Our Journey to adopt an infant, toddler or siblings November 5, 2008

  Sew Cuddly Blankets & Accessories

  by Tucker Creations

 

 Find fun Cuddly Blankets, burp clothes, and diaper change bags all made by me at the link below.

 

 

www.TuckerCreations.etsy.com

or

 Sew Cuddly Blankets Online store

  

 

 Who’s checking us out?
  It use to be full of dots.. somehow it reset!!

Draft Homestudy received!!! YIPPEE! July 8, 2009

After 1 year and 4 months in the adoption process finally have received the ~draft~ of our Homestudy!  This is slow for how most adoptions go – we spent so much time between programs and going to trainings that it took probably twice as long as it does for most pre-adoptive parents.  I just want to jump for joy!   There are a few small corrections needed, like the month we got married is wrong, and it says there was a Peter and Henry at our in-home meeting, which wasn’t the case.   

So now we just have to start our I800A (Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country)

Link to CIS website and form below:

I800A form

I800A instructions

Info on the I800A below

 

Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country

Purpose of Form :

For adjudicating the eligibility and suitability of the applicant(s) to adopt a child who habitually resides in a Hague Adoption Convention country.

Number of Pages :

Instructions: 11; Form: 9; Supplement 1: 2; Supplement 2: 1; Supplement 3: 4.

Edition Date :

9/10/08. Prior edition may be used.

Where to File :

A prospective adoptive applicant residing in the United States should file Form I-800A with the USCIS office having jurisdiction over the applicant’s place of residence. A prospective adoptive applicant residing outside the United States should generally file Form I-800A with the USCIS office abroad having jurisdiction over the applicant’s place of foreign residence.  See instructions for Form I-800A for more detailed filing information.Please note: Effective September 25, 2008, Forms I-800A and all related supplements and forms must be filed at the Chicago Lockbox Facility.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
P.O. Box 805695
Chicago, IL 60680-4118

For Non-Postal deliveries:

USCIS
Attn: Hague
131 South Dearborn – 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517

Filing Fee :

$670 for Form I-800A Note on Filing Fee: An $80 fee for biometrics is required for the applicant (and spouse, if any). Additionally, a $80 fee for biometrics is required for each person 18 years of age or older who is living with the applicant. Form I-800A, Supplement 1 (Listing of Adult Member of the Household) must also be provided for each adult member of the household, excluding the applicant and applicant’s spouse. $340 for Form I-800A, Supplement 3 (Request for Action on Approved Form I-800A), if applicable

Summer has arrived July 3, 2009

The Fourth of July is tomorrow.  Everyone seems to have plans all day but this year it sounds like ours will be low key. Which is fine as we have been so busy the adoption, work, our new Cyberpoo, and the new Sew Cuddly Blankets by Tucker Creations.   

I’m going to be working on making blankets tonight and tomorrow.  The Esty site (a place for homemade products to be sold) for Tucker Creations and the new Sew Cuddly Blankets I have been making is almost finished.  I just have to post items for sale –  I will soon.  I put the link in the top post under the inchworm, it can also be found in the blogroll to the right.

Tomorrow night we are going to dinner (or BBQ) with my mom then go see fireworks.  It will be great after a day of cutting, ironing, and sewing to get outside and take in the holiday atmosphere.

Now that summer is here I can’t walk out my door without seeing one of those kiddie inflatable pools on at least two of our neighbors yards with their children laughing and playing.  It looks like a lot of fun, but I think if Jason and I put a inflatable pool in our yard and started playing in it wouldn’t go over so well.  

La Semana – Latin Culture Camp

I really wanted to volunteer at the Latin Culture Camp that isn’t far from our house this summer but it’s too late.  Summer just snuck up on me this year.  The last three months of been crazy, with the mortgage boom but, now we are just started to slow down so we can enjoy summer.  Yippee!  That means more bicycle rides.  Last summer we rode our bikes all over town and found some nice bike paths.  We absolutely love it and feel like kids again.  Just grab the bikes and a couple bucks to buy a beverage and we are gone for the afternoon!  Hopefully we will get a ride or two in on Sunday!

Happy Fourth of July Everyone!!!  

 

Slow and steady wins the race? June 19, 2009

We have completed the paperwork updates and I mailed the originals in this morning.  We still need to update our physical exam forms.. We both had doctors appointments already set so I THOUGHT it would be nice and easy to get this done…. but NO.  We need to scheduled new appointments for the forms alone.   Many people have told me their doctors will just update the forms with a quick and easy check up while they are there for something else… Ohh no.. Not OURS.  I had totally forgotten that my doctor gave me every test last year including a blood work, hearing, and a vision test!!!! Geez.

 

So, we have to figure out how to take some time off work and get back into the doctor for another hour or so of testing to sign a form saying our health is the same as it was last year and we are physically capable of raising children… Yippee?

 

Since we put the adoption on hold for 6 weeks we lost our spot at the Ayudame orphanage in Bogota, Colombia.  We were extremely sad to hear this news as we have done a lot of research and heard many wonderful stories about Ayudame, but know eventually we will have our child(ren) and it doesn’t matter where they come from.  We just really want to create a family.

 

Our new orphanage will be in Medellin, Colombia.  The wait time is slightly less guesstimated at 12-18 months after Dossier is approved. (Ayudame was 18-24 months).  The cost is the same but there is still a high chance of getting a child(ren) under 14 months.  Also the time in Country is slightly less in Medellin  – 4-6 weeks. (Ayudame is 6-8 weeks)  So switching orphanages sounds like a positive change.

 

I just hope our adoption is like that old story about the hare and the tortoise… If I recall right the Tortoise wins in the end.  We feel like that mighty slow turtle most days… Just hoping for cheese at the end of the maze.. wait.. that’s saying is about mice…

**Paper chasing & updates** May 23, 2009

Now that we are back on the adoption path, I thought we would get to move forward… Nope, not quite yet. It seems since we are just over a year since we applied – EVERYTHING we have done is expiring and needs updating. It just took us so long to figure out the right adoption choices for our family that now it feels like everything is starting over again…
Frustrating… But needed I know.

Between Jason’s job change and our expiring paperwork so far we need to update the following:
~ DHS Family fact sheet (just update changes since we applied – Jason’s new employment info)
~ Physical Examination Report – Back to the Doctor! (they are only good for 1 year)
~ MN Dept of Human Services application for child placement (just update changes since we applied – Jason’s new employment info)
~ Background History Affidavit - 1 pg yes or no form stating you do/do not have a history of various types of abuse/incarceration. That you are a US citizen, and if you have completed a previous adoption study.
(sounds like a lot but we do not have a history of abuse – so if you do not it’s easy)
~ Adam Walsh background check (Just got this in the mail with a long cover letter) Only good for one year – I’m hoping we don’t have to get fingerprinted again.. it’s not like they could have changed – last time it took forever to get this back since we have lived in so many states…  (I think I have a post about it back in MAY 2008 – I should reread it)

Jason also has to email our social worker with his new hours, position, and salary info – I don’t think he has done this yet.

So I’m guessing this will add a couple more months to our time line – mostly waiting for the background check to come back again…

My inner montaloge just keeps saying “It’s for the good of the children, it’s to protect children” I keep trying to remember that.

~Baby Blanket Bonanza~ May 13, 2009

I’m so crazy busy I didn’t get a chance to even write anything.  The baby blanket creation is going well. 

The blankets below are completed except for being pressed and a lil TLC around the edges.  I’m so happy with how they are turning out.  I hope I find a good client base that agrees with me.

The Carebear blanket is about 30×30.  Snuggly flannel and a fleece backing.  Completely machine wash and dryable.

The Dot Blanket is 100% cotton Snuggly flannel (front & back).  I have made 2 of these and they are about 38×38… Pretty big.  I should take exact measurements again. 

The other photo’s are of fabric I have that will turn in to blankets as the days go on.  I love the Monkey pattern and can’t wait to make that blanket! 

I bought some pirate fabric, bright poka dots, and traditional block baby fabric last night.    Yes, I am starting to run a little low on fabric!!! Can you believe it?  I can’t.    I made the first burp cloth last night and it turned out really well.  100% cotton – flannel front is small puppies and back is white.  It is about 13×17 if I am remembering correctly, which seems like a good size.

Learn about Bogota, Colombia May 12, 2009

Here is a documentary on Bogota Colombia.

Click below

Bogota Colombia Documentary

Our child(ren) will be coming from Bogota.

I would like to thank Nancy from Our Little Spiller for finding this video.

**Back on track!** May 11, 2009

I sent an email to our social worker today to get our adoption back up and running!  WOO HOO!  She is out of the office today.  I’m hoping to hear from her tomorrow.  I sent her new insurance paperwork since we changed our insurance.  So our new insurance still covers adopted children and adopted children with pre-existing conditions…

More details soon!

I’ve also got a lot of baby blankets started, but my sewing machine broke and I should have it back from the repair shop tomorrow.. WOO HOO!

*Almost back on track* May 4, 2009

I’m happy to announce that we are almost back on the Adoption track.

Jason has been placed in a long term temp position in mortgage, very similar to my job.  He has been there about four weeks and it is going well.  He is still looking for another permanent Project Analyst/Manager position but the job he has now will pay the bills and gives him mortgage experience that may help his resume to apply to Project Management positions in Mortgage in the months to come. I’ve very proud of him as it took exactly 6 weeks to find new employment, exactly the length of his severance package, so we never missed a check!  Way to Go JASON!  He is very modivated and employable even in this job market. I couldn’t be more proud of him.

 

By the end of the month I will be contacting our adoption agency to restart the adoption!!!  We will have to do a little backtracking as our financial pictures changed slightly and we now have new medical insurance.  I know at least I will need a letter from our medical insurance stating they will cover adopted children and adoption children with pre-existing conditions.  (I’m going to try to start researching this later this week).

Spring is finally here and I’m loving it.  After all those crazy craft shows last year that never really brought in a profit I’m about to start all over again.  This year I have a new project which is much better.

Baby Blankets and burp cloths!  I have been sewing on and off since I was eight years old and have a great sewing machine, why not put that too good use?

Here is a picture of the first baby blanket I made. It has 100% cotton flannel with Sesame Street Baby characters on the front and a soft yellow blizzard fleece on the inside.  Machine Wash and Dryable and pre-shrunk.   I have made two like this.  

(I think this one is 27″ x 31″ and the other is a slightly larger)

I am half way finished with a Care Bear one in pinks that I should be able to complete tonight and will try to remember to post a picture.

First Baby Blanket

 

The first blanket turned out really well and I know the more I do the better they will get.  I also need to make some coordinating burp clothes to go with them.  I found a great sale on kids flannel fabric with tons of fun patterns and colors.  I bought 40 yard!!! Can you believe it?

So I have a lot of sewing to do in the weeks ahead.  I started researching some craft fairs that I will look into signing up for several next week – once I get a few more blankets under my belt.

YEAH!

*Another type of waiting* April 3, 2009

Easter is almost here and I actually laughed when I scrolled through my old posts and saw the one hoping we would have children by Christmas 2008.  Back when we were in the waiting child/concurrent adoption route.  

It seems so odd to be waiting for something so you can start waiting again…

Have you seen the newspapers and job postings?  I knew the job market was bad from the news and just hearing people talk about people they knew that were looking for new jobs… but you have no idea until you really get in there and do the search truly how bad it is.  I even signed up for Sunday paper delivery to get every job ad out there.. and there was only 4 pages and most of them were large adds.   Last time I was job hunting that had that much space for Nursing/Medical field alone!!!

Now, I sit here about to leave the office at 5pm on a Friday just waiting for my phone to ring… Waiting for a call from Jason about a temp job he was told he 95% had a week an a half ago… but they just had to confirm and would call him back… In theory, he was suppose to start on Monday but it’s now 5:04 Friday night.. How do you start at new job at 8am on Monday when you don’t know if you have it before the end of the day on FRIDAY!?!?!?

Frustrating….

Jason has spoken with the temp agency repeatedly trying to figure out what they are waiting on… and they  just keep saying they are pretty sure he has it and they will get back to him by the end of today…. *looking at my phone again*  

Why haven’t they called?  I guess we should have asked them to define “end of day”.

Jason has been diligently job hunting.  Hopefully a new employer sees how awesome he is and he gets a new great position soon.

Happy Friday???

**MAJOR bump in the road – good and bad news** March 16, 2009

***LETS  START WITH THE  GOOD NEWS***

Part 1)

All our background checks are back to our adoption agency.  I feared it would take several months since we lived in so many states but it only took a few weeks. 

Part 2)

Received an email from our Social Worker on Friday that she will have our draft Home study completed for us to review by the end of this week.

***Now… The dreaded BAD NEWS***

Jason’s company announced they were doing more layoffs two weeks ago and he was on the list.  We thought we were in the clear since three weeks prior the company stated there wouldn’t be any more layoffs but I guess some new project they were expecting fell through.  Whatever company was going to expand and use Jason’s company decided with this bad economy to hold off… 

 So they lost a major project and are just trying to keep the doors open… meaning more layoffs.  They gave him a nice severance package but in this troubling Job market… Well, Jason is applying everywhere and we are hopefully that he will be back at work soon.  He has an amazing resume and great experience – so it’s just finding the right position.

I emailed our Social Worker with an update and that I think we should put the adoption on hold today. 

Just as we are about to hit our 1 year mark – since our first informational meeting and just about to submit our I800A documents we are back to a standstill…