On Friday, John and I went to Adoption Horizons and contracted for them to provide our post placement supervision. After we bring Thomas home we need to have six months of visits with a social worker. These reports are sent to China. We also had Cindy notarize statements so I can send for current birth certificates. Everything for the dossier to China can't be more than six months old. Today, I read through the instructions for the dossier and organized the paperwork. So, I still need to go to the Humboldt County office of Vital Records to get a current marriage certificate. I have to go to the Eureka Police Department and have them write a letter that John and I aren't criminals. So silly, since we've already been fingerprinted. I have to go to Costco and get more passport size photos. Then, I need to put together a mini photo montage of six family pictures.
Once, we receive our I800a approval in a few weeks then everything has to be notarized and sent to the California Secretary of State to be authenticated and then to the Chinese Consulate.
Today, I also sent a care package to Thomas. It is through a woman named Ann in Guangzhou, China. The website is redthreadchina.com and other families have used her service. The care package includes a disposable camera so the aunties can take pictures of Thomas, some PJ's, a toy and a blanket. As part of the service she also tries to obtain current pictures and information. The referral is from last April and May when he was one year old. At that time his cleft lip was repaired but I am curious to know if his palate has been repaired since that time.
Tomorrow, mom is supposed to go and apply for a new passport. Grama is still unwilling to commit at this time.
So, the waiting continues...
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
I800a
Homeland Security has received my I800a application because they withdrew my fee on Friday from my checking account.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Homestudy Approved
Friday, I received an e-mail from Cindy that our homestudy was approved by BAAS. I hope to mail our I800a to the State Department tomorrow.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Why China? Part II
Hopefully, I will have some good news this week, that BAAS has approved our homestudy and I can mail the I800a. It's been almost two weeks since Becky e-mailed it to BAAS and their paper work says it usually takes two weeks. However, I've been reading on the Yahoo group that they are a little overwhelmed with the number of home studies they have to review post holiday. Tomorrow, I plan to see Cindy and make sure I have everything I need for the I800a.
To continue the story: it was around the time I was considering Ethiopia and Taiwan with Heartsent that Becky called and told us that she had a birth mother for us to meet. I wish I could tell you all the details but the birth mother and her child deserve their privacy. We met with the birth mother and her mother so we could introduce ourselves, sell ourselves, and so she could ask us questions. Becky told us that there was one other family to meet with the birth mother. I waited, checking in with Becky. A week later the birth mother still hadn't met the other family. Ughh. Becky told us how committed this birth mother seemed to the adoption process which made us feel quite positive. Another week went by and finally Becky said the birth mother had met with the other family and we would have to wait for a decision. Becky was reserved trying not to get our hopes up, telling us that birth mothers can be unpredictable. While waiting, I was in full fantasy mode. I would tell myself to not get excited or make any plans but I couldn't help but think about all the changes a baby would bring to our lives. All the baby things, taking time off work and finding child care. Then a couple of weeks later Becky called and told us that the birth mother had chosen the other family. I was devastated and felt totally rejected. I cried and John consoled me. My friends at work consoled me. My Dad asked if he should come visit, but I needed to just process. When we went to our first education day Becky told us that the birth mother actually kept the baby. I can't imagine what it would be like to try to give up a baby to another family. I know it wasn't personal but looking back I see how depressed this made me.
The day Becky told me that the birth mother chose the other family, I called Heartsent and had them send me an application. After receiving the application, I just got overwhelmed with the questionnaire on special needs we are willing to accept. I started to feel that there is just no control and no way to know what we are getting into with International adoption. I couldn't bring myself to send Heartsent money without knowing if we would be matched with an acceptable child. I called Becky and told her I felt like giving up and she suggested we meet with Cindy. When we met with Cindy she asked if we had ever talked to Xiaoqing at BAAS. I told her how BAAS had told me that we weren't in their service area and that there was no answer at Xiaoqing's phone number. She called Xiaoqing and we told her about our situation. Xiaoqing thought that we would be more likely to be approved if we chose a boy or an older child. She started to e-mail several profiles and we could chose one and send a Letter of Intent before even paying BAAS any money. That's the day we chose Youhua.
To continue the story: it was around the time I was considering Ethiopia and Taiwan with Heartsent that Becky called and told us that she had a birth mother for us to meet. I wish I could tell you all the details but the birth mother and her child deserve their privacy. We met with the birth mother and her mother so we could introduce ourselves, sell ourselves, and so she could ask us questions. Becky told us that there was one other family to meet with the birth mother. I waited, checking in with Becky. A week later the birth mother still hadn't met the other family. Ughh. Becky told us how committed this birth mother seemed to the adoption process which made us feel quite positive. Another week went by and finally Becky said the birth mother had met with the other family and we would have to wait for a decision. Becky was reserved trying not to get our hopes up, telling us that birth mothers can be unpredictable. While waiting, I was in full fantasy mode. I would tell myself to not get excited or make any plans but I couldn't help but think about all the changes a baby would bring to our lives. All the baby things, taking time off work and finding child care. Then a couple of weeks later Becky called and told us that the birth mother had chosen the other family. I was devastated and felt totally rejected. I cried and John consoled me. My friends at work consoled me. My Dad asked if he should come visit, but I needed to just process. When we went to our first education day Becky told us that the birth mother actually kept the baby. I can't imagine what it would be like to try to give up a baby to another family. I know it wasn't personal but looking back I see how depressed this made me.
The day Becky told me that the birth mother chose the other family, I called Heartsent and had them send me an application. After receiving the application, I just got overwhelmed with the questionnaire on special needs we are willing to accept. I started to feel that there is just no control and no way to know what we are getting into with International adoption. I couldn't bring myself to send Heartsent money without knowing if we would be matched with an acceptable child. I called Becky and told her I felt like giving up and she suggested we meet with Cindy. When we met with Cindy she asked if we had ever talked to Xiaoqing at BAAS. I told her how BAAS had told me that we weren't in their service area and that there was no answer at Xiaoqing's phone number. She called Xiaoqing and we told her about our situation. Xiaoqing thought that we would be more likely to be approved if we chose a boy or an older child. She started to e-mail several profiles and we could chose one and send a Letter of Intent before even paying BAAS any money. That's the day we chose Youhua.
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