I'm Going to Go Crazy

Our story so far:

Friday - I got a call from Deb (our very dilligent, skillful, wonderful India specialist).  Andhra Pradesh (the state where Vindya lives, heretofore "AP") had called and offered her a court date of May 19.  That means being in Hyderabad (Vindya's home city) on May 16.  On May 19 I would get the verbal acceptance, but the written court order would come a week or so later.

So far so good (!!!) except....  The AP courts go on hiatus starting May 20.  I would need to stay in India for two weeks for them to open up again, and then probably another two weeks waiting for the written order.  Deb didn't like that, so she asked that instead, they give me a date the first week in June.

When Deb checked in with me, I said that was fine, but I am aware that our agency license expires on May 28.  (Please know that Deb sent the renewal paperwork to CARA (the Indian central adoption beaurocracy) 6 months ago, and has been diligently following up ever since.  It's NOT her fault that we're down to the wire!)  I would really feel more comfortable taking the May 19 date, and sitting in India for however long it takes, rather than taking the chance that the license will expire.  So Deb contacted AP, explained about the license, and asked if I could have the May 19 date.  I spent Friday running around in circles, making phone calls, babbling at people, and making (tentative) travel plans.

I called Meri, who was shocked to hear we were going so soon, but recovered and said she would do whatever.  She isn't wild about being gone for more than a week to 10 days, so I spent part of my time with a calendar, trying to figure out a schedule that would get us to the Taj Mahal and also allow LiJun and Vindya the maximum time together.  (LiJun is going back to the US when Meri does, and staying with Mr. Robert until I get home.)

Saturday morning, Deb sent me an e-mail and said that AP got back to her, and they wanted me to get there no later than May 9, so that I could petition to get a written order before the courts go on hiatus May 19.  I totally freaked out.  That gives me less than a week to get visas, get plane tickets (at a premium), make other arrangements, and go to India for at least several weeks.  This threw any possible travel plans into complete disarray.  This is also where I developed a nervous tic.

Sunday afternoon, I sat down with my documents and a calendar, and came to the conclusion that there is no way I can get to AP by May 9.  I don't have a visa, for one thing.  For another, the premium on airfare is much more than I can reasonably afford.  I was no longer stressed about the immediate future, but was concerned about what might happen next on the AP end.  Since I can't do anything about that, I started a new pair of socks.

This morning, Monday, Deb and I sat down with our calendars and hashed things out.  Deb had independently come to the conclusion that asking me to be in AP on May 9, on the hope that I might be allowed to petition the court to get the written order, which might not be allowed, was crazy and really an unreasonable request.  She also had already contacted a well-respected, well-connected lawyer in New Delhi, and he had agreed to take the license renewal paperwork to CARA in person and sit in the appropriate office with copies of all the documents and proof of receipt until we get the license.  She feels very confident that the renewal will happen before May 28.

Given that, she has contacted AP and requested that I get a court date of June 8.  This would mean leaving the US June 1, getting to India June 2, recovering June 3, going to the Taj June 4, flying to Hyderabad June 5, and getting Vindya June 6 (!).  Meri and LiJun would probably go home the weekend of June 11/12.  Vindya and I would probably be able to go home sometime around June 28.  Please note that this entire paragraph is in the conditional mood.

In the meantime, this has thrown our plans (such as they are) for office coverage into complete upheaval.  I also have pretty much had it.  I have 14 days of PTO (which cannot be saved until after family leave - they will simply be paid leave, and the balance of my 12 weeks would be unpaid), so I'm going to use them now.  My last day at work (assuming the above schedule holds) will be May 13, a week from Friday.

Tune in tomorrow, for the most recent random changes to the whole process.