Starting the Room...

Well I finally did it! I have started the room! I am planning to paint the walls Pink on the top and mint green on the bottom and I am attaching the pictures so far...of course will post the finished room too...so stay tuned!

As some of you know, I ordered the bedding set however when I got in it in the mail...I am just not sure I like it...so I am going to go out and look a little more...I will keep you posted on that too!

Quick update on INS - I got an email back from them that they did receive the VA State History report for Mom and it is in"line" to be reviewed...whatever that means! So I am not sure if we have to go there to "Swear In" or if I will just get the approval...All they said is I will receive notice in the mail if more information is needed or my approval will just show up in the mail...come on already...Mom has no background trouble!!!

On another note...my medicals are expiring in 3 months...so of course it is back to the doctors for me to get another physical! At least Mom doesn't have to do any more of those!!!!!

So that is about all the updates...I hope you enjoy the tease of pictures I am going to post...there will be more to come!

I will not leave you as orphans. I will come for you. John 14:18

Just Checking In...

Just thought I would post a little of what I have been doing. Mostly I am still waiting to hear back from INS - we are suppose to get a letter(I hope soon) to let us know when Mom can go to INS to swear in, and we are still waiting for the I171 (the actual approval from INS).

I have been busy updating some things that have expired in my file and making sure everything is done for my dossier. I have a new person at my PA Agency so I have been working with her to make sure everything is good. She is very nice and very quick to respond to my emails...the one thing about this agency...they are great at responding back. :-)

I asked my Agency if the wait for a referral was still 4-6 months after my dossier is sent to Russia (that is what Ellen said before) and Laura said it was more like 2-4 months! That was AWESOME news...except...hello...thought I had more time! So I have made up my mind I will get paint this weekend and get busy for the baby's room. I so want to start buying stuff...just not sure.

I do feel that my time for a referral will not be long...I think the agency seems ready...real ready for my approval...My co-worker that adopted a daughter from Russia said his agency told him months too...and then he received one in 4 days! And since things are starting to pick up a little in Russia now...I think I better get ready just in case!

I also contacted the IA doctor today and she had me send her my address so she can send me a packet of cost and what to expect. I co-worker referred me to a doctor in MI - she is actually pretty famous...I have seen her in my people magazine with Angelina Jolie. But she is suppose to be very good and is a single woman with about 5 adopted children. She has written many publications on adoption etc...

Well...I guess that is all for now...but I will be back to update soon...please keep baby "A" and me in your prayers...

Russian Packet is Done...

I finally got my email with the "Russian Packet" which was about 5 or 6 documents to print and to make multiple copies of and just sign...how much easier could it have been! There was my application to Moscow and St Petersburg (had to do both since it will be one of those regions) then the power of attorney, Statement of Obligation (two kinds), application to the court and the Registration Form...wow...completing all this makes me feel like I am sooooo much closer to being done...this was the last thing needed for the actual dossier.

I am so lucky that my PA Agency will be apostilling all of my dossier documents! Alot of people have to do them themselves, but my agency will do for me...so I think that is great!

I also completed another State clearance application for Mom and will get notorized tomorrow and send that off...that is for the INS. The only other thing for INS will be Mom going to complete some paperwork to swear in...they will send me notification when we have to show up for that...

May the Lord Smile on you - Numbers 6:25

Just some pictures...

Photobucket Album

Update on INS Progress...

So I emailed the INS today and to my surprise, I got an email back really quick! Wow! So wasn't expecting that! I asked to confirm that the HS arrived, but since my HS agency did not send it by FedEx - there is really no way to track. INS said it takes days before she will actually get in her hands - so I will try again next week to confirm it is there.

I asked about what would be needed for the fingerprint issue that we now have with INS (same issue, different agency) and she said I would need to get an original Police Clearance and that Mom would need to go to the INS and do some sort of swearing in...I guess to swear she is not a criminal...OMG...is this nuts or WHAT!!! Keep telling myself...it is all going to be worth it! So they will send an "appointment letter" to let us know when...

The 8 week wait does not start until they get the HS - so I hope they get soon or already has! Please keep me in your prayers that we don't have as many problems here as we did with Social Services!

The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time - Dean Acheson

Home Study on it's Way...

I am very pleased to say that the HS is on it's way to the INS as of today!

It is so funny that I am so excited - but it is such a releif to finally be able to say that it is complete and I am in the waiting stage for my 171H approval to show up in the mail, even though this is just the begining to more waiting! This stage is the waiting that everyone talks about being so long, I would have never guessed I would have had to wait 5 months for my HS! I should have my approval from INS in about 4-9 weeks.

Anyway...I think my PA Agency will be sending me a "Russia Packet" next week with more papers to complete and sign during my wait but then once I get the 171H then I send that and the rest of my dossier to Russia for translation and then the next stage of the waiting game is on for my girl...4-6 months for a referral. I can't wait! I wonder what she will look like? :-)

GREAT NEWS!!!

Wow! I was so excited, today about 3:20 pm I received a voice message from Angela from Social Services and she said my Mom's National Name Search was back and all was ok! Yeah...nice to know she is not some big time criminal! LOL!! Yeah right!!

So she said she would write up the letter and fax it over to my HS Agency. I was so excited I did happy dance...and I was at work! LOL!!

So I emailed my HS Agency to let them know it was coming and to see what the next step is...no word yet...but I will keep you posted.

Praise God for the good news!

Saturday morning I am hosting my first Waiting Parents Meeting...I am a little nervous, but I am sure it will be fine...just wish I had gone to one before I decided to host one! LOL!!

So wish me luck and keep me in your prayers!