8-25-07 The morning after my friend Cathy's wedding, I had to be in Newark at 8 AM to be fingerprinted...yes for the 3rd and final time for the USCIS (United States Citizenship & Immigration Services) this is the fingerprinting they send you for after they receive your I 600A application.(Advanced Processing of Orphan Petition). They put you in this cold dirty "auditorium" that makes you feel like a herd of cattle that was just in "off the boat". All in all, it was quick and I was out of there within 45 min. Just need to wait about a 1 1/2 months for that to come back. I need to have the rest of my paperwork in order to compile my dossier so its all ready to hand over to the state to be apostilled when this approval comes in the mail.

8-22-07 Got my FBI backround check approval in the mail! Yea! Not that I thought there was any devious criminal issues to worry about them finding, but nonetheless a major U.S. step checked off the list.

8-17-07 Got this email today: Hi Jennifer, Just wanted to update you--your adoption HS was approved by our partnersfor Kazakhstan. (That means everything in the home study was all there and they approve the result of it)

8-16-07 Susan and I spent the day at Babies R Us and I created my registry. (I also have one at Target). It was pretty exciting and she got a kick out of making fun of me saying "uh what the heck do you need THAT for" or "how do you use THAT?" or the fact that I wanted everything pink, regardless of it being the most boring of the toys. (Emma doesn't have to enjoy it, it just has to be pretty LOL). Having been around babies most of my life, I really thought I was way more educated then I actually was! haha

8-10-07 Finally sent in my FBI backround check info. I had the fingerprinting done and ready to go back in April but was told to hold off on sending it b/c everything is time sensitive and it may have not been good later on. This can take 6-8 weeks to receive back. I have some other things to start working on so when these approvals come back my dossier will be ready to go.

8-1-07 Reaching Out sent my final HS report to CIS. They should now have my completed application and beging processing it. I hear it could take up to 2 months to receive result.

7-25-07 Got homestudy approval!!!! YEA! (not that I didn't think I'd be approved, still surreal to see it in writing) "Jennifer has met all of the pre-adoptive requirements for the State of New Jersey. At the conclusion of the home study process, Jennifer was approved as a potential adoptive parent. She is very excited about the prospect of having a child, and is ready to proceed with both referral and placement at this time.... I am happy to favorably recommend that Jennifer be approved for adoption through the nation of Kazakhstan." There were a few corrections I needed to address, wrong phone number, etc but I'm told it should be corrected and ready for release by end of July. Apparantly its also forwarded to the social work associates in Kaz for their feedback, but won't know about it for a bit. Kaz also "closes" essentially for the month of Aug for vacation! The whole country.... nice, huh?!? Glad I'm not one of the ones waiting for their approval this month. I also got receipt from Homeland Security today (I feel like Jack Bauer on "24") saying they received my I600A and are awaiting my HS report before sending me info on where to go for, yet, another set of fingerprinting.