Another month in Pakistan . . . going on 250 days, 35+ weeks, 8+ months!
I apologize for the lengthy delay in update . . .
August - Well what can I say about August, that wasn't said about July . . . I just thought July was my hardest month! Isn't it wonderful that we don't have the crystal ball to know what is coming down our path? . . . we probably would never step foot on the path! But, our heavenly Father stands firmly with us, never leaving us, many times . . . carrying us . . . It reminds me of that poem "Footprints in the Sand".
Most of the month of August was spent waiting on the USCIS decision to our applicant appeal response to the NOID (Notice of Intent to Deny). However, I did enjoy the holy Islamic month, Ramadan, from a religious point. It's always interesting when you begin to understand another religion. I do try to understand . . . & respect the tenets of Islam. The end of the month of Ramadan marks the holiest of days, Eid (8/31/11), which is the beginning of the new Islamic year (based on Islamic calendar). The wonderful g.house family included us in their Eid celebration this year & we felt right at home. Just like Christmas! . . . where food & fellowship with family is wonderful.
Wednesday (8/18) – Mr. Karim took me to an "Iftari" buffet & dinner. The restaurant was Jahangir (pronounced like John Deer only John Geer). Iftar is the traditional fast breaking evening meal/feast, which begins 1st with prayers, then everyone eats 3 dates (yes, it must be 3 - observance of how Mohammad broke his fast), followed by fruit juices (gradually eases the body out of 14-16 hours of fast). Then, you sample the many types of finger foods - fresh fruit chaat (salad), chana chaat (cooked vegetable salad), somosas (triangle shaped pastry filled with minced meat), pakora (cold mashed potato w/onion & spice deep fried in oil), spicy chicken wings, etc - followed by a big cold glass of cold "lassi" (watered down yogurt. To me, it tastes like soured milk. yes, as in the milk in the frig has expired, but people love it here!). Actually, Iftar to me is a meal, but that is only the "fast breaking" part of the evening. Some people make their evening meal out of the Iftari food (sort of like "happy hour" in the US!). But, just like any holiday, most go for the full feast - after the fast is broken with Iftar, you can then enjoy an overwhelming dinner of all kinds of Pakistani dishes - it really is quite the feast!.
Tuesday (8/23) - Over skype, Uppa D read the USCIS decision to our applicant response to the NOID . . . Denial. We were anticipating a long wait, like 1-2 months . . . but it came very quickly, in only a week! It was once again shipped to my US residence address from New Delhi via FedEx, so the official date of the denial is 8/18/11. So, we now have an official Denial to the I-600 orphan status classification. We do have an official appeal option - It is called the I-290B Appeal & we only have 30 days to file it.
Tears flowed today over the decision. And, I'm needing to "live" with this decision for awhile before sharing it with everyone. Needless to say, it has broken my heart! Very disappointing & a very big blow to our case. I have been on skype many times with my family . . . But, through it all . . . there is no doubt that I will appeal this decision, continue fighting for Gracy's future. Somehow, someway the Truth will make itself known!
The g.house family is also heartbroken . . . & a special fasting prayer is said for us. Mr. Karim & family makes the next few days of the holy month & holidays very special for us.
Wednesday (8/24) - Our US pediatrician is wanting an MRI of Gracy's brain. So, today we go to the Islamabad Diagnostic Center to have it done. The procedure is an hour long procedure & Gracy will need to be anesthetized to be immobilized for the lengthy procedure. Samir accompanies us & keeps mama preoccupied during the procedure. Once it is over, it takes another 45 minutes for Gracy to recover from the anesthesia. It was actually a deeper anesthesia than when she had her tongue tie surgery! After 30 minutes in recovery & nothing, I was getting very worried. She ran a very high fever at the end & had to be given Ibruphen to reduce the fever. It was a little scary . . . but she is doing just fine now! For this mama, it is always difficult to watch my child go under anithesia. They are so innocent & trusting . . . my heart just aches knowing I'm putting them through a medical procedure that sedates them. I'm always glad when it is over!
We get the hard films & softcopy/DVD films, along with the report, the next day. I send it on to the US for our pediatrician & pediatric neurologist for further evaluation.
Monday (8/29) - I was again treated to an Iftari buffet & Ramadan dinner. Shelina & Samir took me this time. It was a beautiful roof top restaurant at the Envoy Continential Hotel. The evening was fairly cool & we watched the sun set over the city of Islamabad. Very beautiful & the night sky absolutely gorgeous.
Tuesday (8/30) - A major day of laundry! I pretty much have it down to a science now, but it still takes a major amount of time! But, in the evening . . . Gracy, Shelina & Mama were treated to the special Eid tradition of "Mehndi". This is henna artistry. It's temporary & only lasts about a week. It was so much fun! They do this type of "bling, bling" make-up for special occasions like Eid, weddings, etc (major celebrations). Gracy had a very hard time keeping her sweet, little hands still, so we opted for the henna "stamp" on her palms. I've also attached a picture of both Gracy & Mama's hands with their "Mehndi". If you goggle Mehndi, you will find pictures of very elaborate designs. It's so much FUN!
Wednesday (8/31) - Eid ul-Fitr Mubarak!! Pretty much like our Christmas. After a month of fasting & prayer, everyone dresses in new clothes for Eid, sweets are given & a feast is eaten with close friends/family. The markets were packed during the evenings of Ramadan, everyone shopping! It is traditional to give gifts of sweets on Eid, so the g.house had many packages of "sweets" coming through the door! And, Gracy & Mama received a very yummy cake from Mr. Karim. Gracy & Mama were also invited to attend the evening Eid dinner with the g.house family. A beautiful restaurant, with a wonderful family. Gracy was dressed as pretty as a princess - a beautiful pink dress with lots & lots of tulle, crinoline petticoats, sparkling beads & matching pink shoes (picture attached). The part she liked the best . . . her bangles! You just can't be properly dressed in Pakistan without the "bling" of bangles! Gracy's were pink/silver to match & she just couldn't leave them alone! I think we got home with a "couple" unbroken! The meal was wonderful with all the traditional Pakistani holiday trimmings. And, wonderful fellowship with our gracious hosts.
The Eid celebration lasts for 3 days. So, Islamabad & all of Pakistan basically shut down for the rest of the week.
September has brought many busy tasks/objectives for our case . . .
Monday (9/5) - My immigration attorney complained directly to the Consul General of the New Delhi USE about the process of how our evidence was examined for orphan status. However after a week with no response back, we have decided to officially appeal through the I-290B appeal process. We have 30 days from the date of the Denial (8/18/11). It takes about 4 days to FedEx from the US to New Delhi, so we have only about 1.5 weeks to complete the I-290B form. We will ask for the 30 day extension to submit our new legal brief w/evidence. Going down this appeal path will be a lengthy process. It will 1st go back to New Delhi for a 2nd review. Should that review produce a favorable, overturned decision (yes, one can hope!) then the appeal process will end there & we will have Gracy officially classified as an orphan & can move forward with her immigrant visa. If the decision remains a denial, it will then be forwarded on to the AAO (appeal board) in Washington D.C. This is where all the immigrant appeals from all over the world funnel into, so our appeal goes into the queue & we have to wait our turn. This can take as long as 2 years, but will surely be at least 6-12 months. So, we will need to adjust our waiting expectation . . . for a long duration.
Wednesday (9/7) - Our Gracy Girl truns 27 months old!
Thursday (9/8) - Finally, received the online confirmation for the I-160 non-immigrant medical B visa application. Now, I can take the confirmation & file for a visa interview appointment. To do that, I had to go to the approved American Visa Services Center, pay the visa fee (13,030 rupees, $150), submit Gracy's passport, a 2x2 visa picture, copy of the confirmation & my identity proof (copy of my passport). When it was all said & done, I still had a very difficult time getting an interview appointment. The I-160 visa application (I'm assuming all non-immigrant visa applications are this way) did not have a relationship category for "guardian" so, I was advised to use "other" as the relationship throughout Gracy's application. Well, this just created more problems at the visa center . . . Even though Gracy's passport has a guardianship disclaimer stamp for me on the inside cover, signed/endorsed by the Ministory of Interior/Passport, the visa center would only go by what was listed in the "parent" field of her passport & also the "parent" field of the visa application. Both have to list the b.father, at this point. So, the application said I was "other" & the passport didn't have me listed in the parent field . . . after 3 calls to the USE & an hour of wait, I was finally given the interview appointment. I just hope & pray once I get to the USE for the visa interview, this will all be understood & accepted as the truth.
Our medical visa interview is Wed, 9/21/11 at 9:00 a.m. (US - 11:00 p.m. Tues). Please pray for the USE to have open hearts & minds.
Monday (9/12) - The I-290B Appeal is officially sent via FedEx from the US to New Delhi. It should be received in 3-4 days. I pray a special prayer today as our case journeys on. We have also filed for a 30 day extension to have amble time to prepare a new legal brief with additional evidence. We don't know what that "additional" evidence will be, at this point, since we have given USCIS everything that supports Gracy's orphan status. But, we are going to comb through everything & see if we can produce additional legal opinions from Pakistani legal experts to help in clarifying the legal Pakistani law issues that USCIS seems to have with our case.
Thursday (9/15) - I have decided to share our story. So, during the month of August & September, I have been working with different media sectors to have our story told. Today, we finalized an article that will be published in the Tulsa Wold, Sunday, 9/18/2011 (below is the link). My hope & prayer is that people will finally understand what a compelling case this is & the truth will finally make itself known. The truth about a baby girl, her deserving right to be adopted into a loving family & her right to live beyond being a victim of child trafficking.
Friday (9/16) - Nicky's Gotcha Day! Our 7th Family-versary! I can't believe it has been 7 years since I first met my sweet Tyoma & we became a family! It is all so fresh in my memory. I'll never forget & I relive it over & over again. What precious memories!
Thank you, my sweet little boy, for making my life so wonderful!!! I love you more than the whole world!
Yealo Blu Tebia, Tyoma! :)
Sunday (9/18) - link to the Tulsa World article below. Please feel free to forward the link to your family & friends and anyone that you think would be interested in our story. Thank You!
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20110918_11_A16_CUTLIN134753
Although Gracy does have a medical condition of hydrocephalus, she is really doing very, very well . . and gaining every day. She is now officially into size 4 (diapers & shoes). She can still wear her 18 month clothes, but they are short! 2 year old sizes are still a bit big, but she is growing fast! She is currently in the 25-30% on the growth charts for W/L (yeah!!). She is a sweet, bubbly, lively, talking toddler & keeps everyone at the g.house on their toes! She is perfect in Mama's eyes. She is pure Joy! :)
Her measurements:
Weight - 27 lbs
Length - 34"
HC - 20.5" (this puts her in the 95+%, actually almost off the charts for hc).
Gracy’s New Words . . . Gracy is also learning Urdu words!
“Bel-come or sometimes Pel-come" – Welcome
“Beeee-leez" - Please
She can say most of all the basic colors & we are working on shapes now.
"A-ja" - Come here (Urdu)
"Ya-lay" - Take it (Urdu)
"Ta-Ta" - Bye-Bye (Urdu)
I have been asked by many "How are you holding up?" Actually, pretty well. There are those difficult days (homesick for my Nicky!). . . but I pick myself up through the encouragement & support of my wonderful family/friends in both the US & Pakistan. Without this wonderful support network, it would be . . . very difficult. I consider the precious individuals that are living through this with me to be "angels" on my shoulder. They bless me everyday with their support, encouragement & dedication to Gracy's story. I am humbled & grateful . . . all I can say is Thank You!
And . . . my faith holds me steady!
Take care . . . talk to you soon! (kiss & hug your family tonight!)
Love & Blessings,
Nancy (Mama) & Gracy
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