Puppet On a String

Have you ever felt like a puppet on a string?  We are feeling like that as we start to work on our I-800A extension – yes 2^nd extension!!!!  We have to say….where are our children……in the meantime….  More hoops to jump through – fingerprints, medical updates, inspections and paperwork as another call goes out to our Social worker, Ann, to update our home study once again.  Boy, did I get a surprise when I called  -- what do you mean – not doing home studies any more – a heads up would have been nice.!  I contact 2 Social Workers today and hopefully will hear back from them Monday– just wondering if this means that we have to start all over with multiple visits and long conversations about our childhood as well as with many many other things…omg.  Our home study process has had its ups and downs with many frustration and delays in completing our documents – so this may be a blessing in disguise.  I’m just feeling nervous about embarking on the whole home study process again with a new person.  This update will keep me busy making appointments and gathering documents as we rush to meet our deadline focusing on the end result.   All Smiles.   

IAC Session 204

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 204 which was held on 12/09/11:

1) Spanish dossier from February 2009 referred a male child aged 1 year and 5 months

2) Italian dossier from February 2009 referred a female child aged 4 years and 10 months

3) German dossier from February 2009 referred a female child aged 2 years and 10 months with features in health status and a family history

4) French dossier from April 2009 referred sisters aged 4 years and 8 months and 3 years and 1 month

5) French dossier from June 2009 referred a male child aged 5 years and 2 months with a family history

6) Swedish dossier from August 2009 referred a female child aged 1 year and 8 months with features in health status and a family history

7) Canadian dossier from September 2009 referred a female child aged 2 years 11 months with a family history

8) German dossier from December 2009 referred a male child aged 2 years with features in health status and a family history

9) U.S. dossier from May 2010 referred a brother and sister aged 2 years and 3 years and 4 months with features in health status

10) U.S. dossier from October 2010 referred a female child aged 8 years and 4 months

11) Italian dossier from April 2011 referred a male child aged 2 years and 8 months with features in health status

12) Italian dossier from July 2011 referred a male child aged 7 years and 8 months with features in health status and a family history

Posted by Viviane

Somewhere Out There… wishing on the same bright star

As we know, adoption wait times are unpredictable as well as preparatory.  At the time we began our journey, I believe the wait times were estimated to be 12 – 18 months.  We applied requesting 2 children (girl and boy) unrelated or sibling group up to the age of 4.  November 2010 we renewed our I-800A and the wait continued.  May 26, 2011 (18 months) came and went.  It’s hard not to feel defeat as well as become restless and weary.  Kay does a good job lifting spirits and showing me my strength while putting things into perspective.   No matter where we are in the gamete of emotions - we continue to smile and enjoy life. J.  We know our children are out there waiting for us, so we continue to pray for them as well as their care givers.  We would like to think that we are all wishing on that same bright star and we will be together soon to make our dreams come true.  2011 is closed out as we have had wonderful holidays with friends and families – some of the best memories yet – we look forward to 2012. 

Once Upon a Dream

Our dream of adoption began in 2008, for months we talked about adoption and explored the options of domestic and international ventures. That was the easy decision. We explored agency and agency and country after country laying out the pros and cons of each. Guatemala, Kazakhstan and Bulgaria were the regions that were mulled over. Bulgaria drew us in, hook line and sinker. Once the country was decided on, then the search for an agency- which seemed to come easy.  November 2008 we received our contract information from Tree of Life Adoption Center.  Our dossier process started in full force, January 2009.  We passed the home study process with Catholic Charities of West Tennessee which included conversations, education, inspections, medical clearances as well as background checks.  I-800A, finger prints, notaries, certifications, and everything apostilled formulated our dossier sent to Bulgaria.  Our dossier was received in Bulgaria in September 2009, translated then registered November 26, 2009 and at that moment the wait began.