Thursday, September 20, 2007
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Matt
Katie
William
Sophie
Why Adopt From Ethiopa You Ask?
My Blog List
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Protected: Wordless Wednesday11 hours ago
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Help fill the crates!!11 hours ago
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An Opportunity to Get Involved12 hours ago
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we're all in this together2 days ago
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My Experience3 days ago
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Helping Orphans2 weeks ago
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Nice & Nasty4 weeks ago
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The one where I bid you adieu.2 months ago
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I hate to lose a fight... but I did!1 year ago
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Adoption Timeline
- 12/4/07 - Adoption officially validated in Connecticut
- 9/24/07 - Forever Home
- 9/19/07 - Meet Sophie Yordanos!
- 9/17/07 - Fly to Ethiopia
- 8/27/07 - Official Ethiopian adoption date - SHE'S OURS!!!
- 8/7/07 - Officially accepted referral
- 8/2/07 - RECEIVED REFERRALL!!
- 7/21/07 - Signed and sent Gladney the PCR form (indicating how many HIV tests you require of the child before receiving a referral)
- 7/12/07 - Scrambled to get new passport photos b/c somehow the US Embassy in Ethiopia lost them - ugh!
- 6/8/07 - Dossier delivered to Belay, Gladey's representative in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- 5/29/07 - We are OFFICIALLY WAITING!!
- 5/29/07 - Dossier complete!!! Fully authenticated by the amazing Kate Sproat and sent to DC for final authentication.
- 5/17/07 - Notarized CIS Approval letter - this was the last thing we needed to do with the paperwork before the official waiting starts!
- 5/15/07 - Received approval from USCIS (I-797C)
- 5/3/07 - Officially Gladney approved!!!!
- 4/27/07 - Home study complete!
- 4/26/07 - Received redo letter of proof of life insurance (the letter dated 2/2/07 wasn't properly notarized)
- 3/31/07 - John's fingerprints taken
- 3/20/07 - Received a proof of insurance letter from our health insurance company, but since they woudn't notarize it, we just had John's firm write and notarize a letter.
- 3/9/07 - Heidi's physical & receipt of notarized health form
- 3/7/07 - Final home study interview, Notarized FBI letters, received 3rd notarized reference letter, sent KBS Dossiers the first package of dossier papers.
- 3/3/07 - Received 2nd notarized reference letter
- 3/2/07 - Home study home visit
- 2/21/07 - First home study interview with Barbara Paris of JFS in Bridgeport, CT
- 2/16/07 - Received Dept of Children and Families background check
- 2/10/07 - Received marriage certificate
- 2/9/07 - Heidi's fingerprints taken
- 2/2/07 - Received a notarized letter from our insurance agent (NOT insurance company - they wouldn't do it) for proof of life insurance
- 2/1/07 - Received FBI clearance packages
- 1/30/07 - Received Connecticut Criminal History report and Dept of Children & Family Background checks.
- 1/28/07 - Received 1st notarized reference letter
- 1/27/07 - Received notarized bank letter
- 1/26/07 - Received a letter stating our proof of life insurance from the insurance company, but they woudn't notarize it.
- 1/25/07 - Received John's birth certificate
- 1/23/07 - John's physical & receipt of notarized health form
- 1/22/07 - Received letter from USCIS saying they received our application and instructing us to have our fingerprints taken in Hartford.
- 1/21/07 - Received Heidi's birth certificate
- 1/20/07 Sent Gladney application & fees, FBI background check, Home Study application (JFS in Bridgeport, CT). Notarized "Why we want to adopt letter", employment letter, homemaker letter, financial statement, passport copies, power of attorney.
- 1/11/07 - Sent out requests for birth certificates, marriage certificates, employment letter, proof of health and life insurance, bank letter, reference letters, prepared "Why we want to adopt" and homemaker letters, financial statement. Got color pictures of our passports and gathered pictures of our family, house and yard. Sent Connecticut Criminal History report and Dept of Children & Family Background check requests.
- 1/4/07 - Sent Gladney application request and I600A Application
- 12/18/06 - Phone orientation with Gladney
About Me
- HeidiD in CT
- We are a family of 6 living in Fairfield County, Connecticut. We brought our new baby girl home from Ethiopia in September 2007
14 comments:
WOW! That must have been so hard leaving that poor little boy! I love getting all the updates and I can't wait until we are posting from Ethiopia! Thank you so much again for the pictures! It is so hard having the pictures and not having any idea of when we can go get them :( I hope you guys have a great time!
Hi,
What an amazing story-- I can't wait to hear all about it. William was excited to see the photo of you with Sophie just now, and I'll show the other kids when they get home from school. Everyone was really happy to talk to you yesterday, and they miss you (we talk about what day you're coming home and the fact that Sophie will be with you when you get back). They're handling it well, though. I think they're distracted enough to make the days pass quickly. Katie has been spending time working on her "notebook" with some pictures and a few questions for Sophie. Can't wait to see you.
Love,
Neile
Wow, your stories are just ripping my heart out. I have such a heart for these orphans- before i have even met them...I am going to be a mess when we actualy get to see their faces...
On the brighter side- how exciting to have Sophie in your arms!!!! Can't wait to see more pics of her and the wholle trip!!
John, Heidi and Sophie,
Congratulations! I'm so glad to hear that everything went well. The pictures are wonderful, and I can't wait to meet Sophie. Have a safe trip back.
Love,
Meg
Your experiences are just amazing and I love your posts! My heart breaks for the sweet children who need a forever family.
How exciting that she is a good sleeper. That is wonderful!! Once you get home there will be a little adjusting to the time difference and then hopefully sleeping will be a piece of cake!!! Thank you Heidi for posts and just for knowing the agony of this side of the process. God Bless you.
Lindsey
I'm pathetic...I've read this post at least 50 times. I guess I'm living vicariously thru you guys for now...until it's our turn. I just wanna get a plane and go scoop up that 2 year old little boy that needs a momma. Gosh, that rips my heart out. Thank you so much for posting from ET. Your Sophie is an absolute doll baby!
I know it's probably not the easiest thing to sit down and write out your day when you have so much going on - but, I (and everyone else!) appreciate it sooo much! It is true, you wonder what's going on with the families who are picking up their children that you check their blog every hour!
I love hearing about everything and can't wait to go get our baby! I'm so glad that Sophie has warmed up to you guys so quickly! She is precious and I'm so, so happy that you get to hold her now - every day!!
Rebecca
Hey! It's fantastic to be so up to date with all your news. Sophie looks GREAT (as do you both!) and we can't wait to meet her. The kids love reading your blog too! We'll raise a glass to you tonight (girl's night) and look forward so much to seeing you all in person soon. Love to all.
Heidi,
Thank you so so much for your post and email about meeting Maryn and describing everything that happened! My husband and I are so happy and thankful! We're so excited to become Maryn and Keller's Mommy and Daddy! We look forward to having you home and seeing more pictures of Sophie!
Renee
It has only been a month and a half, but it seems so long ago. Thank you for bringing my little girl's home straight back to me. It was like I was walking through there again. Thank you so much for your thorough blog. I remember being even more thankful during the wait when folks would blog from there.
Congratulations over and over again!
Heidi ~~ This is Mary Ann, Kozit's Mimi again. First, I am so thrilled that your first days with Sophia seem to be filled with peace and happiness. She is a true beauty. And secondly, thank you so very very much for taking such care in your writing to describe your time with Kozit! I had to shut my office door while my body shook and I cried great tears of joy knowing that our little girl was cheered today. I just know the time you spent with her lifted her. The image I have of her in a land so far away, yet holding onto a snowman I bought for Maria some 25 years ago, for some reason is so comforting! Like she has a piece of her new mommy now and they are on their way to be joined together! Thank you, thank you! Can't wait to see the video and pics! You are truly a giving person - that comes across loud and clear in your writings. Be well and take it all in!
Sincerely ~~
Mary Ann
Thanks so much for your post. I read it to people who probably don't even care but I just had to! When you talked about the babies in the orphanage and how sad they were, I just kept thinking that one of those little girls could be my daughter. I got so sad but at the same time, know that she will be in a better place soon! I can't wait to read more and see pictures of you and Sophie!!
You are a special person. The fact that you are there connecting all of us to our children that have been adopted and will be adopted is a gift. Thank you so much. Don't worry about the video. Although I'm excited to view it, I can wait. Enjoy this time with Sophie. Congratulations and safe travels.
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