Drowning....

Hello to all who are still reading my blog. Not sure how many people out there who still are but thank you. I do not update it like I should and for that I am sorry.

On May 6 I requested an update on my sweet Tynsleigh (still no update)
On May 13 I found out our I800a had been approved on May 11.
On May 14 We had our family photos done for our dossier!!
On May 21 I got my renewed passport and my certified divorce decree in the mail.
On May 22 My son, Andrew graduated from High School
On May 24 My grandson, Carter, was baptized.
On May 29-30 I had a yard sale for the adoption and didn't quite make $300
On June 2 My step father passed away
On June 11 My granddaughter, Ameliya, had surgery and is recovering nicely.

I received an email from my adoption agency stating the following fees were due before I could be DTC.
China Program Fee 1 $2400
China Program Fee 2 $2400
Dossier Finalization fee $250
Homestudy review $400
Humanitarian Aid Fee $700
Translation fee $1360
Administrative fee $300
In Country Coordination Fee $1000

That is $8,810.00 plus dossier certification fees. That is $9,000 due in the next few weeks!!!!!

I have been working very hard to finish my dossier but one document is holding me up from the CPA and I hope to have that very soon...then off to certification!

It has been a very stressful past few weeks and at points I have felt like I am drowning in my list of things to do and finances for this adoption but I am hoping things come together soon so I can get my girl home. Please pray for us through this process and for my dear girl. 

I am waiting to hear about a few grants I applied for and would LOVE if I was approved! It would help so much. Without them I have no idea how the finances will come together. 

We have a youcaring site you can donate to http://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/barrett-family-adoption-/269042

We also are selling many items in our Fundraising Page on Facebook "Treasures for Tynsleigh" https://www.facebook.com/groups/790715917640575/

Thank you all who are still following our journey!!!!!

Very hard but still progressing

Why have I been silent? Well....

What has been happening in the adoption? Well...

How is everyone doing? Well...

The past few weeks (or months) have been so very hard. BUT who says adoption is easy? IT IS NOT! (BUT trust me it is worth it).

The adoption was going smoothly until the end of December. Then I wasn't getting the answer from China to our submitted paperwork. Then the holiday break came, then the system upgrade shut down came and then my agency went through a 3 week suspension. Once all of that was done I kept pushing to get the answer and they still couldn't find it. Finally they let me know they had done it wrong in December and caused many issues. The next month I spent trying to fix it and get it back on track. No possibility. (I think the agency made things worse).

In March I decided to switch agencies and did the paperwork. We got it all done in no time and they were so helpful. I was able to get sweet Tynsleigh's file released from the old agency and under the new rules her file has to go back to the shared list and resubmit for PA. I have had my PA since November but now I have to ask again...and the rules have changed for single women. LOI was submitted. Several weeks went by... we were getting nervous (my agency and myself). China coordinator contacted CCCWA and they spoke several times. There was talk that my I may not be able to adopt from China until Brennan was 6 years old (he is only 3), then there was talk about the paperwork/issue that the old agency messed up for me and was causing issues, then there was talk that my old agency did some things to mess up her file too, then there was other talk. All of this was just running through my head constantly for two weeks while I wait to hear of a decision from CCCWA about PA for Tynsleigh. My adult children were so wonderful and supportive during this time. The night I got really bad news and was dying inside my kids took me out to dinner with all of the family (there is 13 of us when we all go out). So...I waited...and waited...and waited...

During the wait all of my little ones and grandkids all passed around the stomach bug (each kid had it for two days each and some overlapped...not pretty days around our house). My daughter is moving so I'm helping her pack (not moving away just moving to a bigger house since they outgrew the one they live in).

My 18 year old son (who has autism) wanted to go to his Senior Prom (last minute) so I had to shuffle to find a tux he would be happy with and not have him back out from going. He found the one he wanted and he looked so very handsome. He had a blast and I am so happy for him. He graduates in just over 4 weeks. I am so very proud of him.

I found out that our Pastor is leaving. I work for the church as the Children's Ministry Director and she has been so very supportive of our work and we have been able to grow so much. I have been working on quite a bit of work with recruiting new volunteer teachers and curriculum and writing our VBS program again this year.

My oldest daughter is 7 months pregnant and I spent the entire day yesterday in the hospital with her because of an infection that had her in so much pain and not being able to keep anything down. She is feeling a little bit better and so glad her and baby, Ensley, is doing better.

We have been house hunting to find a house big enough for our family and big enough for our animals (2 dogs, 2 fish, 3 pygmy goats, and 3 horses).

My next oldest daughter got a great job and got her license (she was in a serious car accident two years ago and refused to drive even though she is 20 yrs old). This job is in her field of Social Work and is extremely excited.

My oldest son graduates the Police Academy in 3 1/2months so happy and nervous all at the same time.

My youngest son, Brennan, is doing amazing and he acts and talks like he has always been here. He is so very bright and will give me a run for my money with his education and keeping him challenged.

My fingerprints and my oldest two living at home still have valid fingerprints for USCIS. In two days my 18 yr old will get his fingerprints done and hopefully approval will be soon after. I am hoping to be DTC in MAY!!!

I will keep you posted. We have a lot of fees due when we are DTC (Dossier to China) so if you feel led please consider donating or buying something from our fundraising shop. I have begun to work on three big fundraisers coming up.

Keep checking back!!!

Documents???

I stopped by the post office and overnighted my application and check to the NEW agency. They are in the process of reviewing my home study and if it gets approved on Wed or Thurs I am hoping to have the actual hard copy in my HOT little hands by Sunday night so I can overnight it to USCIS. I hope it does not get delayed ANY LONGER than that. I can't afford to.

I also was finally able to get all of the documents needed sent to Reese's Rainbow and we have officially set up a family sponsorship page (FSP) for Tynsleigh and someone has already donated to it so it isn't at ZERO!
(Thank you Cathy Worrell)

I am also in the process of researching which grants will allow for singles to adopt from AGAIN!!! They are very limited and some have a deadline of NEXT WEEK! OH, I hope my home study gets approved in the next two days.

I am also working diligently to gather all of my dossier documents so that they are ready to go. I believe I am about 75% done with that...YAY!!

Then once I get my notice, my son will go in for his fingerprinting (ugh didn't want to have to wait), then I will get USCIS approval letter then I will take a day and drive them the 3 or so hours to Tallahassee. From Tallahassee I will overnight them (as soon as they are back in my hot little hands and before I make the long drive back home) to get the last seal of approval.

The next step after all of that is DTC (Dossier to China)...I can't wait... I will keep you posted.

Please check out our shop and help support our adoption <3

Thank you all for still following our journey to build our family!!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/790715917640575/

Update on Brennan...Update on Adoption...Update on Family

Things have been quite busy around here lately. I see so many of my adoption mommy friends applying to adopt again. It brings a smile to my face when I see this type of announcement from my friends. More children coming into beautiful families, that is enough to make anyone smile.

All of my children have been doing amazing.
My oldest daughter has announced that they are due to welcome their third child into their family in July. She will be their second daughter, Ensley Capri O'Quinn. We are very happy for them and her big sister (who just turned 4 last month) loves to shop for her and MAY have an addiction to it...lol.
My oldest son is impressing me more and more each day. He is in the Police Academy and he is making top scores on his written tests, top scores on his physical tests and top scores (accuracy and timing) on his shooting scores. He is doing so well and I admire him for what he is doing. Does it scare me that he will be a police officer in the world that seems to be getting more and more violent??? YES!! It scares me. It scares me more than he will ever know but I love him and as his mother will support him (and worry about) him.
My second oldest daughter had a great birthday this month and was quite spoiled. We all got her clothes and she had FOUR days of celebration (family, then brother, then boyfriend, then boyfriend's family). Lucky girl!!
My second oldest son is doing great his final year in high school and is very eager to graduate. He will be going to college for Equine Studies (horses). He got a part time job helping out with thoroughbreds and foal care (newborn babies being born this spring). He is so excited and can not wait.
My next oldest son has had a few set back with walking in his prosthetics but we are working through them. His wrists are swollen and starting to get sore. We had x-rays done and nothing is broken but one looks like there is a lot of fluid in it. Hopefully the doctor can get everything back to normal quickly. I am picking favorites again this year on Dancing with the Stars and it is going to be the soldier with the double amputee (he has one arm and one leg amputated and my son is double leg amputee like the paralympic girl last season). I love their determination and can not wait to see what he does.
My youngest daughter had surgery early Feb and we are waiting for the cast to be removed soon for them to see what steps are next for her ankle. She had an ankle reconstruction and the doctor was very impressed with how well she did. We were in and out of the hospital in 4 hours, record time for that type of surgery. She is a rock star!!
My youngest son, Brennan, that so many of you helped to bring home is doing AMAZING!!! Brennan is fully potty trained during the day and working on overnight. His expressive and comprehensive language are that of a 4 1/2 year old that has been home their entire life. That is AMAZING for a child who has only spoken English for 5 1/2 month. He is only 3 1/2. We are doing our best to keep him bilingual in his number, colors and fruit. He knows who "safe" people are (family and church family) and will NOT speak to anyone who is not "safe" people. He speaks in paragraphs and tells great stories (that you can actually understand). He can recite the ENTIRE Frozen move (yes, we had to hide the movie from him...5 times a day every day was a bit much for mommy). He can sing so many songs and loves to sing in the car, while he is playing, and just about anywhere. He is so bright and knows our routine, has a great appetite and LOVES to get KISSES!!!

I love my children and am so proud of every one of them. Where are we in the adoption? Oh...it has taken sooo long to get to this point but I know God has this and will show me the way. I am switching agencies because of some things that have happened with them over the past few months that make me want to cry but God has a plan and I have to trust in it. My application and documents were sent to them this week and I have to overnight them tomorrow so they will get them on Monday when they open. They received my homestudy last night and should take the next few days to review it. Once it is finalized I can finally send it in to USCIS to get my I800 approval updated.

I am working on some fundraising. I have necklaces and bracelets for sale on my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/790715917640575/
I have shirts for sale and so much more.

I have a few fundraisers in the works right now and will hopefully be albe to roll them out in the next week or so!!

I am hoping to travel this summer so that means I really need the finances to come through in a big way. I was able to fund Brennan's adoption with a lot of my savings before I started and by cutting costs each month. I don't have the savings this time for this adoption. I stepped out in faith because I KNOW that this little girl is mine and I need to bring her home...SOON and FAST!!!

More updates to come!!!

Update

Our agency has had their accredidation suspended by the COA so they are unable to process adoptions. Our adoption has been on hold for almost two months. I have been in contact with other agencies and am trying to switch.

My youngest daughter will be having surgery in 3 weeks on her leg and will be in a cast for about 4 months with a boot for an additional 2-3 months. Surgery is scheduled for Feb 18th.

Brennan is doing amazingly well. He is bilingual in his numbers, colors and some fruit. We are trying our best to keep him bilingual. We are talking to an exchange student at my son's school who might consider working with him on his language. He has been tested and they were amazed that he has tested (vocabulary and comprehension) on a 3 year old level (he is 3!!!!). They were amazed that he has only been here 3 months. I also registered him to begin PreK in August.

We have a Tshirt fundraiser so we can raise funds needed when we switch agencies since we will have to start over :(

https://www.booster.com/tynsleighadoption

Good news and bad news!!!

The bad news is...I heard some troubling news about our  adoption agency which could hinder our process a bit. Please pray for answers and guidance. I plan to call them today. They are under a 15 day suspension with COA. They sent emails out to "some" of their clients but not all and posted it on their website. They are saying that all will resume in 15 days but in past experiences with adoption agencies a 15 day suspension is never just a 15 day suspension. 

The good news is...well...there are a few!!

The auction is doing very well but we are still so far from our goal to be able to pay the first agency fee! Please share the auction link and help us bring Tynsleigh home!!

I know I have said it before but I want to thank the people who helped bring Brennan home. The very last two donations were amazing and I can't thank you enough. I hope some day I will get to thank you in person!! I still have no idea who the one person is but God knows and will bless you.

Since day 1 Brennan has only gone to sleep if I am in bed laying next to him snuggling him tight or rubbing his back or head! He has always slept in my bed. It has been this way for naps and bedtime for the whole 12 weeks we have been his family. I love how he loves to snuggle. Last week we went camping and the 6 of us slept in a 9 person tent. He went to sleep next to his brother (7 years old) and sister (6 years old) with me right in eyesight. Tonight we tried a different routine and he went to his own big boy bed that is 3 feet from his brother (4 years older than him) and he got in bed. Up to this point he has always denied the bed as his. I sat next to him, rubbed his back and held his hand and he fell asleep! He is in his own bed for the first time EVER!! So happy and sad (my baby is already growing up) at the same time! Isn't he the sweetest? Of course!

Auction

Our online auction has been live for a few days now.

Go to this link to join in the auction. There are so many great items. I have included a few photos for a sneak peak ;)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/790715917640575/