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!
