cuz ya gotta have faith!

Sorry for the Wham lyrics but I'm in one of those hear a phrase, think of a song modes.

Our I171 renewal has not come yet and I can't get an answer from CIS Des Moines to check on its status. Our social worker told us to give them until October. Waiting for this is stressing me out!

Our agency is not getting any more waiting children from China at this time. Now, instead of being able to provide a home for a toddler with a special need that truly needs a family's love and care, our only option is to wait for a healthy baby. We requested information on Taiwan adoption from another agency thinking we could find a waiting toddler much easier/quicker. If we switch to Taiwan we would have to prepare another whole dossier. Is it harder to continue to wait or harder to do everything all over from the start? Are we even on the right path anymore? I was so sure that adoption is God's plan for us but now I'm doubting everything. When I woke up this morning I prayed for a sign to let me know that this is right for us. I was spacing off during the sermon and started concentrating on a banner at the front of the church that says "Faith, Hope & Love abide". To me it was a message that I need to have faith that this is His plan. Hope for the day we will finally get Lila. Love for Gerry, Grace, Lila, and God. So now I feel more sure that adoption is right and Lila is somewhere in Asia, but is it China or Taiwan? I need to do some more research. I would really hate to leave our agency because they are very experienced and respected in China. I tend to think of them as part of the family because of everything we have experienced so far and they are the agency through which Connor & Natalia (niece & nephew) came home.

Ludwig

The following is a message I sent to my sisters on Monday the 15th at midnight.....

I think I just killed a bat. I was sitting there watching Jon & Kate plus 8 when something flew through the living room. I grabbed a blanket to try to throw over it and Oscar (the cat who is now my hero) got it down in the front hall. I threw the blanket over it and called Gerry. We decided I should try to get it into my giant Tupperware bowl & get it out of the house. I took the blanket off then it started flying so the bowl idea was no good. I found it perched in the kitchen corner so got the broom to shoo it outside, didn't work. It flew up into the other kitchen corner where there is a hole in the ceiling from the bathroom pipes coming down. I had to poke at it until it got mad, came out, & started flying again. While trying to shoo it outside I smacked it hard with the broom. I swept it out to the porch & it's now lying there by the shelves either dead or stunned. I just checked again & it has flopped itself almost to the screen door but now looks even more dead. I bet after Oscar & the broom it's not in very good shape. I'm a little creeped out especially since I read on-line that they can bite you while you're sleeping and give you rabies and the ones that get into homes are more likely to be rabid than bats outside. eeehuuuhhheeeeoooooo

I sent this about 5 minutes later....

I just got off the phone with Gerry. I checked while talking to him and it is no longer on the porch. I was feeling pretty guilty thinking I had killed it. It must have woken up and headed out into the night WHERE IT FREAKING BELONGS!

And so it continued the next day....

I think I knew it was a bat but I kept hoping it was just a bird. He's still on the back porch hanging up in the corner. I'll leave the screen door open tonight & hopefully he'll fly back out. I don't really want to get the broom out again. I called the vet's office, she said they have not had any reports of rabies but it's always a possibility with a bat. Gerry is on the roof now trying to figure out if it came in through the chimney. We could hear a noise in the chimney recently but he thought it was the chimney swifts. Now that I heard the bat noise I know it was a bat. Daddy was not impressed by my thinking I could get the bowl over it, slip the cookie sheet under it, and then release it outside. I thought it made perfect sense.

I named him Ludwig. He's very cute when he's sleeping and not flapping spazmodically around my living room.

I left the porch door open while we were running errands this evening & he found his way out. Now I'm scared he'll find his way back IN!

So my sisters tell me....

Are you sure Ludwig left? He's not just perched under a table or somewhere else?

AND

Yes, Ludwig could definitely be hiding up under something.

So now a week later there are still no new signs of Ludwig returning. I'm still a little freaked out by the attic & basement since I don't know for sure how he got in.

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Immigration Approval Problems AAAAUUUGGGHHH

I mentioned in my earlier post "screw-ups by CIS". Here's a synopsis of the high level of service I have received from our government employees. I have to point out that this is Dept of Homeland Security. Their efficiency does NOT make me feel safe & or secure....

The forms I'm referring to are preapproval for Lila to be allowed into the US as a US citizen.

I sent our paperwork to the CIS office is Des Moines on June 5.

Our expiration date is June 19.

We had not yet received any information from them on July 2. I know you have to wait 4 weeks until checking the status of the I600 applcation.

I found a number in the telephone book for Des Moines CIS. I called but was told I had to email any questions about adoption. I emailed that same day.

I had no response by the 7th so I called the national CIS 800 number. I was transferred to an officer who told me I had to email Des Moines but that they promise an answer within 2 business days. I emailed again.

July 10, still no answer, emailed again.

July 11, still no answer, called the national 800 number, they told me I have to email Des Moines, so I emailed again.

July 14, still no answer, called the Omaha CIS office (we live in eastern Iowa right by Omaha so it's much closer than Des Moines) they told me I have to email Des Moines. They also told me that had someone else call recently with the same problem of not getting a response from Des Moines. I called the number I have for Des Moines again. I explained my problem to the person who answered the phone. She asked if I wanted to file a complaint which I didn't. She decided to have me talk to the supervisor. The supervisor told me that the adoption agent only works Wed, Thur, Fri. It was Monday when I called so she said she would have her take care of it right away Wednesday morning. She also answered my most recent email to confirm our conversation.

Wednesday July 16 came & went with no answer. I emailed again at 5:00 pm.

Thursday July 17 by 11:38 I had no answer yet so I called Des Moines again & asked for the adoption specialist. She was not in so I left a voicemail. I finally received an email response from her at 2:36.

Her email stated this....

CIS has received your request for an I-171H extension. However, this extension cannot be issued unless you have unexpired fingerprints on file with CIS. Our records show that your fingerprint clearances expired on 03/10/08.

You were sent a reminder notice, in addition to your I-171H approval, that listed the expiration dates of your I-171H approval and your fingerprint clearances, and also included instructions as to how to renew your fingerprints with CIS.

You must renew your fingerprints with CIS before an extension can be granted. You have been scheduled to be fingerprinted at the Omaha, NE CIS ASC. You should receive your fingerprint appointment notices within several days.

While I knew that our fingerprints had expired, I thought they would schedule the fingerprint appointment upon receipt of the paperwork. Instead they just left it lying around until we frantically tried to track down our paperwork. Then it took 3 weeks and a conversation with her supervisor to finally get an answer.

ANYWAY after all this we have been fingerprinted and are now waiting for our renewed paperwork. Our agency told me that since I had the original forms submitted before our expiration date we should be good to go.

Still Waiting

It has been ridiculously long since I have posted. I guess we're just waiting. It has been 17 months. The people who received the last referrals (yesterday) waited 31 months so we are 1/2 way there pending speed-ups, further slow downs, more problems with our agency, CIS screw-ups, etc.

We have reviewed 2 very significant waiting children files. We did extensive research into the conditions both girls have. We decided not to adopt either girl because of the severity of their special needs. We had to consider how their needs would affect Grace. They were beautiful children but not the right match for our family, not our Lila. We hope & pray that they find their families very soon.

Grace started her 2nd year of preschool today. She is going 3 mornings a week this year. She said she had fun but missed getting to do everything with me today. She's my shopping buddy and I really missed her at the grocery store this morning!

My cousin, Cassi, has a very interesting blog about her baby girl who is battling CDH (congenital diaphragmatic hernia). Please visit them at http://www.babygirlreed2be.blogspot.com/. Elli is doing well but needs prayer & support. The symbol at the top is the symbol for family. We have a very strong family and we are all rooting for our newest member.