So, today we went to the US Embassy to check into the process from here. I have always thought that when I would enter an embassy I would be greeted with a pat-down and super duper security. While it was efficient, I feel much safer with the security at the court house in Liberty. I wanted to see armed men with mean looks awaiting me. Instead, nice Latvian guards asked us to walk thru a scanner and then leave our cell phones with them. We did have to go thru 2 check points, however.
Here is what we found out... we learned tht before the I800 can be filed for, we must receive a letter from the Ministry here in Latvia. That will be mailed to Victoria at About A Child. Then, we attach that copy along with a few more translated documents (translated from Latvian to English). Once we recive the I800 approval, we can schedule a second court date. I will travel back for that date. Then, there is the twenty day mandantory appeals wait. During that time, we basically cannot do much but wiat. However, if we ask during our court date to take Dina with us for international travel, we should be able to get it. This means that she can come home if wanted. However, she would have to be back in Latvia for a trip to the Embassy before things could be finished. Otherwise, she would never get her citizenship. But I don't think that adding international flights to her life would be real good at this time.
After the court date to give us physical custody of Dina, then the 20 days... we are supposed to file for her post-adoption birth certificate, passport as well as obtain a physical from an Embassy approved physician. Our attorney said he is able to take care of this for us. So, we will then probably come back for the third trip 30 days after the second. I say "we." "We" is going to be me and my sister, Deanna. She will be a great help on the trip home. She and I will also travel a bit earlier to Europe (Slovakia) to see Robert and Veronika as I haven't seen them since July:( Then the work starts trying to get Veronika into the states on a visa of some sort.
The social worker, aka judge came here today at 10am. I must confess to this very close call... we all slept over today!!! Dina woke me at 9:30am with her usual... "Mama, caca." Thank goodness she did! She was eating breakfast while getting dressed, while I made the bed, etc... the judge got here right as we were brushing our teeth... phew! I could just imagine her asking Dina what she had for breakfast. Yikes! Of all the days to oversleep.
The visit went great. The judge spoke with Dina first. I guess at one point she asked her if she liked her Mommy and Daddy. Dina replied that "yes," and she wasn't going anywhere. That's my girl! By the end of the visit, the judge hugged me, several times, and said she found it an honor to meet people like us who would adopt a little girl with special needs. Apparantly she never met Linda... my hero!!!
I must tell of the afternoon we spent today. At nap time (conveniently), Dina needed to use the toilet once she settled into bed. So, I sat her on the toilet.... where she stayed for an hour and a half. Just when we thought we were done, nope! It's difficult for her to get things "out." So, this afternoon I fed her grape juice:) Hopefully tomorrow she will get a nap.
I want to emphasize how much I believe God has had his hands all over this adoption and my dream as a child to one day be here. EVERY choice we have made has been protected by HIS grace. Victoria, you will never know how very much we have grown to respect you. You have been EACTLY what you said you would be from the first day I contacted you. Which, was scary. It's like calling a plumber, but more important. You never know if you're going to get into something bad or not. So, you close your eyes and jump. Thankfully, we landed at your door. In addition, we knew it would be tough to have everyone we know understand this decision to adopt a girl, halfway around the world with special needs. Had my sister, Deanna not been supporting us from day one... this little girl may not have a home. It has been tough. But Deanna has helped us to keep our focus and assured us that we were deserving of this journey. I also couldn't have done this if not for my Mom being so tough as to over overcome stage 3 lung cancer this past year and being well enough to care for my baby boy. It was so tough to leave him. But when you know things are taken care of at home, it is okay to go forward. Finally, my adoption buddies, Natalina and Linda have been such amazing resources and comfort sources. Having Linda come before me has been so lucky. By the way, great minds think alike. I went to leave my Downy, fabric wrinkle release in the bathroom. But Linda had already left hers! Funny!
I hope you will all understand that this adoption is not about JUST Brent and I making this journey. This little girl, our Dina, has had angels looking after her.. you are her angels. Just as she puts the pieces of her puzzles together... we, including you all, have taken a sorted puzzle and each of us had placed a piece (or more) into place. There is no end to those who have "adopted" this little girl. We have all done this together. It's an honor for US to know the judge, the lawyer, the little lady at the orphanage, the doctor, the translator, the intake agent at our agency, the lady at USCIS, the lady at the post office who shared my enthusiasm each time I would mail a package of paperwork, my Rotarian friends, the girls at Starbucks (and guys) etc...
I guess you know what I am saying. Thank You is certainly not enough. But we do "thank you" for helping our family find it's way together. I have to go now. Brent wants me to check the MU score while I have internet service. KU is playing right now... I think I'll surprise him and tell him who wins that game too... that should be on the internet too:)
Hugs ,
lisa
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