*gasp* - they called us her "parents" :)

Hello everyone! I'm just trying to find the time to update as things have been pretty crazy around here. So, sorry it's been a while. But here is the latest news :)

After getting home from a weekend away, we got a call from our agency on Monday. "Uncle Zhou" had called the orphanage to check on Mali and was able to get an update. So far, she is doing well and received her care package with no problem. The orphanage also told him that she still has not had her lip repaired yet. They said that they can arrange for her lip surgery, however they wanted to let him know that out of the two plastic surgeons in their province that perform these surgeries for them, the one that would most likely be doing her surgery is the lesser of the two surgeons. Soo...they wanted Zhou to call "Mali's parents" (us!!!) and ask if we wanted to proceed with the repair in China or if we wanted her to wait and have her surgery/ies done after she gets home to the states. First, I was so excited that they called us Mali's parents (isn't that cool?)!! And second, I was very happy that they are allowing us this option of making our first decision for our daughter!! I never expected that from them and feel so fortunate that they thought of our feelings on the matter.

Anyway, once posed with this question, Shawn and I discussed the various angles. We figured that since Mali is eating well, gaining weight, and developing appropriately, there was not much need to hurry up with the surgery (especially if it was with a second rate surgeon), but we wanted to check with the experts first. We sent an email and made some phone calls to Children's Hospital to get their opinion.

In the meantime, we also are having Zhou call the CCAA to try to get the specific status of our dossier so that we know how much longer it will be until our approvals arrive. If possible, we are going to play the "expedite card" and use the letter that the director of Children's Hospital sent along with our referral acceptance to see if they can speed up the process to bring her home sooner. That way we can get everything fixed in one swoop here at Children's. Not sure if they will budge, (it is the very regimented Chinese government), however it never hurts to ask. The worst they can do is say no...so everyone, keep your fingers crossed they say yes! :)

As of right now, we are still waiting on word from Zhou from the CCAA, however Dr's Powell and Wiet at Children's said that Mali's condition does not appear urgent and there would be absolutely no harm in waiting a few more months. They also actually said they would prefer to do all procedures at Children's, to avoid having to potentially correct any surgeries performed in China.

So, today we let EAC (our agency) know that we will postpone her surgery until after we bring her home. Now we just have to wait for the word from Zhou. I am not banking on the CCAA expediting anything, but it sure would be nice, wouldn't it? Worst case, at least we'll know more about how much longer we'll have to wait for final approval. It's a win-win and I'm just so happy to feel movement again!

Shawn and I are actually really excited to meet her when she still has her cleft lip and palate...we've fallen in love with that little face just as it is so it will be amazing and breathtaking to see her in person, with every inch of her just as she was born :)

It's coming...someday soon...for the first time in a long time (maybe ever), I can feel it!