A road with many twists

We met with the two specialists Friday about our adoption plans and to discuss which child we should adopt. They strongly suggested that we choose to adopt from the Beijing area. The children in Beijing have better nutrition, education, and care overall. Yes, we want to help a needy child, but the specialists told us to choose a child who has the best chance to succeed. It's tough to "pick" our new child, and we were very happy for the guidance of the social worker and the adoption pediatrician. They have years and years of experience with adoptive parents, and we were very fortunate to get an appointment with them. If David was not partners with an attorney who knows the Dr., we would never have been able to get an appointment with these specialists. Also,we know that there are literally thousands of children waiting adoption, many who are healthy. On the CCAA (China Center for Adoption Affairs) shared list of children waiting for families is 6,778 pages long!!! Americans have adopted over 100,000 children from China in the last ten years. Wow! We'll just keep waiting for the right one for us,as we look more closely at children from Beijing area.

Do They Know it's Christmas?

Ok--I know I'm early, but I just received an official letter from the Department of Social Services to submit our foster child's gift list prior to Thanksgiving so that the gifts could be purchased in a timely manner. WE don't currently have a foster child; I just thought it was interesting that children in foster care automatically receive a Christmas gift financed by the Department of Social Services (our taxes). Don't get me wrong--it's wonderful, sweet and generous, and I don't mean to sound like Scrooge, but I can't help thinking about the song, "Do they know it's Christmas?" that was released in the 80s about Ethiopia's famine and the children who really live in poverty. With the economic down-turn, I would like to see Christmas gifts this year focus more on giving to others who are hungry, and less on receiving toys and other trivial gifts.
Sandy

Naming isn't easy (AUSTIN!)

Everyone in my family has blogged a lot, and I mean a lot, especially Connor.Therefore, I am not very good at it, so I'll try my best and you let me know how I did (lol). So anyway, as you all have probably heard a billion times. We are trying to adopt a Chinese boy. My parents are constantly discussing what we should name him. I think that we should just keep his Chinese name. It will make everything easier so that we don't have to go through the process of "Do you like this name? What about this name? How about naming him this?" Besides, everyone in our family enjoys saying names in Chinese! I think it's just the fact of how it rolls over your tongue and whistles through your teeth. I just love saying Xiao, our exchange student's name. I am really looking forward to getting another brother. Adopting another brother will really change the trajectory of our futures (in a positive way). I know, I know, you are probably thinking that there must be another side of the story. Well, there is.Well, don't get me wrong, I like the whole adoption idea and everything, it's just that I'm afraid that if we get another child that he will be another Connor. You can only have so much of Connor. You can only put up with Connor in small doses, so living with him can sometimes be a pain. I am afraid that mom will treat our new little brother like she treats Connor; you know, with the whole "Oh, he's so brilliant, and articulate." That gets me so annoyed! Well anyway the chances of my new brother being another Connor is pretty slim. Well I have to go now Xiao (our exchange student) wants me to go break dance with him.

Connor's (age 9) comments

In the Chinese orphanage, I heard that everyone shares a bed. There's usually 5-10 people in one room. So I will have to share my bed with my new little brother so that will know me better and get used to me. We have an extra bedroom, but my new brother will not want to be alone in a strange country. I will hope that he will like me. I can take care of him like I do with my little cousin, Eric.

Boo to the naysayers...the glass is half full! (David)

Most of the feedback we've gotten from friends and family has been very positive, but a few have been a little "cautious" in their encouragement. I, more than most, can relate to being "hesitant" to embrace new ideas. I have always been quick to see the negative side of everything first. This works well in that one makes few mistakes...but also does very little. I have learned over the years that being quick to say no to everything (especially when the idea takes you by surprise) can make saying no become a habit and easily foster a negative attitude toward life. I tend to find that after I toss the ideas around for a while I start to have a better sense of how to react to them...and how my reaction will be received by others.

I am upset that we might not get to adopt

We might not be able to adopt from China! We might not be able to adopt because my mom and father have not been married for at least 5 years and that is a rule in China. If we wait until July (5 years of marriage) then it'll take an extra year almost. So If things do not work out I will cry:( But we might be able to adopt a different child from a different country, and that will be ok.) My mom told me that 99.9 percent of the kids in orphanages have diseases such as worms, scabies, lice,high lead results, etc. If we get to adopt it is possible that he will most likely have one of these things. Mom has already got the medication for some of these diseases so we could treat them in China before we travel home.


please comment.

home study ( Connors opinion )

This is my blog about the home study, so it will be from a different point of view. The lady who came to check our home was nice and understanding. I showed her around the house. She asked me about my feelings about adopting and this is what I really said (mom had it wrong), "Life is short so you cannot change the world, and if you change the life of just one person, well, you're off to a pretty good start". Also, I said that my mom hates doing nothing, so when Austin grows up and there's only me, she will not have anyone to take care of, and no matter how much she complains, she still really enjoys it. Well, Mom, Dad, and the social worker all looked stunned at what I said. I thought to myself, you asked me what I felt like and that's my answer. I then went to get some hot milk. After I was done with my milk, I went up stairs and went to bed.