Maybe....

We just heard from the lawyer and we might get custody next Friday. The meeting hasn't been set but that's when the other couple is available. That will give us more time to get ready and give Sasha more time to get used to us. We're going down tomorrow morning until Sunday evening and then we'll probably go back on Wednesday of next week.

She needs more than just a car seat!

Matt thinks that Sasha only needs a car seat and a tricycle to make her happy! I told him that he could spend the rest of the time entertaining her if that was all we had!

Don't worry, I didn't follow his advice. I had a trunk full of stuff today and that's without a car seat or a tricycle!

Last day

N and V called last night saying that our little princess was so happy. They had bought her a Cinderella costume! They sent a ton of pictures and she looks so cute. V talked to me on the phone for a while just gushing about Sasha. He was telling me how he's so happy that we decided to adopt her and that she has such a "positive spirit" and she will only "enrich our lives". That made me feel really good.

Well, today was hopefully my last day of school for a while. Fall Break starts tomorrow and I'm expecting that by the time it's over, we'll have Sasha home with us. I was sad but I know I'm leaving for a VERY GOOD reason.

I sent a letter home with the kids but I wanted to tell them first. We had just finished reading some stories and one was about a guinea pig. After I read the stories, I told them that I had some exciting but a little sad news. So, I told them the whole story and a few kids asked questions and then I called on one student and he said, "I have a guinea pig too." WHAT?? He was obviously NOT paying any attention!

Moving along

I just set up her room with all of our odds and ends. It still looks cute. Murray is trying to grab all the stuffed animals and run with them. That could be a problem.

Still Waiting

We looked at furniture last night. I knew as soon as I saw it that's what I wanted. It's so girly but so cute. Unfortunately, it's going to take 4 weeks to get it.
















Sasha has a picture of Matt and I now. N is going to have her call us tonight and show her the picture while she's talking to us.

The ball is in their court.

We met with the lawyer today and she told us how to get started.

If everybody works together and we get these meetings set up, we'll get custody pretty quickly.

Let's get this party started!

She's a good kid.

N called tonight. They had just taken Sasha to the bookstore and she wanted to touch all the books. That's my girl! When they did ask her to stop, she did. Then they took her out to eat and she didn't really want to sit still until it was time to eat. She's a big eater! They also took her out for ice cream which she loved. Again, that's my girl!

Then, N put her on the phone with me and she said, "Hi Mama." Oh boy....

Things are moving

The parents have agreed to award us temporary custody. We just have to figure out how to do it legally. We have an appointment with a lawyer tomorrow. She apparently had a case like this just last year.

We also spent some time on the phone with our social worker tonight. This social worker had done the home study with the other parents and had also counseled them in what to do with Sasha. She is another person who has fallen in love with Sasha and thinks that with love and time, Sasha is going to be a great kid!

Next Step

Still not sure what we're going to do about I and E but we have set the ball rolling to get gaurdianship of Sasha. R is going to contact the social worker and some lawyers. Then she will call the other family and let them know that we want to pursue the adoption. They, of course, have to approve of us. But, hey, how could they not love us?

If all goes smoothly, we could have Sasha home by the weekend. Yes, I'm pulling my hair out right now.

The Plot Thickens

V. and N. are the founders of our agency and are also the ones who are taking care of this child. When we were there this weekend, V. offered to call the I and E's orphanage so we can ask questions.

Well, it turns out that they have just been moved to a "boarding" school. The agency has never worked with the director of this school although their staff in Russia has. Apparently, she frowns upon foreign adoption and when she does allow it, it is very unorganized. At this time, in Russia, unorganization is a huge no-no. V. said that he could try to do everything to get us these kids but chances are very slim.

So we asked what would become of I and E and he said that they are smart children and the talented children grow up fine and get jobs in society. They just won't have the family support. He said this is very common and not at all sad for them. It is however, very sad for us.

So, once again, we have a difficult decision to make. Even Matt said last night, "It's like we're supposed to adopt her." For those of you who know Matt, you know he doesn't believe in things like that.

To be continued....

A difficult decision

This weekend, Matt and I were contacted to take custody of a 3 year old little girl who was adopted from Russia a few months ago. Her adoptive parents were unable to care for her because of many reasons. She is currently in temporary custody with a very loving family.

We spent some time with her and she is so very sweet and loving. After a lot of heartache and tears (with more to come, I'm sure), we realized that we couldn't adopt her and I and E. She will need intensive, consistent time and love. We know that our agency will find a good home for her but if we don't adopt I and E, they don't have much of a chance.

We are both very sad because we had to make this decision and sad for her because she certainly doesn't deserve this.

There is some goodness in the world!

My beautiful niece was born this morning. All 7 pounds 6 ounces of her are just as cute as can be. I am so lucky to have 2 awesome nephews and 1 gorgeous niece.

Jakob, Kristopher, and Juliana Leann can't wait to meet their new cousins from Russia!

They got the letter.

Our letter arrived in Russia! The staff said they'd deliver it to the kids "ASAP".

I wonder what they're thinking. Are they wondering why Matt's face is so red (sunburned). Do they think I'm pretty? Did it make them excited to meet us or nervous? Is it going to make the time go by even slower now that they have a picture of us? Will they want to write us back? Oh, that would make my day to get a letter from them.

I do know that if we are delayed longer, I will write another letter explaining the situation to them.

I came home and took a nap and I dreamt that they were playing in my parent's backyard with Jasmine, my cousin Michelle's oldest child. It was so real. I was spinning I and E was sitting beside me on a blanket. Someday.....

Kakat

That's Russian for poo-poo and that's what's going on right now.

As of today, we are not going to Russia in October. To make a long story short, the Russian government may make our children stay in an orphanage for even longer. We will have more definitive answers by the end of next week.

All I can do right now is keep wishing on that star. Please join me.

When you wish upon a star...or a butterfly

Mom--You'll like this post.

First of all for the past 2 days, Matt and I have both seen a beautiful monarch butterfly flying around on our back patio. Today, it almost landed on me.

This morning, we (me, Murray and Dudley) went out for our 5:30 A.M. potty (I used the indoor plumbing, by the way). The sky was so clear and I was looking up at all the stars. I started to think about our kids and just at that moment, I saw a shooting star.

Now, if these things aren't signs, I don't know what is.

A little bit of good news.

The State Duma turned down an amendment calling for a temporary moratorium on the adoption of Russian children.

Now, we just want more news like this to keep coming!

Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhh.........

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Happy 5th Birthday, Igor!

Today is I's 5th birthday and I'm so sad that we don't get to spend it with him. We really thought when we first found out about these children in March that we'd have them home by now. I wonder what it's like to spend your birthday in an orphanage. I wonder if I and E have ever celebrated a birthday before. Hopefully, he felt one of my 1,000's of birthday hugs I sent over yesterday.

Hopefully, this will be the last birthday he has in the orphanage.

Our new goal is to have them home by E's 8th birthday (December 1) or at least be in Russia on our 2nd trip for her birthday.

fingers crossed fingers crossed fingers crossed