Further on the delays

We've had a couple days to recover and are now feeling better, but I don't mind saying, there was a whole heap o' dissapointment in our house this past weekend.

We attended part of an adoption seminar on the weekend, where we learned that the biggest reason for these delays is simply the volume of applications. When we started this process more than a year ago, China was very attractive because there seemed to be a predictable, and relatively short, wait of 6 months from registration with China to date of referral. Not suprisingly, this was not only attractive to us, but also thousands of others around the globe. As a result, word is that the CCAA has been flooded with applications. So, while they may be processing the same number of individual applications on a monthly basis, the applications all flooded in over very few days, so the timelines march forward slower than expected. Those people who are only now sending their files to China are being told to expect a wait of approximately 14 months from registration to referral.

It's worth keeping in mind that these timelines are comparable to the waits back in 2001 and 2002. So, this is not any sort of precedent, and there is every indication that we'll get there, it's just going to take a little longer than we originally expected. Right now, we remain hopeful that we'll make the next batch of referrals, expected in late April. However, we've been a little chastened this month, so we'll try to also be prepared for not hearing anything until the end of May.

In the meantime, diversion is the word of the day. We're plotting a trip for the Easter long weekend - perhaps Killington, Vermont, for a little spring skiing or Washington, D.C., for a little sightseeing.

We also have a trip to Whistler planned for the end of April, so there are indeed diversions to be had! Nothing like a road trip and watching Tamara negotiate her way down a double black diamond (after a wrong turn of course!) to take one's mind off of things.

We'll be sure to post the pictures of Tamara battling spring moguls on her butt!

Bad News

Well, if there is one thing this process teaches you it's to temper any and all expectations.

It seems there has been yet another slow down. CCAA this month is only matching 5 days worth of applications. This means matches this month are only to May 30. With an LID of June 3rd, we didn't make the cut.

So, we're going to stop speculating on the timelines. Maybe we'll be in the next batch in early May, maybe we won't.

Sorry, we don't have better news.

Nothing new

It's been a couple of weeks, and there is a wee bit o' impatience developing on the discussion lists as eager and anxious parents-to-be start watching the rumour mills. While I'm indeed guilty of dabbling in the rumour hunt myself, for the most part, we are trying to stay away from the fray in order to keep relatively cool heads. When I say "we", what I really mean is that Kohji keeps telling Tamara to stop making herself crazy by trying to decipher rumours and translate them into viable timelines. There is a certain restlessness developing though as the 'referral' day starts to seem at least within reach. Thankfully, the streets are getting dryer, which lets me burn off some of the restlessness through jogging (if nothing else, maybe I'll be in better shape for Ultimate season!)

While there is no good news, there is also no bad news (i.e., further slow-downs), which in this process is actually a positive thing. As a result, we've made the requisite phone calls to our social worker and doctor to make sure they are 'on-deck' starting at the end of this month. We're also starting to turn our minds to a few more concrete things like names and where this kid will actually sleep. No decisions, of course, made on any of that yet. We only move so fast...

I am, however, happily following the travels of Children's Bridge Group 229 currently in China. These happy parents were united with their kids on Monday (March 13), and I am learning alot about what to expect by following along on their blogs and reading about their trials, tribulations, terrors and delights (it's as close to a complete alliteration as I can come up with). Of note is the fact that there are at least two boys in that group. We're not sure if boys were specifically requested, but it's a timely reminder that things may not necessarily turn out exactly as expected in this process.

Side-note: While it doesn't necesarily predict things for us, the babies in the last batch of referrals are from two provinces, Henan and Guangdong. The age range was seven months to eighteen months, with the majority in the ten-month range in age. The families will be traveling to China at the beginning of May.

Short Update

I've noticed how long my postings tend to be on this blog, so I'm keeping this one short.

It seems that those CB groups who were logged in on May 16th now have their referrals. Those logged in on May 31st, however, did not make the cut this month. That means that this last batch of referrals included 10 days worth of applications. If that pace holds, then we should just make the cut for the next batch in April.

However, we're definitely hopeful for next month seeing as how they matched 10 days in the short month of February, which would have included a full shut-down of the CCAA offices for at least a week because of Chinese New Year. All we need is for them to match at least 9 days worth of applications!

Don't hold your breaths, but definitely cross your fingers.