No New Info!

Wednesday was the VN adoption summit in DC. I emailed my case worker Wednesday and he hoped to have info by today. I did not hear anything today from him. Hopefully on Monday!

On a different note--------- Mitch and I have a date night tonight! :):):) Josh is staying the night at my mom's. We are going to see a movie. I have not been to the movies in about a year. Honestly, the best part of it will be the FULL nights sleep I will get. Josh has been coming into our room bet midnight and 3am every night since August. :(

WE ARE LOGGED IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The dossier was submitted in time.:) No new physicals need to be done. I think my case worker wanted to wring my neck as well as the facilitator in VN. He keep telling me that she assured him that it would be submitted in time. But as the 14th kept approaching, I bugged my case worker on a daily basis. I received an email yesterday that we were logged in in time.

Things may not be as bad as orginally thought

I received an update from our case worker today. He seems very positive that things will continue and move forward in VN. Granted that the MOU (an agreement between the two countries to proceed with adoption) is renewed. The countries have until 12/21/07 to submit their intent to continue adoptions. As of last week, the US has not taken any steps towards this. I really don't see why they would not extend it b/c both countries are working to address the issues of unethical adoptions over there. I don't see why new policy would be implemented if they were not planning on continuing. Just my take on things.

The roller coaster ride begins

Everyone who reads this needs to pray that Vietnam does not stop US adoptions. I emailed my agency this morning asking if I should be worried about these NOIDS being issued and if it is jeopardizing the program. My upbeat and generally laid back (no worries) case worker did not give me a breezy reply. He said how this new process could upset the VN officials b/c of the addition scrutiny it will probably bring. He feels we will know more in the next couple of months. He said that VN does a lot of adoption with other countries that will not put the pressure on them like the US, and it is up the whim of the VN gov't to continue or not. I do want to say I agree with what the US gov't is doing, but it will really devastate me if VN ends US adoptions. I just have to remember that God has the master plan for us and where we end up getting our next child. I still believe it will be in VN b/c from the beginning it has felt so right.

More buzzing in the adoption world

Let me start this post by saying that I get so annoyed with message boards. It is a great concept---- support and advise for those with things in common. About a year ago, I unsubscribed from the preemie group b/c it became so negative and judgemental. I am beginning to wonder if they all eventually end up like that. I belong to a Vietnam adoption group and surprise, surprise the banter has gotten pretty negative. I really don't read it as often as I used to.

The hot topic is something called a NOID (notice of intent to deny). Several families have been issued NOIDS for the babies Visas. The US consulate feels that theses babies paperwork has discrepancies. I really feel for these families stuck over there now with no hopes of coming home any time soon. I don't feel they set out to find an unethical agency. It is so hard to decide which agency to go with. We are happy with our agency but basically went with what strangers told us. We did not know anyone who has adopted from VN.

Now about unethical agencies out there. VN adoptions had been stopped b/c of corruption. Now that they are doing them again, it is really upsetting that agencies are up to their old dirty tricks. The NOIDS being issued lead one to believe this. I don't know what we would do if the process was suspended again. I would be heart broken. I whole heartedly believe Claire is in VN waiting for us. (Yes, I did just let the name slip. It will let me know who actually reads the blog.)

Spending time with our cousins

Nothing new with the adoption. Still waiting to hear when the dossier will be logged in with the IAD.




As to non-adoption news, Josh (as well as Mitch and I) had fun with the Smiths yesterday. The seven of us went to Dewberry Farms and the kiddos had a great time. I had to post this picture of Gabe pulling Josh w/ his feet propped up in the wagon. It so sums up Josh.

Those of you who know my husband will get a laugh out of this one. Mitch set the DVR to record the LSU/Alabama game. My thoughts were it was being recorded in case it began before we got home. NO, that was not the reason. Mitch would not watch the game until he knew LSU had won. In the event that they would have lost he would have deleted it w/o watching. He said the game stressed him out so much he could not enjoy watching it live. LSU won 41-34. So, my husband was up until 11:30pm watching a game that began at 4pm. Ok, Jennifer when you read this------- I think you have successfully taken my husband over to the dark side.