Little Bitty

Baby Girl weighs 12.7 pounds now at 6 1/2 months old. 1/2 of the things in her closet will be way too big if we travel anytime in the near future. It was noted that she's had a virus....EEEEKKK...My baby's been sick :(

Hoping for new pictures soon.
Here's an older photo just because....

Updated I171H Received

We received our updated I171H today in the mail. It reflects our new fingerprints expiration date of July 9, 2009. That is great because our old fingerprints expire on May 10th; this way, there will be no gap....We are in the process of setting a date with our social worker for an updated homestudy. (It will be one day during the last week of May) Texas requires an updated homestudy within 6 months of travel for your child. When our homestudy is complete, I will go ahead & file for the I171H Extension just in case...our approval does not expire until August 26th of this year, but I don't want anything to lapse. OK, I'm doing our part...come on USCIS HCMC...I would love to see approval someday in the very near future :)

One Day At A Time....

Three months ago today, I saw this sweet face! Oh, I do hope we get to meet her in person soon!
Today I completed the pre-adoption on-line courses that I've been working on this week.
Oh, and my kids came home from school today & informed me that Santa is dead...seriously! I hate elementary school! Santa can't be dead. I look forward to him bringing me something every year!!!

God hath not promised
Skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways
All our lives through;
God hath not promised
Sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow,
Peace without pain.

But God hath promised
Strength for the day,
Rest for the labor,
Light for the trials,
Help from above.
Unfailing sympathy,
Undying love....

And God shall wipe away all tears
from their eyes (and mine)

Revelation 21:4

Vietnam Adoptions to U.S. Will End.

As of September 1, 2008, there will be no more referrals for children in Vietnam orphanages matched with prospective U.S. adoptive parents. This is the news that comes on the heels of a very long investigative report released by the U.S. Embassy last week. If you would like to read more, you can find it here : http://vietnam.usembassy.gov/adoption_warning0408.html The report has been rebuked by VN Officials....they say it is all untrue. The U.S. Embassy is standing by the report. Thus, the MOU Agreement will not be renewed & will end on September 1st. There are many families caught in many stages of adoption from Vietnam...this will affect so many people in different ways. It will affect the children most of all....

For our situation: Vietnam has said that they are committed to completing adoptions for children in process with a referral. The United States has said the same. We are moving forward & we hope that there will not be delays in process due to the announcements made last week. We'll see....and we'll keep you posted.

For those of you that are facing changes in your adoption plans, please know that I am thinking of you all and praying for the best of outcomes for your families.

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

Documenting....request for documents

I will be documenting our steps through the final phases of our adoption...for my friends that are not 100% vested in a VN Adoption at this time, feel free to skip these posts. I promise, it won't hurt my feelings! :) But, this is my journal for our adoption, and if I don't take a quick minute to document things here, they don't get written down.

So, overnight we received a request for a document from the USCIS in HCMC. For privacy, I will not go into details on our blog, but noted: Request #1 for "missing" document. Request forwarded to Dillon. This is something the Dillon Staff in VN will have to provide as it is a request from the Orphanage Staff. So....I'll followup when Document #1 is proven to be "received" via an e-mail back from the USCIS. Confused yet??? Good!
My prayer is "Sooner Than Later"

Dillon has already contacted their in-country staff with the request from USCIS. USCIS HCMC will be closed on April 30th & May 1st for VN Holidays. I will update this post when I hear more...

Update: Our "missing document" has been located & is being/has been (due to the time difference) delivered by Dillon in-country staff to the Embassy on our behalf.

Humbled by the Miracle

I am once again humbled this morning by the miracle of birth & adoption. I have many friends who have struggled with seeing both to fruition. I hope I never forget that having children is a priveledge that God has given me & it is truly a Miracle. If we are able to see our adoption of Caleigh through amidst everything that is going on in the adoption world, then let me never forget that she is a Miracle. I am praying for everyone at every stage of the adoption process. Please keep praying for us & all of God's children.

Instead of the triad of the adoption miracle...birth-parents, child, adoptive parent....there should be a 4th added....government!

On a happy note...we now have our Travel Packet...so, is this really going to happen after all??? Stay tuned!

USCIS Acknowledgment of Receipt

Dated April 25th, we received our Acknowledgment of Receipt for our I600 from the USCIS at 10:40 last night (10:40 a.m. VN Time) I hope & pray there is not a DNA Letter to Follow...time will tell....until then, I'm a nervous wreck!

Random Pictures

The Husband...rarely seen on the wife's blog!!! (At a company sponsered event, thus the goofy sign...) A couple of shots of the wildflowers along the way to LaGrange...In between Houston & Austin
The Bluebonnets were in full bloom...it was a beautiful drive...

Sooner or Later

Sooner or later....this little girl will be coming home. Sooner or later? Timing...timing is everything; timing is nothing in the adoption world in Vietnam. There is no rhyme or reason sometimes as to when paperwork is processed & when it sits. I think God made a woman to wait 9 months for her baby...no more, no less....timing...It's been 1 1/2 years since we started our adoption process. We truly have no idea when we may travel. I feel like I need to be ready physically for sooner & mentally for later. But, what if it's sooner & I'm not ready? Timing is everything...unpredictable is life. I can be ready to go in a week if I have to...this I must keep reminding myself of...I'm a little worried about our boys. This has been such a "when it happens" kind of thing that I truly think they believe this little girl is a fantasy. A "when Caleigh comes home"...until they see her home, I guess the reality will never be...I worry about leaving them on short notice. I worry about talking about it too much then having it drag out some more & then they're "but you said she was coming soon"! Eeee Gads! If you've been able to follow my rambling, congrats! Serenity Now! Serenity Now!

Step 10 And 11!

Clarification from our Dillon Rep: We are on Step 10 with the Vietnamese Gov't. and we are on Step 11 (submission of the I600 has been done) on the United States Side. Evidently, they can happen concurrently.....
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Well, I'm not sure what "Step" we're officially on...we received an e-mail today from our agency that our I600 along with our little girl's dossier was submitted to the U.S. Consulate by their VN Staff yesterday. We should receive an e-mail from the Consulate stating that they have received our paperwork & that it is "in process/being reviewed". I will post when we get the acknowledgement...should be a week or longer.

So...now I'm calling on all my prayer warriors! Here's the stage where we may or may not be told that they will require a DNA Test for our child & her birthparents. Please pray that we do not get "stuck" on this step. Several families unfortunately have... This is the "if" step...several unknowns...We'll keep you posted.

On a good note, I've had the crib up, so the baby has a place to sleep! Today my Mom & I picked up her Carseat & bought a darling high~chair....so, she can ride in the car and eat! (well, kind~of....I don't have bottles, diapers, etc. yet, but that's a quick trip to Target) I'm getting excited.

Step 9!

We received an update on our paperwork today. We are on Step 9 as of April 11th. Woo Hoo! Praying every minute that this pace continues. I know it's confusing, but there are now 14 steps (originally it was 12) that our paperwork must go through prior to travel. Steps 13 & 14 happen concurrently with Steps 11 & 12 IF a DNA Test is required.....That's the BIG IF. We still do not have a concrete answer on that & we may not until our I600 is under review (Step 11). So, when we get to Step 11, I'll be calling all of my prayer warriors, so get ready!!!

Almost an Aggie ... Gig'em!

If I didn't know any better, I would think that the nannies must have told our daughter that her daddy is an Aggie through & through. She's already practicing her Gig'em sign!

Go Aggies!!!

Caleigh is 6 months old!

Caleigh is 6 Months Old! (Actually she turned 6 months old yesterday, but we were in Houston for the BP150 Bike Ride & No Laptop!) HAPPY 1/2 BIRTHDAY LITTLE GIRL!!!!

Adoption Update: It has been stated that not all relinquishment cases will be subject to DNA Testing. The perameters have yet to be revealed....

HAPPY GOTCHA DAY BLAKE & BRYCE!

6 Years Ago in a small office in CanTho, Vietnam, James & I became the parents of Long & Lan...two little 18 month old twins full of life & love. HAPPY GOTCHA DAY Blake & Bryce! We are so proud to be your Mom & Dad. You are so beyond worth the wait, I don't even have the words to explain it! Our lives changed forever when you came home....I wouldn't change a thing! We Love You!!!

A Little Bit of Peace

Caleigh's Updated Height & Weight: Caleigh weighs 12.1 pounds! She is now 61 cm long.

http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/
This is the one site that I frequently read. If you're interested in all of the DNA Testing that will soon be required for some VN adoptions, you can check it out. The site mentions that USCIS has promised a formal announcement & a Q & A to be published today or tomorrow. I know that all of us currently involved are sitting on pins & needles waiting for some sort of news.

Last night I came to peace with this newest "bump in the road". I have to remind myself that I have minimal if no control over this situation. All of my stress & worry filters down to my children at home. I need to check myself, turn this over to God & live in the belief that I felt when I first heard about that little girl who needed a family...she's our child...she's our Caleigh, our daughter, our baby sister...already in my heart & she WILL come home. So, let the government figure out the perameters of this newest requirement, let's see if it applies to us & if it does, let's GET IT DONE!! QUICKLY!!

Super Sweet....

Another photo trickled in today...super cute in blue! I love the way she has her little feet together. Oh, this really makes me want to hold her.....CanTho has some background photography going on! Erin P. would be proud!!!

Caleigh's Room...Almost Done

Just Click to play, then turn the pages at the bottom right....

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

Bitter~Sweet

Bitter~We got a letter from our agency this morning...notification of possible extended time frame for travel. Basically adding on an additional 2-3 month wait due to the impending DNA Testing that it "looks like" will be imposed on relinquished children. Yes, our daughter was legally relinquished, so, yes, it applies to us. Bah Humbug! I hope they're wrong....the extended time frame letter has come before any formal letter from the USCIS putting the DNA Policy in place. So, there is still a chance that all of this will not come to be....otherwise, who knows when Caleigh can come home....

Sweet~A new photo...Age 5 1/2 months.....beautiful baby girl.....I still hold out hope that it won't be too much longer before we can meet you in person....Stay Strong! We'll be there when we can!

Growing a Little.....

Growing a little bit....Caleigh is 5 months 3 weeks old. As of April 3rd, she is 23" long & weighs 11.7 pounds. She's so tiny. Her medical report noted that she has not had any illnesses.....good news for the day.

Re-Fingerprinting...Check

We made the drive to Dallas today & had our fingerprints taken again. They expire for our I171H the middle of May. So, check...that's done. We are supposed to have an updated homestudy completed in May as well. Now, we're doing our part....come on USCIS & every other governmental office involved...it's your turn to check some things off on your list....time to bring our baby girl home!!! Tick Tock.....I hear the clock louder every day.

Why he's called My Little Monkey

Blake's nickname has always been "My Little Monkey". He's always been a climber. This boy could scale a crib up & over in no time flat! This was my view out my kitchen window the other day after school. After I recovered from my heart-attack, I got a few cute pictures. His brother is deathly afraid of heights, so at least I didn't have two up there! Bryce's nickname is "My Little Frog" he always squatted when he would "sit" & he looked like a little froggy...it's stuck true as well, he likes to stay on the ground, loves to jump & swim!

Adoption Update: We're asking for your prayers as we await clarification of a new policy implemented on March 31 st by the USCIS. DNA Testing of the birth parents & their child relinquished in Vietnam will now be required. This is a process which will take a minimum of 30 days to complete. This has the potential to cause lengthy delays & confusion. We do not know if the new procedure will be retro-active & affect those of us who already have our referrals or not. I will update when I have more information from our agency. For now, pray for the children waiting.....

I Can Change A Diaper.....

I can change a diaper!

Waiting for 4 missing slide guides that I ordered for our crib. They seem to be the important parts that make the side rail lower & raise. When they come in, she'll have a place to sleep. That would be good I think!

Step 7

We received an update this morning from our agency & we are now on Step 7 of the "12 Step Paperwork Process". From now on, we should receive an update when we move up each step. Step 7 takes approximately one week. We hope that Step 8 is completed quickly so our I600 approval can come in a timely manner. Step 8 can take from 30-45 business days. (This is when our child's dossier/legal documents is compiled). Thank you for your continued prayers as we wait to travel for our daughter. We are still awaiting new photos....hopefully in the next week or so. :)

A Few of My Favorite Easter Pictures

I love Easter & I always try to take some pictures around this time of year. This year I took a ton because our azaleas are almost in full bloom, but I'll just put a few on here. The boys are exactly 7 1/2 years old now! I can't believe it...time flies. I hope you all had a wonderful Easter!

Bryce is on the left & Blake is on the right.

On adoption news, our agency rep. is having hand surgery tomorrow, so we may not hear anything until next week. We requested new photos of Caleigh last week & I do know that our request was sent to the orphanage via email. So, right now, our prayer is for updated height & weight and a new picture or two!

Happy Easter

Blake & Bryce's First Easter

Just taking a walk down memory lane.....thinking of Easters Past & wondering what future Easter celebrations will be like....Blake & Bryce's First Easter Home!
2 years old. So sweet!

Just Because....

Just because she's so cute, here's a picture of our boxer, Bella, that I took today!

She's 6 months old.

Got the Re-Fingerprinting Appointment Letter

I know it's hard to believe, but something in this adoption process actually happened quickly! One week to the day of submitting our request for a re-fingerprinting appointment in ref. to the I-171H, we got the appointment letter! Now, we just have to find a morning in James' schedule to drive to Dallas & back to have our fingerprints updated. Next on the list, I need to check into when we have to have a home study update...I called my social worker who did the original home study...she called her supervisor at Dillon...no answer yet. I need to follow~up.

Fort Worth Zoo With Friends

We got to spend a great day at the Fort Worth Zoo with friends on Saturday. Their daughter was with our sons in the orphanage for 18 months and we endured the long wait for travel together. We have formed a wonderful friendship over the years and we cherish our time with them. It always amazes us to see them together here as they were in VietNam. If you have the opportunity to keep in touch with the families and children from the orphanage where you child lived, I would really encourage it. The relationships are priceless. Here are just a few of my favorite photos from the day.