Adoption is hard. I didn't forget that in the last few years since we adopted, but I haven't FELT it the same way as when I'm going through it myself.
There is such a range of emotions. Such complicated feelings. When it's good it's really good, but when things are bad they feel very bad. Everything comes in its most extreme form.
There was a bulletin put out on the US Embassy of Ghana website that said from now on they will not make visa appointments until 6-8 weeks AFTER I-600 approval. When I break that down, here's what I get:
**File I-600.
**Wait 2-3 weeks for approval
**Then wait 6-8 weeks for the consulate to give you a visa appointment
**1-2 weeks to actually get the visa.
It breaks down to a 3 month wait between I-600 submission and visa issuance. That is totally unacceptable. There will be a fight over this. Folks at the state department will hear about this.
My professional side is saying, "It will be fine. We'll fight this and win." My mommy side just wants to freak out and cry because this could add so much time until Kendi Mae could come home.
I have learned in the last week that common ailments in Ghana--like chicken pox and malaria--can really put my baby's life at risk. She's doing so great right now, but it seems that behind every new day is the risk that something could get her and potentially kill her. I want her here so she can be safe. Or at the least I wish there was a way we could protect her from getting malaria and chicken pox while she's there.
Just hold on baby girl. We'll get you home as soon as we can.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Just lucky?
I think not!
Today I filled out our I-600a, added the supporting documents, cover letter, check, and neatly folded it all into an envelope. I addressed it, stamped it, prayed over it, and put it on the mail box.
About two hours later--right before the mailman came--I was walking through the house and stepped on the check addressed to USCIS! Holy moley.
Thank you Lord for letting me find that check before the I-600a went out! I was able to put it all in a new envelope WITH the check before the mailman came around the corner.
Protected, not lucky.
Anita
Today I filled out our I-600a, added the supporting documents, cover letter, check, and neatly folded it all into an envelope. I addressed it, stamped it, prayed over it, and put it on the mail box.
About two hours later--right before the mailman came--I was walking through the house and stepped on the check addressed to USCIS! Holy moley.
Thank you Lord for letting me find that check before the I-600a went out! I was able to put it all in a new envelope WITH the check before the mailman came around the corner.
Protected, not lucky.
Anita
Friday, Feb 27th
Oh! I just realized why I kept thinking today was significant for some reason. It was 8 years ago today that we got news that Taevy's adoption went through in Cambodia. Seriously, one of the happiest days of my life thus far. The day I became a mommy.
So I'm gathering from no comments on my last post that my "best case scenario" is a total pie in the sky hope and you all are trying to be nice to me by not saying so. It's true. Something will definitely happen to slow us up. I really need to just hope she's home for Christmas. But I guess I'm a glutton for punishment. I tell every parent I work with never to think in terms of the best case scenario and here I am doing the exact same thing. When August arrives and Kendi Mae isn't home you all will have to pick me up off the floor because of my huge disappointment. Oh well.
This has been an incredibly difficult week as far as my work goes. Just so many sad things to take in. I hate calling families to give bad news. And this week was a bad news, followed by bad news, followed by bad news, sort of week. Next week must get better.
Despite the very long work hours and Ghana-related emotional stuff I dealt with this week, we were relatively successful at continuing with our adoption progress.
The I-600a and AAI application is in the mail. Feels good.
Still waiting on Eric's employment letter, one reference letter, the Kidney Social Worker letter, and doctor's statements for the kiddos. Then we'll have all of our homestudy stuff collected and can send it in to her. It will feel good to get that out.
Anita
So I'm gathering from no comments on my last post that my "best case scenario" is a total pie in the sky hope and you all are trying to be nice to me by not saying so. It's true. Something will definitely happen to slow us up. I really need to just hope she's home for Christmas. But I guess I'm a glutton for punishment. I tell every parent I work with never to think in terms of the best case scenario and here I am doing the exact same thing. When August arrives and Kendi Mae isn't home you all will have to pick me up off the floor because of my huge disappointment. Oh well.
This has been an incredibly difficult week as far as my work goes. Just so many sad things to take in. I hate calling families to give bad news. And this week was a bad news, followed by bad news, followed by bad news, sort of week. Next week must get better.
Despite the very long work hours and Ghana-related emotional stuff I dealt with this week, we were relatively successful at continuing with our adoption progress.
The I-600a and AAI application is in the mail. Feels good.
Still waiting on Eric's employment letter, one reference letter, the Kidney Social Worker letter, and doctor's statements for the kiddos. Then we'll have all of our homestudy stuff collected and can send it in to her. It will feel good to get that out.
Anita
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Best Case Scenario
Here is the best case scenario as far as timeline goes for Kendi Mae's adoption.
I-600a MAILED: February 27, 2009
HOMESTUDY COMPLETE: April 1, 2009
ACCEPT REFERRAL: April 1, 2009
HOMESTUDY ACCEPTED BY USCIS: April 15, 2009
DOSSIER IN GHANA: April 15, 2009
USCIS FINGERPRINTING: by end of April, 2009
GO TO COURT: by end of May 2009
COURT DECREE ISSUED: mid-June 2009
I-600a APPROVED: mid-June 2009 (although I am going to pull out all the stopps and beg for expedited approval because of KM's health status).
TRAVEL FOR I-600 SUBMISSION: end of June, 2009
HOME WITH KENDI MAY: end of July, 2009
Yes, at this point I am thinking about going for one trip. Not just for Kendi, but for ALL of our HIV+ kids, we are going to request expedited I-600 processing. DHS has indicated in the past that they are able to expedite when in the best interest of the child. So I'm HOPING 5-7 business days for I-600 approval. Then I'm HOPING for a week turnaround for the HIV Waiver process. Then I'm planning on 1.5 to 2 weeks to get the visa, although we'll ask for expedited visa processing for HIV+ kiddos too.
Reality is that if the best case scenario has her coming home at the end of July, I really need to be hoping for her to be home before the OU-TX game (October)! I really do think she'll be home before the holidays, which will be so wonderful.
Anita
I-600a MAILED: February 27, 2009
HOMESTUDY COMPLETE: April 1, 2009
ACCEPT REFERRAL: April 1, 2009
HOMESTUDY ACCEPTED BY USCIS: April 15, 2009
DOSSIER IN GHANA: April 15, 2009
USCIS FINGERPRINTING: by end of April, 2009
GO TO COURT: by end of May 2009
COURT DECREE ISSUED: mid-June 2009
I-600a APPROVED: mid-June 2009 (although I am going to pull out all the stopps and beg for expedited approval because of KM's health status).
TRAVEL FOR I-600 SUBMISSION: end of June, 2009
HOME WITH KENDI MAY: end of July, 2009
Yes, at this point I am thinking about going for one trip. Not just for Kendi, but for ALL of our HIV+ kids, we are going to request expedited I-600 processing. DHS has indicated in the past that they are able to expedite when in the best interest of the child. So I'm HOPING 5-7 business days for I-600 approval. Then I'm HOPING for a week turnaround for the HIV Waiver process. Then I'm planning on 1.5 to 2 weeks to get the visa, although we'll ask for expedited visa processing for HIV+ kiddos too.
Reality is that if the best case scenario has her coming home at the end of July, I really need to be hoping for her to be home before the OU-TX game (October)! I really do think she'll be home before the holidays, which will be so wonderful.
Anita
Making a List, Checking it Twice
We decided to adopt Kendi Mae on February 11, 2009. Two weeks ago tomorrow. I wouldn't say things are going at lightening speed, but they are going and it feels good to check things of "the list" each day! I'm using the blog to keep track of things, and also just to record progress for the sake of prosperity. And...just because it makes me feel better to see it typed out!
Here's what's been accomplished in the last 2 weeks:
*Official grant application out to foundation who is planning to give us a grant.
*Application filled out for AAI. Still need to mail it (getting stamps tonight).
*Homestudy medicals done for Anita.
*Homestudy medicals done for Eric.
*Dossier medicals done for Anita.
*Dossier medicals done for Eric.
*Extra "support" letter from Kidney Specialist done.
*Child abuse clearance requests mailed.
*2 of 3 reference letters are in.
*Anita's employment letter received.
*Homestudy visit DONE.
Next in line for completion:
*Letter of support from Eric's Kidney Team Social Worker (complete next week).
*Eric's employment letter and income verification (later this week).
*Anita's income verification (next week).
*Oklahoma Criminal Background checks (tomorrow).
*Kids homestudy medical statements (shooting for Friday).
*I-600a (shooting for Friday).
The goal is to get our packet of supporting homestudy documents out by end of next week. The Kidney SW's letter will probably be last to come in. The child abuse clearances take up to 4 weeks here in OK, so that will be the LAST thing that comes in for our homestudy. I'm praying that she will have it ready to go when that clearance comes back!
Anita
Here's what's been accomplished in the last 2 weeks:
*Official grant application out to foundation who is planning to give us a grant.
*Application filled out for AAI. Still need to mail it (getting stamps tonight).
*Homestudy medicals done for Anita.
*Homestudy medicals done for Eric.
*Dossier medicals done for Anita.
*Dossier medicals done for Eric.
*Extra "support" letter from Kidney Specialist done.
*Child abuse clearance requests mailed.
*2 of 3 reference letters are in.
*Anita's employment letter received.
*Homestudy visit DONE.
Next in line for completion:
*Letter of support from Eric's Kidney Team Social Worker (complete next week).
*Eric's employment letter and income verification (later this week).
*Anita's income verification (next week).
*Oklahoma Criminal Background checks (tomorrow).
*Kids homestudy medical statements (shooting for Friday).
*I-600a (shooting for Friday).
The goal is to get our packet of supporting homestudy documents out by end of next week. The Kidney SW's letter will probably be last to come in. The child abuse clearances take up to 4 weeks here in OK, so that will be the LAST thing that comes in for our homestudy. I'm praying that she will have it ready to go when that clearance comes back!
Anita
Monday, February 23, 2009
Kids Walking Kids Home
**I posted this (below) on my other blog, but couldn't be as open about it as I can be here. We haven't quite decided how open we are going to be with our church about Kendi Mae's status and I'm just not quite ready to come out to the public blog world yet.
Anyway, I wanted to mention that Eric and I do plan to do fundraising for Kendi Mae's adoption through "From HIV to Home." We hope to do a full scale "walk-a-thon"--possibly with another adoptive family in our church! And we are going to open a "grant account" (for lack of a better word) with From HIV to Home as well--so that should someone feel led to make a tax deductible donation towards our adoption, they can. Kendi Mae will be one of the kids someone could "walk" for. But I also want to put a word out for a very good friend of mine who is in the same position as us when it comes to adoption funds--hurting! I don't think she is "out" in bloggy world either, but write to me if you want to walk for her future little one! ***
Have you all heard of Kids Walking Kids Home? This is a fantastic and unique way to bring awareness to the possibility of adopting an HIV+ child while at the same time supporting a family who is adopting an HIV+ child!
It's kind of like a modified "walk-a-thon." Basically, you contact KWKH and they will send you a fundraising kid complete with cute red bucket! The idea is that you get your kids involved in the process of helping an HIV+ child "come home" to America. The kids take donations for 2-3 weeks (donations are tax deductible). At the end of the donation collection time they make a statement in your community by simply taking a walk with their red bucket in hand. Maybe they receive more donations during their walk? But even if not, they are bringing awareness to the need for people to adopt HIV+ children here and around the globe.
May 7th is Wolrd AIDS Orphan Day. Wouldn't that be a great day to do this all across the country?! Kids Walking Kids Home is a program sponsored by From HIV to Home. The coolest thing (I think) is that if you know of a family adopting an HIV+ child, you can do the walk specifically for that family/child. The funds you raise are then given as a grant to the family who is trying to adopt that child!I think that this is something our family will try to take part in on May 7th. Such a great way to give a small blessing to another family, while at the same time bringing awareness to "positive" adoptions!
Anita
Anyway, I wanted to mention that Eric and I do plan to do fundraising for Kendi Mae's adoption through "From HIV to Home." We hope to do a full scale "walk-a-thon"--possibly with another adoptive family in our church! And we are going to open a "grant account" (for lack of a better word) with From HIV to Home as well--so that should someone feel led to make a tax deductible donation towards our adoption, they can. Kendi Mae will be one of the kids someone could "walk" for. But I also want to put a word out for a very good friend of mine who is in the same position as us when it comes to adoption funds--hurting! I don't think she is "out" in bloggy world either, but write to me if you want to walk for her future little one! ***
Have you all heard of Kids Walking Kids Home? This is a fantastic and unique way to bring awareness to the possibility of adopting an HIV+ child while at the same time supporting a family who is adopting an HIV+ child!
It's kind of like a modified "walk-a-thon." Basically, you contact KWKH and they will send you a fundraising kid complete with cute red bucket! The idea is that you get your kids involved in the process of helping an HIV+ child "come home" to America. The kids take donations for 2-3 weeks (donations are tax deductible). At the end of the donation collection time they make a statement in your community by simply taking a walk with their red bucket in hand. Maybe they receive more donations during their walk? But even if not, they are bringing awareness to the need for people to adopt HIV+ children here and around the globe.
May 7th is Wolrd AIDS Orphan Day. Wouldn't that be a great day to do this all across the country?! Kids Walking Kids Home is a program sponsored by From HIV to Home. The coolest thing (I think) is that if you know of a family adopting an HIV+ child, you can do the walk specifically for that family/child. The funds you raise are then given as a grant to the family who is trying to adopt that child!I think that this is something our family will try to take part in on May 7th. Such a great way to give a small blessing to another family, while at the same time bringing awareness to "positive" adoptions!
Anita
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Enemy like a flood...
"When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard against it!"
What. A. Day. A good, hard, long, rewarding, exhausting day. My mom came in like a woman possessed and helped us whip the house into shape!
First we scrubbed the walls. Did you know that Windex is awesome for wall scrubbing (and all sorts of other cleaning)? My mom heard it from some friends and we put it to the test today. Windex kicked Magic Eraser's butt! I cannot believe how much better my walls look. I thought only painting would take away all of the writing on the walls, but Windex and elbow grease did the job.
Next the upstairs (kid) bathroom was scrubbed from top to bottom. We got down with toothbrush-like scrubbing brushes and went tile to tile, grout line to grout line. I always neglect that bathroom since it is upstairs in "kid world." My mom made me promise to give it more attention from now on. ;-)
It was downstairs for a quick lunch before I tackled the water stains on the kitchen ceiling. The sink overflowed soon after we moved in 3 years ago and we never got around to repairing the ceiling. We found this stuff at Lowe's that was made for the express purpose of covering water stains on ceilings! So despite the flood we had LAST NIGHT my kitchen ceiling looks a thousand times better. And it took 10 minutes and less than $10 to fix. I still have to spackle and "re-popcorn" one area, but I doubt our SW will even notice that area.
Back upstairs where my mom tackled the linen closet while I tried not to collapse. I was so tired by this point. This stupid bug has just really taken it out of me (although I am on the mend now). Four bags of linen donated to charity later, my linen closet actually holds all of my linens without stuffing!
By this time it was late afternoon. We make the welcome mugs (new visitor gifts) for our church. We had 15 to make for tomorrow morning, but I already know we are too sick to go to church tomorrow. [Eric and Bright are down with "the bug" now.] Eric, Taevy, and I started in on making the mugs while my mom and Bright scrubbed down the kitchen cabinets and windows. Eric and I ran to meet the pastor to give him the mugs, and then my mom headed out for a long 3 hour drive by herself, all the way home to Wichita.
Oh--I forgot to mention that Eric was WONDERFUL and did laundry non-stop today! We kept making more as we cleaned, and he kept washing. Because of his vision he can't do lots of the deep cleaning stuff, but he kept busy and contributed a lot none-the-less.
Tomorrow should be much more laid back. We just have our regular every day cleaning stuff to do before the SW shows up on Monday morning.
It's 8:30 and I can barely keep my eyes open. I'm about to give in to the exhaustion, as I know my body needs more rest than normal so it can heal.
God is good, all the time.
A
P.S. The verse at the top...I wrote to my pastor asking him to pray for us because we have been under such "attack" lately. He responded with that verse, which I thought was so appropriate considering last night's "flood" at the house! Oh--the house almost caught on fire this morning. A nightlight incident. Thank you LORD for protecting us there. We have a hole burned through Samren's bedroom carpet, but thankfully nothing worse.
What. A. Day. A good, hard, long, rewarding, exhausting day. My mom came in like a woman possessed and helped us whip the house into shape!
First we scrubbed the walls. Did you know that Windex is awesome for wall scrubbing (and all sorts of other cleaning)? My mom heard it from some friends and we put it to the test today. Windex kicked Magic Eraser's butt! I cannot believe how much better my walls look. I thought only painting would take away all of the writing on the walls, but Windex and elbow grease did the job.
Next the upstairs (kid) bathroom was scrubbed from top to bottom. We got down with toothbrush-like scrubbing brushes and went tile to tile, grout line to grout line. I always neglect that bathroom since it is upstairs in "kid world." My mom made me promise to give it more attention from now on. ;-)
It was downstairs for a quick lunch before I tackled the water stains on the kitchen ceiling. The sink overflowed soon after we moved in 3 years ago and we never got around to repairing the ceiling. We found this stuff at Lowe's that was made for the express purpose of covering water stains on ceilings! So despite the flood we had LAST NIGHT my kitchen ceiling looks a thousand times better. And it took 10 minutes and less than $10 to fix. I still have to spackle and "re-popcorn" one area, but I doubt our SW will even notice that area.
Back upstairs where my mom tackled the linen closet while I tried not to collapse. I was so tired by this point. This stupid bug has just really taken it out of me (although I am on the mend now). Four bags of linen donated to charity later, my linen closet actually holds all of my linens without stuffing!
By this time it was late afternoon. We make the welcome mugs (new visitor gifts) for our church. We had 15 to make for tomorrow morning, but I already know we are too sick to go to church tomorrow. [Eric and Bright are down with "the bug" now.] Eric, Taevy, and I started in on making the mugs while my mom and Bright scrubbed down the kitchen cabinets and windows. Eric and I ran to meet the pastor to give him the mugs, and then my mom headed out for a long 3 hour drive by herself, all the way home to Wichita.
Oh--I forgot to mention that Eric was WONDERFUL and did laundry non-stop today! We kept making more as we cleaned, and he kept washing. Because of his vision he can't do lots of the deep cleaning stuff, but he kept busy and contributed a lot none-the-less.
Tomorrow should be much more laid back. We just have our regular every day cleaning stuff to do before the SW shows up on Monday morning.
It's 8:30 and I can barely keep my eyes open. I'm about to give in to the exhaustion, as I know my body needs more rest than normal so it can heal.
God is good, all the time.
A
P.S. The verse at the top...I wrote to my pastor asking him to pray for us because we have been under such "attack" lately. He responded with that verse, which I thought was so appropriate considering last night's "flood" at the house! Oh--the house almost caught on fire this morning. A nightlight incident. Thank you LORD for protecting us there. We have a hole burned through Samren's bedroom carpet, but thankfully nothing worse.
Friday, February 20, 2009
When it rains...
So I was just getting on to write about how my mom was coming down to save the day, when another "unfortunate" event took place. Since the DAY we decided to adopt Kendi Mae something has been "wrong" in our house. First Eric had a stomach flu. Then Taevy. Then I got this really nasty bug that has had me down since Monday. Taevy came down with it yesterday. Everybody is stressed and tired and/or sick. Eric appears to be coming down with the same bug Taevy and I have. And just now, as I was getting on to write about how at least my mom was coming down to help us clean and get ready for the homestudy, I heard kr-plack, kr-plack, kr-plack!
"What's that sound? What's that SOUND?! Oh no!" I ran into the kitchen, looked up, and saw the water dripping through our ceiling. This happened once before in this house. A sink in the upstairs bathroom overflowed and the water came down through the ceiling. Guess what I was going to spend time repairing this weekend? Yep! The water marks and dripped-through ceiling from three years ago (yes, I am a procrastinator).
This time the culprit is the toilet. It overflowed and somehow the water goes from our tiled bathroom floor down into the ceiling of our kitchen, and on through.
So, there is no way I can repair and repaint the kitchen ceiling before the homestudy interview--now that it is wet and soggy again. The SW will walk in and see the stained drippy ceiling. Add to it that now we are going to have some sort of plumbing bill, which will come directly out of the little money we do have to go forward with the adoption.
I have never been so sure that we are on the right track to adopt Kendi. Such attacks! So obvious! I'll let you know when someone has to go to the ER. In the meantime, prayers are appreciated!!!! Our SW is a Christian, so hopefully she will see the humor in all of this happening since the day we said "yes" to this adoption.
Anita
"What's that sound? What's that SOUND?! Oh no!" I ran into the kitchen, looked up, and saw the water dripping through our ceiling. This happened once before in this house. A sink in the upstairs bathroom overflowed and the water came down through the ceiling. Guess what I was going to spend time repairing this weekend? Yep! The water marks and dripped-through ceiling from three years ago (yes, I am a procrastinator).
This time the culprit is the toilet. It overflowed and somehow the water goes from our tiled bathroom floor down into the ceiling of our kitchen, and on through.
So, there is no way I can repair and repaint the kitchen ceiling before the homestudy interview--now that it is wet and soggy again. The SW will walk in and see the stained drippy ceiling. Add to it that now we are going to have some sort of plumbing bill, which will come directly out of the little money we do have to go forward with the adoption.
I have never been so sure that we are on the right track to adopt Kendi. Such attacks! So obvious! I'll let you know when someone has to go to the ER. In the meantime, prayers are appreciated!!!! Our SW is a Christian, so hopefully she will see the humor in all of this happening since the day we said "yes" to this adoption.
Anita
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Change of Plans
We're still adopting--breath! ;-) Gotcha, didn't I?
Well, it's official. I am sick as a DOG! I even went to the doctor. Not strep. Not the flu. Some other "really nasty" throat thing. He's not sure if it is viral or bacterial, but he said my throat looks like "hamburger." Lovely image, right? He said it will be at least 48 hours until I begin to feel better.
At the moment I am pumped up with 3 different kinds of medicine. I even broke out the "big" pain pills I have from when I had a tooth pulled. So I'm in a window when I actually feel like sitting up and writing to you all! Still, I have common sense. If it will be Friday before I feel any better, the walls will NOT be painted in time for a Monday homestudy visit.
I cried. But common sense prevailed. I called our SW and told her we needed to reschedule. I was shooting for a week later. But SHE didn't want to reschedule. Seems that she has planned a whole day in Tulsa round our homestudy visit (she's driving from 2 hours away). So what did I do? I caved and told her the truth. I told her that my walls were covered in kid writing and I wouldn't have time to paint before Monday.
She laughed! She said, "Anita, I raised 4 boys. Do you think my walls don't have writing on them?! Just keep the hall ligh off when I walk upstairs!"
So this is our truce. She will "get" to come on Monday like she wants, but she will look the other way at writing on the walls and dust bunnies in the corners. The pressure is off! [Well, not really. But she wants it to be. I will still be a mess and work as much as I can to make the house perfect.]
Well, it's official. I am sick as a DOG! I even went to the doctor. Not strep. Not the flu. Some other "really nasty" throat thing. He's not sure if it is viral or bacterial, but he said my throat looks like "hamburger." Lovely image, right? He said it will be at least 48 hours until I begin to feel better.
At the moment I am pumped up with 3 different kinds of medicine. I even broke out the "big" pain pills I have from when I had a tooth pulled. So I'm in a window when I actually feel like sitting up and writing to you all! Still, I have common sense. If it will be Friday before I feel any better, the walls will NOT be painted in time for a Monday homestudy visit.
I cried. But common sense prevailed. I called our SW and told her we needed to reschedule. I was shooting for a week later. But SHE didn't want to reschedule. Seems that she has planned a whole day in Tulsa round our homestudy visit (she's driving from 2 hours away). So what did I do? I caved and told her the truth. I told her that my walls were covered in kid writing and I wouldn't have time to paint before Monday.
She laughed! She said, "Anita, I raised 4 boys. Do you think my walls don't have writing on them?! Just keep the hall ligh off when I walk upstairs!"
So this is our truce. She will "get" to come on Monday like she wants, but she will look the other way at writing on the walls and dust bunnies in the corners. The pressure is off! [Well, not really. But she wants it to be. I will still be a mess and work as much as I can to make the house perfect.]
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Homestudy Checklist
[Sorry. This is just for my own use. Recording things for prosperity!]
Employment and Income Verification
3 reference letters
all family members need letter by doctor--good health and free of communicable diseases
OSBI background check
Child Abuse Clearance
Copy of Insurance Card
Letter from Eric's doctor and social worker supporting adoption
Homestudy Visit: 8am Monday, February 23rd.
Employment and Income Verification
3 reference letters
all family members need letter by doctor--good health and free of communicable diseases
OSBI background check
Child Abuse Clearance
Copy of Insurance Card
Letter from Eric's doctor and social worker supporting adoption
Homestudy Visit: 8am Monday, February 23rd.
Monday is D-Day!!!!!!
Oh my word. It's getting real! The Social Worker comes on Monday for the interview! Our homestudy could be done in as little as four weeks!
So...who is going to volunteer to come and help me paint this weekend? ACK!!!!
Anita
So...who is going to volunteer to come and help me paint this weekend? ACK!!!!
Anita
Monday, February 16, 2009
New Pics!
Wow. Our AAI families are so spoiled! With Taevy's adoption we got a referral photo (her passport picture) and an update photo 3 months later. With Samren we got his referral photo, and 1 update photo. With Bright we were more spoiled! We got his referral photo, and (I think) six more photos a few months later. Then I got a photo of him at Christmas. So...8-9 photos from September to March when I met him.
With Kendi Mae I have over 50 photos already!!! Between the ones I took and the photos two adoptive families have taken, we are so spoiled! I always knew the photos were something "extra" that AAI families got that is not as common in other program. But it is better than I knew. It is so cool.
So anyway, we got a bunch of new photos! They aren't the best pics (she never smiles) but just seeing her continue to pudge up is beyond special. There is one very special photo of her being held by Auntie Comfort, whom I adore and know paved the way for our little one to be loved at Eban House. Auntie Comfort was not intimidated by the HIV. She just loved that baby and lead the way for others to get past their fear. Now it's quite obvious that everybody gives Mabel love!
Another thing I laughed at is there are a few photos where Kendi Mae has her face covered by a rag. See? She's already cooperating with Mommy by giving me pics that don't show her face! We can't post a full pic of her until after court, so you will see lots of "partial" pics until that day comes.
I'm off to download them off Snapfish now. Will post some partial pics of our girl later.
With Kendi Mae I have over 50 photos already!!! Between the ones I took and the photos two adoptive families have taken, we are so spoiled! I always knew the photos were something "extra" that AAI families got that is not as common in other program. But it is better than I knew. It is so cool.
So anyway, we got a bunch of new photos! They aren't the best pics (she never smiles) but just seeing her continue to pudge up is beyond special. There is one very special photo of her being held by Auntie Comfort, whom I adore and know paved the way for our little one to be loved at Eban House. Auntie Comfort was not intimidated by the HIV. She just loved that baby and lead the way for others to get past their fear. Now it's quite obvious that everybody gives Mabel love!
Another thing I laughed at is there are a few photos where Kendi Mae has her face covered by a rag. See? She's already cooperating with Mommy by giving me pics that don't show her face! We can't post a full pic of her until after court, so you will see lots of "partial" pics until that day comes.
I'm off to download them off Snapfish now. Will post some partial pics of our girl later.
Homestudy Time
Well, we're expecting a call from our Social Worker tomorrow to set up a date for the homestudy visit. I want it to come quickly, but I'm also stressed about all there is still to do. We are not "clean" people. My house is very used to dust! When we clean up well the kids ask, "Mom, whose coming over?" LOL!
This weekend we cleaned up the kids' rooms really well and got everything vacuumed. But the floors upstairs still look horrible from spills and markers and who knows what else. We were going to try to clean them ourselves but with everything else still to do, we decided to pay a little and have the upstairs floors cleaned professionally. They come tomorrow!
That leaves the walls and the backyard as far as "big" projects go. We are not gardeners. Our front yard is always well kept but beyond mowing we really don't worry about the backyard. It is kid and dog territory. Let's just say it is "well used." I've got the kids outside right now with the goal of filling up two bags of old toys, trash, and branches.
In three adoptions our SW has never set foot in the backyard, so I'm hoping that tradition will hold true. She hates dogs (of which we always have one in the backyard when she comes). She has also never set foot into the garage, or opened a closet. Still, I will clean out the garage and re-fold the linen closet just in case!
The walls. OH MY! Our big kids went through that "writing on the wall" stage in this house. I don't know. Maybe you all are such great parents that your kids never dared do this, but our kids TOTALLY did!!! It didn't help matters that their rooms are upstairs and ours is downstairs--so there was definitely time to do it when adult eyes wouldn't see. The walls are way beyond just being able to scrub. So added to my "before homestudy visit" list is to paint the stairwell, upstairs hall, and 2 of 3 bedrooms. [Now you know why we are paying someone to do the floors!]
All of this would be made so much easier if I didn't currently have "the crud." Not sure what name the crud might take. It hit hard today. Fever, horrible headache, sore throat, lots of drainage. I hope it isn't THE flu and is just a little bug instead. Regardless, I don't have time for this!!! =-)
Anita
This weekend we cleaned up the kids' rooms really well and got everything vacuumed. But the floors upstairs still look horrible from spills and markers and who knows what else. We were going to try to clean them ourselves but with everything else still to do, we decided to pay a little and have the upstairs floors cleaned professionally. They come tomorrow!
That leaves the walls and the backyard as far as "big" projects go. We are not gardeners. Our front yard is always well kept but beyond mowing we really don't worry about the backyard. It is kid and dog territory. Let's just say it is "well used." I've got the kids outside right now with the goal of filling up two bags of old toys, trash, and branches.
In three adoptions our SW has never set foot in the backyard, so I'm hoping that tradition will hold true. She hates dogs (of which we always have one in the backyard when she comes). She has also never set foot into the garage, or opened a closet. Still, I will clean out the garage and re-fold the linen closet just in case!
The walls. OH MY! Our big kids went through that "writing on the wall" stage in this house. I don't know. Maybe you all are such great parents that your kids never dared do this, but our kids TOTALLY did!!! It didn't help matters that their rooms are upstairs and ours is downstairs--so there was definitely time to do it when adult eyes wouldn't see. The walls are way beyond just being able to scrub. So added to my "before homestudy visit" list is to paint the stairwell, upstairs hall, and 2 of 3 bedrooms. [Now you know why we are paying someone to do the floors!]
All of this would be made so much easier if I didn't currently have "the crud." Not sure what name the crud might take. It hit hard today. Fever, horrible headache, sore throat, lots of drainage. I hope it isn't THE flu and is just a little bug instead. Regardless, I don't have time for this!!! =-)
Anita
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