Summer continues....

I cannot believe it is already July 5th!  This summer has been busy.  Working, relaxing, & getting in some pool time when it is nice enough have been filling up my days.  However the one thing that happens daily is WAITING.  Waiting impatiently, I should say.  If you would have asked be 7 months ago where I would be in the process, waiting for a match would not have been my answer.  Waiting to go to Haiti would be more like it.  However, that is not the case.  Processes are still changing and decisions of how to proceed are being made.  Supposedly there was a big meeting in Haiti today between the creche directors and IBESR.  I learned about that on a new group I belong to on Facebook!  Who knew that Facebook would be so helpful.  The director of the Haiti program at my agency emailed me on Wednesday to tell me she was thinking about me and that the directors of the creche were working hard.  It was nice to hear from her and gave me a glimmer of hope.

A friend I met via email/Facebook is heading to Haiti on Monday!  Praying that she will have safe travels and an awesome trip meeting her little one for the FIRST time!!!

Summer Time!

It has almost been a month since my last post and I still wonder when that call is going to come!  I thought I should post an update and then realized there is really nothing to update.  However, a friend of mine posted this great video about the directors (Gina & Lucien) of the creche that I am working with.  Talk about amazing people!!  I would LOVE to hear your comments!!!  Hope everyone is having a great summer!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WpdATceu5Q&feature=share

Old v. New

Well it seems, just when you think you are on one path....life switches things up.  So last Friday, I knew that my dossier was being delivered to Haiti and I had made it to the next step.  On Saturday, I received an email saying that I now needed to be open to possibly being part of the new process OR the OLD process.

What does that mean? The way I understand it... is the old way is being matched by the director of the creche instead of IBESR and my trip would be one week as opposed to two.  Which is better?  I don't know.  I just know that whatever process I am in, I will be in the right one.  So old or new?  I am not sure....but stay tuned!

Timeline...

Back in December, I began working on my dossier.  For those who are unaware, the dossier is your adoption packet for a lack of technical terms.  I remember thinking, I will crank this out over my Christmas break.  I remember going to the administration office for my employment letter and it went so well, everyone was excited and they were so helpful.  No problem, this will be easy.  I continued on, but January 7th came a little quicker then I had planned and it was back to the world of 2nd grade.  I continued to work on getting letters, getting them notarized, authenticated, re-done, re-notarized,  and re-authenticated.  Spring break came and certainly it would get done!  Nope, a few changes and a few more papers!  Then off to get translated!  Then to the Haitian Consulate in Chicago.  But today it finally happened, my dossier made it to HAITI!!!!!

Now we wait some more, have you noticed that is kinda a theme???

So once again, my timeline didn't go quite as planned.  However, in the end it is isn't about my timeline...someone knows what is meant to be and I keep reminding myself to enjoy the ride!  So now I will sit back and enjoy the ride, while I wait for that call that finally tells me I am a MOM!!!

Being 1st...

Most people like to be first, right? I mean I have a class of 23 little ones who strive to be that each day!  Well this week I learned I am in first, but I am not so sure that is a good thing.  However, since I am a half glass full type of girl...I am trying to think it is a good thing!

As you all have read, I got my documents mailed off and I was feeling great.  Monday I had a missed call from my case worker, heart DROPS and voice message says to call her.  I call her thinking...is this it???  And I quickly learned it wasn't!  She was looking over my paperwork and told me I was missing some things.  Just when I thought I was done!  So I got a piece of paper and started writing what I needed.  Only 2 of the 4 things require authentication from the state and only one needs notarized.  Then she told me she was sending things to the translator and let me know how to pay for that.  I was quite surprised how inexpensive it was considering the massive paperwork that has to be translated.  And then I learn I am first!  First in what you ask?  The match game.

Since January 16th, I have wondered what day the call would come that would change my life forever. On Monday, I learned that call is not going to happen for awhile and that I am FIRST in the new process.  Haiti is in the process of changing their guidelines and procedures for adoption.  This is a good thing in the long run, however for me and those of you who read this....it means more waiting!

My caseworker explained I would not be matched until my paperwork is in Haiti.  The match recommendation will come from the creche director and then IBESR (the Haiti agency for adoptions) will approve it and THEN that magical call will come my way.  I asked how long she thought and she said, "Well you are our first one to go through this new process & I can't say for sure."  So being the planner I am I tried to figure it out when we hung up.  The translation will take 2-3 weeks, then it goes to the Haitian Consulate, and then to Haiti.  I would guess that it won't make it to Haiti until the end of May and then you wait for them to see it.  If I was a betting lady, I would guess my call won't come until mid June or later.

So on to the glass is half full side of life!  Maybe the time after I am matched until I make my first trip will be shorter.  Maybe the whole process will get fine tuned and I will be able to deal with less issues once I am matched.  Maybe and this is a BIG maybe....I will have less time after my first visit until I can bring my little one home.  Maybe Maybe Maybe....that is what adoption is all about.  The one thing that is not a MAYBE is I am ready to be a mom and can't wait to meet my future!

Progress

Friday, Mom & Dad & I headed down to Springfield for the final authentication of the last few dossier documents.  It was a little hard to find the building, but we did it!  We walked in, I signed in, I sat down, they called me up, a lady looked over the papers (as I watched nervously, fearing she would find something wrong), she said they looked great and it would be just a minute.  A few minutes later we walked out with the papers in hand!  We stopped for lunch and it was right next to the post office, so I ran in and mailed them up north!  YEA!  A little more progress!

Off to Chicago...

Not me, but these very important papers!  Tomorrow I will mail off the first of 7 documents to be translated in to Creole.  These 7 documents are part of my dossier, the other 4 will be traveling to Springfield on Friday for authentication by the state of Illinois.  If Friday goes well, they will also make their way to Chicago for translation.  All these papers are a part of my dossier, which is pretty much my application to Haiti for adoption.  The dossier is a HUGE step in the adoption process.  Stayed tuned!