Yesterday we had our board meeting, and I am thrilled to say that we are now Ellen's official legal guardians!
We waited a couple of hours to see the board, which made perfect sense considering that the vast majority of the others there had toddler-age children, who weren't about to wait as patiently. All of us dressed up (Jer even wore a tie) though I had my walking shoes on instead of my heels because they didn't make the trip over. I tried to find some heels on a shopping trip the night before and discovered that they don't make my size in Thailand-- my feet are too big. I was shopping for a nice outfit for Ellen too, and every time went in a store and held up something to look at it the sales clerk would look me up and down dubiously and say "You know that's a size small, right?" Whee!
Anyway, so I was a complete bundle of nerves before the meeting, but the board members were very nice. They were obviously very familiar with Ellen's file and asked specific questions regarding our adoption. I think that the fact that Ellen said emphatically that she wanted to be adopted by us and travel to the USA helped, and also that she was so obviously comfortable with us. So the interview lasted about half an hour, and then another twenty minutes or so later we walked out with the papers giving us official custody of Ellen until we finalize her adoption in America six months from now. I swear if we didn't have to turn that paper in to someone else I would frame it and hang it on the wall!
So today we'll have Ellen's last two vaccinations done and then rush over to the US Embassy to see if we'll be able to get her visa before the Christmas holiday. This meeting will determine for sure whether or not we'll be staying four extra days here. Apparently Connor has been having some seizures, so I'm anxious to get home to him. This is the longest I've ever been away from him, and it's hard to not be able to kiss him goodnight.
And I can't wait for our new family of four to all be together for the first time!
~Jess
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5 years ago
10 comments:
I've been following you for a while now (since before Jeremy got blown up, and it's hard to believe that was so long ago!)... and I'm in happy tears for you all right now. Fingers crossed you get home to Connor soon.
I'm sitting here with goosebumps over my entire body - and they're not easing up!!
Congratulations to all four of you!!! I'm so happy for you!
I'm trying to remember how Ellen's alias came about - did you pick it, did she pick it, is it similar to her Thai name? Is that a name she will go by, or what's the scoop there? (I'm being nosy.)
@Jennifer Jessie can answer with more detail, I'm sure, but the short of it is: Jessie picked it, it's not at all similar to her Thai name, and it's not a name she'll go by. It's simply a pseudonym for internet-y purposes.
Actually, she did go into a little more detail here: http://connorssong.blogspot.com/2011/03/in-which-connor-is-still-sick-and-i.html
:)
Thanks, Mary! I remembered reading about it way back when, but couldn't remember the details.
Congratulations on your new neice, by the way!!
Thanks! We're ridiculously excited.
I am so happy for you!I have been reading your blog for some time, and I know this is something you've wanted for a while now. Congratulations!
Long time reader, just wanted to tell you how happy I am for you and your family. I'm a graduate student studying special education and its been great to get a parent's perspective. Wishing you and yours best of luck and so much happiness in your new life together!
Happy goose bumps, here in Washington :D
Hope you get to come home SOON!
Julie
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