Adoption Update

Yesterday I was told that we are now in the top 5- next in line to get a baby! We don't know if we are #5 or if we are #2, but it is still very encouraging news to know that we are ONE of five families that will be matched next. From what I have heard from other adoptive families, I am guessing around 3 families were matched in April out of the top 5!

What is tricky about this is that it all depends on the needs we selected! Although we are in the top 5, a baby that matches our age requirement and one of the needs we selected must come available. So, if people below us on the list selected a wide variety of special needs and they want a boy, they will certainly get matched before us. It is, however, very encouraging to know that our agency is making matches every month and the special needs waiting list that we are on is getting very short! So, we are guessing that by the end of the summer we will have a FACE for Emma Grace!

Once we are matched, we will travel 6-8 months later. YIKES! I have heard that is the hardest part. Knowing that you have a child waiting for you in an orphanage, and you have to wait to go get her. In some ways I am thankful for this wait because it gives us time to arrange the children, our finances, give work enough notice, arrange her medical care, etc. If we are matched in May, we could potentially travel anywhere from November -January. If we are matched in June, it could be anywhere from December-February. So, it looks as though we will be in China in the cold months.

There is a very good chance that Emma will be older than Timothy. If we are matched in May, she could be 8 months older than him. We are fine with that, they will basically be raised as twins :) They won't ever know life without the other one!!!!! (and we all know that Timothy will be BIGGER than her!)

We updated our list of needs we would take. It now includes: ASD or VSD (minor heart defects), club feet, cleft lip, cleft palate, birthmarks or lazy eye.

If we receive a match, we have 24 hours to have her file reviewed by doctors and to make our decision. We are working with the International Adoption Clinic at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Dr. Staat was very highly recommended and she is an adoptive parent herself. She will review the medical file for us, do a phone consultation and then give us the medical "thumbs up or down." This will be an intense day!

Keep praying for us- we will update with pictures as soon as we see her SWEET FACE!