Jan 4, 2006

It's been some time since my last post. Not sure if anyone is following anymore. After spending 3 weeks in Kaz and deciding the older child and I weren't a fit, they were able to find a baby for me to adopt. I had to sit and wait in the apartment for a week but they were able to get the proper paper work done and then I was able to go visit Todd.

When I first saw him he was 8 months old. A happy baby who loves everyone. After spending the required time visiting him I finally had my court date on November 13, 2006. This region is special, special baby house, so I was able to get an immidiate decree and picked Todd up on November 14, 2006.

I spent two more weeks in Kaz. We were there for Thanksgiving but our coordinator there arranged for a Thanksgiving dinner at the American Bar and Grill cafe. It wasn't our home cooked meal but it was really good.

We arrived home on November 28, 2006 and Todd fit right in. He acted like he had been around everyone his entire life and just took things in. He's still a happy baby. Entertains himself but knows how to get your attention. He is now 10 months old and not far behind an American born and raised 10 month old.

November 6, 2006

Sorry it's been a month since I last posted. I got out to Kazakhstan on October 11th. I was first told that there were two children available for adoption in the region I was allowed to go to. A 6 year old and a 2 1/2 year old. Yeah not the baby I was expecting. I was basically told it was either of these kids or I will go and get a plane ticket home.

I went out to the baby house and saw both the kids. The 6 year old seemed more interested that the younger one. For some reason the younger one seemed to have some "issues", lack of better term. I started my visits with the 6 year old. It was trying. He only spoke Russian and I only spoke English. Towards the end it got harder and harder each day. It got to the point where he wouldn't listen to anyone and would purposely do what he knew he was not supposed to do, one right after the other.

I determined it wasn't in his best interest to be adopted by me. He needs a two parent family with a father figure and someone to be there to devote their entire time to him.

After a weeks wait they found a baby that was coming off the registry soon. He is so beautiful and happy. I have been here for 4 weeks now and still not sure when I will be home. We are waiting on another release form and then a court date. Hopefully all that goes fast and we can get home soon.

October 3, 2006

Well it's been a week since I received my call and I still do not have my LOI. I have my travel date of the 9th but still no VISA. Hopefully it will be here today or tomorrow the latest. I don't understand how they called and said my paper work has gone through, that I have to be in country by the 12th, yet no LOI for me to get my VISA. I have everything set to leave on the 9th. Work knows, mail being forwarded, rent taken care of, ect... I would hate to have to delay my flight in any way. Not to mention it will cost a couple hundred to change my departure date. Guess you can't get anything done easily.

September 27, 2006

Well I have my travel dates. I got a call yesterday from my agency. I have to be in Kazakhstan by October 12th but my VISA will start on the 10th. So I am trying to make my flight for the 9th. Don't want to get there too early or else we will be sitting in the airport till my VISA starts.

I will be going to Almaty and then to the baby house in Chilick, I know I spelled that way wrong. Not to sure where that is. I have to wait on the correct spelling of the town. Hopefully we will be home for Thanksgiving.

September 12, 2006

It's been 4 weeks and no new news yet. I wasn't expecting there to be but now it could be any day for the next 4 weeks. Hopefully it wont be that long. I do know that my dossier is still with the Ministry of Education, but that doesn't tell you much. I'm not sure what their process is on approving dossiers or where they are in it. You never know till it makes it out of there.

Just waiting and hoping to here something good soon.

August 17, 2006

Well my dossier made it to Kazakhstan. It was signed for on the 14th. So mid september early October I should hear. Now it's time to just get everything else in order that I need and start packing. I always think of things I need to do while at work but forget when I get home. But I will eventually get them all done.

August 9, 2006

My dossier has left the DC Embassy and is on it's way to Kazakhstan. It left there on the 7th and is in transit. It took one week for them to do what they had to do and get it out. I was told they were getting them out in two but for some reason it only took 1. Not complaining.

Now I can track when it gets into country but then that's it. Again I was told 4-6 weeks in country. I'm preparing for atleast 8 but maybe that will go faster too.