This evening I got most of the required paperwork in the mail to our agency. We have to redo our medicals, but we can't do that until after May 8 and I just sent the fingerprints out on Monday and we have to wait for them to come back. So, other than that nothing much new to report regarding paperwork.
We are still hopeful that we will have court sometime in June, however, we do need to be sensible and realize that it may not happen in June. I always seem to have my guard up, I know. I did talk with our agency yesterday and after that conversation I realized we may not have court in June. I can't go into details about it here for obvious reasons, but I am just feeling a bit down about it right now. I know it will all work out the way it should, but sometimes I just wonder why things can't go smoothly and easily for us for once. It seems like everything we do is something "new" for our agency and "out of the norm". It seems it was like this when we were trying to get Travis home too. Those who were with me understand what I am saying. When we started with this agency I warned them about working with us! LOL If it is odd and unusual it will happen to us. So, for now we are just taking it one day at a time.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Checking things off the list
Late this afternoon Daryle and I made it to the fingerprint office to get that chore taken care of. Tomorrow I will send them off to the FBI and we will wait for them to be returned. I can't remember exactly how long it took the last time we had to do that, but I don't remember it taking too long. Daryle got his employment verification letter done and I should have mine by Monday or Tuesday at the latest. I need to find our Home Warranty Deed, it is around here somewhere in all of this paperwork! I need to call and schedule our medical appointment because those are only valid for 3 months (geesh!). We can't have our appointment before May 9 so that is why I have been waiting a bit to schedule it, along with the fact that I sort of keep forgetting to call until the office is closed for the day...oops! This weekend I will redo our financial statement and then that will be all we need to do. It seems like we are always having to "hurry up and wait" for everything. I just want to get my baby HOME!! I can feel myself beginning to get antsy about that. I am hoping that with all the end of the year things I have to do in May that it will keep my mind occupied with other things to think about.
As far as our court date, we still do not have an official word on that. We were told it would be about a month until we got our date. Today it was 4 weeks since we last saw Connor, so I feel like we are that much closer to getting our court date. It seems like people have been waiting about 5 weeks or so from trip one to getting their court date, so we are keeping our fingers crossed that we hear something this week or early the following week. I am anxious to get the flights scheduled, the prices go up the closer you get to your travel dates. I did find out that American Airlines has a flight from here to Chicago and then Chicago to Moscow. It is almost half the price of the Delta flight, which is what we flew the first trip. American Airlines flies into a different airport, but we were told that was not a problem, it is just a busier airport because it is domestic and international. Actually, we flew in and out of that airport when we flew to Blago to
get Travis.
I still need to get Connor's room ready for him. I need to get a dresser for his room, I don't have one and believe me I have things to put in there. Granted, a lot of the clothes I need to store are too big for him yet but I need to get them organized and put away. Right now his room looks pretty scary, sort of like a baby toy/clothes/furniture bomb went off in there! I don't think I am going to paint his room yet, I am just going to put up some of the same things I had up when Travis was in the crib and then when he changes to a bed then I will probably paint and do his room to fit his interests. For today that is the plan, I reserve the right to change my mind at any given moment! Afterall, it is sort of like I am pregnant, right??!!
I only have two weeks left of this class I am taking and then I am taking an on-line summer school course. I think that is all I can handle for the summer! All my "buddies" are taking two classes this summer, I will just have to be a class behind I guess. One big bummer about all of this is that part of the reason I am getting my Master's degree is to move on the pay scale. Well, with all of the budget cuts there are no raises this year and I don't think they will even let people who are taking classes move over a lane on the scale. That really stinks. But then I am thankful for the fact that I didn't get a RIF letter (reduction in force) and that I am still employed. I am thankful for the fact that I am collecting a paycheck and I have health benefits. It's a good thing there is always a silver lining, sometimes it is just harder to find it!
As far as our court date, we still do not have an official word on that. We were told it would be about a month until we got our date. Today it was 4 weeks since we last saw Connor, so I feel like we are that much closer to getting our court date. It seems like people have been waiting about 5 weeks or so from trip one to getting their court date, so we are keeping our fingers crossed that we hear something this week or early the following week. I am anxious to get the flights scheduled, the prices go up the closer you get to your travel dates. I did find out that American Airlines has a flight from here to Chicago and then Chicago to Moscow. It is almost half the price of the Delta flight, which is what we flew the first trip. American Airlines flies into a different airport, but we were told that was not a problem, it is just a busier airport because it is domestic and international. Actually, we flew in and out of that airport when we flew to Blago to
get Travis.
I still need to get Connor's room ready for him. I need to get a dresser for his room, I don't have one and believe me I have things to put in there. Granted, a lot of the clothes I need to store are too big for him yet but I need to get them organized and put away. Right now his room looks pretty scary, sort of like a baby toy/clothes/furniture bomb went off in there! I don't think I am going to paint his room yet, I am just going to put up some of the same things I had up when Travis was in the crib and then when he changes to a bed then I will probably paint and do his room to fit his interests. For today that is the plan, I reserve the right to change my mind at any given moment! Afterall, it is sort of like I am pregnant, right??!!
I only have two weeks left of this class I am taking and then I am taking an on-line summer school course. I think that is all I can handle for the summer! All my "buddies" are taking two classes this summer, I will just have to be a class behind I guess. One big bummer about all of this is that part of the reason I am getting my Master's degree is to move on the pay scale. Well, with all of the budget cuts there are no raises this year and I don't think they will even let people who are taking classes move over a lane on the scale. That really stinks. But then I am thankful for the fact that I didn't get a RIF letter (reduction in force) and that I am still employed. I am thankful for the fact that I am collecting a paycheck and I have health benefits. It's a good thing there is always a silver lining, sometimes it is just harder to find it!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Singing the "Paperwork Blues"
People who have gone through an international adoption understand about never-ending paperwork! In the beginning you rush around spending countless hours collecting and completing paperwork. Your goal is to get it all in as soon as possible. The first time you go through the process you think that once it is done it is done. During our first adoption we learned how that is so silly to think because most of those documents "expire" within 12 months of when the document was notarized. (Yes, even our birth certificates and marriage certificate expired! Can you believe that one?) Now the second time around we are thinking we are more "experienced" with the paperwork. Of course I got it all in quickly but I also knew in the back of my head that a lot of this would have to be re-done before the adoption would be complete. Since things have been moving more quickly than with Travis I mistakenly thought that we would be in good shape in terms of our paperwork. Most of our papers were done last June and if we have court this June it should be ok. Well, silly me! I got an e-mail today stating that we have to re-do about 6 different items because now the rule is that the documents in the dossier have to be valid for 6 months AFTER the court date!! That was a new one for me! It isn't that it is hard, it is just time consuming and tedious. We knew we had to re-do our medicals but now we also have to re-do our fingerprints for an FBI check, our employment letters, our financial statement and the warranty deed to our house. We need to get on the ball for the FBI clearance letters because those can take 6-8 weeks to get back. I also need to make copies of our tax returns and W2's for the past 3 years. I have them, I just need to get them copied or print them off of the computer (which will take a lot of ink!). We have to bring those with us on our next trip. I may need a suitcase just for those alone!! LOL I know it will all get done. I just have to chuckle inside when people ask me "Is adopting from Russia difficult?" I guess it all depends on how you look at it!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Tooth Fairy and Pigeons
Well, Travis just lost his third tooth tonight, so I guess the Tooth Fairy will be making the rounds! It is so funny, right after he turned 5, he lost his bottom two teeth. Nothing has been loose since then. Now, he turns 6 and loses another bottom tooth! You can see the big tooth already coming in behind the spot. Boy does he feel like a big kid now! Now if we can only get those top ones to loosen a bit....
Now for our pigeon problem. We have these squares in front of our house and the pigeons have decided it is now a nice place to lay some eggs. We discovered this problem right before we left for Russia. I tried to pull down the nest and along came two eggs! Last summer I tried putting an owl up there but they only became "friends" with him. Today Daryle bought these spiky things to put up there. We thought for sure that would be a great deterrent. Well, Daryle just went to take out some trash and guess what.....the pigeons are still there!! They are more cramped but they are still there. Now we will wait and see if they try to build a nest up there, if so then we are really in trouble!!
Now for our pigeon problem. We have these squares in front of our house and the pigeons have decided it is now a nice place to lay some eggs. We discovered this problem right before we left for Russia. I tried to pull down the nest and along came two eggs! Last summer I tried putting an owl up there but they only became "friends" with him. Today Daryle bought these spiky things to put up there. We thought for sure that would be a great deterrent. Well, Daryle just went to take out some trash and guess what.....the pigeons are still there!! They are more cramped but they are still there. Now we will wait and see if they try to build a nest up there, if so then we are really in trouble!!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Venting
Edited: Well, this "new information" may need to be investigated a bit further. I will keep you posted!
Two days ago I received an e-mail about changes being made to the VISA's required for us to enter Russia. On this last trip we paid $250 a person for our 30 day VISA meaning we had a 30 day window in which we were allowed to be in Russia. That is a lot, but ok, not too bad. We knew we would have to do this two more times since we have to make three trips. When we brought Travis home we paid close to $900 total for our VISA's, they were called a dual entry VISA meaning we could enter the country twice within a 90 day period. Well, now there is no such thing as a dual entry VISA and the single entry VISA is now $390 a person!!!! AAAAHHHHH!$!$!$!$!$! I understand people may or may not understand what I am talking about here ....bottom line is, MORE MONEY of course!!! UGH!
(Anybody know somebody who would like to buy a cookbook???) ;-)
Two days ago I received an e-mail about changes being made to the VISA's required for us to enter Russia. On this last trip we paid $250 a person for our 30 day VISA meaning we had a 30 day window in which we were allowed to be in Russia. That is a lot, but ok, not too bad. We knew we would have to do this two more times since we have to make three trips. When we brought Travis home we paid close to $900 total for our VISA's, they were called a dual entry VISA meaning we could enter the country twice within a 90 day period. Well, now there is no such thing as a dual entry VISA and the single entry VISA is now $390 a person!!!! AAAAHHHHH!$!$!$!$!$! I understand people may or may not understand what I am talking about here ....bottom line is, MORE MONEY of course!!! UGH!
(Anybody know somebody who would like to buy a cookbook???) ;-)
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Happy Easter
I can hardly believe that tomorrow is already Easter! So far, 2009 has been flying by for us. I don't know where the first three months went to. Seriously, I blinked and they were gone.
Not much new here, just getting ready to color some Easter eggs. That is always lots of fun! The pack I got this year has "egg tattoos" in it, I thought Travis would get a kick out of that. I didn't even realize it, but Daryle got Diamondback's tickets for the game tomorrow afternoon. So, that is where the two of them will be. I am looking forward to a few hours to be by myself and get some things done around here.
Travis and I were off yesterday and I already started checking things off of my to-do list before we get Connor home. It has been 2 weeks now since we left him in Moscow, I hope and pray he is doing well. It is hard going through a holiday without your child, especially when you have already met them, held them and then had to leave them there! I didn't have to do this the last time, so this is uncharted territory for us. I do know in my heart that he is in a good place (of course not as good as in our arms!) and people are taking care of him. Just one more thing that is out of my control, all I can do is pray and hope for the best. Here's to next Easter when he will be HOME!
Happy Easter to all of you!
Not much new here, just getting ready to color some Easter eggs. That is always lots of fun! The pack I got this year has "egg tattoos" in it, I thought Travis would get a kick out of that. I didn't even realize it, but Daryle got Diamondback's tickets for the game tomorrow afternoon. So, that is where the two of them will be. I am looking forward to a few hours to be by myself and get some things done around here.
Travis and I were off yesterday and I already started checking things off of my to-do list before we get Connor home. It has been 2 weeks now since we left him in Moscow, I hope and pray he is doing well. It is hard going through a holiday without your child, especially when you have already met them, held them and then had to leave them there! I didn't have to do this the last time, so this is uncharted territory for us. I do know in my heart that he is in a good place (of course not as good as in our arms!) and people are taking care of him. Just one more thing that is out of my control, all I can do is pray and hope for the best. Here's to next Easter when he will be HOME!
Happy Easter to all of you!
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Back to the land of the living!!
Finally, I think I have returned to "normal", whatever that might be. I count this as a good day because I got the house cleaned, all laundry done and still had time to take Travis and his friend to the movies for his birthday as well as having my parents over for dinner tonight. The best part is I still have tomorrow to get more things done, mostly things for my class Thursday night. Things seem more calm and back to what we consider "normal". Here is what we have been up to for the past week.
Here he is enjoying his new sleeping bag from Grammy and Grandpa.
Not sure if I mentioned it in my earlier post, but while we were away Travis got hit in the eye with a ball at school. Grandpa had to take him to the dr, here is what I came home to! Thank goodness it looks worse than it felt. Fortunately, this morning when I checked it the red is just about all gone now. However, I do have to say it did freak me out a bit when I first saw it after getting off the plane last week!
I think that about sums it up. Somewhere in there I got caught up on my sleep and I am hoping this next week goes smoothly. My class has testing this week, that can be a good thing but stressful too. Nothing new to report on the adoption, we had to send in a form this week but other than that we are waiting for our court date. We know that will be at least a month and we also know it won't be before June. I am so glad that we are so busy because it makes the time go by faster and I am not dwelling on the fact that Connor is not here with us yet. The wait for Travis was so much harder for me, this time seems so much easier. I think it helps that this time around I have Travis to hug and kiss as I think about what Connor is up to. Before we know it we will all be together, I can't wait for that day to come!
Sunday started out celebrating Travis' 6th birthday. Can he really be getting older so quickly??
Here he is enjoying his new sleeping bag from Grammy and Grandpa.Not sure if I mentioned it in my earlier post, but while we were away Travis got hit in the eye with a ball at school. Grandpa had to take him to the dr, here is what I came home to! Thank goodness it looks worse than it felt. Fortunately, this morning when I checked it the red is just about all gone now. However, I do have to say it did freak me out a bit when I first saw it after getting off the plane last week!
Here we all are after being away from Travis for a week. He is holding up 6 fingers to show how old he is now. Next year we will have Connor with us to celebrate too! We can't wait
On Friday Travis had his first school field trip. Even after having a week off, I was able to take off Friday to go with him. I felt like after being away from him for so long that I needed to take some time for him. We had so much fun. I took a picture of him by this cactus slide, I have NEVER seen that thing before!! I guess it has been there forever, but I found this area with wallabies and a few other things that were new to me. It was nice, it was like being at a whole new place!
Most of you who have known me for any length of time knows that I would never call myself an "animal lover". I didn't grow up with pets, the only reason we have a dog is because Daryle loves animals and I promised him we could get a pet when we got our first house. I love my dog, I just wish he didn't bark at every little sound! Animals in general are ok, but I prefer to observe them from afar and I rarely ever actually *gasp* TOUCH strange animals! LOL However, Travis is more like his father in that area. Travis LOVES animals. I knew he was going to want to go pet the goats, I cringed, but did it because he likes it and as a mom I need to let him do things like that. Our group was Travis and I and Travis' teacher and another little boy. Well, Travis and his teacher were all excited about the goats, the other boy and I stood back and tried not to let any goat get too near us. We waited patiently for them to finish and then the two of us couldn't get out of there fast enough! I had to chuckle to myself. Here is Travis with his new goat friend. (Actually, I think he had to pet every one of them before leaving the area!!) 
Here is Travis touching the stingrays. Those were pretty cool. I was a good mommy and put my arm in there and let one of them swim by and touch me. I spent the rest of the time holding Travis by the back of the shirt making sure he didn't fall in the pool! I think if he could he would have loved to go swimming with them!
I think that about sums it up. Somewhere in there I got caught up on my sleep and I am hoping this next week goes smoothly. My class has testing this week, that can be a good thing but stressful too. Nothing new to report on the adoption, we had to send in a form this week but other than that we are waiting for our court date. We know that will be at least a month and we also know it won't be before June. I am so glad that we are so busy because it makes the time go by faster and I am not dwelling on the fact that Connor is not here with us yet. The wait for Travis was so much harder for me, this time seems so much easier. I think it helps that this time around I have Travis to hug and kiss as I think about what Connor is up to. Before we know it we will all be together, I can't wait for that day to come!
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