We were fingerprinted yesterday for USCIS. This is our last step, basically. In 4-6 weeks, we should get our 171H, which is immigration approval.

Our documents were going to be on their way to Miami, the Guatemalan consulate. However, one of our notaries stamp and signature did not match the way her name was listed with the secretary of state. So, we are having to redo 12 of those documents. We were lucky that she was in Kyle's office and we had not paid for them! Once those are redone and our 171H comes in, we will be "paper ready."

So, we are looking for a referral of a baby girl sometime in June!

Our experience yesterday was such an answer to prayer! Our appointment wasn't until next week, but we will be out of town. So, I called the office in New Orleans to see if we could come earlier. I was given a very emphatic NO. Frustrated that it might be weeks before we could be fingerprinted again, I called back a while later and was told by a different person, the supervisor, that it would be completely fine. We knew that it was risky to drive to NO yesterday as whether we got to be fingerprinted early or not was at the mercy of the lady at the desk.

There was no one at the desk when we first arrived. After a few minutes, though, a lady came out and said that the regular worker was on break and she would help the next person in line. When I told her our situation, she gladly cooperated. 5 minutes after getting our information and giving us a number, the regular person returned from break. By looking at her nametag I realized it was the same person who had told me NO over the phone. We could see that God had answered our prayers by her being on break for the 10 minutes that it took to get us ready for fingerprinting!

We look forward to watching Him work in many more ways throughout this process.

Weekly Update

We are waiting on our homestudy report. All of our visits are finished, but our social worker has not finished writing the report. She said it would be finished by last week, but we are still waiting. As soon as we get that, though, we can send our paperwork off on it's journey.

We are getting closer, and I'm so excited!

In addition to adoption stuff, we are still busy. Lucas has started t-ball. He had his first game last Saturday. It was so cute! He thought he was big time. His team is on the Braves team, and he thinks he's a pro! As soon as his team got out on the field, he started stretching and doing jumping jacks! He wouldn't even smile at us as he went to bat. Just this stern, seriuos look on his face! HIs team also has a problem with catching the ball. Instead of waiting to see who the ball is closest to, the whole team chases it down then tackles it. So, we'd have to wait to see who emereged from the pile of kids with the ball.

Jacob is sick. 4th day of fever. He's on antibiotics, but must not be anything that can cure. I'm just ready for summer and healthy kids!

Ooops. I used his real name. Oh well. Too hard to remember to use fake names for my kids!

I better go check on them. It sure is quiet back there.......

Update

I was informed by a friend that I'm not doing so great a job at keeping updates updated! (and I thank her for the reminder!) So, here's where we stand.

Our last meeting with the social worker was last Wednesday. She told us that she should have the homestudy completed by Friday (4/1). When that is completed, Kyle and I have to take it down to the USCIS office in New Orleans, get fingerprinted and wait for approval from them (immigration). We will also have all of our paperwork together and sent off to the secretary of state (in MS) 1st, then to the embassy in Miami 2nd. Once all that is back in our hands, we send it to our agency in TX and wait for a referral. I am estimating that by the end of May or beginning of June we should know who our daughter is, medical background, and birthdate. We will get to go visit soon after that for a few days. Then, 3-5 months later, we will be able to bring her home!

We will also begin applying for grants after our homestudy is complete. Please keep praying for this. We are in huge need of financial help and haven't been hearing very many people actually getting these grants. But, they go to someone, so we are praying that God will guide us to at least one that can help out with the cost.

Keep checking back. I promise to be more faithful in keeping this up!

We completed our medical forms today. I have to go back tomorrow to get the kids redone. I took their letters up there, but forgot it was supposed to be on the dr.'s letterhead! I thought I was on top of all this, but that small detail slipped my mind!

We'll also get fingerprinted to send to the state for police clearance. AFter that, we'll just be waiting on the homestudy to be finished (which I wish the social worker would get done with), and our FBI/state clearance letters. Then, this paperwork should be done with!

It's getting closer!

I new I'd be a slacker on keeping this up-to-date. We are well underway with the paperchase of adoption. I sent our I-600A last week, but just found out it will probably be sent back to us. Seems the New Orleans USCIS needs the completed homestudy to accompany the application. we'll wait and see. The good news is we can take it down there in person and be fingerprinted the same day!

I send our FBI clearance off today and will take care of our medical forms, state police clearance, and witness statements next week. The only thing we'll be waiting on next week is our social worker to finish up our homestudy and the clearance letters to return.

I know waiting will only get harder as we go along. I'm so impatient and want everything done yesterday.

We're still not sure how the money is going to come, but are trusting that God will provide. I'm brainstorming different fundraising ideas, but not sure that they would be supported too well. I'm also hesitant about asking people for money, but we'll do what we have to do!

Well, time has passed and Ben is potty trained......halfway. I won't go into detail about which half, but it's the yuckier half of the two halves that have to go into the potty. I'm not fretting about it, I figure he'll get it when he gets it.



Adoption is coming along. We have a meeting to attend in 2 more weeks, then the process will really take off. I am getting very excited and impatient and there's still so much time left.



We are still trying to adjust to our new home. My hubby is looking at a job back in our old town, but I'm not holding my breath. It would be great if we went back, but maybe this is where God wants us for now? I still don't have a peace about it one way or the other.

The Potty Blues

Potty training. You would think that as complex as God, our awesome creator, has made the human body, that potty training would be a breeze. It seems simple enough. You feel the urge, you go to the potty. And, with my oldest son, Sam, it was almost that simple. 2 years and 2 months into his life, he learned this basic principle in about 2 1/2 days.



Ben, our 3 year old, is a COMPLETELY different story. He was born premature, so we have been acustomed to him being a little late reaching various milestones. For that reason, I didn't even begin trying the whole potty training process until just recently. He turned 3 last week, and I made a commitment to have potty training boot camp this week. Saturday went wonderfully. Sunday was a mess. With church and naptime, the day was almost over before we made any effort and no progress was made. Today, let's not even go there. I know it's a learning process, but if I clean up any more accidents, I may as well invest in some carpet cleaner stock.



We've put him in "big boy pants" full-time now, except for naptime and nightime. I've always heard that's best because kids don't like being uncomfortable in wet pants.



They didn't know my child.



He could have the entire contents of Niagra Falls poured onto his clothing and he would sit quietly and watch TV until he was discovered.



You gotta love him,though. The look on his face when he is successful in "going potty" is priceless. And for that reason, I'll press on.