Plugging along

I had my criminal record check and physical exam forms both "notorized" today. What I actually had to do was attach a paper saying that the document was true and authentic, and then sign that paper to be notorized. In any case, it's two more documents ready for the NC secretary of state. My pile is growing!

I'm hoping and praying that the very last document needed to officially complete our homestudy will come via email tonight! Please pray for that!!!

I've decided that paperwork pregnancies must also come with hormones. Someone asked me last night how Tessa is doing. My response? Well, I burst into tears of course. (Being sarcastic with the of course- WHO cries at that question?). The poor lady didn't know what to think, and felt awful for asking. I told her that I welcome questions and people being concerned, but that it is SO HARD to not know the answer to the question. Is Tessa thirsty? Hungry? In need of some snuggles? Playing contently? I just don't know, and it hurts this Momma's heart. In my heart, she is just as much my child as Drake and Eli are. I'm sure that's hard for some people to understand, but it's truly how I feel. I cannot WAIT until our sweet girl is home with us

Paperwork pregnancy

That is how many refer to the adoption process, pre child arrival. But can I just say, I'm rocking this pregnancy. I have a brand new box of paperclips, new stack of manila file folders, and many organization racks for the office. I've taken over the office, and I think Eric may even be scared to come in and touch anything.

Where we are...

Still waiting for an update about where Tessa is, orphanage or foster home. We are praying she is in her foster home!

Still waiting to hear if we can expedite any part of this super long process.

I have my SC birth certificate sent to the SC secretary of state for authentication. We should have Eric's birth certificate by the end of the week, then I can send it to the NY sec of state.

I have my employment verification letter, and it's notorized!

We have two criminal background checks.

Two medical reports.

One marriage license on the way from St. Thomas. Of course, it has to be sent right back to St.Thomas, for the Lt. Governor to authenticate the certification. (I can't make this stuff up people. No, they couldn't do it all at once.)

Our application letter printed and ready to be notorized.

Our homestudy is done, and we should have the rough draft emailed to us about Wednesday. We hope to have a hard copy by early next week, and have it overnighted to our agency in California. They take two weeks to review it.

Once I get the official, notorized, approved homestudy back, I send it to the US Citizenship and Immigration along with our I800a application, and a few other things. And then, I wait. And wait. Approximately 45-60 days. Not a happy Momma about that one, I have to admit.

So, in the midst of the paperwork, there are bits of fun. Like thinking about her room. I can't wait to decorate a little girly room! The boys are moving in together, in what is now Eli's room. It's the bigger of the two, and it has two closets. Perfect!

Drake's room gets primed, painted, and decorated, and I can't wait!!!!!!!! I particularly can't wait until it's occupied by our sweet girl! I have no idea what I'll do with it yet. I do have some cute ideas for the boy's room.

I don't have a whole lot to say on this blog right now, since it's so early in the process. I do enjoy coming here to celebrate our paperwork achievements! And of course, if we get any updates on our sweet girl, you can read all about it here.

Update:-)

We have our last homestudy visit this week, with our social worker. I will give her the last of our papers required for that, and I'm hoping to get the homestudy back on next Monday. It will go straight to BAAS (our adoption agency that is FABULOUS) via overnight UPS. BAAS stands for Bay Area Adoption Services. So, how did we end up with an agency in California? Well, two of my friends at work are adopting right now, and are using this agency. I've heard great things, so we decided to use them as well.

Anyways, it takes about two weeks for our agency to review the homestudy, then we can send in something called an I800A. This goes to US Immigration (USCIS), and they approve us to bring a foreign child into the country. That part is about a two month wait right now, so I'm really hoping it speeds up. I want my girl home before Christmas, so even DAYS matter!!! So, I'm praying for a quick homestudy approval by our agency, and a quick USCIS approval! Their average is 45-60 days, and I'm hoping for 40. Nothing wrong with hoping and praying! Once our I800A is approved, we can send our dossier to China. Once that is in, it's about 4.5 months to travel.

So, this week's prayer requests related to our sweet Tessa:

1. She is safe, loved, fed, and warm.

2. The USCIS wait is closer to 30 days, than the 45-60.

3. St. Thomas quickly sends our marriage certificate.

Big News:-)

BIG news to share!

I know that you are waiting to hear all about our Disney trip, and I promise to blog about it soon! However, right now I wanted to blog about bigger and more important things. Or rather, people. Actually, a person. A recent post included my desire to add to our family via adoption. At that time, God was working in my family's life in many ways. Eric and I really needed to be on the same page before we moved forward with starting the adoption process.

A few weeks ago, a sweet little face was calling to me. I asked Eric if we could ask to review her file, and then have a doctor (specializing in international adoption) review it as well. To my surprise, he said "Yes". And not just a simple yes. This was a real yes, with a big smile. I guess her sweet little face was calling to him as well. Long story made very short, we went over her file with a doctor, and did lots of soul searching for where our family is headed. In the end, we decided that this beautiful little one is definitely the newest member of our family! We are so happy, excited, and proud, to introduce you to........

Tessa!!!

Tessa is waiting for us in Hunan, China, and she is Drake's age. Literally, Drake's age. Their birthdays are one day apart. Eric and I received our preapproval from China just a few days ago. We started our homestudy before we left for Disney, and we have two more meetings with our social worker to complete that. We have six months to complete our dossier and get it to China, but I'm aiming for five months! I can't wait to have our sweet Tessa in my arms.

So, our prayer requests are as follows:

1. Tessa is safe, and someone is loving on her.

2. The paperchase goes as smoothly as possible.

3. The anxieties of have three wild toddlers turn into a sense of peace, of having three sweet toddlers to love on.