New Numbers and the Tree

August numbers came yesterday. Glad to report a little progress.

#6 on boys list

#8 on siblings list

In other news, Dodd has been carefully tending to the new tree in our backyard. He planted a Bur Oak so that you can see it squarely from the nursery window. He wants it to grow with our children, knowing it will continue to live long after we are gone. The poor tree was uprooted this spring and moved to our property. It's been a rough summer as it tries to grow its roots in the new soil and fend off an attack of the Two Lined Chestnut Borer. But, with some TLC from Dodd, it seems to be adapting to its new home. I love my sentimental husband for this and find this tree symbolic in so many ways.

Tree at my window, window tree,

My sash is lowered when night comes on;

But let there never be curtain drawn

Between you and me.

- Robert Frost

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happy 13th anniversary doddster

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Brief Moment of Reckoning

We filled out paperwork to go on another wait list. This time for daycare. It takes several months of waiting to get in so we need to get started now.

I had a brief, out of body experience while filling out the daycare sign up form. You know those moments when the reality of something smacks you in the face, then sinks in a little further.

I wrote my name in the "Mother" box.

I had to look at it a few times. Blink a few times. My name and mother....these two have never showed up together in quite this way. There's a lot of adoption paperwork where I am listed as the "adoptive mother", or we are the "adoptive parents." Kind of impersonal and always qualified with the word adoptive. We filled out that paperwork asking to be considered as parents. This form felt different. This form was not for us, it was for our kid. It didn't didn't care about all that legal adoption stuff. It just wanted to know who the kid's mom is.

By Jove! That's me.

I looked at Dodd. Showed him his name in the "Father" box. Are you ready, I asked? "Oh yeah!!"

Someday soon we will be able to erase the question mark we had to write in the kid box and replace it with an actual name. Maybe it will be two names. What a marvelous day that will be.

To conclude this post, I leave you with the coming home video of an AGCI baby girl named Lucy Lane. Her mom has been generous enough to share this video. For all the AGCI families out there, you've probably already cheered and cried watching it. But for our family and friends who don't cruise the other blogs, I would love to share this with you. I hope you enjoy it.

New Numbers and Progress

We are excited to report progress on the Miller Family Expansion Project. We are now:

#7 on the boys list

#9 on the siblings list

The really cool thing is that progress in our situation means several children have gone home.

Speaking of going home. There are at least 12 AGCI children who will be going home soon to their families who have been waiting, waiting, waiting through a very difficult time. Ethiopia put a freeze on the adoption process for children who were considered abandoned. Many of these kids were already matched with their families and had scheduled court dates when the freeze went into effect. These families have had to wait this spring and summer without knowing what would happen or if they would be able to bring their kids home.

Recently there has been good news. Our caseworker said today that all AGCI cases have been released and court dates have been scheduled. Ethiopian courts normally close in August and September but for the first time, are staying open so these adoptions can be finalized and the kids can go home.

This is an answer to many fervent prayers. We are so happy for these families! Now we pray they pass court quickly!

Like Getting a Positive

The tension was too much. Still hadn't heard from AGCI with a million crazy thoughts hatching as to why. Finally called to ask for an update. Long story short, because of some miscommunication between us, our home study agency, and AGCI, they didn't realize we were ready to go on the waiting list. Oh my gosh! How could this be? I almost lost my lunch. Kiersten called back right away when she realized what happened and gave us our numbers.

So.....

We are #12 on the boys list and #13 on the siblings list!

I had a permanent smile on my face at work. Could NOT stop smiling. It's hard to explain to people who aren't familiar with the process why going on a waiting list is an elation filled moment.

Lots of people have asked, "what does this mean?" My attempt to explain. When a child is ready to be placed with a family, AGCI will review the child's profile, then evaluate the parameters of the family at #1 on the list. The parameters center around age, gender, and special needs. If there is a match, a referral is made. If there is not a match, they move to the family at #2. As children are placed with their families, we will move up the list. Our parameters approve us to adopt a boy or girl 0-12 months, or siblings 0-12 months, whichever comes first. It's much more likely a boy will be ready for placement before siblings, but we will go on the sib list just in case a miracle set of twins need a home at just the moment that we are at the top of the list. We love girls too but that list is much longer. We would rather give our spot on the girl list to a family specifically called to adopt a girl and hang with the guys this time around.

So I have to say, the list has changed my mind.

I've been unsure about how best to share the news of our adoption with friends, family and colleagues. I think because I am unsure, when I've told the news, they are also unsure of how to respond. When you say, "we're pregnant" everyone knows what to do. There aren't social norms yet for this. At least not in our current circles.

Until today, I had decided to announce our "pregnancy" with the referral. But holy smokes, this wait list milestone really feels big. I think I feel pregnant. There are still "9 months" ahead but this feels pretty official. I decided that this is the positive we've been waiting for. The referral will be more like that incredible first image of our child when he becomes that much more real to us.

Wow, it's been fun and encouraging to follow along with the families we've met through blog world. BIG congratulations to those who have joined the list within the past week! And we are so excited for you guys who are so close!

Now I can stop checking my email and voicemail incessantly. And maybe we can enjoy the beginning of the first trimester. :)

Nada x3

1. No Bourne....
2. No Number....
3. No phone call from AGCI

At our USCIS appointment this morning, we were each assigned a biometrics number.

My number was 10. Dodd's was 11.

I stared at the numbers. Ahhh...hmmm...could this be...........a sign??

Dodd just shook his head at me. See what all this anticipation can do to a girl? Now I'm superstitious.

But, we are fingerprinted...again. Let the Advanced Processing of Orphan begin! Will have to wait til next week for any news. That waiting list so elusive!

Home Study Approved!

Deb left a message on Wednesday to say the final, final homestudy was approved by AGCI. Hallelujah. She sent a notarized hard copy on Thursday. Dare I hope we might be on that wait list by next Friday??

We also received our biometrics appointment for next week from The Department of Homeland Security.

Doesn't that sound intriguing?

"To process your application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition, the US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) must capture your biometrics."

It's just a fancy word for fingerprints. (Fingerprints, yes, again. This time for immigration. I know.) I'll still be looking for Jason Bourne there tho.

We Got Record Checks Baby!

Deb's voice on the cell was like music this afternoon. California clearance came back today!!

And guess what was waiting in the mailbox when I got home. Two very attractive sets of fingerprints from the FBI with "No Record" stamped on the back!!

I can't believe all four of these government agencies moved so fast and efficiently. Thank you Lord!! I seriously scared the cats by shrieking so loud for so long.

I will drive these fingerprints over to Deb in the am before work so that she can re-finish up the homestudy and send it off to ACGI tomorrow. And then what, you ask? We wait. To go on the waiting list. Oh the joy!

Thanks Mom and Dad for letting me share this with you and for being so excited!!