Approved!

Received our USCIS approval today! I'm off to the capital on Friday for the notary certifications. Then sending everything to DC for Chinese Embassy authentication before our dossier (fancy word for paperwork) is sent to China. Once approved there, we can start booking our travel! My mom may be coming with me to China. It is amazing how much you can "miss" a child that you have never even held in your arms. This process has been delayed for too long. I am ready to bring home my baby girl! Hoping for favor and speed with the remaining steps on this journey.

Memphis Fingerprinting--Mission Accomplished!

The fingerprinting trip to Memphis was an adventure to say the least! We outran the tornadoes to get to the hotel, endured the storms all night, then up early for the 8am appointment. On the way, I discovered that my license had expired the day before on my birthday and we had to show proof of ID to get in. I was all prepared to give a big sob story if they said anything, but favor was granted and we were admitted (only after Jeff returned his pocket knife to the car). The last few weeks I had given Jeff a hard time about how rough his hands were and that he needed to pamper them with lotion so that his fingerprints would be clear enough for the scans. When he went back with the agent she asks him if he is a construction worker when she examines his hands and is not sure she believes he is an Engineer! Despite the wear and tear on his hands, he has no problem with the printing. I, however, who use lotion quite frequently and do most of my work indoors, had to scan my prints 5 different times before one was clear enough to work! In spite of all the drama, we accomplished our mission! We hope to have our approval in the next week, then on the certification and authentication phase.

Next Step. . .Fingerprints!

We received our notice from USCIS that we are scheduled for fingerprinting on April 26th in Memphis. We also received instructions to start pampering our hands so that our prints are not compromised by cuts and blemishes. I will try to sneak a picture of Jeff wearing his nightly white glove treatment!

What Is Spina Bifida?

Before birth, while the spine is developing, one or more of the bones
of the back, called vertebrae, fail to develop properly leaving a gap
or split. The spinal cord pokes through this gap. It forms a bubble
or fluid-filled sack covered by a thin layer of skin. This spinal material
includes protective tissue, the meninges, that surrounds the spinal
cord. It also include cerebrospinal fluid which bathes and protects the
brain and spinal cord.

The type of Spina Bifida Isabella has is called lypomeningocele.
Lypomeningocele is a mild form of spina bifida. There is a
fatty tumor over the spine. There may not be much nerve
damage, but there may be urinary and bowel problems.

Third Day Adoption Video

This video brought me to tears! It is a beautiful expression of the adoption relationship both in the physical the spiritual. Take a peek into my heart. . .

INS Approval is in the Works!

We didn't have any partakers in the "Hairdos For Hui Qian" fundraiser, but God provided just enough for us to move forward. I cleaned out the adoption account today and scraped together the remainder to be able to pay for the INS application for Isabella. The processing can take anywhere from 20-60 days for approval. God is in control and He knows how long He has to come up with the rest of the money we need for the next phase of the adoption. It is out of our hands, for our hands are empty.

Hairdo's For Hui Qian!

If we can get our friends and family to commit to giving the amount of just 1 hairdo this month, then we will cover the cost of the next phase of our adoption of sweet Isabella (Hui Qian). The average cost of a complete hair salon service in Conway is $60. So if just 13 of our friends would forego 1 hairdo, we will be able to fund the INS application and fingerprinting. Pass it on! Thanks for your help!

Homestudy Approved!

We just got word from the agency that our homestudy has finally been approved! Next step is to apply for INS approval, which could take between 30-45 days. In the meantime, we will now be able to apply for various adoption grants and loan programs to help with the cost of the adoption. We may be taking slow baby steps, but we are steadily getting closer to bringing Isabella home! We'll keep you posted.

Exhale!

Great news, today! We got word that Isbella's file was, after much delay, approved by the CCAA and she is now officially available for us to adopt! After four months of holding my breath, now I can finally breathe! Please pray that things will go smoothly from here on out and we can make up for all the lost time. I am ready to bring my baby girl home!

Lots to be Thankful for!

While our family is not complete this holiday with Isabella waiting in China, we have lots to be thankful for. We finally received the clearance from Oklahoma last week. We spoke to our social worker who told us she has finished our homestudy and submitted it for agency review. After the final review of the homestudy, we can then apply for INS approval. Once approved, we can send our dossier to China and then we just wait for the green light to make travel plans. I am still hoping we will be ready to travel in January. We are so thankful for everyone who has given to our adoption fund so far. All of our financial needs up to this point have been met and we are confident that the rest of the process will go smoothly. We have our good health. We have a great support network. We have a great family. And we have a gorgeous little girl waiting for us in china who can't wait to meet all her brothers and sisters. We do indeed have lots to be thankful for!