laura".  You can also click on Laura's picture to be taken to our agency's website.

--- 7 ---

 I'm off to a yummy snack of green tea and veggies.  Happy Friday, everyone!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!