January 2012

1-27-12

Well, we’ve been waiting for news all week only to learn today that the Chinese government was closed all week. They shut down for Chinese New Year. We are thankful we know WHO is in control. We wait on the Lord to bring it all to pass.

 
1-22-12

Sabrina is sending a copy of the expediency letter along with the Chinese translation to the Consulate in China. We are praying they give us the earliest possible travel date.

1-21-12

Sabrina says to use 2/19/12 as the earliest date to enter China. She doesn't know the exact date yet but that is a good date and it won’t matter if it's not exact. We're excited to hear a February date! Anxious for the final date.

1-19-12

We’re starting the visa process today. We’re waiting on the agency to us what date to use in the “Date of Your First Possible Entry into China” field on the form. Not sure that it will mean anything, but we are so anxious to hear what date they give us.

1-18-12

Emailed the agency to let them know we had immigration approval. From Lisa at Nightlight, “Please scan and e-mail it to myself and Sabrina.  Sabrina needs this in order to get your appointment in China.  Also, in a few days you should receive a letter from the NVC stating that the cable has been sent to China.  When you receive that, please also scan and e-mail that to us.”

So Rachel and I went to my moms and scanned the document. It should be on its way to China tomorrow.

1-17-12

I received a great birthday present. Our I-800A approval came in the mail today.

1-16-11

I dreamed it was Gotcha Day in China. I saw Bella being walked with other children through the room we were all collected in to the room next door. She was just a few feet from us. The door to the other room was left open and we couldn’t help but peek in at her. The moment had arrived and we were about to get her. Then my heart pounded so hard and fast it woke me up. I had a huge smile on my face when I woke up. It was a great start to my day.

1-9-12

Beautiful! The Chinese translation of the letter from UAB asking that they work to get Bella here quickly!

伯明罕阿拉巴马大学医学中心 小儿医学部

阿拉巴马儿童医院

2012年1月12日

主旨:       关于龙罗月 认养的案子

                                儿童出生日期: 2008年二月二日

                                请求加速处理认养程序

敬启者，

本院在此发出证明请求您的机构能加速处理Pearson夫妇收养龙罗月的案例。 这个紧急请求是基于此女童需要急切的医疗照顾， 这女童患有地中海乙型贫血。 患有此病情者需每个月接受定期输血和定时除铁。最令人耽心的是长期输血所造成的毒性反应。长期输血会造成铁质沉积而过量铁质的积聚会对多个器官造成破坏。如不做除铁的治疗，主要受影响的包括脑，心脏、肝脏、胰脏等等器官。而此女童已经做过多次的输血，但她现在接受治疗的地方，没有除铁的药物， 因此也许已经受到此不良影响了 。她需要立刻接受吸附铁质的药物治疗以确保孩子的健康。她会在我们伯明翰医院的血液科接受观察及治疗。

我们已在此做了齐全的准备。当龙罗月一到达美国，我们会立刻在本院为她做检查。现今最重要的是能加快办理及通过此案，让她的领养父母把她带到美国接受迫切的治疗。由于时间紧迫，如延误将造成永久的身体伤害或甚至导致器官衰竭而死亡。每个星期的延迟都对孩子的健康有关键性的影响。

感激您能对此活泼可爱的孩子发挥无比的爱心。

谨启，

Carin Richard Kiser, 医学博士,

伯明罕阿拉巴马大学医学中心国际收养中心主任

1-7-11

Janet, the translator, called to let us know she had the letter completed. She was so excited to be able to help and to be a part of the adoption journey. She let me know that she called in two friends for assistance, a Chinese medical doctor at UAB and also a professor at UAB who teaches Chinese. They all met at her house on Friday night for dinner and to make sure the translation on the letter was perfect.

How grateful we are for the people God has put in our path as we walk this journey.

1-5-12

Through a friend, we have again secured a much needed contact. She is the principal at the Birmingham Chinese School. We talked about the letter we need translated. She feels she can get it done and also has contact that can help. After reviewing she said she didn’t know anyone personally who was bilingual and could translate such an important letter. However, she is reaching out to other friends at UAB who can help or know someone who can help with the translation. She will ask that anyone who helps will work on a volunteer basis. If a fee is involved she will refer them to us. She says she will follow up in a couple of days.

1-4-12

We talked with the agency about expediting the process. Sabrina wrote back that if we can get the letter from the doctor at the UAB International Adoption Clinic translated into Chinese she can see if we can expedite the consulate article 5 drop off. It is usually a two week process which she has been able to get done in 3-7 days with similar letters. Then we just hope for fast travel approval (TA).

From previous correspondence we were under the impression they had already had the letter translated. Evidently, that is not the case. We are in pursuit of a translator.

December 2011

12-30-11

We received an email from Sabrina telling us congratulations on receiving the LOA. She assures we are just waiting on our travel approval to finalize our adoption journey.

She indicates she will take care of pre-travel arrangements such as helping us obtain our visa; confirming the consulate appointment; confirm travel dates; assist with our flight (international and domestic); hotel arrangement and additional tours in China.

She says we can certainly use our own travel agent but says we should not buy any tickets until we have travel approval. Our favorite part, she reminded us to purchase our child's one way ticket home in her Chinese legal name. We are so close to gettin our little Bella Cat!!

12-20-11

It's here!  It's here!  LOA, it’s finally here!  Dianne overnighted it to you yesterday so it should arrive today.  Please confirm that you got this message as I see you are out of the office.  Merry Christmas!

12-7-11

From Nightlight: “I checked with CCCWA's accounting department.  The account is cleared.  I am calling the LOA officer to release the LOA.” We should have it in about 10 days. 

12-6-11

Update to friends and supporters: “Letter of Approval (LOA) has been granted!!! We have received word that our petition to adopt Long LuoYue (aka. Bella Catherine) has been approved in China. We are VERY excited about that. However, as of today, our LOA has not been mailed from China. We need that document to get here so that we can sign, return and go through the remaining steps. There are forms ready to go through U.S. immigration and then back through China for their approval. Other steps are the immunizations, travel visas and the actual Travel Approval (TA) and subsequent scheduling of our travel. We can hardly believe this is all that stands between us and Bella now!

Submitted along with our paperwork to China and to U.S. Immigration was a request to expedite. This was a letter from the UAB Internationally Adopted Children’s Clinic doctor who initially reviewed Bella’s file. The U.S. immigration department did expedite our first forms and has agreed to expedite these remaining forms for us. China has not committed to expedite anything yet. Best case scenario without expedition would mean we have our TA in about 6 weeks. We will take that, but we would love to get to her sooner. Our hearts long to have her and we certainly want her to get the medicine she needs. Please pray we have favor with China and that they do truly expedite and give us travel as quickly as possible.

Thank you so much for your continued support, encouragement and prayers. You will never know how much your prayers have done and how they continue to keep us motivated and believing God for such a precious gift.”

Every blessing to you and your families throughout the Christmas Season and 2012! I will keep you posted on our journey.

12-5-11

Yes, the file has already passed the review room and is ready for LOA.  The officer said there is a money issue.   CCCWA changed its name in September with the bank.  When Nightlight sent the cashier's check, it was in the old name. They immediately wired the money to CCCWA.  Sabrina tried to call the accounting department last night, but the person in charge did not answer the phone.  She will call again tonight.  The wire had been confirmed receipt when it was sent.

12-3-11

Posted on Facebook: “Wait on the Lord! He keeps telling us there’s something He’s not telling us, like exactly “how” this whole thing is going to work out. This we can know, it’s going to be perfect!”

12-2-11

Sabrina checked her email last night and tried to call the CCCWA. No one answered. It is Friday night there. She will continue to contact beginning Sunday night here.

November 2011

11-29-11

Delays, delays, delays... We sent an email to Nightlight asking if there is any reason to be concerned about the amount of time it is taking for our LOA to be approved. We reread some emails indicating several families were taking about 8 weeks and others 6-10 weeks. We are in week 10 now. We’re anxious and wanting to know that everything is actually on track as expected.

They replied that they have no concerns. Everything is behind in China due to the long holiday in early October. They expect approval anytime.

11-28-11

We spoke with the adoption representative last week and she said our paperwork has been in process in China since 10/25/11. She expects us to get news of our notice that we have a Letter of Acceptance any time now. She also said they will probably expedite these last two phases for us meaning we could receive notice and be in China before the end of the semester.

11-28-11

Waiting 9 weeks and three days… but who’s counting? Praying we get news from China TODAY!

11-17-11

Made the initial contact with the travel agent referred to us by friends. They also adopted from China and were very pleased with their travel agent.