Our Family

Travel dates!

Yikes!  The next step has happened so quickly.  We have travel dates!  We have just a few weeks to prepare and then we will be headed out!  I am so thankful this time we were able to have 14 day advance on our tickets and visas.  This extra time is wonderful!  Last time we barely had one week which made for some interesting travel arraignments. 

We are starting to organize our items for the orphanage.  We were told that children's shoes are always a need.  So I've been scouring the clearance racks hoping to bring over quite a few pairs.  We've also been told that they are hoping to buy a few blood pressure monitors for kids and  small pools for the hot summer.  While, I don't envision bringing over a pool (couldn't imagine the bag fee on that), I know many of you have asked if you could donate something.  Either shoes, money toward the other items or really anything for children is great.  We would be honored to give the donation in your name.  Let us know.

This will likely be the first of three total trips.  Shortly after we get there, we will meet with the lead office for adoption and learn officially about our child.  From there, we will spend time at the orphanage for a day or two playing with the child and getting to know each other.  Then, we will come home and wait for our court date.  This will likely be a tough wait! 

 

 

Referral!

We are overjoyed!  We have been matched with a referral- meaning we have been paired with a child for adoption.  I can't even begin to describe what an emotional roller-coaster this last week has been.  Similar to last time, we turned in our paperwork and had a conversation with the agency that now begins the waiting.  We discussed that every few weeks they would check in but we should expect to wait a few months to learn more.  Well, 24 hours later they called.

We did receive a bit of medical information and thanks to the expertise of our International Adoption Doctor (fabulous and can't recommend enough-after we are done we will share more specifics but send me an email if you'd like the info now), they were able to offer some guidance.  However, they did have a few follow-up questions and concerns to which our agency was able to get more info.  I thought they would laugh when we asked for more info but they came through-twice! 

Just like our first adoption, I can't share many details (country, name, age, location) for fear of losing the child because we've been too public.  Please help us with that and if you do know any of that info, please don't include it in a comment!  

Now comes the tough part...waiting....waiting...and waiting.

Fingerprints....take 3

We've been fingerprinted so many times, we are getting to know those in the Sheriff's office on a first name basis.  :)

Off Broadway Musical brilliance

Hilarious!!!  How have I never heard this musical brillance before?  This is priceless and captures the process nicely!

Click on the box below labelled Adoption Interrogation.  It might take a minute to download and will require quicktime.

 

08 - Adoption Interrogation

 

Homestudy...Take 4

Not four copies....reworknumber 4.  We've found minor difference in the home studybased on how the country specific documents request information.  While, these would likely be no big deal, we are getting them revised now to avoid any problems later.  Small things like when the notary commission expires.  The document is good for a year, unless the notary commission expires.  In the most recent redo, the notary would have expired this fall.  While we might be done by then, better safe than sorry and have to redo documents mid-process, get new apostilles and resend overseas.  So, more copies being made with a different notary signature.

 

Adoption- Take 2

If the title didn't give it away---guess what??  We are in the midst of adding to our family once again via adoption! We actually signed with an agency several months ago and have been working on the home-study portion.  Our home-study was recently finalized and we are ready to start working on our dossier. 

We will be headed back to Russia again.  This should be similar to last time with three trips to Russia over the course of a few months.  We aren't entirely sure about the time line but hope to have the adoption finished later this year or maybe early next year.  There are quite a few variables and it's a little hard to put a time line to the whole process yet.  As things move along we will get a better idea. 

Now that we've reached this milestone of homestudy completion, I'll be posting more frequently here with updates on the process.  Wish us luck and keep us in your prayers for a smooth process to a healthy, happy kiddo on almost exactly the other side of the world!

March 8th---2 years home!!!

March 8th 2008 was the day we all came home from Russia as a family.  I can't believe two years has gone by!!  Time is flying!!!  Ilya is growing and expanding into his own.  I simply can't imagine life without him!  Love you bud!

2008

2010

What has changed? What has stayed the same?

Many of you told us that the years would fly-by.  While we knew this was true, it’s hard to believe.  Ilya has been home with us for one year.  How times flies!  As we look back on the last year, much has changed and yes, believe it or not—some things have stayed the same.

 

(some part made private as we are unfamilar with some of the new people viewing this log.  If you are considering adoption or in the process and would like more insite on the first year--don't hesitate to send us an email or leave a post with your email)

 

The little boy who first came to us as 22 pounds and 29 inches is now 32 pounds and 37 1/2 inches!  The little size 4 shoes that were much too big for him when he came home look so petite next to the current size 8 (which are getting a little tight)! From being at the bottom of the growth chart to now being soundly in the middle—what a wonderful change!

 

With all that changing it’s hard to image anything has stayed the same—but much has remained. 

 

First, our love and excitement for our little boy is unyielding.  Many of you have been puzzled and amazed when you comment that it seems like he’s always been with us---we agree! 

 

 

The big belly laughs when tickled, spun around or just having fun haven’t changed a bit (and I hope they never do).

 

Ilya’s joy of running is non-stop!  We were the only ones at the park the other day.  When we got out of the car (I strategically parked at the end of a soccer field), Ilya turned to me, pointed to the slide at the other end of the field and said, “Run?”.  I agreed and off we went.  His love of stairs is still amazing from up and down the stairs in the Moscow airport to up and down the stairs at church today---it's clear---Ilya loves stairs!

His love of music is never-ending.  Only now it’s accentuated by “shakin-it”—if you’ve not had the joy of seeing “shakin-it”---it’s the action by which we shake everything from our hands to feet at the beat of the music (stand back—it does get a little wild at times—especially if Mickey Mouse is also “shakin-it”)! 

Wanting to play with every ball or truck in sight is also unchanged.  It’s also unchanged that Ilya loves to explore, experiment and test.  From finger paints to climbing---if it's uncharted territory---Ilya is in. 

 

While the year has passed quickly (too quickly), it’s been an amazing year.  We ended the evening with the same words/prayer that we ended the night with a year ago (and many nights inbetween), "Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight, I wish I may. I wish I might, have this wish I wish tonight: With your help Lord may everything in life turn out okay."  And it does....

   

Visit to Portland

     

As part of our commitment to Russia, we meet with a social worker once a year for the next three years.  This lets the courts and the people at the orphanage know that Ilya is happy, safe and thriving in the US.  We wanted to make the trip to Portland more than just a meeting with the social worker, so we made a day of going to the Children's Museum.  While Ilya liked the whole place--the Bob the Builder room was his favorite!

Final step in our journey home

So after more than an hour drive to the airport in Moscow traffic, 17 hours of flight, 6+ hours of airport time, an hour in customs/immigration, an airport shuttle to the car and finally a 6 hour drive home---this part of our journey ends as dad pulls into the driveway!  Ilya was such a trooper taking cat naps as he could get them.

Our newest citizen!

  Welcome home Ilya!

Mother's day

Today is Mother's day in Russia-how perfect!

Cleared for take off

So with a handshake, a smile and a few nice words in Russian the immigration officer has given our boy the okay to leave the country. If you read this in the next 11 hours-pray for our sanity on this flight (and for the others in hearing range)!!!

Favorite foods

While he eats most things we eat, he also still eats some of the toddler/baby jar food. His favorites-veal and halibut-wonder if Gerber makes those flavors in the US? Yum!!

Another happy day!

     We spent a few hours today at Christ the Savior, the Kremlin and Red Square. Our boy did a great job as long as the stroller was moving! Hopefully we got some great pictures to share once we get back. Just one more day and we will be home Saturday night.

We learned a few key toddler things today like momma carries crackers in her bag and if he says, "dadda" and points at the bag-dad gets out a cookie. We also learned how to use a sippy cup instead of a breakable tea cup. We will still use the tea cup at meal time but a sippy cup otherwise. And my favorite-we learned to blow kisses :)

A wonderful day!

 

We started with a walk on Old Arbat street. What a beautiful area on a crisp but sunny day! Then a trip to the US embassy to get the Russian passport we dropped off yesterday, only now it includes the all important US visa. Because he isn't a citizen until the plane lands in the US, he needs a visa to travel to the US.

We rounded out the day with not the healthist of meal-but definitely American- McDonald's. Already he's learning when sitting in momma's lap that if he runs out of french fries-he can sneek one from momma's box-but he gives himself away by giggling and smiling at me.

Forever Family

Tonight there is an empty bed in that orphanage. Instead, he is sleeping peacefully in our hotel room. Today was definitly a day of "firsts"-first car ride, first hotel, first bottled baby food (the hamburger I ordered he liked better), first TV (thank the Lord for the Russian stations-he thinks they are VERY funny) and so many more things I can't even count.

We will spend another day in the region inorder to complete the full 10 day waiting period. Then we are off to Moscow to finalize the rest of the paperwork.

Traveling light

So the good news is we have made it to Russia safe and sound and we are on our way to the region. Bad news-our luggage is also safe and sound...in New York. So-tonight we will venture to the mall to buy all the supplies needed to take him from the orphanage. Anyone need a 2t coat-we'll have an extra :) If I don't post after this-don't worry-the charger for my phone is tucked safely in my bag-which Delta is currently taking care of!

Home again!

We are in the airport on our way home. Looks like we will be home for a little over a week and then we will be back to pick him up! We can't wait!

Court!!!!!

The judge has made her decision! We are legally his parents! We were in court for about 45 minutes. After a long list of questions (mostly questions to Eric) from the judge and the prosecutor; the director, the social worker and the prosecutor gave the judge their recommendations. The judge left for about 5 minutes to make her decision. As we were waiting for the decision the director and social worker joked that our son looks like Eric-they have the same haircut! We know the 10 day waiting period won't be waived so now we are waiting to hear when we can come back to get him. While it is final, we are not posting his name or any other information until he is a US citizen. Thank you all for your prayers!!!

Orphanage

There are many things in life that get easier with repetition-leaving that orphage is not one of them. It was nearly impossible to set him down. Eric just kept reminding me that it is a matter of a few weeks now when we won't ever have to do that again. And I guess we can't come back if we don't leave. On the funny side of things-we passed our medicals this morning. That's a good story-not sure why I ever spent 1 second worrying about that-let alone hours!

Important to remember

Thank you everyone for your messages.  We appreciate your thoughts and prayers (and we need them!).  However, please remember that he is not yet legally ours.  If you know his name, the city, the region, etc---DO NOT mention any specifics in your post.  We do not want to risk losing him.  Love, Us

COURT DATE!!!!!

The long awaited court date---now has an actual date we can mark on the calendar.  We leave for Russia Saturday, February 16.  We will be back on the following Thursday or Friday---not sure of flights just yet.  Keep us in your prayers as we prepare for the trip.

What next?

Many of you have asked, "What next?".  Well---more paperwork and waiting!  We have finished most of the paperwork and it's on the way to Moscow for translation.  Next comes the waiting.  Just like how we take vacation around Christmas and New Year's--Russia celebrate similar holiday just a few weeks later than we do.  This means most government offices are closed the first two weeks of January.  After they get back in, our paperwork will weave it's way through their family courts (similar to ours).

We realistically anticipate a call in late February and travel 1-2 weeks after the call.  From there it is about a 30 day process before he will be on US soil.  So---if all continues to go well, he could be home as early as late March or early April.   Please continue to keep us in your prayers.

Travel dates!

Passports, tickets, visas, hats, gloves, Russian common phrase book, outlet transformers and about 70 pounds of luggage---I think we have everything needed for travel to Russia on Tuesday. I can hardly wait.  On Tuesday we leave for Moscow via JFK.  We will get to Moscow on Wednesday and head to the region Samara on Thursday.  After meeting with some officials in Samara to officially learn about the child that has been referred to us, we will drive to the orphanage on Friday morning (late Thursday night in the US).  While we don't know exactly which orphanage we are going to, we do know that we will have to drive a bit (likely and hour or two).  I'm so glad that we will have an interpreter with us the entire time.  Even though I've been studying Russian for awhile---I'm not positive that I could order water or find the bathroom even if it was an emergency---let alone navigate my way around Russia.  Wish us luck and keep us in your prayers as we venture to Russia!!