Seriously Karma?

We got the fingerprint invitations and it's the ONE day that we can't make it. Arghh...will reschedule soon. Dang it.

~mama

The World is Our Fortune Cookie

I’m not sure where to begin. It has been too long. Here we go. So…the Mister and I went in for new fingerprints in November and had been patiently waiting to hear back from our beloved government in regards to the fingerprint status for what seemed an eternity (doesn’t everything seem like an eternity when you are waiting for something big?)

On February 7^th after deciding to email them myself, this was the reply:

Good Afternoon Mama (funny that they called me mama),

I am sorry to inform that your fourth request (excuse me but there were THREE cards in there so this is my 6^th request) was also rejected. You will have to send in a new application form, $18 fee and fingerprint cards. You may send in up to 5 sets of prints and we will take the best one. Gary is aware of the situation, and asks that you send in your new request with a tracking number, such as through Fed Ex or UPS. When you mail in your new request and get your tracking number, please let us know and we will try to expedite your process. It can still take up to 12 weeks to process, but we will try. Thank you!

Kim

This meant that set SIX had been rejected. There was no way I was going to do this again. If my prints were going to work, they would have worked using one of the three methods I had tried.

I sent a message to my agency and my home study agency telling them that the prints were rejected AGAIN. Come to find out, my contact at the home study office was no longer there, and we had to work with someone else. Ugh. Well, luckily this person called around and managed to find a way to get UCIS to take the home study without prints. There are regions in Russia that do not require prints, and we will now be working with those regions.

Next steps…we had to update the home study. As of February 22^nd our home study is officially complete!! We had to get more documents for the dossier as much of what we had completed has changed since March. Many of these documents require passport numbers and there must be a year and a half left before expiring. We have to update our passports as they expire in February 2012. Once we get the passport numbers we can update the documents. We should have the passports in 2 weeks or so as we put a rush on them. We had to mail in our I-600A. This is called the Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition. We just received notification that it was received and we should expect our invitation for fingerprinting from UCIS soon, but it might take 6 weeks or so (or so I have heard). It’s the government so it could take forever. Before you ask, yes, I cringe at the thought of being fingerprinted again. BUT…the good news is that this process is biometric so it should be faster AND if it doesn’t work I will try again, and if that doesn’t work…well…I have been told they only try TWICE and then accept letters from local agencies. I’m not sure how that works and frankly I hope that some good karma is on my side and that it works like a charm the first time!! Once the fingerprints work we will receive the I-171H. This is called Notice of Favorable Determination Concerning Application for Advanced Processing of Orphan Petition. All I can say about that is whoopee! At that point our dossier should be complete and we’ll have it notarized by the best sister in the world and then apostilled. We will cut some enormous checks and do a few other things and then wait for some referrals (otherwise known as sweet little babies that need loving homes). Until then, we wait for some good written news :)

So that’s my update! Looks like spring has sprung! I hope everything continues to run as smoothly as it has for the last month or so. Please think good thoughts for us.

~Mama

P.S.- Thank you for your kind thoughts and words! Please check in and leave a comment. It makes me feel like I'm not talking to myself.

Pep Talk

YOU CAN DO THIS!
When the days are long and you're waiting to hear from the agency...
YOU CAN DO THIS!
When time feels like it is at a standstill...
YOU CAN DO THIS!
When you feel like you might turn into a puddle of tears...
YOU CAN DO THIS!
When you feel like everything is working against you...
YOU CAN DO THIS!
When you wonder when?, if?, how?, or who?...
YOU CAN DO THIS!
When it all feels like a dream...
YOU CAN DO THIS!

And when it's all done...you might even forget you had to have this pep talk to make it all happen.

Soon...

mama

Springtime Means Starting Anew

I'm not gonna lie. I miss the winter holidays already and I have since December 26th. I miss the Christmas tree and the lights and the smell of cinnamon. We are caught between the happy holidays and the freshness of spring. Limbo Land. I'm not sure how to spruce the place up for January/February. I need something to inspire me. I'm ready to start anew (and start counting the days until next Halloween) :)

Pictures as Promised!

Holidays

Most of you know that there is no time that I am happier than October-December 25th. I love Halloween and fall...and Thanksgiving and of course CHRISTMAS! I spent the weekend going nuts putting Christmas stuff up around the house. It made my heart sing. Although it has nothing to do with adoption, or babies in general for that matter (as the blog is devoted but I have no news), I will share some of my holiday house pictures with you. Some of the pieces are old, but many of them are garage sale finds or discounted store purchases. The only thing better than decorating for the holidays is decorating on a dime! The pictures will follow soon. Cheers!

babushkas

I just found this background so the design is a work in progress...what do you think? I still need to change the header and all of that. Love it? Hate it? Need to make a decision after I've finished? Send me your votes!

OKAY- Have I clearly gone insane?? Is this too much color? Too wacky?

Wow!

I just noticed that I have had over 1000 views to the blog! Thank you all for reading. Things have been slow but I PROMISE that one day things will be exciting. I hope you are all still tuning in then for the big show...Hugs.

mama

A few words from a friend...

You know you are in the middle of an international adoption when..."

...you hand your driver an envelope full of cash and don't get a receipt.

...you set your alarm for 5 a.m. every morning so you can read the news out of Russia since Moscow is 9 hours ahead, hoping the two countries are still getting along.

...you worry about volcanoes erupting or fires burning, or wars breaking out or more cases of adopted Russian children being hurt and praying it doesn't affect your child and your court date.

...your emotional highs are so high, and the lows are oh so low

...you spend your nights reading about FAS, FAE and ADHD

...you believe everything you read on FRUA and it can make or break your day

...when you stare at your phone willing it to ring.

...eat ramen noodles for the 4th time this week because you are saving money.

...you get excited when you get mail from the Immigration office, even though you are a citizen

...the people at your local police department know you by name even though you've never committed a crime.

...you've had more medical exams in the months leading up to the adoption than you have in the last 5 years.

....you've never had HIV, TB, Hep, or Syph but have endured 3 or more tests for it just in case you caught it in the months between trip one and two! (maybe you caught it on the train in Siberia???)

...you actually WANT to travel more for business so you can earn some more Marriott points.

...when you can sign your name on official documents in a foreign language, in a foreign country, without understanding a word, and feel good about it.

...you know the definition of Apostille.

...the Fedex guy knows more about your day to day life than your Mother.

...You hyperventilate when you see a Fedex, Puroletter or UPS truck because now you are accustomed to NEEDING a document to arrive somewhere and FAST (and when they don't... see the one about highs and lows)

...you can recognize the regional / provincial IA office on caller I.D.

...when you have a new-found sense of patriotism and it's not for the USA.

...when you scan the google news reader for headlines with the word "Russia" or "Russian" in them.

...when you park in the "expectant mother" parking space at the mall and, while not pregnant, don't feel completely guilty!

...when you research flights to your region, just to get a feel for the trip that will take place only God-knows-when.

...you check your email every five minutes looking for an update.

...walking to the mail box gives you butterflies in your stomach, then when you don't find mail from anyone adoption related, you hop in the car and head out for some retail therapy.

...a blurry picture of a child in strange clothing becomes your most prized possession.

...you sew hidden pockets on an undershirt for you husband, so he can carry 15 grand in cash through 19 hours of flights and a 12 hour layover. (I know this one doesn't apply to most countries but it sure did us since wiring money to third world country is foolish at best)

...when you get left alone in the middle of Russia in a car with 10,000 dollars while your driver is taken away by the police. Then you are relieved to see he left the keys then realize you have no idea where you are. When your driver is returned about an hour later you could kiss him even though he is married.

...you know you are in the middle of an International Adoption in the Siberian wintertime when you can't figure out why there are people lined up on the side of the road in the middle of the night only to find out that it is 9:00 am and they are waiting to catch the bus for work!

...you exchange thousands of dollars with some random guy on the street and don't blink an eye.

...being in Siberia for 5 weeks becomes your new normal and it doesn't seem nearly as backwards or archaic until you walk through the automatic doors at the Mariott in Moscow and suddenly you've never wanted a Starbucks coffee so badly.

... savoring your Starbucks coffee after 5 weeks in Siberia, you feel more than a little guilty for being so lucky and so privileged knowing most of the world isn't as "well off" as you but you still can't believe you made it through

...you are so anxious to give someone you barely know your hard earned cash just because you don't want to carry it and risk losing it.

...you are in Siberia and you feel like you are the only person not drinking outside at 5pm on a Tuesday.

...you sign a contract that says you will do pretty much whatever someone tells you to do.

...you constantly check the time and then count backwards in your head to see what time it is where your child is.

...you are fingerprinted continuously....and have never committed a crime.

...people you have never met AND in some cases do not speak the same language know more about you then some of your family and friends.

Fingerprinting...I can't even talk about it!

...you are in a vehicle your husband refers to as the "terrorist van," holding (no car seat) your new baby while giving him milk (at least they said it was milk) from a glass bottle with a nipple stuck on the top, breathing in disgusting exhaust fumes while driving on terrible roads for 3 hours and thinking this is the best day of my life!

…when you go to your bank and ask for brand new $100 bills in sequential order and swear you are not doing anything illegal with them.

…when you know how to pronounce the words dossier and apostille

…when you notice every time the word adopt is used (adopt a road; adopt an animal; adopt a new law

...when - you have hundreds of people who don't even know you follow every tweet, peep and update you post about your situation! :)

...you've worn the same three outfits for twenty-two days in a row and have to do the laundry in the bathtub.

...it takes everything you have to NOT climb over the Marriott check-in desk to give the English speaking receptionist a hug.

...your flight from JFK to Moscow is cancelled, so you somehow end up flying to Rome, Italy with no promise of getting on a flight to Russia. You'll figure it out once you get to Italy. And you do.

...you stop counting at the $42,000 mark because you can't stand the thought of how much this is costing.

...you know what it's like to give your heart away to a child they just brought in the room 30 seconds prior.

...you walk by a picture on the refrigerator each day and stroke a little cheek and whisper, I'll be back soon and pray they aren't missing you as bad as you miss them.

...when you hold your breath as you hoist your suitcase packed for 5 weeks for the two of you and pray to the suitcase Gods "Please let this be under the limit - I promise not to ever over pack again if you could just let this one be under... just this once"

...When you find yourself in an airport on Christmas eve without your passport, not knowing what is wrong but holding your breath and holding back tears because "there's no crying in Russia" and clinging to strangers as they help patch together your life and trip all without knowing a little boy is waiting across their HUGE country.

... when it's all over, finally exhaling and reflecting on how much endurance, strength and courage it took just to make it through... and knowing you'd do it all agian if it meant you got to have your child sleeping in the next room.

...when you never stop caring about the people still waiting for their children or the children waiting for their families. When your heart breaks for a stranger because there are jut more and more delays but you are so thankful it wasn't you

...when the eyes and smiles of that one special little one from your child's groupa haunt you from home and you hope that they find their family because you couldn't just shove them in your suitcase to bring them along too.

When the journey finally ends and life begins... you know you've adopted from Russia.

Four Letter Word

Today is Thursday. I am thinking about last week when I drove to the store in the evening to get the emergency ice cream and Oreos. Driving around I couldn't help but think of the happy/stressful word that follows me around like a concrete block tied to my leg with a bit of rope. That four letter word that can make butterflies in my stomach or pains in my heart. HOPE. I've mentioned it here before again and again. You know that. Here it is again and there it was in my head that day driving to the store and walking around wondering NOT what it is I really want, but how I will make it happen. The butterflies, the stab in the heart. HOPE. Stupid hope, wonderful hope. You are everywhere I go.

Six Months and Counting

Today marks six months since we signed with our agency! I remember when we signed six months seemed like a very very long time. It has all gone by pretty fast when I think about it...but some moments seem to drag on forever (that probably doesn't make sense). I'm ready to fast forward.

~ Mama

Black-eyed Susans and Other Wild Ladies

January is a month of new beginnings. This is what I wrote on January 22:

Mother's Day is May 9th. I hope I remember to do something nice for my mother. A special person that raised 6 kids, at least two handfuls of neighbor kids and a boatload of grandchildren. Mother's Day. Maybe 2011 it will mean something completely different for me. Maybe.

On the weekend of May 9th I had a great weekend with my mom (and other moms too!). We had breakfast together and then drove to Tallahassee down 90 on a beautifully sunny spring day. The road was lined with yellow, pink and purple flowers. We listened to the radio and talked and when we arrived in Tallahassee we had a quick lunch and checked into our hotel.

I went to baby shower for some wonderful friends who I had not seen for awhile, and then had a very very nice dinner with mom. After dinner we hung out at the hotel and had a good nights sleep. The next morning I gave my mom a card that I had made for her before having breakfast and taking a long drive down the canopy roads in the country before heading back home.

It was a perfect weekend. I love my mom. She really is the best.

~mama

The Moments Missed

I know I shouldn't think about the moments missed before I've even had moments, but sometimes I am saddened that I will miss the first year or so of my child's life. I hope that's not silly. I know that the moment he/or she is in our hearts the most magic will begin.

Cute baby video below! Check it out.

~mama

A Year of Lex

8 weeks is very long

I called the FBI a few days ago begging them to pleeeeaase move my fingerprints up to the top of the pile. She said that they can't and it will be 2-3 more weeks. I have to admit that a little part of me hoped that she would hang up and feel compelled to help a poor girl out by sneaking in and moving them to the top. Not likely...but in my mind that's what should have happened.

Pssstt...shhhh, quiet- just between us

Pssssttt....hey, you....pssstt...FBI guy....listen, how about doing me a big favor and putting my fingerprints on the top of the pile? Give em' a little sneak a peek a loo and sending back in with a big ole stamp that says "mama is the best?" Can you do that for me? Thanks, you're the best. You are awesome.

mama

News of the Day

The U.S Dept of State, Office of Children’s Issues issued the following announcement today, May 13.

A U.S. interagency team held meetings to discuss an adoption agreement with their Russian counterparts on May 12. The meetings are ongoing and will continue on May 13. The initial talks were positive, productive and conducted in a spirit of cooperation. Both sides are interested in taking steps to increase the safeguards for adopted children. The discussions were technical in nature because they involve domestic laws of two countries. There is still important work to be done and this continues to be a high priority for both governments.

It is our understanding that there has been no change in the status of on-going inter-country adoptions originating from Russia. Many thousands of Russian children, who were not adopted by Russian families, have found loving, safe and permanent homes in the United States through inter-country adoption. We are pleased to be discussing with the Russian government a future approach to ensure intercountry adoptions continue.

This Just in...so far so good...

Still reading but this just popped up on the AP...

Russian official: accord reached on adoption deal

(AP) – 6 hours ago

MOSCOW — A senior Russian official says Russia and the United States have reached agreement on all key issues for a bilateral agreement on adoptions.

Children's rights ombudsman Pavel Astakhov said Wednesday that the draft agreement is expected to be approved on Friday and is likely to be signed within two months.

Russia has been urging the United States to sign an agreement on adoptions following the case of an 8-year-old Russian boy sent back to Moscow alone last month by his adoptive American mother.

Russian officials say they want more control over U.S. adoptions and the living conditions of Russian children in the United States.

Some 1,800 Russian children were adopted in the United States last year, according to the Russian Education and Science Ministry.

State Department Reviews Draft

The State Department received a draft agreement from Russia on May 1st. They are reviewing the document now in preparation for the discussion on May 12.

mama

Not Begging...but pretty darned close

I don't need much. I live pretty simply. The one thing that would make me happy...unbelievably happy (like riding my bike around the neighborhood with balloons tied to it happy) would be for my fingerprints to come back today. Please. That's all I need.