Here I am again, trying to resist feeling like a loser because I haven't blogged in so long. Just when I think I'm back it, well, you know... two or three or in this case, four weeks go by! The same goes for exercise and many other things. I'm not sure I'll get used to this part of motherhood. There just always seems to be more important things to do. Granted, we have been very busy with finalizing the adoption with a few extra unplanned trips to Manila thrown in and all that needs to be done before going away for two months. So to update you, this is the latest:
We completed Ella's visa medical in Manila end of last month. Because of her BCG injection at birth, the TB skin test came out reactive so she had to undergo a chest x-ray. Not fun for a two year old. I had to help force her legs into a contraption that holds her upright with a clear plastic brace that folds around her chest pushing her arms against her ears. She screamed and cried and hit me in the face as I tried to hold and support her arms up while telling her it's gonna be okay and singing You Are My Sunshine. It was awful. Thankfully, the x-ray result was negative and resulted in a medical report that cleared her for travel to the U.S. What a relief. We have been told that she will get a visa. It should be issued sometime this week.
We had our third and last post-placement home visit last week. It went really well. Visits from our social worker usually do. That's because our daughter is a STAR. Our social worker often says, "She's such a happy girl!" It's true. She is happy. And that makes us feel really good. In addition to remarking about how much progress Ella has made since the first post-placement visit, our social worker also said several times, "Boy, she really knows what she wants!" and "Oooh, I can see that she is very strong-willed."
Speaking of strong-willed, the middle name we gave Michella just so happens to mean home-ruler. Hilarious and so appropriate, we are realizing! We learned this only after we chose the name, inspired by a particular historical figure. We didn't realize it's meaning until after we submitted Ella's new name to our lawyer in Alabama who needed it to fill out the court petition. I'd be happy to share her new full name with you personally if you ever want to ask. Just don't want to mention it here. But it's true, we have a little home-ruler in our house. Oh my. Just look at her!
Our social worker loves us and just adores Ella. Her last report was so positive and I thought adequately described Ella's adjustment to our family. I feel like our relationship and appreciation of our social worker is similar to a couple's connection to their midwife. She has become a friend. How could she not when she has been instrumental in the most significant event of our adult lives so far? Once her report from this last post-placement visit is written and submitted, we can expect the final documents needed to finalize Ella's adoption in the U.S.
We just learned we will have to go to Manila one more time. We are required to visit the Inter-country Adoption Board. We also need to personally pick up Ella's passport and visa and the final Consent to Adopt expected to be issued by the adoption board. Once we have these docs in hand, our adoption process as far as the Philippines is concerned is complete. How fantastic is that?!
We're headed to the U.S. in less than TWO WEEKS! We'll be finalizing the adoption in Alabama where my parents live and have a big house for us to base ourselves for the two months we're Stateside. We will also be spending some time in North Carolina and Washington, D.C.
There is much to do while in town - a home study (two home visits) from a local social worker, get fingerprinted (for the 18th time), get a few different background checks, hope our home study with the local agency gets ready in time for us to appear in court (we just got our court date today!), get Ella an amended birth certificate, a social security number and an American passport. In between all that, we will be spending lots of quality time with both sets of grandparents and some of Ella's aunts, uncles and cousins. It is looking likely that we will have both Andrey's and my parents in Alabama at the time of the court date. How special that day will be!
Anyone have any tips on traveling several really long flights with a toddler?
We completed Ella's visa medical in Manila end of last month. Because of her BCG injection at birth, the TB skin test came out reactive so she had to undergo a chest x-ray. Not fun for a two year old. I had to help force her legs into a contraption that holds her upright with a clear plastic brace that folds around her chest pushing her arms against her ears. She screamed and cried and hit me in the face as I tried to hold and support her arms up while telling her it's gonna be okay and singing You Are My Sunshine. It was awful. Thankfully, the x-ray result was negative and resulted in a medical report that cleared her for travel to the U.S. What a relief. We have been told that she will get a visa. It should be issued sometime this week.
We had our third and last post-placement home visit last week. It went really well. Visits from our social worker usually do. That's because our daughter is a STAR. Our social worker often says, "She's such a happy girl!" It's true. She is happy. And that makes us feel really good. In addition to remarking about how much progress Ella has made since the first post-placement visit, our social worker also said several times, "Boy, she really knows what she wants!" and "Oooh, I can see that she is very strong-willed."
Speaking of strong-willed, the middle name we gave Michella just so happens to mean home-ruler. Hilarious and so appropriate, we are realizing! We learned this only after we chose the name, inspired by a particular historical figure. We didn't realize it's meaning until after we submitted Ella's new name to our lawyer in Alabama who needed it to fill out the court petition. I'd be happy to share her new full name with you personally if you ever want to ask. Just don't want to mention it here. But it's true, we have a little home-ruler in our house. Oh my. Just look at her!
Our social worker loves us and just adores Ella. Her last report was so positive and I thought adequately described Ella's adjustment to our family. I feel like our relationship and appreciation of our social worker is similar to a couple's connection to their midwife. She has become a friend. How could she not when she has been instrumental in the most significant event of our adult lives so far? Once her report from this last post-placement visit is written and submitted, we can expect the final documents needed to finalize Ella's adoption in the U.S.
We just learned we will have to go to Manila one more time. We are required to visit the Inter-country Adoption Board. We also need to personally pick up Ella's passport and visa and the final Consent to Adopt expected to be issued by the adoption board. Once we have these docs in hand, our adoption process as far as the Philippines is concerned is complete. How fantastic is that?!
We're headed to the U.S. in less than TWO WEEKS! We'll be finalizing the adoption in Alabama where my parents live and have a big house for us to base ourselves for the two months we're Stateside. We will also be spending some time in North Carolina and Washington, D.C.
There is much to do while in town - a home study (two home visits) from a local social worker, get fingerprinted (for the 18th time), get a few different background checks, hope our home study with the local agency gets ready in time for us to appear in court (we just got our court date today!), get Ella an amended birth certificate, a social security number and an American passport. In between all that, we will be spending lots of quality time with both sets of grandparents and some of Ella's aunts, uncles and cousins. It is looking likely that we will have both Andrey's and my parents in Alabama at the time of the court date. How special that day will be!
Anyone have any tips on traveling several really long flights with a toddler?
5 comments:
Wow Jen, so much going on. First off, she is adorable and she's wearing pigtails! So cute!
I had no idea there was so much involved post placement, how do you even know what to do?
I'm so excited for you guys and your trip to the states! No tips for the plane really, just lots of snacks:) We brought a mini DVD player along and that seemed to help.
I love her smile and you can tell she is just so happy. Way to go mom and dad!
I vote for the mini DVD player!! I am sure that ALL of the other passengers are going to love hearing Ella and her parents singing Lauri Berknar's songs...."Moon, moon, moon..."..."We are the dinosaurs, marching, marching...." and many more!!
I love it when you post Jen! So good to keep up with you and the fam!!! I do understand though, that oftentimes, there is almost something more important to do! :-)
She looks so happy! And she is cute as a button. A spicy button!
I feel for you and all the hoops you have to jump through- it takes so much time and energy. But so glad that almost every item is checked off the list now!!! What a celebration time you will have with all of Ella's grandparents!
Do not feel like a loser for not blogging for a while! Then I would have to feel like a loser too! :)
I'm so sorry for you and for Ella about the chest x-ray episode. Yuck yuck yuck!!
I'm so curious now about Ella's middle name!
As far as traveling with a toddler... snacks, snacks, and more snacks. A favorite toy or two, and a few she hasn't seen yet. Did I mention snacks?
Finger printed for the eighteenth time?!? And I thought twice was bad :oD. Wow! You will be busy stateside. It was recommended to us too to bring a mini DVD player. Now I'm trying to figure out which DVDs are suitable to pack.
Blessings!
Deborah
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