Noah is out of MOI!!!

Yes, it's true. We are finally out of MOI!! I just got the news today and I almost can't believe it. We're out!!

As it turns out, we've been out since the 19th and Robin just didn't want to let us know the news until she had absolute confirmation (which I definitely appreciate - if it had turned out to not be true, I would be completely devastated right now instead of overjoyed). Unfortunately, they were still not able to get the document that I need for my I600 approval because my file went directly from MOI to immigration and was never in NLL's hands. So, here's what still needs to happen for Noah to come home (at least as far as I understand it):

Passport printed (this hasn't been taking long lately, so hopefully it will be soon).

Once the passport is printed, I will get a copy of the IBESR approval, which is what I need for my I-600 approval. I will submit that document to USCIS, and hopefully they will do the rest of their processing quickly.

Visa application is filed. I don't remember everything that is involved in this, but I do know that Noah has to have a medical exam and I think that they do a birthparent interview at this point. Once we have visa approval, we go to Haiti for the visa appointment and to bring our son home!!

Things have been moving relatively smoothly post-MOI. I am optimistic that Noah will be home with us for Christmas this year!!

Please keep praying!

Nicole.

Happy Birthday, Noah (Not So Happy for Mommy)

Today is Noah's 3rd birthday. I have to admit that I'm having a hard time celebrating. Last year, we had a little party for Noah on his birthday. It was nice for Jaden and Danielle to mark the day and for us to celebrate Noah being part of our family. This year, I just can't bring myself to do it. I can't manage to be anything but sad today. I can't believe how much he's growing up without us. We just had no idea that things would take this long, that our little boy would pass up toddlerhood and we wouldn't be there to see it happen.

People often ask if anything new is happening with the adoption. The answer is no. We are still stuck in the same place we've been since the beginning of March. It's hard to say when we might hear news. Could be tomorrow, but I've been saying that for months. We still haven't been able to get I600 approval yet either. When I finally got a copy of the adoption decree and sent it in, they informed me that they also need our IBESR approval document. No one has a copy of that, so we'll have to wait until Noah gets out of MOI and hope that USCIS processes things quickly. I've pretty much given up hope that anything will happen quickly.

Happy birthday, Noah. We love you and miss you!