Adoption Timeline
Here is how our process is unfolding:
January 2010: We deicide to look into domestic, transracial, infant adoption and decide to work with Bethany Christian Services.
February-April, 2010: We work on our home study paperwork and complete an 8-week class on transracial adoption.
May 2010: We decide to submit our homestudy paperwork for completion with Bethany Christian Services, having second thoughts about the domestic process and openness with birth mother encouraged by Bethany. We decide to put our adoption on pause for a while.
July 2010 We begin talking about African adoption, and talking with several agencies about their Ethiopia programs. Later, we find out that Uganda might be an option. This is a dream come true!
July 24, 2010: We email a Baby Home in Uganda, hoping we might adopt from them, likes several other families in our area.
August 20, 2010: The agency tells us there are no children available, and there are significant problems with the visa process in Uganda. They encourage us to give up hope. We almost do just that.
August 25, 2010: Megan meets Salem Richards, director of AAI’s pilot program in Uganda through a mutual acquaintance. The visa problems in Uganda are resolving, and things are opening up. We become the first family in the program. We immediately work to complete our homestudy.
September 14, 2010: Homstudy paperwork, interviews, and home visit complete. Now waiting on approval from AAI. Then we apply for immigration.
September 23, 2010: Homestudy approved by our social worker, waiting on approval from AAI.
September 30, 2010: We are giving a preliminary referral for a 3 month old baby boy. Sadly, two days later, it falls through due to an independent adoption already in process for the baby that our agency was not made aware of.
October 10, 2010: Approved/notarized homestudy received from AAI.
October 11, 2010: Filed immigration petition (I-600A) with USCIS
November 6, 2010: USCIS fingerprinting complete
November 15, 2010: Fundraising letters go out to 120 people.
December 6, 2010: USCIS approval arrived in the mail today, less than 2 months after application. Wow.
December 18, 2010: Megan completes a 10K hike to raise funds for our adoption in Chattanooga, TN.
January 4, 2011: Fundraising goal of $20,000 reached! We are humbled and overwhelmed with gratitude.
February 16, 2011: We are matched with two beautiful boys, age 9 months and 3 years! We are thrilled, but anxious to have our referral paperwork in hand to sign so it can become official.
April 11, 2011: Confirmation that Baby Jonah has Sickle Cell Anemia.
April 14,2011: USCIS I-700H approval is amended for special needs (took less than 7 days)
April 15, 2011: We officially accept the referral for both boys, though it was unofficial for a while.
May 12, 2011: Affidavits in hand for both boys
May 16, 2011: Dossier arrives at AAI offices
May 21, 2011: Dossier arrives in Uganda
July 7, 2011: Found out we are filed for court and have been assigned judges
July 10, 2011: Surprise, we received court dates for both boys!
To be continued!
Posted on January 25, 2012 - by Megan
And Finally, A Post
After an emergency departure in August, I returned from Uganda with our two new sons, Moses and Jonah nine weeks and countless miracles and trials later. We’ve been home for three months and this is the first blog post I’ve written. Until now, I had no idea what to say. I have been up to my [...]
Posted on September 10, 2011 - by Megan
Adoption Update: 4 Weeks In
First, let me apologize for disappearing from blogland without explanation. When I found out four weeks ago that Baby Jonah had been in the hospital for several days with a fever so high he was convulsing, I knew I had to leave for Uganda immediately. In less than 24 hours, I boarded a plane in [...]
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About Me
My name is Megan Hyatt Miller. I'm a little Emmilou Harris, a little Bonnie Rait, and a dash of Paula Dean—mostly because I identify with her unbridled use of butter and ample hips. I am passionate about living and telling a good story. I'm a wife, a stepmom and and an adoptive mom. I am passionate about adoption, racial reconciliation, and creating beauty and a sense belonging for those I love. To learn more, click here. Thanks for stopping by.
