450!

Welcome to my 450th post! 

Earlier this week we had our 4th and final visit with the social worker.  That seems like a good topic for such an occasion!  

I feel like I've dragged the home study visit out inexcusably.  But I was reminded by my work wife that our visits have only encompassed a month.  Still, I'm disappointed.  So why so long, other than all the medical forms, fingerprinting and other random paperwork?  I've included a timeline of events below, but the actual visit to the home was delayed by two main things: vacation and THE HALL FLOOR.  Allow me to elaborate.

At the end of May as we were preparing for all these steps, I decided I could not live with Elliott's carpet anymore.  G-R-O-S-S.  So we had the hardwood floors under said carpet refinished.  We thought we were getting the hall refinished at the same time...his floor was done the 2nd week of June.  That is important to note.  A miscommunication and SIX WEEKS LATER, the hall was completed the night before the home visit.  Nah, that wasn't stressful.  Neither was living with all the contents of 2 large closets displaced for 6 weeks.  Nor was smelling stain for over a week and having a constant headache.  But I digress. 

Here is where we stand:

• Applied to international agency -- May 20
  (lots of paperwork in interim)
• Applied to state agency -- June 17
  (lots of paperwork in interim)
• Social worker visits -- June 23, July 1, July 18, July 26

With one exception (the 12 hours of online training), our part of the home study is complete.  Now we wait for the report to be written and for our FBI fingerprint reports to come back.  We were told that process takes 4-6 weeks.  Well, this week marks 8 weeks.  Ladies and gentleman, welcome to our world.

So what's next?  Next we apply to USCIS with the I800A.  Then, I began compiling The Dossier, which is the packet of papers that goes to China. 

I was thinking the other day about how to explain that finishing the home study is a big step but that we have a looooong way to go.  Here is what I came up with.  International adoption is a marathon.  The home study is the first 13.1 miles of our part.  When "we" complete The Dossier and get a LID (login date) in China, I'll consider our part of the marathon complete.  Then we'll have nothing left to do but wait.  And that's a whole new marathon...

PCB 2011

As usual, vacation flew by in the blink of an eye. Here are some interesting tidbits from this year's adventure:

There were 3 kiddos, not just 1.

Even with a bigger condo, we still needed the couch.

There were 2 doggies, not just 1.

For the first time since my teenage years, we had a pool.

We finally went on a Pirate Cruise!

Here are a few more notable memories from this year:

Can't wait for 2012!

The Lost Art of Letter Writing

This little story is a great example of just how confusing the international adoption process can be.

Our state agency requested 5 references.  We chose two of my friends (since childhood), two of Doug's friends (also since childhood), and my coworker (we spend 40 hours a week together, it gives a professional perspective, she's a good writer...).  After each of them received reference "forms" containing 5 short essay questions, we finally received one packet (of many) from the international agency.  They require 3 reference LETTERS, and one needs to be Elliott's teacher due to his age.  Cue an email frenzy between myself and RH at the state agency.  When the dust settled, we decided on the following:

• 2 references would continue with the form
• 3 references would scrap the form and do the letter in order to meet the dossier requirements
• Switched out my coworker for Elliott's teacher
• In the end, we would still be meeting the 5 references total required by the state agency

So, several weeks later, here we are with 1 form returned, and as of today 2 letters returned. One of each still to go.

Welcome to an international adoption; isn't this fun stuff?! :)

PRECIOUS!

 

Welcome to the world, Zoey!