First Steps When Kimberlie Comes HOME =)

I have been thinking about how to write this blog posts for about as long as I have been waiting for Kimberlie to come home! She will most likely be home is a little over two weeks. What will happen when she comes home? That is a good question….well first, we need to CELEBRATE KIMBERLIE! 

 

 We will be having an airport

HOMECOMING party!!! 

 

There has to be a party.... at the bottom of the stairs or in the luggage area..or in the arrivals area.. there has to be a party, a welcoming home, a symbol of having "Made IT!!" 

We will be celebrating the arrival of a new American Citizen well as the start of our family! This is a huge deal to us and we would LOVE to have as many people come to the airport as possible! It will also be streamed live on-line (more info later) if you are not able to come or you live far away. While I do know this may be very overwhelming for Kimberlie, I do think it will be good for her to see how many people have supported us through this long process and how excited everyone is to meet her.  Please bring cameras and videos!!!  We want to be able to remember this later when Kimberlie is older.  Also, my nieces and nephews are over the top excited to meet her and introduce their newest cousin to the WORLD =) Once I get my travel dates, I will post arrival date and time to MSP airport!


Stay tuned for what happens next….I will give you a hint, this is where our world will get MUCH smaller!

August Update- MY LAST ONE!!!!

Greetings from God’s Littlest Angels, Shannon!

HERE IS YOUR FINAL UPDATE!!! I cannot wait to see you again and to be a part of Kimberlie’s transition into life with you!  I know that your adoption process has been long and grueling at times but it is all going to be worth it when you have your little sweetheart in your arms. 

This month we took advantage of summer vacation and the hot sun and had a pool day at both the Toddler House and the Main House.  The Toddler House pool day was held on a Saturday in August.  All of the kids had been asking for and anticipating a pool day for months and when they found out the day had come, they were beside themselves with excitement.  The Main House pool day was split up into a couple of days we set up two small pools and brought up the kiddos in groups of 5-8 at a time based on age.  For the most part all of the kids loves playing, splashing, and enjoying the water while a few of them took some time to warm up to the idea.   You will find that this months photos are of Kimberlie playing in the pools on the balcony. It took her a little while to warm up to the idea of getting into the pool and enjoying the water.  She sat back and observed for some time before engaging with the toys in the water.  After she decided it was fun then she had a blast!  Kimberlie did not even want to get out of the pool at the end of her turn.   She especially enjoyed dumping water over her head and the heads of the other kids in the pool with her.

Here is a brief idea of Kimberlie’s basic schedule and diet for you to reference as you transition her into life with you…

6:30 and 7am – Wake-up 

7:30-8am - Breakfast time. (cream of wheat type cereal, scrambled eggs,  spaghetti).

8:30am – 1pm – School (a snack of juice, cookies, or crackers is given midmorning)

1 pm - Lunch followed by a nap or quiet time. (Lunch can include sandwiches, rice & beans or pasta with meat sauce)

3pm  - Snack time (milk or juice, with a banana or crackers)

3pm – 5pm – play time on nursery balcony or with volunteers

5pm – Suppertime (spaghetti, rice & beans, chicken)

7:30 pm – Wind down time

8:30 pm – Lights out 

Because you will be coming soon you might like to have Kimblerlie's shoe and clothing's sizes.  She is currently is a size 7 shoe and fits best into a 2T for her clothing size.

Kimberlie is healthy and growing: 

Height: 88.5 cm

Weight: 30 lb 14.5 oz

We Got Ourselves a VISA Interview Scheduled!!!

Another WONDERFUL email landed in my inbox this morning!

Dear Ms. Haugh,

We are pleased to inform you that the I-604 process is complete, and Kimberlie P. Haugh may now be scheduled for the final visa interview with the Department of State.  The visa interview is scheduled for September 5^th, 2013 at 9:00 am at the Consular Section.  Please see attached letters.

Kimberlie Haugh, I sure do think that has a nice ring to it =) =) 

I600 Approval !!!!

AT 6:00 am this morning, I received this email !!!! 

Dear Ms. Haugh,

 

USCIS in Port au Prince, Haiti is pleased to inform you that the I-600 petition, which you filed at this office on December 12, 2012 on behalf of Kimberlie Pierre, seeking to qualify her as your immediate relative has been approved. Your case has been transferred to the Adoption Unit of the Consular Section for the visa process. This completes all action by USCIS on the referenced petition. The Consular Section will soon contact you to follow-up on your case.

Adoption Team

Department of Homeland Security

US Citizenship & Immigration Services

Embassy of the United States of America

Tabarre 41

Port-au-Prince, Haiti

In regular, un-crazy adoption language, the VISA process is almost COMPLETE! 

COMPLETE VISA = KIMBERLIE COMES HOME!!!

Next steps (only two left =) : In a day or two, I should receive another email informing me of Kimberlie's VISA interview date, I know, you are thinking, how does a very cute 23 mo old get interviewed?  Good question, she will appear at the interview and a representative from GLA will speak on her behalf.  I am praying it will be next week =) Then, a few days after that, GLA will go and pick up her VISA.  Once the VISA is in hand, GLA will give me possible travel dates....

 

And the VISA Process Begins!

Got this message today from my agency-tiny step towards a BIG step to FINALLY bringing Kimberlie HOME!!!!

THIS IS VERY GOOD NEWS!!!!  I now randomly shout YAY!!!!!! loud throughout the day- I do this because this little sweet peanut is COMING home (most likely) in the month of September!!!! Can not believe I am even writing this =) 

YAY! More GOOD NEWS!!!!

Received wonderful news today ! 

 This picture is from the day Kimberlie had her passport picture taken- she was not too happy (note the tears)! I think she is pretty cute despite the tears!!!!   I am coming soon my sweet!!!!!  

NEXT STEPS:

The Haitian side of the adoption is FINISHED!!!!  PRAISE GOD!!! 

Next, her dossier will be sent to US Immigration (in Haiti) where the adoption will get approved US-ly and get her US Visa to travel home. It does seem like it would be fast... but this is an Haitian adoption...so my best guess is 4-6 weeks to be home =).  Each day is one day closer to her being HOME FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!