a year in review

One year ago we signed paperwork to start the adoption process. In many ways this seems like a lifetime ago.

I’ve noticed that many adoption bloggers have documented their timeline. I’ve decided to review our last year in a similar way while all the dates and such are still pretty fresh in my mind. That way our timeline will be recorded before everything becomes blurry. Although some of the dates over the past year will certainly be etched in my mind forever.

March 19, 2008 – Signed paperwork with a local agency and American agency.
April 2, 2008 – Phone interview with American agency social worker.
June 17, 2008 – Home study completed. Become aware that our social worker didn’t completely follow the American agency guideline for home studies so an addendum must be written. We decided to get it completed immediately versus after our file reaches the States.
July 6, 2008 – Home study addendum completed.
August 8, 2008 – File approved by Provincial Director.
August 13, 2008 – File takes an unnecessary detour to Ottawa for authentication. Were told this would take 7-10 days when in fact it takes a month.
September 9, 2008 – Receive confirmation from the American agency lawyer that our file will be considered pre-Hague.
September 16, 2008 – File sent to the American agency. Arrives the next day.
November 19, 2008 – File approved by American agency. Were told that approval would take 6-8 weeks, ours took 9 weeks.
December 12, 2008 – Contacted regarding potential adoption situation.
December 26, 2008 – Potential adoption situation a no go. She decides to parent.
February 13, 2009 – Experience further frustration with the process.
March 19, 2009 – Waiting, waiting, waiting…

Looking back a lot has transpired over the past year, but it sorta feels like nothing has happened because our lives haven’t changed. We still get up and go to work every day and come home to an empty house (although thank goodness for our cat who greets us at the door!). We’re still the childless ones in our circle of friends. We’re still the ones that don’t have to arrange child care and can sleep straight through the night.

I guess in the end my hope is that my next year in review will result in the end of this crazy process and that by March 19, 2010 our lives will look very different.