USCIS APPROVAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's here, it's here!!!!!!!! I still can't believe it! We received our approval to adopt one child! I am so excited. My throat hurts from running around the house screaming!!!!! Today has been one of those weird days....I was checking all the stuff to be sure our dossier was complete, wearing my "Excepting from Ethiopia" t-shirt around the house and my girlfriend sent me some pics of her friend's daughter she adopted last year from Ethiopia, Aida is 2 and adorable!!!! My son walked in the living room and said "only bills in the mail Mom". So I took the mail and low and behold I saw the return address from USCIS in Pittsburgh, PA and threw everything else on the floor! I could not wait to call my Mom and a few friends to share the good news!

We don't look sick ---- or do we?

Well they sure are! Both have strep throat today! So we are all home - praying that Mom doesn't get it from either one of them!!! Washing bedding, getting meds and buying new tooth brushes!!! Fun Fun Fun! Oh and did I mention -- watching movies!!!!

Now We Wait - 171H

September 4th we had our fingerprints taken!!!! I can't believe we are this close to having our dossier completed! This is the last document we are waiting for!!!! So exciting. I also met (on-line) a couple that lives less than 5 miles from us that is currently waiting for a baby from Ethiopia!!! We can't wait to get together with them and to know another family so close to us is so awesome!!!

Home Study -- Approved

Our Home Study has been approved by WHFC!!! Another step forward. We are now awaiting CIS approval and a State Certified document for our Dossier and then it is complete!!!!! I can't believe how smoothly things are going right now. Zach and Sabrina just started 4th grade!!!!! Their teacher is very nice and they are both excited for this year. Here's a pic of the first day of 4th grade.

Fingerprinting!!!!!!

We have confirmation that our I600A is being reviewed and we have our fingerprinting appointment on Thursday, September 4th at 9am!!! I am so excited we are getting so close to finishing our Dossier and so close to bringing our new little one home with us!!!!

Pictures

I keep saying I'll post pictures so here we go:

This is a pic of us at the American Idols concert the other night!!!!

FINAL HOME STUDY

We received the official final copies of our home study on Friday the 1st!!!!! I was so excited to pick up my "certified mail" that day at the posts office. Now we are getting ready to send in for USCIS approval. Last night was my birthday and my loving hubby took us all to the Ethiopian Restaurant in Pittsburgh, Abay for dinner! We had so much fun. The kids did not like the food extremely well, but they tried everything!!!! So this has been such a special weekend. The closer we get to finishing the Dossier the more excited we all get!!!!!!!