The good news first... :) Our agency emailed us today to let us know that our paperwork was submitted to PGN on January 30! :) So exciting!! This is where our paperwork will be looked at with a fine-toothed comb. The time in PGN is variable--but the average time to wait is 1-3 months.
Now the bad news... grrrrrr.... When we adopted Jordan, we applied to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for approval for TWO children. Our current approval states that we ARE approved for TWO. When we started paperwork for Jacob, we had to send a special form, homestudy addendum and money (of course), to Homeland Security so they would send a copy of the approval to the US Embassy in Guatemala City. This notifies them that we will be adopting a child from Guatemala.
Today, I got a letter in the mail from them saying that rather than allow us to do this, they want us to submit a brand new application (why do they have the form and instructions for doing it the other way then???) I am not a happy camper. The difference is this: with the first option, we only had to send the homestudy addendum and a fee. By having to submit a brand new application we will have to do:
*Criminal background checks at the local police station
*New doctor's physical's for EVERYONE in our ENTIRE family!!! (yes, 9 physicals!!!!) This is a Michigan requirement for a homestudy approval. We do have a co-pay, but $15 x 9 is still a chunk-o-change.
*Letter from Jeff's employer confirming his job/salary, etc
*Child Abuse Registry check
*All new homestudy (at least $1,200, plus time filling out info for the social worker)
*Another big fat check to Homeland Security for $550
*travel to Detroit for both Jeff and I to be fingerprinted (another $70)
It normally takes us about 2-3 months to complete all the above requirements. It is time-consuming and has us running all over town and to Detroit.
I can only liken it to being told that in order to take your baby home from the hospital after giving birth, you will now be required to spend another 35 hours in labor with no pain medication. Oh--and you WILL be charged double for your time using the delivery room.
Maybe the next thing to come in the mail will be a letter comfirming my reservation at the Nut House. :)
I'm sure that God will meet our needs financially and emotionally regarding this latest turn of events. It is not the end of the world...but it IS very frustrating and energy draining.
