Catching up !

Ahhh, allergy season. I have been out of blog world for several days....read a few, not much else. I've been sick and really only the 'have to' things were finished. Well, I'm feeling better, so I sent everyone outside to play basketball, even sent the dog outside too, so I could update our blog. Mom took over the computer ! :-)
First, I am feeling better, and Mom is still doing well too. Knock on wood!!
Second, On the Adoption front, we had our last visit with our super awesome SW, she was here last Sunday morning for several hours! Yes, on Sunday. I still can't believe she was here on Sunday. She completed the rough draft and it was emailed to me for review by Monday afternoon. Here's where I dropped the ball....I wasn't feeling well, trying to proof read, and cold medicine kicking in wasn't a good a combination. I did get it finished, and emailed her back. As of Friday afternoon, it was going to the agency for their approval. Yes!! Now if we could only get a referral .......(heavy sigh)
Finally, and I think will really show my age, (don't laugh) but while I was looking for information for the HS & the SW, I came across some dates that I thought were interesting.......so I thought I would share and we could all enjoy a chuckle or gasp.

This is for Adam's adoption ~ adoption application sent in to agency 10-09-93

accepted referral of our handsome little boy 09-13-94

picked up at LaGuardia Airport, NYC HOME!! 01-12-95

adoption finalized in NJ 10-16-95

Cost of I-600A filing with INS (USCIS now) $ 140.00 gasp LOL

and your fingerprints were done at the local police dpt.

*** We waited almost a year for his referral and only 4 months for him to come home. This program was really new when we did this so we were pioneers for Vietnam and still send in yearly updates & pictures via the agency to reassure the government the children are doing well. That is a fun letter to write, free reign to brag

as a proud mom! LOL ***

This is for Emily's adoption ~ adoption application sent in to agency 11-10-95

dossier to China, total of seven sets of everything 08-25-96

letter of delay- restructure of the process 10-05-96

accepted referral of our beautiful daughter 08-12-97

leave for China (normal 4-6 weeks after referral) 09-17-97

placed in my arms in Nanchang, Jiangxi Prov., China 09-23-97

go through customs in WA, fly to PA/NJ HOME !! 10-23-97

adoption finalized in NJ 10-15-98

cost of I-6ooA filing with INS $ 155.00 (not bad increase)

*** We waited 50 weeks for her referral and had only 4 weeks to get packed and last minute things completed. We were delayed in processing of our referral because of the system was beginning to send everything to Beijing for processing. The local government processed your paperwork until this change. The "normal" referral time was "few months" based on what babies were available. I'm not sure how things are processed now. ***

My, how the time lines and the costs have changed!!! We have been waiting for ONE YEAR now and still have nothing to report for update regarding the timeline. Honestly, some days I feel like it is NEVER going to happen. The kids remind me in subtle ways that "when the baby comes home" this or that will change. I try to be positive, but once in a while, it gets hard. I know other families have been waiting as long or longer that we have, I give you credit. Maybe I need a new hobby to help pass the time.