Big plans!!!!

As you may have noticed from the dearth of posts lately, I have been a bit distracted!! Not only by the celebrities in the Jungle either!! Me and Mr Messy have come to the conclusion that if referrals from China continue at the pace they have been coming (2 months 17 days worth of LIDs in the WHOLE of 2007) we will not be in a position to adopt when our turn finally comes round. We have talked over all different sorts of scenarios - considering our family complete with our three gorgeous children or applying to adopt domestically again or seeing if we can change to an expedited, direct Special Needs match from the CCAA. After many months of talking we decided on the SNs route, and I have been diligently researching this for ages now. A friend in America sent her agencies SNs list of conditions, and we have also been considering what we can and can't deal with on that list. We have now, just about, come up with a very restricted list of SNs we can consider and feel would fit into our family set up. After ensuring that the CCAA would accept an application for an expedited SN adoption from the UK, we contacted our Local Authority. To my utter surprise and delight, Team Leader was very positive and encouraging and we have arranged a meeting for me, Mr Messy and her for a week on Friday. I have talked to the DCSF and they say we need a homestudy addendum and written confirmation from the LA saying they support this change - the DCSF will then add their own letter of support and forward everything to the CCAA on our behalf. It sounds so simple when laid out like that - but I am sure that just like every other step in our adoption journey, it will be long winded and frustrating. But I am determined that we will get through this, and give this application our best shot. The CCAA might turn around and say "no" but at least we will have tried our best. Hold on MeiMei - mummy and daddy are coming....