Our Red Thread Journey

Fall 05  Thinking about adoption

Feb 06  Research different agencies, processes and adoptive countries

Early March  Agree adoption is a good match.  More research

Mid March  Decide to adopt from China using CommonWealth Adoptions International Inc. from Littleton CO.   Start initial paperwork

April 23  Offical application approved.  Linda G. will be our home study personnel and Ashley Hall will be our case manger

26  Linda left phone message.  Will start next Wed! 

28   Start "paper chase” and website

29  Attended adoption seminar in Parker, CO.  Session was fun and glad to finally meet Annie.  Received homestudy paper work.  First "away" homestudy.

May 3  First "home" homestudy!  We love Linda G!  More paperwork....by the time we're finish, it will be hundreds of papers!

4  Mailed fingerprints to FBI

5   More paperwork from CAII

8   Mailed Child Abuse background check

12   Second home study with Linda!  Covered everything from past history to preparing for our trip to parenting books “love and logic”. 

12 – 18   Finished autobiographies.  Whew!  It is much more difficult than one would imagine!  Watching the Chinese Channel more and more.

13   Financial statement paperwork complete.

15  Mailed in I600A form with copies of birth certificates, marriage license and decree.  This will ultimately give us our “golden” ticket to China!

17  Mike's med exam/passport/work confirmation/health insurance/tax returns

18  2nd marriage cert./Tara's med exam/Fed Ex shipping account

19  Last homestudy!  Handed over almost all of homestudy paperwork

20  Mailed guardianship statemet & photos to CAII

22  1st of clothing bought for our daughter..how fun!

25  Received Doussier - 2nd part of "paperchase"

June 8  Approved for Federal Immigration fingerprints

13  Tara HIV test - had Hep shots last year

16  Homestudy report finished by Linda G

17  Took U.S. Citizenship/Federal Immigration fingerprints

20  Mike mailed passport application

22  Tara mailed for updated passport

July 12  Another criminal background check - Tara

13  Mike HIV test and 1st Hep shots

14  Homestudy sent to state  - CAII should have sent it much sooner - grrr...

19  Offical IL  paperwork arrived

Aug 1  Tara's passport work complete

5  All day Love & Logic parenting course/Linda in CO Springs.

9  Mike's other criminal background check

15  Adoption application letter to China finished

23  Doussier sent to CAII

September 1  Tara and Mike's  171H approval letter arrived!  CAII notice stating that adoptions now taking 13 months for a referral

7  More paperwork sent

10  Must redo some paperwork.  2 of the 3 local notories were determined illegal from State.   Small town for ya!

14  Resent new paperwork

Oct.  6  Received OK from Sec. of State!  We are state approved!

12  Sent last check for now

16  Sent post study agreement with CAII

20  DTC!!! 

Nov 21 LID!!!!!!!!!

Dec  8  Found out we were LID!!!