Dave, Theo, Emmett, and I also received a special adoption delivery this afternoon...
(drum roll please.)
Our I-171 made it's way to our mailbox.
This form is the Notice of Approval of Relative Immigrant Visa Petition. In layman's terms... USCIS officially grants us permission to work with the United States Consulate in Korea in obtaining a visa for Rubin (our relative!!) In short, his visa has been approved. As soon as it's issued in Seoul, we will get a travel call, and Rubin can come home.
From what I can tell, it has been taking about one month from the date of approval for the visa to be issued. Perhaps my mom and I will be in Korea for Mother's Day... meeting my third son, her ninth grandchild.
Is anyone else floored by how quickly our adoption process has moved?? It was just last August that Dave and I made the definite decision to pursue an adoption. Our first informational meeting was on September 18th of 2008. Emmett was just shy of 15 months old, and Dave and I wanted to get the ball rolling, hoping to keep a 2-3 year age difference between all of our children. We were certain that bringing our baby home from Korea could take... forever. We were anxious to get started.
What was I thinking? This baby boy, in so many ways, was made for us.
I know how blessed I am. I've never had to wait. With both Theo and Emmett, it seemed that Dave and I had to do no more than simply think about getting pregnant and (ta-da!) it was done. Why did I think that this baby boy would come to us any differently? Shouldn't I have known that it would happen, lickitty-split?
I say this with some trepidation, as I know how many women in my adoption circle have waited so much longer than I have. I know that many of them would trade places with me, in this process, in a heartbeat. But I'm a little overwhelmed right now. I'm a little freaked out about how fast things have moved. Just as I worried in the weeks before Theo and Emmett were born, I'm afraid that we aren't ready.
What size is Rubin wearing?
What will he like to eat?
How will Emmett feel about me leaving, again, and coming home with a baby brother?
I am going to have two one-year-olds, for 19 days!!!
Does Theo seriously want to share his bedroom with the baby?
And how the hell am I going to fit a crib in there with that boat of a bunk bed?
How badly is Rubin going to miss his foster mother,
and am I going to be able to comfort him and assure him
and will he fall in love with me, too?
So very soon, we'll be five, too...
We're ready to brave the rain.
9 comments:
Em,
After the long and hectic day of traveling we have had, your post brought a big smile to my face. Thank you.
CONGRATS!!! Um, Em... it *could* happen... We could be there in five weeks if we continue this pace! :-)
How amazing would _that_ be!?
Now, you couldn't possibly be talking about me could you?! I wish my slow pace on no one... I truly hope that everyone would fly through like you guys did, and not at he pace I crept through at.
And my parting thought:
I am officially freaking out now. I need to get my bum in gear!
Congrats Emily! I have loved to read your story unfolding, and am so excited to continue to read the next chapter!
Chills and Tears my darling.
So excited for you.
MAN this HAS gone fast.
I remember when we were on our run...that beautiful Fall day and you told me. That might as well have been last WEEK for how fast it's gone.
You're ready! You KNOW this. You have two boys...you're an AMAZING mother....You GOT this. Don't fret. Keep you eye on the prize :) Love you.
Yeah!! That was rocket fast! Ours took 10 months to the day from start of homestudy to the day we got Alex - what a whirlwind.
Don't worry about the rest - it will fall into place - and the other boys will LOVE having a new baby brother! And Rubin WILL love you too!
Wow. This really has gone so quickly. All of the "technical" questions you have about Rubin will melt away as soon as you have him in your arms and he's finally at home with you and the rest of his new family. Your photos are so beautiful!
Everything will fall into place. The boys will adore Rubin and he will adore you all. Promise.
I know we've had this conversation before. Family is so much more than blood. Paper work. Visas. You know it first-hand with the beautiful family you came from. It starts with love - and you guys have plenty of that in your home. I agree with Erin - those worries and questions will disappear once he's home with you. You'll know what to do.
I remember our facebook chat secret reveals. First me being pregnant. Then you deciding to adopt. Then announcing your referral. I will look for a chat box to pop up announcing when you receive your "call." It won't be long now.
Love you all.
xo
It will all work out. And I can tell you as the mom of 3 all within 15 months--its crazy nutty hair pulling frantic at times--but I love it. It's so much fun! And how could Rubin NOT love you???
And there's lots of tricks to making furniture fit!
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