Getting Closer

March 31/06 - I met with Nancy, who would become my provincial adoption worker, mainly to get information. I did not sign anything at that time but Nancy gave me info on both domestic and international adoption. I was just starting a new job and had enough on my plate for the time being so didn't pursue this any further at that time.

Late July - I was in the library and came across a book called "China Doll" - I was not looking for anything about China or adoption. This is a novel about a single woman who adopts from China and it got me thinking again.

Early August - I was at my sister's when I finished reading "China Doll" and I mentioned my interest to her. This sister later gave a reference for me and, with her husband, agreed to be guardians for my daughter should something happen to me. I started looking up info. I got the names of 2 agencies, FOI and CB, from the website of the Adoption Support Centre of Saskatchewan. On the FOI website, I found info about the Yahoo group, Canadians Adopting From China - I joined that group, and eventually several others relating to China and adoption. I got a lot of info and encouragement from these groups which are actually online support groups. I also started hearing rumors that China might close to singles and decided if I am going to do this, it will have to be now.

End of August - I started contacting independant practitioners for my homestudy. Lorraine from Saskatoon said they had used Michelle and liked her. I didn't get her on the phone the first time I tried so I kept calling others. The only one I got on the phone the first try said she wouldn't be available for a couple of months. The secretary of another called back to say her boss would be able to call next week. By that time I had been in contact with Michelle (I think on the last Tuesday of August). I also sent my registration to FOI.

Sept. 2/06 - Michelle came for my initial homestudy visit, only about 4 days after I spoke with her. She is as nice as Lorraine said!

Sept. 7/06 - Michelle came for 2nd visit.

Sept. 12/06 - I met Michelle at Grainfields for 3rd visit. After this, she emailed the first draft of the homestudy to me, I made corrections, additions, etc. and emailed it back.

Sept. 30/06 - We signed off on the homestudy - we couldn't do it sooner because it has to be at least 4 weeks after 1st visit!

First week of October - Michelle took my homestudy to Nancy at DCRE. Nancy only works part time so I didn't get to meet with her until the 19th.

October 19/06 - I met with Nancy, gave her the rest of my dossier and talked for almost an hour about adoption issues. She is so nice. I am very blessed to have such great people to work with.

October 27/06 - I bought the money orders that needed to go to the agency at this time and dropped them off with Nancy. She is waiting for her supervisor to sign the letter of approval so she can send my dossier to the agency.

Timeline

I'm starting this 2nd blog to trace the journey to my daughter in China. I have always loved children and have been around them for my entire life - I am the fourth (oldest girl) in a family of 10. My youngest sister was born when I was 16 and my oldest nephew 11 months later. My first full time job was babysitting a 3 year old and a 5 year old. 2.5 years later, I went to Winnipeg to volunteer in a church run medical group home for children and I stayed there for 2.5 years. Later, I taught grades 1-4 in a 2 room church school. It was while I was working in Winnipeg that I remember thinking that what I really wanted most of all was to be a mother. I was 24 years old at the time. I would have been happy to be a mom earlier but I knew at that time that was what I REALLY wanted to be. About a year later, I checked into full time fostering a little girl from the group home. When I asked others about it, I was advised not to at that time, partly because of my age. Looking back I can see that that was good advice.

In 1993, when I was 28, I entered the nursing program (RN) at the local community college - I know I couldn't have done it if I had a child, although some did. I graduated in 1995 and worked in various jobs the next few years - there were no full time jobs available when I graduated. In 2003, I started working in Northern Saskatchewan. Some of the other staff learned of my interest in adopting and, in the fall of 2004, told me of a 2.5 year old girl whose mother might be wanting to give her up. I met the mom who was quite interested in giving her to me and I took the little girl (MJ) home with me on my 2 weeks off. During that time I decided that the time was not right for me to adopt. (a) My house was too small - and full :) (b) I would need a job where I was home more - I was 2 weeks up north and 2 weeks at home. (c) I would need a job where I could have a paid parental leave to facilitate attachment and adjustments. When I called MJ's mom, she said she had changed her mind - she missed MJ too much. Fortunately we decided this at the same time so there wasn't great heartache, although I would have loved keeping MJ. I let the idea go for the time, but in October 2005 I bought a house and in March 2006 I started a new job and the objections from 2 years ago where gone.

To back track a little, about the summer of 2004, I was thinking of adopting but hadn't mentioned it to any of my family. I have a cousin, Donna, who is about 6 years older than me, single, and a nurse (like me). I started wondering what Donna would think if I were to adopt and wondered if she would think it "weird" if I as a single woman would chose to do this. Soon after that I was at my nephew's wedding (August 2004) and I heard that Donna was planning on adopting a little girl from the Philippines! In the summer of 2004 I became a provincially approved respite and emergency foster home. I have cared for children from 9 months to 9 years of age and have had them from 2 to 6 days (except for MJ - 2 weeks). I met MJ in September 2004. Donnna brought her beautiful daughter home in December 2004.