I have so much to blog about, but as I'm doing all I can to finish up some adoption paperwork it will just have to wait a week or so. At this point finishing our home study then moving on to the USCIS approval and finishing our dossier is critical because - WE ARE NOW MATCHED WITH OUR PRECIOUS LITTLE GIRL!!!!! We will have to wait just a little longer to share the details, but she is a beautiful little 2 1/2 year old angel!
While we wait to share pictures and other details about our precious little girl, we can't help but remember all the precious children who still wait to feel the love of a family...
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Malachi's 4th Birthday
Recently our little Malachi turned 4 years old! Unfortunately since we are buried in adoption paperwork and other things, not to mention the fact that we are having to be very careful about where we go right now due to germ exposure because of Malachi's heart defects, we didn't get to do anything much to celebrate. However, we did take him to the Indian restaurant for lunch, and he and Caleb got to pick out a few toys at Target. Hopefully later we'll get to do something more special for him, but even if we don't we know that the most special thing of all is just being together!
The workers at the restaurant seem to really like Malachi, and they gave him some mango pudding which the boys shared for dessert.
Our little birthday boy loves mango pudding!
Caleb loves it too! He loves going to the Indian restaurant and would choose it over McDonald's! He even tolerates a bib just to be able to enjoy their lunch buffet (I learned the hard way that the brightly colored Indian foods make some very tough stains).
Headed to bed in his favorite Batman pajamas!
The workers at the restaurant seem to really like Malachi, and they gave him some mango pudding which the boys shared for dessert.
Our little birthday boy loves mango pudding!
Caleb loves it too! He loves going to the Indian restaurant and would choose it over McDonald's! He even tolerates a bib just to be able to enjoy their lunch buffet (I learned the hard way that the brightly colored Indian foods make some very tough stains).
Headed to bed in his favorite Batman pajamas!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Christina's Vacation
Christina is really blessed to have a very good friend, Ashley, who in many ways is like a sister to her. Recently Ashley's family invited Christina to go on their vacation with them. We were very appreciative to them for giving Christina the opportunity to enjoy the time with her friend and experience the fun of a vacation to the beach. Based on the pictures I downloaded from her camera, she had a great time!
I am thankful for the world of Facebook on which I get to see all kinds of crazy pictures from teenagers being silly in the name of fun, or else I would surely wonder why on earth my daughter was posing for pictures in a public bathroom!
The only blessing that's greater than having children is having children who love God!
I am thankful for the world of Facebook on which I get to see all kinds of crazy pictures from teenagers being silly in the name of fun, or else I would surely wonder why on earth my daughter was posing for pictures in a public bathroom!
The only blessing that's greater than having children is having children who love God!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
So what's involved in adoption?
If you've been wondering where I've been lately, why I haven't been blogging much, and why I have virtually disappeared from the world of Facebook, well this is it. I have been busy working to get my daughter home. I recently typed up a list to help me get organized as I assemble all the paperwork, and I thought I would share it here for all those who wonder what is involved in adoption.
1. Application
2. Adoptive Family Data Sheet
3. Contracts (2) identical contracts
4. Grievance Procedure
5. Release from Liability
6. Authorization to Release Professional Information, Husband
7. Authorization to Release Professional Information, Wife
8. HIPAA Forms, Husband
9. HIPAA Forms, Wife
10. Required Adoption Statement, Husband
11. Required Adoption Statement, Wife
12. Child Abuse Disclaimer, Husband
13. Child Abuse Disclaimer, Wife
14. Police check form, Husband
15. Police check form, Wife
16. Copy of driver's license, Husband
17. Copy of driver's license, Wife
18. Copy of Social Security Card, Husband
19. Copy of Social Security Card, Wife
20. Copy of Insurance, Life
21. Copy of Insurance, Health
22. Copy of Insurance, Auto
23. Copy of Insurance, Homeowner’s
24. Marriage Certificate
25. Birth Certificate, Husband
26. Birth Certificate, Wife
27. Birth Certificate, Christina
28. Birth Certificate, Caleb
29. Birth Certificate, Malachi
30. Adoption Decree, Christina
31. Adoption Decree, Malachi
32. Family Picture - Informal Snapshot of Family
33. Discipline Policy Form
34. Copy of 2006 W-2
35. Copy of 2007 W-2
36. Copy of 2008 W-2
37. Copy of 2006 1040
38. Copy of 2007 1040
39. Copy of 2008 1040
40. Financial Information Form
41. Letter of Employment (years of employment and current salary)
42. Your Home and Community Questionnaire
43. Autobiography, Husband
44. Autobiography, Wife
45. Marriage Relationship Questionnaire, Husband
46. Marriage Relationship Questionnaire, Wife
47. Attitudes About Adoption Questionnaire, Husband
48. Attitudes About Adoption Questionnaire, Wife
49. Parenting Questionnaire, Husband
50. Parenting Questionnaire, Wife
51. Fire Inspection by fire inspector
52. Environmental Inspection - adoption worker at home visit
53. Medical on Husband (TB ___. HIV ____)
54. Medical on Wife (TB ____, HIV ____)
55. Medical on Malachi (TB test)
56. Medical on Caleb (TB test)
57. Medical on Christina (TB test)
58. Dog Vaccinations
59. Cat 1 Vaccinations
60. Cat 2 Vaccinations
61. Cat 3 Vaccinations
62. Cat 4 Vaccinations
63. Cat 5 Vaccinations
64. Guardianship plan for children in the case of your death/disability
If that seems like a lot, I should add that this list is only what's needed for the home study, which composes one part of the dossier we will send to China. Some of the items needed for our home study were simple, e.g. copies of driver's license, while some of the things seem to take forever, e.g. the autobiography. Just in case you were wondering, although this is our third adoption we have to do an entirely new homestudy. Even the autobiography is new for us - the questions involved are entirely different as they are based on this being our third adoption, fourth child. Thankfully, we are finally getting close to completing everything on this list and starting to work on all the additional documents needed for the dossier to China.
1. Application
2. Adoptive Family Data Sheet
3. Contracts (2) identical contracts
4. Grievance Procedure
5. Release from Liability
6. Authorization to Release Professional Information, Husband
7. Authorization to Release Professional Information, Wife
8. HIPAA Forms, Husband
9. HIPAA Forms, Wife
10. Required Adoption Statement, Husband
11. Required Adoption Statement, Wife
12. Child Abuse Disclaimer, Husband
13. Child Abuse Disclaimer, Wife
14. Police check form, Husband
15. Police check form, Wife
16. Copy of driver's license, Husband
17. Copy of driver's license, Wife
18. Copy of Social Security Card, Husband
19. Copy of Social Security Card, Wife
20. Copy of Insurance, Life
21. Copy of Insurance, Health
22. Copy of Insurance, Auto
23. Copy of Insurance, Homeowner’s
24. Marriage Certificate
25. Birth Certificate, Husband
26. Birth Certificate, Wife
27. Birth Certificate, Christina
28. Birth Certificate, Caleb
29. Birth Certificate, Malachi
30. Adoption Decree, Christina
31. Adoption Decree, Malachi
32. Family Picture - Informal Snapshot of Family
33. Discipline Policy Form
34. Copy of 2006 W-2
35. Copy of 2007 W-2
36. Copy of 2008 W-2
37. Copy of 2006 1040
38. Copy of 2007 1040
39. Copy of 2008 1040
40. Financial Information Form
41. Letter of Employment (years of employment and current salary)
42. Your Home and Community Questionnaire
43. Autobiography, Husband
44. Autobiography, Wife
45. Marriage Relationship Questionnaire, Husband
46. Marriage Relationship Questionnaire, Wife
47. Attitudes About Adoption Questionnaire, Husband
48. Attitudes About Adoption Questionnaire, Wife
49. Parenting Questionnaire, Husband
50. Parenting Questionnaire, Wife
51. Fire Inspection by fire inspector
52. Environmental Inspection - adoption worker at home visit
53. Medical on Husband (TB ___. HIV ____)
54. Medical on Wife (TB ____, HIV ____)
55. Medical on Malachi (TB test)
56. Medical on Caleb (TB test)
57. Medical on Christina (TB test)
58. Dog Vaccinations
59. Cat 1 Vaccinations
60. Cat 2 Vaccinations
61. Cat 3 Vaccinations
62. Cat 4 Vaccinations
63. Cat 5 Vaccinations
64. Guardianship plan for children in the case of your death/disability
If that seems like a lot, I should add that this list is only what's needed for the home study, which composes one part of the dossier we will send to China. Some of the items needed for our home study were simple, e.g. copies of driver's license, while some of the things seem to take forever, e.g. the autobiography. Just in case you were wondering, although this is our third adoption we have to do an entirely new homestudy. Even the autobiography is new for us - the questions involved are entirely different as they are based on this being our third adoption, fourth child. Thankfully, we are finally getting close to completing everything on this list and starting to work on all the additional documents needed for the dossier to China.
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