[lmvsmom]

I just mailed off our documents to the Washington DC embassy. I know I should feel relieved to be at this point in the journey, but I've had such a hard paper chase that all i can think is, "Who's going to find something else wrong with it?" I'm ashamed that I can't muster up any enthusiasm. Anybody else who can identify?

[amestes]

I understand what your saying. Gathering dossier documents isn't fun to do and emotionally exhausting, having to make sure everyone does what they need to do. You'll get to the point where you'll get excited, because that part is over!! Whoohoo your dossier is going to the embassy and your job with that is done. A good thing for you to know is the DC embassy had a 3 day turn around on my stuff so that's something to smile about!

[foxl]

We just applied for CoC with our local BCIS office, and I feel EXACTLY the same way! It was the last step but the directions were so long and detailed, yet not quite reassuring in that ... and I want to have it before the end of the year on both kids.

[delaware1]

I hope your sense of dread is promptly replaced by relief that one more important step is complete.

[ddhuab]

I thought that, by far, this dossier stuff would be the easiest part since "I" was in control... haha, so much I couldn't control anyway. I think in total we had to redo 9 of our twenty-three documents (two of them twice) (and this was upon MY inspection, not the agency's... I guess if I was REALLY good, I would also have faxed copies to the agency to make sure they passed muster before expending time and energy to get them state-sealed, but I am so out of energy I just couldn't face finding out such-and-such is no good. I guess I will hear about it when I send the dossier, but it will be easier for me to think of getting only one or two documents handled rather than all of them.

Also, now I am worried the dossier really IS the easy part, so how will I endure the long wait ahead?

I am just hoping it is like in the theatre -- a bad dress rehearsal means a great performance... I just sent my stuff off to the consulate in Miami today, so I DO know how you feel. I don't think I will feel absolute relief until everything is in my agency's hands.

Take a deep breath. It will be ok.

D.

[wvamom]

I had a hard time getting excited about having the documents done, too--it seemed like there would have to be SOMETHING wrong with them. Plus we already had our referral so then I was anxious that a mistake on my part might mean longer until we got our baby. But it all turned out fine in the end.

[neenasee]

Just pray that your agency looked things over carefully. I doubt you have anything to worry about. In a few days you will be relieved that this step is over, and then on to the next. Besides the waiting, the dossier is definately the hardest part of the process.
Good luck to you!!

[Bonitabonita]

I think by the end of this process you will be surprised by the emotions you experience -- they will not all be the ones that you or others think are "right" for the occasion. If you have any tendency at all to worry or be fearful (or any other emotions for that matter), you will find those tendencies will be heightened at some times during this process. Even emotions you are not really at all familiar with will surface. This is a tremendously stressful process beginning to end (wherever the end is??). My surprise was that I was not really excited when I got the call saying I was out of PGN. I was scared to death (okay, maybe not 'death'!; but I was really, really scared). Bottom line, try to avoid feelings of shame or not being normal -- it's all normal! This is a really stressful process.

Boni, Maria Cristina's mom for a little over a month & very, very surprised by my emotions almost daily

[lmvsmom]

Thank you, Thank you, dear forum friends! I never cease to be amazed at the encouragement & wisdom you have to share.