Isaac Update ... just a small one

I got a note from our China case manager today and this is what she said, "Your dossier documents went to DC yesterday, so hopefully we’ll be sending your dossier (to China)  in two weeks!"

Aging Out

It used to be when one thought of adoption from China, they thought of healthy, baby girls.  Things have changed a lot over the years and it is now estimated that 90-98% of children abandoned have health needs.  When we were in China we experienced how difficult it was to even get a cab with a handicapped child.  No one wanted to pick us up when we had a wheelchair.  We did finally get one to stop, but the chair wouldn't fit in the trunk.  It ended up riding with us inside the cab on our feet! 

I wasn't prepared for the reality of how much the boys outnumbered the girls in the orphanage that we visited.  People seem to expect to adopt girls, so the fact that a child is a boy can be a "special need" in and of itself!

China's law specifies that a child must be adopted by their fourteenth birthday or they are no longer eligible.  There is a stigma that is lifelong for an orphan.  If they have a visible "handicap" it is even worse.  Often they cannot attend school or obtain employment.  Their future isn't bright.

There are many aging out orphans in China. What can you do?  If you cannot adopt them, pray for them.  Pray for their family to quickly find them!  These are five aging out children for whom DEFEND is advocating.  Do note that they are all boys.  Please pray for these kids!

Austin, 13 years

Tom, 13 years

Bobby, 13 years, nearly out of time

Daniel, 13 years old

Elijah, 13 years, nearly out of time

To learn more about any of these children visit Defend's Aging Out Page.

DEFEND!

DEFEND is a new advocacy site being launched by Bring Me Hope Foundation, to advocate and find families for the orphans who attend their summer camps in China. Defend's aim is simple -- "Upholding the cause of the fatherless..." It is a database with information and photos of the many children just waiting to be chosen by a forever family.

UPDATE!  Jan 2014 - Lance has a family!!!!   One of my personal favorites being advocated for there, (and reportedly the camp favorite), is a twelve year old they call "Lance."  His massive smile lights up the room; and his cheerful voice praising his Maker gives one the goosebumps!  This boy loves to sing!  Be sure to give a listen to the second video on his profile to hear some of that singing.  What Lance wants more than anything in this world is to have a mom and dad.  Could it be you?

If you would like to learn more about this sweet boy, or any of the great kids they advocate for, stop by the brand new
Defend website  or Defend Facebook page

If you have room in your heart and home, but aren't sure how to get started, feel free to drop me a line or check out the helpful section on their website about how to get started with adoption. 

These older children have so very much to offer.  All they need is the chance - and a family! 

They've been OUR Little Princesses for Six Months

In many ways it feels as though we made the trip to China just a few days ago.  How can it be that we are at the six month mark already?

 In other ways it seems as if these precious little girls have been with us always.

I don't know if it is our girls, if it is that we are REALLY experienced parents, or if it is simply the grace of God, but it seems as if our adjustment has been easier than expected.  We've had some tough times, sure, but the good times really have outnumbered the tough ones.

At the three month point, I shared with you the struggle of Jen's meltdowns.  I'm super happy to say that they have mostly disappeared unless we allow the situation that will set her up for one.  With all the craziness of their sister Ruth's wedding,  our house full of company for an entire week, their nieces and nephews competing for attention (and for their toys) and our schedule being thrown off, they actually did quite well overall.  It wasn't until the late night of the rehearsal dinner followed by the late night of wedding cleanup that the trouble started.  Abigail had a meltdown as we cleaned the church.  Jen had a MAJOR meltdown as we loaded up our van.  I am amazed that it took so long to surface.  Honestly *I* felt like having a little tired tizzy fit myself at that point, and I heard a couple of the grandchildren having milder meltdowns in the parking lot!  This week has also been rough as we've attempted to get back on schedule, while nothing is really the same with Ruth gone.

Our usual routine includes physical, occupational, and speech therapy twice a week and homeschool co-op once a week.  And the little girls who "couldn't talk?"  They have impressed even their therapists with their tremendous progress.  We still speak a funny combination of Chinese/English/sign language, but the English is coming along very nicely and they can understand most of what we say now.

So who are our girls?  Their personalities have really emerged.  Abigail is the dominate one at home, but is shy around those she doesn't know well.  She will clam up and refuse to look at a new person by hiding up against a family member.  She likes things tidy and in order, and her world is uncomfortable when things are out of place.  I've had to teach her that she may NOT take Mama's coffee cup and put it in the sink if she sees it on the table.  (A Mama has to have limits, after all!)  If something is missing - like the TV remote - we ask Abigail.  She usually knows where things are.  Even if they are UNDER a couch cushion, she knows.  She loves to watch movies, with Signing Time being her favorite.  She is a hot tea drinker and asks for a cup several times a week.  Ice cream is her other favorite (or ANYTHING sweet).  She loves to snack and is often heard saying, "I hungry.  Eat food!"  And she still has amazing abilities with chopsticks!  Abigail is usually neat, and seldom gets her clothes dirty.  She asks to go to bed around seven o'clock every night (how DID I get a child like this?) and squeals with delight when she gets a bath.  She is usually a giggling little mass of fun with an ornery streak.  Ethan and I have been known to comment to one another, "Good thing she is so stinking cute!"

Jennifer is a total sweetheart - except when she isn't.  There isn't much middle ground with her.  Either she is a total doll or a real terror!  Happily, her sweet side is the norm unless she is stressed or feels out of control.  She has trouble self-regulating which is pretty common in children raised in an institution.  She depends on US to keep a predictable schedule and we pay dearly for it when we don't.  She isn't a "me first" girl, and yields turns and toys easily.  She likes to eat, but will react with her whole body if she dislikes a food.  Peanut butter or cucumbers are known to send her into spasms in which she looks convinced that we just attempted to poison her!  She loves fruit, but isn't big on super sweet things like frosting. However, she does share the love of ice cream.  Jen is the one to take the lead when we are away from home and make new friends.  Movies are ok for a little while, but she is the one who walks away from the TV to play with the kitchen toys or puzzles, and she LOVES playing outdoors, especially on the slide.  Because she is affected more severely by the Cerebral Palsy, she is a pretty messy eater.  She also walks on her knees, even outside.  I often joke that her clothes are disposable.  I have yet to find a stain remover that can take on her clothes!   But, she has a real girly side to her and loves to have her hair fixed pretty and wear pretty things.

There are other adoptive parents reading my blog, and those still waiting for their child's placement who are watching those of us before them to see how we are doing.  For those who have yet to travel  let me reassure you that YES it is worth it.  Hold fast. They are worth all the stress, all the paperwork, all the hassle and all the waiting.  Stay the course.

The Little Princesses are Jr. Bridesmaids

Our daughter, Ruth was married last Saturday and her littlest sisters were junior bridesmaids!  Abigail was a little too timid to walk the aisle without Mama, so she came in with me.  Jen followed with one of her nephews on either side.  She was just glowing at the attention!

The week was a crazy one as you can imagine, with lots of overnight guests and upset schedules.  When you couple that with the realization that is beginning to set in that they have "lost" a beloved sister, my Little Princesses are just "off" this week.  We'd appreciate your prayers as our household readjusts to a new normal.

i800a Approved At Last!

Wow oh wow.  Our approval was waiting for us when we returned home late from the wedding last night.  I never imagined the wait would be this long.  It was a simple update, just a Supplement 3 form to our i800a.  No fingerprints were required as ours from the girls have not expired yet.  Easy right?  Apparently nothing in this adoption is easy since everything seems to be taking twice as long as predicted.  Here is the timetable for what was supposed to be quick and easy.




08/28/2013  Supplement 3 to the I800A sent to immigrations
09/04/2013  Receipt notice of Supplement 3 at USCIS
09/16/2013  Supplement 3 on our officer's desk.  She confirmed that she ordered our original file with the i800a to be consolidated with the Supplement 3.  
10/01/2013  Spoke with our officer on the telephone and she looked into what was causing the delay.  Someone for some unknown reason had cancelled her request for the file.
10/08/2013  Received an email from our officer that the original file had finally arrived and she would complete our paperwork that day.
10/16/2013 Called USCIS and was told our paperwork was actually not approved until Friday the 10th.
10/19/2013  Wow, it is here.  52 days.  Unreal.   NINE days to receive it in the mail once it was approved.  We had to have fingerprinting and everything with the girls and it was only 33 days from sending it in to arrival in our mailbox.  Have I ever mentioned that adoptive parents are obsessive about dates? 

So what happens now?  Our placement agency will have the form notarized and then send it (along with the other two documents required to update our dossier) to the embassy in Washington DC.  Once they are authenticated our dossier will finally make its round in China.  I am REALLY glad to get past this step. 

Fundraiser Blog Hop

Believe it or not, the holidays are just around the corner!  We invite you to skip the crowds and do some quality gift shopping with families fundraising for their adoption.  You know you'll shop somewhere, so why not contribute towards a great cause instead of shopping at the mega mall?

We are Ethan and Randi Lanz.  We've been married for thirty-three years, and are in the process to adopt again from China.  Most of our children are adults now, so we no longer have a "mega-family" at home.  Our eleventh child, an eleven year old boy whom we will name Isaac, will be joining three sisters who are anxiously awaiting his arrival.

Isaac was born with Spina bifida and is confined to a wheelchair, so in addition to raising funds for his homecoming we also need to make significant changes to our home and vehicle.  We have several fundraisers going on to help us towards those goals, and hope that you'll find something you'll like for gift giving this Christmas season.  Thank you for taking a look!

Gorgeous ornaments made in Haiti from recycled oil barrels and cereal box paper beads!  These are totally amazing!  Half the proceeds will go back to the Haitian families and half will help with Isaac's homecoming.   More details http://lanzadoptionadventure.blogspot.com/2013/09/ornament-fundraiser.html

Isaac's advocate from An Orphan's Wish made some stunning glass bead bookmarks to help with our fundraising efforts.  You may purchase from our Etsy shop or send me a request (via the comments below) if you have a particular color in mind.  I have many of them that are not on our shop.  http://www.etsy.com/shop/AsOneRescued

And lastly, I have created several scripture and adoption themed jewelry pieces.  See a design you like, but want a different scripture or saying?  I'd be happy to custom make one for you.  Feel free to comment below or send the request through the Etsy shop  http://www.etsy.com/shop/AsOneRescued

Be sure to click on the Blog Hop graphic at the top of this post to see what other families have to offer.  Thanks for stopping by!