Journey to Adoption

So I have finally decided to add some text to the blog...I had hoped the pictures would be enough, but I think I had better add a bit more!  I am rather uncomfortable with the whole "blogging" process, but for the sake of documenting our adoption process I believe it will be helpful (mostly for me, so I can look back and remember how God worked in our lives!)  When people hear that we are adopting, most want to know a little background.  I have always wanted to adopt (at least since high school), and China has always been on my heart.  David says that I made it a prerequisite for our marriage and that I discussed it with him while we were dating (I don't remember that, but I don't deny it).  Anyway, we had actually sent off our first application in 2005, but I found out soon afterwards that I was pregnant with Alex, our second son.  So we kindly asked our adoption agency to NOT cash that check yet - but we would be back eventually.  We initiated the process again in the fall of 2009 and had all the paperwork in China by May of 2010.   In January of 2011 we switched to the waiting children program, and on January 25, 2012 we received a call that they had a file on a precious little girl for us to review.  It is sort of a strange process...instead of looking at an ultrasound picture, you are waiting expectantly at the computer for the picture of your child to come up for the first time...David and I sat at the kitchen table waiting anxiously.  I remember him telling me that if anyone were going to say "no" it would have to be me, as he would never be able to reconsider once a file was sent (no pressure!)  Anyway, little Qing Huan Huan's picture came up on our computer, along with a few pages of medical history.  The notes stated that she had a Stage 3 cleft lip/cleft palate and was found in a basket as a newborn outside the orphanage in Qingyang City, Gansu, China on May 25, 2011.  It is difficult to describe how strange it is to be placed in a position where you can say yes or no to a child...knowing that even if you don't feel like you are the best match, God certainly has a wonderful plan for this child with you or with someone else.  However, we knew that we would be so thankful to have this sweet little girl in our lives.  We decided to keep Qing as her middle name and name her Anna.  David had preached last December about Simeon and Anna; as he spoke about Anna and her life lived for God, it made me realize what a strong name that was and we decided that we would use that name for our daughter. We began to discuss how we were going to tell the boys, since we knew that would be a big adjustment for them.  David was driving them home one night and told them that the adoption agency had called, and they had a little girl for us who would be their sister.  Alex was the most vocal initially in his excitement, and also the most worried when David told them that she had a problem with her mouth that would have to be fixed surgically.  I was prepared with pictures of before and after photos of children with cleft lip/cleft palate when they got home, which I showed them first and then showed them a picture of their new baby sister.  Will seemed fairly disinterested, but the older boys were excited and not nearly as surprised as I thought they might be.  We had the 1st 3 pictures initially, and then we received another picture (the one with her laughing) and a brief video showing her interacting with her caregiver.  The boys watched that 5 second video over and over again...Will would watch the "Baby Qing" video up to 20 times in a row.  Alex has now informed me that he thinks she is so cute just the way she is, and he has decided that he doesn't really want her to have surgery when she comes home.  I explained that really it will be helpful for her speech, nutrition, etc...but that I appreciated the sentiment.  Besides her cleft lip/cleft palate issues, Anna is very small and delayed in her development.  According to the information sent to us, she weighs around 12 pounds and can't roll over yet...but the physical therapist in me is ready to tackle those gross motor delays!  So here we are now in the process, waiting for the final okay (travel approval) from China, which will hopefully come in the next couple of weeks.  My mom will travel with me, and David will stay home with the boys for an extended "guys weekend".  Nate has already informed me that they will get to play video games on school nights (normally not allowed) and that they will get to stay up late.  I also imagine there will be lots of Happy Meals being purchased during that time - but oh how much fun that will be!  We realize that we have a long road ahead of us, but we are thankful for the support of our family and friends.  Thank you for your prayers during this time as we look forward to bringing our sweet Anna home.