Finally!!!!!

Whew!! Our social worker called earlier today to let us know that both states have completed our clearances and she should have our home study completed and notarized on Monday. I hope she will then overnight the documents for us so we can send out our USCIS forms on Tuesday.

Getting finished by September 19th will be like pulling a rabbit out of a hat, but we are going to try!!

In the meantime, school starts again for the kids in just over three short weeks. Will be making all the before school checkups and doctors appointments for the week before. They will love me for that!! LOL.

One week later

So here we are, one week later. We still don't have our clearances and we still don't have our homestudy. I confirmed today that we are supposed to have our dossier ready and away to China by September 19th. I am resigned to the fact that it is now impossible for us to meet this deadline. The minimum time to process the I800a (USCIS) is around 45 days. That takes us to mid September IF we send our USCIS forms out tomorrow. I just think of our poor little boy sitting in a Chinese orphanage with no one to truly look out for him and his needs. I want him here yesterday!!!!!

Almost done

After a relaxing week in NY with the kiddo's I came home to an email from our adoption agency.   They have approved our homestudy first go round.  Yee Haw!!   We just need 2 out of state clearances back and we will be able to send out our I800a.   I have seen some people blog that their paperwork at various points has gone through very quickly.  But I've also seen blogs where it has taken a year to get home a waiting child.    I am a little worried we won't be able to get him home in '09,  but I will keep on hoping!!   Every one has been so positive when they hear our news.    I hope things continue to go smoothly.

This is so beautiful

I found this on an adoption site:

Legacy of an Adopted Child

Once there were two women who never knew each other.
One you do not remember, the other you call Mother.

Two different lives shaped to make you one.
One became your guiding star, the other became your sun.

The first one gave you life, and the second taught you to live it.
The first gave you a need for love. The second was there to give it.

One gave you a nationality. The other gave you a name.
One gave you a talent. The other gave you aim.

One gave you emotions. The other calmed your fears.
One saw your first sweet smile. The other dried your tears.

One sought for you a home that she could not provide.
The other prayed for a child and her hope was not denied.

And now you ask me, through your tears,
the age-old question unanswered through the years.
Heredity or environment, which are you a product of?
Neither, my darling. Neither. Just two different kinds of Love.

Anonyomous

Scheduling

The kids and I will be off to see Grandma and Grandpa on Wednesday. It will be nice to get away from work and the heat. We're ~still~ waiting for our HS draft. Hopefully dh will be able to get all the I800a paperwork together and send it out since we will be gone a week. I am putting together a photo album for our little one. It seems that we have PA although I had to call the agency to find out. I'm not sure when they will send our letter and album to him. They are not letting us send anything but a photo album. Guess Winnie the Pooh will be coming with us to China along with a couple of outfits. It's very strange to see all these different individuals talk about care packages but our agency says it is against CCCA policy. Kind of frustrating, because I think it is really important for him to have pictures of his friends and nannies when he leaves (IMHO). I would really like to send a disposable camera but they said no to that too. Hopefully by the next post our paperwork will have been shipped to USCIS. Think positive, think positive, think positive :0)

Naturalization certificate problems

We've had quite a few problems figuring out what we need as dh lost his original Naturalization Certificate.   We received a letter from the District Court certifying they have it on file and the dates, file #'s etc.    I have been going round and round trying to figure out who should certify this document and I have had multiple conversations with a DC courier (who spoke to the State dept), the USCIS, and our adoption agency.   SO, if you ever lose your naturalization certificate and you don't want to spend $400 getting a new one (plus months of waiting), you may be able to get a letter from the place you were naturalized.   If it is from a District Court, you have to send it to the US Dept of Justice for certification, THEN State Dept for certification, THEN you can have it authenticated at the Chinese embassy in Washington.   In the meantime, we spent extra money sending it to the Secretary of State for certification which we didn't need to do.

Still waiting for the draft of our home study.

Waiting....

We finally got our home study stuff completed and shipped to our SW last week (6/27). Now we have to wait for her to "write it up". I am trying so hard not to be impatient especially as tomorrow is July 4th. There are a bunch of things to do once we get that home study approved and I am worried that if we don't get moving we won't be able to travel this year. Right now I just have to sit... and wait...