On December 9, 2008.
I wrote about it in my livejournal blog.. which is probably the one I will use the most from now on... as it involves EVERYTHING in my life -- random writings, stuff about the kids, etc.
Click here for my entry on that day (including pictures) :D
Monday, December 15, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Update readoption
Got a letter on Friday from the courts/Masters' office. Turns out they need two pieces of information...and I wanted to call on Monday for clarication, thus no entry until now. One piece was easy enough to figure out: physician's certificates/physicals for the petitioners (my husband and myself) as well as one for the adoptee (Georgia). The other was an "order for adoption". Basically it is a document that the courts can sign off on that make the whole deal official.
And, for those wondering, a fine example of those (as well as a good example of an adoption petition can be found in "The Practice Manual for the Maryland Lawyer", available in the reference section at the public library. It is definitely in PG county public libraries for sure...and I do believe its in all of them but I'm not 100% certain.
Both Georgia and I have been seen recently enough by a doctor that they are willing to fill out the physicals for us... poor Royce had to get an appointment for a new physical. Luckily they had an opening for next week...so it shouldn't be too much longer before we can turn these last pieces of information in. Once that happens we can submit another written request for a court date. Then Miss Georgia will be readopted in Maryland, and an offical citizen.
And, for those wondering, a fine example of those (as well as a good example of an adoption petition can be found in "The Practice Manual for the Maryland Lawyer", available in the reference section at the public library. It is definitely in PG county public libraries for sure...and I do believe its in all of them but I'm not 100% certain.
Both Georgia and I have been seen recently enough by a doctor that they are willing to fill out the physicals for us... poor Royce had to get an appointment for a new physical. Luckily they had an opening for next week...so it shouldn't be too much longer before we can turn these last pieces of information in. Once that happens we can submit another written request for a court date. Then Miss Georgia will be readopted in Maryland, and an offical citizen.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Polite Ear-chewing, it gets answers
Even though I wanted to rant and holler, I limited myself to a bit of teary-frustration in my voice as I spoke with people...and this is what I found out:
Basically, we were told stuff completely bass-ackwards. We were supposed to send the certificate of adoption form, the check to vital records and the DHR form to the HOWARD COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT for it to be put with our file. Then once we had our court date and adoption hearing they would issue a Maryland birth certificate and THEN the division of vital records would issue the certificate of adoption.
I spoke with the supervisor of the adoption clerk.... related the whole story to her and she is going to mail us another DHR form since I had mailed (as i was TOLD to) the first one to the address on the form. We have the certificate of adoption form that vital records returned to us, along with our check which is still good.....so once we get the new DHR form, we sent it, the check, and the other form to the circuit court...where it will be put with our file and THEN once the master's office reviews it we should get a court date unless they need more info.
So let this be a lesson to folks readopting: always keep a log of who you spoke to (I recommend full names), and time, date and exactly what was said. I kept a partial log only because I (niavely) trusted I was being told the correct thing. Hahahaha.
I just hope this was the worst and hopefully only bump in this readoption road.
Basically, we were told stuff completely bass-ackwards. We were supposed to send the certificate of adoption form, the check to vital records and the DHR form to the HOWARD COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT for it to be put with our file. Then once we had our court date and adoption hearing they would issue a Maryland birth certificate and THEN the division of vital records would issue the certificate of adoption.
I spoke with the supervisor of the adoption clerk.... related the whole story to her and she is going to mail us another DHR form since I had mailed (as i was TOLD to) the first one to the address on the form. We have the certificate of adoption form that vital records returned to us, along with our check which is still good.....so once we get the new DHR form, we sent it, the check, and the other form to the circuit court...where it will be put with our file and THEN once the master's office reviews it we should get a court date unless they need more info.
So let this be a lesson to folks readopting: always keep a log of who you spoke to (I recommend full names), and time, date and exactly what was said. I kept a partial log only because I (niavely) trusted I was being told the correct thing. Hahahaha.
I just hope this was the worst and hopefully only bump in this readoption road.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Ooooh, I just love bureaucracies!
ooooh, I'm so mad right now I could chew nails and spit bullets!
As part of the readoption process, we were told to send off for a birth certificate..and our request was refused because the one we provided was not certified.
It came from #$%^& CHINA. How are we supposed to get it certified, and by whom? This is beyonsd ridiculous... I know we aren't the only MD couple to adopt from China.
They gave a number at the bottom of the paper to call if there are questions, and believe me, I have questions to ask and venting to do. As soon as that office is open, my butt is going to be on the phone. (well, as soon as i get home from putting my boy on the bus in the morning)
GRRRRR Freaking bureaucracy!!
As part of the readoption process, we were told to send off for a birth certificate..and our request was refused because the one we provided was not certified.
It came from #$%^& CHINA. How are we supposed to get it certified, and by whom? This is beyonsd ridiculous... I know we aren't the only MD couple to adopt from China.
They gave a number at the bottom of the paper to call if there are questions, and believe me, I have questions to ask and venting to do. As soon as that office is open, my butt is going to be on the phone. (well, as soon as i get home from putting my boy on the bus in the morning)
GRRRRR Freaking bureaucracy!!
Friday, September 5, 2008
Gratuitous cute kids picture
Taken yesterday as they were goofing on couch together.
Georgia absolutely adores Thomas,and he likes her quite well.:D
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Readoption
As of right now, Georgia is a permanent resident of the United States... because she entered the country on an I-4 visa. If both Royce and I had traveled, she would have become a citizen at the first US port of entry.
So we have to readopt her. Some people choose to use an attorney, but its also possible to file the petition yoursself...which is the route we are going. Our first step was to contact our county courthouse and speak to the clerk in charge of filing adoption petitions. She sent us a memorandum detailing what was necessary for an adoption in Maryland. Some of it applied to us, some of it didn't...(because we weren't adopting so much as re-adopting...confirming the adoption that took place in China. We already had most of the documents from our original paperchase and documents given to us in China.
The tough thing was the wording of the adoption petition itself. There were no examples to look at..all we had to go on was from the memorandum: "petitions for adoption are governed by the provisions of Family Law Article 5-3A-01 et seq. and 5-3B-01 et seq and shall be filed in accordance with the provisions of rule 9-103 and shall contain the information required therein." <- clear as mud? Well, it does give specific citations to Maryland's family Law articles and from the Maryland Rules...both of which can be found at your local library. (Said the librarian) :) Librarian's aren't allowed to give legal advice: forms, etc..but they can help you find the references to read.
Anyways, what I was lamenting was a lack of examples... now since we only JUST filed the petition today, I can't say our format was correct...although I think and hope it was!! What I might do later, to help those that follow is post (omitting details) in general how I wrote our petition.
So we have to readopt her. Some people choose to use an attorney, but its also possible to file the petition yoursself...which is the route we are going. Our first step was to contact our county courthouse and speak to the clerk in charge of filing adoption petitions. She sent us a memorandum detailing what was necessary for an adoption in Maryland. Some of it applied to us, some of it didn't...(because we weren't adopting so much as re-adopting...confirming the adoption that took place in China. We already had most of the documents from our original paperchase and documents given to us in China.
The tough thing was the wording of the adoption petition itself. There were no examples to look at..all we had to go on was from the memorandum: "petitions for adoption are governed by the provisions of Family Law Article 5-3A-01 et seq. and 5-3B-01 et seq and shall be filed in accordance with the provisions of rule 9-103 and shall contain the information required therein." <- clear as mud? Well, it does give specific citations to Maryland's family Law articles and from the Maryland Rules...both of which can be found at your local library. (Said the librarian) :) Librarian's aren't allowed to give legal advice: forms, etc..but they can help you find the references to read.
Anyways, what I was lamenting was a lack of examples... now since we only JUST filed the petition today, I can't say our format was correct...although I think and hope it was!! What I might do later, to help those that follow is post (omitting details) in general how I wrote our petition.
Friday, August 8, 2008
A Visit to Grammy's
"Grammy" was what we always called my own great-grandmother, whom I was fortunate enough to know and remember. (I was a teenager when she passed away at age 99.)
Thomas calls my mom "Boo-boo" (long story on that name), and Royce's mother, "Grandma"...and my grandma (his great-grandma) "Grammy".
She is a lovely, lovely woman...even though she herself would scoff at my saying so. And while I truly loved all my grandparents, I can with total honesty say that she was always my favorite, the one I felt closest to. (and not just because she is my only surviving grandparent.) What a shame that Alzheimers is slowly robbing her of the bits that make her herself...her memories.
But today was a good day. She remembered me (or seemed to), and was thrilled to see my son Thomas.
And also thrilled to meet her newest great-grandchild from half a world away.
So often, I've heard stories of people in my parents generation...nevermind Grammy's generation who just don't "get" adoption, and some who display blatant (and in my mind unreasonable) favoritism to those grandchildren (or great-grandchildren) that they are genetically related to.
Not my family! From Grammy on, everyone has been so accepting and welcoming of Georgia. So willing to love her. Granted, I know she's quite loveable... but this natural acceptance and love....to me, that's the true miracle of adoption.
Thomas calls my mom "Boo-boo" (long story on that name), and Royce's mother, "Grandma"...and my grandma (his great-grandma) "Grammy".
She is a lovely, lovely woman...even though she herself would scoff at my saying so. And while I truly loved all my grandparents, I can with total honesty say that she was always my favorite, the one I felt closest to. (and not just because she is my only surviving grandparent.) What a shame that Alzheimers is slowly robbing her of the bits that make her herself...her memories.
But today was a good day. She remembered me (or seemed to), and was thrilled to see my son Thomas.
And also thrilled to meet her newest great-grandchild from half a world away.
So often, I've heard stories of people in my parents generation...nevermind Grammy's generation who just don't "get" adoption, and some who display blatant (and in my mind unreasonable) favoritism to those grandchildren (or great-grandchildren) that they are genetically related to.
Not my family! From Grammy on, everyone has been so accepting and welcoming of Georgia. So willing to love her. Granted, I know she's quite loveable... but this natural acceptance and love....to me, that's the true miracle of adoption.
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