I-800 Mailed Today!!

Today after yet another hiccup that put this step off a couple more weeks we mailed our I-800A to the USCIS.

This is the last and most important step in the dossier paper chase, basically the US is approving us to bring an orphan back into the country. Once we get our fingerprints and our approval letter we are DONE with the paper chase. While we are waiting for approval we will be putting the finishing touches on all other paperwork (state certified/Chinese Consulate Authenticated) so everything will be ready to go. We already have our paperwork state certified, we just have to prepare it for the consulate.

There has been news of quick turn around lately as in one month from application to approval that would be AWESOME but we are prepared for a 2-2.5 month wait to receive approval. So pray with us for a quick turnaround and smooth process (no request for evidence would be awesome).

A Switcha-Roo <<-- >> Heinekamp Party of 6

Remember this post?? From Feb 2014 - BIG NEWS  Obviously that was a couple years ago and since then some things have changed and it's time to share our next BIG step.

Going into the adoption process through Ethiopia, we knew that, even being open to a child with special needs or a toddler (as opposed to a newborn), the wait could be roughly 2 years.  Well that wait continued to creep into another 2 years, then 2 1/2 years, then 3 years, then beyond... We also received some updates regarding proposed changes to laws and policies in Ethiopia that had us concerned that, even when the time came to be matched with our kiddo, we would no longer even be qualified. Meanwhile update after update regarding a great need for families open to waiting children from the China program ... especially boys... kept finding their way into my inbox. I peered into big beautiful dark eyes of little one after little one in need of a family while our paperwork sat half way across the world, while we were here with arms ready to embrace and love another little one.

Early in March, Colbie was coming up on her 1st bday and Matt was coming up on his 30th (which is a qualification to adopt from China and one of the reasons we didn't pursue the China program earlier). I prayed over all those little photos and update emails, I cried tears of confusion and worry over possibly switching programs...we love Ethiopia without ever setting foot on their soil.  We poured so much of ourselves into that stack of our life that sits in their beautiful country...it's a hard decision to make but in the end I decided it was time to be brave and ask my husband where he stood on this (don't get me wrong: I had been forwarding those emails and hints for a while, it wasn't a total shock).

We went out to eat and to a concert together for a date night, just me and my man and finally I said, " What about China??" He wasn't exactly on board at first.  We were Ethiopia ready.  We had our reasons for going that direction and this was a big change. I mentioned that they really need families for boys...another son...a brother for Garrett...2 boys 2 girls. I said think about it. By the end of our date his heart was already changing...I texted my mission trip leader and personal prayer warrior Becki (who has a daughter adopted from China) and asked for her prayers I knew we were close to this big leap.

On March 10th 2016 we emailed our family coordinator and asked to transfer programs, we filled out our pre-application for the China program. we waited.

We were accepted and we officially transferred that next week.

With China being it's own, separate program with it's own rules and requirements, we had to start the paper chase ALL OVER AGAIN. Luckily, having already done this once, we moved through those steps pretty quickly. We met with our new social worker and had our home study meetings done by Lydia's birthday party on April 30th. Of course, we dealt with some hiccups with Indiana clearances and it took us a bit to get to this point but our Home Study is approved as of this Monday and we will be applying for our 1800 within the week (this is clearance through US immigration to bring an orphan back to the US.  Kinda a huge deal.)

So, that is where we are. We anticipate being LID to China by end of August (LID - Log in Date of our dossier to China) which means we would be able to receive a referral and move towards bringing a SON home. The Heinekamp family will officially grow within the year from 5 to 6. A son between the ages of Newborn to 3, we are adopting from the waiting child program which means our son will come to us with some type of special need, we don't know what this will be yet but we've poured over the list of needs we would be open to and some on our "maybe" list, it was one of the hardest parts of this process so far but we are at peace that we will know our son when we see him that those needs will be a bump in the road compared the entirety of this boys life as our son.

China....who knew?!?!

Lets Do This...AGAIN

When I say Lets Do This I mean the whole blogging thing. I miss it I really do. A place to document the big moments the small moments the moments I don't want to forget. It's been a year since I posted, my last post was announcing Colbie's birth...well that Colbie girl she is a spunky sassy 1 year old who is the ultimate clown, love bug, silly, sister this family adores. Instagram is really my lifesaver these days and I'm so thankful to document the moments there but we have some exciting things coming up so back to blogging it is. It's good for my soul :)

Kindergarten is drawing to a close this week and our girl has grown and thrived in school this year. She loves every minute and is a little teary and sad that it's coming to a close for the summer. I am excited to have her home, for zoo trips, pool trips, and days of making 3 lunches for 3 kiddos all under my roof. 

Garrett has his first taste of school by going 1 day a week and he really came out of his shell even if it took until after Christmas to stop the tears getting out the door. He now talks my ear off all day long about dinosaurs, super heros and power rangers! 

We fostered a mangey puppy who needed a lot of help to get better, we did 12 days of shots, a month of antibiotics twice a day and baths once a week. He was with us for 2 months and the transformation was so fun to witness, what a spunky soul that we know is making his new family so happy!! We named him Pigpen and loved on him the best we could while he was with us and this mommy cried and cried when I dropped him off to be adopted. He was a special little booger. 

That doesn't even begin to go into detail of the whole last year but it's a glimpse and I hope to come back to share what God is doing and how he is moving in our lives. How our family is growing and stretching, loving and giving in these days to come. 

She's Here

Well it's been a slow and full spring, one where our family went from 4 to 5.

  Colbie born 4/16/15 8lbs. 10oz. 21 inches 

We've spent a lot of time at home, a lot of time soaking up our new bundle. At least I have. We have had such great help from family and friends. We didn't have to make a meal for weeks and family made sure our big kiddos were having fun out of the house since I was healing from my csection and bonding with our new girl. The kids have been so great with her and really Lydia has been such a big help. This is a totally different feeling then when we brought our son home, I was in tears multiple times a day so overcome with how difficult it was adding to our family. From 2 to 3 has been such a fun blessing (most of the time, lets not totally sugar coat it, we have our moments) Colbie is a doll baby, she's so snuggly and good. I love having a baby in the house :) I've braved outings with the 3 of them and if things are going south we abort quickly and what a freedom in knowing I can do that. I'm not a failure if that happens, it's the season we are in and my kiddos need a mom who isn't a crazed lunatic so if our time out is cut short and we head home to start over, IT IS OK!!

Busy but not Busy

It's March 2nd....the snow is piled up outside and thank goodness I heard a plow hit our street at 1 a.m. this morning or Matt might have been snowed in our court. Lydia and I both prayed for snow as our winter was looking not too promising...it delivered and it's been fun and beautiful. I am slowly getting ready for warmer weather but the cold doesn't bother me being 33 weeks pregnant, less swelling more layers I'm ok with that.

I've also had a lot of bump dates since I last visited here...I am so thankful for Instagram and the cell phone camera for helping me document this pregnancy, I've only had my big camera out once and that's mostly due to the fact that I come home from work and smell like dog or look like I haven't showered or done my hair in days (mostly true) so this works better for me this time around. I'm starting to have some pain in my back and lots of heart burn. I am down to snacking all day because larger meals are hard, still not a big meat eater and love salads, pasta and fruit. She is a moving squirming machine in there but only during my quiet moments so mostly after the kids go to bed we have a good hour of bonding time while she dances and swims in there. I'm trying to soak this all in realizing it's the last time I will feel a little baby growing inside me. It's bittersweet, I love the pregnancy part I love the miracle of growing a baby inside and I am extremely lucky with relatively easy pregnancies.

28 weeks

30 weeks

32 weeks

I feel like the time is flying by this time around, my schedule doesn't allow for as much sitting and dreaming but faster and fuller with a split shift of work and a day full of making lunches, continuous snack/drink retrieving, wiping noses and butts and the constant up and down that is a mom at home during the day. I am thankful for this time with them as we just registered Lydia for Kindergarten and I realize she will be gone all day next school year. I am beyond thankful to have had that time with her even if some days all I really want to do is lay in my bed with a book or my shows and rest. It's just a season and one that is going all too fast. Our days are busy with normal life stuff, we have had relatively uneventful weekends full of watching basketball, movies and home projects...Colbie's room is almost done and Matt's been painting our master room (why do we wait til last minute to tackle the master bedroom, it's been 2 years in this home and it's not been touched)

Matt and I did take a weekend for ourselves and hit up a fun bed and breakfast in Brown County for the weekend while my mom stayed with the kiddos. Kind of a last effort to be lazy get in some much needed zzz's and time together without juggling kids between us. It was just what we needed. The place was so cute and had animals roaming the property which is fun for us since we are animal lovers. We went into town for shopping and dinner one night but otherwise had movie marathons, read, actually talked to each other over breakfast and enjoyed the company of best friends who have now been married for going on 7 years and just need a couple days to rejuvenate ourselves and our relationship.

The countdown to 5 heinekamps is down to 6 weeks this week...let the emotional rollercoaster begin.

Prayer and Word for 2015

Christmas has come and gone and those of us with little ones know just how much of a joyful blur it is. Early mornings full of excitement and questions of "how many more days until Christmas" It's a challenge to make it through the day unscathed from the wrath of an anxious 4 year old but so sweet to feel the magic and excitement.

Santa was good and the playroom is full to overflowing, our kids are well loved (I choose to say that as opposed to spoiled, I am trying not to raise spoiled kids, just well loved kids)

Now comes the moment I look back at 2014 on this Sunday evening before we head back to our regular programming of early work mornings and school days for Lydia.

2014 was one big announcement after another for our family.
 - WE ARE ADOPTING
 - WE ARE PREGNANT

It was a year that we stepped out in blind faith not really knowing what the heck we were doing with all this paperwork and check list after check list. The world of adoption is a big fat risk, one that has no guaranteed end. We are walking through each door as it remains open for us and that was a big lesson this year...to continue on a path that we cannot see the ending but trusting that we were walking it for a reason. We then decided to follow our hearts (well really this mamma's heart) to have a baby in the wait. I turn 30 in 2015 and I had this desire on my heart to do this pregnancy thing one more time before then. So here we are entering 2015 expecting 2 kiddos, one who's due date is written on our calendar and the other who's entrance into our world is still an unknown.

2014 for us was about leaping into the unknown and not letting ourselves get too comfortable, 2015 is about living intentionally in this stage we are in.

INTENTIONAL - is my word for 2015.

Intentional - in my time of prayer and devotion - I want to read more books by women who are walking or have walked this same journey as me, to build me up and give me strength in the throws of motherhood. Time in prayer for my baby growing inside me, her siblings here in our home, my husband, and our birth family and child who are still a mystery to us.

Intentional - about time spent with those I love, my kids (putting away the phone and pouring all myself into them when it is time) more date nights with my husband, more time sending encouragement, making time for dinner/lunch/coffee with those girlfriends who mean the most to me. I want to build up a community, motherhood can be lonely.

Intentional - about what we spend our money on, more local, fair trade and necessary items for our family.

Intentional - with my time, that is spent not just staying busy but doing things that build us up as a family or me as a woman, not just saying yes to say yes because I don't want to disappoint somebody but being intentional in using my best yes possible.

2015 we will adjust to being a family of 5, of sending a kid to school full time, entering a full year of waiting and celebrating many moments as a family. We are ready for what 2015 brings... LETS DO IT!

20 Weeks and It's A....

We had an exciting holiday week...we started it out with a gender reveal party at our house on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. We had our immediate families over and Lydia helped me open up a box of balloons revealing that we are having a precious baby.....

GIRL

We are so thrilled to hit the 20 week mark with a healthy baby girl growing in there. She is starting to move more and more and things are looking great, still hit a sleepy time everyday and don't make it much passed 9:30 most nights but that's the life of a mom of 2 other little ones. Lydia is so excited to have a baby sister because duh brothers are old news. She even went to my 20 week check up to hear the baby's heart beat.

Here is her first close up and we do have a name.... Colbie Marie :) She is so loved already and although we are excited to hold her in our arms I am soaking up this pregnancy and my time alone with her. Plus we have a nursery to put together and tons of girl clothes to go through and wash up!! I can't wait to get out Lydia's old things to share with her sister.

Thankful to get to experience this miracle all over again. It's something that amazes and humbles me daily that God would grant me this privilege not even just once but three times now! Praises to him for these gifts I call my children.