Long wait and getting longer

So I'll keep it short...because I have little to say. It's been a depressing fall. I am no closer to my dream of adopting. Kazakhstan was going to issue a progress report in September but as of the end of October -- not a word. SO I wait. I am giving it until the end of the year then I have to decide what to do...stay with my agency and continue to wait or switch programs/agencies. I am trying to keep the faith and hope that in a years time I'll look back at this blog and realize it was all worth it!

Disappointment and waiting

So I've had a whirlwind last three weeks. On May 14th I was informed that on May 15th Kazakhstan is putting all adoptions on hold so that Kazakhstan can join the Hague Convention. That's a really positive move, however, it affects so many of us waiting to adopt from there. I was devastated...I didn't know what to do or think...I've already invested so much time, energy and a lot of money. It was a rough weekend!

The following week on about May 18 I was informed that it looked like Kazakhstan would re-open adoptions in September. I could wait until September and see if that really happens or I could investigate other programs. I was more confused now -- do I wait and trust that in September adoptions will re-open or do I switch programs and basically start over.

Then on May 20 I received an email from my caseworker that they have decided to accept some more dossiers and process them for Kazakhstan and if I could get my medical done then mine could be included. That weekend involved much driving to and fro in Chicago, notaries, paperwork and stress! I did everything I needed to do, fed ex the info and then re-routed it later that day to get to the Embassy in DC. It successfully arrived on Tuesday, May 25 and I was relieved! I made it.

Then on June 1 my world crashed again --the embassy changed their mind and decided they wouldn't accept more dossiers...mine was being returned. So now I get to make the decision of whether to wait or change programs...so far I've decided to wait to actually make that decision. I have to trust God and that He has a plan. So I'm trying to be patient and hope that all will work out for the best.

It is an agonizing wait and seems so crazy...I want to call up the "manager" and complain until I get my way but adoption does not work that way!

So, I'll try to blog and share any news I have but right now I'm just watching the days pass by....however, I know I have a daughter out there and I pray daily for her happiness and health and that we will meet soon!

Update

Well, I know it's been along time since I've blogged. But frankly, nothing exciting to report until today! Previous to today I have been chasing down paperwork for various people and places. My entire life is on 60 pieces of paper which is weird! So you can see there hasn't been much to report other than my frustrations in mounds upon mounds of paper.

I went to Chicago this morning with all 60 of my documents; birth certificate, home study, immigration clearance, financial reports, etc. and had them all apostilled! Which is a very official certification of all the notary public stamps. One was rejected, the one by Chase Bank because the notary didn't sign her name the way her notary stamp listed it. I had a baby meltdown but then just found another Chase downtown and huffed and puffed until someone there would re-do the paperwork correctly. Then went back to the Secretary of State office to have that last document apostilled! This is a huge step because it now gets translated and sent to Kazakhstan where I will be assigned a region to adopt from! I also have to make my 3rd large sum payment. It's beginning to feel close!

So the next question I usually get is when will I travel to Kazakhstan to meet my daughter...well, that answer depends on the government in Kazakhstan. I've done all of the things I can control here in the US, now it goes through the system there...and there is some thought that the paperwork moves more quickly in spring/summer -- so I'm hoping to travel in August! I'll be praying for a speedy process!

The picture above is of my daughters bed! It's so cute. My friend Stephanie made the cafe curtains!

Well I intended to post at least once every 2 weeks but once a month is not bad either. Anyway, a lot has happened in the last month!

First, I had my psychological exam. It was quite interesting. I met with the doctor for about 30 minutes and then took an hour and a half assessment. It was over 400 questions on my issues with anger, drugs, alcohol, self esteem and even a few screwball questions like if I enjoy stamp collecting and read Jack Kerouac...huh? I don't get those questions but I must have answered them well because as my letter states, "Ms. Maurer appears to be in good mental health." I'll take it!

Also I've spent a lot of time getting my place in order and my brother came over one day and put up some blinds, curtains and a shelf in the bathroom. Looks very spiffy and I'm so grateful to my bro! And then my great friend from college Chuck came by one day and build me a lattice fence structure for the porch! He's such a gem -- it looks awesome!

And last Monday, August 3rd, my social worker came over to do the final Home Study meeting and inspect my home! It went very well! I'm almost done with my home study -- I need to complete my autobiography, my training hours, and one last criminal history statement. I hope to have this complete next week and then I'm on to completing my dossier!

And finally today I went to Waukegan --almost 2 hour drive in rush hour to complete a 10 minute Biometrics test. Plain and simple, that fancy fingerprinting!

So it's been a busy month but a very satisfying month!

Received my I-600 receipt! Yea!

Hello -- received my receipt for my I-600A dated July 8th!  Now once my Homestudy report is complete I'll send it in to finish the I-600A process with Immigration Services.

I had my place painted the first week of July and it looks so wonderful!  I have a few more things to tidy up and then my social worker Ellen comes to visit.  She wants to come by next Tuesday because she will be in Rockford, but I don't think I'll be ready then becaue I'll be out of town this weekend.  

I have my psychological exam next Friday the 24th.  I actually found a place that was $500 less than my first attempt!  That's such a relief!

I'm still overwhelmed by all this paperwork and fees that accompany it but as my good friend, Kelli, who's been here, said to take this one day at a time and try not to get stressed because once the paperwork is all done and I begin the waiting period, I'll be looking for more paperwork to do!  So I'm keeping that in mind each time I mail off another form!  

In the meantime tough, since I am adopting a girl aged 4-6, I often think about the fact that she is living right now in Kazakhstan and I wonder what might she be doing!  I pray she is happy and well! 

Take care!

Pre-adoption Training

Hello -- so sorry I haven't posted in a long time!  End of the semester at ECC has kept me busy!  I don't have a whole lot to report since early May except that I had my 2nd Home Study meeting a couple weeks ago and today I had my pre-adoption training.  It was great to meet other soon to be adoptive parents.  There were 5 of us at the training with our social worker Ellen. It was great information and focused on attachment with an adoptive child. The others in the training are adopting from Nepal and Ethiopia.  

What's next:  I'm just finishing my 5 page biography, which is really difficult because I don't know what to include - but it's also been really interesting to review my life and how it's prepared me for this journey!  I also need to complete the psych eval (I found a much more affordable place), and I'm getting ready (painting, child proofing, de-cluttering) for my last home study visit in my home which will be in mid-July.  I hope I'm still on track to have my dossier completed and ready for translation August 1.  

I promise I'll write more this summer!  

1st Home Study Appointment

Thursday I had my first meeting with the social worker, Ellen, who will conduct my home study. More paperwork, aghast! More fingerprints needed for FBI background check and other very important documents.  Ellen gave me a good tip about getting extra fingerprinting done so that I have them in case they need to be redone.  Apparently, it is  a common occurrence that you need to re-do fingerprinting, so I'm going to have extras done to be ready just in case. 

I have to write a 4-5 page autobiography which will be a fun exercise, I hope I can write about myself for 4 pages.....and also I need to have all my references written in the next month.  I've asked my friends and sorority sisters Heidi and Kelli to write me letters of reference because they know me really well - warts and all -- hopefully they'll keep our college escapades out of the letter.  Also I asked my coworker Stephanie who I just love so much.  She is my confidant (and my personal nurse) and such an amazing woman.  As well my friend and Bunco partner Debbie!  She is the mother of 2 of my former students and over the years we've become great friends!  I love her whole family and they have always been there for me. 

Also I start my adoptive parent education classes soon.  I have 11 hours of training on-line to do and a 4 hour workshop at the adoption agency in June.  Besides being a requirement for the adoption, I'm really looking forward to learning more abut international adoption and also interested in meeting the other adoptive parents at the workshop.

Now off to bed...going to church tomorrow, my nephew is playing drums in the band!