Hallelujah!

Just in case you're waiting with baited breath for more entries about adoption paper work here is today's update.
I got a response from emailing the assessors office that I should come in and pay $1 per page for the information needed. Information is not what I need. I can pull my own county tax data (Hello? Real Estate Agent!) I need a statement that is signed and notarized. So, I once again called, this time the lady that emailed me. I told her about what I needed and that as some point a woman named Helen provided this exact information for someone else. (Per my conversation with the adoption coordinator.) Well, apparently this Helen is now retired so I was put in touch with Helen's supervisor. A woman named Carolyn (with a voice like one of Marge Simpson's sisters). I explained to her my plight and she said she'd call me back. Ta...da! This afternoon she called and had located a letter of ownership which states all the information needed AND she will print it on letter head AND sign it AND have it notarized. Of course the notary's left for the day so, with any luck, I'll pick this up on Monday. (Note to all other parents scrambling for this paper work. When I pick up, I'll explain there will be more parents calling and get a name and phone number for you to call.)
Next thing this morning I called the IRS. (Remember, my tax guy is incapacitated and not calling me back? It's been three weeks now. So I thought I'd try the mother of all tax information. The IRS themselves!) I emptied the dishwasher, did breakfast dishes and tided the house while waiting on hold and then at last a real person! I explained that I was trying to gather paper work for an international adoption with Ukraine. I needed a statement as to being self employed and that it needed to state how much I made in 2007 and could you please put that on original letterhead, sign it and have it notarized?
IRS: We are the IRS we don't notarize. You will have to notarize it yourself.
Me: I'm sorry. It's not me they want to verify, it's you. I need your signature verified.
IRS: Mam, we are the United States IRS.
Me: I realize and respect that, but apparently the Ukrainian government doesn't.
IRS: All I can do is send you a statement of your account on letter head.
Me: Okay, I'll see if I can get it to work.
IRS: Would you like me to fax that?
Me: Um, no. That would defeat the part of "original".
Then she checked that I was in good standing with the IRS (whew!) and wished me luck with my adoption.
This probably won't be acceptable but since she offered to mail it. What the heck!
Later today (miracle of miracles) I caught my tax guy on the phone. I say tax guy because that's what he is. He's an awesome velvet top hat wearing, Harley driving, hairy, tax guy. He's not a CPA. He works wonders with my taxes. But as mentioned he was in a terrible motorcycle accident. (So now he's probably not a Harley driving tax guy anymore.) He told me to write up what I want my statement to say, fax it over and he'll get it signed, notarized and mailed back to me. So my IRS call was all for naught. Oh, well. I probably got some good karma from trying to approaching the daunting IRS and that is why I called my tax guy at the exact time he was by the phone. Right?
Got another I171H in the mail with the correct names on the second page but still doesn't say the correct wording on the first page. I'll give them until Wednesday and then just show up in person with my smiling face, sunny disposition and fist full of incorrect I171H forms.
Got my original home study in the mail. Mckay/social worker is fabulous!
Doctors office called last night and said my form was filled out and they'd call me back to schedule my test for TB, syphilis and HIV. James doctor is at the same clinic so my hope is my doctors nurse will walk James doctors nurse through the hoops. Still don't know if it will be notarized.
Haven't tackled notarized warranty deed but I know "people" in title and I don't anticipate too much of a problem.
James employment letter is coming from Louisiana and I have found the website with instructions on how to get this appostilled in Louisiana. Just more waiting for things to come in the mail.
Working on finding out if the seal on our police clearance is sufficient or do I need to drag a notary in with me to notarize the officers signature? (It's got to be okay right? I mean really!)
Still need to pick up 2 certified marriage certificates at Health and Vital statistics.
But all in all I feel like I'm making headway. Hallelujah!