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#1
05-11-2008, 10:57 PM
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Sabrina has been home for a year. Reflecting on the journey!!!
This week my sweet Sabrina has been home for a year. And I’m sitting here tonight reflecting on the journey that started several years ago and brought me to this point in my life.
Just to give you some perspective, I’m in my mid 40s. And have known for over 20 years that I can never have bio kiddos. After a marriage in my 20s that ended after several miscarriages, I resolved myself to living my life single. So instead I focused on my career and education. And I rocked and rolled, and I traveled the world. And I had my nieces and nephews to spoil. But there was always still a part of me that longed for a child of my own to love and nurture. Then I met my sweet husband while I was living in Germany. My soulmate. And one day he watched me cooing over a friend’s baby and he said “Laura, you’re a mother in your heart. And your heart is breaking. It’s time to look into adoption”. And we never looked back. That was about three years ago. And here we are today. Sometimes I look at Sabrina, and I just marvel.  Today I got my first official Mother’s Day gift. A digital photo frame with a slideshow of “goofy” pictures of DH and Sabrina that they've been taking for weeks. I attached a couple of the pictures. I have to say, I have never received anything in my life that was more precious to me! For those of you still involved in this crazy process, I just want you to know that I understand. In fact, there is nothing that I understand more. I’m rooting for you every single day, and I'm praying that your precious children are home very soon.  And for my longtime Forum friends, the ones who got me through some of the saddest and darkest days of my life, I just want you to know, that I’m keeping you close in my heart. Always! 
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Laura 01/30/06 - Started adoption journey 04/07/06 - Receceived referral of baby girl 08/06, 10/06, 01/07 - Wonderful visit trips 03/17/07 - Began fosering in Antigua After 2 KOs and 9 months in PGN.... 04/02/07 - Out of PGN 05/16/07 - Home forever  Researching 2nd adoption from Ethiopia  ~ In this life we cannot do great things, we can only do small things with great love ~
Mother Theresa
Last edited by Larue : 07-22-2008 at 10:49 AM. 
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Guatemala Adoption Information
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#2
05-12-2008, 12:05 AM
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Sabrina gets cuter everytime you post a photo!
Your DH sounds really sweet! Congrats on your 1 year anniversary. I remember shouting a big WOO HOO when you posted your long awaited OUT last year. Hugs Amber
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Amber It's a girl!!! DOB: 3/29/06  Referral 4/18/06 - TBN - Emma Kate Waiting.......and praying! DNA a positive match! 6/16/06 Pre-Approval 6/27/06 The 1st time I held my daughter!!!!! June 28, 2006 1st visit trip June 27 - July 6 New POA sent out 7/10/06 2nd visit trip Aug. 13-18 Submitted to PGN Sept 12 - OOPS! Not true! Actual date file entered PGN - Oct. 23rd KO'd Nov. 7 - PGN requires new employment letter for my husband - notary's commission expired FINALLY RE-SUBMITTED TO PGN Jan. 4th, 2007 New reviewer assigned to our case Jan. 30, 2007 KO'd AGAIN!!! Feb. 1, 2007 - this is really getting old!! 3rd visit trip Feb. 1-4th Feb. 21st and we still don't know what KO#2 is even for?!?!?!? Guess it wasn't a KO after all!!!!!! Feb. 22 OUT OF PGN!!!!!!!! March 26th 2007 leaving for extended pick up trip! March 29th - Happy 1st Birthday Kate!!  Home forever on April 27th!!!!!!!!!!!!! Praise God!!!
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#3
05-12-2008, 03:05 AM
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Congratulations on being home a year! You were always an inspiration to us all. Sabrina is a cutie and your hubby isn't half bad either
! Happy Mother's Day and thanks for sharing.
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5/9/06 Signed with agency 8/18/06 Got our 171H 9/19/06 Our baby girl is born  9/21/06 We receive and accept referral 11/14/06 Officially in FC 12/4/06 FC & DNA appointment 12/12/06 DNA test "lost" in the mail 12/14/06 New DNA test scheduled 12/20/06 DNA received at the lab 12/28/06 DNA a match 99.9% 1/11/07 - 1/20/07 Visit Trip  1/19/07 - Out of FC 1/22/07 - PA 2/01/07 - Entered PGN  3/16/07 - KO 5/15/07 - OUT of Pgn 6/1/07 - have BC and Passport 6/11/07 - submitted for Pink! 6/27/07 - Embassy Appointment 6/28/07 - Pick up Visa Embassy 6/30/07 - HOME!!!!  www.everythingmia.blogspot.com 
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#4
05-12-2008, 03:37 AM
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Congratulations Laura! I know there were days you never thought you'd get to write this post. The pictures are great (esp. the hairband pics) and you sound so incredibly happy. Enjoy your sweet family!
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Suzanne 06/15/06 - Ana Maire born 8 months in PGN 06/29/07 - Home 08/19/07 - Baby J Born 08/25/07 - Referral 08/30/07 - POA 09/06/07 - Re-fingerprinted 09/17/07 - Updated I-797C rec'd 10/01/07 - DNA Testing 10/05/07 - DNA Match (99.99%) 10/09/07 - Submitted for PA 10/29/07 - PA 11/9-12/07 - Visit 12/06/07 - Submitted for new I-600A 12/10/07 - Rec'd updated I-797C 01/14/08 - SWI Scheduled - Bmom late - resched 02/11/08 - CNA Reg 02/18/08 - Bmom must 'ratify' SW report 03/12/08 - Out of FC 03/14/08 - Submitted to PGN - CA reg number not clear enough-need CNA affidavit 03/18/08 - Affidavit rec'd - resub to PGN 04/21/08 - Previo 04/29/08 - Resubmit 06/11/08 - BMI complete 06/27/08 - Previo 07/08/08 - Resubmit
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#5
05-12-2008, 04:47 AM
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That was such a sweet tribute to your family. DH sounds amazing. After such a rough period, I am glad that you have found this oasis.
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Referral end of June In PGN 10/12 Notice of KO 11/5  11/14/07 (or so) back in PGN Out of PGN 1/18/06 !  Orange! 2/12/08  2/21/08 2nd DNA at Embassy (?)  C'mon PINK get your groove thing on!! PINK! 2/27  Embassy 3/12 Home 3/14 www.adventuresinpeanutville.blogspot.com
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#6
05-12-2008, 05:02 AM
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Hey Laura! Sabrina is still the cutest little thing I ever did see. And dh in a headband is a thing of beauty too! Congrats on such a wonderful family!
__________________
 Adoptive mom to my former foster son, age 4 Former foster mom to his sister, 3, who we miss terribly Adoptive mom to my Guatemalan son, age 2 Adoptive mom to my Guatemalan daughter, 1
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#7
05-12-2008, 05:05 AM
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your little peanut
is so adorable. Congratulations! Blessing Karen
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4/20/06 Decided on 2nd adoption 8/07/06 Girl born 8/16/06 Referral 10/04/06 DNA Auth 10/26/06 DNA done 11/29/06 DNA-results neg 12/18/07 Private DNA done 01/11/07 DNA-results neg 1/18/07 Babies switched? DNA redone 2/15/07 DNA results pos 3/22/07 Submitted to US embassy for DNA auth 7/17/07 DNA auth 7/20/07 DNA done 8/01/07 DNA 99.96% 8/3/07 2nd I72 issued 8/30/07 Recieved PA 9/06/07 Entered PGN 11/01/07 KO for missing sig on birthmom BC 11/26/07 Back into PGN 12/04/04 Not back in pgn--lied to! 12/20/07 Back into PGN 12/27/07 Not in PGN --lied to again! 1/10/08 2nd visit trip 1/18/08 Informed BC is corrected (?) 1/25/08 Told by US agency B/C NOT corrected but we had been registered with CA 1/30/08 Called PGN-Actual KO was 9/26/08! 2/12/08 CA reg 2/18/08 Told back in to PGN 2/22/08 Oh not in --LIED to AGAIN 3/3/08 into the recert side of PGN 3/2208 Back into adoptions side PGN 4/22/08 birthmom interview done 4/23/08 Case approved/ waiting to exit PGN 6/18/08 OUT OF PGN
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#8
05-12-2008, 05:18 AM
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Laura,
We just celebrated our first year as a forever family too! I remember so clearly the way you had to fight to get your baby taken care of and then home where she belongs. I cannot believe how she has grown! She is beautiful. The fact that she is home, healthy and thriving is a testimony to God's goodness and faithfulness because we sure prayed sweet Sabrina home! It was a privilege to pray with and encourage you.
__________________
Natalie Homegrown DS#1 4/2/01 Homegorwn DS#2 3/16/04 Signed with Agency 4/21/06 It's a Girl! Arianna Dulce (b9/14/06,r10/12/06) PGN 1/18/07  OUT of PGN 3/6/07 PINK 4/4/07 Home Forever 5/3/07   "You have granted us the desire of our hearts and have not withheld the request of our lips."
Psalm 21: 2
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#9
05-12-2008, 05:37 AM
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Congratulations! Thanks for sharing and being such a rock for everyone on the board! Sabrina is SUCH a cutie and what a great DH you have!
__________________
Julie Mom to Elisabeth (home 9/15/06) and Derek (home 4/25/08)
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#10
05-12-2008, 06:17 AM
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Aowyn!
That little munchkin is as sweet as ever! I'm so happy for you and glad to see your post!
 Laurie
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Laurie 3/10/06 baby girl born 10/12/06 in PGN 02/05/07 OUT! home forever: 3/2: baby's brother born02/26/07 in pgn: 9/17 KO: 10/4 resubmit: 10/12 OUT: 12/13/07  DNA at US Embassy: 1/17/08 Pink: 1/25/08 US Embassy appt: 2/11/08 http://web.mac.com/sdkatz/iWeb/Laura...Blog/Blog.html Home! 2/13/2008
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#11
05-12-2008, 06:21 AM
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Happy One Year Family-versary! I love your mother's day present - that is so precious! I bet Sabrina and Stephan had great fun putting it together. Sabrina is as gorgeous as ever!
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Sheri May 24, 2006 - IT'S A BOY (DOB)!!! June 8, 2006 - Referral  Nov 21, 2006 - Into PGN w/ PA Jan 18, 2007 - OUT!!!!!  Feb 10, 2007 - Together Forever Feb 12, 2007 - Embassy Appointment Feb 15, 2007 - Home!!!!! 
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#12
05-12-2008, 06:23 AM
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Thanks for your beautiful post. (And tell your DH the headband is quite becoming
 )Love to you and your family!
__________________
Dee Mom to two homegrown and one heartgrown, and in process for one more! 1/25/03 Gabriel born 3/14/06 Carolina born in GC 12/7/06 Carolina home forever 7/8/07 Clair-Elise born 12/26/05 Jesse-Luis born in GC 5/25/07 Begin paperchasing for Jesse-Luis 6/29/07 POA signed 7/27/07 Dossier completed 8/9/07 I171H 11/29/07 submitted for PA (DNA done already, oops, no, can't use it) 12/26/07 Jesse-Luis turns 2. Happy birthday! 1/25/08 SW interview w/ FM and Jesse for new report 2/12/08 Confirmed registered w/ CA 2/28/08 Out of FC 3/4/08 In PGN (without PA) 3/6/08 Notified that they can't find birthmom for new DNA test 3/7/08 PI finds birthmom! 2nd DNA auth received3/14/08 DNA and POA for final sign-off done 3/24/08 DNA match 99.99% 4/4/08 KO for no PA and B-mom's BC illegible 4/17/08 PA 4/23/08 Back in PGN 6/17/08 BMI 7/4/08 OUT of PGN. Happy 4th! 7/9/08 Submitted to RENAP (GCBC)
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#13
05-12-2008, 06:27 AM
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Wonderful pictures! Happy Family Week!
__________________
11/22/05 Domestic Homestudy Complete 5/6/07 Katelyn born in Guatemala  7/6/07 Katelyn's referral received 8/16/07 Fingerprints 8/24/07 Dossier Sent to Guatemala via DHL  9/6/07 I-171H Issued on Katelyn's 4 month birthday! 9/20/07 DNA Authorization and in Family Court! 10/22/07 DNA and SWI scheduled-Never taken!! Rescheduled to 11/8/07 11/21/07 DNA is a 99.99% Match! 11/29/07 OUT of FC 12/22/07 In PGN without PA 1/12/08 PA on Day 51 1/11/08 Previo #1, no PA 2/09/08 Registration with CNA 2/13/08 Resubmit to PGN! 2/29/08 Previo #2, no notary signature on translation of documents!  3/7-3/10 Visit Trip to meet Katelyn! 3/14/08 Back in PGN 5/6/08 Told by atty we are "waiting for final signature" 5/29, 6/6 6/9 attempts at BMI 6/13 4th BMI appt DONE! 7/8 Previo & resubmit C'mon we want our approval PGN! ________________________________________ Kim http://www.kandkadopt.blogspot.com
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#14
05-12-2008, 06:28 AM
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Wow, has it been a year already??? Sabrina is a doll, and DH is such a sweetie!
Congrats on your 1st official Mom's Day. How wonderful!!
__________________ Connor  Began 5/3/04 8/5/04-referral Home 4ever 2/11/05 #2 older child, ref 10/0512/05-told there is 'trouble' with birthmom-don't even send gifts 5/06-recd call that birthmom wants to reclaim and his case goes back to court agency WITHDREW US W/OUT OUR PERMISSION They say his adoption will "never happen" 3/07-recd call that he is finally avail (again); courts have ruled against birthmom; but another family is paper-ready & waiting for him... I'm so sorry we let you down, son of my heart time to get our act together! Cristian 5/13/07-begin h/s update/paperchase 6/1/07-referral Home 4ever 3/8/08 |
