Update on Expenses and how much we still need to be fully funded.

Expenses Paid up to now
$425 homestudy update
$25 RR application fee
$3500 agency AAC application fee
$40 FBI finger prints taken
$36 FBI background check
$40 to apostille documents
$31 in all for shipping for documents, checks, ect.
$55 online 2 hour class for special needs.
$20 Amanda fingerprints
$40 medicals copay for Mike and I
$16 FBI letters to be  apostilled
$18 shipping for FBI letters
$975 USCIS
$90 apostille of dossier documents
$15 Josh fingerprints
$30 apostille fees for medical letters and I-800A
$10 apostille fee for a document we had to redo
$40 shipping documents for dossier
$2400 flights for mike and I
$1000 hotel and food in country
$460 boys visas
$720 USCIS I800 for 2nd child
$360 USCIS I800A to add a child in the home $360
$40 finger prints
$67 police background check
$40  copay for medical exam
$60 apostille fees for last stage documents
 Total already paid $10,556.00

Expenses before first trip still need to be paid.
$500 Hague certificate
$5000 first program fee to agency AAC

We will need $4,500 for our third agency payment
  another $5,700 for our 2nd trip.flights hotel food
so we need $15,700
as of now we have $1,246.77 in our FSP $$5,756.95 was already given from our FSP  to us for the first trip and we have  $5,521.75 saved so we have $6,768.52 in all
leaving $8931.48 to be fully funded for our adoption.

If there is anyone out there that needs to make a tax deductible donation for this years taxes you can do that by donating to our adoption. You will get a tax receipt from Reece's Rainbow  to claim it, please think about donating to our adoption and help us bring our baby boys home, Here is where you can donate

http://reecesrainbow.org/48525/sponsornine-2

We got our approval letter I-800A  from the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) . This means we have been approved to adopt a child from Sebastian's country woohoo!
We took it today and got it notarized and Mike sent it in the mail tonight to the Secratary of State to be apostilled. We should have it back by Monday and can send it to our Adoption coordinator in Sebastians country so she can translate it and submitt our Dossier to the MOJ for a date to go meet Sebastian.
This is exciting we are getting so close. .

But we still need funds please help us, you can donate to our chip in here on the blog or  our FSP here FSP
Thank you! :)

It has been a little bit since I updated . We went and got our fingerprints done for the USCIS on the 14th now we are waiting for our i-800a letter and after we get that we get it notarized and send it to be apostilled then we send it  to be submitted with our dossier. We are getting closer but it feels like in slow motion. We still need to raise the money for our agency fees we need about $5,100 we have a butterfly auction going on right now but it isn't doing so great. I have found a bunch of things around the house and also have a couple people donating things and I'm going to do a big auction I hope this can bring in some money. The girls an I got a table at the doll show on Feb 2nd where we are going to sell Monkey dolls that I made as well as some of my collection of dolls and of course butterfly clips we hope to make a few $100,we gotta have this money before our first trip.
 Ok so that's all I want to talk about money I want to tell you that another mom who is adopting from Sebastian's orphanage got to see him and hold him here is what she said.

Katrina, I did get to see your sweet boy on the day we were taken throughout the whole orphanage.  He is in a room with babies .  He caught my eye immediately and as I gazed down at him in his crib (it was rest time), he made good eye contact in spite of a few institutional habits he was displaying.  Katrina, he has the most beautiful eyes I think I’ve ever seen.  Just gorgeous!  I asked to hold him and they said yes, so I picked him up and told him he had a mama and daddy who loved him and were coming for him.  He was soft and melty in my arms and it was so hard to put him down and walk away again.  I’m so glad you are motivated to move quickly to get him, as he’s not receiving the stimulation he will get from you in order to progress like I KNOW HE CAN.  What a precious boy, and it was a true privilege to see and hold him!

I would guess he’s wearing a size 9 to 12 months right now.  I’d guess him to be about a year old knowing he has Ds and not knowing his age.  Don’t forget to take a measuring tape on your first visit to get all his measurements to help you with clothing for him.  I don’t know whether he’s sitting up but I wouldn’t count on it.  He probably gets a bottle because he was in with the babies, but that’s just my very best guess as I didn’t see them feeding him.  I saw babas feeding other little ones with bottles while holding them, and they were his size.  So that’s my guess, but you’ll find out more when you go on your first visit.  They are great about answering questions about your child!  The diet has changed, and the director has a menu plan made up weekly and has strictly forbidden the use of added flour or sugar.  It is still mostly carbs, but it’s at least real food!  All the kids with Ds I saw were on the chubby side because of the carbs, but once they get home, their diet will improve to include more protein and veggies so no harm done!  I’m so glad I got to see your boy, Katrina!

It was so wonderful to get this email I am so happy that another mommy got to hold our boy.

My Sebastian baby I am missing you today.
 Not sure if it is because three of my mommy friends are in your country right now and I have been seeing their pictures of them with their boys.
Or if it is because your Aunt Christy just had a baby that I got to sit and hold for over an hour yesterdsy . 
Or  if it is because I had four babies to take care of in my childcare today that all wanted me at the same time. Or if it is because we went to our Down Syndrome play group tonight and met some new babies.
Or if it is because the Lord is keeping the desire to be your mommy strong in my heart so I can bond with you in this way.

What ever the reason is I am missing you today. I am wishing I could hold you in my arms and let you feel how much I love you. Soon Baby Soon!

donations for the orphanage

I would like to start gathering some donations to Sebastian's orphanage they are in need of one piece outfits  and things that are easy to get on the kids who are less mobile. Slightly bigger sizes for the bigger kids would be good. Footed PJs for the cold months, onesie-t-shirts, Socks, the bigger bibs for the kids learning to feed themselves....slip on shoes, . They do not need to be new but  should be in good condition no stains or  holes. It would also be nice to have some new things if you feel like shopping. If you have anything you would like to donate let me know.

FINGERPRINT Appointment!

We got our notice from the USCIS (U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services) of our date and time for our fingerprints to be taken for the i800a Application to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country.
It is on the 1-14-13 at 1:00. we sent the application on 12-14-12 .so it didnt take long at all . 

This is a big step one that can take along time so happy we got this but now we need funds more then ever please help by donating to our chip in. Any amount helps it all adds up :)