Process to make a baby paper ready.

1. When a child is found, the local police conduct an investigation and the local adoption center assists in placing the child in an orphanage.

2. The department of civil affairs make an announcement in the adoption of abandoned infants and children whose biological parents can not be ascertained or found. The finding ads are in place for 3 months.

3. Once the 3 month period is over, the orphanage director and the local adoption center prepare the child's abandonment certificate, birth certificate, medical report, orphanage report and the child's daily schedule.

4. The child's paperwork is sent to the CCAA to be processed and then matched to a family's dossier.

Not all children are abandoned at birth. This can affect how old the child is at referral time. Also, it is up to each orphanage director to determine which children's paperwork will be gathered and sent to the CCAA. They refer children as young as 6, 7, 8... months old.

Another Picture

I forgot to post this picture of Olivia. This was the first picture that we seen of her, it was in black and white.

Olivia

Xinhua Orphanage

This is where Olivia is.... waiting for her family. From what we understand we wont be able to see the orphanage. They will bring the babies to Chansha (the capital of the Hunan Province) to meet us.

Olivia, Mommy is coming to get you soon. I can't wait!

February?? Maybe??

When we received our referral we thought we wouldn't be leaving for China till March. Well... our agency is actually saying (maybe) we could leave as soon as February 22nd! At first I was excited! Then I started looking at expenses. If we travel the last 2 weeks of February, it will be higher for our airfare (because of the Chinese New Year,). If you know me very well... you know this is killing me, because I am such a penny pincher (or as others have called me.... cheap).

Oh well, we have no control over the process of the adoption.... I have found that I need to let it go and try not to control the process. It is not possible with the adoption process. I have heard that adoption is not for the weak (or cheap) of heart... boy is that true. But, after going through everything we have with Rachel I will do anything to bring home a healthy child.

Colette

Sleep.....

WOW! What a last few days. Last night Bob and I went out to dinner to celebrate our new daughter. We both still have grins from ear to ear on our faces.

We got up early this morning went to church then to the grocery store. I think that was Bob's hint of saying we needed some food in the house. As I told you before I haven't been doing my household chores. My goal for the week is to have all of the Christmas decorations & dishes put away and have a spotless house by Friday. Do you think I can do it?? It will be hard to focus, since all I can think about is Olivia

I guess I really haven't been sleeping well these last few weeks with the anticipation of receiving our referral. Anyway, I just woke up from a 2 hour nap.... it was lovely. I need to make sure I get my rest I don't want to get sick before or during our trip.

I guess I should get off this computer and get some stuff done.

Colette

Olivia Xin Walker

Still waiting...

I have been very patient today waiting for the UPS man to deliver our package. The package will have 3 more pictures of Olivia. Well, I am no longer patient. Hurry up UPS man, there is a mommy that wants to see her baby.

We finally received it at 7:30. As you can tell by the background, I still have up my Christmas decorations. I guess someone has been preocupied lately to get anything done around the house.

Colette

Map of China

Olivia is living in the Hunan Province. It is toward the bottom of the map. More then likely we will fly into Beijing then to the Hunan Provine, then to Guangdong Province.

It's a girl..... Olivia Walker

I just gave birth.... at least it feels like it! We got the call at 11:30 a.m. This is what we have been waiting for.... our REFERRAL!

Chinese Name: Xin Min Ya
Translation: 'Min' means people and 'Ya' means elegant
Birthdate: March 12, 2006
Province: Hunan
City: Changsha
Medical: (as of September when she was 6 months old)
16.6 pounds and 27 inches long and has 2 teeth

We chose to name her Olivia, we are not sure on the middle name yet.

We are all so happy!
Colette

PATIENCE

I am having a hard day today. It feels as though I will never get to see a picture of our baby. No news on packages today. Hope to hear something soon. Still hopefull that we will receive our referral next Thursday or Friday. Below is a poem that I keep on my frig to keep me going. Colette


Patience is a hard discipline. It is not just waiting until something happens over which we have no control: the arrival of the bus, the end of the rain, the return of a friend, the resolution of a conflict.

Patience is not waiting passively until someone else does something.

Patience asks us to live the moment to the fullest, to be completely present to the moment, to taste the here and now, to be where we are.

When we are impatient, we try to get away from where we are.

We behave as if the real thing will happen tomorrow, later, and somewhere else.

Let's be patient and trust that the treasure we look for is hidden in the ground on which we stand."

--Henri J.M. Nouwen

Christmas Morning

Here is Megan after opening some of her presents!

Christmas With The Walker's

We celebrated Christmas with Bob's family. Bob's mom (Earlene), his brother (Todd), Bob's dad (Larry) and his wife (Diana). Bob made turkey, dressing, potatoes & gravy, pie, etc.... YUMMY!

Christmas Caroling

Megan is in Honor Choir. Friday they went to the airport and a hospital singing Christmas carols. Megan had a small solo and did wonderful!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEGAN!

Megan celebrated her 11th birthday bowling with her girl friends! The cake was an ice cream cake, yummy! Meg received lots of nice presents from her friends! It was a fun day!

December 14th 1995

11 years ago today I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, we named her Megan Julianne.

HAPPY 11th BIRTHDAY MEGAN!

I can't believe you are 11 today! You will be a great big sister!

Love, Mommy

PATIENCE

This means patience in Chinese, something I am needing a lot of these days!

Even though it is December and there are so many things to get done, the days seem to crawl by. It seems like it will be forever before we get our referral. PATIENCE! Can you see me chanting "patience, patience, patience"?!?!?

Christmas Cookies

Happy Holidays from Tulsa!

Megan and her friend (Natalie) made sugar Christmas cookies tonight. Fun was had by all.

Colette

100 Wishes Quilt

It's done! YEA! After collecting all 100 squares & cutting them, I turned my squares over to my friends (Debbie & Olivia). The two of them put in many, many hours sewing all of the squares together and then sewing the back fabric to the squares.

THANK YOU DEBBIE & OLIVIA (pictured above). Without you two this could have never been done.

Also, I want to thank all of you who sent a square. Our child will have this quilt to remind her how much she was loved even before she was brought to America!

Colette

Kansas City!

This was taken while I was in K.C. with my college friends. Tom, Mark, Rose, Vonnes, and me.
We call the 2 Susan's by their last names. This pic was taken in an Irish Pub down in the plaza.

We had a wonderful time catching up with one another. Tom is the only one of us that still lives in Nebraska. Mark lives in Chicago, Vonnes lives in Phoenix and our host lives in K.C. The last time we were together was in Phoenix 4 years ago. We try to get together every few years, but it had been 7 years since all 5 of us were together. We hope to all get together in 2008!

Colette