Another Update on Jadyn...

I received an email from Ann at Red Thread last night and she has already received some information from the orphanage on Jadyn - we are getting so excited to travel so we can meet and hold this precious little child! They sent her three pictures; two of which we had already received, but here is another new one:



They also sent Ann the following information:

height :62cm
weight :7.5kg
head :42cm
chest :44cm
feet :9cm
teeth:8 (up4,down4)

Liu Bi (Jadyn) lives in Gui Yang !

I Googled some information on this city and found - Guiyang City, capital of Guizhou Province is located in the southwest of China, on the eastern side of the Yungui Plateau. It is said that in ancient times, Guiyang was surrounded by dense bamboo groves and was famous for producing a musical instrument known as a Zhu. Hence the city is known also as Zhu.

Guiyang is one of China's Spring Cities like Kunming . The climate is often mild and moist, neither extremely hot nor very cold. Spring, summer and autumn are the best seasons for visiting Guiyang.

Right now, the temperatures seem to be ranging from a low of 50 degrees at night to a high of about 80 degrees during the day.

Here are some more pictures from the city and province:

Guiyang City


Guizhou Minority Girls


Guizhou Local Traditional House


Skyline of the City

Wow! My head is spinning…

I have been busy trying to accomplish a lot of things in the last few days. I had to complete some paperwork so that they can begin Jadyn’s adoption paperwork in China. I have completed visa applications for Jerry and me (three times over). I have ordered a care package for Jadyn through Ann at Red Thread (love her!) and she has already requested updated information and pics for us through the orphanage, but she said that the orphanage is crazy slow so we are not sure how long it will take. I wrote a letter to Jadyn’s foster mother to send with the care package and Ann will translate that so I hope to get some of my questions answered. I did send a SASE so she could send a reply or maybe we will just receive it when we travel, we’ll see.

I have compiled my packing list (mostly going off of my cousin’s – thank you Anne! (CheeseinChina) and am trying to cross items off accordingly. Jerry and Justin are actually on a mad shopping trip today to get much of it done. I have been reading up on all of the travel tips that I can get my hands on – and, I just found out that there is a trade fair in China that begins on April 15! This is not good news for us unless we can be in and out of there by then. Now, I know why many of the flights are starting to fill up in early April. The costs for travel and accommodations will skyrocket due to the trade fair, if we are lucky enough to find any. Hopefully, our TA (travel assignment) will come next week and we can book our flights – please keep your fingers crossed for us!

Updated Information...

We received updated measurements and two updated pictures!!!

height: 62cm, weight: 7.5kg, head: 42cm, chest: 44cm. So she is just about 2 ft, and weighs about 16.5 lbs (note - this weight may be while fully clothed).

Here are the updated pictures from 2/8/10 - I believe the first picture is with her foster mother; this will be a treasured picture!

The Invisible Red Thread…

"An invisible red thread connects those destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstances. The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break." - Ancient Chinese Proverb

We received Jadyn’s translated medical report yesterday which included the meaning of her name – Chen, Liubi “jade” (Chen is the surname and Liubi is her first name) – we were so surprised to see that her Chinese name means Jade; we decided on the name Jadyn a little over three years ago!

Her full name will be Jadyn Liubi Sinjakovic

The report also stated that she has been in foster care since August 3, 2009. We are very happy to know this as she has most likely been receiving very good care and has been able to bond to a particular caretaker. It will be difficult for her to leave that caretaker to be placed with us and we are understanding and prepared for that transition.

The notes regarding her personality state that she likes to giggle, likes sound toys, especially drum bell, likes to be carried walking, likes music and dances with beats.

Everything appears to be healthy and we are preparing to send a care package to her and the foster family. Hopefully, we will receive an update on her in the near future!

Her Bedroom...

I know I've been away for a few days, but it has been a busy few days:) It was a painting marathon over the weekend because we both wanted to get Jadyn's room done. It felt so good to finally work on it and see it come together. Now, we just need our little girl!

I started painting on Friday night at 6 p.m. after we got back from our trip to Portage to pick up our referral packet. I went until midnight when I ran out of purple paint. It was a good thing that I ran out or I may have stayed up all night to get it done!

Saturday morning we ran a couple of errands and picked up more paint, then I got to work, with more of Justin's help, at around 1 p.m. and we worked until about 10:30 p.m. I only had one small section of a pink stripe left to complete on Sunday. Saturday night Jerry, Justin, and Brandon put together the crib, dollhouse bookshelf, vanity table and stool, hung the pictures, butterflies, and placed the applique (which you really can't see well above her crib) that reads "Such a Big Miracle in Such a Little Girl".

We had a great time working on the room; our two little guys, Ryan and Colin, even wanted to get in on the painting. They were determined to help with their sister's room! I have to get some new curtains since the bedding set only came with one valance and I bought it about 3 years ago, so I know I will not be able to find another valance. I think some shear curtains tied back would look nice, too!

Here are a couple of pictures; although, the colors are not really true to life:

Here She Is...

Name: CHEN LIU BI
Birthdate: 7/18/09
Currently residing at the SWI of Qiandongnan Region, Guizhou Province

Words do not describe the joy we feel; we are so in love with her already and can not wait to hold her in our arms!

We Have A Daughter!!!

OMG!!! I just got the call from our social worker and she confirmed that we have a daughter! The only other thing I know is her birthdate is 7/18/09 - she is only 6 1/2 months old!

Wow! I am totally shaking right now!!! It's a Happy Day!!!

A Little Information...

Jerry called the social worker this morning, who told him that the package had arrived at the agency in Minnesota, and there were five referrals received. However, she could not confirm that our referral was one of the five...SERIOUSLY???

I am on pins and needles right now!!!

Anyway, she said that she would probably be seeing us sometime today or tomorrow.

I know...that is not much information, but that's all I know for now. Hoping to hear more soon!

Thanks to all of you for your love, support and kind words of encouragement - we do appreciate it!

And Still We Wait...

I spoke to our social worker late yesterday afternoon and she didn't have any information to share with me. Apparently, the process goes something like this:

Minnesota agency receives packet - sends to our agency in Portage after translation - our social worker calls us when she has it in hand and says to come in and see our precious little one's face. Our agency is about an hour and a half away from where we live and I just started a new job a little over 5 months ago so I'd like to give them a little bit of notice that I will need time off and when. Jerry is a police officer and he just can't leave without coverage for his shift - I explained this to the social worker and she said that she would email the main agency in Minnesota to try to find out what they know so that we can prepare to take off of work to come to the agency and pick up the packet. THIS WAS YESTERDAY AT 4PM...I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD FROM HER!!!

A few more of my April buddies are getting their calls today which makes me so happy! Although, I know that there are still a couple of us waiting for news and it is getting more and more difficult with each passing day; we just continue to try to support one another.

Especially, since I haven't heard from my social worker to say that the agency in Minnesota even received the package yesterday via FedEx. That means, that it may not get to them until today's delivery, then they have to do their 'thing', and FedEx it to my agency in Portage (probably going out Thursday) which means it probably won't get to Portage until Friday- YIKES!!! I'm not sure I can hold on that long! I'm going to go bananas!!!

Still Waiting...

We are still waiting to hear something from our agency. I must say that it is getting difficult as I have seen many of my April buddies post their information - I am extremely happy for them, but a little bit of me has always had a fear that something would go wrong and we would be overlooked. That just seems to be the way the last 5 years have stretched out to be. I even called my social worker before Christmas to verify that our LID was in fact 4/4/06 - just to be sure - and she assured me that it was...so why am I feeling more nervous than excited???

I just want the darn phone to ring!!! Until I hear it from her that we have been matched I just can't let myself go there!

I'm trying to focus on work and it's probably a good thing that I am here today or I'd be going crazy at home!

Not so patiently waiting anymore....

Referrals Arriving in Europe...

Wow...things seem to be moving fast, but that is alright by me!

RQ just updated her blog to state:

February 1st, 2010
I have a report that referrals have landed in Europe.

I do not have reports from any U.S. agencies that they have something on the way. Normally, the U.S. agencies have checked by now and have let their families know whether a package is on the way, and when it is scheduled to arrive.

Now, we just have to wait for them to hit the U.S.

We've Been Matched!!!

According to the Rumor Queen website:

R5 – April 5th
February 1st, 2010

We’ve got seven agencies confirming the cut off date as April 5th. I believe that calls for an R5.

Congrats to those families included in this batch!!!


If you expect to be in this referral batch and you’d like to share your blog with us, please include blog name and blog URL in the comments to this post. Also, if you are in another program and would like to share your news, please share your blog URL and blog name in the comments.

I do not see any agencies saying when they expect referrals to arrive.

We are so very excited knowing that our daughter has been matched to our family! Now, the difficult part is waiting for that phone call!

Ring...Phone...Ring!!!