The Room

We've had the baby's room ready for quite sometime, but we were missing a dresser. We searched for many months, but couldn't find exactly what we wanted. So, my dad came to the rescue and made the perfect dresser! Thanks Dad!! Now, we are completely ready for our little guy.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

The frenzy of paperwork is completed! We mailed our little package today! Pray that we don't have to make anymore changes to our documents. Now, we wait for travel dates. We can hardly contain ourselves, as we have already fallen in love with our little guy. Hopefully we will be traveling soon! We wanted to say a big thanks to everyone for being so supportive!! We appreciate all your comments and caring wishes!!

Too Good to be True?

We got a referral!! Yes...I said, we got a referral. I have to repeat myself because it is too good to be true!! We keep pinching ourselves to make sure it is real. We ended up signing with Life Adoption Services instead of WCS, and they had a referral for a little guy for us!! We have been busy updating paperwork and will find out more next week. In the mean time, we can't stop smiling!

Ch..ch..ch..ch..Changes!

After 15 months with our agency, we made the decision to part our ways. We loved our consultant, but felt that things were taking way too long. We are well aware that the world of international adoption requires patience, patience, and more patience but it seemed as though we were slowly going nowhere. Our dossier has expired and so it seemed like the perfect time to make a change. So, we decided to apply to another agency that works with a fewer number of families.

We actually feel excited and hopeful again! We look forward to hearing that we are accepted with the new agency. Then it is back to the paperwork!

Tagged!

Looks like I have been tagged...

Rules
Link to the person who tagged you: Nancy
Post the rules (see below)
Share 6 unimportant habits/quirks about yourself: see below
Tag three other people - Shannon Joy Stephanie
Make sure the people you tagged know you've tagged them

Hmmm...quirky things about me?
1. I eat everything with chopsticks, everything! If I use a fork, I will inevitably spill food on myself or chase food all over my plate with that weird metal thing. So, chopsticks for me, please!

2. I must have lotion on my hands at all times! When I wash my hands, I must immediately put lotion on.

3. My closet has to have everything sorted by sleeve length, then color. My sister claims that I used to measure the width between my hangers so everything was spaced the same distance. (I adamantly deny this...but it is a good idea, maybe I'll try it!)

4. I am a klutz...if I don't trip while walking, then I will inevitably drop or break something. Usually it will be my car keys- every single time I go to unlock my car door.

5. I have a very interesting memory...I can't tell you how much I get paid or how many years I've been teaching, but I can tell you exactly where some random item is or what someone wore 3 weeks ago.

and

6. I love t.v. so much, that sometimes I blur the lines of reality. Yes...talking about Michael Scott as though he were not a character on The Office, but a family member of mine.

Yikes...I guess I am pretty quirky!!

FAQ's

Nothing new to report, so instead we'll answer some of those burning Frequently Asked Questions you may have:

When will you get your baby?
First we have to get a referral from our agency. Once we accept the referral, we will travel 2-4 weeks after that call. We meet the baby, then come home. Then we wait for a court date. Waiting for a court date could be anywhere from 2-6 months. After we receive a court date, we travel back to Russia, go to court...if the court allows, then the baby is ours.

What is a referral?
Russia identifies a child that is ready for adoption and notifies our agency. Our agency looks at their "list" of people that are ready to adopt and matches the child with the first person on their list. If it matches that person's request...then that person gets a phone call about the child (aka referral).

What happens when you get a referral?
We will get some basic medical information that the Baby Home has written about the child and a couple of pictures. We send that information to our IA doctor and they give us their analysis. If we agree with the doctor that it is a healthy referral, we call our agency and let them know we accept.

What is an IA doctor?
International Adoption Doctor...they specialize in children that are adopted internationally. International adoption specialists are aware of medical concerns and diagnoses that children in Baby Homes (orphanages) may have, that pediatricians aren't used to seeing. Not only do they provide support prior to, and during the adoption, but support post adoption, as well. Our doctor is Dr. Bledsoe in Washington.

How old will your baby be?
Russia does not allow any children under 6 months to be adopted. So, we requested a child between 6-18 months. However, if we received a referral for a baby that is 18 months old...he would be older than that by the time he comes home because of the time that lapses while waiting for a court date.

Why Russia?
Many reasons, but one of the main reasons is that we really want a boy and Russia has more boys available for adoption than girls.

How long will you be in Russia?
The first trip will be approximately 5-8 days. The second trip will be longer, as we are required to stay in Russia for 10 days after we have our court date. Once the 10 day wait is done, we have to travel to Moscow to take care of paperwork at the Embassy. So, considering we will need to arrive before the court date, and then traveling to Moscow afterwards it could be about 3 weeks.

Why the wait?
In a nut shell...Russia allows children to be adopted by Russians and then the remaining children are available to be adopted by agencies worldwide. Each agency gets referrals, and there are many people wanting referrals. Add in the paperwork process, as well as the court proceedings, and you have a considerable wait.

Feel free to ask us questions, if there is something we didn't address.

9 Months!?!

Yes...we've been PaperWork Pregnant (PWP) for 9 months!! In the "fertile world" this would mean baby is coming soon...however in the "adoption world"....different story. We are still waiting for the call that there is a baby for us...once we get the call, then we travel on our first trip and meet the baby. A perfect analogy that I read somewhere before...the first trip is like an ultrasound...you get to see the baby, make sure he is doing okay, but you don't get to have him yet! Then we wait for the 2nd trip, which is when we actually bring him home (this would be the labor part). So, back to the 9 months...this is the amount of time that our paperwork has been in Russia, but we have actually been working on this adoption for 13 months! If you are able to read between the lines...you can tell that my patience is dwindling! Luckily, my dear husband, a.k.a. Optimistic Mike, keeps me sane!!

Where do we go from here? No more lounging around eating BonBons! Our agency informed us that our documents expire from the date we created them...guess what that means? Yes...we are back to doing paperwork! Since, most of our paperwork was dated in April, we have to update those documents! This includes our Homestudy. So...back to the computer! Luckily, this will keep us busy and prevent us from staring at the phone-willing it to ring!

The Checklist...

Well...we are trying to be proactive and are working on getting things done "as though" we will travel soon. The power of positive thinking, right? So, here is the checklist...if I'm missing something important, please let me know!

Things we have done or gotten ready to pack:
* Getting poked...we've beeen vaccinated for: Hep A/B, Typhoid, Tetanus, Diptheria, Whooping Cough
* Photo book - we made a photo story book to leave with our little guy
* Purchased - silk money belts
* Ordered brand new $100 bills
* Russia / English dictionary (not much of a help unless we can figure out how to read cyrillian)
* Learn Russian...so, far we know how to say: Hello, Hi, Good bye, Good morning, Good day, Good night, How are you? I'm fine, nice to meet you, my name is, what is your name? thank you, please, your welcome, boy, dog, cat, mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, sunshine, you are so beautiful, you are so handsome, you are so smart, counting to 10, I love you, to your health, I don't understand, yes, no, do you speak English?, I speak English, my little one, bathroom, poop, pee, my love, my dear, milk, juice, bread, meat, cheese (OF COURSE!), breakfast, lunch, dinner...
* Plug-in adapters
* Hand sanitizer
* Emergen-C packets
* Luggage
* Video camera
* List of contacts/ phone numbers
* Travel journal
* Prescriptions: Cipro, Ambien, Inhaler
* Travel alarm clock
* Ear plugs/eye mask
* Food for the little guy while we visit
* Baby wipes

To Do or Get:
* Toys for the little guy to play with while we visit
* Travel Scrabble game
* Learn more Russian
* Learn Cyrillian alphabet
* Snack food
* Vaccine for Japanese Encephalytis?
* Blanket that "smells" like us to leave with little guy
* Order visas
* Order tickets
* Reserve hotel room
* A REFERRAL!!!

The Splendor of Utah

While we've been waiting, we figured we would get in some quality ski time, considering that we live in the heart of ski country!
Not only was it great to get out and enjoy the sun and snow, but we thought it might get our mind off of wondering when that highly anticipated call would come! Of course, that worked for a few minutes, then we noticed all the "little ones" on the hill and alas...our discussions of teaching our "little guy" how to ski began! I guess you never can escape the desire for a wee one.
Yes...we've even looked at ski equipment for our little guy. I suggested that we just rent until he gets older...Mike informed me (rather quickly and emphatically), "that will not happen...our baby will have his own ski equipment!" (And knowing Mike it will most likely be the top of the line!)

We've been holding off on posting on our blog, thinking that we'd have something to post about soon. Still status quo! The good news...another family ahead of us accepted a referral to Vlad and they are traveling in March. That means we've moved up the list! We are thinking that we are 2nd on the list now. That is encouraging! I've been on my school break for the last 4 weeks...so, I figure, we'll get the call next week, when I have to go back to work. Just in case, I've typed up all my Substitute plans! As my rep at our agency says...there is a baby out there for us, it's just when HE is ready!

Irresistible!!

Happy New Year! Here are pictures of our babies on New Year's Eve! Our friends came over with their brand new puppy "Maddie" and she "fit" right in with our babies Eiger and Sierra! Aren't they adorable!?! They played all night, until Sierra decided she wanted some shut eye and found a spot under the ping pong table...Maddie soon followed in her footsteps!

The Roller Coaster Ride...

We're not talking about the kind of ride that you'd go on at Disneyland...but rather the "emotional" Roller Coaster ride that goes along with waiting, and waiting, and waiting. Being an impatient person, I've done pretty well (I think)...but this weekend wasn't so great...panic set in, wondering if we would ever get a referral for our little guy. We were hoping that we would be able to travel in February (Of course, these are "our" plans...not necessarily God's plans). So, since we hadn't heard any news yet, I figured I'd actually CALL our consultant (if you know me, you know that I'm not a "phone" person). Anyhow, I talked with her and she told me very carefully "don't plan on traveling in February". The good news is that our Dossier is officially registered in Vlad now and she was able to tell us that we are one of the next few families to get a referral. As to when that will actually happen, that is still up in the air. So, the roller coaster ride continues with some good news and some questions still left to be answered.

A Christmas Wish Comes True

Why the big smiles?? Our agency CHILDRENS HOPE INTERNATIONAL received word today from Russia that they will be ACCREDITED on Friday!!! WOOHOO!! This is exciting news, as this means that things should move a little quicker!! I have been smiling all day!! Not only is this good news for us...but wonderful news for all those little kiddos that will be finding new, loving homes!! I've always loved this time of year and now another special memory to add to this season of miracles!

We're hoping that next year's "Family Christmas Photo" will have an "addition" to it!! As you can tell by the picture...we're ALL happy to hear the good news!!