Hearing Date Set!

So, I got back from my early morning jog and popped on the computer to check for any updates and saw that I had an email from Tien titled "Court Hearing Date" Now, I was so excited, especially since you usually don't get notified of your first hearings this quickly. Even Tien stated in her email she was surprised, but the date of Han Tsai-Yi's first hearing is July 18th!

During the court hearing, the birth mother will appear in front of the judge and confirm her adoption will. After this, the judge signs our first ruling b/t 1-3 months, and then our final ruling should arrive about 1-2 months later. As soon as the Program has our final ruling, then they will be able to tell me when I can travel, which is usually a few weeks later. So, I'm hoping maybe by November? December the latest!
We're very excited w/ this news, a great way to start the 4th of July weekend! :)

Clothes, toys and bunny blanket . . .

I sent my first care package today! It will probably take about a week to get there. I have included some cute summer clothes, few toys, a bunny blanket ( i hope she will sleep with) and a fun, soft photo album with each one of our pictures in it! It's made for babies to play and chew. And, I copied the chinese symbols for : mom, dad, big brother, big sister and family next to the pictures so the foster mother can read it to her!

Plus, I included a few gifts for the Program III Agency handling the adoption in Taiwan and for the foster mother, including a disposable camera! Hopefully the foster mother can take some good pictures of her as she grows. :)

Dossier on its way . . .
Tien, our adoption coordinator emailed on Friday saying our dossier has officially been Fed'Exed to Taiwan. It usually takes about 3 days to arrive there, and after they receive it, it is submitted to the District Court by the next day or two. After that . . . we just wait to hear when our first hearing will be. Still don't know the entire process, will update as soon as I know, there are a few hearings and a final ruling, and then travel. Again, usually b/t 4-6 months. Hopefully the sooner!

We do get to send a care package-so I've been shopping for some cute outfits and fun toys for her to play with. I also bought a neat photo album for babies that they can chew on and play with. A friend of mines sister-n-law is from China and she wrote out the Chinese characters: Family, Mom, Dad, Older Sister and Older Brother that I can use as labels for the pictures, so the foster parents can read to her who everyone is! :) Very exciting!

UPDATE!

Well, we got our first update yesterday after I had posted my most recent post! Here are a few pictures of her. I met another adopting parent who just recently picked up their darling little girl in Taiwan that said they had the same foster parent as Han Tsai-Yi. They could tell by the background in the referral photos of Tsai-Yi.

The good news is that they said she's in GOOD HANDS, which is reassuring.

Back from California . . .

Hello! Well, we all just got back from California last week-it was a wonderful trip! Brett was on business and my mom and the kids and I flew out a few days later for fun! It was wonderful having my mom with us!! Visited with some delightful people all giving their well wishes and congratulations on our referral!



We visited with a long time girlfriend, Sara and her son, Aram which was a delight! The kids had fun playing on the beach and flying their kite!

Monday, after getting back into town, I drove to Chicago and had all our adoption ppwk authenticated through the Secretary of State office, then dropped them off at the TECO office (Taipei Economic & Cultural Office) which then forwards them to our adoption agency. THEN, the agency translates everything (our homestudy, our applications, etc.) into Taiwanese and sends it to Taiwan. It is called a DOSSIER. Once it arrives in Taiwan, it goes directly to the courts and we await our first hearing!

That's all I know thus far on how the process begins . . . I will fill you in when I hear more! Again, we anticipate a 4-6 month wait to travel. We are hoping to get updates on little Han Tsai-Yi very soon. The agency expects updates of pictures, videos and measurements approximately once a month. So, everyday, I patiently check my computer email praying for an update!!!

Very soon we will be able to send her a care package which we're excited about! I've already bought a few outfits and toys! :)