I-800A Received!

Our I-800A was processed fairly quickly but took an additional 24 days for us to learn about the approval.

10/18/11 Sent off I-800A
10/25/11 Received text and email from USCIS, I-800A received
11/29/11 Family fingerprint date for I-800
12/07/11 I-800A, Approval to adopt 2 children from China
12/31/11 I-800A, Hardcopy approval received via snail mail

Today we celebrate our oldest child's birthday. Kai is turning 20 today. God always seems to send our adoption paperwork on special days. I love it!

It took 41 days from text/email receipt to approval, and then an additional 24 days to find out of the approval... Praising Jesus!

Christmas Update on Princess Amaris

This is our littlest princess...

Someone from her orphanage answered my gazillion questions just in time for Christmas. 12.22.2011

We received the update 12.24.2011

1. Is Nan Duo Duo living in the orphanage or in foster care?
She lives in the orphanage.

a.If she is in the orphanage, who is her primary care giver?
Her daily care taker is her primary care giver.

i.What room is she in?
She lives in a big room with around 20 children there together, and every child has his/her own small bed.

ii.Who are her favorite friends?
She loves all children living with her in the same room.

2. Has Nan Duo Duo been seen by the doctor for her CHD heart condition?
a.Does she have bluish color on her lips or on her fingernails?
Yes, she does.

b.Has she had any illnesses or hospitalizations lately?
Yes, she does. She hit the corner of the toy cabinet in the morning of December 20. Her forehead misfortune to scratch and she had been sent to the hospital for stitches.

c.Is she susceptible to colds, bronchitis, pneumonia, or ear infections?
Before she had her heart surgery she was very easier to catch colds, bronchitis and pneumonia. She was sending to the People's Liberation Army General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Cardiac surgery ward during April 20, 2011 to May 9, 2011. She got her heart surgery on April 26, 2011. After her surgery, because of the weather changed, she caught colds and bronchitis, but the number has been less than before.

3. Do you have any information on the day she was found?
a.What was she wearing?
A white background of the bright-colored clothes.

b.Was anything with her?
No, she did not have anything with her.

c.Did she have a note?
No, she did not have.

4. How was Nan Duo Duo named?
a.What are the meanings of her names?
Nan, all children form Mao Nan all named last name Nan; Duo Duo is because all children come after 2010 all use reduplication words; we think Duo sounds very beautiful, so we named her Duo Duo.

5. How would you describe her personality?
a.Is she quite or more active?
She is a very active child.

b.Does she enjoy playing quite toys or running around and climbing on things?
She likes running around.

c.Does she laugh? Does she smile?
She does smile.

6. May we get updated measurements for Nan Duo Duo?
a.Height? 76.5 cm, 30.1 in
b.Weight? 10.5 kg, 23 lb.
c.Head measurement? 46 cm, 19.1 in
d.Shoe size? 12 cm, 4.7 in
e.Dress size?

7. May we request that you allow her hair to grow long?
Yes, we will allow her hair grow long.

2011年12月22日

Our Christmas Photo with Santa, 2011

We are just missing our littlest two princesses.

I-800A Approval

Today we received our I-800A Approval Notice that our family can adopt two little Chinese princesses.

I sent our 1-800A off on 10/18/2011 and received notification simultaneously via text and email on 10/25/2011.

Jason and I, and the two oldest boys got our biometric fingerprints done 11/29/2011. We did not walk in early; however, we were told if we came Tuesday-Thursday in the afternoon, we probably could have. We are on the west coast.

We were approved today, December 7, 2011, just 8 days after fingerprinting.

It took 41 days...