adoption lingo

"barrowed the list below from a fellow adoptive mom"

Ever wonder what all those Chinese adoption abbreviations and lingo mean? So do I! Here's a handy little guide for the most popular ones:

CCAA: Chinese Centre of Adoption Affairs. These are the folks that oversee adoption in the People’s Republic of China. All adoptive parents must have their approval in order to adopt a Chinese orphan.

Dossier: This is your application to adopt an orphan. It includes a letter requesting permission to adopt a Chinese orphan, home study, police reports, immigration approval, reference letters, medical reports, marriage certificate, birth certificates, letters of employment, and photos of your family and house.

LID: Log In Date. This is the date that your dossier is “logged in” or received by the CCAA.

LOI: Letter of Intent. This is a letter to the CCAA that you intend to adopt a Chinese orphan.

PA: Pre-Approval. After submitting your LOI, you receive pre-approval from the CCAA to adopt a specific child. Typically, you will receive your PA anywhere from 1 – 10 days after your LOI is submitted.

DTC: Dossier to China. This is a celebration day! You have finally collected all of the required paperwork. This is the date that your dossier is mailed to China.

LOA: Letter of Acceptance. This is the official approval from China to adopt your child. This comes after LID.

NVC: National Visa Center. After USCIS approves your immigrant visa petition (I-800/I-600), your petition is forwarded to the NVC in New Hampshire for immigrant visa pre-processing. This is only for U.S. adoptive parents.

TA: Travel Approval. This is the go-ahead from the CCAA to travel to China to get your child. Your TA has 90 days before it expires, so you better get packing!

CA: Consulate Appointment. This is the date that you go to your Consulate in China. You fill out paperwork to get your child’s visa to enter your country.

At this point in our journey, we received our soft-LOA (the email from China saying they are getting ready to send the hard copy). This can take about 1 - 3 weeks to receive. We've heard it's been taking about 7 days right now. Once we have the hard copy, we sign and overnight it back to our agency. The rest of the process is best depicted from the chart below.

Once we submit our signed LOA back to our agency, they submit paperwork for the I-800 Provisional Approval - this can take 2- 4 weeks.

After the I-800 is issued it typically takes 5 - 7 days for the National Visa Center Letter to come (can come via FedEx or email). And we start our Visa applications upon receipt. Then we submit our Visa application and supporting documents to the US Consulate.

The Article 5 is issued by the US Central Authority's Approval for Hague Adoption and then expressed mailed to Beijing and delivered to the CCCWA on certain days. This typically takes an additional 2 weeks.

Then we wait for the TA (travel approval), this is our invitation to come to China. This typically arrives 2- 4 weeks after we receive our Article 5. And then travel to China 10 - 21 days after we get the TA.

Dear Kai

Dear Kai,

We received our soft LOA (letter of acceptance) to come for you yesterday 03/27/2014. We waited 49 days, and now wait for the hard copy to come in the mail so can sign get the next round of paperwork rolling.

Today it's only appropriate to write to you directly. Your dad and I are coming! And we can actually see a date in sight. I can't tell you what that means to us and your entire family. We have been praying for the day to come, and now, with the LOA finally here, we are one step closer. We now prepare more paperwork, prepare our visas, and wait for the TA (travel approval - which is the official invite to come to China). We'll see you in about 9 - 14 weeks. I know it still seems like an eternity, but we can see the end. I have so many joyous emotions to share, that I am actually at a loss of words.

Know we love you Kai! We are coming for you, soon!

Love Mom & Dad

"Brings you comfort and gives you hope"

I'm really not sure where to start. I have had so many emotions - sad, anxious, excited, angry, mindful, faithful, loving, longing, grateful, helpless - oh the list goes on. I have never felt so full of emotion, with such conflicting emotions, all at once like this. I have even taken several days to write this weeks post with the hope that I would have some good news to share, or an LOA to celebrate, or the frustration to simmer...

So with that, we did get some wonderful news yesterday. A very large group of family went to China this past weekend, and two of the moms I had been networking with were on this trip. They had offered to do their best to visit the LueHe LOCC that Kai is at and check on him. One of the moms made it there yesterday. Her words were reassuring and truly a blessing. I only hope I can and am in the right frame of mind to pass on this same gift to other waiting families when it's our turn to go. Here is what Caroline said:

My visit to Luohe today. Apologies as they only gave us 10 minutes to visit her room and Nannies. But I must say they love them and care for them very much. They showed us the room and the babies came over happy to see everything. Got to hold each baby and whisper to each of them that their parents would see them soon and wished for them to know how much they are loved and thought of each day. They know now you are waiting for them and will come from afar to love them and wipe away the tears. Please know I also got video but will have to wait until we get home to upload. .... My friends I hope this bring some comfort and gives you hope. Let me end with a thought for you to know that the nannies fill their days with love until you arrive.

For all the material things a person can have and give, this journey to Kai has taught me how precious the genuine words of friends (and loved ones), pictures that say a thousands words and acts of love, are by far the greatest gifts I have and could recieve.

She went on to say:

He is a love. Didn't want to get off my lap. He's a little cuddle. And so happy. Your gonna love his sweet nature and warm hugs. I seriously had like 10 minutes then was rushed from the room. I only wish I could have more time with them.

There are no words to express my appreciation for the this information, the photos she shared, or the embrace of these moms on our sweet boy.

As for the LOA, we are still waiting... day 48.

Some news about our adoption agency CCAI. Joshua and Lily, the founders of CCAI, are currently in Henan China as I type this, and we just recieved confirmation that the relationship with the Henan Providence and CCAI has just been renewed for another 5 years. We know we will adopt our little girl from China, we don't know when, but we do know it will be with CCAI, so the news of the renewal is great news to us! They are also there shooting videos and photos to bring greater awareness to the children left behind. Maybe Kai will be part of that story...

Finally, since Kai is now at the LOCC (we do get to sponsor him there), we have decided to sponsor one of Kai's friends at New Hope too - her name is WH Lan (her website name). We get to give her an American name, so Kainan named her Rae...I do have a special place in my heart for this little girl. And from the photos, I'd say that Kai does too. If you know me, you probably already are thinking that 'Kelly has her wheels turning again"... And I do...I have inquired on if she is eligiable for adoption. I did find out that her file will go to CCAI, but at this time they do not have it. Once they do get it, they will have to go through the normal matching process. With this information I do find comfort knowing that this beautiful little girl will find a family. I pray soon! And if it should be Gods plan, who knows...

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I was provided this verse from Grandma Kathy, as she says she has claimed this verse as yours. I think it is so fitting. From day one God has watched over you. Your birth parents ensured you had life and that you were protected and taken to people that had the means to provide for you. I do not know the reason you were given up, but I believe it was through love and protection because they, like Our Father, had plans to give you hope and a future. I am thankful for that future, and feel honored to have been chosen to protect you, love you, and watch you prosper.

I did receive an email from New Hope, and although you will have been gone from their facility for a month now, they do plan to send out an update about you from before you left. We were told sometime this week. So needless to say...we are anxiously waiting.

Some moms from our FB networks have shared that they are traveling next week to your orphanage, they have made sure to get all your information and picture from me and plan to check on you. They are picking up their sons and daughters, and I pray they give you a warm hug from me. They also have said they hope to get some video. So, as we wait, I am hopeful to get another glimpse of you, and hope you recieved your care packages from us...so you can get a glimpse of your new family too!

Each day I check my email at least 100 times. Somedays I'm certain it must be broken...because no new emails or notifications about you. I run through my battery on my phone super fast too, because I refresh my phone so much through the course of the day...hoping that with one more refresh we'll received our soft LOA, informing me the hard copy is on the way.

Today is day 40 since our Pre-Approval(PA). Although our Letter of Intent (LOI) to adopt you was sent/recieved on 2/3/14; the Chinese New Year caused delay in getting our LOI recogized; so our PA was not recognized until 2/7/14. It's amazing how a few days can mean so much now.

We love you Kai. We are coming for you!

Sending you our love...and a teddybear

I am writing today to tell you I love you, and I feel so helpless. I want you in my arms. I want to hold you and never let go....but I can't. So I continue to advocate for you. Searching to learn more about you, something to hold on to so that I know you are okay; to know you still have that big beautiful smile on your face; and that your only word MOM, has meaning, and I am coming for you.

I watch your older brother Kainan grow everyday, and as much joy as each moment watching him brings me, I can't help but think...I'm missing those moments with you. And then I have to check my-self. I read such beautiful words from another mother the other day, and those words bring me peace...she said that she can bear the wait because she knows that you (our children) are touching and changing lives where you are, and if we are still waiting, that means God is still doing work through you.

Today we recieved another update about you from the LOCC - Chinese Children Charities, as we were able to sponsor you. Pretty amazing really. We were told they'd never heard of being able to get a child moved from the SWI to the LOCC. After some emails, a phone call, and lots of prior research to figure out when you left New Hope, within 24 hours we had you moved. And then we were so blessed that the CCAI Sponsorship representative offered to translate your Sponsorship Report first, of her over 300 reports, so we got to see you again....Power of Prayer!

As of March 10, 2014 you are 26 pounds and 33 inches tall; we also coincidencidentally measured your brother on the same day, he's 33 pounds and 37 inches tall.Such big boys!

Your nannies say:

You are very active and lovely boy, you look strong and are out going. You walk
very stable and even can run for a good distance. You are not afraid strangers, you love
going outside to play and does not want to come back, so they have to say nice things
about you and you will go with them back to the room. You get along with other kids while
playing or just giggling. You are always smiling and seldom cries. You understands everything
and smiles if you are praised. You can say mom now.

Today I am preparing to send your birthday package. I hate we will miss your special day...but we will be celebrating, knowing we have the rest of our lives to celebrate you, our little boy. We are sending you a teddybear, they were my favorite growing up. They brought me comfort when I was sad, were my friends, and have always had a special place in my heart, just like you do. This one even has you dad, brother and my voice talking to YOU. We love you Kai. And we are coming for you!

Taking a deep breath...

The last few days have been a roller coaster of emotions. Late on Sunday night, 03-09-2014, I made one more attempt to join the MBHOH Closed FB page and found my request had been mistakenly overlooked...and I was accepted. I was welcomed by the parents on this page. The mothers, all sharing a common bond, the waiting...loving...and seeking. A non-stop, repeative cycle for those of us that have been/ are adoptive parents. It's a longing like I have never felt, and somedays, it's more than I think I can bear...then I remember, God never gives us more than we can handle.

And that's were this network comes in. The swaping of stories, leads to more pictures and people that know your child, support, reassurance, tips, paperwork support...the list goes on.

Yesterday we were linked to people that had cared for Kai first hand, and gained a little more of Kai's history and priceless information and photos (lots of photos). We can't share them until he's home. But when we do have him in our arms...we will be sure to post a glimpse into his past...and the WONDERFUL care he received a New Hope Foster Home. I can not say enough good things about the nannies, staff and volunteers at New Hope. They were Kai's lifesaver, and we will forever be grateful! Joyce and Robin Hill's mission is to "treat every child as their own"; and from what we can see... they do.

It's amazing, as I started to write today, I was going to share how all that I mention above, and how with all this good...the past few days ended on a bittersweet note, but that has all change in the last hour.

Among all the blogs and newsletters we have read, we learned that Kai was returned to his orphange - which we have been told is good news, as this typically happens when a child is strong and they have a family coming for them. But we still hadn't received our LOA (and still haven't), so this meant to us that Kai was being taken from a place where he had been loved on, played all day, attended pre-school, played with puppies, swam, read, painted, eat very well, and had lots and lots of friends...to a place unknown, with new care-givers, a new environment, away from all that he had known, and to the best of our knowledge, nothing like what he had received at New Hope. We had no idea if he'd go to the Lily Orphan Care Centers (LOCC), where we understand he'd receive care with a much smaller group of children per caregiver, which we prayed, or if he'd go to the government ran side of the Child Welfare Institution.

Yesterday we were told he was not in the LOCC, and our hearts broke, and we prayed!

Today I made a call to better understand if it was possible that he would be moved, or if we could sponsor him, or if there was anything we could do. To my surprise, the CCAI adovate had made some calls yesterday after receiving my email. She remember Kai, and realized that he had been a LOCC kiddo, but when they sent him for specialized care, he wasn't returned to the LOCC side. After a night of research and making calls... our advocate was able to have him moved! And today I can breathe a little easier, knowing he is in good hands while we wait.

I've provided a little more info below about the LOCCs below. CCAI is a wonderful organization, and I highly recommend checking out all they they do, and how you too can be a part of sponsoring the care of a child.

When co-founders Lily Nie and Joshua Zhong started CCAI in a basement apartment two decades ago, they never envisioned how many Chinese orphans they would help. They also never foresaw the evolution of CCAI’s purpose from just an adoption agency to a charitable force for improving thousands of lives of abandoned Chinese children. This change of purpose came gradually. As more orphanages opened up to international adoption, Lily and Josh saw the dilapidated state of these state-run orphanages and the lack of training the staff received, particularly in regards to special needs children. Realizing that they could make an immediate difference in the lives of these special children, they established Lily Orphan Care Centers (LOCC), named for CCAI co-founder Lily Nie.

CCAI opened its first LOCC in Hangzhou, China, in 2001. The huge success of this first LOCC has led to the opening of 7 more LOCCs in other Chinese provinces, including our most recent LOCC in Henan Province.

LOCCs serve as a powerful force to bring positive changes to orphanages and to elevate orphan care conditions in China.
While the childcare model and standards of excellence remains the same between LOCCs, CCAI works with individual provincial governments to either renovate a pre-existing, run-down orphanage facility or build new childcare rooms from the ground up.
Through the LOCC training model, Chinese caretakers can visualize our child-centered philosophy. CCAI invites caretakers from all over China to attend childcare training at a local LOCC. We also send out multiple training teams to many other orphanages to provide much-needed childcare knowledge and skills. Operating each LOCC and meeting basic needs can be expensive. Our thanks go to CCAI's generous donors who make the life changing LOCCs possible and our wonderful LOCC team in China who try their best every day to bring care and hope to the children.

Opportunities to Make a Difference - Please consider helping CCAI maintain a high standard of orphan care by contributing to the renovation and daily operation of an LOCC. Should you like to specify your donation, you can choose between covering some operational costs, sponsoring a child, contributing to the general needs of these special children, or even helping to defray the cost of medical treatments. If you are a medical professional or physical/occupational therapist, CCAI could use you on a short-term medical mission or long-term caregiver assignment. All donations are welcome. For more information, please contact us at charity@ccaifamily.org or 303-850-9998.

New Hope

With a need to know more, learn more, and grasp more about Kai...where he is, who's cared for him and what his life has been like ... I have done a lot of internet searching. His file stated he was at the Hope Home. Two weeks ago I found our sweet Kai on Hope Foster Home's (in Beijing) website. He has been in the care of the Hope Foster Home and Maria's Big House of Hope. We couldn't be more happy to find this out, but then to find out that his care has been sponsored (sponsors have the opportunity to name the children an American name, our Kai was named Joseph). Wow, what an amazing blessing!

We learned that we could also sponsor him, and gain quarterly updates... so we did. Last week we received a back-dated update from late fall...I've shared it below. Unfortunately, we read in New Hope newsletter on March 1, 2014 that Kai was being moved from the home in Beijing to his Child Welfare Institution in the Henan Province. As much as this saddens me for many reasons, I have hope and faith this means our LOA is on it's way, and we will be going to China soon!

It has been a beautiful fall this year in Beijing. We have been spared from the cold up until now, which meant the kids were able to spend more time outside. The leaves are now turning and it is more crisp in the mornings so the kiddos have limited time outside, but still get to enjoy a walk each morning around the nearby village.

Joseph is a pretty happy child in general. He plays well with the other kids and can entertain himself when he is by himself. He is also very independent and likes to wonder around the classroom during playtime. He adores being tickled and will usually get drool all over us when we tickle him. We love his laugh because it usually makes us laugh. He is also a very good hugger.

When I see him running through the halls, he always yells out “ma!” which means mother or for him really anyone he knows. It’s sweet to be able to build relationship with the children like Joseph as they get older and are more aware of their surroundings.

Thank you for your ongoing support of Joseph and our work. We hope you have a wonderful holiday season.