a little progress

Well, even though we still don't know when we're traveling, at least we managed to get something accomplished today. We took the copy of our I-171H and got it notarized, then we took it straight to FedEx, so it's on its way to be apostilled. Then we went to a locally owned shipping store to get the photos for our visa application. We got all the photos we needed for both visa applications. They are not flattering and could be dmv photos, but at least they weren't as bad as my passport photo, which I think is the all time worst photo ever taken of me!

Everyone was so supportive. The notary asked all about Baby F. and was so excited for us. She is the human resources director where R. works, and she talked to us about adding Baby F. to our health insurance as soon as possible. She was very helpful. Then when we were having our photos taken, the guy told us he is expecting his 1st child in March, and he also knew a family who had adopted from Russia. When the FedEx driver came in to pick up packages, she was telling us about the families she knew who had adopted from Russia. Everyone was congratulating us and seemed genuinely happy for us. I really needed that today. Their enthusiasm helped take the sting out of not getting a travel date today.

Please pray that God guides everyone who comes in contact with our dossier.

I-171H

Our I-171H arrived today! R. brought in the mail, handed me the envelope, and we both just stared at it. We were in shock. I opened it, and couldn't believe it! I was holding our immigration approval! We immediately called C., and she was excited for us! We faxed it to her as soon as we got off the phone.

We're not sure when we're traveling. It could be as early as Feb. 2, or it could be Feb. 9. We will find out tomorrow. We're so anxious to know exactly when we're going. We're so excited and overwhelmed right now!

begging and beautification

Today was a better day, in spite of the weather forecasters, who were at it again. They were calling for freezing rain this morning, but of course, when we got up, nothing. So I was able to leave town without worry. My sister A. is a hair stylist in a nice salon, a little over an hour away, so I went to see her this morning. She fixed my hair - a trim and highlights to cover all the grey! My sister has a wonderful eye for color. I have challenging hair - very naturally curly and lots of premature grey, but she can always make it look great! I wouldn't want anyone else to do my hair. Now I'm ready to go have the pictures taken for our visa application.

After she performed her miracles, we went and had lunch. It was so nice to spend some time with her today. It perked me up after the frustrations of this past weekend.

When R got home from work, he took our medical forms to FedEx, and now those are on their way to our agency. It felt very good to send those!

Thanks to info from another family with our agency, I was able search online and find the email address for the USCIS officer that processes the adoption petitions in our regional office. I was so excited when I found that! After R got back from FedEx, we sat down together and wrote an email, begging for them to expedite the processing of our paperwork so that we can travel and to please let us know when we can expect to receive our approval, so we can finalize a travel date. Until we know when the approval will arrive, our dossier won't be registered, and we won't have firm travel dates.

Thanks, Karyn for reminding me that the timing is all in God's hands. As impatient people, we do what we can to further the process along, but ultimately, it will all happen according to His plan. Even though I lose sight of it in the heat of the moment, I do trust that He knows what's best, both for us and for Baby F.

P.S. Both going and returning today, I drove past the house that has the 2 llamas! This morning, they were in the back pasture, and I could hardly see them, but this afternoon, they were grazing and hanging out closer to the road, so I was able to get my adorable llama fix!

medical forms

Yesterday afternoon, we picked up our medical forms. Our doctor was so great. He filled out the forms while we were sitting there, got them notarized, and then double checked them with us to make sure they were exactly what we needed. He answered our questions, and then didn't charge us for the office visit. Everyone in his office is very supportive of our adoption.

So today, I sent the medical forms to be apostilled. Now I'm just watching the mailbox every day for the 171-H. I sent the laptop off to be repaired too, and we should have it back within a week, plenty of time before we travel.

I looked at video cameras online, but we haven't made a decision yet about which one to buy.

I'm feeling tired today. I haven't been sleeping well. Too much on my mind! I'm going to try to go to bed early tonight.

medical forms very soon

This afternoon, as soon as R got off work, we jumped in the car and raced over to the doctor's office to have our TB tests read. Both were negative! I was very relieved! The nurse was so nice. She said that our lab work should be back on Monday, and then they could get our medical forms filled out very soon. She congratulated us, and asked us when we would be traveling. Their office has been so supportive, and we are very thankful for that.

I had ordered backpacks to use as our carry-on bags. They arrived today, but after looking at them, we decided that they are too small. So I ordered the same backpack in a slightly larger size, and we are sending the small ones back.

I emailed our agency to find out if our dossier had arrived in Moscow yet. Since the dossier is being delivered by DHL, we are anxious to hear that it arrived safely. They said they would talk to the Moscow office on Monday, but so far everything is fine. Please pray that it does arrive safely, and that it is translated quickly.

dossier on its way

I just found out that our dossier is being sent to Russia for translation today! YAY!
We thank God for getting us to this point in the process.

fbi surprise

This morning, I was reading the yahoo group for our agency, and people were posting about getting FBI fingerprints done. I didn't know what they were talking about, but I had a bad feeling, so I emailed C. She emailed me back this afternoon, and told me that we do need to get FBI fingerprints done. It will take 3-4 weeks to get the clearance, but we don't have to have it before our dossier is registered and our 1st trip. We just need to have it before we go to court. The prints are only good for 6 months, so if we had done them sooner, there would have been a risk of expiration. We're feeling a little frustrated, but it should turn out ok in the end.

Otherwise, our day went well. First thing this morning, we went to the doctor and had our lab work done. The nurse was wonderful. I didn't even feel the needle go in! She was done before we knew it. We gave her the medical forms to be filled out by our doctor, and hopefully, we'll get those back soon.

Then R. went to work and I went to the DMV. There was no crowd, and I didn't have to wait in line. Turns out they had assigned 2 different customer numbers to me. I signed a form saying that both customer numbers were one and the same person, and they got the account and address correct finally! The woman was very nice and helpful, and I was glad to get that straightened out. Now my tag has the correct sticker!

Nothing adoption related scheduled for tomorow! G. is coming over tomorrow afternoon, and I'm going to help her with her algebra. I'll enjoy seeing her and having some time with her.

a little more paperwork & a little more packing

Our agency received R's corrected and apostilled employment letter today, so that's another last bit of paperwork finished. All that remains now is the 171-H and our medical forms, which we're dealing with tomorrow. At 7:50am tomorrow, we're both going to the doctor to have our blood work and TB tests done, and we're dropping off the medical forms for our doctor to fill out. Sometimes we wonder if there is ever any communication between people in offices. When R made our appointments 2 weeks ago, he went over exactly which tests we were going to need and why. So of course, the office called me this morning to say they had no idea what lab work we needed tomorrow or why it was needed! It would be so nice if people talked to one another.

This afternoon, I went to the store and got a few more of the items on my list: neosporin, immodium, benadryl, small packs of kleenex, ziploc bags, disposable razors, a sink stopper, and a small led flashlight. It made me feel better to check some more off the list!

We also found out today that we have to go to the DMV tomorrow! Because we just haven't done enough paperwork lately! When we got married, I changed my name on my driver's license, and then when we moved into this house, I changed the address on my driver's license. I thought they had changed everything, but my car, tag, and taxes were all still listed under my maiden name and our old address. I never got the sticker for my tag, because it was sent to the old address. The post office didn't forward it because it was listed under my maiden name. So now I have an expired tag, and I have to go to the DMV tomorrow to get it all straightened out. Thanks to the adoption, I just happened to have extra certified copies of our marriage license! R was laughing at me, becuase in less than 10 minutes, I had the form printed off the DMV website and in a folder, along with the marriage license, tax receipt, and car title. I can pull some paperwork together now!

So those are all my annoyances for the day. At least it's passing the time while we wait!

dossier submitted

Today we drove 3 hours to our agency and submitted our dossier! The dossier has not been out of our hands since we started this process, so it felt very strange to let go of it and hand it over. It was also very exciting! We have thought about this day for so long, and it's hard to believe it's finally here. It's going to take a while for it to sink in. We are no longer paper chasing. WE ARE WAITING FOR A REFERRAL! YAY!

We just loved our agency's office. It's downtown, in an old Victorian house that has wonderful detailed woodwork, gingerbread, and high ceilings. C's office is upstairs with a fabulous bay window. Very cool!

We talked to C for 2 hours, and it was so helpful. We had prepared a list of questions, and we covered everything! We talked for a long time about regions. She went over each region in detail. We said we are open to traveling within Russia. So, we still don't know which region yet. It will be Moscow, Kemerovo, or possibly Kaluga. At this point, we don't have a preference. We're prepared to go wherever our baby is!

Our dossier will be going to Moscow next Tuesday (1/8/2008) for translation. It will be carried by another family. We don't know who is taking it, but we're so thankful. We're hoping when we travel we'll be able to do the same.

Our first trip will probably be mid-Feb. to early March. We're hoping it will be as early as possible! I'm very excited and ready to start packing! The waiting is going to be challenging.

We talked about age, and we're hoping for as young as possible. We also talked about potential health issues that can affect the babies and birth mothers. We feel like we're prepared now for whatever might arise as far as the medical information we'll receive. We talked about the blind referral if we do go to the Moscow region, and we are fine with that.

Since R has never flown before and I've never flown out of the country, we talked details about how to get our visas, and about flights.

There were pictures on the wall of the children who have been adopted, and they were all so adorable! I can't wait until we have a picture to send!

I'm so glad we had the chance to talk to C in person, and I'm so thankful that we are working with our agency.

I'm excited and SO ready to start packing! I'm going to be up late tonight, I think. My mind is just so full. It's going to be a while before I can calm down enough to go to sleep!

On another note, Susan and Randy had some difficult news today, and they are in our prayers.

employment letter

R. got his employment letter (properly signed and notarized!), and this afternoon we took it to FedEx and sent it on its way to be apostilled. That turned out to be an easy paperwork issue to resolve.

Tomorrow, we're driving 3 hours to our agency to submit our dossier in person! We'll have time to talk to them, and hopefully get a better idea of region and timing for our 1st trip. We're nervous and excited! I can't believe we're finally ready to turn the dossier in!

apostilles...almost

On Friday, we drove 2 hours to get our dossier apostilled. It was very hard to turn loose of it and give it to the receptionist to take to the back! That was the 1st time the dossier has been out of our hands since we started the process. After waiting for 45 minutes, it was done, but with one problem. R's employment letter was not correct. It was signed and then notarized by the same person, and that's not allowed. :(

So, as soon as R. goes back to work on Wednesday, he'll get another employment letter and we'll FedEx it to be apostilled. Shouldn't really cause us any time delay, but it's really annoying!

We had good news yesterday though! We got a letter from the Dept. of Social Services. They approved our home study and sent it to immigration on Dec. 21! That means we should have our 171-H in a few weeks! We were both so relieved!

notarized

We got all our documents notarized today! Except for our medical forms and our 171-H, we have everything for our dossier notarized and ready for apostilling! It feels so good to have that done! We are one huge step closer to traveling and finally meeting our baby.

Our notary works at the local university where R. works. She was so nice and helpful. Turns out she has a granddaughter who was adopted domestically. She was very sympathetic to our cause, and understood when we handed her the huge stack of papers to be done! She made it very painless, and I am very thankful for that. Now if only the rest of our process will go as smoothly as today!

online courses completed!

We just received our final certificate from Adoption Learning Partners, and I just emailed it to our agency. So now we have completed all 3 of the required online courses, and all the completion certificates have been emailed to our agency! YAY! Another thing done!

We didn't think we would enjoy doing the courses, but R. and I ended up having some really good discussions, especially about attachment and the medical issues we might face. We didn't think we would, but we actually do feel more prepared to parent after taking these courses.