baby steps

Just found out today that our adoption approval/Visa paperwork was sent this past Tuesday, Oct 20th to the US Embassy in Seoul.  This is good news! :)  We're making baby steps in this process (yes, that pun WAS intended)! 

Upon receipt, the Embassy sends a packet of info/forms (the P3) to our Korean agency, Eastern, so they can complete JD's forms/Visa application and return to the Embassy. 

Normally, this process would take about 1 month and then we'd be traveling to pick up our little prince.  But since the 2009 Korean emigration quota has been met, our file is stalled until this coming January 2010, when next year's emigration permits are issued. This stall in processing is why we won't travel until February at the earliest.

Counting down the days ...

-S

is JD having fun on his 8-month birthday?

The Magic 8 ball says "Yes - definitely"!

He's getting lots of love & attention from his foster family!  Soon he'll be getting tons of lovin' and having oodles of fun with his mommy and daddy :)

Happy 8-months to my little boy!

- S

one year ago today ...

One year ago today, my beloved Fletcher went to doggy heaven.  He was a happy-go-lucky kind of guy who smiled and laughed a lot (for real).  He loved to wriggle around on his back in my bed to entice me to tickle him.  Hence one of his many nicknames - wiggle worm.  He had the kindest soul and the sweetest smell, as well as the cutest little horseshoe shaped butt that I loved to grab (lucky butt was yet another nickname).  I think of him often and he still makes me smile. 

Fletcher was my baby, my shadow, my fluffy little cuddle bug.  He's my little angel now. 

Miss you.  Love you.  May you rest in peace :)

- S

knock knock. who's there?

Our I600 Visa petition approval, that's who!!   Yahoo!!!

So last week I called our adoption agency to solicit their help in getting the USCIS to respond on the whereabouts of our paperwork.  Magically, they got back to her within 2 days stating it had been misplaced but they found it and would get it done right away.  I'm gonna say one thing and then I'm done with this - Misplaced?

Okay, movin' on.  I'm super excited that now we're officially approved by the US Dept of Homeland Security to adopt an immigrant orphan, otherwise known as my cute little man, JD.  Now our file goes to the National Visa Center on the east coast and, assuming it doesn't get misplaced again, our info should be on its way to Korea within a couple weeks for their end of the process.

-S

february is the new december

I got official word from our agency today that there is no chance that we will travel this year. I. Was. Devastated.

From the day we accepted our referral, I knew there was only a 10% chance that we would travel by December, so I told myself to plan for February so I wouldn’t be disappointed. But I always held out hope. That hope was crushed today and guess what?  I’m disappointed!  And sad and angry and frustrated. All those talks I had with myself (don’t tell anyone) to plan for February so I wouldn’t be disappointed didn’t work!

I hate not having control over something so important as bringing my baby home! It’s so frustrating that we’re sitting in our home all ready for our little guy, while he’s sitting over in Korea all ready to start his life with us, and there are these 3rd parties (US and Korean govts) getting in the way of letting it happen sooner rather than later!!

Did I mention that the USCIS (US immigration) is now going on 6 weeks that they’ve had our paperwork (meaning it's not even in Korea yet) and I’ve received zero response from them after repeated email inquiries?!?! This is one of the aforementioned “3rd parties” who is slowing the process down and keeping me from my baby.  Grrrrrr. This mama is hoppin’ mad!  I’m all over them this week ....


- S