An update of sorts

It seems that even though the NVC (national visa center*) was really rude to me this week, they did forward my boys info onto the consulate in GZ the same day.  I prayed after, asking God to have them do it, for His favor, that they didn't even have to know why they were doing just have them do it.  He does answer.  We got an email from the consulate that they received the forward (cable 37) from the NVC on 11/3, that had to be the same day, as it was night time in China when I talked to the NVC.  This is good and the consulate did say they would process his paperwork soon.  (hopefully we both have the same definition of soon :))  

We also received article 5 on Elijah.  I knew this was going to happen.  His stuff ahead of Enick's and while this is GREAT news it is hard to be excited when you can't travel for just one of your boys, if you know what I mean?  The CCAA* will have article 5 on him tomorrow (Friday in China, which is rather soon).  TA is about a week from that.  BUT we still need article 5 on Enick and then TA on Enick...........  Trying to see the good, but again I wish it were all together.  I am also hoping to still get to them in November!  I would love to leave around the 21st or so and get back on Eden's birthday!  That would be great, I mean thanksgiving in China could be nice, right?  

AND in other news, Here below are pictures of Em in her new glasses.  She looks so cute, I think, but even better is that she doesn't have to wear a strap with these.  Maybe I am an idiot, but we have never bought glasses before and just believe what our "highly qualified, highly accomplished" eye doctor told us.  Turns out she can wear plastic frames and that they heat them and bend them to FIT her head.  We got these done at Costco* and let's just say I probably won't be going back to the above mentioned eye doctor after this!  These cost us a third of what we payed before and they are the non reflective (great for pics, and she can see better) and they warranty them for 2 years, replace the lens no matter what she does to them.  That's even better than the warranty I paid for (free at Costco*) !!!   I am pleased with these and she loves them, they are so much more comfortable for her.  Hopefully, no more bruised nose!  And the bloody noses, well part of that is the colder dryer weather, but this should help too! 

Wordless Wednesday

A new day

I can't say that I am so excited to start a new day, but I am feeling better. Our agency will do what they can, they are that way. Our rep contacted the consulate to see where our paper work was, then sent a follow up email because they said they would check on it for us. She asked in the email that "article 5" be issued promptly.

At least we can bug the snot out of them right? And it isn't just me doing it, my agency is doing it too! That makes me happy. Someone who will work at it with you! Gives you a feeling of doing something, even though I might be deceiving myself a little with that statement :)

So here is still waiting, and hoping, and praying for good news, very, very, soon!

Thanks for kind comments, and for the sweet emails, so nice !!

It's easier not to care!

If you are here looking for one of those, happy picture, happy day post, just skip this one and come back on another day.

The problem is, I do care.  I care when I get to China.  I care that there are TWO boys waiting on me, I am the only person fighting for them.  I care that the US govt cares less, all they see is stack of papers instead of people lives, children with out their parents, waiting on them to process!  I sit with tears streaming down my face, because I wish sometimes, I didn't care.  Wouldn't it be easier not to care?  Do I really mean that, no, not really but........

I spent alot of my day on the phone with the Visa Center in the USA seeing if they received my second child's paperwork.  They did.  I ask if they can please expedite it because my other son's paperwork was cabled almost 2 weeks ago.  She tells me to call back because she can't reach a supervisor and she can't make that decision.  I call back later.  This time they tell me they don't have my son's paperwork, I tell them they do, Oh yes, you are right we do.  I explain myself once again.  He goes to talk to supervisor, they always process these cases fast he tells me.  Always 2-5 days.  I say really?  Cause last son's paperwork took you over 10 days.  No we are sure miss.  Well then, ok.  Will they?  Who knows.  

I talk to my agency, they tell me it isn't really a big deal being a week apart, they will catch up with each other.  Ummmmm yea, but it isn't a week.  See other son's paperwork has been at the consulate in GZ for almost 2 weeks and no article 5 yet for him.  SOOOO if other son in a week behind him and it takes at least 2 weeks for his article 5 not to mention his TA, that is really like 3-4 weeks not a week.  Why does no one see this but me?

While I am on the phone with the national visa center, my kids are watching an educational video (you know you have to get some quiet to make a call) and Emmi does not listen to anyone but me or dh.  Or maybe some other grown up.  She is rude sometimes.  She stands right in front of the TV and won't move.  I hear Evan ask her nicely 2 times to move.  She WILL NOT.  She stands there, stubbornly and won't move.  I can hear all this while I am on the phone.  So he decides to move her, she throws herself back and bangs her nose and has a bloody nose and is screaming at the top of her lungs, while I am still on the phone.  She will not quit.  She often gets bloody noses from banging her metal frame glasses into herself if she falls or throws a fit (we have plastic frames on order for this reason without the nose pieces to dig into her little nose).  She can be so very stubborn sometimes.  Needless to say this made my call that much more enjoyable.  I was angry at her for not listening to her brother.  I was mad she couldn't do what she was asked.  Her nose was fine in like 25 seconds, she was sent to her room.  Evan was crying thinking I was mad at him.  I wasn't.  It has been a great day!  The only reason she got hurt is because she wouldn't consider her siblings at all and was being stubborn.  Evan didn't know I heard the whole thing.  He is so sweet, I know he didn't want her to get hurt.  I wish she could see that we have rules for reasons, we aren't there yet.  Would someone care to clean the blood out of the carpet in our living area?

Eden has a birthday the beginning of December.  I don't want to miss her 6th birthday.  I want to go to get these boys of ours before then.  Do I quit fighting for that?  Do I just throw in the towel?  I can't control any of it!  Do we just decide to go after Christmas?  All these thoughts running through my head.  I know this, there are 2 boys who need me to keep fighting.  There are 4 kids here who need me to be here for them too.  It's a fine balance.......... I can do both, right?  

So instead of doing what's easier, and not caring, I will keep on, even if there are tears in my eyes, because I have 6 kids who all need me to do so!  

Thanks for listening, I just want to know later how far God moved to get these boys home.

New look!

Just a little bit of a change.  Did I skip November?  In my head maybe.  I just know I could still be gone in November, and I was ready for something different.  To me right now, I SOOO look forward to having all my E's home with me for Christmas, so yes, in a way I skipped November, but really only in blog changes!!!

About a year later, in pictures

October of 2008

October 2009

What is going on?

It's not a fun ride, it's not for the faint of heart, but in the end it'll be so worth it.  I have to keep reminding myself, I am not fighting with the US govt, no, I am fighting for these 2 boys who have waited LONG enough for their parents to come and get them.

Why such a statement?

Well, you see, after you get a LOA you then file an I-800*, oh what is that, you already did that?  No, no you didn't you filed a I-800A*.  You have to then wait for approval, it's called a provisional approval.  Once you get those, the NBC (national benefits center) with USC!S issues these and forwards your approvals to the state dept visa center, this is in NH, in case you wondered, yes those are sent by courier.  The state dept then sends you a letter stating they have your info and have forwarded that onto the consulate in GZ.  That is called a cable 37!  Once the consulate in GZ then has that info they issue an article 5, are you all still with me??  Are you loving you some hague* right now??  Once the article 5 is issued that goes to the CCAA* and they will then issue a TA!  Fun times.

Now what is up with our paperwork.  Everything was going along fine.  We filed the I-800* and received provisional approvals for both our boys dated on Oct 9, I called the NBC for them to tell me they send those to the state dept within 48 hours of dated approvals.  I then got a letter dated Oct 20 from the state dept that they had forwarded our paperwork for Elijah to the consulate in GZ  (yea a cable 37)  but no paper ever came for Enick.  Wait a few days, and we get another letter from the state dept, this time it's for Elijah, yes the same child, are you kidding me?  NONE for Enick.  I call our agency.  I email the state dept.  They tell me to take it up with USCIS* because they never got it.  We email USCIS* the NBC and they overnight said provisional approval, again, to the state dept.  That arrived to them today.  That is where I am at.  I have emailed the state dept, telling them I know that they got the provisional approval and now you need to cable 37 that like yesterday.  Only I was nice and diplomatic and all!  Now I am waiting to hear back from the state dept.  

I SOOOO wanted to travel in November.  I thought I was dreaming with all this mess.  I talked to our agency again today and they feel if everything goes the way it should, from here on out we could still hold a TA by the end of next week.  Would you care to pray with me that this is what happens, and that "clockwork" is what we have from here on out!  I feel that since LOA it's been a fight.  I again remind myself who I am fighting for, and not with!!!

I post this for all those hague* families who are waiting and honestly, there doesn't seem to be clear steps out there for us waiting.  I was so mad, I didn't want to, but if I can help someone else "wait better" it's worth it!

Hoping for GREAT news soon!!! 

Wordless Wednesday, more than just symbolism for me today :(

When Friends come to play

Yesterday, we had a wonderful day. Susan and the kids (well, Thad came too, I didn't see him though, he was doing something with work) came for a visit. We love these guys SO MUCH!!!

Our kids get along so well!!! Again, this time no pics of Jake and Evan, we really need to work on that, but they disappear and have so much fun without us, it's hard!

Lots of fun was had outside, it was such a nice day!!!

Look at all of Miss Katey's blowing hair, she finally has hair that can blow around :)

The only bad thing, is when they had to leave! We love you guys so very much! Next time, maybe we will have a few more between us!! I can't wait to hug my boys, but there is one more I can't wait to hug. Hallie, we already love you too! Hopefully Hallie will be home before the end of the year!

Sis took a lot of video, she can be, well, quite loud, this is the only one, I thought you all might enjoy!!