#11 for those keeping track...

February 24th marked one year from when we applied to Holt and jumped both feet into this international adoption journey.  We had been Out of Translation since (at the least) January 28th, 2014.  Monday, 2/24, I was taking the trash out when my cell buzzes with an email from our agency.  They say that they had received my email and were sending us our next set instructions to help us get ahead of things (I had asked the day before because y'all know me the constant planner).  Yay!  I figured while I was at it I'd ask for a status update.  The email comes back that we had jumped to "match reviewed".  This is SHOCKING!  I read it again.  This means that they reviewed our Dossier and Izzie's file together!  This is what in the adoption world calls "soft" LOA (Letter of Acceptance).  Soft because it is not a "hard copy" (yet).

Of course, Bob's not home.  I call one of my Wonderful adoption friends FREAKING OUT!  "Does this mean what I think it means?", I ask her.  She thinks so, but we decide we need to go to our "lifeline" aka my FAV adoption fb group that has been my GO TO in many many occasions.  I ask the group...they all confirm.  We have been approved and just waiting for the hard copy LOA to the agency.

I call Bob...he just left work to come home.  I call my Mom!  When Bob gets home, I'm waiting with a HUGE smile across my face standing in the garage.  After I tell him, the FIRST thing he says is "Mommy!'  "Daddy!" I say back.  I tell him that they said it could take up to 1 month for the hard copy to come to Holt. 

On Thursday February 27th, I'm at the consignment sale with my BFF, Quyen Nguyen, when I'm staring at the Pizza kit we registered for but 1/2 the cost.  I'm thinking should I buy this now...bbbbring goes my cell phone...it's Bob.  "Holt called" he says.   I couldn't tell by his tone...   I say, "Andddd?"  He says, "They have our LOA, it will be Fedex'd to us and arrive on Monday".  I said "WHAT?  Please repeat what you just said".  He repeats himself.  "Oh my gosh, Bob we did it!"  I say.  He calls me Mommy and to have fun and celebrate.  I said "Oh my gosh there's so much we still need. " I buy the pizza pretend kit that I was staring at when he called.  

So IT'S OFFICIAL...we ARE Izzie's parents now even in China's eyes!  NOW we need to have the USCIS agree with our match with Izzie, get her Visa (and our Visas), THEN TRAVEL APPROVAL!  We are looking at May 16th, June 6th, or June 13th travel dates.  Once our USCIS approval comes in (i800 approval), we will know more likely which dates.

As my class realized that I had changed our countdown, a student wrote on the board:

Baba and I are OVER THE MOON with excitement to announce our daughter: 

 

Isabella Chen Smith 

"Izzie"

Born:  August 1, 2010

Favorite Food:  Candy and Biscuits 

Favorite Things to Do:  Play with Balls and Walk