[furrybluemom]

We got our I 171H letter on Friday! We have been waiting over 17 months for USCIS approval. I am so excited to finally have cleared that hurdle. However, DH is not excited since we missed the July 1st deadline to file our dossier in Vietnam. He called it a worthless piece of paper. We knew we would miss the deadline, so we had started to complete another homestudy for a domestic adoption. Now, I am questioning that decision. I really, really want an infant or toddler girl since we have adopted 3 boys already. Most domestic agencies won't let us choose which is why we went international in the first place. (our boys are special needs, older child, foster/adopt kids) So, I have spent the last 2 days wondering if we should return to international with another country switch (we started in Guatemala) or try domestic or wait for Vietnam to reopen or what?

[ksquilter72]

Congratulations on finally receiving the I171H! If your heart is in Vietnam, then it's less than 2 months before we know for sure what will happen with adoptions in that country. If your heart is set on a little girl, I'd find an agency that you trust and find out what your options are for international adoption through another country. Your I171H can always be amended!

[furrybluemom]

On June 26 we meet with our local homestudy agency and requested that they change our international homestudy to a domestic one. Life then took over, 3 out of town trips in three weeks, boys arriving home from sleep over camp, etc. On July 12, we got our I-171H letter from USCIS. We decided to continue on the domestic track until something became clearer with Vietnam or Guatemala. Everyone told us that finding a birthmom was a long shot since we are older, have 3 kids, and we wanted only a girl. While investigating possible agencies last week, we were emiled an offer to be presented to a birth mom who was due any day. I am now convinced this person was trying to take advantage of us. But it did motivate us to complete our Dear Birthmom letter in under 48 hours! Then last Tuesday, July 29, our local agency got a call from an agency in Iowa requesting information on prospective parents looking for a match. The next 4 days were crazy... but we are matched with a wonderful birth mom in TX due with a girl in October. We have even talked with her on the phone. The shock is only now wearing off. I am starting to freak out about having a newborn. We were emotionally preped for a baby who would be at least 6 months old but probably closer to a year. We have never parented or really even held a newborn for more than a few minutes. Life holds such surprises! Cindy

[Yash]

Furrybluemom, that's incredible! I hope everything works out for all of you.