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| Leo's Referral Picture |
“An Invisible Red Thread connects those who are destined to meet,
Regardless of time, place or circumstance.
The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break."
(Ancient Chinese Legend)
There he is!!
I received a phone call on October 7, 2011. It was my agency asking if I wanted to review the file of a little boy named Hu (last name) Shi (world) Jia (excellent). She described his personality a little and then added "Today is his first birthday." Less than five minutes later I was looking at this little face on my computer screen.
Now, that's one handsome baby...don't you agree? I mean, look at those cheeks!! He's delicious!!
I looked over his medical records (all in Chinese and they didn't really mean much to me. I would need a doctor to translate everything and explain). The background information was in English though. Developmentally he is on target. He was born on October 7, 2010. On October 29, 2010 he was found in front of a hospital. He was thin and his breathing was labored. He looked blue. He was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect and received immediate care. Despite the fact that he has not had surgery yet and is not on meds he has proven to be a resilient, strong little boy. His height and weight are excellent, in the 85th percentile on a western growth chart. The doctors all say this is a great indicator of how well he is doing. Of course, it won't be until I get my little guy back here and have tests done here that we will know exactly what is going on. However, his growth is a reason to be positive and hopeful. He is learning how to walk and can walk himself around while holding onto furniture. The nannies describe him as a mischief maker and I smiled as I read it. Sounds like he and a certain red head I know will have a little fun together....
HA HA HA! Is that the look of a "mischief maker" or what?
That evening, October 7, the same day we received his referral Charlie and I went to Saint A's to light a candle for Leo. We walked into the big, dark, empty church and up to the front. As I lit the candle Charlie immediately started singing "Happy Birthday To You." That is why you light candles, right? Well, it was Leo's birthday, after all.
So, after sending his referral, all information we had, including medical records off to The University of Minnesota International Adoption Clinic and to another doctor in Chicago, Dr. Ochs, who specializes in Chinese adoptions we were given the a-ok to proceed. "Go ahead and adopt" were the exact words of the cardiologist.
So, fast forward one month exactly. Everyone in the world knows about our little Leo. I show his picture to anyone who will look. If it isn't Mike or myself talking about him it's Charlie. He has gotten into this amazingly adorable habit of asking random strangers if they have a brother. Then, before they have a chance to answer he proudly says "I have a little brother. His name is Leo. He lives in China. We are going to get bunk beds."
How I dream of the day I get to see my two boys playing and laughing together!!
A couple weeks ago we requested an update. Our agency told us they would try but that it was highly unlikely. Then, just one week after we requested the information our wish was granted. We didn't get a lot of medical information but we did get some labs and they all looked great according to our doctors here. Leo's height and weight continue to progress. And, we even got a picture!! It was taken the same day that I received it, don't you just love technology? Look how big he is getting!!
Look at his hair! I just want to kiss those cheeks. Hang in there Leo, we'll be there soon!!
So, our immigration paperwork is being processed right now. When you have been in the process of adoption for four years you join a lot of online groups and get a lot of information from others who are in the same boat. So, according to other families in the process it seems that the wait for the I800A immigration approval is about 8 weeks. Then we have to get our last immigration approval, called the I800. This is supposed to take about 20 days. So, all in all I think we will most likely be traveling in March. Of course, I am hopeful that it will be sooner than that. We have been waiting SO long but the wait has really become brutal now that we have a little face that we are looking forward to meeting and bringing home. For now, we have to trust that our little Leo is in good hands. Every night I pray that he has warm blankets while he sleeps, enough nutritious food to eat, little friends to play with, caregivers who hug and kiss him, make him laugh, and treat him as we will treat him.
