So close!

Tomorrow we're heading to the bank to get our last bits of paperwork notarized. This is a bitter sweet day for me, since it was at this point in the process a year ago that we dropped everything regarding the adoption and picked up to move.

I'm terrified that something is going to happen to prevent us from moving forward, but know logically that nothing can.

So tomorrow we're spending the day with my parents. Lunch and car shopping. They're the type of people who buy a car and drive it into the ground. They buy a car for as little as they can get away with. DH and I are NOT those type of people. ;)

They want something nice. We've found a really cute Jaguar that would be perfect for them. I'm hoping that we can convince them that its the great deal that we think it is!

INS APPROVAL!!

I can't believe it!

Came home from work tonite and there it was waiting in the mailbox for us.

This is AMAZING!

Marathon

I feel like we're on mile 45 of a 20 mile marathon.

We're almost there. Or have we past it?

So, the great disappearing Coordinator mystery was solved. She had a family emergency and had to go out of town for a couple of days. PHEW!

So we're almost done! As you know, our homestudy is done. We're done with the regional docs. I just have to get the police letter notarized. (THAT was an experience, and one I'll share in another post!)

Got a call from our homestudy agency last week from the INS. We're still dealing with the bullshit related to our move and not appearing in San Antonio to be fingerprinted. Not our faults, nitwits! We notified you, we did it in writing, even! So our homestudy agency said that they'd take care of it, and it would be easy to do.

So hopefully we'll get our majic letter anyday, and POOF! Off the entire dossier goes to Russia!!!!

WOO HOO!!

I'll let you know when everything happens, as it happens. Things are moving so quickly now!

YAYAYAY

Almost "paper" pregnant. :)

Odd ...

I can't get in touch with my Parent Coordinator.

If she doesn't call me back by tomorrow, I'm calling the main office.

Odd ...

And its off!

So today I dropped our homestudy in the mail to the INS and to our agency.

Whats the saying? On a wing and a prayer?

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I want to take a moment to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who stops by here. The ones that comment, and those that don't.

You honor me with your presence, silent, commenting, or just thinking good thoughts while you're here. There are times when I just come to my blog and re-read my entries and the comments that are left and just feel better.

Y'all are awe inspiring.

**************

Now, I know I've dropped the bomb and then just pretty much walked away from the whole one or two baby issue.

For the record: We were devistated when we heard. I was so upset I pretty much (see, when I'm flustered, I use the same verbage over and over again) shut down and slept for a few days. Yea, did I remember to mention that it was two days before Christmas? Merry effing Christmas!? eh?

So here we are a few weeks later. We're used to the idea. We've accepted it, and we've almost embraced it. Give us a few more weeks and we'll be OK. We've been thinking "kids" for so long that "kid" sounds funny to us.

People have mentioned to me that we might want to switch agencies. When we originally did our research, I hunted high and low for an agency that would meet our needs. This one meets them and more. I have enjoyed working with them, and the fact that the owner/president of the agency has called us herself several times with news (this latest news came straight from her), meant that she cares for us. For all her parents. I respect that immensely.

So where does that leave us? Adjusting to the idea of one child this time. Next time ... and there will be a next time ... we can go back for two next time.

Right now our baby's room is filled with boxes. There is no light in there. To see the window, I have to climb on the ladder. Boxes are stacked five high. There is a full 10 square feet (YAY) of walking space. When we left Texas, we left behind a house of 3700 square feet. Everything we brought with us is stuffed into a 12x14 foot room and a very small storage closet beneith the stairs. We have a grand total of 900 square feet here.

I'm not complaining. Trust me. I'm stating facts. I haven't been this happy with my personal life or career in a very very very long time. It is an adjustment.

I love my life, I love this snapshot in time that I am experiencing. Once child will have the undivided attention of both of us, that undivided love and affection that will help him or her form a firm foundation to build their life on.

Two children is in the past and an event I won't comment on until that is our ... next step.

*****************

Now our cat. TJ is one of the most precious, fun, sassy, and little snot of a cat you'd ever meet. He's been with me since he was 4 weeks old. He was my graduation from college present from myself. He'll be 12 in May.

Now the issue: Thomas Jefferson (TJ) is a crotchety old man. He loves anyone over the age of 13. Kids, they get three warnings. Hiss, Pat with no claws, and claws full on. Usually this is while the kid is pulling him from under the bed or out of a closet that he's hidden himself in.

I am so concerned that he will not be able to handle it when we have a new child in our home that I actually have asked my parents if they would like him.

You know what? It turns out that my parents and my sister are fighting over him. I have a feeling that he will summer in Massachusetts and winter in Atlanta. How awesome is that?

I have not taken this lightly. It, frankly, is killing me. However, I could not feel more humbled over their love for their grand- or nephew-kitty, respectively.

I respect TJ's right to have a happy life. And unfortunately, once the baby comes home, it cannot be with us.

And that breaks my heart. But it is what is best for him.

Happy Update!

Homestudy?
Check!

Fingerprints?
Check!

Renew lease?
Check!

New job making mind staggering salary with PAID overtime?
CHECK!

60 degrees in Boston in JANUARY?
Check!?

So the good news is that our homestudy update is officially complete. I'm sending a copy to the INS in the morning. Our agency gets the remaining copies. That also will be sent in the morning. Once the INS gets the homestudy, it should be a quickstep over to the holy grail: our final approval.

The depressing news of the whole story is that we will only bringing one baby home. We just don't have an extra $100K laying around to purchase a home and have any sort of reasonable in-this-lifetime-allow-me-to-stay-home mortgage payment. So we pay off debt, become debt free, and will probably be able to come up with our downpayment by the time the kiddo is home. So we just renewed our lease, which wasn't as bad as we thought.

DH was depressed the other day because it was 60 and his convertible is in my parents garage for the winter -- 90 miles away. heh!

So I left my last contract to take another one. I'm making money that I never dreamed of making. The best part of it is that if I only work one extra hour a day, I'll be making more than my husband. CRAZY I'm so proud of myself, but terrified to, in that I don't wnat to mess it up. I'm heading to a big Southern city for training, and after two weeks, theres already been talk of me going permanent. Good because I'll have access to the retirement plans, but bad because I'll have to give up the hourly rate.

So bottom line is that we're reducing our request to one child, we're staying in the apartment until spring 2007, and our wait will be reduced to approximately six months. Oh, and the job thing, too. :)

Happy New Year!

May this year bring our children home.

May this year bring all of you peace, happiness and your deepest dreams.