Working on Dossier Stuff...

Today Mom and I took a ride to Richmond to get 4 more birth certificates (had to have 5 for dossier) Then we headed over to the Secretary of Commonwealth to get them apostilled...man talk about parking issues! LOL!! Luckily we found the valet parking over at the hospital...whew that could of been real crazy! Boy Richmond does have some beautiful buildings!

We got back and I printed out all the house pictures I needed and made copies of the apostilled sheets and sent them off to the PA Agency...wahoo! I also sent in my check for the 4 post-placements that have to be done when I return with my child - it is a requirement from Russia to have these done. (this is just paying up front for the SW to come in after we come home to make sure all is well)

So I have done everything possible for my dossier except when the HS does get approved, I will have a packet of papers to sign...but then the dossier will be off and running, so to speak!

Haven't heard any more on the Name Search...please pray that it comes soon!

Winterfest...

Winterfest was Fabulous! I had such a great time! My friend Carrie went with me and she even seemed to have fun! We had a table that was for the Waiting Parents - so we were all non-stop talking about what country, where we were in process, and what stories we had so far. It was also pretty cool to meet other AP's and their children...all of the children were so cute and it amazed me how many of them either looked like their siblings and even their parents. I am so glad I went and Carrie was an awesome Co-Pilot in DC! Thanks for going with me Carrie!

We all joked and secretly hoped we would see each other again next year, but sitting at the AP tables with our cutie-pies!


My Sun Sets to Rise Again - Robert Browning

Update on Fingerprints...

Ok, so I wanted to do two post today to seperate these blogs so I would not to confuse anyone! LOL!!

As you all know, I have been trying to reach Angela at the Department of Social Services about the Status of my Mom's prints or the National Name Search. She has had some personnel issues - people leaving and such, so she is very backed up. I can definitely appreciate that, but it is now going on 4 months without an end in site.

So I did some research and found the commissioner name and some numbers to call (he overseas the DDS) I called and left a message on a voice mail telling them of my issue and that if they were not the right person to contact - I asked if they could please forward me the correct person. In the meantime, I decided to give Angela one more try. I emailed her and was very nice but asked that she please tell me what the status is, I also mentioned that I would be happy to contact someone else if that would be better and mentioned the Commissioners name (all done very nicely) Low and behold I got an email within 10 min. Also, a very nice lady named Suzanne called me back on the message I left earlier.

I explained the situation to Suzanne and explained, I was not trying to get Angela in trouble...just need a resolution to this issue. I told her that I just got an email from her, probably because I mentioned the Commissioner name - She asked that I send her the email correspondence that I just got and she would see what she could do.

The email that Angela sent me basically was very nice, but come to find out...the 3rd set of fingerprints failed (which we knew they would - hence the Name Search) but that she did not send the Name Search out until last week! We sent her the request 12/27/07 (they usually take a month) I just can't believe she did not send them out until last week! So I have just lost about a month more! Ugh!

But she did say she contacted the State Police and asked that they would expedite the name search...Angela said she will notify me as soon as she hears...so hopefully it will not be another month...

The good in this...is that I did contact her and it is in the works and hopefully it will not take the full month.

Who would of thought it would take this long for something that is so simple...

Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Update on Process...

I spoke to Ellen at my PA Agency and she made me feel alot better...I told her of my frustration and concerns about the fingerprint thing taking so long and she gave me a brief run-down of where we are;

Once HS is approved (meaning Fingerprints issue solved) - HS Agency will mail it to PA Agency in which they will sign and send off for apostille, once that comes back the HS Agency will forward it on to the INS.

INS - will review - which will take approx 4-6wks - and then they will send me the I171H - which is the "Notice of Favorable Determination Concerning Adoption for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition" - This means I am approved! :-)

As soon as my HS is done - PA Agency will send me some paperwork to sign for my dossier. Which I am currently working on the last bit of my dossier right now (which I didn't know...I thought I had a bunch of papers to still fill out...but she said I was ahead in that dept.)

I am going to go to Richmond on Monday (1/28/08) to get my 5 birth certificates apostilled (I have to make a pit stop at the vital statistics office to get a couple more BC) and then I have to mail some more pictures of the house and the BC, mail off my check to HS Agency for Post Placement stuff, make sure HS Agency gets their licenses stuff to PA Agency and then my dossier will be DONE!!!! Wow...did I just say that! Great news!!!

Then the dossier is off to Russia and then I wait approx 4-6 months for a referral. Uh Oh...more waiting! LOL!!! But at least it will be on its way and I will just wait for God to pick out my beautiful child!

Ellen said I will be either going to Moscow or St. Petersburg for my referral.

I know it sounds like alot...but I just feel closer...well, at least I know where I am!

Another email sent...

I just finished sending an email to my PA Agency to see if there is anything I can be doing towards my dossier while I wait...I hope they can suggest something! The frustration is building! It has been 4 months waiting on the name search/fingerprints...it is so crazy...and my poor Mom...I know this is not easy for her!

I am hoping my PA Agency will help...because my HS Agency has really not been much help on this so far.

The State Agency is closed tomorrow...so I will not hear again tomorrow...but I will call again on Wednesday!

Will keep you posted!

Name Search/Fingerprints Still Outstanding...

I contacted my HS Agency today and they said they have not heard anything back on the Fingerprints or the name search, so I have emailed the lady at the agency that does the actual checks...so pray that I get an answer...ok the answer that I am looking for! LOL!!

So I am still in the waiting HS stage...

Looking forward to the Winterfest next Saturday...

My Family...

A Little Bummed...

Well, tonight was suppose to be my first MNO - but when I got home tonight, I had an email from the host that she would not be able to make it and was not sure if anyone else would be there. I emailed and then spoke to the person I did know that was going and she said she was not going either because of the weather and she lives some distance away. So needless to say I did not go. :-(

I want to thank all that called or emailed me to wish me well. There is still Winterfest that I will be going to at the end of January.

Winterfest is something that FRUA puts on for Adopted families and Waiting Parents - it is a dinner and has Russian/Ukraine music/dancing. It is on January 26th and is in DC. My friend Carrie is going with me...boy she is brave! LOL!!

Well that is about it for now...no word yet on the Fingerprints/name search...hopefully I will hear next week...please keep me in your prayers.

Happy New Year!

Well, it is 2008...hopefully it will be the year I bring my child home...please keep me in your prayers!

I have been trying not to think or worry about the fingerprints...but yes, I will be sending an email on the 17th if I don't hear before then.

Looking forward to my first MNO next week...it should be very interesting!

Happy New Year to everyone and God Bless each and everyone of you!

Quote for the day:

"The really happy man is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detor" - Anonymous