Not all the paperwork :(

So after sending in all the paperwork I thought was needed. I found out I needed to read 2 books on adoption and complete questions on them and to attend a child care class. So I read the 2 boooks and sent off the questions on Monday. One of the books " Raising Adopted Children by Lois Melina was quite good. But I did have to say I felt like I was back in highschool doing a book report :) As for the child care class, that gave me pause for a bit. I have decided the best option in my small rural town is to take prenatal classes! So i am signed up to attend the class on Feb 15th dealing with the care of a newborn. After explaining to the public health nurse, I was told I could leave half way through as the last half of the class is on breathing during labour! This is a late prenatal class, so i expect I will feel a bit wierd being in a class with woman that are very obviously pregnant. They are certainly going to wonder why I'm there! But after that I should be done everything :) again!

All Documents submitted

I'm thrilled all the paperwork is done!!! YAH!! I mailed off the approved birthparent letters and fast track letters on Dec 30th. I got an email confirming that all the documents were received by the Adoption Centre of BC in Kelowna and will be mailed off to Utah, by the end of the week! So I went to the bank today for a bank draft and have paid the processing and file activation fee! So as soon as all the documents are reviewed in Utah, then I'll be officially on the waitlist!!! Which is just about when I had predicted (being on the waitlist by the beginning of January) and wanted. Today is a good day!

Dossier on it's way!

So I've finally collected all the dossier documents and they went off in the mail today!! The only think I'm left waiting for is the review of my fast track birthparent letter ( a shortened version, they send out to more mom's) my birthparent letter has already been approved. So almost done and on the list!! Truly excited!!

Things are coming along

So things are coming along, even thou I haven't posted them. I've sent of my immigration paperwork step 1 and that was approved and am just waiting to get the paperwork for step 2. I also received the second and hopefully last package from Act of Love. I have completed most of the paperwork but now have to write my birthparent letter. I have been procrastinating on this a bit. I feel really awkward writing a letter to someone I've never meet, but who I really want to like my letter. I was hoping to be on the official waiting list by the beginning of January, but more realistically with the holidays is to have all the paperwork done and mailed by January 4th. It will then need to be reviewed and then I should be officially on the list as of (hopefully!!) the middle of January!

Wonderful fingerprinting ink

So today is kind of funny. I need to get an Interpol check done and this of course involves fingerprinting. Well, apparently I have very dainty lady fingers with shallow ridges and grooves (which the other officer teased was just a line to cute girls). So they had to do a full hand print. This is before I have to go do a presentation to the brownies group in town (6-11 year olds). So I get to talk to them while I have fingerprinting ink still stuck on my fingers. I'm sure they'll think I'm a total criminal. I think I'll go scrub some more.

Government Agencies

So on the adoption front things are slowly happening. I got a phone call from A Act of Love on Nov 11 saying they had received my registration forms and fee, but they couldn't do anything with them until they received an Article 15 letter. So, I call my agency (who wasn't at work on Rememberance Day, so tried the next day) who said they have my Article 15 letter (still puzzled on what it is...) but didn't think they needed it yet but would forward it on to them ASAP.

So then I decided life wasn't busy enought, crazy I know, and tried to figure out Canadian Immigration paperwork. I have finally figured ou that sponsorship is my only option as the adoption will be completed after I return with my baby from the US. So I merrily start on the paperwork only to be stumped. In filling out the form I came across a section that asked if the adoption will be completed abroad or in Canada. Well, at this point I don't know, it will depend on which state the baby is born in as to their specific laws. So I decide I better call Canadian Immigration and Citizenship, so my form actually gets processed and not sent back to me. Here is where the fun started. CIC's telephone tree is rediculous it took me several tried to find out what buttons to press to get to talk to a person and not just have pre-recorded info given to me. So when I finally get the option to press 0 to talk to a call center agent, I'm thrilled. Only to hear, "all our call centre agents are busy with other calls, please call back later" and a dialtone! I was expecting a 'wait on the line until someone can take your call'. So frustrated I call several times before I could speak to a woman. She told me to check both boxes and put a note explaining the situation on it. She told me it wont get kicked back to me for doing that but we'll see. So my morning was a bit frustrating. My next call was to Canada Revenue Agency to get a "Option C printout' so I can fill out the financial part of the sponsorship form. This call took me 3 minutes, what a difference. Apparently no one usually want to talk to Canadian Revenue Agency! So I guess tonight I'll skip the financial part and work on the rest of the paperwork. Yipee!

Sent in Registration!

I am quite happy! Things are moving forward again. I received my adoption loan yesterday and so quickly express posted my registration to Utah. Things are finally moving forward!! I should be contacted by A Act of Love sometime next week to do an intake interview and then I'll get the final paperwork. I'm working on this, the parts that I know what to do! I've taken an emergency childcare first aid course, which I would recommend to anyone. I learned how to deal with infant choking, CPR, etc. In particular for me, I'm really happy to know what to do about choking, as this really worries me.
On the other front I had great fun babysitting my niece on Saturday. I finished painting the nursery and will post pictures after I completely finish it.