New Pic

New picture of Sweeti arrived today---not sure when it was taken (before or after surgery), but she is pictured sitting on the floor wearing a bib and a mouth full of something and has tears in her eyes. Also not sure why that was a photo opportunity, but happy to see a more recent picture of her. The last picture we saw of her was her referral picture, which is a tiny passport close-up of her head. Looks like she's growing and still cute. Strangely, she does resemble my other kids. Hmmm.......

Surgery!

We received Sweeti's discharge papers yesterday via e-mail. She had her surgery on May 30th, and was discharged on June 3. It appears that the surgery to correct her lipomyelomeningocele went well. She was reported to have movement of all four limbs, no complications and no infection at the surgical site upon discharge. So, we will wait for reports of her recovery!

Dossier OK

Our agency says our dossier is ok, so that is a relief! However, the orphanage now requires one of our Power of Attorney documents be authenticated by the Indian Consulate. This is not needed until they apply for Sweeti's passport, so it will not screw up our dossier, but the agency is mailing one of the three copies we had notarized/apostilled of this document back to us to send off to the Indian Consulate.

USPS

This morning my daughter and I walked down to the post office and mailed off our completed, notarized, apostilled dossier and our notarized official acceptance papers and one arm and one leg--ha!

When the agency gets it, they will direct each to the proper authorities in India and we will be waiting for our NOC--No Objection Certificate- from CARA the g'vt agency which oversees adoptions. This process usually takes about 2 months. It should also be about 2 months until we find out the amount of/if we get a grant toward this adoption.

Once we receive NOC, that document along with all the others can be presented to the judge for scrutiny in the Bangalore courts and eventually we will be granted guardianship--Christians may not adopt in India, we must be made only guardians and then adopt her in our own country. Actually, the official referral acceptance papers had a document from Shawn requesting guardianship, and one from me saying that my husband was applying for guardianship and that I'm aware of that and will go along with it and treat his ward as my own child. Interesting!

Probably not much news for awhile, but I may have something to talk about at some point, so keep checking in!