Process update

So its looking like end of May, will not be the month of travel for us like I really really had hoped for. But as with all things adoption related delays are to be expected. There were some discrepancies in our adoption decrees that needed to be corrected by the judge, who was on vacation for a couple weeks. Apparently he is back now and will be making the corrections shortly. But Im slowly learning that "shortly" in American terms is far different than Congo.Could be 5 days, could be 5 weeks.... 

Our other documents are being worked on and in process, so once the decrees get completed and our paperwork is all together we will be scheduled for embassy, which mean we would travel to go get our babies! Please keep your fingers crossed that things go a little faster for us. Maybe we could see a June travel date as the next hopeful time line.

updated pictures

We were surprised to get updated pictures of our boys this week. The pictures are a blessing and a curse. We get to see them grow, but it makes the wait so much harder. No new news yet, so we continue to wait. Soon my sweet boys, soon...

Traveling sooner than we think?

Ok so I'm trying so hard to not get my hopes up, but I'm seriously bursting with joy today because we got some incredible news. So originally after court there is a 30 day appeal period. This is basically where everything is put on hold to allow birth families to appeal the court decision if they change their minds. So there is nothing happening during this 30 days, no getting documents together for embassy and immigration. Which can take up to another 30 days after the 30 days appeal period...you following me? So we were looking at at least 60+ days until travel....
Well we heard today that our agency is now able to start all this paperwork ( birth certificates, translations, passports) concurrently with the 30 day wait period. Soooo all these documents are going to start processing for us and could potentially get completed right along with our 30 days, meaning we just cut the time down to travel by a few weeks!!Eeeee!
We could be traveling in end of May!! Let me repeat End of May!!
So it's not a perfect process, there could be delays with the paperwork, or delays in getting an Embassy appointment. But I'm thrilled to just shave off even a little time.
I can't believe how close it seems, to see our boys for the first time....this mama is so anxious. Next month is 2 years for us in the adoption process, 2 years of ups and downs, emotional highs and lows. 2 years of the toughest years for us. To see a light at the end of the tunnel,it's almost hard to believe!

Officially passed court!

I got a great birthday present today with news from our agency that we have officially passed court! Yay! Seems it took a little longer to hear for us because we were the first family to have to get a waiver for being married less that 5yrs ( which is a DRC requirement). But they accepted us! Our 30 day wait period should be starting in the next week or so, and looks like we are right on track where I hoped we would be! Happy birthday to me!

Court!

Well I think we passed court? I got an email that our cases were heard last Thursday and just waiting for the final approval paperwork which takes 1-2 weeks. So I think that means we passed, unfortunately both coordinators who could answer this question are out on vacation for the next 2 weeks, so I can only speculate since I didn't hear anything negative or request for additional info that all looks good! So I wait not so patiently to get actual confirmation......it's going to be a long 2 weeks!

Bedroom just about done!

We still have one bed to put together to make it 100%, but its ready for two little Congelese princes to make it their own. I have to thank my mom and dad. They did all the work, Josh and I just supervised. We are hopeless with a hammer and nails.

Grandparents

I have said it before but I will say it again, the support we have gotten from our family has been nothing short of amazing. Ill be honest and say when we first decided to adopt I was a little hesitant about how to approach it with our parents in particular. Both sides were pushing for grandbabies pretty much the day Josh and I started dating. It was surreal. They didn't even care if we got married, stayed together or whatever, just give them grandkids. Im sure in their minds the biological route was what they were referring to, and we just so happened to go in a total opposite direction, decided to adopt, and from Africa at that. I have heard really hard stories from other parents where the family just couldn't understand why and voiced their displeasure about it. Adoption and the process of it all is hard enough, then to have family dynamics on top of that, just plain sucks. So I had different scenarios playing in my head at the time on what were we in for.

 

I do think there was an initial surprise from both sides about it. But the decision was embraced and accepted, and met with a lot of excitement. Well more so now that there are actual faces attached to our future babies, but Josh and I have been really lucky in the support we have.

 

My mom sent me this picture of her desk today at her work. It really touched my heart. Her grandbabies on full display for all to see. If those boys only knew how much love is waiting for them. Do I think its going to be sunshine and roses...heck no! Come on people it is two toddler boys, on top of adoption and bonding issues. Im scared crapless most days on what we are in for. It keeps me up at night!

But seeing this, I know no matter what, we are not alone and support will be there every step of the way for these two newbie parents.