[Paul&Dee]

I can't believe that we've only gone though 2 days of referrals. I hope this isn't going to be a new trend. I had a terrible nightmare last night that our adoption didn't go though because our adoption agency said our paperwork wasn't good enough. Our paperwork has been there since January 2006 & I think I'm just getting jittery.

[chinagirl2006]

I guess we have to wait until Mon or Tue to see if its "really" only 2 days worth. I know its hard for alot of families right now that are waiting.

[lovemybulldog]

Our agency explained that there were simply fewer children available with IA paperwork this month combined with more staff needed to process incoming dossiers pending the May 1st rule deadline. They seemed certain that there would be more staff available for matching after May 1...although the Chinese Labor holiday in May might not help matters. Sigh.

[smbcpc]

Amy, I have a feeling that you will get your referral on Monday (if your agency is open). It appears that only West Coast agencies received referrals on Friday. From what I can see there were very few referrals.

My agency sent a status email in which they said that 10/26 was the only LID for which they received referrals. So unfortunately it does look like there were only 2 days in this batch.

[Trace7]

Amy - hopefully you hear something Monday or Tuesday at the very latest

Yes, it would be nice if we could know exactly why there were only 2-3 days referred (nothing is completely official yet until the CCAA site updates) rather than just speculation, but I remember this happenned last year, too. Then it sped up again a little. If they indeed only got through 10/26, then there are 26 LID's ahead of me with a 11/22/05 LID. I just hope it does not take 5 months to get through November - or more

[PiperH]

It has put rather a damper on what would be an exciting time - our LID.
We are trying to cope with this latest information, but it's been hard. I don't know what is worse - being so close, with late October and November and December referrals, but essentially just as well as far away as we are without them, or being as far away as we are and looking at years.
We have waited so long and this always felt so right, but lately it's hard to stay optimistic.
Kevin's doing that better than me, however, and my turn will come to shore him up. I can't imagine doing this alone like I know some are still trying to do before May.
Here's hoping this is rock bottom. I'm ready for a climb.
Violet

[chinagirl2006]

As far as I know our agency is open on Monday. They better be! Today is almost over & tomorrow I'll be busy visiting my grandma at the nursing home & going to my parents' for East dinner. Monday should be here before we know it.

Monday will be interesting - see how may LIDs actually get referrals. I'm still holding out hope for more dates.

[Leilani's Mom]

Originally Posted by PiperH

It has put rather a damper on what would be an exciting time - our LID.
We are trying to cope with this latest information, but it's been hard. I don't know what is worse - being so close, with late October and November and December referrals, but essentially just as well as far away as we are without them, or being as far away as we are and looking at years.
We have waited so long and this always felt so right, but lately it's hard to stay optimistic.
Kevin's doing that better than me, however, and my turn will come to shore him up. I can't imagine doing this alone like I know some are still trying to do before May.
Here's hoping this is rock bottom. I'm ready for a climb.
Violet

Violet~
I had the SAME experience last March, the day we were LID they only referred 3 days of LID's (5 days total, two were weekend days). I remember thinking how excited and sad I was at the same time...Now, here I sit a year later, still with about a year to go...seeing your post and feeling the same. But, I refused to believe that rate would last forever and it didn't and I don't think 2 days is the new norm...we would all be waiting 20 years :-) Be sad, but look forward to the child waiting for you at the end. All of us are on this journey, one step at a time, each day is one day closer to our children!

[PiperH]

Originally Posted by Leilani's Mom

Violet~
I had the SAME experience last March, the day we were LID they only referred 3 days of LID's (5 days total, two were weekend days). I remember thinking how excited and sad I was at the same time...Now, here I sit a year later, still with about a year to go...seeing your post and feeling the same. But, I refused to believe that rate would last forever and it didn't and I don't think 2 days is the new norm...we would all be waiting 20 years :-) Be sad, but look forward to the child waiting for you at the end. All of us are on this journey, one step at a time, each day is one day closer to our children!

Thanks. This post and something else I read today really helped me slow down and take it one day at a time. That will probably last me through tomorrow anyway! (LOL)
Really, though, the support helps, and I know I'm not the only one with these feelings.
Violet

[skingspan]

I posted an interesting chart on my website comparing number of days referred per month last year to this year. Some odd coincidences there. Click on my website below and go to the Latest News link at the bottom.

[PiperH]

Thanks for the chart, Skingspan. It was interesting. We heard last year's 5 days really was only 3 since two of the days were weekend and there were no referrals on those days. Hopefully it will start to speed up now.
Your site was cool.

[ttcasey]

I try so hard not to get frustrated with the long wait. When we first started we expected 10-12 months to referral, that would put us into traveling this fall. We think we will be lucky if we travel Fall of 2008. The most frustrating thing is that we wanted to go back for a second adoption soon after. The problem is, we will probably be too old. I know we made the right decision to go with China, but I am just having a hard time getting through the long wait. This past weekend we were at the local soccer fields and they had this huge easter egg hunt. There had to be over 4,000 eggs and tons of kids. Just a little sad to hear there was only 2 days worth of referrals.....

[Karen in MT]

Trish, I know how you feel. Our LID is 7-14-06. We will be 9 mo LID soon and we are well over a year since starting the process. We considered adopting from another country while we wait for China. I talked to our homestudy agency and got all excited when I realized that things could move quite quickly for our second child from another Asian country. Then I called our adoption agency and they were fairly encouraging about things speeding up after May 1st for various reasons. Now we are holding out for China again. We are out-aged for a second child with the new China rules, from China but not other countries. I can't believe how this is playing on my mental health. After I had that exciting moment thinking we could get a child quickly, I also realized just how deeply difficult this has been on me. I feel negative about most everything lately no matter how hard I try not to be like this. Are others having this trouble? It is not for me like I never had children yet. I raised 3 wonderful kids and have 2 grandchildren. But, I'm in love with a child I have not even met in person yet! International adoption is crazy! SMILE!!!!! We are all in the slow boat. I'm still keeping faith for a speedy one though. THERE, I VENTED! Karen in MT

[specialk4b]

Originally Posted by Karen in MT

I called our adoption agency and they were fairly encouraging about things speeding up after May 1st for various reasons.

Oh Karen, I'm so hopeful that you're right. I've been struggling myself. Somedays it seems like this will never happen, so I just put it on in a box on the shelf and try not to look at it.

[Chinagirl07]

I just found this website and blog and already I feel better after learning of the "2 days" of referrals yesterday. Our LID is 12-5-05 and it's been 16 months of waiting so far! When we started it was only 6-9 months-wow! My agency gives us no information as to why or what is going on so it's nice to see that some other agencies are trying to explain it! I feel so much better knowing this is a place where you can visit and others can relate to exactly what you are feeling! Our friends are great, but they aren't experiencing the same emotions, etc!