Our hysterical social worker Trina with our final adoption decree. She cracks us up! She handed us Vivi at the hospital, did all 7 of our post placement visits, and showed up today to witness our Finalization. We love her!
The FINAL COVETED paperwork!
Today was THE DAY! I was so nervous. This was new for us. Lucy's paperwork was pretty much all finalized at the US Consolute in Guangzhou. This was a BIT different.
We had to hire an attorney.
We had to be questioned under oath by said attorney.
We had to be questioned by the judge. A not joyous judge might I point out.
Although things seemed to be going okay until the judge cleared the room, DESPITE Mark and I saying it was okay for people to stay.....UH OH!
He proceeded to ask something along the lines of how we thought we could afford another child when Mark made THIS, and our debt was THIS. Were we charging all our groceries on credit cards he wondered? (I mean I knew things were tight, but we can afford to eat!)
Our jaws were on the floor.
The agency director and social workers jaws were on the floor.
I even think our attorneys jaw was on the floor.
I swear you could hear the crickets chirp!
The judge, in his attept to get us all to close our collective mouths, went on to start quoting numbers. Numbers that WERE NOT OURS. If they were, none of us could figure out how. We again stated out income/debt ratio which the agency verified, and it was time to move on. WHEW.
Our agency director spoke a bit how it was his recommendation the we have permanent placement of Vivi, and our attorney echoed his sentiments in the form of a request.
As the judge handed forth his fianl decree, I disolved into tears! She is ours!! Vivienne Grace is ours FOREVER!!
Our attorney proceeded to ask the judge if we could approach the bench for some pictures. He so "happily" obliged! If you could see the photos, I think you would have an inkling of what this was like. I may need to start an additional PRIVATE blog to share photos of our whole family that I am not comfortable sharing with people out there I don't "know"................
Thanks for all the amazing and wonderful comments on here and Facebook! We have enjoyed sharing our journey to Vivienne Grace with you!!
39 comments:
Oh my, Jill!! Both Exciting and Scary at the same time!! What a relief to have everything finally said and done!! Many Happy Wishes for a WONDERFUL Life to your BEAUTIFUL Family!!!
Sending lots and lots of Love and ((Hugs)) your way!!!!!
Me (John & Jillian Rose)
BTW, if you get a chance, email me some of those pics!! You've got my curiosity!
Congratulations on your special day with Miss V! Celebrations all around!!! I'm sorry you had a stinky-mean judge. If you ever go "private" count me in.
PS. You had asked how far away we are from a certain family - I'm guessing 2+hours. I don't know exactly where they live on the east side of the state.
Excuse me while I pick my jaw up from the floor...
I can't believe he asked you that. I mean, doesn't he know that the adoption agency went over all that in the first place. Wow!
CONGRATZ on it all being final. So glad Vivi is now officially legally yours.
Congratulations! I bet you are glad to be done with that judge!
Congrats!! She is such a little cutie-pie!
Whoa -- that judge sounded scary! We had a routine adoption after the China one in our state and the judge made me very nervous!
Best wishes to you and your sweet family!
Janet
Oh my gosh, Jill. I have NEVER heard of that happening. I wonder if he had some issues and ya'll just happened to have the unfortunate shot at being in his court. Yikes.
But despite the rocky beginning...I am so excited for you!! Congratulations to your family of FOUR!
Congrats!!! That's wonderful news!! ;o) Sorry about the icky judge, maybe he got up on the wrong side of the bench?
Congratulations Jill! Your children are beautiful! What a relief to have everything final now.
Happy New Year!
Lori and Maya
Wonderful, wondeful. WHEW! Reading your account of your court appearance made me very nervous.
So glad it is over and Vivi is yours forever. Right where she belongs.
I'm very happy for you all!
Sorry about the creepy judge- yuck. That's just the opposition wanting to ruin a joyous moment! But nothing can- Vivi is yours forever! Yippee Jesus!!
Congratulations!
If you go private- include me!!
Congratulations Jill! So happy for you all. What in the heck was wrong with that judge...thankfully that's over with...yikes.
Sounds like 2010 will be a wonderful year for your family of 4!
xo
Big congratulations to you all! Wish you didn't have such an up and down day, though. But who cares?! She's yours :)
Congratulations! It has to be a big relief to know she is yours forever! She's super cute too.
Congratulations Jill! Congratulations to your beautiful family!
Congratulations to you and Vivi! I hope she grows to be a happy, healthy, part of your family.
Hi Jill,
Oh I remeber a day like that so well!
Cograts on Vivi now being forever yours!! It is such a wonderful feeling! I felt like I was holding my breath until Ms. Gabby was officially ours even though we had her since she was 2 days old.
Did you ever get the hats and ornaments I sent for Lucy? I hope you did and they didn't get lost.
Hugs,
Jody
congratulations on finalization!
ok, i was so nervous on the stand with the basic questions from our attorney - i can't imagine what you felt with the judge questioning you like that!
our attorney did warn us that it could go either way - depending on who heard our case, they're either thrilled to be a part of your adoption, or pick your paperwork apart piece by piece.
yikes! i feel for you, having had to endure the latter!
Oh my goodness..I laughed at your post...then my jaw hit the floor...then I thought that judge needs some talkin' to!
I can't believe he was such a grump!!
Congratulations on your finalization. There is just something very special and relieving once the finalization is done!
Yippee!! Happy day. Nothing like Adoption Day!!I'm so happy for you all. :)
Well Congratulations! I gasped when I read that thing about the judge, I can't even begin to imagine what you must have been thinking as he was asking you those questions...and when he cleared the room! So very scary, but thank God it wasn't really your information he had. What a mess up though, that shouldn't have happened!!
I'm so happy for you!!!
Hugs,
Melba
Hooooorrrraaaaayyyy!!!!!!
I am over the moon with happiness for you :) Do not let anyone try to ruin this perfect day!!
Congratulations!!
Dawn
Congrats!!! What an amazing day! Sorry the judge was kind of a butt!
AWESOME! Big congratulations to you all! What a blessing you have all been connected!!!
Congratulations!!!
Wow congratulations!
And as for that judge...unbelieveable! So sorry you got an odd duck.
But so glad that that beautiful baby is yours forever.
The Lord is soooooooooooooo GOOD!
Congratulations! She is precious!
Hey! Thanks for commenting on my blog. I just realized I haven't had yours to my blogroll...going to go fix that now!
Congrats on the finalization! Sorry to hear about the judge though! Cranky pants! I'd love to see pics just to see if the image I have of him holds up to it.
Congrats again!
Very cool!!!
Woohoo!!!! Congratulations!!!
Oh my stars...I can not believe the judge said those things to you!!! God love you!
But its all over and the most beautiful Vivi in the world belongs to YOU!!
Blessings,
Robin
How wonderful....she is just the cutest ever. ;) Looks like your special day was perfect!
Oh my goodness...what an ordeal! Very bizarre judge. I'm so glad Vivi is finally yours. CONGRATULATIONS!!
PS: Thank you so much for your sweet comment on my blog. :)
Congrats!! How did I miss this great news??? :-)
Love the pictures!
I congratulated on FB, but it's taken me this long to get over her. Jill, I'm so sorry that the judge made what was obviously such a joyous ocassion, something so terrible. Vivi was yours from before time began, and there are no numbers in the world that could have been presented before the judge that would have changed that, if it was God's will.
Congrats again my dear friend.
Love you,
O.
You are amazing to go through all of that. Your daughter is beautiful. Sure she's kept you busy the last few weeks.
Congratulations! What a wonderful feeling!
okay girl..go check out my blog...i see you just commented but i just posted the 'business' :)
Just wanted to check on you guys? How are things? I bet yall are still on cloud 9!
Wow as we approach finalization I hope it isn't this nerve wracking for us!
Congrats honey! Such wonderful news and that Judge sounded like he was way out of line. I am so sorry. Vivi is so adorable and looks like she has the sweetest personality and we are thrilled that she is now officially yours. of course she was yours all along, but now you have the decree too which is cool. :)
Hugs,
Jonni
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