China's Matching Process

We received an email late last week from Holt stating that China would be releasing children this week.  We were given a heads up by our social worker that these emails will be coming, but boy did the email start a whole string of emotions for us over the last week.  Emotions ranging from excitement to sorrow, anxiety to joyfulness.  Unfortunately, it doesn't look like our baby was in this group.  Honestly, we're doing ok~better than I thought I'd be feeling by today if we didn't get the call.  We knew it would be a long shot to be matched the first month we were eligible.  But it's hard not to get your hopes up in spite of that reality.  We're just so anxious to meet our child!!

China's matching process is very different from Ethiopia's.  There is still a waiting list, but because we are in the Child of Promise Program (meaning that our child will have some type of special needs) we will be matched with a child who matches our medical conditions criteria that we are open to.  The medical conditions criteria was part of our home study.  There were numerous possible medical issues and we were asked to state if we were open to the issue and if so, to what severity.  This was a tough job.  We spent a lot of time studying what the conditions were so that we felt we were making educated decisions.

China releases a group of children every month or so.  Holt staff then has the difficult job of matching families with the children.  Like I stated before, the decision is based more on matching the demographic and medical information of the child with a family that matches those things.  Once a family is notified that they are matched, they only have 24 hours to decide if this is the child they have been waiting for.  The short time frame allowed to make this decision is why I think they give us a heads up email.  The heads up allows us to make sure we are available by phone to be notified, to make the decision quickly, and if we need to take any information to a physician to review we have time to set up an appointment.  I can't imagine saying no to a child at this point so I am very thankful for the staff at Holt who have gotten to know us well and will help match us with our child.    

We are continuing to trust and are walking in faith that we are on the right track to meet our child.  We are still believing that our perfect child is out there an we will be matched when the time is right.  We will continue to pray for our baby's health and safety until the time we get to hold them in our arms.  And believe me once we get ahold of them, we're never letting go!    

Dossier for China...(Almost) Check!!

We are almost ready to check off the next big step...our dossier!  All the paperwork for our dossier is now on it's way to Holt so that they can send it off to be certified and authenticated before it goes to China.  The only paperwork we are still waiting for is our immigration approval.  Our appointment with immigration is scheduled for June 14th.  Hopefully our approval letter will come quickly after that appointment.  Then the paperwork will be finalized for China. Getting closer!!