Loan Denied

The bank denied my home equity loan request yesterday morning.  Freaked out, cried, emailed my friend Susan, then called the bank to see what other options I have.  They don't allow borrowing against your 401k so the only other option I had was a personal loan with a limited available amount, for five years, with an insane interest rate.  But I had to do it because I have absolutely no other choice.  So now I just have to figure out how I'm going to make that loan's monthly payment until I get my tax return back.  Then my wonderful friend Susan called me with a great idea!  She surfed the web and found you can get personal loans from Capital One (thanks Susan!!!!) so I looked into that. I submitted my application online, was approved, but have to talk to a rep on Monday to get the details to see if it's a good deal and then maybe can finalize. Keep your fingers crossed!  This whole money aspect is so stressful I cannot even describe it.  People say, "oh it will be worth it in the end."  Well of course it will be!  But that doesn't help that stress in trying to get money when you don't have it and then the stress of how to make the payments. I honestly don't know how people adopt twice!!!  I'm calling my tax person on Monday to see how bad I'll get hit with taxes if I cash in my company stock.  I just know the second I get my W2, I'm heading to the tax preparer to get my paperwork in to get money back as soon as I can :)

If anyone wins the lottery....remember me please :)
Gorgeous weekend, enjoy it!
~Amy

Eeekkk....Loan Date

So I have to pay my final agency fee on Nov. 12th. I pray the bank comes through with my loan by then!  I just got a stack of papers to sign today in the mail, signed them and am dropping them back in the mail tomorrow morning. I wrote on the coverletter that I need the loan by Nov. 8th. Let's pray it works!
~Amy

Second Trip Plans

Just heard from my agency and they managed to shorten my second trip by three days! I am SO happy!  I wanted to get Christian home as soon as I can before I go to my family's for Christmas. I have a large family and don't want him to get too overwhelmed, so the more time I have with him by myself the better.  So now for the second trip I will only be gone 8 days instead of 11....YAY!

I sent my sister the revised dates and hopefully she'll still be able to go with me. I should know in a few days, then I will be searching for flights.  Staying in Moscow is expensive but thanks to my adoption yahoo group friends, they clued me to apartment rentals in Moscow that are much more reasonably priced.  So I looked into that and I found one that will work great I think. It is close to the US Embassay and a grocery store.  It is also close to an interesting historical street with shops and restaurants that we can wander through as time permits.  Someone also said there is a park nearby but being there in December, I am not sure how cold it will be. I plan to wear layers and dress Christian in layers!  I have to wait to receive the "invitation" so I can apply for our visas. It is getting closer and I am getting more and more excited!!!
~Amy

First Trip Booked

I got my first trip booked for my court date.  Because I was able to book it early, I was able to use some of my frequent flyer miles and saved some money.....YAY!  I'm coming home during the 10 day waiting period and it'll actually be cheaper than if I stay there. So now I have to look into travel arrangements for the second and final trip to bring my son home. I'm still getting used to saying, "my son" :)

I got a cash out on my house loan when I refinanced so now I just have to wait to see if I'm approved for the balance I need to complete the adoption. I'm supposed to hear mid next week so I pray it's good news.
Otherwise I am putting the finishing touches on his room and need to take photos to take to court.
This time in two months we'll be home and starting on our life adventure together.  I am so excited!
~Amy

Upset with Travel Dates

I got my travel itenarary today and am upset by the dates. The first trip isn't bad, I'm just there during Thanksgiving, but I can handle that. I can't afford to stay there during the 10 day waiting period so I'm coming back home. The second trip is the one that upset me.  I have to travel and be there for 14 days!  I'm upset because again, the cost. I just wish I could get past the cost of everything, but it just keeps adding up and I have no money now.....hence waiting with baited breath to hear if I get my loan.  I thought coming home during the 10 day waiting period would save me money and never dreamed the second trip would be that long. So yes, I am saving money from the waiting period but that money I thought I was saving is now going to the second trip.  Yes I have heard it over and over again, and yes I completely understand and believe it, that it will be all worth it in the end when I have him in my arms. I just don't know how I am going to pay for it when we get home. I just hate that I am allowing my excitement for my "Gotcha Day" being overshadowed by my anxiety about money.  I am going to give it my very best effort to put it in perspective, make a financial plan and look to the positive.
Well of course, I AM going to buy a lottery ticket tomorrow....you never know :)
~Amy

Finally, paperwork done!

Whew!  Finally the court paperwork is done.  YAYYYYYY!!!!!!
The 2:15 drive to Jefferson City to wait 30 minutes for my state background check, then drive back to STL 2:15 was tiring. It was a beautiful day last Friday for the drive but for some reason I was SO tired. I had to stop twice to get a soda for caffeine and then I had an ice cream sandwich for my supper :) So off the documents go in the mail tomorrow morning. Let's just hope the judge is fine with everything.

I got my tentative travel dates today. Looks like I will be flying during Thanksgiving. Not looking forward to that at all. Several years ago I flew to visit my Grandpa and it was a mess, so many people traveling, flight delays due to weather and then they gave our rental car away.  I just pray this holiday travel will be better!

Holding my breath until tomorrow. I'm supposed to hear if my loan is approved...eeekkk!  If it doesn't, several people have given me other money raising ideas from robbing the bank to selling my body.  Well neither of those will happen because if I robbed the bank, I would definitely get caught and selling my body......well enough said about that :)

I came home to find the rocking horse I ordered sandwiched between my screen door and front door! I'm so excited, so that's my project tonight, to put it together.  Let's hope all the pieces are here this time. The other one had some missing pieces so I had to take it back and have another sent.  It's so cute :)
Off to start assembling......good night.
~Amy

Bank Visit

On my lunch hour today I ran to the bank to beg for a loan. Well not quite beg, but I did shamelessly plan the adoption card. I told the loan officer that I need the money for my adoption and if I don't get the loan, then I have to push back the court date which may be a couple of months.  So those of you who have been through the adoption process know that this is a very real possibility. Yes I am desparate and trying not to freak out, but I have to have a loan and absolutely do NOT want to push my court date.  Well it worked, because the lady surfed around on her computer, asking all kinds of questions, running numbers until we found a loan type and amount the just might work.

Now I have to complete paperwork and give them a couple of pay stubs, submit and pray I am approved.  My credit score is good so that should help. If approved, things will be extremely tight (I'll be living on PB&Js) but I think I can handle it until I get my tax return back. This type of loan will allow me to plunk down my tax return, then it readjusts so the monthly payment will go down, which is what I have to have.  So cross your fingers that I get approved!!!
~Amy

BIG TROUBLE!

I am shocked, crying and at a total loss as to what to do.  Why can't things go easier for me sometimes....geez!  I've been waiting to hear back about my loan to pay for the final adoption installment, the BIG payment.  An appraiser came last Saturday and I was supposed to hear on Monday. Monday was a bad day for me and then Tuesday was swamped so I sent an email this morning asking about the loan status. Well the appraisal didn't come back as high as they thought so the loan amount I can get is more than two thirds less than what I need.  Yes the tears came.

So now I'm at a total loss as to what to do, where to get the money. A friend at work told me to ask if I can use my 401k as collateral, so I'll ask that tomorrow.  I need the loan over more than the 5 yr. home equity loan they have because the 5 yr length payment, based on how much I need, will be too high a monthly payment for me. So I just got done looking at my bank's website for options.  Looks like a personal loan might work but I'm not sure of what they need, the cap if any and how long it takes to get approved. I have to have the money before I am allowed to travel and if I don't have it then the court date is cancelled and I wait in line for another one which would mean Feb. or March. I never dreamed my house appraisal amount wouldn't be enough but that just goes to show you how much  I know about the financial world.  I've asked my bank person to talk to the appraiser to see why it came in at the price it did. I have to have the money by Nov. 19th so I am trying not to panick and to stop crying but so far am not being successful.  Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day :)
If anyone has any advice on how to get the money (legally of course) I would appreciate any insight.
Thanks!
~Amy

Work Friends Baby Shower

Last night my work friends gave me the nicest baby shower!  The food was great (as you would expect from Shelba, Cindy and Suzanne), the flowers were gorgeous (sitting looking at them right now, keeping an eye on my cat as she is eyeing them) and it was so nice to chat with everyone.  You know you see them a work everyday but when you're out of the office, you just relax and can actually "talk" to them, it's different and nice.  We had two token men attend, thanks for bearing through Steve and Ray, I appreciate it :)

Everyone was SOOOO generous with their gifts, thoughtful and creative.  You wouldn't expect less with a group of architects and designers right.  I got my running stroller so off Christian and I will go to get me back into shape :)  I got a wagon which I LOVE and it was useful too because we packed everything into it and rolled it out to my car.  Ray helped load it in the back of my SUV and I thought "sure, I'll have no problem getting out once I get home."  Wrong!  I did finally get it out but not without almost dropping it twice, almost scratching my car and almost smashing my fingers. But none of that happened, I only smacked my upper arm on the door frame which of course will bruise but it's not the first nor the last.

I just HAD to immediately put the rocking horse together only to realize that one last vital screw was missing. So on the hunt in my Dad's workshop I will go this weekend to find a match...he doesn't know that yet :)
My friend Amy (yes another woman with a wonderful name) gave me an incredibly creative gift I thought. It's a Christmans ornament that is plaster that you make a mold of the child's hand.  So our first Christmas and one of his first Christmas ornaments will be of Christian's hand! I love that!
I got such a wide variety of stuff from clothes, toys, books, gift cards, winter coat and hat, and wonderful words of advice.
Thank you to everyone that attended and gave Christian such wonderful and thoughtful gifts. I truly appreciate it!!!
~Amy

MORE Paperwork

Just when I thought I was done with the paperwork....
Some of my documents either expired plus the judge wants more because I am a single mother. So the mad rush to get the documents ready, notarized, apostilled and to the agency.  A HUGE thank you to Chris for dropping whatever she is doing to notarize by papers....love ya!  I now have to figure out which one and where to get my State Police background check one.  If it's just me getting the documents together I am fine but when I have to wait for someone else to give them to me I get nervous because they don't get them done as fast as I would like.

Today was a day for waiting, which when I am tired, is definitely not pretty on me :)  I had to wait 50 minutes for my documents to be apostilled while I watched four other people come and go while I waited...grrr.
Then I had to get two new tires. I was told it would take 1 to 1 1/2 hous. I went across the street to wander through Target to try to stay awake. I traveled this past week for work and didn't sleep well in the hotel rooms so I was looking forward to a nap :)  I came back 1 1/2 hours later and as expected they were not done.  They said it would another 30 minutes so off I go to the oh so lovely and clean (being sarcastic here) cramped waiting room.  Another hour goes by and my car hasn't moved. I proceed to the front desk, ask how much longer it will be and get a vague answer.  So I calmly and politely (really, I was calm and polite) explain to the desk guy that I was told it would be about 1 to 1 1/2 hours and by this time it was 2 1/2 hours, and how much longer would it be. Well $400 and 3 1/2 hours later, I'm leaving the tire place.  Yes I went home and took a nap :)

Tomorrow I'm going to work on completing my son's artwork I am making for his room. I am very excited and hope I don't mess them up!  It's supposed to be nice weather this weekend (fall is my favorite season), so everyone have a nice weekend!
~Amy

Court Date!

I got the call this afternoon! My court date is Nov. 29th.  I was a little disappointed because the whole time my agency has been saying it would be the end of October.  I didn't want to travel so close to Christmas but with these things you have no choice.  She told me the end of October was looking good until the judge decided to go on vacation...ugh.  So to keep the disappointment at bay, I am trying to look on the positive side.  I have been rushing around, wearing myself out, trying to get so much done before he comes home, but now I can slow down a bit.  It will also give me more time to learn Russian so I can communicate with him a little bit :)  With the traveling being in December, I'll have to wait and see if my sister can still go with me to bring him home. I really pray she can because I want to share the experience with someone and also have some help carrying him and all the stuff I have to take too!
~Amy

Proof and Shower

Mom and Dad came to visit this weekend to help with my "to do" list.  Mom sorted hand-me-down clothes, that friends have given me, into piles based on size then type. Dad fixed my back gate latch, added latches to my attic and basement doors and helped me add shelves to my cubby unit.  The cubby unit project was frustrating and took longer than we wanted but we got the holes drilled, shelves in and canvas totes put back in place.  WHEW!  We did take a few breaks to go out to dinner and my Mom just HAD to go see the new casino and play a little. I must say the new River City casino is very nice, LOVED the red glass chandaliers!!! 

My gal friends has a shower for me today.....they are WONDERFUL! We all got a chance to catch up, update them on the adoption status, eat and open presents.  A group bought me my bed!!! I was sooooo excited!  My fried Molly helped me unload it at my house and I immediately put it together.  I'm very proud of myself that I got it together all by myself and the bedding put on. Now the room looks like it's finally coming together. The designer in me is a little "off balance" because I have three different wood finishes going on in the room, but when you have to use some stuff you already have, you do what you have to do. I keep going back into the room and just looking around at how it's changed and can't wait to see Christian in it soon.  I'm still waiting to hear the court date and hope they're still pushing for the end of October.
Thanks to all my gals for the wonderful shower :)
~Amy