Where has my patience gone??

I want to go to China and bring Nicholas home NOW!!! I've had it with the waiting. I try to be so good...but today has been really tough! I found a bunch of picture blogs from families currently in China. They were so sweet but they broke my heart. I know we'll get there, but today, 3 months seems like 3 years.

Fingerprints done!!

The fingerprinting process went well today. No big surprises although they did have to do mine several times to get them right. It was very "CSI ish" digitally scanned and the whole bit! They did have to pass my drivers license around the office to laugh about how much I look like Harry Potter! Grrr!! But it's really true. The picture is awful! (No offense to Daniel Radcliffe!)

All is Well and Calm again!

Fed Ex just hadn't updated their website. The package arrived on schedule at the courier so there are no hiccups there! Hurray!

We finished our last homestudy meeting on Saturday. It was very enjoyable. If anyone needs an Arizona homestudy agency....Adoption Journies AZ is great. They also have a China adoption and I believe a Russia adoption program. It is a small company, but that means lots of individual attention! I must say, our primary adoption agency, GWCA, is larger - but we always feel like we're they're only client from the treatment they give us! I guess we are just very fortunate to be having a great all-around experience with all aspects of this adoption.

Fingerprints are tomorrow...then it is sit back and relax (yeah right!) until the rest of the paperwork arrives!!!

Looking back, I am just amazed at how fast this is going!!! I would strongly recommmend the Waiting Child program for anyone who feels they can handle a child with a special need! To me, their needs are so minor - and many of them repairable - it is worth looking into!

On an off topic note...my children had a Karate tournament on Sunday. Both did very well in their 6 events. Matthew placed 2nd in the "Walk with Danger" competition. Rachel placed 3rd in "Strongest Kick" and 1st in "Walk with Danger". For both of them, it was the first time they placed. The "Walk with Danger" event was the last event of the day and they were both exhausted, but they tried so hard and made us very proud that they kept their spirits up and put so much effort into it all day!

We were also overjoyed to see a child with hearing aids at the competition. I am certain that Karate will be a great sport for Nicholas, should he enjoy it...but it's always nice to see someone with a similar situation!

Sigh...is it time to go to China yet???

The Emotional Rollercoaster

We have another oops. I prepared a Fed Ex package yesterday to go to a courier service that hand carries documents to the Chinese Consulate in Chicago. I put the Fed Ex in the correct pick up location in our office. Today it is gone...but Fed Ex has no record of it!!!!

I can't wait until this paperchase is over! :-(

YIPPIE!!!

I am not allowed to explain how.....but the fingerprint issue has been resolved happily and we will not have to wait the additional 3 months! My social worker is a wonderful woman!!! :-)

There's People Out There?????

First, an appology! I never imagined anyone would actually be reading this, much less leave me comments. The little comment thingy caught my eye today, and WOW.....I am shocked!!!! Thank you so much!!! I appreciate the links from other blogs/websites. The bracelet orders continue to roll in, and I was kind of wondering about that!

Now I feel kind of bad about whinning so much. I know this adoption is happening fairly quick... we really only started in March/April, so I've only been at it a few months. But I really want Nicholas home FAST. The sooner he starts learning a language...the faster his world will open up. And I'm concerned about his immunity disorder. I want him seen by a US doctor as soon as we get him home. I already picked out all the specialists. :-) Little do they know what they have in store for them!

Again, thank you for reading! If you have blogs, I'd love to read them!!!

A glimmer of hope...

I left messages yesterday with EVERYONE I thought might be able to help me. My homestudy Social Worker called and said she had the phone number for the CIS caseworker. One woman handles all the adoption cases, and the SW says she is a very reasonable woman.

Some of my online gang also found me the webiste for an internal CIS memo that explicitly states there are exceptions to waiting until the homestudy is complete. Basically it says the wait is a guidline and not intended to be the "rule". It pretty much states that as long as the adoptive parent understands the prints are only good for 6 months and they still request an appointment, then go ahead and let them get their fingerprints done. At $70 a pop, you think they'd be happy if the prints expire and the parents have to do them again!!!

The Government is out to make me crazy

We realized that Justin got scheduled for military duty before our homestudy will be certified by the state. No biggie, he doesn't need to be around for the certification. However, Immigration in Arizona has decided they will not fingerprint anyone until the homestudy is certified. So Justin will not be able to get his fingerprints done until after he returns in October. I went to the CIS office today and asked it they would PLEASE fingerprint him before he goes...but they said no exceptions. I filed an appeal to the case worker, but she has 5 business days to reply by mail, and by then it's probably going to be too late.

They did say that Justin could get his prints done in South Carolina near the base, but the nearest USCIS office is either 120 miles away in Charleston, or 110 miles away in Charlotte, NC. The odds of the Army giving him permission for a day trip like that are very slim.

This will push our adoption back about 3 months. I'm so frustrated and heartbroken. We'll probably miss Nicholas's 4th birthday at this rate.

Why do they make this so difficult??? :-(

:-(

Work denied my PTO for the 18th and 19th. No trip to China for me. I am heartbroken. We are training new people at work, and no one will cover for me for those two days.

SHOPPING!!!

With PA in hand, I finally could justify a little shopping. Most families send a package as soon as the PA arrives. I however, have Mom. She's headed to China on 7/8 and will attempt to hand deliver my package for me! I bought a cute shorts outfit (and one to match for big brother!), a small manga doodle, and a blankie.

Mom goes back to China on 7/16/2005 and if all goes well this visit and she actually gets to see him...I'll be going with her!!!!! :-) I may get to "meet" my son in 14 days!

PA! PA! PA!!!

IT ARRIVED TODAY!!!!!!!

NICHOLAS IS OURS!!!!!!

MUST FINISH HOMESTUDY!!!!!!!