The Dossier made it to Haiti safely in 2 days, way to go Fed Ex!! It arrived last Friday, so it all begins....now it's just 12-20 more months. ugh.
Other good news, Charlene's Mom has returned from her village safely and has given Charlene's birth certificate to the orphanage, so now her paperwork can be processed along with ours. Yeah!
Next step...get approved by the US gov't to be able to adopt internationally. The paperwork is significantly less, so I'll send that off later this week or next.
For anyone who has been praying along with us, thank you for your prayers!! The Mom arriving back safely and the dossier arriving safely is a true answer to prayer!
I will continue to pray for the process and for Charlene's health and safety and all workers at the orphanage.
~L
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
EASTER
We got invited to Omaha for Easter to spend time with family and see Matt who is back from Iraq. A few days prior to Easter, Jack got sick and had an off-and-on fever, so Taylor and I left on Friday.
We stayed at (Great) Grandma and Grandpa's house and got to see Calvin and Donna too. What a treat! Taylor really enjoyed spending time with Grandma and Grandpa!
Saturday noon, we met Mom and Dad at Applebees for lunch. Then, Dad took Taylor back to the hotel and Mom and I went shopping. I finished off my Easter outfit, thanks to Mom's help. I'm totally fashion illiterate! I then took Taylor swimming, then Mom, Dad, Taylor and I went to eat supper and we headed to bed.
Sunday, we met Gloria, Ellis and Matt's at church for the Easter service. How nice to gather at church with family on Easter! And to have Matt's family there too, what a special treat that was! We all met at Gloria's after church and had John's and Randy's come over too. What a fun time for all. Great food, great visiting and a very fun egg hunt put on for the little kids by the big kids. 6'2 Casey hiding eggs for 3-7 year olds--he's so fun!! At least he was willing to lift them up to the high-placed eggs!
Mom and Dad drove home that night and Taylor and I headed back to Grandma and Grandpa's house that evening. Taylor once again had fun with Grandma and Grandpa. She played with the automatic card shuffler and with the bird that can balance it's beak on anything. Taylor and Grandma compared their hands (78 years difference). Grandma told the story that Ryan once said her hands looked like trees!
Grandma also told the story that when Carson came over to stay for a day or two, he was having problems keeping his pants clean (potty training #2 apparently). Grandma told him how she just hates poopy pants. He never had a problem again. And Taylor thought it was hilarious. It has been re-told several times since she's been home :) Usually, any story having to do with various bodily functions right now seems to be pretty funny. Surely they'll outgrow that sooner than later :)
Taylor put herself to bed at 8:30pm that night, and we left the next morning for home. We made a pit stop in Benton, MO for lunch and Target and made it home safely. What a wonderful weekend!
~L
We stayed at (Great) Grandma and Grandpa's house and got to see Calvin and Donna too. What a treat! Taylor really enjoyed spending time with Grandma and Grandpa!
Saturday noon, we met Mom and Dad at Applebees for lunch. Then, Dad took Taylor back to the hotel and Mom and I went shopping. I finished off my Easter outfit, thanks to Mom's help. I'm totally fashion illiterate! I then took Taylor swimming, then Mom, Dad, Taylor and I went to eat supper and we headed to bed.
Sunday, we met Gloria, Ellis and Matt's at church for the Easter service. How nice to gather at church with family on Easter! And to have Matt's family there too, what a special treat that was! We all met at Gloria's after church and had John's and Randy's come over too. What a fun time for all. Great food, great visiting and a very fun egg hunt put on for the little kids by the big kids. 6'2 Casey hiding eggs for 3-7 year olds--he's so fun!! At least he was willing to lift them up to the high-placed eggs!
Mom and Dad drove home that night and Taylor and I headed back to Grandma and Grandpa's house that evening. Taylor once again had fun with Grandma and Grandpa. She played with the automatic card shuffler and with the bird that can balance it's beak on anything. Taylor and Grandma compared their hands (78 years difference). Grandma told the story that Ryan once said her hands looked like trees!
Grandma also told the story that when Carson came over to stay for a day or two, he was having problems keeping his pants clean (potty training #2 apparently). Grandma told him how she just hates poopy pants. He never had a problem again. And Taylor thought it was hilarious. It has been re-told several times since she's been home :) Usually, any story having to do with various bodily functions right now seems to be pretty funny. Surely they'll outgrow that sooner than later :)
Taylor put herself to bed at 8:30pm that night, and we left the next morning for home. We made a pit stop in Benton, MO for lunch and Target and made it home safely. What a wonderful weekend!
~L
Jack says Mommy is fat
So, Jack was sitting on my lap last week, patted by belly and said, "Momma, why is your belly so big?" My answer was that I eat too much. He then said it was because I've had 2 babies in there.
Then, Taylor and I left for 4 days and Nathan asked Jack, "Did you really tell Mommy she was chunky?" His reply, "No, I said she was fat."
Ahh...the innocence and brutal bluntness of a precious 5 year old boy.
Diet starts tomorrow...ha.
~L
Then, Taylor and I left for 4 days and Nathan asked Jack, "Did you really tell Mommy she was chunky?" His reply, "No, I said she was fat."
Ahh...the innocence and brutal bluntness of a precious 5 year old boy.
Diet starts tomorrow...ha.
~L
Dossier to Haiti!
Dossier was sent to Haiti today. YOHOO!
And, the gal (Vera) I had to send it to first to look it over said it was the best dossier she's ever received. I could've cried. I could say I put forth a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but it was mostly tears! What a relief that we didn't have to re-do anything, we caught all mistakes before it was sent!!!
So, the process begins. I got a sheet today that explains the process and the different gov't offices it goes to in Haiti and it seems the timeline is 10.5 mo - 29.5 months. I'm just hoping by Christmas of 2010 to have her. But, anything can happen, good or bad.
Now we need to work on USCIS (U.S. Customs and Immigration) and have the US gov't approve us to adopt! At least that's only about 10 documents, I can handle that!
~L
And, the gal (Vera) I had to send it to first to look it over said it was the best dossier she's ever received. I could've cried. I could say I put forth a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but it was mostly tears! What a relief that we didn't have to re-do anything, we caught all mistakes before it was sent!!!
So, the process begins. I got a sheet today that explains the process and the different gov't offices it goes to in Haiti and it seems the timeline is 10.5 mo - 29.5 months. I'm just hoping by Christmas of 2010 to have her. But, anything can happen, good or bad.
Now we need to work on USCIS (U.S. Customs and Immigration) and have the US gov't approve us to adopt! At least that's only about 10 documents, I can handle that!
~L
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Jack/Charlene
Jack 's had a fever off and on for 3 days now. He tested negative for strep today (Taylor had it 2 weeks ago) but complains of headaches (possible symptom of strep). He has a fever again tonight with chills, so we'll continue the anitbiotics he got today and the tylenol. The doc. is sure it's nothing serious.
This afternoon, he got out a workbook (I have lots of workbooks for him, he LOVES them!) He's practicing writing his numbers and working on blends (ma, me, mo, etc). It's a preschool wkbk, but good for review. He loves practicing writing his letters and numbers. He's excited to be homeschooled next year and so am I. Both kids are so fun to teach, to learn from and have around!
Charlene
I had a long talk with Vera a few nights ago (when we discovered a couple of critical mistakes in the dossier) and she mentioned that Charlene's foster Mom has an email...and she shared it with me. Of course, I immediately wrote to introduce myself. She wrote back this morning with a little update on Charlene and a little info about herself. It was so exciting.
Vera mentioned they received 5 more babies recently at the orphanage, so LaWanna (the foster Mom) probably has more than 3 babies right now which equals no time for anything but caring for the precious children! Which makes the email all the more special.
LaWanna is from Indiana, so Charlene is being exposed to a 'white' lady who speaks English, yohoo! She also said Charlene is adjusting much better now, which is so great to hear.
~L
This afternoon, he got out a workbook (I have lots of workbooks for him, he LOVES them!) He's practicing writing his numbers and working on blends (ma, me, mo, etc). It's a preschool wkbk, but good for review. He loves practicing writing his letters and numbers. He's excited to be homeschooled next year and so am I. Both kids are so fun to teach, to learn from and have around!
Charlene
I had a long talk with Vera a few nights ago (when we discovered a couple of critical mistakes in the dossier) and she mentioned that Charlene's foster Mom has an email...and she shared it with me. Of course, I immediately wrote to introduce myself. She wrote back this morning with a little update on Charlene and a little info about herself. It was so exciting.
Vera mentioned they received 5 more babies recently at the orphanage, so LaWanna (the foster Mom) probably has more than 3 babies right now which equals no time for anything but caring for the precious children! Which makes the email all the more special.
LaWanna is from Indiana, so Charlene is being exposed to a 'white' lady who speaks English, yohoo! She also said Charlene is adjusting much better now, which is so great to hear.
~L
DOSSER HAS BEEN SENT!!!
HALLELUJIAH!!!!!!!!!
Of course, I have to stay somewhat close to reality here and not be in the clouds :) It still has to pass Vera's watchful eye, then get to Haiti safely!!! Still...........it's out of my kitchen. My poor printer gets a break! (And me too--ha).
~L
Of course, I have to stay somewhat close to reality here and not be in the clouds :) It still has to pass Vera's watchful eye, then get to Haiti safely!!! Still...........it's out of my kitchen. My poor printer gets a break! (And me too--ha).
~L
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
DOSSIER about to cross finish line..but not quite yet.
Each day, I think....today I get to send off the dossier. And each day, I find a new problem. It's actually comical now. It wasn't so comical last week :)
I thought I'd be able to send it today, but learned last night that the Home Study was to go to the Consulate with the other 10 documents. Didn't know that. So, that got sent out today. Also, learned we were missing some lab tests from the doctor, so I had those faxed to Nathan at the shop. He proceeded to send those to the Consulate as well (they were supposed to come home), so now I have to call the Consulate and tell them they need to disregard our lab tests. Doc. had to fax over results again...hopefully Nathan remembers to bring them home.
Also learned that all copies I made of notary signatures had to be re-done because they had to include the Consulate stamp too.
So, Mon. night I was up until 12am and last night until 1:30am--worked 8 hours straight last night.
I've got it ready now. The Consulate authenticated home study will bypass me and go straight to Vera in California and I will get the faxed lab reports tonight, make more copies and add them to the dossier. I have one original and 6 copies. Each set has 100 pages. My poor copier. I didn't know such a cheap copier could do so well!!!! (HP F4180)
Now, Vera will look it over and if it passes her scrutiny, it will be sent to Haiti. I pray nothing needs re-done. I feel confident that I've found some good errors before this has been sent off. Hopefully I've found them all!
~L
I thought I'd be able to send it today, but learned last night that the Home Study was to go to the Consulate with the other 10 documents. Didn't know that. So, that got sent out today. Also, learned we were missing some lab tests from the doctor, so I had those faxed to Nathan at the shop. He proceeded to send those to the Consulate as well (they were supposed to come home), so now I have to call the Consulate and tell them they need to disregard our lab tests. Doc. had to fax over results again...hopefully Nathan remembers to bring them home.
Also learned that all copies I made of notary signatures had to be re-done because they had to include the Consulate stamp too.
So, Mon. night I was up until 12am and last night until 1:30am--worked 8 hours straight last night.
I've got it ready now. The Consulate authenticated home study will bypass me and go straight to Vera in California and I will get the faxed lab reports tonight, make more copies and add them to the dossier. I have one original and 6 copies. Each set has 100 pages. My poor copier. I didn't know such a cheap copier could do so well!!!! (HP F4180)
Now, Vera will look it over and if it passes her scrutiny, it will be sent to Haiti. I pray nothing needs re-done. I feel confident that I've found some good errors before this has been sent off. Hopefully I've found them all!
~L
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