Why Haiti?

Many people have asked me how I decided to adopt in Haiti and there truly isn't one good answer....there are multiple!  I have wanted to adopt for sometime, long before many of you even knew.  I tried to adopt domestically, however that was obviously not what was in the cards for me.  I talked to my caseworker at the agency and we discussed my options and Haiti was one of those.  I thought & prayed for almost 10 months...until I knew for sure and I finally made the call.  That call occurred at the end of October and now I am officially waiting!

So why Haiti...well one reason is they are open to single parents, so that was a plus.  Haiti is truly not that far from here and I know that down the road, I could always take my little one back to see where he or she started life.  Financially it worked or was "workable".  And four... I have a connection to Haiti. My cousin was adopted from Haiti.  I love that my little one will always have a connection to where they came from.  

The day I made my decision, it felt right and that was the best feeling ever!

The List

I love the world of technology.  I just received the following email....

Your home study has been approved by DCFS and scanned/emailed to our partners in Haiti.  You are now waiting for a match!

Let the waiting begin!!!!

Approved!

My home study has been APPROVED!! YEA!  The home study will now be sent to the agency I am working with and they will send it to Haiti.  As soon as Haiti receives it, they will put me on the waiting list for a MATCH!

What that means is that I will be placed on the list and as children become available for adoption they are matched based on requests of prospective parents.  As soon as a child is matched with me, I will receive a call from my agency and an email with information on the little one.  Then I will have the opportunity to accept if it is a good match.  When I accept, I will then officially be a MOM!  Of course my child will be more than 1,600 miles away from me, but we will still be connected.  I will receive pictures and as much information as they have been given.  

So today was one of those exciting days in the adoption process!  I am fully aware that the process will be long and filled with hiccups...HOWEVER I plan to stay focused and positive, I know this is meant to be!!!

Home Study on its way!

Today I learned that my home study has been sent to the state of Illinois for approval.  They told me it takes about 2 weeks, who knew that our great state could work that fast.  I was so excited, that I followed up with my contact at the agency up in Chicago and found out some great news!  As soon as my home study is approved, it will be sent to Haiti and I will be officially on the waiting list!!!  My home study states that I am open to a boy or a girl, preferably infant to toddler.  They tell me that means birth to 3 years old.  So needless to say, I am happy to learn that by the end of January I could be on the list!!!  

Welcome & Update

It is finally time to start documenting this awesome journey!  I realized I hadn't done as could of a job when I tried to make the timeline on the right.  So hopefully this blog will help me keep better track.  Currently I am in the midst of my dossier.  For those that are not sure what that means, I can put it to you more simply...PAPERWORK!!!

I hopefully will get this all accomplished in the next 2 weeks!  Then it gets reviewed and then off to the state of Illinois for authentication.  My home study is done and being reviewed for submission to the state.

I will update this blog so you can follow me on this journey!  Please ask questions and make comments!  I can't tell you how excited I am!