Putting my big girl panties on...

First off let me say thank you to everyone who continues to pray for our family and for Joshua. Thank you to those that have donated, shared and those that just read my blog. To those that keep coming back and having to deal with my rants and to those that offer kind words to help keep my faith. Thank you to Natalia for her homemade birthday card she sent for Joshua. I can't wait to put him in his new little birthday onesie and read to him the sweet words of a very generous and giving girl.

I would also like to remind everyone that we are still doing Jacobs art fundraiser and "giftaway" I sincerely hope that you can at least share it with others. It really would mean a lot to our family and it would be an awesome thing to hang on your wall or your child's wall as a reminder of Joshua's journey.

So after my pity party yesterday, I decided to put on my big girl panties and give the whole contacting my senators and representatives another try. So, Senator Stabenow and Senator Levin politely informed me that the USCIS only expedites in life or death situations. Obviously they must have missed the whole Carrington story on my blog :) But anyway, they did not even take my receipt number to give it the ole college try. Dale Kildee's office on Monday had me sign a privacy release and fill out a form on what I was requesting. They had all the information and then just faxed it on Monday to the USCIS. Well she contacted me today to let me know she called them and they told her that expediting would occur if I could get a doctor's recommendation that it was a medical necessity. Well since medical information is lacking in Joshua's country I have little to go on.

My next phone call was to the actual USCIS office to inquire where exactly my file was. Again I was told it was in line to be processed but did not get assigned a caseworker yet. I again informed her that Dave received his appointment for fingerprinting and again was told it must have been a fluke as no appointments get assigned till a caseworker is assigned. I then was informed by another family that they had their fingerprinting before being assigned a caseworker and their application went after ours AND there was no medical necessity for that family. I asked the USCIS why the inconsistencies with their handling of cases. What I got was that is a good question Mrs. Warner and it certainly should not be happening. (umm ya think?) Then in a patronizing manner she suggested I call and check on the status in TWO weeks. So yeah, they will be called again tomorrow. If there is anyone out there that is reading this that can somehow give me advice on where to go I would be forever in your debt. At the rate they are giving me I am concerned whether we will be able to travel if there is a potential shutdown. So if you have some ideas or advice.. i am so all ears for it. You can email me lisarenee1987@yahoo.com.

By the way, I am very nice when I am calling these people. I am pretty much in tears just trying to figure out this whole process. I said it feels like I have all these hoops being put in front of me and my big ole butt keeps getting stuck on them when I try to jump through them. :)

So that is where I am at right now. I keep praying that by some sort of divine intervention that my fingerprint appointment just shows up in the mail. Dave's appt is scheduled for the 21st and might have to be postponed till I get mine because it is a 5 hour round trip. We can't just show up without a letter otherwise we would have been there yesterday!

I am by no means giving up but am looking for any and all strategies that others might have. I know that many people are just saying to me that it is all in God's time frame but hey maybe God has someone out there willing to help and will guide them my way :) Tomorrow I will be putting my big girl panties on again and trying to work some magic.

God bless everyone!! And to my Joshua who is right now probably still sleeping.. sleep tight we will be there as soon as we can! I just have to reaffirm I do know that this is all going to be worth it in the end.