Our Home Study Visits are Complete!!!! Yahoo!!!

What a sigh of relief and what a step closer we are to bringing this little girl home!  Last Saturday we had our last home study meeting scheduled with our social worker, however we weren't exactly sure if we were going to be able to actually go through with it as Joe came down sick a few days before.  He contracted some sort of bacteria that had him in the bathroom ALL NIGHT in misery.  Thankfully we had him checked over by our chiropractor, and that helped him heal up quickly.  That also helped our social worker feel more comfortable coming to visit us (or it could have been the neurotic cleaning I told her I would do to ensure she wouldn't get it!!!).


Anyway, what a wonderful visit it was!  We had the house all warm and cozy with tea brewing and the boys peeking out the window awaiting her arrival.  Once Cameron saw her car in the driveway, he got so excited!!!  He was the one to open the door wide and invite her in.  He is my outspoken, outgoing, and excited guy you know.


After chatting with us for a while and reviewing  the final pieces of home study paperwork, she asked the boys to give her the grand tour of our humble abode.  Of course Cam talked most of the time with Collin answering a question here and there if prompted.


Finally we sat with her and discussed a few last details.  She let us know to expect the rough draft write up of our home study within two weeks or so.  Once we receive it, we get the opportunity to review the facts and the way she has presented us and our lives.  Once we approve it or suggest changes, she then makes the final draft.  Our agency should receive it and hopefully approve it within a few weeks.


Once it has been approved, we then move on to the last and final step before being put on the wait list.  That is the USCIS fingerprinting and approval.  We will spend roughly $1000 to apply, be fingerprinted, and receive our "favorable determination letter" from the USCIS (US immigration) in order to be totally and completely approved for this adoption.


Once we receive that very special, important letter, we then will give our agency $5000 to pay for our dossier fees which include the translation fees, authentication fees, and the international service fee.  I know that sounds like a lot of money to pay, but it really does pay for so much that we just don't see or hear about.


So join us in rejoicing that our home study is done, that we are truly blessed to have such a wonderful and warm social worker, and that we are one step closer to bringing Chloe home and becoming a family of 5!  I can hardly imagine, and I just can't wait!

Deanna