The Timeline

It seems that when we tell people we are adopting one of the first questions we get is, “how long will it take?” I wish I had an exact answer to that question, but in the world of adoption there is no exact science to the timeline. However, we do have a rough idea of what it will be like.

Here is what we know so far. We have picked our international adoption agency. We are working with the Gladney Center for Adoption. Their link is on the side bar. We are very confident in this decision as they have been so organized and kind as we start this process. They have so many resources, and it is obvious they do everything they can to keep their families updated on what’s going on in each specific adoption program. We are also working with Worlds Together as our local agency and they will help us through our home study. They have also been extremely helpful and have answered tons of our questions. We are currently working on all of the paperwork. We sent off our I-600A form, which is basically the request for approval to immigrate a foreign-born child into the US. We have submitted our initial applications to Gladney and Worlds Together, we got our FBI and Ohio background check fingerprints completed and we went to the doctors for our physical all in the past week. My arm is still sore from the tetanus shot!

We are told it will take about 4 months to get all the paperwork complete and that includes completion of the home study. Once all the paperwork is approved (hopefully that goes smoothly) then we go on the wait list. The average wait time in Ethiopia for a referral for babies is about 8 months these days. This could change of course by the time we go on the wait list. A referral is basically when our case worker gives us the information on our possible future child. Just because we get the referral it doesn’t mean that child is 100% ours because we then have to go through court in Ethiopia. Getting a court date and getting approved can take around 4 months (unless delayed by the rainy season). There are still things that can happen during that process that would derail it. We will hope that doesn’t happen to us but there are no guarantees. Once we pass court then we make travel arrangements to go to Ethiopia and pick up our baby!!

I find it is really easy to get ahead of myself, but in this moment D and I just need to focus on the paperwork and the home study and get it done. Once all the paperwork is done and we go on the wait list, then I feel like we can use that time to do the more fun things like get the nursery ready, shop for cute clothes, etc. But we feel like any free time we have right now has to go towards the paperwork. Thank goodness D is ULTRA organized because he has really tackled all this paperwork and keeps us on task. Those of you who know D well are probably not at all shocked by this!

Because I enjoy blog posts with pictures I thought I would share with everyone a cute shot of my first “child.”

This is Raney. We rescued her when we she was 2 years old. She was not a happy dog when we first got her and she had SEVERE separation anxiety. I am quite proud of us for pushing through and not giving up on her. It took her a while but Raney is a changed dog and is incredibly loving. She told me the other day that after having us to herself for almost 5 years she is finally ready to have a sibling. Yes, I am one of those dog owners. J