Oh, my

We got her passport today. The picture is hilarious. They made her stand on a chair and she was not happy.

Below it is her visa picture. Just in case you missed that gem.

I see years of bad school pictures in our future.

Plan B

They are no longer issuing emergency passports in adoption cases. So, we will pick up her passport tomorrow. (I knew this but didn't want to believe it.) We should be able to get a visa appointment on Wednesday and fly home on Thursday.

My trusty state-side assistant will rebook our tickets after we know we have a visa appointment. Then I will let you all know when and where we will be flying. I hate that we are flying home in the middle of a fundraiser for work. Maybe we will just have to stop for some pizza on the way home.

I can't wait to post Sara's passport picture. I think it's even better than the visa pic. They made her stand on a chair and she was not happy about it. The picture is hilarious. (And I'm pretty sure her Red Sox shirt shows.)

Potential Travel Plans.

I'm trying not to get too excited about the potential of going home soon. After all, we've thought we were going home before. But, I think it might really happen this time. I want to keep you all updated on the plans as they develop.

Here's the current plan:
•We go tomorrow to apply for her passport. We are planning to apply for an emergency passport so we can pick it up Monday afternoon. If we can't get the emergency passport, we will have to get a regular one and we can pick it up on Tuesday.

•Depending on the passport situation, we will have our visa appointment at the embassy on Tuesday or Wednesday.

•We will hopefully fly home the day after our visa appointment. The exact times depend on the availability of seats at the last minute. There are two flights daily from Bogota to the US. One leaves at midnight and goes to NYC. The other leaves at 10:30 AM and goes to Atlanta. I am praying for open seats on the Atlanta flight.

•All that to say that we really don't know when we will be home. If I get my wish, we will land at Midway on Wednesday at 6:30 PM.

I will continue to update as things fall into place. I miss all of you so much and would love to see people at the airport if you'd like to meet us there. Just remember the "rules" and now that I will probably be an emotional mess and hungry.

Murphy's Law

This entire process has been a prime example of Murphy's Law.

The lawyer finally got signed copies of the adoption decree today. She went to get the new birth certificates. (This is supposed to be an easy step.) Well, the notary wouldn't make the new certificates because the adoption decree lists my middle name and my passport only has my middle initial. (Yep. I'm serious.)

Thankfully, one of the papers in the dossier is a letter that states all the possible ways your name can be written. When I wrote the letter and got it notarized and apostilled, I thought it was dumb. Now I'm very grateful for that letter.

My facilitator also owns a vet shop. She was able to send one of her employees all over the city to get the letter and deliver it to the notary. The notary has agreed to produce the new certificates. The lawyer will pick them up tomorrow morning.

Monday we will apply for Sara's passport. I wonder what unheard of snag we will run into there.

Finally!

We finally have a signed adoption decree. The birth certificates are being made right now. We will hopefully apply for Sara's passport this afternoon.

The last week has been crazy. I can't even begin to describe the emotions and I don't even understand all that went on. I know that this is not the way things usually go but that doesn't surprise me. The important thing is that we will be home next week! (Really, we are just hanging out here waiting for the snow to stop at home.)

I have a list of things I miss about home but this time has been precious. I have gotten to spend the last seven weeks hanging out with the cutest, funniest kid ever. We will never have time like this again. Time with no responsibilities or plans. Time just to hang out.

I can't wait for you all to meet her. My sister asked me if she was everything I expected. I don't think I really had expectations but I love her more than words can express. I just can't get enough of her. She's so cute and funny and smart and sassy and wonderful. I can't wait to see where life takes her.

What's the Story, Morning Glory?

Not sure why that song is stuck in my head. I do know that I'm singing because I'm so happy.

A lot has happened in the last 24 hours. I know that my facilitator and lawyer have continued to stalk the courthouse and do everything in their power to get this woman to fix her mistake. I know that they spoke with someone very high up in the social services office. I'm sure other things happened as well.

I got a call a little before 3. The facilitator asked if I could come sit at the courthouse with her and the lawyer. She thought maybe my presence would help. Of course, I agreed to go. I was willing to try anything.

As I was getting ready, she called to say she had gotten word that I could sign. We rushed as quickly as Bogota traffic allows to arrive as quickly as possible.

I signed the decree even though the mistake hadn't been corrected. It only took about 10 seconds. (It was kind if anticlimactic after all the drama.) I don't really understand all that happened but the secretary will fix her mistake tomorrow.

I should have the official decree and the new birth certificates on Thursday. We will go to apply for Sara's passport on Friday and pick it up on Monday. We should be able to go to the embassy on Tuesday for her visa and got home Wednesday.

Through this entire process, things have happened the day after I got to the end of my rope and had a meltdown. This time worked the same way. I lost it yesterday. I tend to bottle things up until I can't hold anything else in and then I fall apart. It doesn't happen often but it isn't pretty when it does.

I don't regret what I wrote yesterday. It was what I was feeling at the time. However, I want people to understand that this weird glitch is an exception to the process and shouldn't reflect on the entire program. I've had other friends come and go smoothly. I know several people who have adopted here more than once. There are beautiful children here who need families. Don't deny them that because I had a meltdown. Just look at the picture below. She's well worth all the stress.

No words

Where to start? I got up really early this morning and left Sara for the first time so I could go sign the adoption decree. I really didn't like either of those things.

I chatted with my facilitator on the way to the court house. She said she thought we could get the sentencia, birth certificates and passport application done today and we could be home on Tuesday. I was on top of the world.

When we arrived, the lawyer told us there was a mistake. The paperwork says I'm Swedish. She assured us it wasn't a big deal. It could be fixed quickly.

EXCEPT the very cranky secretary insisted she didn't have time to fix it today. (It was her mistake!!!!!). She says she will fix it when she gets a chance. So, until this lady feels like fixing her typo, there is nothing we can do but wait.

Waiting isn't the end of the world. I hate that I knew when I would he home and now it's all up in the air again. We all know I hate the unknown. It will probably just be one extra day. It's just frustrating to me that my future is in this very uncaring woman's hands. It's expensive to stay here even one more night. And, I really want to go home!!!

After we left the court house, we walked around the historic district. I was glad to get to see some more of Bogota. I saw the president's house and lots of old, beautiful buildings. It was nice to walk around and chat but our spirits were definitely dampened. (I even got to see some of the red light district in action on my cab ride back.)

I got back to the hotel and was greeted at the gate by my girl with lots of hugs and kisses. She makes all the struggles and waiting and frustration worth it.

The Process

For those of you who are wondering--here's the process I'm working through. I'll try to keep this list updated as I move through the steps.

1. Fill out applications for Reece's Rainbow, Adoption Agency and Home Study agency. - Done in February

2. Be matched on Reece's Rainbow with Sarita. - Done February 17th.


3. Complete homestudy. Sent downstate on May 7.


4. Homestudy goes to the state capital for approval. Received the official home study on May 19.

5. Homestudy and I800A Application go to Immigration and Homeland Security. USCIS paperwork mailed on May 21. Officially received on May 25th.

6. Begin to compile Dossier documents--including FBI clearance. - All ready on July 1st.

7. Homeland Security will send me an appointment for more fingerprints. Fingerprints done on June 7th.

8. Receive approval from Homeland Security and Immigration. Received July 27th!

9. Submit Dossier documents to her country. Sent on Aug 9th.

10. Receive approval from the country. Officially be matched with Sarita. Approved on Sept 22nd.

11. Be given a travel date and court date.  Traveled on January 12th.  Met Sara on January 14, 2013.  

12. Adopt Sarita in Colombia.  Finally official March 1, 2013.

13. Apply for a new birth certificate with her new last name.  Received March 2nd.  

14. Apply for her passport.  Applied March 4.  Received March 5.  

15. Apply for her US Visa.  Received March 6.

16. FLY HOME!  Arrived home March 7, 2013.  

A little bit crazy, very long, almost ridiculous. All will be worth it in the end.