Package in Ghana

Well we found out that our file was at the NVC (national visa center) on the 24th. They told us that the package wouldn't be there long - they like to get those out quickly.
I took a stab at calling this morning - and got through. Our file was sent to Ghana the very next day the 25th!!!!
Romana is going to call the Consulate today (after 3 their time) to see if they have the information.
They should have the teletype - as it only takes a day for those. She has Brody's medical, so maybe she could get in tomorrow for the Interview - maybe the visa could be issued on Friday.
OH MY GOSH - could it really just be a few weeks (or 1 week) away from when I get to hold my little guy in my arms.........
Keep your fingers crossed that we will be able to find someone that can fly him to NY.

Cheers ~
Julz, Scott and Brody

Could it really happen?

Yesterday we finally got in touch with the NVC (National Visa Center), our case just arrived there yesterday. It took about 1.5 weeks to get there. They said the case won't be there for long - maybe Friday it will head off to Ghana.
So they send a teletype to the Consulate in Ghana, then they also send the entire package - our file - to Ghana via Diplomatic Pouch, and it should get there next week.
We let Romana know - and she was so excited.
Romana is calling on Brody's medical today to see if the Doctor wrote it up for the Embassy, it should be ready today or Friday. She then hopes to head to the Embassy on Tuesday (7/31/07) to take Brody to his Visa Interview. What the heck do you interview a 4 year old on? LOL - then maybe Visa will be issued by Friday (8/3/07) Oh my - could it really happen that fast? It would be great - but I'd also be happy with the 10th of August.
We will keep you all posted!!!!
Julz, Scott & Brody

Prepared??? I think so.......

I was talking to a friend the other night. She called to sort of "yell" at me LOL.
She was going to buy Brody his big wheel - but thought she'd check our blog really quick before going to www.target.com and sure enough she saw the picture. She called and said "YOU CAN'T BUY HIM EVERYTHING" heheheh - yes I can - I'm the mummy :-)
So I told her I'd back off (a little) as much as possible. It's so hard- I want to buy him EVERYTHING so he's fully stocked when he get's here. There are a few things that I want him to have that he doesn't yet - but like she said - other's need to buy him things to.
So I've done my diligence and updated our target registry :-) now his Godmother (that's who yelled at me) can go and have some fun.

Other than that I think we are all prepared for his arrival :-)

Just talked to Brody this morning - not very talkative today though - it's more on his terms apparently ;-) But we showed him his big wheel & Butch was next to it, he liked it and smile really big.

We are just waiting for his visa now - then it's time for him to come home.

Julz

they are here

For those of you who followed yesterday - Jeremiah & Maria landed in North Carolina today at 11:25 they landed late because their flight was delayed leaving LG because of Thunderstorms. They are fitting in very well with their families.

On our adoption the update is that it looks like our package didn't got to the National Visa Center. It looks like it went straight to Ghana. If that's the case we could have Brody home so much sooner!!!!

We will keep you all posted.

Cheers ~
Julz

Exciting & Sad Day....

UPDATE 7:05 pm PST
I just got off the phone with Mo, and the kids missed their connecting flight from NY to Atl. so they are staying at a hotel at LaGuardia airport, where they will get a direct flight into North Carolina tomorrow morning. Mo was about 30 minutes away from the airport when she got the call. she's bummed, but knows that they'll be there in the morning.
Apparently while they were at JFK the customs was just crazy -a lot of people I guess. Then they waited outside for a shuttle to take them from JFK to LaGuardia, Felix cried every time a shuttle went by wondering why it wasn't his. Poor kiddos - long day for them.
So Mo will meet her children tomorrow! I'll keep you all posted on the updates :- )

I talked to Kelly today and she says that Brody is doing fine without Felix. SO, that's good - we sent over some more pictures to him of his toys and he's in love with his new Big Wheel!!!!
hopefully he'll be home soon to ride it!!!!
ciao ~
Julz


Hi everyone ~ well today is a very exciting day. Jeremiah Felix & Maria Paulina are coming to America. They landed in JFK about 50 minutes ago :-)
They should be in their mommy's arms in about 5.5 hours. I'm so excited for them and their family!!!
The sad news?
Brody and Jeremiah Felix are best friends. It's going to be a rough few days for him to get use to no seeing Jeremiah Felix every day.
Hopefully Brody is not far behind them with only a couple more weeks before he can go home!
I'll update you all when they arrive with their families!
So excited for their families - and yes jealous :-)

Love,
Julz

A picture worth a thousand tears.......

How adorable is this picture? This is Brody, Jeremiah Felix & Maria Paulina. Jeremiah and Maria are coming home on Tuesday - they will finally be with their forever family. Who have during all this become an extension of our family. I consider them cousins :-)
Brody and Jeremiah have become so close - we (us & his parents) don't think that they get they aren't going together. It's so sad. They have been together for over a year, these three. During that year they have lived in an orphange (OSU) with a foster family, and now with Romana at Beacon House (www.beaconhousetrust.org) and now Maria & Jeremiah will make the journey from Accra, Ghana to NY, then down to North Carolina where they will meet in person mommy & sister - then the foursome will head out in the car for 3 hours to VA (home) where they will be greated with a huge loving family.
I think it will be hard on Brody, but I know that he's in good hands. Romana & Kelly will make sure that he's couping with it OK, and they should start getting him all excited for his big trip, hopefully just a few weeks out!!!!
Love that photo - just had to share it with everyone. I've also asked Kelly for a few more of the three of them - I want to cherish them forever.
We are going to make sure the boys talk on skype (www.skype.com) so that they stay in touch - and next year, hoping for a big "family" trip to Ghana for a visit!!!!

Cheers ~
Julz

APPROVED I600

This morning I received a pleasant call from our Congresswoman's office *Patty* she informed me that they called her to let her know that our I600 was approved and on it's way to the National Visa Center -

SO WHAT NEXT?
we wait maybe 2-3 weeks for the NVC (New Hampshire) to send it on to Ghana. In Ghana they will decide if they need to do an investigation - if they do - maybe 2 more weeks, if they don't they should issue his visa.

WHEN IS BRODY COMING HOME?
we are keeping our fingers crossed that he'll be home mid -end of August!!! FINALLY

It's been a long road to get us this far - but it is so going to be worth it!!!!

School starts September 4th - so hopefully he's home for the school year!!!!

Julz, Scott & Brody

USCIS strikes again.......

Well it’s been awhile since I posted J but so much has been going on.

Last time I updated everyone we had 2 items on the list from USCIS that we needed.

Yesterday we received the final item!!! YIPPY - this came to us from Ghana, Romana sent the original Death Decree for Brody’s biological father.

I then sent it over night to the USCIS office in San Jose.

Last week I finally got Scott involved with the USCIS officer, because the man was just annoying me.

Well he evidently annoyed Scott as well LOL – not hard to do!

This man has a very condescending tone when he speaks, he told Scott “this is a very long and expensive process.”

Aren’t we glad he told us that – we had no idea (18 months later and $$$$$ out the yingyang).

We were told we were getting another letter from them with additional requests for MORE stuff! And the hits just keep on coming!

It was dated 6/29/2007 apparently – well ironically that came yesterday too (13 days US Mail from San Jose to Sunnyvale – about 12 miles – interesting).

In this letter he referenced for our I600A – what the heck – we did that over a year ago and that was approved. Argh they are just so bloody stupid there!

I called him this morning, and he said “it’s not my fault your husband doesn’t communicate to you properly” WHAT???? “I told him to disregard that letter”. Fine – but do you understand that this application is for I600 – not the I600A – we did that already. “YES” Good news! Finally he’s getting it. Stupid head!

He told me again that he needs the Death Decree – explained that it would be in the hands of the USCIS office by 10:30 this morning an original and a copy per the request. He said that once he has that he will forward our application to Ghana. Does that mean he’s approving it? Probably- but I got so annoyed (yes again) that I had to get off the phone with him!

We sent a letter to our Congresswoman yesterday, and hopefully she will be able to do a little more investigation for us.

It’s frustrating, and yes it’s a long process. But when you deal with people that just don’t seem to get it, or don’t do their own homework, it becomes more frustrating.

It’s like he hadn’t even really read our file. Why would he request a home study? UHHHH you already have one.

Dealing with these people at USCIS are like dealing with the DMV. It is absolutely ridiculous to have such incompetent people working our Federal Agency Departments! Don’t you think? Is there no checks & balances? Friends have applied for their I600’s in different states, and got approvals almost on the spot - what is the difference? Why is some documentation needed for some people, and other’s it’s not? If this is a Federal Agency they should require the same things no matter what state you live in. Not saying that I would want everyone to go through what we have been going through – but seriously – it’s a form of discrimination don’t you think?

We filed our I600 83 days ago (as of today) ~ can you believe that? 83 days - that is way to long to be waiting!!!! They told me when I dropped it off that it takes 30-60 days, okay so we are 23 days beyond their long estimate! It’s all just LAME!

I’ll stop complaining now – I just needed to get it off my chest!

The good news (hopefully) is that the dummy will send it this week, and we will be that much closer to having our Brody come home! FINALLY!!!

Love,

Julz, Scott & Brody