Journey to Katherine

Time Frame:
January 2005: Year of the Rooster - We decide to adopt
Applied for Passports
February 2005: Received Passports
February 10,2005: Sent off for Certified copies fo Birth & Marriage Certificates
February 14,2005: Contacted Great Wall China Adoption Agency for Information
February 15,2005: Received Application from GWCA
Certified copies of Birth and Marriage Certificates issue date
February 16,2005: Completed application and sent with application fee to GWCA
February 17,2005: Application approved / received adoption manual
Received Certified Birth and Marriage Certificates
Contacted Home Study Agency and sent payment for fees
February 20,2005: Received packet from Home Study Agency and began paperwork
February 25,2005: Received notorized Employment letter - Janet
February 27,2005: Received notorized Employment letter - Joe

March 4,2005: Typed Application Letter for GWCA
Typed Financial Letter for GWCA
March 5,2005: Got Notorization for Application and Financial
letters
March 7,2005: Sent Joe's Employment letter to Iowa for State Authentication
March 8,2005: Sent Certified Birth and Marriage Certificates to Louisiana for
State Authentication by Secretary of State
March 9,2005: Received Joe's Employment letter back from Iowa
March 10,2005: Received State Authenticated Birth and Marriage Certificates
March 11,2005: Picked up completed Criminal Record Check letters from local
Police Dept.
Took notorized Application letter, Financial Statement and
Janet's Employment letter to County Courthouse for County
Authentication.
1st Home Study Meeting
March 14,2005: 2nd Home Study Meeting
Mailed I-600A application to CIS
Mailed Joe's Employment letter to Chinese Consulate in Illinois
for final Authentication.
March 16,2005: Received notification the CIS received I-600A
application
Took Criminal Record's Check letters to County Courthouse for
County Authentication
March 17,2005: Janet- bloodwork for Physical
March 22,2005: Received Joe's Employment letter back from
the Chinese Consulate
March 23,2005: Received Fingerprint appointments for April 1st at 2:00 p.m.
Janet - TB Test
March 24,2005: Matthew's Physical - required notorization in Dr.'s office
Janet - TB Test read back - Negative
March 25,2005: 3rd Home Study (Joe)
Took Matt's Physical paperwork to County Courthouse for
County Authentication
Took 7 documents to Secretary of State
for Authentication

April 1,2005: Matthew had wisdom teeth removed
4th and final Home Study
Fingerprinting at CIS - 2 p.m. appointment-waited 3 hours
April 5,2005: Janet - Physical and notorization


May 25,2005: CIS received Homestudy

July 16,2005: Had 2 passport photos taken of each of us for Dossier
July 21,2005: Checked all paperwork in Dossier and made copies
July 22,2005: Received the Authenticated I-171H letter
Mailed completed Dossier to GWCA for review
July 25,2005: GWCA received Dossier

July 29, 2005: Dossier mailed to China by Great Wall Adoption Agency

August 24, 2005: * /LID : Official log in date for Dossier

September 16, 2005: Notified that Dossier is in Translation Room at CCAA

December 19, 2005: Notified that Dossier is in Review Room

Updates:
12/05: Painted,decorated and took pictures of Katherine's room

12/ /05: Joe brings home a very cute, huge ladybug pillow/chair for Katherine's room.

12/23/05: Purchased an antique "wadrobe" from for Katherine's room. It had been painted eggplant purple and hot pink and had foam stars stuck all over it, so it took some work, but it is now painted and in Katherine's room.

12/28/05: ll:00 p.m. : Ladybug sighting (It is considered Good Luck when a ladybug is sighted)

7/01/06: Fingerprints Expire

1/3/06: Two ladybugs sighted around 3:00 A.M.

11/01/06: Received "STORK ALERT" from GWCA agency !!!!!!

11/02/06: Received REFERRAL and Pictures of Katherine !!!!!!!!!!

11/06/02: Received FedEx Package with translated Medical records and Acceptance Forms
Signed and overnighted Acceptance Package back to Great Wall

11/10/06: Received translation of Katherine's Growth Chart which describes where she was found and detailed information about her monthly progress, her personality, and her daily schedule.

11/15/06: Received e-mail from agency that we will be transitioning to the "Travel Team" on Friday, 11/17/06 in preparation for travel to bring Katherine home.