Our Acceptance Letter is on its Way!

On July 23 at 2:30 pm, the day after our referral, my father said, "I see a FedEx truck outside!" We all jumped up from playing a game (Up and Down the River) and ran to the door. We grabbed a camera and were ready to tackle the FedEx driver but would you believe he just dropped it on our porch and left! We took some pictures anyway and ripped open the pouch to find the cutest new little pictures of our sweet Grace.
After carefully reading the translated documents, sending copies of the medical records to our friend who is a peditriatian, and getting word back that she was healthy and well, we filled out the acceptance agreement letter to China! We had it on its way to our adoption agency by 5:30 pm in another FedEx overnight envelope!!
We've counted the layers on her and can see at least 4 layers on her upper body (not including the bib). She has on a quilted jacket that is rolled up at the sleeves creating yet another layer! On her bottom half there are 2 layers and there's no way to tell how many socks she has on!
These pictures were taken in the dead of winter (Feb) and we're thinking that they probably don't strip all of them off of her to do the exam we got a report about. All of that probably adds up to the 14 pounds they state is her weight at 3 months of age. I think there's a peanut in there somewhere!
And do you see the little smile forming on her face? Do you think she realizes how funny it is to plump her up like a linebacker? :-)
We're so glad that we have these pictures that really will show her what Chinese custom was in dressing their babies. We've heard that when you go to China, people come up to you on the street and try to convey to westerners that we are not dressing our children appropriately. They dress their babies this way even in the summer!
In about 3-4 weeks we will probably receive some updated info about Grace and maybe even some newer pictures. I can't believe she's 5 months older than these pictures but I'm thrilled to have these young pictures of her so that she'll know what she looked like at an early age.
I don't think I wrote in yesterday's blog that we were told we will travel in 5-8 weeks. Until then, there is paperwork to fill out, lists to complete, and some clothes to buy for our little angel.
Thank you to all of you who have sent us emails, signed this guestbook, and wrote on our Facebook. All of them made us feel so loved! When Grace is old enough, she will read them too and I know it will bring great joy to her as well.
We will be praying for smooth sailing in the days ahead and that we might receive our Travel Approvals speedily. We are all eager to kiss her and love up on her!

Sharon

It's A GIRL!!!!! Welcome GRACE LU!!

At 12:50 pm we got the call we've been waiting for! It's a girl!!! And she's
only 8 months old!!! YAYYYYYYY!!!!

Her name right now is: Zhuang Lu Biao  (Last name, Given Name, Middle Name)  and
we're going to call her Grace Lu

She's from the southern province of Jiangxi and was born on November 29, 2008. 
She was found on Dec 1, 2008 so that would make her birthdate pretty much a sure
thing :-)  She is in the Yifenng County Social Welfare Institute (orphanage).

At 3 months old she weighed 14.5 pounds and was 22.24 inches long.  She's
healthy, locates sounds, loves to have adults hold and play with her, smiles
readily, laughs out loud, fond of music, is quick to react, is closest to her
caretaker, and likes sound toys.

When we got the call we all mobilized and jumped up, checked the caller ID,
gathered the 4 boys and 2 grandparents around the table, turned on the video
recorder and held our breath ---
"We're calling you about your match. Is this a good time?"  As my boys would
say, "Are you kidding me?!!!"  YES!

"Well," she said, "It's a girl"  and my mother and I started to cry and then she
said, "and she's 8 months old" and we started to weep.  Oh what an answer to
prayer!!!  We all cheered - and the tape cut off.  Good grief. Adam got it back
and running while we finished up with all of the details and we were just
overjoyed. I looked over at Mom and she had tears all over her face, the kids
were laughing with joy, and Pat was all red and teary too.

Tomorrow we'll get more info and more pics.  Here's the only pic we have of her
and we all agree she is BEAUTIFUL!!!

Oh thank you Jesus!  Thank you everyone for praying! And thank you for all of
your support along the way.

You know, her given first name - which will become her middle name means
"Journey".  I TOLD you our JOURNEY would be worth it!

Sharon - Grace Lu's Mommy!

Tomorrow is the day!!!

We just got word that referrals have arrived at our adoption agency!!! They said they'll be calling their families tomorrow. THAT'S US!!!!!!!!

Could someone please give me a sedative and knock me out until tomorrow?! Not only me -- but my kids are about as crazy nervous as me!! Pat -- calm and happy. Go figure!

(Adam just read this and says that he's calm too. Yeah - right!)

I remember these nerves just before I gave birth -- what will he look like, will he be OK,. . . but this time it's a SHE!

Crazy Excited Mama

Referrals are on their way!!!

China has finished matching! Our adoption agency is just waiting to get them in to their office. Oh my goodness! On top of this wonderful news, today I was able to rejoice with our dear friends who received their little girl last night in China. So many of our prayers were answered with a "yes" about her Gotcha Day and we're just praising and thanking God for His goodness. I've been crying such happy tears all morning for her and for us who are at the cusp of seeing our little girl! All of us are edgy with anticipation and we really CAN HARDLY WAIT!!!

Sharon -- Grace's Mommy!

Butterflies!!

We're waiting on news about referrals and my stomach is swarming with butterflies!

I suppose all of the butterflies that are on Grace's bedroom wall flew up here to Ocean City!

We have heard that on the 15th, CCAA was "Preparing to Match". Next comes word that they've matched and finally that referrals have arrived. Often those things happen within days of each other so we are poised and ready!!

While we wait, I'll give you an update on the addendum. The last I heard from our adoption agency was that they we fit into a BLESSED LOOPHOLE! Praise the Lord! Apparently those whose Home Studies are less than 6 months old are safe from having to do a whole completely new Home Study update. It really is only an insurance policy just in case something is written on Grace's medical chart that gives us problems at the Consulate. There is only a 5 - 10% chance that we'll have any problems, but if we do, our adoption agency has confirmation from USCIS that we would only need to get an amended Home Study which is then sent on to USCIS for approval. This is just a simple addition of a few sentences to our current Home Study and minimal cost.

The only question now is whether we should get that done now or whether we should just "wait and see" until we go to China. Our Adoption agency is testing the waters with our Home Study agency to see which route we should go. It's been a few days but Pat feels we need to give them more time to work this out even though I'd love to call for an update and get all of our ducks in a row!

We are grateful that God keeps parting the waters for us. We know, however, as Christians, that God doesn't promise to make everything just to our liking but to walk us through all of our hard times and grant us peace. We keep walking and trusting -- that's our part - AND praising Him for all He does in whatever fashion He chooses and know that our Father lovingly cares for His children. How comforting to know that not only are we safe in His hands, but Grace is too!

We hope to get some more news about referrals today and we'll keep you posted! Oh how exciting this is!!!!

Sharon

Days Away From our Referral and a New Government Obstacle

Yesterday we got word from our adoption agency that they wanted us to contact our Home Study Agency to get an addendum filled out and sent to USCIS (Dept. of Homeland Security). Evidently, there have been more and more children who when they go to pass through the final medical exam have been found to have something that was missed on the original medical exam. Even if it is simply a mole, or maybe a sickness with a temperature, instead of being classified as "healthy", they are deemed a child with a "minor correctible problem". IF your Home Study didn't have it written that you were approved for such a child, you had to in the past simply get your Home Study Agency to send out an addendum and it was done in a matter of hours.

As of July 1, the new director at the Consulate wants the wording on our I171H. In order to do this, you have to get your addendum and have it sent through our Government's channels. This usually takes several weeks.

To prepare for this eventuality, we were told to get an addendum now because neither our Home Study nor our I171H has this wording. But when I wrote to our Home Study Agency I was told that the adjudicate in North Carolina refuses to do just an addendum. They feel the law is clear that to change your 171H, you need a completely re-done Home Study. This means an additional fee of $800 at this point (expedited), plus physicals for all of us, criminal reference checks, a child abuse check, interviews in the home, and financial record updates. All of this would total approximately $1400 and we don't even know if there is time enough to get all of this completed and returned before our Mid-September travel.

We have the option NOT to do the Home Study update and "hope for the best". What does that mean? Does it mean that we get all the way to the last day in China and find out there is a problem and have to leave our daughter there? Does it mean that we would have to wait until new paperwork goes through our government channels? Would we have to come home and do a Home Study and go back to China again?

We are waiting to hear from our adoption agency about what they would advise next. They are aware of our unemployment situation and know that we are just days from getting our referral. I have no idea how this is going to play out but I am trusting that God is bigger than China's red tape OR America's red tapel If he wants us to get our Grace, he will.

My Mom says this is our labor pains. They are painful, intense, and filled with both tears and longing for our Grace.

Will you pray for us and for our Grace that God would clear any obstacles and work miracles on our behalf and provide generously to meet our financial needs?

And to our dear daughter who will one day read of all of these labor pains -- you are so worth it my child. You are wanted and dearly loved and we will do all we can to bring you home.

Sharon

UPDATE: Adoption Agency Closing

Our new agency called us and assured us that everything will run smoothly to getting our referral in a few weeks. Pat and I breathed a big sigh of relief and sent in our transfer fee pronto.

We're still expecting to be in the next batch of referrals and they should begin to arrive within the next 3 weeks.

In the meantime, we're going to spend some time with my folks at the beautiful Jersey Shore. I'm not sure how relaxed we'll be as we count down the days, but the sound of the waves, smell of saltwater in the air, and the feeling of sand between our toes, sounds like the best possible way to finish out this long long LONG wait!

Sharon

Yikes! Our Adoption Agency is Closing!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009 11:41 AM, EDT

Just when you thought you it would be smooth sailing to the end, we got notice that our Adoption Agency in Texas is closing at the end of the week! What does this all mean for the Fitzpatricks? We THINK it will mean that we have an additional $1500 transfer fee to pay but that the adoption will continue on course. We have a call in to the new adoption agency but they are apparently inundated with calls.

These past few months have been like the puzzle of our lives has been turned upside down and the pieces strewn. Last week it was with great relief that we could feel like we put the adoption piece into the middle and begin to surround it with other little ones to bring some order into our lives. But here again, the puzzle was upended and we are left wondering what in the world God has up his sleeves.

I say this, however, with confidence. We trust in our God for every aspect of our lives -- the ones that look good, and the ones that look bad. We KNOW that He is faithful and that HE will fit all of the pieces of our lives back together and we will be able to stand back at that time and say, "It is good."

Hopefully this is just a slight blip in the road. If not, we'll let you know!

Don't worry Grace, we won't give up on you! We'll scale every mountain to bring you home!

Sharon

One month to referral!

Referrals/matches came out yesterday and would you believe, we missed the cutoff by ONE day! That means we are at the front of the line now but we'll have to wait about 4 weeks for someone to come and remove the rope and let us through so we can see our sweetie's face!

Thanks for visiting our blog, for signing our guestbook to encourage us, for helping us financially through Kingdom Kids, and for ultimately welcoming a little girl whose future would not be bright if it weren't for God placing her needs on our hearts.

4 weeks to go!! (and then 6-8 more! HA) What a summer!

Sharon

Goodness gracious we're getting SOOOO close!!

There seems to be a delay (possibly due to the Swine Flu Pandemic) in China releasing the next set of matches/referrals. But the delay is also making it look more likely that they may be covering more days which means we really really really have a shot at getting our referral soon!! It could be this week, or the next or the next!

Can you even imagine our excitement?!! We are checking an online site for info every day and hoping and praying that we will see our Grace's face soon! After waiting for so very long it's hard to throw our whole hearts into the pot of expectation but if it's not in the next few weeks, it will SURELY be in the following month.

Praying. . . hoping. . . holding our breaths . . . and praising God for allowing us to have GRACE for adoption!!

Sharon

China is now releasing Referrals!

Thursday, May 21, 2009 8:46 AM, CDT

China is now releasing Referrals (but not Travel Approvals)After I wrote yesterday's entry, referrals started to arrive in Europe! To be clear, this batch will not include us, but it will include dear friends of ours who have walked this entire journey with us. We can't wait to see the face of their little girl and share in their excitement!And then. . . .we may be next to get our referral (which would be 2 - 4 weeks)!!! Stay tuned. . . Sharon

What's the Holdup?

Wednesday, May 20, 2009 8:28 AM

Swine Flu is apparently holding up referrals because China has stopped sending out referrals or Travel Approvals. If they continue to match during this time - which is what they did during the SARS epidemic - we might be pleasantly surprised with a referral in June. If they have totally stopped matching, we are proverbally dead in the water until the situation gets resolved and who knows how long that could take. So we wait and continue to prepare for our little girl to come home.On the good news front, all of our paperwork is updated and we are good to go! We received something called our I171H yesterday which is our governernment's stamp of approval on our adoption. This was a big relief to us because it was nearly denied!Here's what happened: Our former I171H was set to expire on May 5 and we knew we had to submit a new 1600 form before that date (remember that big hullaballo a few months ago of the I600 vs the I800?). So we sent it in with a week to spare and the day before taking off on a short roadtrip (that would have taken us past the May 5 deadline) we received all of our paperwork back! They said we hadn't included enough money to cover new fingerprinting and could not process it without that or verification that we were grandfathered in to the old I600 system. Had this arrived the day following we would not have been able to resubmit and would have been in violation of "abandoning" our petition. This would have meant re-submitting under the I800 which would have meant re-doing our HomeStudy (which we had just done) and gathering way more documentation. I nearly went into a panic . . .but for God! He had our backs and allowed it to arrive in time to make the necessary corrections. By the way -- we did send in the extra $160 for fingerprinting even though we had already been fingerprinted in January and didn't need to go through that expense again. But this is the government and they kind of have us over a barrel so we forked over the money anyway. What can you do? So here we wait -- it's like we are circling in the air above China waiting to land to receive our referral and the pilot keeps saying, "We are sorry for the unknown delay. Please stay seated and make yourselves as comfortable as possible. As soon as we have approval to land, we'll let you know." As soon as we know that we're out of the holding pattern -- we'll let you know :-) Thanks for your prayers and your support! Sharon