Waiting...

We are still waiting for the official word from Poland.  Our dossier has now been in Poland for two weeks.  I emailed our agency on Thursday to find out either where our dossier is in the translation or if she had any idea what the time frame would be to hear from the Polish Adoption Authority.

I was afraid she'd tell me, "Are you crazy?!  It's only been two weeks!"  Which is what Matt keeps telling me.  But she didn't.  She said that she was just thinking that we should be hearing something anytime now and told me that she would contact their representative in Poland and try to find out what the status is.

So, not terrible news but still leaves us in a state of waiting.

Garage Sale

Our garage sale was a great success, even though we didn't sell all the furniture.  Matt got up early and bought three dozen donuts and a carton of coffee from Dunkin Donuts to offer people to attract them to our table with the information on Luka and Brittany's Hope Foundation.  We met lots of nice people and had a lot of fun.  The temperature was pleasant but the sun was shining down hard.  Matt's head was sunburned and my face was bright red by the end of the day.  

We raised approximately $1100!  Some was in sales and a lot was in donations.  We'll be selling the rest of the furniture on Craigslist for additional donations.  We are so thankful for everyone's support, even though you might not have made it out, we know you were giving us your support mentally.

A special thanks to my sister-in-law, Heather, my mom and dad, Micah Leydorf (and family) and my in-laws, for putting a lot of work in leading up to and during the garage sale.  And thanks to Rachel Harrison (and family) and Julie Sholtess for their support in coming by and supporting the foundation.  It means so much to me to know we have such good friends and family.

I forgot to take pictures at the beginning of the sale so these pictures are towards the end when our house started to look like it was in the middle of a junk yard.  Also, about 2 hours into the sale, a lady offered to by the frames that Luka's pictures were in on the Brittany's Hope Foundation table, so I took Luka's pictures out and sold them!  A sale is a sale.  But the display didn't look nearly as good with his photos just laying flat on the table.

 Matt's Stay Puff marshmallow man.  He was a hit.  A couple even stopped just to have their photo taken with him.  And we had many offers on him but Matt didn't want to sell him, he was just for attracting attention.  Of course, Matt said he would sell if the price was right--$100!  But he didn't have any buyers at that price.
 

Padraig & Millie making use of some cushions to rest at the end of a long day.

More Stuff for the Garage Sale!

I told you I'd keep finding stuff.  Be sure to let me know if you are interested in anything.

 Old, worn-in leather chair and ottoman.

 Treadmill from when I could stand running in place.

 Brown wood twin headboard, goes with the wardrobe in the below picture.

Wardrobe.  Not a great picture because the front is facing the wall of our garage

and I couldn't turn it around by myself.

 My mom's old, solid wood sewing machine desk.  I don't know what size sewing machine

would fit in it but it would make a nice desk--especially if you fit a piece of wood in the

holewhere the machine would go.

Sewing machine desk with top unfolded.

See, the compartment would make an awesome secret storage place if

you put a piece of wood over it.

Entertainment center (none of the electronics or other items included).

It has two doors that will close over the front.

Spread the Word! March 24 Garage Sale items!

Here are some of the items.  We will have a few other little furniture pieces, lots of girl newborn to 24 mos/2T clothes, and household items. Plus, I keep finding more stuff we don't need, so you never know what might end up on the lawn for sale next week.  Let me know if you're are interested in any of these and we can work a deal ahead of time.  Remember, it all goes to a good cause!  100% will be donated to Brittany's Hope.

Then I won't have to be stressed about moving it all out to the lawn early Saturday morning!

 Wardrobe/cabinet--we used it as a tv stand years ago so there is a hole cut in the back for the wires.  Top also comes off, so the bottom can be used independently and transport is a lot easier than it looks.

Nice deep wooden bench. It's been in our kitchen as a place to sit and chat while the other person cooks. But we're ready to let it go for a good cause.

 Antique iron bed. Narrower than a modern twin bed. Easily repainted to any color you like.

 We actually have two matching adorable twin beds to sell. Also a matching nightstand if I can find it. Very cute but our daughter prefers her white iron bed.

Large dog crate.

Super large dog crate! Can you tell this is in our basement? :-) It is big enough for a Great Dane or Irish Wolfhound to stand up in and turn all the way around. 

 Marble top vanity table that was in our bathroom before the remodel that has been under way for a full year in May. :-(

 Two wall shelves. Sorry, no hardware to hang them with.

 Jenny Lind white wooden crib.

Matching Jenny Lind changing table.

I800A Approved and Dossier on its Way to Poland!

On Friday, I called the USCIS and was told our I800a had been approved the day before (March 8)!  We received the Approval letter in the mail on Monday, March 12.  That afternoon I took it to the state capitol to be authenticated, added it to the stack of documents known as our Dossier and sent it via Fedex to our agency.

I am happy to report that our worker at the agency emailed today to say that she had just received our Dossier and that she was sending it back out with Fedex today to Poland!

Here is a photograph of all of the documents we were required to gather from various states, agencies, departments, etc., ie., this is the Dossier (minus the Approval letter which I had not authenticated yet).  The page on top of each of the 30 documents bares the $10 gold apostille (authentication) seal.  An apostille is the State's authentication of the notary's signature.  So each document is notarized and apostilled.

Now, to count down the days to completion of translation and submission to the Polish government!

Patience

Still no i800a approval.  In fact, our application has still not been assigned to a case officer.  I know because I have called the designated Hague adoption line once a week since we received notice that our paperwork was received by USCIS on February 7.  I can't help myself.  So, today is one month from being in USCIS' hands without so much as a once over glance by an officer.  It's also one month past Luka's first birthday and it's my birthday.  Learning patience.

Very difficult, this patience thing.  Especially since I sent a letter with the application requesting a "medical need expedite" with a picture of Luka and explanation of his many issues.  Today, I was told that it had to be a life or death situation to get the medical expedite.  I guess the fused cranial bones threatening Luka with brain damage and the missing cranial bones that leave his tiny brain unprotected in some areas of his head are not such a big deal--they won't kill him (right now) so any permanent damage deserves no consideration.

The lady I spoke to said that most of the kids coming through the process have medical issues so they can't give an expedite to everyone.  I guess I feel like if that's the case it shouldn't take more than a month to process anyone's application.  It truly is a matter of simply verifying documents and fingerprint searches already conducted by the FBI.

Sometimes I get so worried about the length of each step and how much further out that puts Luka from being in the waiting, loving and eager arms of 6 Kanes, from being seen by medical experts AND how much longer it keeps him in the institution.

1. One month (looks like maybe 2) for the i800a approval.
2. Then three weeks for all of our paperwork with i800a approval to be sent to Poland and translated.
3. Three weeks for Poland Adoption Authority to review paperwork and send our "official referral".
4. Three weeks or so after our acceptance reaches Poland for a court date to be set to grant us permission to meet Luka and bond for two weeks.
5. A month for permission to travel and start that two week bonding period.
6. Two weeks later, court date to finalize adoption.
7. Two to three weeks for appeal period--I wait in Poland with Luka and the other kids for this period to end.
8. One week to get Luka's Visa and immigration/citizen paperwork from US Consulate in Warsaw.

Seems insurmountable.  Now that I have listed it out, I am desperately trying to keep myself from looking back up at the list or I will hyperventilate.  Just focusing on the i800a is enough drive up the blood pressure.

The one reprieve we have is that when I emailed our agency today about the status of our i800a, she told us she can go ahead and send our dossier to their representative in Poland to start the translation so it is ready to go to the Poland Adoption Authority when we do get the approval.  She's double checking and will let us know when she hears.  This could shave two to three weeks off the process.

But you can bet I'll be calling USCIS next Wednesday!