My cup runneth over

So, I went to my barre workout class this morning. I turned my phone back on afterward and I had a missed call from the agency.  This is a dreaded moment for any adoptive parent.  What if I can't get back in touch with them today?  What if they are on the phone and I have to wait for 5 minutes for a return call?  What if the whole deal is RUINED because my phone was on silent for 55 minutes?  I did not even wait to exit the building before I was dialing the only number I have memorized since 1992.  I was directly connected to our Colombia social worker...........And we are approved for our Little One!  OUR Little One.

Tears, questions, whispered prayers and more tears immediately began flowing.  I called family.  I rushed to Brant's work to tell him the news before he got the email with our official referral.  We cried and smiled.  God has answered our prayers again.  He is so gracious.  I'll give you a look back at all that has transpired since my last post.

The best way to describe my feelings about recent weeks is anxious.  I am not by nature a worrier.  I tend to just let things happen as they may.  Never struggled much with that.  Until now.  Now, I have a little girl I'm trying to bring home from another continent.  A daughter who is sick and I cannot get updates on.  Overwhelmingly anxious.

I found out during these weeks that ICBF will not continue to cover Little One's medical costs once we obtain custody of her even though we are not "officially" her parents yet.  That means she would be without health insurance a large portion of our time in Colombia since we would not yet have an adoption decree.  This is not an issue for adoptions with shorter in-country stays.  But the insurance company says they can only back date 30 days from the date of the adoption decree (which we will receive in the 7th or 8th week of the stay).  With her health this could be financially detrimental for us. We prayed and I hounded called everyone I could think of to ask questions.  I finally spoke to an insurance coordinator who said they would research the special circumstances.  As a result, I was able to get in writing that we could also use the date of the permission to adopt that is granted to us by USCIS.  This is a HUGE relief.  She will be covered the entire time!

I was also notified by our agency that Little One's region had requested our dossier to begin their review process.  But further on in the conversation, I realized they were talking to me about a different region than she was living in previously.  That led to all kinds of scenarios in my mind.  Has her health changed?  Was she moved to another foster family's home?  Did something happen to her foster family?  I felt sick.  I prayed and prayed.  After three weeks of over-thinking and creating outlandish scenarios, I found out she has been in the same city and region the whole time.  There was just a communication error.

Communication is always difficult in international adoption.  We have asked so many questions about Little One and gotten not one answer.  That is hard.   I am just craving some sort of updated information.  The last medical updates I have for her were from October 2012.  I know that she spent 3 weeks in the hospital in September 2012.  After that, nothing.  Our agency and in-country representative have asked the questions.  We just aren't getting answers.  So, we continue to pray for her health.  The Lord created her tiny body and I know he can protect her while I cannot.

Here is what we are anticipating the timeline to be:

In the next 1-2 weeks we will receive her entire file in both Spanish and English.  I am hopeful we will receive updated medicals and pictures.  I know she has grown so much since our only picture of her at 14 months old.

In the meantime, I will begin filling out the immigration forms (I-800, I-800 supplement 1 and 864W) required by the US for our family to specifically adopt Little One.  After submittal, the USCIS approval typically takes 30 days.  From that point, it will take another 1-2 weeks to receive the final approval from the US Embassy in Colombia.  Once we receive that approval, we will schedule our travel!  Looks like a good estimate would be toward the end of October.  There is so much to do between now and then.  Please be praying for our family that we will be efficient in all we have to do as well as loving and patient with each other during the busyness.

As I have stated in another blog post, I am not allowed to share any identifying information with you about Little One.  So, I am scrambling the face of her picture to give you a "sneak-peek" without revealing too much.  She has captured our family's hearts and I cannot wait to smother her with a thousand kisses.

How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you
bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you. Psalm 31:19

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