Mini Sigh of Relief

Finally after four months of anxious emails to our agency and social worker, mid-morning – mid-afternoon – mid-anytime mini panic attacks, and/or waking in the middle of the night worrying about whether or not I would have to complete the I800 because no one could/would give me a definite answer about our paper work I can breathe a tiny sigh of relief. Look what came in the mail yesterday…

The only box checked was the one stating they need a new home study.

This letter is a form stating that we have received a third extension to our I797C. I have been checking the mail daily for the last two weeks. All I can say is what a mini relief. I will feel a complete and total relief once we have our new I-797C in my hot little hands.

In order to get that last piece of paper we still have to submit a home study. For those that know that little piece of the muddle ~ I am happy to report that our social worker will be at our house on Saturday, April 18th at 2:00pm. Hopefully not too long after that she will send in the last piece needed to complete our I797C.

The last time I completed all of this paper work (round 2) I was not nearly as anxious about it as I am this time. I think I knew that I would be doing the paper work for a third time so I had much more of an “ok, whatever” feeling. This time I’m having much more anxiety about the entire thing.

In an email from USC!S I was told that our extension will be valid from April 27, 2009 to October 26, 2010, no matter when all of the information is received. If Polar Cub isn’t home in the next 18 months you won’t find me in blog world any more. You will find me rocking back and forth in a padded room somewhere babbling about I-600As, I-800s, I-171H, I-797Cs, fingerprints, and home studies. No Joke.

Blow Out!!

On Sunday I experienced my first tire blowout while driving! Big Bear and I were driving home from my in-laws. I was driving and zipping the curves. It was a beautiful day out and I love to drive along the country road. My car hugs the road and it’s a lot of fun. Until…

Suddenly there was a loud noise. I instantly knew that I hit something. Boy! Did I hit something. I guess there was a chunk of cement covering a pipe on the edge of the road. I’ve never noticed it before, but I guess I ALWAYS come close to it. (I was so informed AFTER I hit the thing.) This time I hit that sucker full force, going a little too fast. Luckily there was a driveway just up the way a bit. This is a hilly, curvy road with many blind spots. It would have been too dangerous to change the tire without getting off the road.

Graciously I offered to change the tire. (I think I could do it) Big Bear just laughed at me. I’m not sure what was so funny, but he laughed. While he was changing the tire he proceeded to tell me that he has changed three tires in his life ~ two of them for me. Hmmmm… what is he trying to say? The one before WAS NOT my fault. That’s all I’m saying.

Big Bear took my car to the mechanic on Monday. I guess we were VERY lucky that we didn’t have two blowouts. The back tire had a knot in it the size of a golf ball. The mechanic was surprised we were able to get to town with that tire. We definitely would have been up a creek had both tires blown out.

This is going to be a story I’m going to have to hear about for the next several Easters, I’m sure.

36 Done!

3 years...

36 months...

1,095.7266 days...

26,297.4383 hours...

1,577,846.3 minutes...

94,670,777.9 seconds...

Our dossier has been Logged in China

But who's counting??

I stopped counting down months a long time ago, 

but the big milestones I still want to acknowledge. 

This is a big one!

Happy Easter

Have a wonderful Easter Weekend!

Amazing Referrals!!

This week has been amazing! Four amazing women and their families received their referrals. I can't tell you how exciting it was to get each of the messages about the new arrivals. I am so excited for each of you!
The pictures are arranged in the order that I first saw them.

Congratulations to Simply T and all her boys!!! Eme is adorable!!!!

Next I saw Miss A's adorable face!!! Congratulations Luna and Family!!!!

( I'm not linking because I'm not sure)

Next came this adorable little picture ~ Pug Mama and family I am so happy for all of you!!!

Finally the last picture I saw was of Tate! Lisa, Congratulations again!!!!

It has been a roller coaster of emotions for me this week. I can't even imagine how each of the families must be feeling. It is going to be so exciting over the next few weeks to follow each journey as all of these little ones come home.



Last night we went to dinner with Big Bear's family to celebrate Callie's, our niece, seventh birthday. Callie came up to Big Bear and I during dinner and asked, "When is your China Baby coming home?" I will admit I really had to hold back the tears. Callie hasn't talked about Polar Cub in a very long time. To be honest I thought she had forgotten, it's been soooo long. This week seeing my friends receive their referrals has given me another glimmer of hope that one day we too will see Polar Cub's picture. I don't think it will be this year, but I do think it will happen before Easter, 2010!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!?!?

On Saturday I was out of town visiting a friend. Big Bear sent me a text saying we received the date to re-do our fingerprints. Woooo Hooooooo!!!

This morning I opened my letter before filing it away. I hadn’t opened it because I figured it would be the same as Big Bear’s letter. My jaw dropped when I read my letter. Why would my jaw drop, you ask?? Well…

Big Bear’s time and date:

Tuesday, April 21 at 3:00pm.

My time and date:

Wednesday, April 22 at 8:00am.

HELLO!?!?!

I’ve been working on my paperwork renewal (that’s a whole different misery) ~ now this. Oi Vey! I am planning to go with Big Bear and pray that they will have mercy and do my fingerprints then too.