convos with the boss

i found a new tactic to talk with the adoption "boss."
one-liners.
how bout that? i usually go into wonderful detail with bullet points and expressive questions, but i get general one-lined responses. occasionally there will be a flicker of information i don't already know, but most of the time, it's not NEW news to me.
i usually feel unsatisfied about it, and just try to encourage my friends to ask the questions i want to know at their next check-in, on the off chance that they get more info.
BUT, i decided to go ahead and write back my question. no big post with my dte date and full name. no flattering words before hand (though they are true). just the question. and wouldn't you know it? i get answers!

example:
my original post requesting information at 7 months:

Hi!
Welcome back! I hope your visit to Thailand was good.
I'm writing in for my 7 month check. We are on the list for an infant boy with a DTE of 2.27.09.
I understand that a few referrals went out recently to families with Feb dossier dates. Do you happen to know what DTE date is next up for a referral?
Is it possible to guess how long the wait would be for me (assuming, by subtraction that we are now number 3 on the list)?
Do you know if babies are coming into care daily? or weekly?
Any chance you can share specifics (boys/girls/toddlers?)
Again, I know you just got back, so please don't feel obligated to make this email response a priority. I am trusting that things will happen soon enough.
Thanks again for any answers you can give!
Katie Nester
DTE 2.27.09
b/g 0-18 months

the response:
Actually there were several dossiers sent on Feb 27. When that happens we look at the date the family applied to AAI and the one that applied first gets the first referral, all things being equal. So, it looks like there are still a couple of families ahead of you.

okay, i knew that. i have been told on more than one occasion that there was another 2.27 DTE for a boy (and because they applied first, they'll go before me).

my curiosity peeked. i changed my tactic: (insert one-liners)
Does this mean that Feb 27th is the next dossier date for infant boys??

the response:
Yes, but as I explained, you will not get the baby because others whose applications were filed before your will be considered first. It shouldn’t be long though.

AWESOME! i have been beyond curious to see what DTE they were on, and only half-expected to get a general response (ie: beg of Feb, middle of Feb, end of Feb, etc) So this was GREAT NEWS! we are 2.27!! i mean, it can't get any closer than that!!

of course, i should be satisfied with that response and just hold my breath for the next few weeks, but i thought, hey...why not one more TINY question:
Any chance of referrals going out before you leave (for the people ahead of me)?

the response:
Nope, I am out the door in about 10 minutes. *S* can give referrals if complete files are available while I am gone, though.

hey, it was a good try right? at least i know when she gets back from Ethiopia, my friend has a DTE check-in; and i have passed along my awesome knowledge of the one-liners to her. i'm certain she will get more info! and you never know - maybe the boss will come back with armloads of files for us all!!

lucky number 7

tomorrow marks our 7 month wait. it's gotta be this month, right? LUCKY NUMBER 7?!
i've gotta say...i'm nervous about posting my update.
it feels like when i post about moving UP the list, something quickly happens, and i move DOWN the list.
so, i wont say anything. but you can guess.
you want to? okay!
do i have good news?
yes.
did i get a referral?
no.
have ANY infant/toddler boy referrals gone out?
perhaps.
how many? one?
um.
two?
maybe.... :)
so what number am i now?
you'll have to figure it out for yourself judging by my past posts.
i don't want to jinx myself!

i was told that i was "right at the top of the list." that does not mean i am next of course, but i was told we should be getting our referral in october!
i'm praying for a great birthday present for tim (oct. 12), or at least not to have to call in for an 8 month check.
join me, wont you?

one step forward...two steps back.

well...for me it's actually 2 steps forward, one step back.
last month at our check-in we were told that we were number 6 on the list.
2 referrals went out in the past 2 weeks, so, by simple subtraction we should be number 4 now.
WELL, just recently someone with a february DTE decided to change their preference from a girl to a boy, so that bumps us back. they will now get the next boy referral. apparently they have been waiting on the girl list for 10 months (and the average wait is 10-12 months), but now say that they are "tired of waiting for a girl and are now okay with a boy."
well, that touches your heart doesn't it? it's like saying "10 months is all i'll wait for a girl, and then, we want a boy.
it's just weird. tim and i thought very long and hard about what would be best for our family, and didn't choose the gender based solely on the waiting list.
oh well! God knew this would happen, and He is factoring this in to the perfect child for us. soon enough.
meanwhile, i've met another mom who is adopting a waiting child from china, and i must say, i don't know if ALL adoptive moms are like this, but i just feel so DRAWN to others who are adopting. she's really close to bringing her baby home, and that is AWESOME! i think i'd really like to adopt from china when i turn 30.
i STILL can't believe you have to be 30. what's with that qualification? are we better parents at 30 (or 33-34? because it takes 3-4 years!).
only time will tell what we will do for our next adoption. until then, i will keep researching and praying for all of our future kids!

movin' on up.

PEOPLE ARE GETTING REFERRALS! That is such WONDERFUL news to my heart! Even though it's not me who has one yet, and it doesn't even mean I'm next on the list, but at least we are seeing the list MOVE!! I'm getting all jittery! I'm now number 5! That's not bad at all! Oh Jace baby, I'll be soooooooooooooooo excited to finally see your face!
What a glorious day! Praise the Lord for this great news! Just when I was feeling really low again, the Lord reminded me that HE is in control, and that He is still working! I'm trusting that God will give us our little man when the timing is perfect for us.
Thank you Lord!