I cannot believe today is Christmas-this year has gone by so fast. We are leaving for Rome in just a few hours. I am so excited! We both asked Santa for our baby girl (ha-ha). We spent Christmas Eve with family and friends. It was a lot of fun. We opened some gifts for Maya-she got some really cute outfits, little socks and hair bows.
May 2007 bring us our little angel very soon.
Merry Christmas to all,
Love The Dunns
This was the question on tonight's 20/20 with Barbara Walters and one that I have often asked throughout my life.
My father, Mark, left on the day after my 4th birthday in 1977, never to be seen or heard from again. I immediately told my friends that he had gone to "heaven." I guess because I had been taught that Heaven was a place where people go and you don't see them anymore-until you die.
As the years went by and other people that I knew died, I would say that maybe they would know where my Dad was.
I was raised Catholic and attended Catholic school for a good part of my elementary education. I went to church on Sunday every week and prayed each night before I went to bed. I learned from an early age that if you are good you will go to Heaven and if you are bad you will go to Hell. It was pretty cut and dry. I never questioned it.
When I was 13 my Nana was diagnosed with cancer. I remember praying with her and for her. My cousin Annemarie and I would have Mass in the living room for Nana when she could no longer leave the house to attend church. Two years later she died. I was so angry at God. I remember not wanting to go to the cemetary knowing she was buried there. I turned to my only known belief that she was not in the ground with her casket, but in Heaven with all those who had gone before her-including my dad. This gave me the comfort of knowing that no matter how long we would be apart-that Nana was in Heaven watching over me, guiding me and waiting until we meet again.
In the 17 years that my Nana has been gone-I have had several encounters with her. The first was only a few moments after she passed away. I had spent the earlier part of the day with her at the nursing home. She was very weak and tired-but managed to make me laugh and told me she loved me. I left to go home and a few hours later I felt this strange feeling in the middle of my chest--it wasn't painful-more like the wind being knocked out of me. I immediately picked up the phone and called the nursing home. The nurse asked if I was a relative and finally put my aunt on the phone. My aunt couldn't believe that I had just called--it was only minutes before that Nana had passed. I believe that what I felt was her soul traveling through me to Heaven. She needed to have me feel her presence one more time.
Several months later I was in a very serious accident and spent several months in the hospital. When the accident happend, I remember feeling like I was watching the whole scene from outside of myself. I felt like I was suspended between Heaven and Earth--it was incredible--I was not afraid-but I do remember hearing someone--maybe Nana--saying it was not my time.
I underwent several surgeries to repair my leg. The last one-the most complicated one-required two surgeries at the same time. I remember laying on the table in the operating room and the nurse placing a blanket on me. The doctor and the nurses stepped out of the room for a minute--not sure why--but I remember feeling a hand on my shoulder-I looked up and my Nana's image was there-she was telling me that everything was going to be ok.
I came through the surgery and recovery with flying colors. I can still cartwheel and tap dance all these years later!
Ok, back to the Heaven question: I do believe in Heaven. I believe that someday, when it is the right time, I will once again see my father, Nana, my cousin Matthew, Grandma, Papa, Danielle, Ernie, Gary, Todd, Uncle Tony, baby Kevin and baby Charlie, Nonnie and Papa Struzziery, Grandpa Fleming, Non and Grandpa Tom, and everyone else that I know who has passed away.
I believe and I pray that they are no longer suffering and are watching over those they have left behind and are waiting to be reunited with all of us someday.
Aleisa
This was a very nice Christmas present from the USCIS--we have once again been approved to adopted a foreign born child. Hopefully we will not have to renew this again.
A big thank you to Ms. Maldonado at the Orlando USCIS office--it was so nice meeting you and I will certainly send you a picture of our daughter!
Now hopefully a referral will soon follow this approval letter.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Love,
Aleisa and Patrick Dunn
Hello and Happy Holiday to all of you!
Today marks the 14th month since we've been logged into to the CCAA in China.
Those of you who know me know that I am not great at math--so I've allowed technology to assist me to keep track of how many days it has been since we were DTC (dossier to China)--which is 454 days. We were DTC on 9/23/05. We've been logged in for 426 days. If we want to get technical and count since we officially began our homestudy--which was February 28, 2005--then we have been on this journey for 661 days!
Now for some hopeful news...one agency has posted on their website that referrals have been coming in for those who are at 15 months-for us that would be Jan. 21, 2007--or 31 days from now!
However, the people who have been tracking referrals for quite sometime predict that based on the number of recent referrals and our LID--we should get our referral on Feb. 21, 2007--which is 62 days from now!
Either way-we are only one or two months away from finally seeing our baby girl's precious face. Patrick and I are so excited!
We ask that you continue to keep Maya in your thoughts and prayers during the holidays. As I've said before, I do believe that she may have been born this past summer---she may not know that it is Christmas time or that her Mommy and Daddy are coming for her very soon. We pray that she is being well cared for, is warm and loved.
Thank you for all of your love and support throughout our journey.
Love always,
Aleisa and Patrick
According to my favorite site--the rumor queen--referrals may be coming before Christmas. At least two agencies are reporting this. At the same time another agency is reporting that the referrals will come after Christmas and two more are saying no referrals until the beginning of the New Year--I guess it all depends on who you want to believe.
In my heart-I believe we will have a referral by the end of February and will travel to China at the beginning of May. I have nothing concrete to basis this on-except for a maternal instinct (ha-ha).
I met Ms. Maldonado at the USCIS office in Orlando today. I had mistakenly mailed them a check for our I-600A renewal application instead of giving them a money order. She was very kind and showed me the stack of families waiting for I-171H's--all of which were for China. She placed our packet on the top of the pile. She said that we had all of our documents necessary for approval--that made me very happy!!!!
Hopefully we can get through Christmas with a positive attitude and an open mind that 2007 will finally be the year that our family is complete.
Love always,
Aleisa and Patrick
Happy 15th Birthday to my nephew George Williams.
I was a freshman in college when he was born. His mother, Jody, is my oldest girlfriend. She and I have been friends since 1977!
Georgie was the best baby. I remember spending my Christmas break from college with him. He had this little santa outfit for Christmas that year. I would hold him for hours, feed him his bottles, and yes, change his diapers.
George is now a freshman in high school--hard to believe! He will always be my first "baby".
Hope you had a great day!
Love always,
Auntie Aleisa and Uncle Patrick
Happy Birthday to our nephew Colin Matthew Dunn who today turns 1!
We love you and miss you.
Love Auntie Aleisa and Uncle Patrick
With Christmas just two weeks away--I couldn't help but buy some presents for Maya. She is certainly here in my heart and in spirit--I just cannot wait til the day she is here for real.
I came across this poem and thought it was very appropriate for where we are in this very long journey.
"Inside My Heart"
Somewhere far across the sea
Waits a little heart for me
Amazing though how it may seem
We both are sharing the same dream.
I long to tuck you in at night
And hold your tiny hand so tight
To kiss your tears and keep you near
To chase away your every fear.
No one knows the tears I've cried
The emptiness I've felt inside
Only God knew what to do
A red thread tied from me to you.
And now my love, it's almost time
When I'll be yours, and you'll be mine
Soon forever-never to part
My child I bore inside my heart.
-Author unknown-
We've been logged in for 416 days. According to the forecast site--best case scenario for a referral is Jan. 8, 2007. I still think we will not hear anything until at least February.
Love,
Aleisa
99 years ago today my Nana, Alice Catherine Daggett was born in South Boston, MA. She was the second child to George and Catherine (Pierce) Daggett. She lived in Southie until she was five years old. My great-grandfather built a house in Quincy, MA on Farrington Street. There she lived with her younger siblings, Laura, Eileen and the twins Wallace and Frank. Her older sister Mary died of whooping cough when she was two years old.
Nana attend Quincy Public Schools and graduated from North Quincy High School in 1924. She went on to become a nurse and worked throughout the city of Boston. We learned later on that she had been awarded a scholarship to attend Yale Medical School to become a doctor-which was not common in those days. She turned down the offer to be close to home to help care for her father-who was sick at the time.
She met my grandfather, Charles Fleming, in the late 30's. He was from Charlestown, MA and worked as a fireman. They married in September of 1938. Two years later they had their first son, Charles (Chip). They lived on Myrtle Bank Ave. in Dorchester, MA. Eventually my grandparents had three more sons, Michael (1942), Peter (1945) and Mark, my father, (1947). Since the family had grown, they moved to Adams Street. My grandfather died of cancer in 1964. Nana continued to live on Adams Street until 1973. She then returned to Quincy where she lived until she died in 1989.
She was the proud grandmother of Kathleen and Michael Fleming (Michael's two children) Annemarie Fleming-Stenfors (Chip's daughter) and me.
Growing up I had the honor of spending every weekend, school and summer vacation with Nana. We would take day trips into Boston and spend the day at the Public Gardens or the Boston Common. We would walk over to the North End, Quincy Market, Chinatown--you name it we saw it. We would spend hours at Castle Island in Southie at the beach or a Wollaston Beach.
Nana would take me to the ice skating rink in the winter for my lessons and spend four to five hours there watching me skate! She never complained about being cold or tired. I remember trying to get her to carry me to car because my feet hurt! She would attend all of my recitals for dance and gymnastics.
Nana taught me how to cook, how to sew, how to read, how to spell my name, how to tell time, how to pray and how to love!
She was my best friend. It has been almost 17 years since she has been gone-which is longer than the years we had together. However the memories we created will last a lifetime. I can only hope and pray that I can teach my daughter all that she taught me.
I know that Nana is watching over us. She and I had a song that we would sing together.. it was "I Just Called to Say I Love You" by Stevie Wonder. Over the years when significant events in my life have happend--like my graduation from college, my wedding day and moving to Florida--this song has come on without any warning--like a message from her to me to let me know that she is still with me.
So today I just wanted to "call to say I love you" on what would have been your 99th birthday. I miss you and love.
Love,
Aleisa
Today marks our 13.5 months (411 days) since our LID. Our coordinator thought back in early October that we "might" receive our referral around this time... however--the CCAA has only matched up through Sept. 8th--there are a few families with dates of 9/11 through 9/14 that also received their referral--which means there are still more than 40 days worth of LIDs to be matched before they reach 10/21.
Today also would have been Nonnie's birthday. I know that she is watching over us.
The ladybugs are still "hanging out" on the front of the house--I guess they are trying to tell us something!
Love,
The Dunns
Here is the latest on the referral wait time...
According to a website that tracks wait times and referrals stated that based on the current trend--we should expect our referral on Feb. 21, 2007--which is our 16 month anniversary!
The best case scenario would be a referral on Jan. 8, 2007--which is only one month away.
Either way--it is expected to be here within the next 12 weeks--yeah--we are really getting excited about this!
Love,
Aleisa and Patrick
I can't believe it--three more ladybugs on the house today!!!
We took pictures of them. I will download them later.
We are both getting really excited about this whole process and can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Have a great day!
Aleisa and Patrick
Over the weekend we have had three ladybug sightings! Patrick found one in the mailbox on Friday. Then on Saturday we saw one next to the doorbell and another one above the front door.
Ladybugs are considered a sign of good luck in the Chinese Adoption world.
So if we "analyze" these sightings--it could mean that soon there will be a notice in the mail (Our updated I-171H)
The one at the doorbell could be the FedEx delivery person bringing our referra!!!! (Soon I hope)
The one over the front door could be that soon Maya will be carried through the front door as we welcome her home.
We've been logged in for 408 days as of today.
If the referrals continue as they have been--we could possibly have our referral in 40 days which would be on or around Jan. 13th--we would be at 15 months on Jan. 21st--so I am thinking it could be the end of the month when we would actually know. Ironically Jan. 13th is when our original I-171-H is set to expire. We sent in the updated application last week. The countdown continues--stay tuned as the details of this journey continue to twist and turn!!!
Have a great day!
Love,
The Dunns
We've added several Chinese items in our house. I love the picture of the Temple of Heaven. Patrick bought it at a yard sale for $2! We really feel it is important to have Maya's culture reflected in our home. We've been celebrating Chinese New Year for the past five years. The dishes in the hutch were a gift from Jim and Jill at our baby shower. They are so beautiful. Someday we hope to give them to Maya when she is older.
We have Chinese dresses, a Red Sox dress, a Patriots dress (I am from Boston originally!!) A sweatshirt from Italy (Daddy is Italian) an Irish dress (We are both Irish) a lady bug bathing suit ( I couldn't resist) and of course a Nemo bathing suit. She has more clothes and shoes-I know we are probably going to need some smaller sizes--these are all 12-18 months. The USA outfit is the one I hope to bring her home in!
So far all of these outfits shown represent all of our cultures--kind of nice being a blended family. It will be interesting when she is old enough to go to school and she says "I am Chinese, Irish, Italian-American" and has a Boston accent--she'll be talkin like her Mutha!
They have sent referrals to families up through Sept. 8, 2005. This means they managed to do 14 days worth of referrals since the previous update on Nov. 2nd.
Congratulations to all of you who made it into this batch. It looks like we could be two or three batches away!
Love,
Aleisa and Patrick
Here we go again! We are at 13 months today and still no official word on when we will receive our referral. I remember last year on Thanksgiving I said that I was looking forward to this Thanksgiving because the baby would be here--so much for that.
I am really trying to stay positive about all of this--but I feel like I am in a really bad dream. I sometimes think that someone is playing a really cruel joke on us--but like I said--I am really trying to stay positive!!!!
We are at 395 days since LID.
Please keep Maya in your thoughts-I truly believe she is already born and is waiting patiently for her Mommy and Daddy.
Love always,
The Dunns
Today is National Adoption Day!
To all of you who have adopted or are in the process of adopting--you are very special! There are so many children in the world who need a loving family to call their own.
We wlll be at 13 months since LID tomorrow--hopefully we are getting closer to receiving our referral date.
Congratulations Palmer family on getting your sweet baby JoLeigh today! We look forward to seeing pictures of her when you return from China.
To my dear husband Patrick-
Seven years ago I became Mrs. Patrick Dunn--I am honored to be your wife and best friend. We have shared so many wonderful times together and have created so many wonderful traditions. We have also faced many challenges--yet through it all we have grown stronger.
I love you more with each passing day and I am grateful for the love we share with one another.
You are going to be the best Dad for our little girl--just like you have been the best husband to me.
All my love,
Aleisa
People often ask, "So how far along are you?" regarding our adoption process. It feels like we have been saying the same thing forever--we are still waiting for a referral. People will often ask if we will get the same child as before...which I then have to explain that since we have yet to receive a referral--we have not been matched with a child--so the answer is no, because there is no "same child as before."
I know this hasn't been easy for everyone to grasp. So I found something that refers to the adoption process as a "paper pregnancy."
Here's how it works:
1. Deciding on a country, submitting the USCIS I-600A form and completing the homestudy is similiar to attempting getting pregnant.
2. Receiving I-171H approval is similar to finding out that you are pregnant.
3. The Dossier being completed, sent and logged in is similar to the length of the pregnancy. However most pregnancies last between 35-40 weeks and we are currently at almost 13 months since being logged in--I guess this is now more like an elephant's pregnancy--which lasts 24 months :) lol.
4. The referral is like getting your first ultrasound--you can see the baby--even though they are not quite ready to come out.
5. Traveling to China is the labor part of the process--18 hours there and 18 hours back--this does not include travel time within the country--or the waiting period--which I can tell you is very laborous!!
6. Gotcha Day--is the delivery day--the moment we have all been waiting for!! It will be full of emotions that run from one extreme to the next. Any woman who has given birth can tell you this-same as anyone who has witnessed a birth.
So we are still at part three of the process. We hope to move through the next three sections quickly in order to celebrate!
Hope this helps explain the situation we are in.
Love,
Aleisa and Patrick
I don't know who wrote this poem-but it certainly summarized how I have been feeling lately about the wait time and knowing that someday soon--we will have our daughter.
“I Wish Someone Had Told Me”
I wish someone had told me
Just how it was going to be
To look at your sweet pictures
And see you looking at me
But not be able to hold you
Or hug you so very tight
To hear you call me Mama
Or watch you sleep at night
I wish someone had told me
I’d have to see you cry
But not be there to comfort you
Or to gently wipe your eye
I can’t pick you up and kiss you
On your cheek so wet with tears
I can’t calm you, say I love you
Chase away all of your fears
I wish someone had told me
IfI do all that I can do
I’ll still just be here waiting
And I’ll know you’re waiting too
I wish someone would tell you
That we are coming soon
You have a Mommy and Daddy
Who think you’re the sun and the moon
There is nothing we can do here
Only sit and wait…
But we promise you our darling
There will soon be a date
I hope that they will tell you
So that you will be prepared
To meet everyone who loves you so
And all this time have cared
We’ll pick you up and kiss you
We’ll hug away your fears
And when we meet, you’ll know it’s us
,
For we’ll both be wearing tears
-Author Unknown-
I guess the CCAA will have to make some more room in the matching room...the website stated that all LID's up through Jan. 31st are out of the review room--which means they are now in the matching room with the remaining six days of August, all of September, all of October, all of November and all of December--it's getting pretty crowded in there!! Maybe things will start to pick up to make room for the January families.
Keeping our fingers crossed for a referral soon.
Love,
Aleisa and Patrick
We are two batches away from a referral!! I am overwhelmed with joy--and happy tears. It is being predicted that the next batch will go through Oct. 8th --sometime in December and the following batch will go through Oct. 24th--sometime in late January/early February.
The CCAA did 16 days worth of referrals in this current batch. There are still 57 days worth of LID's to be referred until our date is reached.
The CCAA would have to do atleast 44 days worth of LID's in the next batch in order of us to be referred in the batch after that one.
If they continue doing 16 days every 60 days--it will take 3.75 months--which from now is the end of February.
Congratulations to all of you have finally received your referrals--your babies are beautiful and are waiting for you to come to China.
Love, Aleisa and Patrick
Referral Wait
"The wait is about 15 months from log in date. We do expect a longer wait through 2006. The wait is hard but we have seen very long waits in the past. Time can seem to pass slowly and we will wait with you for that precious moment. We will let you know if we get any updated information regarding wait time."
This is from a China-only agency that we were planning on using if we still lived in Boston. I trust their information because they have an excellent relationship with the CCAA--I really like my agency in Florida--they just do not post this type of information on their site.
15 months for us is Jan. 21, 2007--so we will most definately have to update our I171-H by Jan. 13th. We could potentially be traveling late March/early April.
Stay tuned as things seem to change on a regular basis.
Love,
Aleisa and Patrick
Jim and Jill were married on 10/21/06 on the Disney Cruise. It was the same day as our one year anniversary of the LID in China. I was an honorary bridesmaid for Jill. She and I spent the entire year coordinating their special day. It was so much fun and it truly was an honor to be part of their special day. Patrick and I had already asked Paul and Kate Fiore to be Maya's god-parents when we have her baptized. However, since we live in Florida, we thought it would great for Maya to have fairy god-parents as well. So during my toast to the bride and groom--we asked them to be Maya's honorary god-parents and they agreed!
We are blessed to have such amazing friends who have supported us in our journey to getting Maya.
Patrick has already decided that Maya Lily will be a lady bug for Halloween next year!
We know she will be bootiful!!
Today we are at 375 days since LID--and the wait continues...
Happy Halloween to all of you!
Love Aleisa and Patrick
Patrick's Mom (Maryann) found this poem that an adoptive mother wrote to her daughter more than 20 years ago.
I thought it was very appropriate for our daughter and will share this with her when she is older. One more week til we are at our one year anniversary date for our LID. Our coordinator is hopeful that we should receive our referral at 13.5 months--which for us is Dec. 6th.
Thanks for being so supportive throughout this process.
Love,
Aleisa and Patrick
Once there were two women
Who never knew each other.
One you do not remember,
The other you call mother.
The first gave you life,
The second taught you to live it.
The first gave you a need for love,
The second was there to give it.
One gave you a nationality,
The other gave you a name.
One gave you the seeds of talent,
The other gave you an aim.
One gave you emotions,
The other calmed your fears.
One saw your first sweet smile,
The other dried your tears.
One gave you up.
It was all that she could do.
The other prayed for a child,
and God led her straight to you.
And now, you ask me throught your tears,
The age old question through the years...
Heredity or environment?
Which are you the product of?
Neither, my darling, neither,
Just two different kinds of love.
Hello,
We just received an email from our coordinator regarding updating our information. Our anniversary date is 10/21--so we inquired about what steps we need to take now.
We were told that our paperwork in China is still in good standing. We wil have to re-do our I171-H, which is pretty easy to do. Our coordinator did say that since the current referral time frame is 13.5 months--we could receive our referral sometime in late November or early December!!!
This is so exciting!! We could be traveling in February or early March--depending on the Chinese New Year holiday. I want so much to be excited about this news--yet I have to protect my heart and not get overly excited--anything could change--as it has so many times throughout this journey.
We will update again once we hear any more news. Thanks again for all of your love and support.
We really appreciate it!
Love always,
Aleisa and Patrick
Today is Patrick's 31st birthday...I remember last year we couldn't wait for him to turn 30 so we could send our dossier to China...time flies.
Our dossier was mailed on 9/23/05--one year and five days ago. It was officially logged in at the CCAA on 10/21/05--again almost one year ago...and still no Maya.
I keep telling myself that they are waiting to give us the perfect baby--I just wish they would hurry up.
Happy Birthday to my dear sweet husband. I love you so much and am grateful for the life we share together.
You are the best!
Love always,
Aleisa
The CCAA website has been updated to show that they have referred babies to families through Aug. 9, 2005. That is 18 days worth of LID's completed in approximately a 60 day time frame.
This is 9 days further than originally predicted. I am still not sure what this means for us in terms of the time frame--but it will certainly move things along a bit more quickly.
There are still 72 days worth of LID's before ours.
Hope to know more information soon.
Love,
Aleisa and Patrick Dunn
We've made it to 11 months since our log-in-date. We celebrated by going to Epcot's China Pavillion and ate at Nine Dragons. We've done this every month on the 21st. Patrick's fortune cookie said "a small gift will arrive soon." Maybe this is what the recent rumor boards are referring too...the latest is that October LID families should expect to receive their referral sometime in December.
I try not to read too much into the rumors--but this is one I wish would become a reality.
Waiting patiently for our little one to arrive.
Love,
The Dunns
The CCAA website has been updated to report the they have reviewed dossiers up through Dec. 31, 2005. This means that these families are now in the matching room with all of the families from August, September, October (our group) and November.
It's getting pretty crowded in the matching room...so hopefully this means that referrals will start coming and we get to see Ms. Maya Lily's face soon!!
Let's keep our fingers crossed and pray that the CCAA is starting to move us on to the referral phase of this long journey.
Love always,
Aleisa and Patrick
Ok--I have been pretty good about not believing everything that is written about the wait times in China. However, the latest buzz seems to have some credibility...
The lastest rumors have stated that families with a December LID would most likely receive a referral in June 2007. For us this means a possible April 2007 referral. This will be 18 months after our LID and two years and two months since we began paperchasing for the homestudy.
I guess I have started to accept the fact that we will go through another holiday season without Maya Lily. I've been thinking about her mother a lot lately. I know how sad I am right now waiting for Maya to come home--then I think about what her mother must be going through--knowing she is giving up her child--my sadness will end the moment she is placed in my arms--her mother's pain will last a lifetime. I know that Patrick and I will forever be grateful to Maya's birth parents--for they will have given us the most precious gift of all.
We will keep you posted.
Love,
The Dunns
The CCAA website was recently updated to announce that dossier's with a November LID have all been reviewed. This means this group is now in the matching room--it is starting to get a bit crowded in there!!
The CCAA still has to match the remaining July dates (22-31) for a total of 9 days, all of August (31 days), all of September (30 days) and finlly our month--October (31 days). This adds up to 101 days worth of referrals that still need to be completed. It has been taking an average of 40 days to complete 9 days of dossier referrals. If this trend continues--we should not expect to receive our referral until August 2008. It is our hope that the CCAA increases its referral days from the current trend to at least 15 days of referrals every 30 days. This will certainly ensure that we receive our referral sometime this spring and could travel in late May/early June.
We will keep you posted as things can change at anytime!
Love,
The Dunns
It has not been officially updated on the CCAA website--but families are reporting referrals up through July 22. This means that they only did 9 days worth of referrals since the last update. I do not want to even begin to guess when our referral will arrive. I keep hoping November--but it could be as late as February/March. Unbelievable!
Please keep your fingers crossed. We are praying that the referrals will increase so that we can atleast have her picture by Christmas.
Love,
The Dunns
I can't believe that our paperwork has been over in China for 10 months! Hopefully we will get our referral in the next few months--maybe before Christmas--WOW!
We have waited so long--this would be the best Christmas present ever!
Stay tuned for new updates...
Love,
Maya's parents (Ihave to practice saying it...might as well practice writing it!) :) :) :)
I read today that if the CCAA places at least 24 days worth of referrals at time for the next few weeks--we could potentially receive our referral in November. If they place at least 16 to 18 days worth of referral--it would be January. If they continue to place only 12 days of referrals like they have for the past few months--we would not receive our referral until March--which would be 25 months since we began the process. It would certainly mean that we would have to update our I 171-H with the USCIS.
I am not sure what to make of all of this--my head is spinning. I just want us to be able to get our baby very soon. Please keep your fingers crossed that the CCAA will now be able to speed things up now that they officially moved into their new office space.
Thanks again for all of your support!
Patrick and Aleisa
It was so nice to see so many beautiful babies in the referral photos!! If things continue to "speed-up" we could be four to five batches away from getting our referral! Hopefully the CCAA will match the rest of July within the next two weeks, do all of August within the month of August and do the same for September and October!! This would keep the wait time to 12 months--which is long enough!! We'd really love to be able to travel at Christmas--here's to wishful thinking!!
Love, Aleisa and Patrick
Hi Everyone,
We are asking everyone we know to write their state representative to get the following bill passed regarding international adoption. If our I171-H expires on January 13, 2007 and we do not have Maya Lily--we will basically be back to square one. You all know how much Patrick and I have gone through to become parents. We really need the United States government to extend the timeframe from 18 months to atleast 24 months. This will make it that much easier for us and many other waiting families from having to re-do paperwork and pay fees for something we have already completed.
We all need to get our Representatives behind this. You can email your representatives from this link: http://www.house.gov/writerep/
Here is an example of what you can include in your letter:
We have contacted you before with our concerns about the expiration date of the I-171H and the burden this will place on our family as well as an extra burden on the USCIS. Heather Wilson has introduced legislation that will give us relief. It is called the Helping Families Adopt Orphans Act. Can you see what you can do to help this bill make it through the house? You can read about it at the following link: http://wilson.house.gov/NewsAction.asp?FormMode=Releases&ID=1284
Thank you for your help getting this important piece of legislation passed. It will help tens of thousands of families as well as keep the already backlogged USCIS offices from having to renew the paperwork for tens of thousands of families.
The more letters our representatives receive the more likely they will act on this very important issue.
We thank you for your continued love and support.
Love,
Aleisa and Patrick
The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before October 31, 2005.
This means that our dossier has been reviewed and hopefully we will be matched with our baby very soon.
Love,
The Dunns
Yesterday officially marked 9 months since we were LID in China! I think I am starting to have "labor pains".
It is still uncertain when we will receive our referral. Some sites are sticking with the 12 month timeframe, which for us would be October. Other sights are predicting 14 months, which is December. Finally there were some sites that predicted 18 months--yikes!
We are prepared for the worst case scenerio but are praying for the best case scenerio which means we would be going to China in late December.
We will certainly keep you posted.
Love Aleisa and Patrick
Congratulations to team Italy for winning the World Cup!!
As many of you know, Rome is our home away from home during Christmas--so we were very excited to see them win!!
Ciao!
Patrick and Aleisa
Today we celebrated the 4th by marching in the town's annual parade. We carried the banner for the Sons of Italy Lodge. It was a lot of fun.
We cooked hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill and enjoyed the day.
Hopefully this time next year--Maya Lily will be celebrating with us.
Here's to a Happy 4th of July to all of our friends and family. Happy 3rd Birthday Jack!!
Love always,
Aleisa and Patrick Dunn
The CCAA website was officially updated this evening and announced they have finished the review of all dossiers logged in before Oct. 31, 2005--which means we have officially been moved into the matching room.
This is where they will actually go through our photos and personal information and do their best to match us with a baby who has similar characteristics.
While this is very exciting news--we still have quite a wait ahead of us--it will hopefully go by quickly and we will finally be able to say we have our baby girl.
Stay tuned for more updates...
Love,
Aleisa and Patrick
We have officially made it to summer!!!
Today marks eight months since our log-in-date with the CCAA. Hopefully we only have four more months to go until we receive our referral for Maya Lily.
Updates:
Last week we did our fingerprints for Immigration and received an updated I171-H (favorable determination to adopt!)
We are in the process of updating our homestudy which will expire on June 30--hopefully we will not have to worry about re-doing any other documents.
Four more months til Jim and Jill say "I do" on the Disney Cruise--we can't wait to celebrate with you!!
The countdown continues...
Aleisa and Patrick Dunn
DTC: 9/23/05
LID: 10/21/05
Waiting for Maya Lily
To my dear husband Patrick,
I want to take this moment to wish you a Happy Father's Day!! I know you are going to be the best Daddy in world to our daughter. You are patient, kind and loving. You will teach her so many amazing things. She will be so lucky to have you as her forever father.
I love you,
Aleisa
We received information from our local adoption agency that the current wait time for a referral is 12 months from the Log-in-Date.
This is longer than the original wait time of 7.5 to 8.5 months--however it is not as long as the rumored 18-24 months!
Our LID is 10/21/05--so we can expect to receive a referral anytime on or around 10/21/06. We could possibly be traveling to China at Christmas time, which would be awesome.
Stay tuned for more details...
Aleisa and Patrick
This extended waiting period has given Patrick and I an opportunity to become better prepared as parents. I have spent some time reading about international adoption and was amazed at the amount of information there is out there!! At first it was pretty overwhelming--but now that we have some time on our hands--it has been very informative.
We recently read about attachment issues that most adopted children go through. I never really gave this much thought--now that I have a better understanding of what it is all about and why it happens--I am so grateful to the other families who shared their experiences and offered plans and solutions.
This will certainly be a learning curve for Patrick and I. We are quickly realizing that ultimately our daughter's needs and well-being are our first priority.
Thanks again to all of you for your love and support. We are grateful to all of our family and friends for helping get through the waiting period and helping us get ready to be parents!!
Patrick and I are lucky to be able to visit Walt Disney World whenever we want! That's part of the beauty of living in Central Florida.
We'll be able to take Maya to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, MGM and the Animal Kingdom on a regular basis--talk about being spoiled.
Hi,
We received a letter from the US-CIS (Immigration) office that we have an appointment on 6/10 to be fingerprinted again. Our fingerprints from last year will expire in July--hopefully this new set will be the last set we need.
Each day we are one step closer to bring Maya home.
Thanks to all of you for being so supportive--we really appreciate it.
Love,
Aleisa and Patrick
We have a log-in-date of 10/21/05 for our adoption of a baby girl from China. We are patiently waiting to receive a referral with the baby's picture, name and date of birth. Once this is received--we will then be getting ready to travel to China to bring home our daughter.
