Thursday, January 12, 2006

We're DTC!!!

After five months of filling out applications, standing in line at government offices, getting fingerprinted, meeting with our Social Worker, answering questions about our childhood and marriage, writing big checks, getting to know the FedEx guy and the nice ladies at the post office, and chewing my fingernails down to nothing, we're FINALLY DTC (dossier to China) on Friday, 1/13!!!!

It's such a relief to know that our dossier is complete and on its way to our agency's Beijing office. Once they receive it, it's forwarded onto Bridge of Love to be translated and then off to the CCAA (China Center of Adoption Affairs) were it will sit waiting to be logged into the database (LID). My agency estimates LID to be about 2-4 weeks from DTC, although we won't have our official LID date until a month or so after LID.

I don't expect to hear back from our agency for about 2 months from now, which is when I hope to hear that we have our LID. Once our LID is established we are simply waiting for our referral, which at this point is running 8 to 10 months from LID. So, I'm estimating that we would receive our referral sometime between October to December of this year and travel to China between November 2006 to January 2007. If referrals pick back up, all our dates will also move up. It seems things are ever changing.

This past five months has been quite an experience and I've really enjoyed journaling through this blog and chatting on-line with other adoptive parents. I've met some really nice people, and I'm looking forward to joining a DTC group and getting to know other adoptive parents who are on the same timeline as we are. If it weren't for the on-line community, I don't know how any of us could stand the LONG WAIT!

16 comments:

Lisa and Tate said...

My eyes fill with tears!!!! Congrats!!!!! Soon you will be holding your sweet daughter, Lauren.....

Lisa

Amy said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!! DTC IS HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I remember hearing I was finally DTC and I think I danced that ENTIRE DAY AROUND MY APARTMENT IN MY NIGHTGOWN! You're over the BIGGEST HURDLES NOW! NEXT STOP AFTER LID: REFERRAL! & THAT GORGEOUS BABY OF YOURS!!!!!!!

Elle said...

Congratulations!!! I am so excited for you. I can only imagine the relief of FINALLY being there.

Karen said...

Congratulations!!!! This is soooo great! I am soooo jealous (in a good way) and can't wait to be where you are. I look forward to seeing pics of your little one and following your journey!!!!!!!!! You are DTC on my hubbie's B-Day!!!!!!!
Congratulations!!!!!!!

Gen said...

wooooooooooooohooooooooooo! Congratulations...now celebrate and breathe a big sigh of relief. I'll send out your packet tomorrow with a little something extra.

I am so excited-I think I'll have a strawberry margarita for you this weekend...or maybe i'll go to starbucks.

Big hugs,
Gen

Catherine said...

Congratulations!!! This is a huge step! I'm hoping to be only a few short weeks behind you.

What an exciting day! Celebrate!

Shannon said...

CONGRATS!!! Now you join the waiting game with the rest of us! :-) It's pretty exciting, isn't it?

Kim said...

Don't you just love those 3 little letters?!?!? I am SO happy for you!!!

Big hugs to you!

Kim

Anonymous said...

Donna and Joe,
Congratulations! I know you are very excited. we are all excited for you! I hope the next 8-10 months fly by for you!

Colleen said...

WOOOOOHOOOOOO! Congratulations!

:::::doingthehappydance:::::

Katja said...

That is wonderful news. Congratulations!

Jacquie said...

Yay!!!! Congratulations!

Anonymous said...

Woo Hoo!! That is great news!
I am SO HAPPY for you!!!

Holly

Stephe said...

Hi Donna! I just wanted to let you know that I joined the January DTC group. They seem to all be real nice and very organized. If you join right now, there is still time to enter the secret pals gift exchange. If you are interested in signing up for January and want to do the gift exchange...let me know and I can privately email the girl in charge of the exchange to make sure you get in. Let me know. Thanks. Stephe

Anonymous said...

Great news - congrats on being DTC!

SARA said...

Congratulations!!!!!

I added your blog address to my blog and even used your 100 good wishes quilt page as an example for people to send me wishes. We are planning to do one as well. Here is my blog address: http://lanechinaadoption.blogspot.com

We just sent our dossier to our agency to be authenticated. good luck on your journey and wishing you a speedy LID!