Wow! In a couple months, we've zoomed up 19 numbers, so that is awesome! Still no knowing when it will be our time. Irina says it could be weeks or months. I sure hope it will be this summer.
How's about I spell out the next steps, for whenever we do get a referral. Ok, so the obvious big first step is that we get the referral! We would be given all the information that is available, as well as photos, and have a couple weeks to make a decision. Assuming we say yes, that is communicated to IHNFA, and then they set the time for when we come to their office. There are actually two trips that need to be taken. For the first trip, Jerry and I both would need to travel. We each meet individually with a psychologist and a social worker and take the MMPI, which is the same test that we took as part of our psychological evaluation, and I believe some other tests as well. Then after that is done, we get to meet our child(ren)! We meet him/her/them there at the IHNFA facility in the presence of the social worker and probably the foster mother. Play for a while, chat if we can, get to know each other. Then maybe we see each other again the next day, possibly they stay the night at the hotel with us. I think it sort of depends on how well the adjustment goes. I like the fact that the process seems to be structured for the child(ren)'s benefit, rather than convenience. It's not just, "Here you go. Here's your child. Best of luck!" but they take it slow to let the child(ren) adjust to us and the situation.
The first trip lasts a few days/ a week, and during that trip, documents are prepared and presented to court to officially adopt the child(ren).
Then we leave, just Jerry and I that is, and wait to hear that the court is ready to sign the final adoption paperwork. That is when we take the second trip, aka pickup trip. It may be a month or two or more later than the first trip. At the beginning of that second trip, the judge signs the final adoption degree! At that point, Jerry could travel back home, but I would need to stay longer. The second trip is probably four or six weeks long since after the adoption decree is signed, then the child(ren)'s new birth certificate and passport can be issued, then the child(ren) have a medical exam and some vaccinations, and we apply at the U.S. Embassy for the visa to bring the child(ren) into the U.S. And all those things take time. Once we get the visa, then we can travel to the U.S. So exciting!