Adoption Updates

[ZPT1022]

told you it was pathetic.

 

[scarlett873]

Okay. Just remember that you asked for this. My two biggest fears directly relate in with this- tight, closed in spaces, and (yes, I am serious) public bathrooms. I am absolutely petrified to fly, not because of the flying itself, but because I know I can't hold it that long. I am afraid of the airplane bathroom, I tried to use one once and pretty much had a nervous breakdown- crying, sweating, etc.... I think I will have to drag DH in for moral support if/when I ever have to use one. I am also petrified of the noise they make. When we took the cruise I would shut the lid and make DH flush because the noise scared me. I hear that the airplane bathroom is about the same. I am also nervous about the sightseeing because of the bathroom issue. I hear most hotels have the kind of toilets we're used to. I even went to a website and looked at pictures of what a squat toilet looks like and what the different kinds are. I have it bookmarked under both adoption and travel so I will know what I am getting myself into when I go somewhere, like say, China.. So right now, aside from age and financials, the biggest thing holding me back from foreign adoption is public bathrooms. Make you feel a bit more normal now? MY husband thinks I am more insane than ever.

It's not totally pathetic...I'm nervous about the ideas of squatty potties too...i'm afraid of the whole bartering when shopping...i'm such a sucker that I know I'll get screwed over or something...lol

See...we all have fears...some are just funnier than others...

 

[RUDisney]

Okay. Just remember that you asked for this. My two biggest fears directly relate in with this- tight, closed in spaces, and (yes, I am serious) public bathrooms. I am absolutely petrified to fly, not because of the flying itself, but because I know I can't hold it that long. I am afraid of the airplane bathroom, I tried to use one once and pretty much had a nervous breakdown- crying, sweating, etc.... I think I will have to drag DH in for moral support if/when I ever have to use one. I am also petrified of the noise they make. When we took the cruise I would shut the lid and make DH flush because the noise scared me. I hear that the airplane bathroom is about the same. I am also nervous about the sightseeing because of the bathroom issue. I hear most hotels have the kind of toilets we're used to. I even went to a website and looked at pictures of what a squat toilet looks like and what the different kinds are. I have it bookmarked under both adoption and travel so I will know what I am getting myself into when I go somewhere, like say, China.. So right now, aside from age and financials, the biggest thing holding me back from foreign adoption is public bathrooms. Make you feel a bit more normal now? MY husband thinks I am more insane than ever.

You win!

Seriously, about the squat toilets, the one thing I learned when going to Russia was that if you take the sno-cone type cups that are by water coolers and bite the point off, you can use it for aim. You'll have to trust me that it works.

 

[ZPT1022]

It's not totally pathetic...I'm nervous about the ideas of squatty potties too...i'm afraid of the whole bartering when shopping...i'm such a sucker that I know I'll get screwed over or something...lol

See...we all have fears...some are just funnier than others...

Yeah, but did you actually look up pictures to see what you're dealing with?

The bartering- ugh- I am just not a negotiator like that. The straw market in Nassau stressed me out. I am sure I'll get taken for a ride with that. Maybe DH should work on learning to barter and I will work on my irrational fear of the squatty potties. The ones on trains are worse- a lot of the older trains the "flush" is just to open up and let it out on the tracks

 

[ZPT1022]

You win!

Seriously, about the squat toilets, the one thing I learned when going to Russia was that if you take the sno-cone type cups that are by water coolers and bite the point off, you can use it for aim. You'll have to trust me that it works.

Now I'll be adding a sleeve or two of sno cone cups to my packing list

 

[scarlett873]

Oh...the things we'll do for our kids...lol

(adding sno-cone thingies to my packing list...)

 

[RUDisney]

The ones on trains are worse- a lot of the older trains the "flush" is just to open up and let it out on the tracks

The sno-cone cups work on trains, too.

When we got on the train our translator told us that if we use the toilet on the train, we will "sit like the eagle sits." I always thought that was funny. I didn't want to get my body that close to the seat. Ah, the beauty of the sno-cone cup. I always told my DH that I should keep them in the glove box in my car in case I ever had to use the side of the road.

 

[ZPT1022]

Oh...the things we'll do for our kids...lol

(adding sno-cone thingies to my packing list...)

I am sure my DH is going to give me some odd looks over that one but whatever. He is used to my "issues" already. When we drive to FL he always has to go first at the rest stop and he will come out and tell me if I will go there or not. He knows my criteria by now

The sno-cone cups work on trains, too.

When we got on the train our translator told us that if we use the toilet on the train, we will "sit like the eagle sits." I always thought that was funny. I didn't want to get my body that close to the seat. Ah, the beauty of the sno-cone cup. I always told my DH that I should keep them in the glove box in my car in case I ever had to use the side of the road.

Like the eagle I can only assume that means you're supposed to perch above the seat somehow WHAT IF YOUR FOOT SLIPS???? NO THANKS. I think the trains in China have the squatters on the train too. That just sounds like a mess waiting to happen

 

[scarlett873]

That's it...I'm not eating or drinking over there in China...in fear of having to use the squatty potties!!

Maybe I just won't leave my hotel room...ever...

 

[ZPT1022]

That's it...I'm not eating or drinking over there in China...in fear of having to use the squatty potties!!

Maybe I just won't leave my hotel room...ever...

nooooooo....... you'll have your sno cone cups and you will be good to go!! Just go BEFORE the train!

 

[scarlett873]

Our dossier has only been at our agency's main office since Tuesday, but I'm already going insane! They sent us a message saying everything looked good, but I just wish there was a way to track our paperwork through authentication! It took about a week for both my birth certificate and our marriage certificate to be authenticated, but that was one piece of paper at each place. I wish I would have been able to authenticate the rest of our docs! At least I would feel as if I had some sort of control!

For those who have adopted from China or have been logged in, etc...any ideas on how many pieces of paper have to go through authentication? Is it everything...down to your pictures...or is it just everything that had been notarized and state-sealed?

I am so going to drive you guys crazy over the next few weeks... just please don't oust me...lol

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

16 years ago last night (March 15th) we were at Logan Airport in Boston, picking up our beautiful son, born in The Phillipines! He will be 17 on Sunday.

 

[RUDisney]

16 years ago last night (March 15th) we were at Logan Airport in Boston, picking up our beautiful son, born in The Phillipines! He will be 17 on Sunday.

I hope you had a wonderful Gotcha Day together!

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

We are fingerprinted!! Now we are just waiting for our 171h. The day we get that I just have to fax it to my agency and we are on the official list (our dossier is already there, authenticated and approved just waiting for the 171h)!! Please say some prayers for fast processing!!!

 

[monami7]

My friend Dianne and I took Lilly to Disney on Ice today. It was Disneyland adventure.
Well all I can say is that if there was any doubt that Lilly was always my daughter (not my doubts mind you!) today proved that she is definitly mine. Only a daughter of mine at 16 months old, without being able to walk or talk yet could have been that expressive when seeing Mickey and Minnie. She started waving that little finger to the music, then her whole body was rockin. Dianne and I were laughing so hard. Lilly loves the music and was so very excited to watch all of it. The best part was when they say "Where's Mickey?" To the crowd. Lilly threw her hands up over her face like she was playing peek abu with them. It was just too much. I cannot wait until the end of May when we take her to Disneyland for the first time. I think we may have another disney fanatic on our hands.

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

Aw, that is soo cute!! We loved Disney on Ice DL Adventures. It made me smile picturing Lily (and your reaction). I too cannot wait for our first Disney trip with our future son. That is one of the ultimate highlights of parenthood.... kids first reaction to the magic (makes me cry everytime).

 

[JadenLayne]

Aww how precious Lily sounds!!!!

Happy Gotcha Day Anniversery Kathy!!!!

Congratulations Tink on the fingerprinting!

Brandi we let me see, we sent all of our things in at the end of November. We had to resend in more pictures and that was it and our Dossier went to China on December 28th. Then it was logged in on January 17th! So it took less than a month for authentication.

We had our homestudy update Friday. Everything went really well and our social worker forsees no problems. We have mailed in our money and a new I600 to update our 171 so as soon as our social worker gets our updated homestudy in to Memphis USCIS then we should have an updated 171. Once we have that in our hands that should honestly be it until referral!!!!

When I asked our social worker her thoughts on the wait she said that she had heard it could get longer and possibly up to 20-24 months before it starts to stabalize. She did not see any sign of a speed up in the near future.......although she said we could always be presently surprised!!!! She is guessing that with our LID that we should have referral in September or October and travel in December. I really don't think many of the agencies have a clue as to the actual wait time. We are hanging in there though!!! She asked us about a name and I told her we were naming our daughter Ariel-Grace. She put that on a paper but said that she has seen it a zillion times, the parents pick a name and then when they get to China and see their daughter for the first time they decide on something else. I can't think of her as anything else but Ariel though!!

 

[monami7]

I know what you mean. We have been talking about Aurora Grace (Rory) for 2 years. It would be really wierd to think of her as anything else.
Heidi

 

[scarlett873]

We're still waiting to hear something...anything...on our dossier! I'll keep you posted!

 

[monami7]

Hope you hear soon.
Heidi