The Supa, etc.

Yesterday my friend Tomoko and her kids helped me pick out groceries at Ozam (supa, pronounced soo-pah, means supermarket.) Clockwise from upper-left: sesame (goma) oil, udon/soba sauce (seaweed flavor), freeze-dried vegetable soup mix, miso sauce for konnyaku, dashi powder, curry boullion.

View from the "nursery" window. We've enjoyed sunny, mild weather this winter. We think our neighborhood and neighbors here are the best!

Serious studying. The Pooh plastic drawers I picked at Cainz (a home store) for their earthquake-friendliness. Other kid stuff (high chair, carseat) is dust-protected under the blue sheet.

Ralph-chan inspecting the car seat (Britax Advocate.) We were also surprised at Christmas with a B.O.B Revolution jog stroller from "Grandma Alice" (Heather's Mom.)

Goofing around upstairs. Photo taken with Gorilla Pod from "Aunt Debbie" (Jeff's sister) and camera from "Grandma Barb and Papa Rich" (Jeff's parents.)

What does it feel like

to be so close? Like this.

(Venice Beach, 2004)

• calm
• relief
• still guarded
• still thinking about some more footloose travel before she arrives!

Yesterday I posted a question on Facebook about crib sheets (how hard they are to fit on the mattress) and got about 15 responses right away. So it's comforting to know we have a great support network here at Yokota and worldwide.

3 things

1. Latest rumor is April 2006 will be finished (families matched) around June/July 2010. This doesn't mean too much new for us, but it's good to know. It's somewhat discouraging for those with later LIDs.
2. The last batch was small (essentially one day, since April 1-2 was a weekend.) However, we heard many expedited families received referrals just before Christmas. "Expedited" means they qualify for Chinese heritage preference, or live/have lived in China for a while. I hear the "expedited" wait is much more frustrating because they don't hear anything for 6-7 months at a time. BUT, our expat friends in Tokyo (who recently moved here from China) got their referral (much earlier than expected)!! They were surprised just before Christmas! That is GREAT NEWS.
3. Our agency's April 3rd LID families received referrals (3) from Guizhou Province (south-central.) They range in ages from 13-24 months. Congrats to these famlies!

Thinking about Ted

Ralph & Ted bird-watching in Bowie.

Ted liked to hide out under a Disney sleeping bag draped over a chair. This was often the scene of Ted-Ralph wrestling.
Ted's 11th adoption day, Dec 2006. Jeff was deployed, so we took a self-portrait to send him.

Us with the BOYZ, 2005.

Ted in the Bowie yard.

Names we had for Ted:

• Ted
• Teddy (official name on his adoption papers)
• T-Bone
• T
• Ichiban, Ichiban son (this means the first/#1 son in Japanese)
• #1 (Ralph was "Best" so as not to hurt any feelings)
• Nishi (Japanese word for "west." Ralph is "Higashi" = east.)

We will always remember Ted (1995-2009) for his extreme snuggling, snorty kisses, and "insane in the membrame" time - when he got really playful and crazy (most often on the bed or in his beanbag "pod.") His first sister was Willow (1990-2003.) They liked to play "morning rescue squad" to wake us up for breakfast. Funny how every cat pair likes to do that!

Ted and Doraemon have similarities: grey & white coats, and advanced snuggling ability. We really didn't adopt Doraemon because of his grey & white coat. That story is for another day. We love and have loved them all.

Sayonara 2009!

Last sunset of the year from our backyard (Parks no uchi). Thank you 2009. Welcome 2010!

Referrals! (and how they happen)

Time to check RQ's Babies!! post. They got to April 3rd, and we are April 6th.

Finally, it includes a few families from our April 2006 LID Yahoo group!
(If none of this makes sense, see FAQs on right.)

Here's how it happens:

1. The CCAA sends referral packages to your adoption agency.
2. The agency promptly opens them and reviews all the info.
3. The agency calls families with basic information about the child (gender, age, orphanage & province, type of care - orphanage or foster care, weight and some measurements.) We told our family coordinator to call us without worrying about the time zone difference. So if you call us while we're asleep, we'll assume you are Leah calling with our referral.
4. The agency continues to translate all the info.
5. After a while, they email you photo(s) of your child that came in the package. For some important reason, you don't get the photos right away - maybe the next day. But that's okay. Not to be a party pooper, but we may not post the referral photos on this blog. One thing I read over and over is "don't get too attached to a picture," and I'll let you imagine the reasons why.
6. The agency Fed-Exes the original referral package and translation to you.
7. You check it all over, and if you accept the referral (ha!), you sign the CCAA's "Letter of Seeking Confirmation from Adopter" and send it to your agency pronto.
8. While waiting for "TA" (Travel Approval) from China, you can have Ann at Red Thread send a care package to your child. We've heard great things about Ann. She is Chinese and we think she lives in Guangzhou. She is well-connected, and can get updated photos, measurements, and info about your child. She can include a photo album of your family to give the child before you arrive. Anything to help smooth the transition for the unsuspecting little people!

And what happens after that is for a later post. But basically, after about 2 months, you travel to China. However, there can be delays with travel, too.

Congrats to the families who are getting referrals right now!

April 3rd

It looks like the cut-off is April 3rd.

April 1-2 was a weekend, so this was a very small batch. However, it's the 2nd batch in December. We really don't know what to expect next, but congrats to the families who are in!

We are LID April 6th.

Merry Christmas!

First rumor

RQ says one agency reports matching has begun.

An interesting read is "how the matching room works."

It's a sunny & somewhat warm Christmas Eve here at Yokota Kichi.

(kichi = military base)

Hope you're having a nice Christmas Eve wherever you are. We just found a perfectly good nursery glider (rocking chair) on the side of the road! Thanks, Santa, or whoever left it out.

Tenno no Tanjobi Eve

Tomorrow, December 23rd, is Tenno no Tanjobi (Emperor's Birthday.)

On this day, the grounds of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo open to the public. Tomorrow will be crowded, as are most Japanese holidays, so I was out today for an important errand: adding pages to my passport. It was a clear and sunny day in Tokyo. First, I stopped in Shinjuku for a little window-shopping, then took the subway to the US Embassy.

Tameike-Sanno subway stop near the embassy. I've been to the embassy three times before. Security is tight, but the people are friendly and helpful.

Convenient store ("convini") snacks. By some magic (or science), these sit at room-temp. and are safe to eat.

Subway ad

Merry Christmas from Tokyo Metro!



Winter illumination at Moritown

(near our place - it's where we catch the train into Tokyo)

Can you see why we love going to Moritown Mall?

This is the view from rooftop parking over Toys R Us.

Jeff was home recovering from his cold, so I finished the day caroling and having dinner with special friends.

this and that

This week's highlights:

1. Jeff returned from Hokkaido on Monday. He'd been working night shift, so had to re-adjust while going straight back to work and having a cold. I'll be happy when he gets a break!


2. Last Friday, my culture group exchanged gifts (naughty Santa style) at our house. It's always nice to see the ladies (Japanese, American, and one British.) They'll host us in Tokyo city next month.


3. Childrens' safehouse visit was a bit strange. It seemed mingling between Yokotans and the children was not encouraged. I was glad to speak a little Nihongo with the kids. Santa gave them presents.


4. Friend Jeanette was back in town for her husband's retirement from the Air Force. 28 years of service, and she had served, too. It was a touching ceremony.


5. Friend Casie & I taught 6th-graders English at Fujimi Elementary School in Hamura. Mostly we played games like Uno and Jenga, and sang "Stand by Me" with them and 5 other volunteers from Yokota. The kids were ga-ga over volunteer Michael Jackson (his real name.)


6. Casie & I had kaiten zushi (conveyer belt style of sushi restaurant.) Casie is a fun adventure partner.


7. Today I have my first Japanese lesson at Starbuck's in Moritown Mall with teacher Yukari.

We've been too busy this month to even think about the next round of referrals. (ha ha)

reflections

Tonight, I get to go to Kunitachi Safehouse with Jeff's office (see map, it's just down the road.) Jeff is working in Hokkaido this week, so he can't go this time. The Safehouse is a place for kids whose parents can't take care of them. From what I understand, the children cannot be adopted. It's complicated to explain - and I'm using euphemisms. But we hope to have a nice time visiting them. I'm curious to see this place and meet its residents.



I'm feeling a little sad today that some people view adoption as a last resort. Once again, I was told there is still hope for me to get pregnant. I appreciate the good will, but getting pregnant is not our intent (see FAQs.) Providing a loving home for our child is our intent. I think Doraemon & Ralph agree that genetics don't define a family. We can't wait to have Jeff home next week!

Projections

Rumor Queen crunched the numbers and posted her newest projections.

You can click the link above to read a little more about how she does it (quite the mathematical feat.) Or I can just summarize for you:

Dec/Jan: through April 5th
Jan/Feb: through April 11th (we are April 6th!)

Since CCAA has mysteriously skipped months this past year, and had other unexpected delays, she wasn't sure what to put for headings (the months when referrals will arrive.) Thanks, Rumor Queen, whoever you are, for your never-ending volunteer work to keep us informed.

Our friend, Fliss, is LID April 5th, so YOU GO GIRL! This is Fliss. I wonder how long it'll take her to know she's on our blog!

Babies!

See Rumor Queen's Babies! post.

Congrats to all the families LID March 29, 30, and 31st, 2006!

March is OVER!!!

Just got an email from our agency, saying CCAA announced they finished March 2006. Whoo-hoo!!!!!! They've been working on March 2006 for ALL OF 2009. Our family coordinator must've been up in the middle of her night (in USA) to report this info to us. ARIGATO to her!

If you look at the calendar above, you can see April 1-2 is a weekend (so not many people logged-in on those days.) Now, we just have to get through April 3, 4, 5, and 6. We are LID April 6, 2006. It still could be a long while, so just rerax. If none of this makes sense, read the FAQs and Terms & Acronymns.

Good thing I got some training from Linda and little AUBREY HEE-SOO this morning (all caps to emphasize her cuteness.) Thanks for the full diaper and big smiles!

Jeff is TDY, so we'll celebrate "March is Over" with drinks at Chili's another day. I drove to Tsurutsuru Onsen in the mountains today for a very relaxing soak in an outdoor hot spring.

I knew only good could come from that!

Seoul

An-nyong ha seyo! (hello)

We had a nice, relaxing visit to Seoul. The Dragon Hill Inn military resort was right downtown at Yongsan Army Garrison. We had a pretty view of Namsam Park and Seoul Tower from our room, and were able to walk to nearby subway stations. The city was clean, and the people friendly. We took a DMZ tour one day, then walked around the city the other days (to palaces, markets, war museum, restaurants.) We enjoyed taking the subway with our T-Money cards. Here are a few photos:

Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) tour, where we peeked at North Korea. Fascinating.

Jeff at Deoksugung Palace. Very peaceful on this cold afternoon.




Food court meal at COEX Mall: noodles, veggies, kimchi

Min Jee, our tour guide at Gyeongbokgung Palace.

She's studying English in elementary school and wanted to give us a tour. She took us around the large palace grounds, explaining the history and architecture. Her dad was with her, who didn't speak English, but was very nice. She taught us that turtles, fish, and pine trees hold the life force. Meeting Min Jee was a real highlight of the trip!

Korea

We're off to Seoul tomorrow for Thanksgiving vacation. We're staying at the Dragon Hill Inn military lodge (see lobby photo.) Good neighbor Sam will be caring for the boys. We have a lot to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Fun post

Okay, that last post was boring, but necessary. Here are some fun pictures from today:

Our house (pumpkin) and nice neighbors (scarecrow)

Ralph & Doraemon

Ralph & me



Doraemon & me

Sleepy Boys

home study validity

A friend pointed this out to me (link is to the USCIS website.) I just wanted to put it in a safe place for future reference.

Validity of the Home Study


"The home study must be submitted within one year of the filing date of the I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition.


The home study, or most recent update to the home study, must not be more than 6 months old at the time it is submitted to USCIS.


If an update is submitted, a full copy of the original home study must accompany the update.
Once a home study is submitted, it will not have to be updated unless there is a significant change (including but not limited to) residence, marital status, criminal history, financial resources, and/or the addition of one or more children or other dependents to the family prior to the orphan’s immigration into the United States."

-USCIS Orphan Home Study Guidelines

end of social week

This week was full of fun events: daytrip to Usabaro Kokeshi doll factory with friends, 2 spouse nights, lab, visit to Japanese school with friends to teach English, Thanksgiving feast with Jeff's office, Jeff's birthday & Ralph's adoption day, baby meal to friend (nice way to end the week.) And that's just my stuff! We're all ready for the weekend.

Our conference call with our agency is at 5 AM (I re-checked the time zone conversion - yippee, not 4 AM!)

It's pandemonium on Rumor Queen (we're used to it) regarding rumors about no referrals this month. As you can see, we're too busy to get a referral this month anyway.