Week of FEBRUARY 1st?

Okay, just got done mailing last minute Docs..and we have a tentative date of the week of Februaury 1st...hmmm don't really know when this is..but, atleast its some kind of guideline;) right?

You just never know with IA..it could be later or sooner...hoping its sooner!

We are staying for the ten days..which is going to be long..but oh so worth it!

Much love to you guys..you are all AMAZING!

Prayers to those who still wait;)

Thank You Lord..just for EVERYTHING.

TOMORROW FEELS IMPORTANT!!

I can't really explain..but tomorrow my Agency opens back up and we wait to hear NEWS!!!

More About Hope..and Adoption

I wanted to add something else...Hope is either of Kyrgyz/Kazak/Tajik descent..the orphanage is not certain where her birth mother was from..but clearly, she has Eurasian like features.

She is GORGEOUS and Very Healthy thank GOD!

http://enews.ferghana.ru/article.php?id=2558 (a more in depth article, about Russia's meltingpot..and possibly, why our daughter and many other children, are abandoned)

The more that you begin to understand Russian Adoption, especially these days..things have changed drastically, with Russia promoting 'Domestic adoption and Foster care'...though, what has not changed, is that Russia has many, many ethnicities (very attractive and unique looking people). And the Russians are adopting...but they are not adopting children of minority, and they are not adopting as many boys.
The Roma children, The Kazak/Kyrgyz/Tajiki children are the minority in Russia, and they will not even get 'looked at' by a Russian...and if you look at the countries; the people from the Southern part of the Soviet Union, (Central Asia) have migrated from (into Russia)..you will understand why. Their countries are a mess, because the poverty level is out of control. The amount of street children/orphaned children who are suffering, are out of these counties control... There are MANY, MANY, CHILDREN IN NEED OF FAMILIES in Russia! These children are GORGEOUS and DESERVE to have a normal life with love! There are MANY CHILDREN of ASIAN & ROMA descent in Russian orphanges who may never get a chance at life.
There are MANY BOYS in Russian orphanages who are not being adopted simply because they are boys and not girls! There are many girls who are not getting adopted simply because, they are not blonde & blue eyed.


...a lot of times, couples who cannot have biological children of their own, opt to adopt from Russia (very understandable), though,...they want to choose the sex of the child..and for whatever reason, most prefer to adopt 'girls' or a girl first....I think this is a personal choice...but I also think that they are missing out! We have 3 boys and would not change that for the world!! Boys are AWESOME, Affectionate, sweet and well behaved...they are extremely close to me...most mothers agree about the bond of mother and son! I think when you are adopting you have the right to choose...but in my experience with my children God chose for me; to have 3 sons, before my daughter..and those 3 sons led me to wanting, to have more children in our home...if it was a bad experience, or they were 'terribly hyper or active' I probably would have quit after 2 boys!

All I am saying is please don't miss out on a wonderful boy! If you want to adopt from Russia to have a child that could look 'biologically related' like blonde hair or caucasian featured..please opt for a boy...referrals are so quick..and they deserve to be loved and adored;)

Finishing up yet, another Dossier...

I think you have all heard about Russia's paperwork..or I have complained about it once or twice on here..well, did you know that for the court/final trip..yes, more paperwork will be required! And luckily we only needed a police clearance update (notarized & apostilled of course), they will need three years of tax returns (U.S. Embassy), our naturalization certificates (we are both Naturalized Citizens), employment verification/pay stubs, I think some more photos...Well we are almost done, we used Fed Ex of course for everything. Now we wait to hear news on a court date and to find out when to apply for visas again, since they are only good for 30 days at a time.

I noticed a picture of Hope on the Russia Data Bank (where they advertise to promote domestic adoption)..it was an updated pic of her (a very good one..guess they switched to digital camera), and so when I was looking out of curiousity (and in hopes that she would not be there)..to my surprise a very beautiful, familiar, little doll face popped up..and I thought to myself 'that sure looks a lot like Hope' and when I saw the orphanage given name...I couldn't blink..it was my Hopee on there! AHHHHH! She is so cute! Get her off of there, seriously....even though we have petitioned and signed to adopt her, she is not yet, legally ours;( Until the 10 days are up after court..AHHHH! This better move quickly..nobody is to take our little 'Penguin Princess' off of us..its bad enough she's still on the Data Bank...with her beautiful little face exposed!

I have been doing some more shopping at Children's Place..just could not ignore the sales..Fred is gonna kill me..despite buying her sweaters and stuff to keep her warm in Russia; I just could not pass up, buying her a bathing suit;)) Can't wait to teach her to swim..maybe even before walking;) Our Agency LH, is having a Reunion in Orlando, Fl. this year...and even though it will be cutting it close (us arriving back to the U.S.) we desperately want to go!! We have bonded so easily and have become quite close to a lot of the LH clients/members...and I would just love to see them with Hopee in tow;)

We will see..God willing!

New Year's Resolution, Tiredness..& Back to School

Okay, looks like the HoneyMoon is over and its back to work & back to school!

Is anyone having as much trouble waking up these days as me? Ouuuufff! My mornings are HARRD! I woke up at 7:30am this morning, leaving me exactly 25 minutes to feed the kids breakfast, dress them, get the lunch ready and get them in the car to get them in school by 8am! AHHHH! I made it..but do not like this at all!

At times, like this morning and while I was busy going up and down the stairs with the laundry today, I thought to myself wogh..is it going to be hard with one more child here at home! A child who is younger and needs a bottle. A child who will need a lot of attention (yes the 2 older boys are in school) and a child, who will have to get accustomed to different foods, languages & time change!! GOD HELP ME! I tell my husband sometimes..'gee its gonna be busy around here with Hope'...he smiles and says 'I know..now I get to be left alone to work on the boat!'.....what a wise guy! Sheesh..MEN!

For some reason Noah (our youngest who turns 3 this month) is having 'accidents'...its very unusual..and I am wondering if it has anything to do with us being gone? It hasn't been very pleasant especially in the laundry room (with repeated linen washes) grrrr...I hope this fades..unless he regresses because of the new baby...oh well..like the french say 'deja vue'. I tell you, mom business..is not an easy one!

Ever since our boys have been taking pictures of Hopee to school to show their teachers; a few of those teachers have come up to me to ask about the process, for their own interests of possible adoption. Isn't that great? Its amazing what kind of fire can ignite in the hearts of some people! God Bless!

On another note; its actually very cold here in Florida,...we have the heat on (don't laugh) and we have hats and coats on..so the children's closets are scary! With winter and summer clothing all mixed up and everywhere...atleast in Russia, we expected it to be cold and we were dressed for the weather. In Florida, it can be really humid one day, and then the next day, we get these temperature drops, and then we're in hats & coats...then you wonder why we're always sick around here. Our bodies don't know what do these days.

Anyway, aside from weather dicussion:)

Does anyone have any 'New Year's Resolutions or Goals for 2010?'


Here are mine:

More patient!

More exercise!

Less Gossip!

More organized!

Happier!

upgrade my minivan!

Less Debt!

When we might hear news...& sales

Alot of people are asking, about, when we are going to return to Russia for Hope.

Good question;) We do not know much either...except that Russia has shut down for their holidays in January. They probably will not be up and running before the 18th. We are hoping to return for trip 2 (our court trip), around this time or atleast before Februaury. I would like to be back home no later than the second week of Februaury. Though, these are things out of our control. I do know one thing though; the more I look at pics of Hope, the more I drive myself crazy, about how she is doing and what can happen to her etc...its not making it any easier for us, especially my husband -he tries to reassure me, but I know he too is worried about Hope! We are sure that she has 'rickets' or 'rachitis' which is a 'softening of the bones' because of vitamin deficiency and a lack of sunlight and calcium. Also, part of her orphanage delays are that her back does not seem very strong and so she is not truly sitting on her own yet...I am very thankful that she is a good eater, atleast, her brain has been getting nourished & her head is growing nicely (thank you GOD for that). Despite the lack of iron and Vitamin D...I know the sooner she is home the better.

I did buy a few things online, at Kohl's (they had a GRRREAT sale), Old Navy, GAP...I am also searching for the perfect stroller right now..would love a pink one, but don't think Noah would appreciate that, (I'm looking for a double jogging stroller).

I don't want to bore you too much..but I posted some of the things purchased..I should be organizing closets..seriously!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! ...2010 YEAH!

Now let's pray for a speedy court date!


We are dying here..as awkward and lost and strange as we felt in Russia, we are so looking forward to returning there soon!

We have decided to make it one last trip!

It won't be easy...but it will be worth it, because Hope needs us there A.S.A.P!
Well we need her, maybe even more;)

I have yet to buy anything for her (I don't know why I suck this way). I don't know where to begin? Sizes? I feel like I am starting all over again! Bottles and binkies?

Any recommendations where to shop right now? Should I buy 12 months? She was wearing 6-9months in December...I need help..this is harder than I thought!

This wait is hard, but not as hard as the first kind of waiting with no news and no face to think and dream about. So I thank God for this kind of waiting;)