Dispensation Mishap

Things happen.  I keep reminding myself of that.  After looking at the copy of the dispensation that was sent to me and asking a few questions, I found out that our dispensation was actually printed in July, not November as I was originally told.  I don't know what happened.  Not sure if they didn't catch it or if it was lost or what.  I know mistakes happen and there is nothing we can do about it now.... I am just kind of sad that we waited for over 4 months with our file just sitting there while we were supposedly waiting on the dispensation to be printed.  God knows the day that they will come home and it will all happen in His perfect timing.  Right?  The moral of the story, is to trust your instinct and ask questions.  For the first couple of months, I sat back and waited.  When the third month rolled around, I asked if they had checked on it.  By the fourth month, I truly felt like something was not right.  Like either it got lost or there was a problem.  I emailed again and practically begged them to do some checking.  I hated bothering them, but I knew it was not "right" for it to be taking this long.  Low and behold, in November when I went to visit, I was notified that it just got printed.  There is an online version of the Le Moniteur where the names are printed.  I had looked through it over and over looking for the kids' names.  Never saw it.  Even after I got a copy of the printing, I have gone back and looked and I haven't found it.  All that to say, while a good resource, the online version is not necessarily all correct. 

So, where are we now?  Our file went into Parquet.   According to our worker, our dossier is being registered in their tax office.  Then, it will go back to Parquet.  When we exit Parquet, we should have a signed adoption decree and the children will officially have our last name!

Deccember update

Here is our update and picture for the month of December that New Life Link sent us. 

Hello Lori,

We hope that Christmas was good. As usual, here is an update on your kids.
James: weight: 30, weight: 38. 
Jovanika: weight: 35, height: 43. They are doing good.

Happy new year as 2013 is closing in!

Just to compare, here is their picture from last Christmas:

Officially Printed!

Several people have asked me about the dispensation.  I don't know the answers to why Haiti has the crazy laws and rules about who qualifies to adopt.  In our particular situation, we needed dispensation because we have a biological child already.  We meet the age requirements and the marriage requirements.  I emailed to see if I could get a copy of the paper on the day we were printed.  Just to see what we had been waiting so long for.  Here it is:

 After I got this, I promptly responded to ask where exactly we are in this process at this time.  I haven't heard anything since November.  Hopefully I will get an answer soon!!  It seems things have been slowing down and there hasn't been as much movement among the people in my circle of adoptive mama friends.  Maybe it's because of the holidays, who knows.  Praying for some news soon so we can get these kids HOME!!

November Update

Here is our November update from New Life.

Hello Lori,
As usual, here is an update on your kids.
James: weight: 30, weight: 38. 
Jovanika: weight: 33, height: 43. Also a picture of Jovanika on her birthday. They are doing good.

Have a nice day!

They included two pictures.  One is their monthly picture.  The other is Jovanika cutting her birthday cake.  I love that they have a little party for the kids with a birthday each month.

Presidential Dispensation published!!!

There are three requirements that you must meet in order to adopt from Haiti:  1~ Must not have biological children  2-~Must be at least 35 years old  3~ Must be married for 10 years.   If you don't meet these three requirements then the Haitian President must approve our adoption file in order to continue.  Without his signature, then we can't adopt from Haiti...period.  Since we have a bio kid, we had to apply for presidential dispensation. Several months ago, we exited IBESR with Presidential Dispensation!!  However, before we could move forward the Dispensation had to be published in the Haitian Legal Newspaper.  While I was in Haiti this week, I found out it was published on Friday!  

What's next???  Next, we enter 'Parquet'.  Below is a list of steps that occur while in Parquet (taken from All Blessing International Adoption Agency).

Parquet Court
The 'step' we refer to as Parquet court is actually a very complex series of steps and processes involving multiple offices and repeated trips between them.

1. Attorney addresses a Request for Judgment to the Chief Justice of Parquet Court
2. Birth parents are interviewed in Parquet Court
3. Parquet Court signs off on "approval judgement for adoption
4. Facilitator takes approval to DGI for stamp of authorization
5. Back to Parquet for enforcement of the approval judgement
6. Authorization and redaction from the Civil Registrar Officer for legal Adoption Decree
7. Verification in parquet of the adoption documents by the Civil Registrar before signing the adoption decree
8. First Legalization of the Adoption Decree, in Parquet Court
9. Second Legalization of the Adoption Decree, at the Ministry of Justice
10. Third Legalization of the Adoption Decree, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
11. Obtain attestation of Adoption Decree from the National Archives

 At the end of this stage we will have an adoption decree...which means the adoption is legal in Haiti!  The kids will officially be ours and have our last name!!!

That isn't the end, though.  There are still some more steps after this. Pray for rapid movement so we can get these babies HOME!!!

October update

Here is our October update. 

Hello Lori,
As usual, here is an update on your kids.
James: weight: 30, weight: 37 1/2. 
Jovanika: weight: 33, height: 42 1/2. They are doing good.

October 2011 pics

A fellow adoptive momma just returned from NLL and had some great pics of the kids. Just wanted to share:


 Jovanika napping with the baby doll I sent for her

The little boys praying before lunch

Jovanika & James with their big sister Rebecca

James and his friends at recess