THE 411 ON OUR PROCESS FOR LITTLE BOYS!

OUR PROCESS

I borrowed this from another adoptive mom - Randi Lanz

Acronyms and Dictionary in order through Adoption Timeline:

1. HS        Home Study   MARCH 20, 2014 COMPLETED
2. LOI       Letter of Intent      LUKE - OCT 2013                 JOHN - FEB 2014
3. PA         Pre-Approval    LUKE- OCT 24, 2014                JOHN- APR 8, 2014
4. I-800A   Application to USCIS to adopt a child from China  APRIL 4, 2014
5. I-797-Notice Of Action  I-800A approval  MAY 29, 2014
6. DTA       Dossier To Agency  FIRST COPY MARCH 24, 2014  ADDENDUM MAY 16,2014
7. DTC       Dossier to China      JUNE 20, 2014
8. LID         Logged In Date  JULY 3, 2014
9. OOT       Out Of Translation - dossier has been translated into Chinese and is "in progress" JULY 17, 2014
10. Reviewed - with the new database that the CCCWA installed in 2013, there are some new steps that we can track now.  Reviewed shows when your dossier has been, well, reviewed by the staff!  SEPT 29, 2014
11. Match Reviewed or Soft LOA - this is when your dossier and the child's specific file are given their final review and the LOA is issued.  It shows in the computer system as issued before it actually arrives in its paper form at the agency. SEPT 29, 2014
12. LOA       Letter Of Acceptance also called LSC (Letter Seeking Confirmation) OCT 1, 2014
13. I-800       Application to adopt a specific child  - in this case, from China OCT 6, 2014
14. DS-260 Online US Dept of State form to apply for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration on behalf of your child OCT 27, 2014
15. NVC PDF  Emailed copy of the adoption approval letter sent to the Consulate in Guangzhou China OCT 27, 2014
16. A 5 or Article  5 Final approval from the U.S & China for the adoption to take place Nov.17th
17. TA         Travel Approval
18. Gotcha Day of Forever Family Day - when you receive placement of your child
19. CA          US Consulate Appointment in China

Happy Birthday LUKE!

So our boy is officially 5 years old.  He had a birthday December 19th.  We are working hard to get paperwork done and move this mound of paperwork to China.  We are hoping and praying that we will have everything to China by the end of February, but it will probably be more like March.   I feel like we are in slowmo.  We are currently waiting on forms from our doctors.  We hope to get those this week.  If anyone wants to help us out there please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Our friends moving to Africa always lists their prayer requests and I like that.

Things to pray for:

That we can continue to fund-raise by selling the rest of our shirts and come up with more things to do.
That the paperwork will get done quickly over the next few weeks.
That sweet Luke will stay healthy until we get there.
That all of the people we need to get this done like doctors, state department, secretary of state, and USCIS will move quickly.
That we will not grow weary of all that we have to do to get it done.
That we as a family will give each other strength and support through this process.

Thank you all!

Kim

Video Video Video

We got video of our boy today.  We have been waiting on an update.  And he is so adorable.  I just want to hug him and kiss him.  In the video they feed him a piece of cake and try to get him to answer questions.  The boy is about the cake.  He is my husband's child.  He is so into eating the cake that he totally ignores the man asking him questions.  In video number 2 he is on the playground and the man is trying to get him to talk to him when he really just wants to burn off that sugar he just inhaled.  He is so stinkin' cute.  I wish I could show you a pic.  In the last second of the video the man gets him to say "Hello."  He says it in English.  It is so cute.  We are just in awe of God's wonderful blessing on this Thanksgiving.  Please continue to pray for us.  We will be placing a shirt order next week, if anyone still wants a shirt email me or post a comment here. Kim

Sweet Boy News!

I am about to get all Southern.  Our boy is cute Ya'll.  He is absolutely the cutest boy I have ever seen.  We saw some pictures that a mom took from last winter.  He is absolutely just the cutest and will break all the ladies hearts.  All of them.  He has an absolute head full of hair.  Just like Flo!  I am so grateful to the families that have traveled to this orphanage and chose to take pictures.  We are more in love with each picture.  We are praying that our home study goes smoothly and we can proceed to the next step.  We are still fundraising so spread the word about our t-shirts.  We will be doing some more fundraising in the next few months. So don't fret if you can't get in on the t-shirt one.  Remember prayers are always needed.

Flo is so excited about this adoption.  Even more so than I expected.  Back in the summer she had a little break down about being the only Asian family member.  It truly broke me.  I just was so heart broken.  I cried with her.  She was just I think frustrated with the surgery and exhausted from not being able to sleep well. (We have sleep issues for about six months after surgery.  I think it is anesthesia.)  She just did not understand any of it- the abandonment, the adoption, the whole thing.   This happens to all adopted kids at some point, but it came sooner than I expected.  We talked a long time and I just held her and let her know that there are many things about this we don't understand but God had a plan for her before she was born and we were part of His plan.  We love her forever and when she is old enough we will follow her and support her if she feels she wants to pursue finding her Chinese roots.  She ended that conversation with not understanding why she had to be the only Asian family member.  I think this adoption is going to really have a major impact on our family, but for her it is like a dream come true.  People tell us all the time that AG looks like me and I know it has to hurt Flo. With brother here we will now get, "They look so much alike."  Flo will have a big grin on her face!  And I can't wait! She may not have been born from my womb, but she loves like me and she hurts like me.  She aches for those in need and those that are hurting! She is my girl!

We have another meeting next week with our Social Worker.  Please continue to pray for us and our sweet boy!