A lot of people are asking when we’re getting McKenna. Short answer…we don’t have a date yet, but are hopeful that we will have her at Thanksgiving. Although the paperwork has all been submitted, this is what’s left: We are currently waiting on our I-800 receipt from USCIS. This is a piece of paper that indicates our LOA has been received and that we have requested to travel to China to pick up McKenna. This takes about 2 weeks. (We are completing week 1 of this wait.) Then we will wait about 2 more weeks for the official I-800. (I-800 is an official document that gives us permission to travel). After that, our I-800 is forwarded to the NVC (National Visa Center). All of our paperwork is reviewed here and forwarded to the US Embassy in China. We will be notified by the NVC with a cable letter. This cable letter is necessary in order to begin the Article 5 process. Article 5 is the process in which McKenna will be issued a Visa at the Consulate in China. This process takes exactly 2 weeks. After the Article 5 is picked up, it will be sent overnight to Beijing and couriered to the CCCWA. Once the Article 5 is couriered to the CCCWA, we will be in process for our TA (Travel Approval). TA usually takes 2 – 3 weeks. TAs are granted by the CCCWA and sent to our adoption agency. Once we have TA, we wait for CA (Consulate Appointment). These are generally scheduled within 48 hours of TA. Once we have TA and CA, we can start working on scheduling our flights to China! A family found out their CA last Monday, flew to China on Thursday, and had Gotcha’ yesterday! That’s a mad turnaround and makes my head spin! Whew! While we wait, we get things ready. You know me and my lists…we’re getting things we will need for the trip. The hard part about packing is that we don’t know exactly when we’re going, so it may be cold or warm. McKenna’s province is in relation to Michigan, but we close in a province in relation to Florida. We’re researching hotels, flights and deciding what we want to try and see in Beijing, Yinchuan, and Guangzhou, and try to get an idea of how much it will cost. The list is endless. McKenna’s room is pretty much ready, we need to organize her closet (get a dresser and baskets to put in the shelves Shane is going to make) and put away the clothes we know are too big. Also need to get a toy box and clean out cabinets around the house to make room for her stuff. Oh, and we haven’t really begun to “baby proof” the house! I’ve begun researching surgery options for her hip and we are really hoping to get her referred to Shriner’s in Greenville since it’s so close. I spent many hours last week checking out “spica casts” and watching videos on how to change diapers, bathe, entertain, and basically care for her when she’s casted. We’re hoping to have her surgery while I’m out on leave, but we won’t know anything till she gets here and the doctors see how extensive her hip/leg issues actually are. I usually sleep a little, but most nights my mind literally runs like crazy with all the things that we will need to do. I cry…a lot. When other families share posts about where they are in the process, we are happy for them (and I have to admit sometimes a bit jealous), but it’s amazing to be sharing these experiences with others across the country, many of which we will never meet. The ones ahead of us in the process are very encouraging and it relieves some of the fear. A lot of families are at the exact same step, so we’re hoping to get together with them in China with our babies!! Our newest assignment is watching a series of videos to prepare us and our hearts for receiving McKenna, what to expect initially and after she comes home. So much to do!!! Again, you know me and my lists, so I’ll post updates as they’re added and crossed off! Thanks to everyone for their support and prayers…keep them coming!!
Posted on: Tue, 17 Sep 2013 06:45:36 +0000