[cakegirl]

Hi Ann (and everybody else, of course!),

I do Brazilian Jiu Jistu and/or submission grappling... Basically wrestling but with added "submissions", chokes, joint locks, etc. I went to the US last year and again this year for a couple of months of training and competing.

I'm busy working right now, so I can't type out an update from the DOCS course I went to on Thu/Fri, but maybe tonight I'll get back on here and update everyone - it might be good for KLusk who just started a thread saying that they're in Australia and want to adopt.

Rebecca

[coffee_please]

Hi Everyone,



Just an update (a very happy one I might add) from me and dh. WE ARE IN THE POOL!!!! Finally. As of, 4.30 pm this afternoon. I am elated! It has been an absolute long time coming, but yay we are here. The first hurdle has been leaped, now bring on the next one. I am ready. Where are you guys up to? How are things going? Don’t forget to keep us up to date. I’m very interested. I look forward to hearing from you all soon. Take Care, Kirsty

[kune]

Congratulations - one step closer - Keep us posted.
Ann

[coffee_please]

Hi Guys. Yet another set back. Our profile has been in the pool for all of 1-day and we get a call to say our paperwork expires tomorrow. I'm absolutely gutted. What does this mean you may ask... well, more medicals, more police checks, more charactor references, more paperwork... but more than anything... even more stuff for us to do. Just when we thought we could just sit back and wait and that everything was done at our end. No. What can I say?!?!?!?

[loubielou]

That is madness! It should be 2 years from when you completed your day1 and day2. What are they talking about? How did that happen?

[loubielou]

Whereabouts are you? I am sooooooooo gobsmacked by what you've said I! Thinking about our situation...we took 9 months to get into the pool from our first enquiry and then they sent us a letter saying we were approved and that the paperwork lasted 2 years - and that was taken from the date we enquired - not when we went on the day1day2 thingies. I was upset enough to learn we had effectively lost 9 months of our 2 year wait, but your situation sounds insane. I assume you have questioned them. If you want I can pm you our case workers details, she is lovely and may be able to help or offer advice.
Lou

[coffee_please]

We made our original enquiries in Oct 03 and did day one (if I remember rightly) in Nov 03 and Day 2 in Feb 04. I can't remember when we got our paperwork in, but it was a few months after that I am sure. We have been working on our profile since Feb 05. I'm just absolutely gutted. But they are keeping us in the pool apparently - so it is not as bad as I thought it was originally. But still. <sigh>. I just keep thinking about barriers. Is there a reason we keep hitting all these barriers? I'm worried too. Because something that held us up alot originally was dh's medical. They found that he had a heart murmur. It turned out to not be a problem but to get them to put that in writing was a mission and a half. I'm worried that we are going to have to wander back to our doctors and she will say - well how do I know it hasn't gotten worse in 2 years and will send him for more checks. That took 6-months last time. HELP. Any suggestions? I'm in Auckland, NZ btw.

[cakegirl]

Hey Kirsty,

Isn't that always the way - they call it an emotional rollercoaster for a reason!

I'm sure you and DH will get through this. You're meant to be parents, and your child will find you the way they are meant to.

Rebecca

[loubielou]

I am still amazed by this. Obviously they take the 2 years from the date of your enquiry, which I think is madness. Perhaps it would be worth finding out why this is and if it can be changed, it makes no sense. That medical thing really is a pain isnt it? Can you try calling and asking for another letter, not go visit. Just play it low-key, say it needs to be refiled and can you basically have the same letter re-typed with a current date on it.
Well, your post has reminded me to look at my letter, and we were accepted 17 Nov 04 and the letter says our profile remains current until 03 Mar 06 - which is soooooooon, in the scheme of things! (we obviously made our first approach to them in March 04) so - there you go. I am going to ring and query this....see what I can find out.
Will let you know when I hear more.
Take care, dont give up hope!
Louise

[coffee_please]

We had our medicals today. We were in there for less than 30 mins. She copied the notes from our last medical onto the new document and charged us 80 bucks. I can't believe it. What a rip!!!

[Melissa10]

First Timer

Hi everyone

I have spent the last few hours reading through all your posts. What a great site!! My partner and I have just begun looking into adoption and I have found all of your posts very informative. My heart goes out to each and everyone of you and wish you all the luck in the world with your chosen paths.

So far we have attended an evening in Christchurch for the ICANZ organisation. We both love the idea of intercountry adoption (well what we know of it). We are very interested in China or Russia. Just this week I phoned CYF and we are down for Day 1 and Day 2 in the new year. Were told we wouldn't have to wait longer that six months. Fingers crossed.

Was wondering if anybody could give me the names of any books written about people who have adopted internationally.

Look forward to hearing from you

Best Wishes

Melissa

[loubielou]

Hi Melissa
Welcome to the rollercoaster ride! I have been thinking about intercountry adoption lately, as we have now been waiting a year and I am feeling a little scared it's not going to happen here for us. Did you find out a time-frame and cost for intercountry? I would be interested to know. esp Russia. Most of what I've read online is from an American perspective.
I have an online friend from another board who is a kiwi living in the states who has just adopted from China, they are in China at the moment actually, picking up their little girl! So exciting for them!
Do you know if you need to make a profile to adopt from overseas? If you do I would suggest getting photos of yourself and dh together over the next 6 months or so. We found putting together a record of who we were a time consuming process, esp if you havent got nice photos to include. And to maybe journal your thoughts about adoption and parenting, so that you have some substance for your profile and dont have to delay things once your days 1,2 and 3 are over.
Best of luck with everything. Hope to hear more as things progress for you...

[Melissa10]

Hi there loubielou, thanks for the reply. How exciting for your friends getting their wee girl. Thats just so cool!!

We attended an ICANZ evening a few months back in Christchurch. It was a very informative evening. The cost they gave us to adopt from Russia was $40,000 all expences included. At the evening they breakdown the pricing. Two return flights for both parents and also the return flight of child, accommodation, all legal stuff, childs passports and citizenship etc, etc.

I'm not 100% sure if you have to submit a profile for intercountry or not (maybe someone else out there could answer that ? for us). If you havent all ready, check out ICANZ web site www.icanz.gen.nz. Its a great site. From what I understand the process is much quicker than adopting from NZ.

We are not sure as to which way we would like to go. The money is the biggest thing. But at the end of the day we would really love a child in our lives.

Thanks for all your advise regarding the profile I'm sure it will be very helpful.

[coffee_please]

Hi All,

Since we said we would keep each other up to date with our news (however big or small), I decided I better share my latest piece. I know on the large scale of things, it probably isn't so big, but I was really excited, and thought I would share it with you all.



Tomorrow, our profile has been in the Adoption Pool for 3-months (I can’t believe how fast that time has gone actually). Acting on a suggestion made by Richie68 (thank you btw), I decided I would ring my SW to both touch base, and to ask a few questions. Keeping in mind that they can’t really “tell” you anything, I decided to ask

For the latest Adoption Statistics (how many placements were made in our area during the last year, how many children in our area were placed outside of our area during the last year – that sort of thing). She is going to send this information to me.

If she had any feedback about our profile. Turns out she has received very positive feedback. This was fantastic for me to hear because we had so many dramas getting it ready. I may have mentioned in the past, that we have an unusual cover on our profile (a painting rather than a photo). Apparently this has caused some debate (it is a bit of an odd painting). According to our SW, people see it as a point of difference – they either love it or hate it – and all agree it should stay there, as it is quirky – like us apparently. And Ritchie68, you will be pleased to know our photos are all of a good size. Now for the best (and most nerve racking question of all)…

Has our profile been shown? I was so nervous asking this question. What if it hasn’t been shown? I would be so disappointed. Am I better off just not knowing, rather than being disappointed? But I grew some you-know-what’s and asked the hard question. And…. Da da da dum!!!!! It has been shown… a “few” times in fact! This was music to my ears. She couldn’t tell me if it was on hold at the moment, but it could be couldn’t it. Totally cool. I tell you, this made my day today.


All in all, I really feel like things are happening. It made it all just feel a bit more real to me. One day (could even be one day soon) there could be a new member of our family. Well that’s it. My update. How is everything going with you guys? Please keep in touch. I really love the support I get from here. Only you guys know what it’s like out there.



Take Care, hope to hear from you soon.

Kirsty

[kune]

KIRSTY

Congratulations!!! Have you got a photo of the cover you can scan so we can all see??

I have no idea what the waiting for a child is like but I guess it is like walking a tightrope. Full of hopes and dreams, and a few fears thrown in to keep you on your toes. Keep your positive attitude - (I like your idea of being a little different). Nothing to loose and lots to gain. I'll keep watching for an update.

Cheers

Ann