11/23/09 – Officially made the decision to adopt
12/04/09 – Talked to the boys about our decision
12/24-26/09 – Shared our news with family in Alabama
1/22/10 – Submitted all documents for Home Study
2/08/10 – First Home Study interview (office visit)
2/11/10 – Second Home Study interview (home visit)
2/18/10 – Officially accepted to Ethiopia program
2/26/10 – Orientation call with AGCI
3/01/10 – Mailed orientation paperwork and agency & program fees to AGCI
3/05/10 – Mailed I-600A to USCIS
3/08/10 – Received adoption “planner” from AGCI – let the dossier fun begin!
4/08/10 – STUCK waiting for FBI fingerprinting results . . . UGH!
5/10/10 – FBI CLEARANCES *FINALLY* ARRIVED (2-month wait)!!!
5/14/10 – Home Study approved!
5/21/10 – Mailed Dossier to AGCI!
6/1/10 – USCIS fingerprints done
6/16/10 – Got call at 1:37 PM saying our dossier is [finally] approved! #41 on boy list & #38 on siblings list!
6/16/10 – Got REFERRAL call at 5:20 PM!!!!! Spent the rest of the day staring at three pictures of our SON! WOW!!!
6/18/10 – International Pediatrician Review
6/22/10 – Mailed Referral Acceptance Documents to AGCI & had phone call with Family Education Coordinator
6/30/10 – “Next Steps” call with our Case Manager @ AGCI / Dossier on its way from Washington DC to Ethiopia
7/6/10 – Found out our file is open in Ethiopia AND we have court dates & tentative travel dates! / Travel conference call
7/8/10 – Booked flights for first trip to Ethiopia!
7/19/10 – First court date (for birth family) – case approved!
7/30/10 – 8/7/10 – First trip to Ethiopia! (Met our son on 8/2/10 & went to court on 8/4/10 – HE’S OURS!!!)
8/6/10 – Received I-171H (Favorable Determination Letter) from USCIS
9/4/10 – 9/10/10 – Second trip to Ethiopia! (Embassy appointment on 9/7/10)