Don't ya just love the government?!

We've been waiting on our appointment time  and date to get re-fingerprinted because our fingerprints expired on July 30, 2010.  Let me try to  explain exactly what that is, for those of you who don't know.   At this point, I can't remember if our agency or the government requires us to have fingerprints done......hmmmm, it's been so long I'm not really sure now!  I think it's for the government, because the FBI has to check our record to see if we have "anything" on our record! (Which we don't!)   Anywho,  the first time we got fingerprinted, it was weird to say the least.  It was back in October of 2007, we went to some small office out in Nashville.  We went in with our appointment paper and signed in.  Waited a while, then we were called.  We went into another room with these big machines.  The people taking the fingerprints  would take one finger at a time and roll it over a small screen on this big machine, digital  images, kind of neat.  The lady had to do a few of mine two or three times.  Then some guy came by, looked at them and okayed them.  Mike's process was the same.   They signed/stamped our "paper" then told us we're done.  I almost felt like we were criminals lol! Weird I tell ya!

Since this was so long ago, I checked my binder that has all our important adoption "stuff" in it.  I  just looked back at our original (2007) notice to be  fingerprinted from the U S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).  We were first fingerprinted on October 27, 2007.  Our fingerprints were in connection with the government form - I-600A (Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition).   One of the first documents we had to be approved for.  It's a form the government looks at after they've checked our fingerprints with the FBI to make sure we're not terrorists - and I do NOT say that lightly!  After our record showed clear, and they did whatever else it is  that they had to do,  they sent us an approved I-600A.  This approval came in the form I-171H.  The I-600A form is "good" for 18 months.   It basically said, yes you can start your process to  adopt a child internationally - THANKS government, glad we have your approval! :)


If during that 18 months, we had not completed our adoption, the form expired and  we would have to submit it again.  Which we did.  Also, keep in mind each time you submit your I-600A for renewal it's not free, they want money to process it! Thanks again government!

Now back to the fingerprints.  When we were fingerprinted in Oct 2007, we had 15 months until THEY expired.  If we had not completed our adoption in that time, we would have to send a letter to USCIS requesting to be re-fingerprinted., which we did.  Then they would send us another letter with an appointment time and date to appear at the "fingerprinting place" which they did. So we went and had our fingerprints taken, again. WHEW!

Now up to July 30, 2010. Our fingerprints expired, yet again!  So on August 1st 2010, I sent our official letter stating we were requesting to be re-fingerprinted   to our Social Worker (so she could send it in) and a check for the amount to process it - THANKS again government!   I have waited and waited and waited for that appointment time and date form.  Last week I sent our Social Worker and email asking exactly when she sent it to USCIS.  She answered and said she sent it on Aug 3rd.  OOOOOkkkkkaaayyyyy,  that was almost a month ago.  Is the government that slow on simple processing? (Yes - stupid question huh?!)  I checked and the bank stated that the check posted on Aug 6th!  Ummmmm  HELLO!?!    You collected payment a month ago and haven't sent notice yet?!?!?!  Don't ya just love the government?

So, I sent an email last week stating all the info I was told to submit to USCIS and asked what our status was as far as getting re-fingerprinted?!?  No response for a week!  I was very patient during that month of waiting, really I was.  I said to myself, I'm not going to pester them,  I'm going to wait for our paper to arrive and we'll go get our fingerprints and this will not hold us up at all!  Well, a month is all I'll wait.  After getting no where with  the girl on the phone at USCIS (she's the one I talked to that said, send an email with "this" information and they will answer you),  I decided to email our Social Worker, knowing there was nothing she could do.  She answered me back the next day and said, "I got in touch with USCIS that's handling your case and you should be receiving your appointment time in a few days."  OMGosh, thank you Hallie (our Social Worker)!!!!

Here I am, waiting on that appointment sheet from the USCIS..........again.

I don't write all the detail to bore you.  Just trying to give you some idea as to what is involved in this process. We started our adoption journey in March 2007.  It is now September 2010.  That's a long time to keep your heart and your feelings on hold!

Aiden,  we are going through so much to get you home with us.   Each little thing is accomplished and we're another step closer to you.  I had a dream about you last night.  You were so close but so far away.  I could see you, but I couldn't touch you.  I can't wait till I can see you and hold you!  : )

What is he doing?

Happy Labor Day everyone!  I can't help but think of Aiden more and more each day.  I wonder what he's doing right now.  Well, thanks to my wonderful hubby Mike,  I now have a clock on my blog that displays the time and date in Seoul, Korea!  I tried and tried to figure out how to get it on my blog.  I'm not a computer tech person like he is and I feel like I've struggled to figure this "blog" thing out! (I'm getting there!)  He figured it out, so now I CAN  imagine what Aiden is doing all day long, every day! ((OMGosh, do I really wanna know that?!))  YES, I do!  :)   My guess right now?  He's up for a night time feeding, or he's fast asleep in his foster home.  Some days, I really get excited and can't wait for him to be home with us!  Some days,  when we're in the throws of home life, what it would be like with him here, and some days I get shear terror thinking, "what was I thinking?" Yes,  I already have fears!  BUT,  I know in my heart he is the one for us and we are the ones for him!

Is he walking yet?  What sounds does he make?  What does his laugh sound like?  What facial expressions does he make when he's mad or sad?  What is his favorite toy?  Is he eating good?  How much does he weigh?  I wonder all these things sometime.

My hopes for  this next week -  we'll get  the August WBC (Well Baby Check).  My hopes for the other AP's is that they get their Emigration Permits, ALL approvals,  and Travel Calls, !  I could really use some new information!  As far as the wait - uhhhhhhh.  Still waiting...... (hope everyone has a great Labor Day!)  :)

Now we wait....

Now we're waiting on all those documents to get approved.  The first document we need is our I600 approved, like I said that could take 6 to 8 weeks, depending on if there aren't any bumps in the road.  And from what I've heard, anything can happen at this point.  I've heard stories of  AP's  (adoptive parents) finding out their child's Korean name, which has to be on all paperwork correctly because it is their legal Korean name until they are adopted here in the US, was spelled incorrectly!  Then you have to call that specific office and try to get it corrected in their system  before other paperwork is submitted with the wrong spelling, yes that makes it void! NOT GOOD when you're on a timeline~!  We are pretty much at these peoples mercy.  One parent was told they didn't send a much needed updated Home Study with their documents and the worker said it would sit on a shelf till they received their updated Home Study!   To my understanding, we are at these workers mercy.  Some parents have had their paperwork submitted rather quickly, others have had struggles and delays.

So, how do I make it through all these "wait" times?  I've become a "stalker!"   Holt International has a  great web site: http://www.holtinternational.org/.  On this web site is literally tons of information!  I go to  the "Holt Forum" everyday.  There, they have this Bulletin Board  which is a Web Community.  This is for all families in the being of the adoption process as well as those that are seeking support prior to the adoption process. They have a Forum for every country people are adopting from and it is a world of information!  It has literally been a life saver for me.  I do not know how people can go through this process and not have this much information or help!  I go to the Korean forum (you would've guessed that huh?!).  The community of women and sometimes men are a life saver when it comes to help and support!  If I'm having trouble understanding something, I can post a question or even just a comment and they respond with "everything they have!"  I've had to get a small notebook and write things down that I want to remember, so much great info! Thanks ladies! ; )


So, lots have asked why Korea?  Why adopt from there?  Well first and foremost, the children are adorable!!  (Have you seen the picture of Aiden on the page there? Need I say more about that!? )  As Julie from Catholic Charities first told me,  "these children are well taken care of  and have excellent medical records!" And yes she said it with the (!).  She sounded  really excited when she said that.  She also said we didn't have to travel to Korea to get him, that he could be escorted to us in the US.  I thought WOW, that's great.  But now, after reading so much about Korea and all the other moms stories and their travels to Korea,  I talked to Mike and we've changed our minds and we're going to travel and go get him!  I'm really excited about this!  We have to be there, in Korea,  a required 3 - 4 days, and factor in 2 whole days for traveling.  I'd say it'll take a week.  All the moms have posted on the Forum about the history, sites, landmarks, and of course the souvenirs!!!  Taylor has already put in a request for a souvenir!   I wish she could go with us, but it would be too nerve-racking for me!  You that know me, I'm already a spaz when I'm nervous!  ; )  I just feel this was our choice to be.  It feels comfy and I think we made the right decision!  It fits!

Now, about the children, have I mentioned they are adorable!?  Another great thing Julie at Catholic Charities told me is that most of the children are in foster homes with whole families!  There's usually a foster father, foster mother, foster children, even inlaws sometimes.  This is the same with Aiden.  He has lived with the same foster family since he was given up for adoption at birth.   Holt took custody of him and he's been with this family ever since.

Every month these children are seen by a doctor for a Well Baby Check (WBC).  We received all of Aiden's medical check ups since birth with his file, and we will receive any check ups from now on till it's time to go get him.   I'm stalking my email because it's almost time to receive another WBC soon.  I'm dying to get another picture, but may not get one : (.  But I'm also dying to know his progress!  Dr. Plemmons  at Vanderbilt said each time we get updates to send them in and he'll review them and if there's anything significant, he'll let us know.

Another thing about the wait is AP's can send "care packages".  We send them directly to the Holt office in Korea. So when it's time for the children's check up, the Foster Mother brings the child in and Holt will give the care package to them when they arrive each month.  I've gotten Aiden's care package all together and waiting to send it!  It's complimentary to send little things for the Foster Family, so this time I picked hand lotion for the Foster Mother  and sweet smelling peach hand sanitizers for the Foster Siblings (both girls). For the Foster Father, I picked some Chow Chow relish.  It's made here in a neighboring town to where we live.  I have no idea if he'll like it but it's kind of traditional to give things that were made here in the USA.  Since it was made near us, I thought it was appropriate.  (Really have no idea what to get him!)  I'm waiting on a WBC for August before I send it.  Most times when a child receives his/her care package Holt will send a picture of our child with their care package.  I'll post that picture as soon as I (hopefully) get Septembers WBC!

Trying to catch up...still.

As I said in yesterday's post, I'm trying to catch you up to where we are now. And as I also said in the email that went out last night, this will be therapeutic for me! (I sure hope so, there's just no getting around the "waiting" issue!!)

I left off with Dr. Plemmons at Vanderbilt's Adoption Clinic and having a conference call with him.  Keep in mind, I'm in Myrtle Beach with friends over the weekend, trying to have a good time and not worry about this adorable little boy that was about to come into our lives and the upcoming decision we had to make!!!  Yeah try that one on for size!!  UGG!!   Dr. Plemmons had Aiden's medical file and had a chance to review before our conference call with him the following week.  When the call came, I had pen and paper ready to write anything and everything if need be on our little boy.  Dr. Plemmons (to sum up) said he's a healthy little boy and he was surprised to see him on the Special Needs list!  He kind of  chuckled a bit and said this little boy is growing fine, weight and height were in the normal range, head circumference was good, motor skills great, and developmentally on target, etc.  So,  the first thing I asked was, "what about the meds the birth mother was on?"  ((Unfortunately,  Aiden's medical file did not disclose the actual names of the meds the birth mother was taking while pregnant.))   Dr. Plemmons said the meds weren't a big issue.  And that the only issue a pain medicine would present  if the child was born 'addicted' to the pain medicine, and the repercussions of that would only be short term withdrawals.  I asked Dr. Plemmons if I were to get the actual names of the meds she had been taking, could he advise us of any possible issue there after.  He said he'd be more than happy to review them - THANK YOU DR. PLEMMONS!!!  ((love this doc!))  So..... we were informed that our little boy was healthy, and as perfect as he could be!!!  Yes I was over the top at this point, but who wouldn't be, right?!


After the phone call with our doctor,  I jumped on email and emailed Jessica at Holt.  I asked if there's any way we can get the actual names of the medicines the birth mother was on while pregnant?  She returned my email rather quickly and said that Holt had already put in a request  to Holt in Korea for the names of the meds! Yeah - it was already in motion.  I felt good about it at that point, keep in mind we still haven't officially accepted our little boy yet.  After a few days,  Jessica at Holt forwarded the email from Holt Korea the names of the medicines.  I then forwarded the list to Kelly at Vandy, and she forwarded it to Dr. Plemmons.  He returned my email by that evening with a full write up of explanations of all the meds she was on! Yes I was amazed again!  I thought a busy Pediatrician at Vanderbilt would be just that, a very busy pediatrician at Vandy and I wouldn't hear a thing for a long time!  The explanation filled the whole page!  His first summation listed a medicine, said it had a low chance but still a chance of causing physical  birth defects.  ((Our son wasn't born with any birth defects!!))  So that one was in the clear! Then he listed the others with less importance,  some meds were identical to our meds we have here, he explained what everyone was and what it's used for.  They weren't of any significance, mostly minor meds and even supplements or vitamins.  So here's that recap again - He's fine!!  Aiden's original medical file didn't contain his Hematology report, or it hadn't come in yet.  I received that another couple of days later, forwarded that to Kelly, she forwarded it to Dr. Plemmons and answered back rather quickly  and  said all is fine - still!  All blood work was normal, and no abnormalities!  Whew, another big sigh....!

So, we received Aiden's  file on July 22nd and we officially accepted him on July 27th!!  I sent the email to Jessica and she responded with his official acceptance note.  Jessica told me that she'd now turn us over to Mary at Holt to handle our case from now on.  They sent us the acceptance forms - WOW.  I referred to their Guidebook on Holt's site for the help with all these documents.  Here's what we had to have completed to send back with the acceptance forms.  ((1))  I-864 Affidavit of support - (2 original copies needed)  Mike had to fill this one out;  ((2))  I-864A Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member - (2 original copies needed) I had to fill this one out;  ((3))  Affidavit Concerning Exemption for Immigration (2 original copies needed, must be notarized).  These documents were sent by email to print out:   ((1)) Statement of Adoption (4 original copies needed and must be notarized); ((2))  Foreign Travel Release form - (one copy for Mike and I and had to be notarized);  ((3)) Travel form (3 original copies needed).   These were sent by regular mail to us:  ((1)) Placement agreement -- received 3 original copies that had to be notarized then sent to Holt's office in Oregon, our Home Study agency and we were to keep one;  ((2)) Invoice -- 2 copies received, one was to be sent back signed with the acceptance documents, the other we kept for our records.  PLUS (no I'm not done yet!!) -- copies of our certified marriage license, both our birth certificates, recent tax forms plus W-2's!  Now are you dizzy yet!?!?

Mike and  I completed them, went to have some notarized the next  morning.  He went on to work late, and I went home with the jewels!   When I got home to look at all of the documents, I realized I had missed one that needed to be notarized with Mike's signature only- EKKKK!!  He's already gone to work, now what!?!?  I called him and told him I missed one for him. He couldn't  miss any more work, so I told him he would have  to go Saturday morning to a pawn shop that had a notary - yeah that's what I was thinking - ewww - but it had to be done!  Come Saturday he went and had it notarized, everything was fine.  I got all the documents together  the next Monday morning, plus the other things they requested and sent them off  to Holt in Oregon by Tuesday, August 10th!  I got an email from Mary on August 13th saying she received all the paperwork, it was fine,  and it'll be sent off on Friday August 13th to Holt in Korea.  And you thought Friday the 13th was bad luck - HA!  ;)

At that point Mary said it would take at least 2 weeks for Aiden's 'legal' government documents to get here from Korea after they receive the acceptance documents from her.  I got an email from Mary on August 19th, my birthday, that the "legals" were on their way to us from Oregon and that they would be delivered Fed Ex by August 24th ! Wow what a great birthday present!!!  On Monday August 23rd, I got home from picking Tay up at school to find our "legals" in the Fed Ex envelope laying next to our garage door! A day early!? Oh my!!   I opened the envelope to find these documents:  " (1) Affirmation and Oath Certificate: Certification by the President of Holt Children's Services Inc. of Korea that the legal documents are true and correct, (2) Certificate of the Guardian: Without parents the child is considered an "abandoned child" by Korean law.  This document certifies that guardianship of the child is granted to Holt Children's Services of Korea, (3) Family Register: the Child receives his own family register thus severing all ties with parents and establishing him as independent,  (4) Statement of Guardianship:  Transfers guardianship from Holt Children's Services of Korea, Inc., to Holt Internatinal Children's Services, Inc."  Now, can you imagine reading every document like these 4 I just posted?!?!  Yeah - do you understand why I'm a little schizo sometimes?!?!

All 4 of those documents were in Korean, translated to English.  So each document had a Korean copy and one in English.   In a way it was kind of sad, because one document was the release from his birth mother.  The others were like reading what you just read above!  When Mike got home, I took the documents over to my mom's to make copies of all of them and copies of all the other required papers to have: copy of current tax forms and the Government form the I-600,  Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative.  I found the directions on the Holt web site on how to fill it out, thank goodness! I filled out the I-600 and put it with Aiden's legal documents we had received and sat it on our kitchen table waiting to be sent the next morning.

On August 24th,  I sent our I-600/legal documents to the USCIS in Lewisville, Texas (lock-box).  From there they went to Lee's Summit,  Missouri to the National  Benefits Center (NBC) .  We received notice that it's there and inline for processing.  So for now we wait - AGAIN for these documents to move to another location.  I've been told that this process could take up to 6 to 8 weeks.  I'm hoping it won't take that long, but so does everyone else that's waiting!  The big thing we're waiting on is the Emigration Permit (EP) for Aiden to be able to leave Korea.  South Korea has a quota registry that says how many children adopted can leave the country in one years time.  If Aiden gets his EP approval this year, hopefully he will be able to travel this year and we can go get him.  But as of right now, we're waiting on that.  So ...... If you ever have any clue as to what all this means, please understand,  if I'm acting weird, seem stressed, and a little absent minded,  I think you'll know why now!  :)

Here's where I'm starting.

I didn't have a blog in the beginning so I'll recap some of what I can remember.  It's not all here, but you get the idea, I hope!   We started this "journey" in March of 2007.  YES, that was some time ago for you family members who remember it! We first started with a local agency and with the country of Russia.  After two lllooonnnggg years of waiting and not liking events, changing requirements, etc I talked it over with Mike and we decided we'd like to try and make a change of country.  The government would only allow a One Time Free change of country when you adopt internationally - thank goodness!   I did some research, even called our newly appointed Home Study Agency Catholic Charities for some help.  (Our old agency closed their local office in Nashville, so we were handed over to CC.)  In talking to the director, I found out about this great little country called South Korea.  Yes,  I said South Korea! :)   The director told me about the children, what would be required of us, and other tidbits of info !   I was really nervous to make such a big change of country, but it was what we needed to do! (Didn't know that at the time!)  We decided to leave our other agency that closed the local office and in talking to the director at CC, they suggested Holt International - great idea, thanks!

So..... after talking with Holt, we filled out the application and sent it in on March 12,2009!   Since we were from Tennessee, we had to be open to accepting a child with Special Needs.  This can range from jaundice at birth to more extreme medical conditions, but the great thing is, we could pick out exactly what we were open to, and what we thought we could handle, even make changes to the list  at any time if we wanted to!  They have a medical check list with a very wide variety of medical conditions.  We looked over the list,  accepted quite a few conditions (really, it's not that scary!) and submitted it with the application.  I was still a little nervous of our big decision to change countries, but it was the best for us!  Anyone who really knows me knows  I'm not a big fan of change, so really I was freaking out inside, just didn't want to alarm anyone!


We had already completed our home study  in 2007 by the previous agency and had completed our education classes also.    In updating our home study for the new agency, we had to re-submit all new expense forms,  background checks, new physicals, updated shot record on Taylor, work verification letters, insurance statements, copies of our certified marriage certificate, tax forms, birth certificates, etc.   When all these forms were completed, our Social Worker from CC came to our house for a visit.  She took all that paperwork and submitted our change of country form to update our I600A (Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition).  Once all was in order our Social Worker submitted the paper work on  April 9th, 2009 to USCIS.  On May 18, 2009 our I600A was approved, meaning we were "granted" permission to adopt a child internationally.  Note:  Our I600A had to be renewed once already and will expire 12/17/2010!  Our fingerprints had to be renewed twice so far, not to mention updating our homestudy, yes, once again!  Speaking of our fingerprints (biometrics is what the government calls them),  ours expired on 07/30/2010,  so we're now waiting on USCIS to send us an appointment time and date to get re-fingerprinted - AGAIN!



Now moving forward to July 22, 2010.  We received our referral!!!!  Jessica called me from Holt at 3:30 that afternoon.  I was not feeling well and had laid down when the phone rang.  I almost didn't answer it, but so glad I did!!  She told me she had a child in mind for us, told me a little about him, and asked if we wanted his file to review.  I said, " YES PLEASE!!" ((When the agency calls you with a child in mind, they will send you his "medical" file.  This includes a couple of newborn pictures, most recent pictures, and all his medical visits up to that point. When we looked at his file, he did not have any medical issues at all!!  The only "thing" that put him on the Special Needs list was that his birth mother took pain meds while pregnant, but she had regular  checkups and prenatal care. The pain meds were for a herniated disk.))  Our little boy was perfectly healthy.  I saw our little boy's picture, and oh my goodness, what a cutie pie!  Since it was Thursday, it was too late  to have our IAP (International Adoption Pediatrician) look at his file that week.  Talk about timing!  I was leaving the next morning at 4 am to go to Myrtle Beach with some friends for 4 days!  ((Needless to say I had a very hard time sleeping Thursday night! UGGG!))  I went ahead and emailed Kelly Thursday afternoon at Vanderbilt's Adoption Clinic and told her we had a file of a little boy we wanted Dr. Plemmons to review.  How about that???  Our IAPediatrician's name is Plemmons! If you know our last  name you'll know the close similarity!!   Kelly emailed back and said send it on in and she'll have Dr. Plemmons review it.  She set up a time for Mike and I to have a conference call with him the following week.  We didn't even have to go downtown!  They were awesome for that!!

After I returned from my trip,  Mike and I had a conference call with Dr. Plemmons to discuss our little boys medical file.  ((Korea has the best medical records and in treating these children!  The Korean doctors are very thorough and even a little over cautious!  These beautiful children are very well taken care of!!)) Gonna have to stop here,  I'll pick back up tomorrow and try to catch you up to speed on where we are  in our process right  now!