Day 170

Update....or lack of....

I emailed our caseworker, yesterday, because I couldn't possibly wait another day. We are supposed to receive statistics every other month, on how many moms (if any) have looked at our profile and it's been 7 weeks and we still haven't gotten our first report. I took the opportunity to ask her about a hundred questions--questions that don't make our baby come faster, but help ease the waiting pains! Surprisingly, she emailed me right back! Here are some of the answers to my questions:

Stats?
They haven't come in, yet, but should be here any day. She told me to think "conservative" because, typically, new families aren't shown the first couple of months. To this I reply....WHY NOT!?!? I paid my money and did all the necessary work! If we're not shown for two months, than why don't they put us on the list prior to our home study being finished, so that when everything is complete we can be up and running!? Part of me says, "it's okay," the other part thinks this process blows.

Christmas Baby?
I know there aren't normal predictors....but, I asked anyway! I asked if we should expect things to slow down during the holidays and wait for activity after the new year. She responded with, "It is very hard to predict numbers for domestic placements. But, typically, we do not see a lull through the holidays - babies come when they want to! And we see just as many placements through Thanksgiving and Christmas, compared to the rest of the year."

Abundance of Baby Boys?
September's news report came out last week (from the agency) and it followed the same pattern as June-August. 85% of the babies placed in those months were boys (domestic only)! This seems crazy to me! I asked if there was a reason for so many boys and our CW basically called it "coincidence." I'm not convinced. She said the reason for so many boys is unknown and not predictable. If a birth mother is planning an adoption, the gender of her child doesn't usually affect her decision. That just doesn't seem normal. Either there is an abundance of boys being populated or b.moms have a really hard time parting with baby girls....Ben is convinced we're going to have a boy! (which is more than okay with me, but I do have the MOST adorable girl's name ready....can't we just have twins?)

Why does adoption seem to be getting harder?
When reading through the September report there was a lot of alarming news. China's program now has a minimum wait of 32 months (for a baby 10+ months) and all the European programs are currently only adopting out children about age 2. Guatemala is the only program that adopts out 6-7 month olds with a 12 month wait and the agency has closed their doors to non-Michigan residents until after January 1st, for the domestic program. I'm just curious as to what is happening? The only answer I got was that the economy and stricter border regulations have made adopting internationally a challenge. With only two months left in the year, the agency has done exactly half the adoptions they did in 2007 (in both international and domestic programs). I wonder why???? Ben blames it on the gas prices :).

That was about it, she told me I could email her anytime with questions and to be patient, positive, and stay busy (she also said she knows that's way easier to say, from her standpoint!) I know I didn't get much news, but it was enough for me to hang on to every word! It's comforting to know we haven't been forgotten...