USCIS - we have arrived

It only took 1 week exactly and we found out this morning that the USCIS in Nairobi, Kenya received our file!  So that's good.  Somewhere I had in my mind it could take 2-4 weeks to receive our files.  So yeah!  I just have a good feeling.  They said we will know something in 30 days - good or bad.  And flights - well we're getting there.

Lots of people are praying and we really appreciate it - the power of prayer helps.  These kids and all the other families need this help!

Hopefully soon we will be getting some pictures of our little guy and some updates - I just can't wait!  It will sure be nice.  A lot of families are traveling and bringing their babies home - so they are lucky!

We keep moving forward.
Gail

FRUSTRATING - sent to USCIS

Well one of our nightmares came true today - we received the dreaded email from the USE that we are "not clearly approvable' and sent to USCIS (who's African office is in Nairobi, Kenya.  I guess its at least 1 week to get our files there.  2 other families from AAI were also sent.

So reading the groups and FB group - it sounds like a TON of families received this email - very much similar to all the crap with USCIS and USE last fall!  From some research from people it sounds like there were complaints to DC's head adoption guy and he called the Addis offices.  Instead of fixing the problem and getting work done - they just sent ALL these cases and dumped them on USCIS - get rid of the work to another agency!  We were all stuck in the mess.  Things are now delayed in my mind 6-10 weeks before we clear - if not longer!  The hope is that the majority will pass immediately upon review.  however, they could issue what is called an RFE - Request for Evidence - again where more crap hits the fan.  A full investigation is done  but YOU as the parent need to do it.  It can be done by your agency, yourself (yes flying and doing an investigation) or hiring an investigator over there!  Just crazy.  We can't afford all this.  Many people are doing this now before they even get sent anywhere.  Not sure if that's good or not - I just can't afford it.

So between that and all the other personal stuff going on - we are dealing with 3 different issues all at the same time!   I"m handling the stress pretty well - and meeting more families.

Good news - at least one family we traveled with cleared today  amen and congrats to Shelly and Michael!  we assume Connie and Rick passed as well - yeah!  Also my other friend Shannon and Mark got bad news from the ET judge - why are things SO hard.  And Sue - they had a referral and were waiting (and waiting) to hear about their son and the birth mom may have come back to get him?  just crazy.

So if you pray - please pray for the kids first -they deserve a safe home with food, and the basics.  Many are starving and struggling.  Then pray for all the families that love them so much! We all need prayers and positive thoughts.

Thanks for letting me ramble!
Gail

Waiting - still

Still no word from USE but they did request ONE piece of information to review our file.  So that was submitted the next day and now we wait!  Its been over a week that they received a phone number.  Hopefully that call went well and we can hear something soon.  We emailed Thursday night only to find out there is another Holiday yesterday and the offices were closed.  So hopefully some news on Monday.

Two of the families we traveled with had birth family interviews this past week and we are praying that went well and they can soon go bring their kiddos home forever!  And start the family they've dreamed of!

Meeting more families as well.  This process is draining, but its nice getting to know more people.  I'm thankful for my friends and family during all of this.  It seems like our lives are just crazy.

On other notes - still waiting on a few other pieces of our lives to make changes.  Just not the right time yet. But we'll get that.  One day we can share so much news with everyone it will be wonderful.

Nate - he's doing awesome with his reading.  The tutor has been amazing.  He was able to zip through two sets of flash cards with sight words and he did that in 10 minutes!  A few months ago it took 10 minutes to do just a few of the cards - it was such a struggle.  But not anymore.

Today we are having a reception with all family and friends to celebrate my brother Marcus and his wife Stacey!  They had a beautiful, private wedding in the fall and now celebrating with everyone 80's style tonight!  Should be entertaining!  I've got my outfit ready - yeah!.

So as we continue our wait - some days are better than others we just continue to move forward in our lives.  Try and remind Nate that being a big brother is a cool thing and important!  And that even though life will change - he will be still getting important private time!   And we will protect those toys of his!  ha.

Enjoy the day -
Gail

USE reqesting some tidbits of info

anyone seeing me this morning trying to get out of the house ON TIME (my goal is to leave close to 6:30 am every day - I rarely get there) would have laughed.  Anyhow - with so  many things going on - I try to glance at the email before I leave as I can't check till lunch time.  anyhow - at 6 am, nothing, any how by 6:15 - a request for more info!  They are looking for a phone number for the police officer that took Sami's case.  So hopefully that is it.   However, sounds like they can then set up an appointment to do a phone interview, still have more interviews with key people and then decide NOT ENOUGH?  Or they could say - OK - cleared?  Wow - it could be either way and we just don't know.

Anyhow - this morning as the email came up I didn't realize it till after I hit the button to reboot.  Then scrambled to stop - ended up crashing the computer - and I finally got the tablet out!  All trying to get ready. And I left two things for my day - protein drink and fruit at home - OUT!  Luckily Craig put them back and i can have it tomorrow.  I was just off for a while.

But its good -we just need to wait!  We'll get our son home soon!

And all the other things happening in our lives are moving forward as well.

Please pray for all the families in limbo.  Pray for my friend Shannon and her family that they get a court date assigned soon.  Pray for all the families that we traveled with - that we all get info soon?  I'm thankful for all the families we are meeting through this process.  I know our kids will have lots of friends!  and people all over the country.

So its January and I'm sitting here typing and hear it RAINING outside.  Really - crazy.

Alright - we are making progress.  I'm tired and ready to just move forward with life.
Gail

File under review (finally)

Yes - at about 7:58 am - today we received an email from the USE stating they have our file and its under review.  That's about it - they ask we don't email for 5 days.  So next week we should get more details - do they need more, will we be referred to USCIS in Nairobi (yes I heard that's where we go - NOT Rome that was for a special situation last fall) - or we should pass soon.  So we'll see.  

Yes - this was a test of patience for me.  I would think I didn't do very well, if you ask Craig - he'd say yeah she was going crazy.  But I did it - I only emailed a few days early last night.  Ha.  But its still a LOT more waiting to go.  We of course fell into the holiday backup - and I was not prepared for that.  So it was about 2+ weeks delayed response due to all of that.  Lucky for me Craig is very logical when it comes to this type of stuff and keeps me more grounded.  I'm blessed to have a wonderful husband!  And a great kid.

Anyhow - yesterday was the 9th - a BIG day for the Backus family that went unnoticed.  Nate officially is 7.5 years old!  And Curt turned 9 months!  Yeah - both boys hit a big mark in the year.  We'll have to see if Nate can do a Half birthday celebration later this week or just wait till the end of the year?  He didn't ask and didn't even realize it happened.  He was just excited to go to a friends house after school.  He's loving this new routine on Mondays  - so thanks to Rebekah and Jason for taking him on with the chaos they have with 4 kids and everything else.

Alright - I can relax a lot more now - and in the next 5 days I can start to go crazy.  At least in my mind I've planned for a long wait - so that should help keep me grounded.  Its just hard when I have dreams I'm in Addis with my boys!

Have a good day
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Happy 2012 - gonna be the year of Curtis Samuel Backus

Finally a NEW YEAR - its gotta be a good one!  I anticipate LOTS of good things on the horizon  - changes in our life and a new son!  Just can't wait!  Hopefully some good news on part of that in the next few days -

Hope everyone had a wonderful and safe New Year's eve.  We had a good family night at the local town - Northville at their family event and then came home to watch the new I-Carly and the Smurfs.  Gotta love it.  Can't wait to have Curtis Samuel home to go next year - he'll be the perfect age - can't wait to see him on some of the bounce stuff!

Here's looking at a great new year!
Leap year and election year as well - ha
enjoy a few pics from our New Year's Eve adventure!  Home Depot had one station set up to build stuff - Nate did the "fire boat" with daddy.  He and I build a tool box a few months ago at a local store.  The kids had fun.  Nate wasn't too fond of pictures and wanted silly faces.  He had a good time.

Gail

                                             MOM INTERRUPTING THE BUILDING

                                             SILLY FACE - JUST NOT GOING TO SMILE

                                          PROUD FINISHED PRODUCT