Timeline of Events 

November 30, 2011 ~  Application is faxed to adoption agency and they sent us an email saying that they have officially accepted us!  Got the contract signed and overnighted to the agency so they will have it the next day.  Up next...Homestudy!!  aaahhhhhhhh!

December 2, 2011 ~  Got the call saying they received our contract and we will be assigned to someone. Also got an email from the homestudy department with our application from Ohio Dept. of Job and Family Services for Child Placement.  We will be e mailing that back on Monday morning.

December 5, 2011 ~  The 7 page application is filled out and sent via email for our Homestudy Application.  I hope we receive our big packet in the mail today.

December 13, 2011 ~ Fire Inspection

December 19, 2011 ~  WOW!!  So much has happened in the last 2 weeks...it has been a whirlwind!  We were going to wait to tell the kids about all this until the homestudy was done but there was no way.  There is so much we need to talk about and it was getting too hard to try to only talk about it when they weren't around.  So, we told Eli and Olivia the exciting news on 12/8.  I wrapped the book "I Love You Like Crazy Cakes" and made a little piece of paper that all hinted about the adoption.  They are sooo excited but they want her here NOW!!  We also went on our pre-training service on Dec. 10th up in Cleveland at the adoption agency.  We got to meet Uncle Joe (from China).  We learned so much about post-adoption troubles that day, very eye opening.  So, this week I have been a busy bee and literally got ALL the homestudy paperwork done and submitted!!  A total of 14 documents (and our autobiographies).  We have come so far in just 1 week.  I'm on a mission to bring my baby girl home fast!!  Here is a list of the documents submitted:
Medical Statement Forms for all 4 of us
Financial Statement Form
Release of Confidential Information
Fire Inspection
Employment Letters
Local Police Clearance Letter
CPR Verification
Pre Service Training
SACWIS
Autobiographies


December 22, 2011 ~ Social worker came for her first of four homestudy visits.

Talked to adoption agency and they said I am breaking records on getting all my stuff done.  Let's just say I am one determined mama!!  They gave me the go-ahead on beginning the dossier process!!  I can't help during the holidays to wonder what Christmas will look like.  Will we have a picture of our daughter and at least know who she is?  Will we maybe even have her home yet?  I'm just hoping that we get a referral before next Christmas.

December 26, 2011 ~  2nd homestudy visit

January 2, 20112 ~  3rd homestudy visit

January 5, 2012 ~  Mailed out I-800A form to the adoption agency via certified mail (form that goes to homeland security along with our homestudy report that the social worker does to get clearance from the United States to adopt) This will take 3 months to get back so the waiting game begins!!  I am praying that somehow it ends up on someone's desk that is super quick and it won't take that long.  All of our stuff can not go to China until we get this clearance.  ugh!

January 6, 2012 ~  Last visit with the social worker

January 16, 2012 ~  Doctor appointments for my husband and I to have more medical statements filled out along with blood work /  lab work done.

January 19, 2012 ~  Social worker mailed completed homestudy to agency.

January 20, 2012 ~  Got all documents of dossier completed except waiting on one.  Then I will take them all to be notarized, then to the clerk of court to be certified, then to the Secretary of State to be certified.