And the fun just contiues...

When the mail came on Friday I was beyond ecstatic when I saw an envelope from the USCIS in Cleveland. If you remember we had to re-apply for our I171H which expires on December 18th. If you don't have your consulate appointment in Guangzhou by that date, well...you can just go home without your baby!

We had been told by the agency to fill out another I600A and send it to USCIS with a check, MINUS the money for fingerprints since we had them redone in August. We did what our agency told us to do and in less than a week we received a BIG manila envelope from USCIS with all of our documents returned to us saying that we owed them money for fingerprints. We never even THOUGHT of calling the agency to ask them what to do. We just assumed it was a government agency not realizing that this was a renewal and whoever was looking at our paperwork didn't want to look up our case number. SO! We made a copy of our amended I171H which states very clearly that our fingerprints are good until November of 2007 and sent everything back to USCIS.

Shortly after we mailed it off for the second time, all heck broke loose on the boards AND at our agency. It seems a lot of people were getting their paperwork back from the Cleveland USCIS and were having to pay and be fingerprinted FOR A THIRD TIME. The agency was no help whatsoever. They basically told us to expect to get our papers kicked back to us yet again and expect to pay the fingerprinting fee AND be refingerprinted for the third time. They advised their other clients to pay the fee and be refingerprinted a third time...without contacting the USCIS and asking them what was going on. Well guess what? All the USCIS needs is A COPY OF YOUR AMENDED I171H to prove to them that your fingerprints are current. It is SO wonderful to do something that your gut tells you is right even when your agency tells you something different.

SO! Back to last Friday. There sat that little...notice I said LITTLE...not big old manila envelope...but a little envelope from the USCIS in Cleveland. I tore into that sucker like a kid on Christmas morning. I mean, we got our referral the day before and now here was our brand new I171H which gives us permission to adopt her and bring her home!

WRONG!!!!!

They can't process our request because...are you ready? THEY DON'T HAVE OUR HOME STUDY. Ok...we were told on November 7th by OUR agency that it had been sent. This means either THE AGENCY is lying, it was lost by the postal service, it was lost by the USCIS, or it fell through the wardrobe and is living happily somewhere in Narnia.

Garry called the agency on Friday and was told that the person he needed to speak to was away from her desk. He left a message on her voicemail...which by the way stated that she is there until 5:30 on Friday's. She didn't return his call. He called back at 5:00 and was told she had left for the day. I am ready to go up there and start SHAKING people! GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER!!! YOU ARE SCREWING WITH PEOPLE'S LIVES!!!!

Ok, I'm going to go back to gazing at my beautiful Claire's face. It is impossible to be upset AND look at that silly little smile.

Until next time...

And the joy just continues...

Well, after my cry this morning I called Garry and told him the news. He was as thrilled as I was obviously. I then shoved a Twix bar into my mouth and turned on Joyce Meyer. As usual, God was using her to speak directly to my situation. I was reminded that in life there are going to be times of joy AND times of sorrow, but God always has my back. It is MY job to stop acting like a whiny brat and go on with my life and trust HIM to do what is right. I did some seriously loud sobbing, and then my day really turned around...for awhile. I even vowed to write a best seller titled, "God & Chocolate".

The phone rang this morning and it was our social worker. Remember I said we had to redo our I600A? Garry sent all of that in to USCIS in Cleveland and they promptly sent it all back because we hadn't included the fee for fingerprints. Garry found the amendment to our current I171H that clearly states that our fingerprints are good until November 2007, copied it, and sent everything back to them. So far so good. They also need an update from our social worker, which brings me to her call this morning. Apparently someone from the agency called her today and wanted to know where the update was. She knew nothing about it. Apparently they sent her an email and she never got it. I don't know...is it just me or isn't that something important enough to pick up the phone for in the first place? Whatever, it's taken care of now.

Garry then called Chris at the agency to see what's up with our LID. Here's where the fun really begins. The agency did receive referrals today...not for our group though...for the group AFTER us. Yes, our dossiers were sent to China on August 9th, 2005 and logged in on August 25th, 2005. Their's went over later in August and were logged in on September 5th, 2005. Apparently the mix-up was complete in that ours are now September 5th, and theirs are August 25th.

He also questioned her about USCIS returning our packet and refingerprinting. Get this...every USCIS office does it differently...EVEN WITHIN THE SAME STATE. Depending on what Cleveland does, we may have to PAY THEM AGAIN and HAVE OUR FINGERPRINTS TAKEN YET AGAIN EVEN THOUGH WE JUST WENT THROUGH THIS IN AUGUST!!!!!

Fury best describes how I'm feeling...so does depressed...sad and angry work too...and I've even managed to whip out a dark laugh. I'm tired...soooo very tired. I don't want to feel like this. My spirit knows that God is behind this and He knows best. My flesh just wants to yell, scream, and make somebody else hurt like I do right now.

Why is this happening? I don't get it...I really don't get it. I just want to see my baby's face...please God...soon?

Ok! Refingerprinting...CHECK!

Egads...I am SUCH a mess when we have to go to The Federal Building. I don't know what it is...worrying about terrorist attacks...dealing with bureaucracy...feeling like a criminal having to go through metal detectors...being fingerprinted for the 8th, yes THE EIGHTH time. Whatever the reason I hope I NEVER have to go back there again.

Let's see, well hidden on the USCIS (formerly the INS) webpage is a link to follow where you can make an appointment. This is NOT an appointment to be refingerprinted, but an appointment to PAY for your refingerprinting. Our appointment was for 9:30 this morning, we were there around 9:00...yeah, I know...wonders never cease! ") Go through security, ride the elevator to the 5th floor. We go into the USCIS office which has LOTS of chairs for LOTS of people who have to wait and five windows (two of which are open) where the USCIS officers/staff/employees sit/meander/work. Garry went up to the check-in window and it went so smoothly I almost fell off my chair. They gave him a number that would be called when it was our turn. There must have been at least a dozen people ahead of us. Guess what? If you have an appointment you are called AHEAD of everyone else. I'm still in shock. Once at the window we had to verify some basic information, write a check, and wait for our receipt. Next stop, the fingerprinting office on the 12th floor.

When you enter this office you have to fill out a basic form and then take it to the person behind the window there. They check everything, take your driver's license, and give you a number. When your number is called you get fingerprinted! Well...we forgot that our driver's licenses no longer have our social security numbers on them...neither do our passports...or anything else we had with us. The guy there was extremely nice and very helpful. He told us to go to the Social Security Office on the 7th floor and they would give us what we needed. SO! Back on the elevators and down to the 7th floor. We get there to find two armed security guys standing in the doorway saying stuff like, "I think it's ok...just a false alarm." We go in...more and more guards are arriving...nothing materialized thank God! Take a number and wait...you get the idea. It was relatively quick and painless.

Back up to the 12th floor with our copies in hand. You may remember that I have next to no fingerprints left. She finally gave up on my left pinky...the supervisor wasn't too happy but she told him, "That's as good as it's going to get! I did it MANY times!"

Hope loved all the trips in the elevators, trying out yet another public restroom (the girl SERIOUSLY loves public toilets...go figure), and going through the revolving glass doors at the front of the building.

The really sad thing is, this was nothing compared to when we had to refingerprint while we were waiting for Hope. Read on if you dare!

No one informed us that we needed to PAY for refingerprinting. Yeah...we were frighteningly naive! We went to the fingerprinting office, filled out our forms, took them to the window and the lady told us we needed to pay. Garry gets out his wallet, she tells him she can't take the money, we have to go to the 5th floor. She said when we got there, there would probably only be one window open and A LOT of people waiting. She told us to jump in front of everyone else as soon as the window was free and tell them what we needed. I kid you not! That's exactly what she told us to do! I felt HORRIBLE! Here are all of these people who are in the country LEGALLY and who are jumping through every conceivable hoop they can to REMAIN here legally and we are supposed to leap in front of them. Ok!

We ran to the window as soon as we got there and told the woman what we needed. She gave us the total we owed and Garry and I got out our wallets. No, no, NO! They don't take cash! We didn't bring the checkbook. Not a problem! Go to the post office downstairs and get a money order she says! Back down to the first floor to buy a money order...up to the 5th floor to pay, jumping in front of yet someone else to do it...back up to the 12th floor to be refingerprinted. The Federal Government is FUN!

It's done...I feel immensely better and now I'm going back to drifting in my fog.

Later y'all...

Oh! I almost forgot! I was feeling so good after our trip to beautiful downtown Cleveland this morning that when I got home I did some nesting. I got out all of the crib linens and fired up the washer and dryer. I think the crib may go up this weekend. Too early? Probably but I *needed* to do it...something in my gut and in my heart said, "go for it."

Still nothing to report officially.

Garry talked to Chris at the agency last week. She said that CCAA was going to update their website that week. They didn't. My best guess? The computers are all screwed up with the move. Isn't it so cute how I can come up with a logical explanation?! Creating order out of chaos...that's me...Super Mel.

Let's see...Garry asked Chris about our LID. Oh my friends, good news simply ABOUNDS! Depending on which reviewer at the CCAA she talks to...who knows? One told her it was August 25th, 2005, and another told her it was September 5th, 2005. So, we don't know and we WON'T know until somebody from the agency calls us and tells us we have a baby.

Our CIS fingerprints are going to expire. I am beyond thrilled (read with HEAVY sarcasm) at this. When we turned in our final paperwork I put this little note on the fridge that said something like, "CIS fingerprints expire August 31, 2006. Call in May of 2006 to reschedule and notify the agency of the date." I remember laughing and saying to Garry, "We won't need to worry about this!" HA!

The fur has FINALLY started to fly on the Yahoo boards concerning our agency's new travel policy. Apparently there are some other folks who feel as if they've been taken advantage of just like we do. I can't say that it's going to change the situation, but it kind of makes me feel better. At least now I KNOW that it's not just us. Some of these folks are coming up with some verrrrry creative ways to get around the new policy. I am watching with great interest!

So, in the last post I told you that I had told God that I couldn't do this anymore. Still feel that way...still true. This week, He reminded me that several months ago I told Him that I didn't THINK I could do it anymore. His answer this time, was the same as several months ago. He said, "If you could hold Horatio and comfort him while he passed, then you can get through this wait." I know He's right...I know it...but it is just so incredibly frustrating. Everyone is trying to apply logic and rules and mathematical principals where there AREN'T any!

A million and twelve thanks to Jeannie, who called me last night to reschedule my dentist appointment. She told me her computer had crashed and wanted to know if we had any news of Claire yet. When I told her no she said, "Then we'll just keep praying."

Another million and twelve go out to Sandy, a member of our first travel group. She read the last post and emailed me letting me know that our wait this time was extremely similar to their wait for their first daughter, Zoe. She said, "After the going nuts stage, I just kind of checked out…coasted in a fog." I am SO there now friends. Coasting in a fog is the way to go.

And thanks to each and every person who reads this and "listens" to me whine. I know there are a lot of you who check in every now and then and although you may not let me know, I know you are praying...it means the world to all of us.

On a happier note...while running errands this weekend we were inundated with "signs". The Disney Store was filled with new baby items sporting Dumbo and Timothy on them...we bought several to add to the stuffed Dumbo we had already purchased for Claire. AND, it seemed that no matter where we were, the lullaby I have chosen for Claire, "Baby Mine", was playing somewhere in the background. Yes, people in Target and Toys-R-Us probably wondered what I was bawling about, but you know what? Who cares?! Let them wonder!

All righty folks...here's your update!

Wednesday, July 6th was indeed our road trip day. Our appointment with the attorney to have the documents notarized was at 10. We were late. You try rushing a two year old who tells you she has to "go potty"! I sat in the reception area and chatted with Doris (the wife of Fred, the attorney, and also his secretary) while Garry and Hope worked with Fred in the back conference room. The day before I had checked and double checked everything and even printed the "official notarization" words on the backs of the papers before we got there to save time. It must have worked because we were on the road for our two hour journey to Columbus shortly after 11:00. We stopped around noon for some lunch and then piled back into the car. Hope did REALLY well until we got to the actual exit we needed in Columbus where she proclaimed loudly and with great emotion, "ALL DONE RIDING IN CAR!!!"

She was, understandably, an imp during the whole certification process. She'd been quiet and sitting in her carseat for a looooong time. No one really seemed to care save for her parents. While I walked the short hallway with her Garry met another prospective adoptive parent waiting to have his stack of papers certified...also for China. Small world folks...small world. We were there for maybe all of 20 minutes and then back in the car towards home. ATTENTION LINDA!!! I saw a Tim Horton's in Columbus!

Hope got VERY cranky on the way home and finally conked out for the final 50 minutes or so of the return trip. Her mother conked out shortly after she did.

Garry tried calling Chris at the agency a couple of times from the road to see if she was going to be there so we could drop off our papers. He either got her voice mail or someone telling him she was on a break. I had a baaaaad feeling...

Once home I sat down at the copier and copied my brains out. I made one copy of each of our close to 30 documents. Remember, we needed two originals of everything so technically I was only making around 15 copies. However, that included the front of the document, the back that now contained the notary stamp, AND the certification sheet of paper stapled to each one by the Secretary Of State's office. All of those copies need to travel to China with us in case they are needed.

I checked to make sure all of our originals were still there and then we were off to the agency in Strongsville to drop it all off. Hope wasn't happy. I still had a bad feeling.

Once we got there I told Garry he could go in by himself...I knew I couldn't deal with the not so kind individual (NSKI) if she was there. He said that if Chris was there he would wave us in. ") Off he went with our folder full of papers which I had labeled with Chris' full name in huge, black letters. He was gone for a verrrrry long time. My bad feeling remained and Hope wasn't getting any happier. When he returned to the car, he wasn't very happy either. Since it was after 5 Chris had left for the day and the NSKI appeared to take the folder. Everything was complete, had been checked first by her, then by Chris, then by Chris again, then notarized and certified. Want to know what she did? She took the folder clearly labeled with Chris' name, sat down, and WENT THROUGH EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF PAPERWORK AGAIN. Garry told her that it had already been checked and OK'd by Chris. She just smiled blankly at him and continued going through everything. Garry had left several spaces blank on the financial statement where the answer was zero. Chris said this was perfectly acceptable. Chris is the one who has final say on all the China paperwork. The NSKI made him put zeros in the blanks before she would let him leave. She then dumped out the envelope of a dozen pictures that are needed to complete the dossier and went through each and every one of them. Once she was satisfied she gave her usual, "Well as always, the final decision is up to Chris." We were ALL mad. Once again, if she KNOWS this, why is she putting us, and I'm sure other clients through her ridiculous scrutiny? ::grrrr::

On the drive home we all did some deep breathing and thanked God that we were done and would never have to deal with her again. Oh...sometimes we can be so naive!

I would like to remind you that this person has called here incessantly since we started the process in late December. Garry told her gently at that time that we do not need to be called. When we have a question, we call Chris. We do not need reminders...we have our own time table...we've been through this before...you get the idea. He also told her that we weren't officially starting the process until March 2005. She said she wouldn't call until March. She lied. Seriously, and without exaggeration, she has called here more times than the GRAND TOTAL number of calls that we made to the agency AND that the agency made to us during Hope's adoption. We spoke to Chris about it. She talked to this person...she still calls. Chris then put a note in our folder that she was not to call us. She still calls. Garry told her point blank after the whole "your guardians are too old" call that she is NOT to call us again. Any contact with the agency will be made through Chris. She still calls.

Her last call came after we received our contract. Chris sent our dossier off to the consulate to be translated into Chinese the day after we dropped it off. On Friday, June 22nd, we received our contract. It basically says that nothing is the agency's fault if something goes wrong etc. Pretty standard stuff. It also includes a page showing what you have already paid and what is owed. Besides initialing each and every page and signing and dating the last page, there were five more pieces of paperwork for us to complete.

1. Release And Authorization---Again, standard release saying they can use our pictures, names, whatever and not pay us or be sued by us.

2. Personal Contact Form---This is in case of emergency while we are in China. They want the name, address and phone number of someone in the U.S.

3. Post Placement Affidavit---This states our intent to use our agency for our post placement and that we will fully comply with the requirements for post placement as outlined by the country of adoption. This one also needs to be notarized.

4. Information Summary---Yes my friends, the exact same form I've filled out for both the home study and the dossier...once again with feeling for the contract.

5. CIS Fingerprint Reminder---The CIS now requires prospective parents to be re-fingerprinted after 15 months. If we don't receive our referral up to three months before they expire we need to call the CIS and make an appointment to be re-fingerprinted. This is a BIG deal. Why? If we are in China and ready to bring Claire home and they find out our fingerprints have expired, we go home without her. This paper basically says we are aware of the policy and we will take care of it should the need arise. Last time...it did. We had to be re-fingerprinted and guess when we got our approval notice? Yep, it was about two weeks AFTER we returned home with Hope. Classic...simply classic.

As I said, we received all of this on Friday the 22nd. On Monday the 25th, guess who called again? Yep. She wanted to know where our contract was because they need it back along with a check. How do you deal with someone like that? Neither one of us wanted to so we didn't. I let the contract sit until Friday the 29th. I filled out everything...the next day we got the one form notarized at the title bureau here in town...Garry sat down on Sunday night and signed and initialed everything...he turned it all into the agency along with the check on Monday, August 1st.

It has taken me this long to be able to type this because I get so angry just thinking about the whole situation! I just didn't feel there was any way I would be able to communicate our frustration using polite language! ")

Garry's mantra is "Keep your eyes on the prize." He is such a smart man. One of my favorite speakers is Joyce Meyer. Recently her message was, you are going to encounter a lot of people who drive you crazy. God has put them into your life for a reason. You had better learn to deal with them now because if you don't, if you run away from them, He's just going to put two more of them right in front of you! I don't want ANY more of her anywhere near me so I'm going to start dealing! ")

Now, with that out and done with, here's some wonderful news! Chris (I love you Chris!) called me on Monday afternoon this week to tell me that our dossier was being picked up at 7:30 that evening and was being sent to Beijing! YAY!!!! So, we are August 2005 DTC (documents to China). In the past, this was when the OFFICIAL wait began. However, now it is your LID (log in date). When our dossier arrives at the CCAA (China Center of Adoption Affairs) someone will log all of our information into their computers. THAT is when the official wait begins. Chris said that is usually 10-14 days after the dossier is sent to China. Again, the official wait is being broadcasted as six months so we shall see!

Until next time!

The China Dossier Proper!

(I originally started typing this on June 19th...before we received our I-171H!)

The following will be a listing of the paperwork that is included in the dossier to China. We need TWO ORIGINALS of each and every document. Once completed, copies of these documents are to be forwarded to the agency where they will be checked to see if we need to make any changes or corrections. Once those are made the documents must be notarized, certified by the county, and state certified by the Secretary Of State. It is possible to skip a step by going to an attorney whose notary seal is current and valid for the entire state of Ohio...which we plan on doing again! This takes care of the first two steps. Once that is finished, we will drive our dossier to Columbus, write them a check, and wait the 10-15 minutes it will take for them to staple a piece of paper to each one that says it's certified. We are blessed to have an attorney who is also a family friend. He graciously did ALL of our paperwork for Hope as a gift. I believe there is a fee, per document, to have them county certified...and if I remember correctly, there is a $5 per document fee to have it certified by the Secretary Of State's office...you do the math. ") As always, any of the paperwork that requires a fee will be enclosed like *this*.

1. *Home Study*---This has already been completed and approved. The agency has already notarized it, gotten the county certification, and sent it to Columbus for state certification...as well as forwarding a copy to the INS/BCIS.

2. *Marriage License*---Garry drove to Wooster to get these. They already come certified with the raised seal so they will only have to receive certification from the Secretary Of State.

3. *Birth Certificate*---Garry picked up his while he was in Wooster and since I'm a Wadsworth Lifer, he only had to go downtown to get mine. Two copies per parent, these also come certified with the raised seal and will only need Secretary Of State certification.

4. Divorce Decree---N/A

5. China Medical Statement For Adoptive Applicant---These were first filled out by our doctor, then the form changed. So I filled in the new set and returned them for his signature! A basic physical exam is required along with blood tests and a urinalysis. This was covered under our insurance for Hope and we're fairly sure it will covered for Claire as well. The form wants name, date of birth, and address. There are 11 Yes/No questions under Medical History. It is basically a list of have you ever had Tuberculosis, Tumor, Heart Disease etc. The next section consists of information gathered during the physical exam and lab work. Height (in meters), weight (in kilograms), blood pressure, vision, hearing, heart, lungs etc. There is a lisiting of all of the blood/lab tests required and they want to know the date they were completed and if they were normal/abnormal or negative/positive. You will all be thrilled to know (as were Garry and I) that we are still HIV negative. Sarcasm folks...sarcasm. They want a list of any medications we are taking and for what purpose and if our health is suitable for raising a child. Doctor's signature, date, MD license number, and SPECIAL stamp...done. We got so wound up about this "special" stamp. We thought it was something issued by the AMA or something. Nope, it seems they just have a hard time reading the doctors' handwriting so they want a stamp on the paper showing name, address, phone number etc.

6. Employment Letter---To be written on company letterhead, by the employer, and state length of time employed and salary amount. We had this done at the same time we did our home study documents. We just asked for THREE originals at once! The wonderful woman who did this for Garry even gave us a spare. THANK YOU!

7. Non-Employment Statement---I wrote this one for myself, by myself. All it says is that after adopting Hope I decided to become a full-time stay at home Mama, and plan to continue as one after bringing Claire home.

8. Local Police Clearance---Again, we simply asked for THREE originals per parent when we went to have this done for the home study.

9. China Financial Statement For Adoptive Applicant---Name, annual income this year and last year, other annual income, life insurance amounts, listing and amount of assets, listing of liabilities, their monthly payment, and totals owed...totals for everything, and signatures!

10. Tax Form---Copies of pages 1-2 of last years 1040 form.

11. Passports---Copies of the inside front cover of our passports showing our picture and signature.

12. Letter Asking To Adopt---I think this one is pretty self explanatory! If you're interested in reading our letter let me know and I'll email you a copy. There are several statements that must be included but basically you are telling the Chinese officials about yourselves, why you want to adopt, and the type/age of child you are interested in.

13. Guardianship Statements---These are actually two separate documents. We need to write a letter to the Chinese officials stating who will be responsible for our daughters' care should anything happen to us. They want to know names, ages, jobs, if there are any other children in the home, if they are in good health, etc. The people whom we have appointed as guardians, need to also write a letter stating that they accept the responsibilty and re-state all of the same information we had in our letter.

14. Copy of I-171H Notice Of Favorable Determination---Holy Grail time folks. When you begin this process you are faced with Holy Grail Part One, the I-600A. This is called the Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition. You are letting them know your intent. I can't give you many details because Garry filled it out both times. We mailed it off, along with our check to the INS/BCIS in Cleveland on April 13th. They received it on the 14th and sent us a receipt for our check. A few weeks later we received a letter telling us when to report to Cleveland to have our fingerprinting done. If you remember, we had those done on May 31st. The INS/BCIS can't complete the process without the completed home study. They received ours on June 1st. You are told to expect Holy Grail Part Two, the I-171H within 60-90 days after they receive your home study. I STILL can't believe we actually HAVE it already...just 21 days after the home study reached Cleveland! The I-171H states, "Your advance processing application has been forwarded to the American Consulate or Embassy at Guangzhou, People's Republic of China and email sent 6/22/05. Approved for one (1) child. WHOO HOO!!!!!

Ok...ok...so it's been awhile since my last post. Yeah, well...life happens! Tomorrow I promise to start typing in all of the highly interesting and informative details that are The China Dossier.

We received our completed/signed/approved home study today in the mail! YAY! This was so much quicker than the first time it's actually kind of scary. We had our fingerprints taken Tuesday for the INS...or the BCIS...or whatever initials they are using this week. The completed home study was forwarded to the INS/BCIS the very next day. During our first experience, our fingerprints were taken in September...the home study was forwarded in December...the HOLY GRAIL of adoption documents (more later!) was received in February. The published wait time with the INS/BCIS for the holy grail is 60-90 days after receiving the home study. So...we'll see!

We've already made our first trip to Hartville to look at furniture for Claire's room. We got prices on a couple of pieces and also on a bed and nightstand for Hope's room. We're still undecided on what to do concerning Claire's furniture as compared to Hope's...same style different color...different style...similar style...similar color? I know...we have plenty of time and eventually both girls are going to develop their own tastes and hate everything we've chosen for their rooms!

Until tomorrow...

And now for the paperwork...

I realize that this is probably mind numbing for most people, but I wanted to give those of you who haven't been through the experience some idea of what the process entails. For those not interested in the details here's all you need to know: It is extremely stressful, time consuming, most often instrusive, highly redundant, tremendously confusing, and in the end worth every minute of it.

With that said, please note that I can only speak for what "my" agency, social worker, state, county, government etc. requires of us AT THIS POINT IN TIME. Everyone's experience is different...even with the same agency at the same time! Any item requiring a fee will be surrounded like *this*!

One of the "magic pieces of paper" that we had to have in before the end of 2004 to qualify for just the update of our home study is called the *Application For Adoption*. It was MUCH less detailed this time than when we began the process with Hope. It is comprised of three pages asking name, address, phone number, age, Fed Ex account number, employment and financial information, social security number, number of and date of divorce/divorces, health problems, daily medications, criminal convictions, passport numbers, country of citizenship, religious affiliation etc. It also asks why we wish to adopt, if we have done so previously, where we would like to adopt from, and how we have heard of their agency. The last page asks about history of mental illness, substance abuse, criminal convictions, counseling, and the time frame within which we want to adopt the child. Perhaps my favorite snippet is "Briefly explain how you intend to raise your child with religious/moral values:"...and they give you less than one inch of space.

The second magic piece of paper due before the end of last year was the *Ohio Department Of Job And Family Services Application For Child Placement*. This six page wonder is actually what initiates the home study. The first page wants name, address, phone number, cell numbers, emergency contact name and number, and whether we are applying to foster or adopt. Then, on the same page, names again and how we are related to each other, dates of birth, race, ethnic background, school grade completed, marital status and date of marriage, area of specialized education, employer, occupation, length of time with employer, gross annual income, days/hours of work in a normal work week, and our driver's license numbers. Page two wants our criminal history, number of bedrooms in the house, what type of bed is in each room, who sleeps in each room, and where the child to be placed will sleep. Also included on this page is a spot for us to write the directions from the agency to our home, and the names and addresses of the schools that the child will attend. Page three continues with school information. It then moves into asking if anyone in the family smokes, if smoking is allowed in the home, if there are pets in the home, if a business is run from the home, how many vehicles we have along with the models and makes, if they are insured, and if we have car seats. The final portion on page three wants to know how long we've lived at our current address and where we lived prior to moving here, as well as if we've been residents of the state of Ohio for the last five years. Page four goes into our employment history for at least the last ten years, and any information about any previous marriages OR significant relationships. The next section covers the "Type Of Child Will Consider". They want to know age, race, sex, number, and ethnicity. Page five wants a detailed listing of all of our past experience with children, and the names, addresses, phone numbers, and their relationship to us, of five non-relative references. This one bothered me. I mean, we've satisfied the agency, the county, the state, the country, The People's Republic Of China and we still need five more references to do this again? They also want to know if they can contact Garry's employer for a reference. The last page is all the legal stuff that is to be read before you sign on the dotted line and also asks how we heard of said agency.

The two magic pieces of paper were received by the agency before December 31, 2004 and we did nothing else, as previously planned, until March 2005.

We started with the home study portion. Below is a list of what we need to complete...here we go!

1. *Application For Child Placement*---completed in December 2004 and described above.

2. *Fingerprint Cards & Clearances*---Our fingerprints must be cleared by the state of Ohio and the FBI. When we went through this with Hope, we went to our local police department and had them taken using the inkpad and card method. Mine came back...apparently I can begin my life of crime as my left hand barely prints. I had to have them done again. This time we were able to go to a firm called "National Background Check, Inc.". They take your fingerprints electronically allowing you to know immediately if they are unreadable. Whenever I've been told that my prints were unreadable (at least three times previously), I was told to apply hand lotion. So I tried to do that this time. I was told not to, that everything would be fine. Want to guess what happened when she tried to scan my left hand? I had to rub my fingertips on my pants...then I had to rub them with a special tissue. It still took at least a half a dozen times...but they are done!

3. Child Abuse Clearances---We fill out two forms, one for each parent listing our name, date of birth, social security number, and address. We mail them along with photocopies of our driver's licenses, birth certificates, and/or social securty cards to the Ohio Department of Human Services in Columbus. In eight weeks or less we receive two form letters stating that we aren't listed in any registry as alleged perpetrators of child abuse or neglect. Now...here's the GREAT part about this one...at the bottom of each form letter you will find this statement: THE CENTRAL REGISTRY WAS NOT DESIGNED TO BE USED AS AN APPLICANT SCREENING DEVICE (e.g., FOR CHILD CARE RELATED EMPLOYMENT OR VOLUNTEER WORK, OR FOR FOSTER CARE OR ADOPTION) AND SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR THIS PURPOSE.
Classic, eh? ")

4. *Driving Record From The Ohio BMV*---We fill out two forms, one per parent that require name (twice), address (twice), phone, social security number, date of birth, driver's license number, and license plate number. We send it off along with our fee to the Ohio BMV in Columbus. In four weeks or less we receive our records from the registrar.

5. Required Classes---Let me just say that we did NOT have to take any classes this time and we were/are THRILLED! This is a requirement that is waived when you go through the process for the second time. It's not that they were bad classes...they weren't even boring! It was just nice NOT to have to do something again. When we went through it for Hope we had to spend, I believe it was an entire day, taking an Infant/Child CPR class in the morning and a Child Care Class in the afternoon. For our Pre-Service Training course we spent the day learning about issues that our child will certainly face at some point in her life. It was pretty in depth stuff and more than worth the time. All of these classes were scheduled by our agency and held AT our agency which made it very convenient.

6. Copy Of Marriage License---just a plain old photocopy...you'll see why that is so wonderful once we get to the China Dossier section! ")

7. Divorce Decrees if applicable---NOT!

8. Adoptive Applicant Financial Statement---A two page form wanting name, number of dependents, monthly income, monthly expenditures (listed), lists of assets and liabilities, and details of insurance coverage.

9. Employment Verification Letters---These need to be typed on company letter head and state job title, income, length of employment, and stability of future employment. They must also be signed by a "company representative".

10. Medical Statement---A two sided form that is to be completed for each household member. The front is to be filled out by the applicant and wants to know name, date of birth, and address. This is followed by several Yes/No questions such as: have you ever been treated for a serious or chronic illness, have you been hospitalized in the past five years, have you ever received, or been advised to seek, mental health services, and have you ever received, or been advised to seek, treatment for alchohol/substance abuse? If you answered yes to any of the above questions you are to write an explanation...again in about an inch of space. Next comes a list of diseases/conditions that they want you to check if you, your parents, grandparents, or siblings have ever suffered from, followed by that special inch of space to explain any boxes you may have checked. Finally they want to know if there is any history of other hereditary disease. This side is finished after we write in the name of the agency and sign and date it. The back side is to be filled out by our physician. They want to know the date of the last physical and the date of our last appointment, and how frequently he (our doctor) provides medical services to us. Next comes the five Yes/No questions which are basically the same as the ones on the front...just worded differently, and the space to explain any yes answers. Finally there is a space for a brief narrative where the physician is to state his/her professional opinion as to what kind of parents we would make. Then the usual signature, date, and state license number.

11. Authorization For Release Of Confidential Information---This is a one sided form, the same on the top as on the bottom. The top is for one parent, the bottom for the other. Name, address, social security number, sex, date of birth, place of birth, and the name of the agency is required to complete and release the information found in any police/criminal records check.

12. Local Police Clearance---Ok...this one reads like some old Marx brothers routine or something. Inside our home study packet of instructions/forms is a sample letter to complete this requirement. At the top in large letters it reads SAMPLE. It then reads POLICE LETTER HEAD. The sample letter consists of what should be put in the letter leaving A LOT of blanks for the person's information. We need three ORIGINALS for each of us. One original is for the home study and two more are for the China Dossier to be discussed later! I made a copy of the sample letter and wrote at the top: 3 originals per parent. The three of us went downtown to the police department on Saturday morning. We explained to the nice (and he was VERY NICE, please don't get me wrong) officer what we needed, he asked for our identification and then went to work on our letters. Perhaps ten minutes later he handed them back to us with a smile. I looked at what he had handed me and said, "Um...no." He had made photocopies of the sample letter...you know the one with SAMPLE and 3 originals per parent written at the top? Then he had filled in the blanks on each of them. He said, "Did I mess something up?" Garry explained what he needed to do to correct them. Then there was some concern as they don't HAVE a department letterhead. Another officer whipped one up on the computer and typed out the new letters and printed three for each of us. While they were printing Garry's they handed me my three originals and they had...spelled my name wrong. After checking Garry's and finding they were perfect we had to tell this man that there was yet another mistake. I felt HORRIBLE, and I was fighting a HUGE case of the giggles! He returned again, all smiles and said, "Ok, tell me what I did wrong on this bunch!" This time they were perfect. I thanked him profusely! I don't tell this story to berate our police officers, only to illustrate the frustration and pitfalls we encounter with the paperwork. This guy was a sweetheart!

13. Passport Copies---REALLY easy...just photocopy the page with our picture and signature.

14. Safety Home Audit---This form is completed by the social worker during one of her home study visits. You know...stuff like we have a working bathroom, no unvented space heaters, the house is childproofed, emergency numbers are posted etc. And yes, we have to have written instructions for a fire drill posted somewhere in our home.

15. Well Water Report if applicable---This would have to be completed by the county health department but since we don't have well water we got to skip it!

16. Fire Inspection Report---A two page form completed by a member of the fire department. The typical how many floors, bedrooms, smoke detectors etc. He also tested the smoke detectors and looked for unsafe cords etc. The same firefighter who did our inspection for Hope was here yesterday to do "Claire's" inspection. Again, just a wonderful individual. Hope loved him and wanted to follow him all over the house.

There were two other pieces of paperwork in our packet. One is called the Adoption Awareness Checklist. It is made up of eighteen statements/bits of information concerning actions or conditions that might develop with the adopted child. Garry and I had to initial each statement, then sign it and give it to our social worker to sign and date as well. The other piece of paper is basically an outline concerning the fees paid for the home study that we need to sign, saying that we have read it.

SO! There you have JUST THE PAPERWORK involved in the home study process. We turned in everything to the agency yesterday and thought we were done. You'd think I'd have learned by now wouldn't you? ; ) Nope. I got a call today that we neglected to complete a medical statement for Hope. Emily at our agency said she would send it out today. After THAT one is turned in our part of the home study is finished.

Are your eyes bleeding yet? Have you lapsed into a coma? More later!