Paper Work Sent & Prayers Needed

I just got back from the post office. The documents that I had re-done are safely on their way to my cordinator in Michigan. I have to say I do think that I am pretty organized with the whole documents thing. The funny thing however is that I had put the binder that I keep all the documents on a self. This weekend I plan on going through it and re-organizing it so that I know where everything is placed.

Here is a question for those of you who have already done it. Do you take a complete copy of your dossier with you when you go??

Okay here is my prayer request. My nephew who is 22 is having a hard time. He has been back from Iraq for almost 2 years. During his second tour in Iraq he was injuried and has a head injury. I feel very blessed because his injury is one that I feel he can over come with the right support from the government, friend and his family. So if you could please include him in your prayers I would appreciated it.

Today is Truly a Wonderful Day!

Okay I just woke up. Yes it is almost dinner time for most of you but I am just starting my day. Last week I sent off some documents to Trenton, NJ for for the apostilles on the documents to update my dossier. Not until I got home from the Post Office did I realize that I forgot to get the infamous tracking ticket.

Honestly it never even crossed my mind. So here was the dilemma all of my precious documents sent in the mail with no record. For those of you who have been following for a long time you might remember when I sent the I-600 form into the US government and I LOST the tracking receipt. Wow was I worried then. Okay back to now.

I was not worried this time. This feeling is hard to explain. I was so not worried that I did not even think to mention it until today. I had sent a check in with the documents so I thought I will just keep checking the bank to see if they cashed the check. That is as good as a tracking ticket right! Well maybe not! So of course the first thing I did this morning I mean this afternoon is to check to see if the State of NJ cashed my check. I thought is was a long shot that they would have already cashed the check but a girl can dream, right.

So you think that I am going to say that they cashed the check well the answer is NO!
So I walked to the mailbox reluctantly only to see if there are any good sale fliers and what did I find WELL THIS!



HERE ARE THE DOCUMENTS! YES WITH THE APOSTILLES!

I think I can explain how this happened. I trusted in God to take care of everything and he did!

Paper Work Updates-DONE!

This time last year I was just starting the paper work for my home study. I remember being so nervous that I would somehow fail or not be approved for adoption. I think that it is pretty normal to be concerned about the process. Over the last couple of months I have learned that many of the steps that I must take are only to ensure that I am equipped to care for a child.

I consider myself very lucky because my home study update is completed with a notarized letter from my agency. May I say this was done with almost no stress. Friday I took a drive to Trenton for a couple of new birth certificates. 29.00 dollars and 35 minutes later I had 5 new birth certificates in my hands. Oddly enough I only had one other document that needed to be redone which was the copy of my passport. Come Monday morning I will have that notarized and then put into an envelope to be apostilled.

I feel like I am getting things done. I love that feeling. I know that I have a couple more documents that are coming up for renewal in January. Because of my current time line I believe that most of my dossier will expire so I plan on working on having everything filled out and just waiting to be signed, notarized and apostilled. I like being ahead of the game.

Vacation Time is Here!

I have tried my best to save as much vacation time as possible in the past 2 years. I have completely driven my friends at work crazy and this week is no different. I just worked four days in a row so that I could have a week off without having to use any vacation time.

Today is the first day of my vacation. I am hoping to get as much done today as possible so that I can relax and just enjoy the last week of summer here at the shore. I have been waiting for this week for the last month. The weather is suppose to be beautiful but maybe a bit cold for the beach. The weather should be about 70-75 degrees. Who knows I might even take a little road trip.

Gerard laughs at me and says you would need to have 4 weeks off to do all the things that you have on your list. I laugh because he is right.

1. Clean and organize the whole house
2. Weed the garden to start to get ready for the Fall
3. Finish a quilt for the baby that I started oh say 10 years ago
4. Make Christmas gifts for my family (My attempt to save money
5. Take a road trip
6. Go to the beach
7. Put the closet organizer together for the baby's room
8. Paint my bathroom
9. Go to the spa for a facial

I think I might be able to get this all done in a week!

One thing that I do have to start to think about is having my home study updated. It expires in Mid October and I would hate for that to hold me up because you know September is around the corner.

Good News From My Agency

I am not the type of person who calls my agency all the time. Occasionally I will shoot off an email just to check in and tell them "Don't forget about me!" So any time I get an email from them I instantly think it is good news. With all the unrest in Russia right now I did not have that same feeling.

My agency seems to do things a bit differently. I have no idea where my dossier is registered just that it is in Russia and translated. I am just guessing that the agency waits until there is a spot to register the dossier. I have mixed feelings about this and probably if I had known earlier that this was how they handled it I would have maybe reconsidered.

Well I got 2 emails 2 days ago. The first one was what I expected it was an email that tried to alleviate the concerns that many of us who are waiting are having about the recent military activity in Russia. I have prayed for the ones who have been caught in the cross fire. Yes I am very worried about this situation but I am trying to stay positive.

The second more exciting email was much more fun to read. This email outlined the number of families that have received their referrals or are waiting to travel. I have to say that I have not really connected with any one from my agency with the exception of Jane and Jim. So I have not had a good idea of how many referrals have been accepted or given.

So here are the statistics:
Court Hearings - 9 Total
Children Adopted - 9
0-2 years in age - 4 (2 girls, 2 boys)
2-4 years in age - 4 (1 girl, 3 boys)
4+ - 1 girl


First/Referral Trips - 15 Total
Children Accepted - 19
0-2 years in age - 11 (4 girls, 7 boys)
2-4 years in age - 7 (3 girls, 4 boys)
4+ - 1 boy


Families with referrals and waiting for first trips - 11 Total
Children - 14
0-2 years in age - 2 (1 girl, 1 boy)
2-4 years in age - 3 (2 girls, 1 boy)
4+ - 9 (4 girls, 5 boys)

I think this is very positive and I hope and pray that the agency will continue to email me these statistics because I find it helpful during my wait.

How Did I Miss Posting for the 4th of July!

I just can not believe that I missed posting for the 4th of July. This weekend was packed full of fun. I was surrounded by family most of the weekend and we had a great time. We spent the 4th at my niece's house that is in walking distance of the fireworks. You can actually see them from her backyard. She had a bunch of us over for ribs, s'mores and fireworks.

This was the first time that Aristotle my nephew had a s'more. The funny thing is the conversation went something this:

Jaime: "Aristotle would you like a s'more?"

Aristotle: "I don't know what a s'more is"

Jaime: Chocolate, marshmallow and gram crackers"

Aristotle: " Is it Hershey's chocolate??"

Jaime: "Yup"

Aristotle: "Then I want one!"

I have the cutest picture of him eating this s'more. The funny thing is that my sister and husband try to limit the amount of sugar that he eats but they do allow the occasional piece of chocolate which he absolutely loves. So needless to say the s'mores were a bit hit.

No real news on the adoption home front except take a look at my counter. Yes that is right I have hit the 12 month mark. When I saw that it was approaching 12 months at first I thought I might be a bit sad but then I started to think wow this time last year I had NOTHING done! I was not even in line to be in line for a referral so today I am very happy that I have come this far.

No Adoption News--Just My Thoughts

I have to say this week has been a good week. I have not heard anything but somehow I get the feeling that my time is not too far away. I can say that I before many of my blogger friends got the call I would get a weird feeling that the call was coming.

Okay Now do start thinking I am too weird but I really have felt that way and yes I know that each of us are going to get a call. So any way I have that feeling again but this time it is even more strong then it has ever been.

I have read so many wonderful posts lately. I think that sharing the feelings that we are each feeling at different points in this journey has been really helpful for me. I think next week I am really going to sit down and make an honest list of things that I need to do before the call comes. I find that I work so much better from a list.

So here is my list of lists that I need to make

1. Things to do before the call
2. Things to buy for the room
3. Things to pack for trip one
4. Things that need to be copied to take with me
5. General things to do list

And I am sure that I will find a whole lot more to put on this list once I am done with the list. One thing that I have decided is I think I am going to take a small vacation maybe even use a PTO day. For those who know me that is a big deal. I have been saving them for when the Little one comes but I think a little rest and relaxation is in order. Plus the weather is getting to nice to be cooped up in the house.

More Documents Sent Out and Random Thoughts

Today I got a little more paperwork done for the second part of the dossier. I sent out my birth certificates, Residency Statement and Employment letter for the apostitles. Because I am not sure which region that I will be assigned to because the Dossier is still in the translation phase I made the decision to have both a New Jersey State police and a FBI criminal background check completed. I am 100% sure that I am jumping the gun for this and that I will have to redo these steps but it made me feel better to get them done today. So when I complain about having to redo these documents please remind me that it is my fault.

I finished my Cultural Diversity class today. One more down and 3 more to go. Actually I already started another one so only 2 more to go. I just can not wait to be done with this degree.

This is where my post will get a little sad so stop reading if you are already sad today. I insist. Today is the anniversary of my Father's death 11 long years. I miss him everyday. I have also turned another year older. My father did not want to die on my birthday so he waited a couple of extra hours. His death has affected so greatly. I often feel cheated that he is not here with me. I remember so many good things about him but unfortunately I am traumatized by his death and all the events that occurred directly after that time in my life.

My Father died a couple of months before I was to be married. I remember being so upset by his death and feeling so shocked that others could just go on as though this event never happened. I cancelled my wedding and I have not been able to move past that point of walking down the aisle without my Father. Gerard has been so understanding, wonderful and as supportive as he can be. I pray one day that I will be at peace with everything enough to marry him.

Please anyone that reads this post understand that I do reserve this day only to be sad about my Father's death. The rest of the year I celebrate life and all that life brings. I pray that next year will be completely different. The funny thing about this is Gerard keeps telling me that the little one will not understand why there is no birthday cake for Mommy so suck it up. He is right. I promise that next year there will be cake, presents and balloons. No tears allowed.
Here are some of my favorite pictures of us.


Here we are after I won a beauty pagent. Now that is some big hair!!



Jenny (My little Sister), My Father and Me! I look really good in a two piece!



Seeing him at work


This is the one I keep on my dresser.

Hmmm What is Different? About 18 Inches!

Okay no new adoption information. My dossier is still in the translation phase. Next week I am going to start my search for an account who will verify my assets, debts and income. Oh what fun? Because I am not assigned to a specific region as of yet I do not know whether or not I need a State Police Clearance or a FBI clearance. I will bet that I will need an FBI clearance but you know how international adoptions are so I was thinking about getting both. I figure it can not hurt. I know exactly what they will find so I am good to go. By the way I have a sparklingly clean record. Yah for me.

Know this brings me to the title of this post. Can anyone tell what is different? You guessed it I cut my hair. In total about 18 inches worth was donated to the Locks of Love organization. This is one thing about me that makes Gerard crazy he like my hair to stay long. I love however to donate the hair for others to use. So every couple of years I chop it off. By no means is my hair short now but in his mind it is very short. It took me a couple of days to get used to so that is the reason why I have not mentioned it.



Okay anyone that has read a little bit of this blog knows about my camera phobia, which by the way I think I am starting to get over. Some of my favorite posts on the blogs that I read are the ones that have pictures attached. It amazes me that people can take such beautiful pictures of their children because in my opinion I think it has to be pretty hard to get some of these great shots.

Dottie with her toes in the water

Because I have been trying to practice taking pictures and today was so beautiful I decided to take Dottie to the beach. The sun was shining and the temperature was close to 60 degrees. Now all of you who read this blog and are blessed with warm weather stop laughing at me that is really warm for New Jersey in March. Anyway I think I may be getting the hang of taking my own picture. Here are the results of the day.


Thinking about the day I will travel across the atlantic for my Little One!

No News But Lots of Shopping

Everything has been pretty quiet on the adoption home front. I am settling in with the idea that the dossier is in Moscow and being translated. I really do not expect to hear anything for a couple of months. During this whole process I have tried to set my sights on the worst possible case scenario. I have to say I have been pleasantly surprised each time I do this so I am just going to keep plugging along.

So you ask "what have I been doing because there are no new posts here on the blog." I have picked up so extra time at work to save a little bit of money. Then there is school, I have been able to keep up with that also; two more weeks and I have one more class done. What else hmmm let me see oh yes SHOPPING!

I do not know about anyone else but the sales this year have been great. I have gotten so many great buys on things that I will use. See I have been seeing Susan's therapist Mr. Kohls and he is just wonderful. I got a pair of Levis with the adjustable waist for 90 cents and a shirt to match for 60 cents. I found PJs for 1.75 so I got one is every size. I look at it this way I have it and it will cost me more when I am not working as much.

For some reason every time I bring something into the house for the baby Dottie goes crazy. She wages her tail, sniffs the bags up and down. I even found her trying on some of the clothes. I will leave you with the picture.



Fishing hat 25 cents. Dottie putting it on priceless.

Who Knew His Children Were Adopted?

I have started to put together the rest of the documents that I will need for the dossier for in between trips. I just had a feeling that some of these documents might be difficult to get after reading about how others are having a hard time getting the FBI clearance back in time. I am waiting to find out which region I have been assigned so I will know whether I need an FBI clearance or a state police clearance.

So I figured let me get some of the other ones done. I figured if I work on getting one a week done then life will be grand. So this week I decided to run other to the municipal building and get the proof of residence done. Sounds easily right? Wrong! I go into the offices and state my case to the clerk behind the counter and she tells me:

Clerk: "No, The Tax Assessor will not sign a document like this because he does not know that you live in the house."

Crazy Paper Pregnant Woman: "What do you mean? I have lived in this town and owned a residence here for 18 years? I pay my taxes!"

Clerk: "We do not know whether you REALLY live there maybe you live somewhere else?"

Crazy Paper Pregnant Woman: "If I lived somewhere else I would go that town for the paper to be signed! I vote in this town. All my bills go to this address. My home study for the adoption goes to this address. I live here."

Clerk: "Sorry we do not do this type of thing."

Crazy Paper Pregnant Woman: "Can I leave a note for the Tax Assessor or speak to him? May be if I explain it to him he will understand?"

Clerk: "You can leave the paper and your number but I am not sure when he will be able to get around to looking at this? He is a very busy man!"

CPPW: "What? Okay I will leave the stuff you and check back in 2 days."

I go to work and stew about it all night long (Working the nightshift). I develop my plan of action. Because I live in such a small town and Gerard is pretty politically active within the town he knows everyone and most of them owe him a favor. He tells me not to worry we will get it signed.

So I go home and go to bed. Around 1 pm (also known as 1am to a nightshift worker) the doorbell rings. I stumble out of bed throw on a robe and answer the door which I usually do not do. Guess who is there? The Tax Assessor! He starts off with apology and tells me he signed the paper and that he wanted to bring it to me so that I did not have to go back in to town. This is about a 1 mile drive.

Standing there I am thinking what is going on is this a dream? Am I crazy? How scary was I at the Tax Assessors office for him to hand deliver the paper? The answer is this is not a dream, I am not crazy, and I was not even that scary. He had adopted his 2 children about 15 years ago internationally. Apparently, we are one of the only couples in town who has or will be adopting recently. He apologized for the clerk after he heard what she told me. He told her to never do that again but to just call him and he would always sign those papers.

Wonderful Tax Assessor: "You brought back so many wonderful memories for me. Please bring the little one to the office when he gets here."

I know I am getting a bit long but thank God for the Tax Assessors. This has gotten me to thinking Jesus is truly watching over us. Jesus knew that the Tax collectors needed him and his guidance so that they could be saved and live a righteous life. I guess JC knows what he is doing!

Additional Documents Needed. Who knew that would happen?

What will I do when there are no more documents that need to be collected, notarized and apostilled? What will I do with my time? I have to say I am a little nervous about finishing up all the paperwork. Now before any of you think I am crazy I know that the paperwork will truly never be done.

I am afraid that once I am not having to put together documents and wait for the postman I will start to get anxious about waiting for a referral. I think the best way to combat this is to start to make a few lists of things that need to be done prior to traveling.

My agency contacted me yesterday and asked for a few additional documents (4 in total). I already have 2 out the 4 in an envelope addressed and ready to be mailed. I need one additional document from my home study agency which I emailed them a copy today. By far the funniest document that I did not include in the initial dossier package that I sent last week was pictures of me.

How I forgot to include these pictures is beyond me. Even funnier is I hate getting my picture taken. I know you are all saying we see your face on this blog more often then we would like to see but the reality is that I am trying to get used to having my picture taken again.

One interesting fact about me is that I used to be a beauty queen. This is a little known fact. In my younger years I would compete in beauty pageants. I loved everything about them, and then one day I got too busy to put on make up and do my hair. I keep asking my friends "when are you going to nominate me for What Not to Wear?"

Documents Received and Documents Sent

Yesterday I was out of the house at a training a seminar for the entire day then a second trip to Ikea and out to dinner with Am and Eddie (Sister and Brother-in-Law). I called to check in on Dottie and to let Gerard know that I was be home late. As everyone knows I wait for the mailman daily as does Dottie. I just happened to ask Gerard "Did you get the mail today?" He answered with "Yes I did and you got a package from the State of New Jersey"



You all know what that the package was the dossier is back and apostilled. So today I spent the day looking at all the documents. I pictured them, stacked them, wrote a check and sent them off to the agency. I figured it was best to not worry so much about them and send them off. What a relief to know that the dossier is on its way.



I have always loved the pictures of the apostilled documents. I just could not wait to be able to post this picture. According to the agency my dossier should be in Moscow by mid March. So I have set the time line for my referral. Compared to this time last year my life has changed completely. I was exploring which agency and country and know I am so close to a referral. All I can say is WOW.

How Much do I love the Post Office?

Our post office is within walking distance of our home. I love the fact that it is so close because usually I put Dottie's leash on and away we go. Today I finally finished putting together all my documents that needed to be sent to Trenton.

I went to Wal-Mart to have the pictures of my home put into a collage. Putting the pictures together took a little time but they turned out so nice. I was able to edit the pictures so that I could include the label of each room right in the photograph.
So the documents are on their way.

Unlike the Postman who delivers the mail the Post woman at the Post office thinks I am very nice. She does not know my stalker side (Just Kidding). Curtsey of my favorite Post woman she took my picture with my package before I gave it to her to be mailed out. Unlike with my I-171 I have put the tracking information in a very safe place. I will not lose it this time.

I thought about driving to Trenton for the one day service but then I figured it out that each document would cost $20.00 or $580.00 as opposed to just $5.00 or $145.00 for the 4 day service by mail. That is enough money for at least 2 nights in an apartment in Moscow so that is what I did.

I want to thank everyone who has helped through my frustation last week. I have thought about something that Ana has said about how her delays brought her to her little Eli. I know that many of you all are waiting for referrals or to return to your little ones and I pray daily that they come in God's time.

Ready, Set, Apostille

Yesterday I drove 1 1/2 hours and picked up my updated home study. What a relief! I can not believe that I now hold everything that needs to be apostilled for the initial dossier. I have to say I am lucky to have the resources, the time and yes the patience to get all this done. Today I have spent much of the afternoon putting everything together so that I can send all these beautiful papers to Trenton, New Jersey.

I can not believe it. So many months of putting these papers together looking at them, keeping them safe in plastic cover sheets and re-reading them. The days of holding on to them are coming to an end. I do need to take a couple more pictures of the house and attachment to the notarized cover sheet because I did not read the directions properly. So Monday is the day. I will send it all out. Hooray!

I'm Afraid Frustration Has Taken Over

I think I am having an off day. I am waiting one document to be finished so that I can have the Dossier apostilled and sent to Russia. The crazy thing is the document that needs to be changed is one that I have had done for quite some time.

When I changed agencies I had to get my home study changed to reflect the new agency. Well there seems to be either a hold up or a miscommunication. I sent all the things that need to be changed to my home study agency in the end of January.
When I talked to them in January I was told that it would take at least a week before the changes could be made. I am trying to be patient but I guess I am not that patient after all. I have called them once and I am contemplating calling them again this week to see where we stand with the changes.

I know that these tiny obstacles have been put in my way to slow things down a little bit for one of many reasons. Maybe I am supposed to finish my degree first and then be free of writing papers and researching for hours at a time. I know that once the baby comes I will want to spend most of my time reading and playing with the little one. Gerard keeps telling me that I have to wait until it is my turn in God's plan. I have to say thinking about it that way does help me to cope.

No Real News!

Gerard and I are both sick. He has quite a fever and is miserable. I am so glad that we are not scheduled to travel right now because it would be murder.
I have enjoyed reading about all my blogger friends who have traveled recently or are in Russia. Because we switched agencies we are waiting on the update from the agency that did our Homestudy. That is the last piece of the puzzle. I am hoping that I will hear something by the end of the week. I am going to offer to pick it up so that I can kept on traveling to get everything apostilled.

I started looking at apartments and airline tickets. I know that I have to buy refundable airline tickets so I am in a little bit of sticker shock. I live about 2.5hours from New York City so I am hopeful that I can get a direct flight only time will tell.

I Got the I-171! I Think?

Today started out as a regular day. I was sitting in my office watching out the window waiting to pounce on the mailbox once the mailman was in sight. Yes a pretty normal day for me now. I remember a time that I did not check the mail for a week at a time. Now if I do not get mail I precede to check it all afternoon.
So as I am spying on the mailman as he gathers the mail to put into my box I see a large yellow envelope.

Now I am scrambling for my slippers. What is this piece of mail? I hope he does not bend it to fit it in the mailbox! Okay now I am thinking I am just crazy but wait I have a psychological study that says I am normal.

I run out to the mailbox and flip through the mail until I see who the sender is. I hope this is not a piece junk mail which I have just started to hate. The sender is the DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. Now I am running into the house. The dog is going nuts because she thinks either I am playing or there is something wrong.

I open the large package and out comes the letter that states:

NOTICE OF FAVORABLE DETERMINATION CONCERNING APPLICATON FOR ADVANCE PROCESSING OF ORPHAN PETITION

I am very excited. I just can not believe that I have the forms in my hand. Then I read it over again. This is the confusing part no where on the letter does it state that this is an I-171 approval letter. I just thought that the letter would say this in big print somewhere. So now my question is this the I-171 or just letter stating that I will be getting the I-171.

I know that my coordinator is not available until tomorrow but she said that I can email her if I need something. Now I know that this is the minor stuff. I just feel like I am so okay with this part of the wait but I will just be off the hook once I know that I am really waiting once my Dossier is translated and in Russia or between trips.

I have read about many others who are waiting with there Dossiers already in Russia for many months. My heart just goes out to them. I think just hearing the phone ring will make me jump. Lately I have read about so my receiving their referrals and traveling either for the first or second time that makes me thank God that this is even possible for me to do. God has provided me with the patience, the desire and the money to complete my dream of being a Mommy. Today is truly a wonderful day!

My First Apostilled Document

Today I received my very first apostilled document. What a wonderful feeling knowing that I am well on way to getting through the paperwork. I had stressed so much over having the Psychological evaluation completed and now not only is it done but I can hold the proof in my hands. I have waited so long to be able to post one of these pictures.



When I look at other blogs I have noticed that wow I really have gotten nothing done for the baby's room. Yes I have a plan in my mind but I have not really taken any action to put that plan together. We do not have a crib or one picked out. I do not have a dresser or one picked out. I have not registered anywhere. I have picked out the bedding that I want to buy. I have looked around and I keep going back to the one that I picked.

So after listening to all my complaints about all the things that need to be done Gerard took matters into his own hands. He insisted that I pick things out for the office slash bedroom for my Mom. After that room is done then I will be able to get started on the Baby’s room. See Gerard is one of those people that will work on only one thing at a time. Gerard spent time this weekend in the attic putting down plywood and moving things up that I just can not part with yet. The running joke between us is go find a nice friend one with a strong back.

See we are in a weird position compared to other couples because we both work nights. I work 3-12 hour shifts 7 PM to 7:30 AM and he works 12 AM to 8 AM. We need to find child care but for the overnights. Regular child care is out because they just will not stay open all night. I bet that would be a great business.

So anyway my Mother is planning on staying overnight when we are not home. The funny thing is this will not be a temporary thing so we need to find a small semi-private place for my mother to stay while she is here. That place is my current office and sewing room.

We decided that we will put a daybed in the office and get rid of another piece of furniture. We bought two new nightstands one for office equipment and one for next to the daybed for my Mom to use. My friends have all told me that once the little guy gets sewing will be out for a while. I guess they are all right about that I hope I will be able to start again one day.



Oh before I forget, we got a great deal on an ottoman for the living room that opens up for storage. I figured this would be great as a toy chest for the little guy. This ottoman was just $32.00 at Bed, Bath and Beyond.





I am just waiting for my home study to be adjusted because we switched agencies and the I-171 approval letter. The home study should be finished hopefully by next week. Then we are done and it is off to Trenton to get the whole thing apostilled.

I'm Checking Things Off the List

Well the Psychological Evaluation is done!

I think I had some underlying fear about this part of the Dossier. I can not believe how easy the evaluation was. I took Valerie's advice and tried Dr. Linda Busch for the evaluation. She told me that she will have the documents to me and apostilled by the end of next week. Wow that is great service. She was wonderful because she was able to bring her experience as an adoptive mother to the conversation. She was the type of person that you could talk to for hours and still find the conversation rewarding.

She had some great views on attachment and just generally getting used to becoming a family. There was nothing that was weird or out-there about her thoughts. If I lived closer to her I would consider using her as a regular therapist.

I spoke with Lisa my adoption coordinator yesterday. She reviewed my paperwork for the initial part of the Dossier and said it looks good no real changes needed. So that is moving right along. I feel like I am really back in the swing of things. I did not realize that I was having so much anxiety about all the changes. I feel much more focused now. I really was in a funk the past couple of weeks and did not realize it.

I think I was still shocked that this adoption is going so well (knock on wood). I have not had any real set backs. I feel like I am waiting for the other shoe to drop a little bit. I guess I will just enjoy the moment.

Lisa my adoption coordinator said that if I get everything in to her for the end of February then I should maybe hear about a referral around the end of April. I think some of my anxiety was because when I started this journey I was fully prepared for travel in the end of 2008. The thought that this could happen sooner is both wonderful and frightening.

Non-Adoption news my new class started today. I have 4 more after this one. I can not wait for this to be done. The classes are only five weeks so they get pretty intense. By about the third week I am ready for it to be done. There is very little room for error in these classes to meet the participation that is required. I am so glad that I am doing this before the little one comes. Off to work now.