If you have been reading my blog you have seen me write about Traci and Gracin. See my Embassy Day blogs for more details on who they are. Yesterday I received a very troubling email from Traci. Gracin is sick and had to have emergency surgery over the weekend. She has an infection in both legs and her right arm. She is expected to be in the hospital for 6 weeks. Gracin is Nathan's age and my heartaches that this sweet little girl had to endure a painful surgery.
When you go through the adoption process, you become so close to all the families who go through this process with you. Even if you have never met, you form bonds with these other families and their children. We are a strong online community and we share each others joys and tears. I have cried so much since hearing the news about Gracin. You go through so much to bring your child home and its disheartening to see them suffer. Thank goodness she is here with Traci and not stuck in an orphanage where her infection would have gone untreated.
I believe in the power of prayer as does Traci. Please pray for Traci and Gracin. Traci has created a carepage for Gracin where you can keep tabs on her progress and leave messages. http://www.carepages.com/carepages/AmazinGracin
5/26/09
5/22/09
Embassy Day 2
I already blogged about the 1st day at the Embassy but I wanted to tell you about Day 2 at the Embassy as it was suggest a momentous day in our life. Just like the day before, we met Rajeev in the lobby of our hotel. Traci, sweet Gracin, and Traci's dear friend Helen joined us as well. This was going to be a big day for all of us. It was great seeing Gracin today. It was her 3rd day with Traci and we could start to see Gracin opening up to her. Gracin was more outgoing today and not as sleepy. She was feeling so comfortable with Traci and Helen. It's always great to see kids developing their bonds with their parents.
When we got to the Embassy there was a long line but Rajeev worked his magic and we got in right away. No line for us. Once inside we waited for our names to be called. Part of the process to get a Visa is an interview. For adoption cases the interview questions are primarily did you like your agency, how long did your adoption process take. Our process from beginning to end took 2 years. I thought it was strange that the embassy official asked why it took so long. For us it took 2 years because it took us a year for find our current agency. And then of course several months were wasted when our orphanage license had to be renewed. The normal process does take 1 1/2 to 2 years. Most agencies take about 12 months just give a referral and then the remainder of the process takes 6 to 12 months. My agency of course is awesome and has quick referral times.
What made this day so great is twofold. First, at the embassy, there are many other families who are waiting for their Visa to bring their child home. It was so great to meet the other families and their children. We all shared the same joy.
The other great thing about this day is that we received Nathan's visa. This means he can come home. And it means the official end of the adoption process. Hooray Hooray Hooray for us and for Traci.
When we got to the Embassy there was a long line but Rajeev worked his magic and we got in right away. No line for us. Once inside we waited for our names to be called. Part of the process to get a Visa is an interview. For adoption cases the interview questions are primarily did you like your agency, how long did your adoption process take. Our process from beginning to end took 2 years. I thought it was strange that the embassy official asked why it took so long. For us it took 2 years because it took us a year for find our current agency. And then of course several months were wasted when our orphanage license had to be renewed. The normal process does take 1 1/2 to 2 years. Most agencies take about 12 months just give a referral and then the remainder of the process takes 6 to 12 months. My agency of course is awesome and has quick referral times.
What made this day so great is twofold. First, at the embassy, there are many other families who are waiting for their Visa to bring their child home. It was so great to meet the other families and their children. We all shared the same joy.
The other great thing about this day is that we received Nathan's visa. This means he can come home. And it means the official end of the adoption process. Hooray Hooray Hooray for us and for Traci.
5/19/09
Updating Blog
I did not get a chance in India to update my blog as I wanted. I have so much about our journey I want to share. As I get a chance I will update the blog. Some entries may be out of order as a result.
5/17/09
We are home
Nathan is home. We got home on Thursday. It was a long flight and Nathan cried through a good portion of it. But we finally made it. At the airport to greet us was Keyoor's sister Rita and her husband Kiran. They came with a bouquet of balloons. Also there were my parents bearing toys and food. Several of my cousins also came to the airport to welcome Nathan. Despite the long flight, Nathan was his bubbly self and went to everyone and was laughing and smiling. I guess he knew he was home.
We landed in San Franciso in the afternoon and that evening we drove home to Folsom. Luckily Nathan fell asleep in the car seat so we did not have to hear him scream for 2 hours. We entered the house and my mom did a special prayer ceremony to welcome Nathan. My sister Manali had created a Welcome Home Nathan banner and it was hanging in the entrance. She had been there the week before and had turned the house into a wonderland for Nathan. Every room of the house had toys galore. She stocked the kitchen with baby utensils, baby plates and cups and bibs. In the bathroom were bathtoys and lotions, shampoo, baby oil. In Nathan's room there were more wall decors and his dresser was filled with clothes. I don't know who was more suprised Nathan or Mommy. This was better than Christmas morning. Between my sister Manali, my sister Rina and her hubby Randy, my parents, my cousins, Keyoor's sister Rita and her husband Kiran, Nathan and his parents were showered with gifts. I got several months of diaper supply.
Nathan is loving his new home. He is still adjusting to the time change and has anxiety about staying in yet another new place but he is slowing coming around. He is loving his toys and his walks in the stroller. I'm loving having my mom here to cook yummy meals. Nathan is already eating more and eating healthier.
In a few days he should be settled. He did sleep through the night last night so we are making progess.
I have lots of updates to make to blog and will do those as I get time. Thanks all. This journey started 2 years ago and we are home with our child. It is a dream come true.
5/12/09
Embassy Day
What a great day we are having. This morning we met Rajeev to go the US Embassy. Rajeev is the India coordinator for our adoption agency IFS. I will write a separate blog entry for Rajeev later. Right now I will just say the man is a saint and I couldn't imagine doing all this without his help. Rajeev met us in the lobby of our hotel around 9:30am. Another IFS family was also here with her daughter Gracin. Traci just adopted Gracin and we were going to the embassy together to get the Visas. Traci and I have exchanged emails in the past so it was good to finally meet her. First stop was to the photo shop to get pictures of the kids. Traci's daughter Gracin is a month younger than Nathan. Then we went to the doctor's office to get the kids medical exam. Gracin and Nathan had a great time playing together at the doctor's office. It was great to see Nathan sharing the toys. Traci just picked Gracin up from the orphanage yesterday so they were still in the honeymoon phase. That's the first few days were the child sleeps and is quiet. Needless to say, Nathan is no longer in that phase. After the doctor's office we went to the Embassy. The first step was getting the I600 application approved. That was a quick and easy process thanks to Rajeev's connections and expertise. After that the Visa application was submitted and we have to return tomorrow to pick it up. Then we are on our way home.
DARN- I wrote this blog and then computer had to reboot so I lost it. Here are quick notes of what I wrote:
1. Traci thanks for sharing the snacks. I had brought snacks for Nathan but he apparently loved the banana flavored puffs that Traci brought. He gobbled them up and couldn't get enough.
2. We are tempted to go to the best restaurant in Delhi for dinner tonight, it's right near our hotel. Rina, Randy and Parth you know the one. But Keyoor and I can't bear to leave Nathan with a babysitter so it's looks like another night in. Our hotel provides a babysitter. Nathan is not good in restaurants.
3. We are staying at Taj Palace. Definitely stay here if you are in Delhi. It's so worth the price. All TAJ hotels are great but this one is in a class of it's own.
4.We have been doing room service because Nathan can't go to restaurants. Food here is awesome. We had my fave, mulligatawny soup for lunch. Also some yummy chicken biryani. We do room service for lunch and breakfast. Dinner we ate at the outdoor cafe. Nathan gets to run around there so we can eat. Last night on the grounds there was a wedding and you could here then orchestra in the cafe. Nathan LOVES music so he was dancing to the band.
5. Since I have not had Internet access I have not updated the blog the past few weeks. When I return home I will post pictures and update the entries.
6. We leave here 11:45 pm tomorrow night and land in SFO at 11:35 am on Thursday. Hooray we are almost home.
DARN- I wrote this blog and then computer had to reboot so I lost it. Here are quick notes of what I wrote:
1. Traci thanks for sharing the snacks. I had brought snacks for Nathan but he apparently loved the banana flavored puffs that Traci brought. He gobbled them up and couldn't get enough.
2. We are tempted to go to the best restaurant in Delhi for dinner tonight, it's right near our hotel. Rina, Randy and Parth you know the one. But Keyoor and I can't bear to leave Nathan with a babysitter so it's looks like another night in. Our hotel provides a babysitter. Nathan is not good in restaurants.
3. We are staying at Taj Palace. Definitely stay here if you are in Delhi. It's so worth the price. All TAJ hotels are great but this one is in a class of it's own.
4.We have been doing room service because Nathan can't go to restaurants. Food here is awesome. We had my fave, mulligatawny soup for lunch. Also some yummy chicken biryani. We do room service for lunch and breakfast. Dinner we ate at the outdoor cafe. Nathan gets to run around there so we can eat. Last night on the grounds there was a wedding and you could here then orchestra in the cafe. Nathan LOVES music so he was dancing to the band.
5. Since I have not had Internet access I have not updated the blog the past few weeks. When I return home I will post pictures and update the entries.
6. We leave here 11:45 pm tomorrow night and land in SFO at 11:35 am on Thursday. Hooray we are almost home.
5/11/09
ICPC received
I just wanted all to know that we received ICPC on Friday. Also met with the court and received Nathan's passport. We arrived in New Delhi today and will be going to the US Embassy tomorrow for Nathan's visa. We will be leaving India on 5/13 and will be back in the US on 5/14. I'll write more later. Thanks to those who offered to help, especially Manali and Victoria. Special thanks to Keyoor's sister Rita for making the necessary phone calls and coming up with creative ideas to make the process move faster.Thanks to her we are coming home.
Rajal
Rajal
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