Our Adoption Timeline

This is our timeline:

February 2006

22nd - First appointment with our adoption agency Harrah's AIM, http://hfsadopt.com in the Woodlands. Paid half of agency fee, homestudy fee and dossier consultant fee. Recieved tons and tons of paperwork. Great day!! We are so thrilled!

24th - Requested Marriage certificate from Florida via internet

27th - Mailed requests for Birth Certificates from New Mexico and New York. Mailed renewals for passports.

March 2006

1st - Took cats to vet for rabies shot

2nd - Fingerprinted at local Sheriff's office, recieved Marriage Certificate

6th - Mailed requests for background checks to Texas Department of Public Safety, recieved Jody's Birth Certificate

7th - Family Doctor appointment with Dr. Schafer

8th - First visit with our Social Worker, Angela

10th - Second appointment with Social Worker, Troy's interview

18th - Recieved Troy's Birth Certificate and Troy's employment letter

21st - Recieved medical physicals and letters of explanation from Dr. Schafer. (Problem with Jody's letter)

23rd - Picked up Jody's letter from Dr. Schafer, Perfect!

24th - Recieved notarized criminal history from State of Texas

29th - Had all documents notarized

31st - Third appointment with Social Worker, Home visit

April 2006

6th - Renewed passports arrived

7th - Forth and last appointment with Social Worker, Jody's interview

12th - Appointment with Dr Baethge, requested letter

14th - Picked up letter from Dr. B

24th - Recieved rough draft of Home Study

26th - Connie picks up Brevard County Background checks and overnights them to Angela

30th - Social worker emails final draft of Home Study to agency and Dossier Consultant

May 2006

4th - Home Study Approved!

5th - Pick up Home Study, dropped off at agency and then dropped off I600 A application in person at local USCIS office!!

16th - Recieved fingerprint appointment

17th - Fingerprinted!

23rd - USCIS notifies us of problem

June 2006

1st - Home Study addendum done

2nd - picked up addendum dropped off at agency then dropped off at USCIS Adoption Officer office

8th - I171 -H Arrives!!! Approved by government to bring a foriegn born orphan into USA! Get document notarized. Another glitch, oh no!! Dossier consultant calls, need an updated letter from Troy's MD regarding minor surgery and an updated Guardian letter.

9th - Drove to Secretary of State to have I171-H verified, then raced back to PRC Consulate to have I171-H Authenticated. Did not get there in time for same day service, will be ready Monday.

10th - Realize I left my passport at the PRC Consulate in the copy machine!! Panick sets in!!!

12th - Pick up new MD letter. Drive to PRC Consulate to pick up Authenticated I171-H and thank God my passport was there still!!! Drive to agancy and drop off I171-H, MD letter and Guardianship letter. Dossier complete! Paper Chase DONE!!!

16th DTC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(DTC = Dossier to China)

19th - Dossier delivered via Fed Ex to CCAA in Beijing!!

21st - Ladybug landed on my leg today at pool, is this our Log In Date? I hope so!

July 2006

11th - Just notified by agancy: We recieved a LID of June 23, 2006 for our families who were DTC on June 16, 2006. Congratulations to all of our families who have been logged in!!


August 2006

28th - Found Fu Bao Ying on agencies Waiting Child List

30th - Drove to Texas Childrens Hospital International Adoption Clinic for an appointment

September 2006

1st - Sent petition to agency to adopt Fu Bao Ying

11th - Agency calls at 5:29PM, We have been matched with Fu Bao Ying!! We have a daughter waiting for us at Fuling Social Welfare Institute!!!

13th - Sent draft of Letter of Intent to Agency

20th - Our LOI is perfect! Print, sign.

21st - Fed Ex LOI to agency to be translated

27th - Spoke with Angela our Social Worker, preparing an addendum for our homestudy to match Fu Bao Ying

30th - Ordered a Crib!!

October 2006

6th - LOI sent to China

7th - Recieved Homestudy addendum, picked up the crib!

8th - Decided on baby's name, Gracie Mae Ying Smith!

9th - CCAA recieves our LOI. TA countdown begins!

January 2007

3rd - TA arrives at agency!

11th - Leave for China

16th - Arrive in Chongqing Municipality!!

17th - Gracie Mae Ying's Gotcha Day!!!!!!

24th - Fy to Guangzhou

25th - Consulate Appointment

26th - Swearing in Ceremony at Consulate

27th - Fly home and start life as a family of five!!!

We will continue to update this post as we progress through our adoption.