OK, so I just received an email today with an update to the reaccreditation. Here it is...
"Dear Families:
The re-accreditation is still pending. Unfortunately we feel that we have been misled about dates for signing so we are still waiting. I asked for a best guess and the latest is they believe it will be towards the end of November considering some new procedures for signing off on the accreditation. I apologize for the difficulty this creates for all of you. We sincerely wish that we could resolve this immediately. As you know we are still sending families for adoption through the independent process but this has caused most of the trips to be blind or partially blind. This past week I have received referrals from Tver & Novgorod plus our families that have accepted Ykaterinburg are traveling for their referrals."
So there it is in a nutshell! If this continues, I just might go stir crazy. This is so hard not knowing. When you're pregnant, at least you know when the baby is coming. I just have to guess and wait. This waiting thing is really becoming more and more difficult.
Well for now, we'll continue to wait. Hope everyone had a spooky Halloween!
We've Been Bumped! We're #4 now!
Well, after all of this referral stuff going on with the agency, I thought for sure we had moved up in line. Not so! We've actually been bumped back to #4. I knew this was a possibility. They were unsure whether another couple was going to get their paperwork in and go with an additional region which was Russia. Well, they did and that's what bumped us back. No worries. As I said in my earlier post, we are probably going to be traveling after the new year some time. Guess we'll be getting on the internet and purchasing some SERIOUSLY warm jackets. How do you say, BUUURRRRRR!! Pretty much, I would walk through 3 snowstorms to get to our children.
The rooms are coming together. My body hasn't seen this much manual labor in YEARS! The boy's room is painted red and blue with a fireman theme and the little girls room is painted pink and lavender. The lavender is beadboard/wainscoting. I think it is going to be super cute. I also contacted a mural painter today who is going to come out to the house and possibly paint both of the rooms. Too exciting. I'll just be glad when the rooms are done so then we can slow down a bit before the kids get here. I just might be able to get my books read before they actually get here!
Hope all is well with everyone who is reading. I will post pixs of the rooms in progress so you can see our hard work in progress! I am too happy with myself for using a miter saw, a nail gun, an air compressor and ripping out baseboard and installing new stuff! I'm not going to quit my day job that's for sure. When would I have time to post here? (he he he)
The rooms are coming together. My body hasn't seen this much manual labor in YEARS! The boy's room is painted red and blue with a fireman theme and the little girls room is painted pink and lavender. The lavender is beadboard/wainscoting. I think it is going to be super cute. I also contacted a mural painter today who is going to come out to the house and possibly paint both of the rooms. Too exciting. I'll just be glad when the rooms are done so then we can slow down a bit before the kids get here. I just might be able to get my books read before they actually get here!
Hope all is well with everyone who is reading. I will post pixs of the rooms in progress so you can see our hard work in progress! I am too happy with myself for using a miter saw, a nail gun, an air compressor and ripping out baseboard and installing new stuff! I'm not going to quit my day job that's for sure. When would I have time to post here? (he he he)
Update on the Reaccreditaion
OK, so here is part of an email that I received last Friday from the director of our agency...
"We are continuing to wait for the reaccreditation, which we again think is imminent. There was some initial indication of it being signed this week which did not happen so hopefully this will be done next week. We have referrals still promised from several regions that hopefully will also come soon. I wish I could be more definitive about the exact day but as you have all discovered Russia does not operate in time predictable ways."
I sent him an email today asking when he thought we might make our first trip. He said he didn't have a flow on the referrals yet. Which means if this reaccreditation goes through, it could speed up. His guess was that we could travel by the end of January.
So things are moving along. It's good and bad news. Good news is that I have time to finish the kids' rooms. Bad news is, I want this to happen tomorrow. I just want them home with us now!
So the waiting game continues.....stay tuned!
"We are continuing to wait for the reaccreditation, which we again think is imminent. There was some initial indication of it being signed this week which did not happen so hopefully this will be done next week. We have referrals still promised from several regions that hopefully will also come soon. I wish I could be more definitive about the exact day but as you have all discovered Russia does not operate in time predictable ways."
I sent him an email today asking when he thought we might make our first trip. He said he didn't have a flow on the referrals yet. Which means if this reaccreditation goes through, it could speed up. His guess was that we could travel by the end of January.
So things are moving along. It's good and bad news. Good news is that I have time to finish the kids' rooms. Bad news is, I want this to happen tomorrow. I just want them home with us now!
So the waiting game continues.....stay tuned!
We'v Moved Up...We're #3 now!
OMG! I had a dream last night that we were #3 in line. Steve wanted me to call the agency to see if they had gotten the documents we left on Tuesday and the minute I picked up the phone, she called. They did get the documents but I didn't do the authentication correctly. I had to have each document done separately. Oops! I then told her about my dream. She looked through the paperwork and told me I was psychic because we really were #3 in line now. This really made my Friday the 13th! So things are going along quit nicely. I think I should knock on wood though. We have had a few speed bumps though. They aren't even that big either. One of them being this authentication thing and the other being that the department of justice sent out our letters and they spelled my middle name wrong. Had to call them back and re-send them. When I told her what they had done, her response to me was, "did we really?" No, I'm just calling you to joke around with you! HELLO! Here's your sign! Oh well. Things are just moving along. I swear, I now feel like we could travel right after the new year. How cold will that be in Russia? I think I need to kick it up a notch and get the painting done in the room. We have primered 1 already thanks to Steve! I think I'll do the other one when we get home Sunday night. We're currently in Pismo Beach. Then I'll have to actually determine which colors we want to paint. The girl's room is going to be pink and lavender. The little boys room, can't decide on the hue of colors. Thinking Blue and red and we're going to do a fireman theme in there. I have to find a painter though who can paint stuff on the wall. Eeks. So much to do. Oh well, for now, I'm going to go back to enjoying our weekend away. Although I could have done without the HUGE thunder and lightening show last night. It had the dog freaked out 6 ways from Sunday.
Adoption Options Picnic
First of all, I just have to tell everyone that I finally have a crib. This ebay nut finally got one! YEAH! It is a Pali and they start in the stores around $350. I got mine from an Orange County lady for $180 and it included the mattress. The really great thing is that it matches the changing table I got off of ebay(for $41) perfectly. I couldn't have planned it any better. Guess I owe this to my mother for teaching me how to find a bargain! Thanks Mom!
On the adoption front, this past Saturday, Steve and I drove down to San Diego to attend our adoption agency's reunion picnic. It was a beautiful day and there were lots of people there. I felt a little weird being there with no children but that subsided quickly. One of my message board buddies told me to look for a couple and once I saw them, I walked right up and introduced myself. They were very helpful and I love talking to her. She also adopted a boy and a girl at the same time from Russia. She was very informative and gave me her email address. After that, Steve and I just sat on the bench in front of the playground and just watched the children. They were all so beautiful. It just makes me want this NOW! I want the children home with us ASAP. While we were sitting on the bench, a guy came up to us and asked if we were adopting from Russia. We said yes and he said he was in the same boat last year. He was so friendly. We walked with him over to the swings and Steve and I took turns pushing his 20 month old Connor on the swing. He and his wife have been home for 3 months now with their son. He was also very candid and informative and gave us his business card to contact them with any questions. I am finding that all of these post adoptive parents are so willing to help and answer questions. He told us that next year it was our job to find another person sitting on the bench and talk to them. I told him I liked that idea. It falls under the "pay it forward" category. Loved it!
After the picnic, we had our appointment with the psychologist. It was more of an interview so she could write a letter stating that we're not wack jobs or anything. And just so you all know, yes we did pass! Some of you might be asking how....don't know! We collected all of our documents and we were on our way. $400 less in our pockets but we got everything we needed. Of course the traveling notary took his share as well. I think I have told many of you that practically everyone has their hand in this cookie jar! Oh well. If it brings our children home to us, I'm all for it!
So skip ahead a few days and we are again traveling down to San Diego again. Poor Steve is sick and we drove down there on a Tuesday so we could listen to a speaker that the agency had brought in. She is a pediatrician that specializes in adoption medicine. She was really great and had a hand out for us. It basically went through all the things that we could encounter medically before, during and after this process. It was great for Steve to hear all of the things that I have been reading about. I think he thought I was being "freaky" about wanting to have the kids evaluated when they get home. This doctor told us to have it done within 2 weeks of returning home. I found a guy, who is a doctor, out in Long Beach that was referred to me by the agency. He and I have already spoken. I know this sounds freaky to do this so early but I don't want them to tell me it's going to be a 3 month wait before we can get in. I want to be able to be proactive here instead of reactive. WOW! What an educational thing to say. Guess all this educational background helps. Also, it would be difficult to go to a regualr pediatrician and expect them to be up to date on international adoption issues along with health issues and vaccines. By going to someone who understands this, they will give us a thorough evaluation instead of, "go home and feed and love them." The speaker last night told us the same thing. It was sort of funny last night, Steve leaned over to me and whispered, "do all of this times TWO!" I guess I didn't fell overwhelmed because I have been trying to read my books. I am hoping to get a lot more reading done this weekend. Steve and I are leaving for Pismo Beach tomorrow, Thursday Oct. 12th, for a long weekend with the American Coach group. So in some aspects I want the kids to be home tomorrow but then I pop back in to reality and think of the fact that I still have 2 rooms to decorate, 2 books to read, doctors to find, 2 wardrobes to buy, etc., etc. I then realize we still need a little bit of time to get prepared and the way these past few months have been flying by, it'll be March before I know it.
People keep asking me where we are in this process. We're on the referral list waiting for them to call us and give us a referral which basically means they will be offering us 2 children. We are number 5 right now in line. I guess I should see if we have moved up at all. We have also basically completed our Dossier which if you all remember was a list of documents we had to compile. It will then get translated and sent to Russia. The only things that are not done are the time sensitive documents which are the police letter(yes we have to have the police dept. write us a letter), our employment letters and another doctor physical. These are only good for 3 months so we will actually get these done after we accept the referral. If you have been reading the other posts I have done, we keep hearing that things will begin to open back up once the reaccreditation comes through which they are hoping will be taken care of by the end of October early November. We are still really hoping to travel by March. Steve says February. We'll just have to wait and see. Going to the picnic and seeing all of those adorable kids didn't help this waiting period. I have been meeting a lot of people those who are post adoptive and they are very willing to help which makes it better.
Alrighty, now that this has turned into a novel, I might just get back to work! Hope everyone is doing well. Keep my children in your thoughts and prayers. They are in an orphange right now not even knowing what is coming their way and that 2 parents are waiting for them and loving them already. They may not be dreaming of us but you know we're dreaming of them!
On the adoption front, this past Saturday, Steve and I drove down to San Diego to attend our adoption agency's reunion picnic. It was a beautiful day and there were lots of people there. I felt a little weird being there with no children but that subsided quickly. One of my message board buddies told me to look for a couple and once I saw them, I walked right up and introduced myself. They were very helpful and I love talking to her. She also adopted a boy and a girl at the same time from Russia. She was very informative and gave me her email address. After that, Steve and I just sat on the bench in front of the playground and just watched the children. They were all so beautiful. It just makes me want this NOW! I want the children home with us ASAP. While we were sitting on the bench, a guy came up to us and asked if we were adopting from Russia. We said yes and he said he was in the same boat last year. He was so friendly. We walked with him over to the swings and Steve and I took turns pushing his 20 month old Connor on the swing. He and his wife have been home for 3 months now with their son. He was also very candid and informative and gave us his business card to contact them with any questions. I am finding that all of these post adoptive parents are so willing to help and answer questions. He told us that next year it was our job to find another person sitting on the bench and talk to them. I told him I liked that idea. It falls under the "pay it forward" category. Loved it!
After the picnic, we had our appointment with the psychologist. It was more of an interview so she could write a letter stating that we're not wack jobs or anything. And just so you all know, yes we did pass! Some of you might be asking how....don't know! We collected all of our documents and we were on our way. $400 less in our pockets but we got everything we needed. Of course the traveling notary took his share as well. I think I have told many of you that practically everyone has their hand in this cookie jar! Oh well. If it brings our children home to us, I'm all for it!
So skip ahead a few days and we are again traveling down to San Diego again. Poor Steve is sick and we drove down there on a Tuesday so we could listen to a speaker that the agency had brought in. She is a pediatrician that specializes in adoption medicine. She was really great and had a hand out for us. It basically went through all the things that we could encounter medically before, during and after this process. It was great for Steve to hear all of the things that I have been reading about. I think he thought I was being "freaky" about wanting to have the kids evaluated when they get home. This doctor told us to have it done within 2 weeks of returning home. I found a guy, who is a doctor, out in Long Beach that was referred to me by the agency. He and I have already spoken. I know this sounds freaky to do this so early but I don't want them to tell me it's going to be a 3 month wait before we can get in. I want to be able to be proactive here instead of reactive. WOW! What an educational thing to say. Guess all this educational background helps. Also, it would be difficult to go to a regualr pediatrician and expect them to be up to date on international adoption issues along with health issues and vaccines. By going to someone who understands this, they will give us a thorough evaluation instead of, "go home and feed and love them." The speaker last night told us the same thing. It was sort of funny last night, Steve leaned over to me and whispered, "do all of this times TWO!" I guess I didn't fell overwhelmed because I have been trying to read my books. I am hoping to get a lot more reading done this weekend. Steve and I are leaving for Pismo Beach tomorrow, Thursday Oct. 12th, for a long weekend with the American Coach group. So in some aspects I want the kids to be home tomorrow but then I pop back in to reality and think of the fact that I still have 2 rooms to decorate, 2 books to read, doctors to find, 2 wardrobes to buy, etc., etc. I then realize we still need a little bit of time to get prepared and the way these past few months have been flying by, it'll be March before I know it.
People keep asking me where we are in this process. We're on the referral list waiting for them to call us and give us a referral which basically means they will be offering us 2 children. We are number 5 right now in line. I guess I should see if we have moved up at all. We have also basically completed our Dossier which if you all remember was a list of documents we had to compile. It will then get translated and sent to Russia. The only things that are not done are the time sensitive documents which are the police letter(yes we have to have the police dept. write us a letter), our employment letters and another doctor physical. These are only good for 3 months so we will actually get these done after we accept the referral. If you have been reading the other posts I have done, we keep hearing that things will begin to open back up once the reaccreditation comes through which they are hoping will be taken care of by the end of October early November. We are still really hoping to travel by March. Steve says February. We'll just have to wait and see. Going to the picnic and seeing all of those adorable kids didn't help this waiting period. I have been meeting a lot of people those who are post adoptive and they are very willing to help which makes it better.
Alrighty, now that this has turned into a novel, I might just get back to work! Hope everyone is doing well. Keep my children in your thoughts and prayers. They are in an orphange right now not even knowing what is coming their way and that 2 parents are waiting for them and loving them already. They may not be dreaming of us but you know we're dreaming of them!
And the delays begin....
OK, so we have hit our first delay. I am going to try and explain it to eveyone the way it was explained to me. Instead of typing it again, here it is straight off of the agency's webiste...
"Unfortunately our Russian re-accreditation has not been officially approved. Two ministers involved with signing our accreditation have resigned, and now we must wait until two new ministers are appointed. The President of Frank will be traveling to Russia to see
Adoption Options is able to work in some regions in Russia, by allowing us to work independently. We had some families travel and complete their adoption despite this issue, and do continue to receive referrals in those regions. However, there remains several regions that do not allow for this, causing many families to have a delay in their adoption process."
I received an update from the director stating that this could be resolved within the next month. Once this happens, this is when he expects things to really open back up again and the referrals will come a bit faster. This is how I understand it. He did state that some families were receiving "blind referrals." This means that the only thing we would know is the child's name, age and sex. Steve and I talked about it and we have come too far to rush into this. Basically we both looked at each other and said, "we're out on this!" Good thing we agree.
So, here we are in the waiting game. We are going to a picnic this weekend that the agency is putting on. I am looking forward to talking with other families who have been through this already and am especially looking forward to meeting the families who have brought 2 home at once. I have already emailed 2 different families and they have emailed me back. Both were very generous and wanted to answer any of my questions and both offered to have me call them. I am so glad that people are so nice. I hope to return the favor some day.
Well, I guess when I get an update, I will update that info here. Until then, tick tock, tick tock. My hope is still to be home by summer which I think is a very realistic goal. I ran this by the director and he agreed. YEAH!
Hope everyone is well. Take care.
"Unfortunately our Russian re-accreditation has not been officially approved. Two ministers involved with signing our accreditation have resigned, and now we must wait until two new ministers are appointed. The President of Frank will be traveling to Russia to see
Adoption Options is able to work in some regions in Russia, by allowing us to work independently. We had some families travel and complete their adoption despite this issue, and do continue to receive referrals in those regions. However, there remains several regions that do not allow for this, causing many families to have a delay in their adoption process."
I received an update from the director stating that this could be resolved within the next month. Once this happens, this is when he expects things to really open back up again and the referrals will come a bit faster. This is how I understand it. He did state that some families were receiving "blind referrals." This means that the only thing we would know is the child's name, age and sex. Steve and I talked about it and we have come too far to rush into this. Basically we both looked at each other and said, "we're out on this!" Good thing we agree.
So, here we are in the waiting game. We are going to a picnic this weekend that the agency is putting on. I am looking forward to talking with other families who have been through this already and am especially looking forward to meeting the families who have brought 2 home at once. I have already emailed 2 different families and they have emailed me back. Both were very generous and wanted to answer any of my questions and both offered to have me call them. I am so glad that people are so nice. I hope to return the favor some day.
Well, I guess when I get an update, I will update that info here. Until then, tick tock, tick tock. My hope is still to be home by summer which I think is a very realistic goal. I ran this by the director and he agreed. YEAH!
Hope everyone is well. Take care.
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