The ultimate 2 week wait!

Only 14 more days until we leave! Now the time is really starting to drag. I've got just about everything ready to go, all I need to do is pack. I got the car seats, ended up getting the Britax Marathon as those seemed to work the best with the kids sizes and also my car; now I just need to find someone to install them. I've alerted the bank to start gathering the fresh money, they always get a kick when I tell them I need "clean money". Got the dog sitter scheduled to stay at the house. I still need to finish "baby proofing", I did get all the outlet covers done and the door knobs done, but I still have to do the cabinets and drawers. My BIL Larry keeps asking me when am I going to do that, and then he ends the question with how difficult it is, and how he couldn't wait to get those things off when his boys were old enough. So I know the reason I am procrastinating is because of him. Gail is coming down the day before we leave for Moscow so we can both leave out of DFW, she is also going to stay a few days after we return to help us get settled. She has promised to make pies for us when we get home, I will hold her to that, if you have never tasted my sister's pies, they are AWESOME!

I spoke with my agency today and there is a family who is currently in Birobidzhan for their court date. Apparently it went very well, but the judge did not waive the 10 days which is very unusual for Biro; I really hope that is not the trend and we do end up with our 10 days waived; if not, we will survive, but it sure would be nice to get home sooner.

Kate asked for pictures of my shopping spree, it's hard to see them all folded and ready to be packed, but here they are, you'll get a much better idea when the kids can put on a fashion show for the camera!

That's it for now. Hurry up the 14th!!

Love, Jane

Twenty One Days

Three weeks and we will be off to Russia! This weekend I went to Grapevine Mills Mall and found some great children's shops: Gymboree, Tommy Hilfiger, Gap, The Children's Place and bought the stores out! I got so many cute things, I hope I am right on the sizes, I went up by one size since I was in Russia in November. I am pretty well set on all the kids stuff, now I just need to figure out what I need to take for me. Gail and I are really getting excited about the trip, we can't wait to see the children again. I wonder if the orphanage prepares them for adoption? The people we met in Birobidzhan related to the orphanage all seemed to really care for these kids, so I am hoping they put a positive spin on leaving. We brought all our gifts for the people on our first trip, so we don't need to do that again although I will be bringing some special things for some key people that we were close with. Our airline tickets have been purchased (anybody know any tricks to upgrading to Business Class?), we'll be staying at the President Hotel in Moscow and the Hotel Vostok in Birobidzhan, still waiting to receive our visa's back. I did find out from the travel agency that there will be two other families in Biro at the same time we are there, so hopefully we will get together with them. As much as I love my sister, too much togetherness can breed contempt! So having other people to talk to will be a welcome relief for both of us! We're trying to figure out what we can take as far as food, we had a hotpot in our room last time, so we figure oatmeal and soup would probably work, anybody have any other suggestions? We really didn't care for the food in the restaurants last time, so we want to be prepared. I met with a Pediatrician last week and although he was a nice and competent doctor, I didn't feel like he would be the Pedi for us, so I have a few more referrals and will be speaking with them in the next couple of weeks. Still have to buy the car seats, I think I settled on the Britax brand, although I am not certain which model yet. That's all for now.

Love,
Jane

SBP: I received your card and gift!! Thank you so much! I love it and can't wait till I get my first issue! You are very sneaky, still can't figure out who you are!

Four weeks from today

Thank you all for your sweet e-mails and comments. I'm so happy I can't stop smiling, I look like I have a hanger stuck in my mouth!

Four weeks from today we leave for Moscow. It seems like an awfully long time away, but I'm sure it will go by quickly, I have a lot to do. My sister Gail will be coming with me, although it is like leading a lamb to slaughter. She's excited about bringing the kids home, but the travel is what is really hard. Our first trip went well, but our accommodations in Birobidzhan were on the level of a super 8 motel from the 60's (see my earlier posts) and it's the only place to stay. Gail is already searching the Internet to find if there are any spa's in Biro, she thinks she found one, but I think it's probably got some form of Chinese water torture, I'll let her try it first and then we'll see if I go. It was easier before because we didn't know what we were getting ourselves into, but now we know, so it's a little harder knowing what we have to look forward to. Passports have been sent in for our Visa's. Travel arrangements are being made as we speak, talk about sticker shock with airline prices! Ouch! Appointment with the pediatrician to be is on Thursday. I still need to buy car seats, anybody have any recommendations? I think I need the conversion ones that turn into booster seats. The last measurements I got on the kids was one is 40.5 inches and 33.5 lbs., and the other is 39 inches and 40 lbs. I don't know when these measurements were taken, so they may have grown since then. I'll also take any advice anyone has about travelling over 20 hours on a plane with a 3 year old and a 5 year old.


Wow, I just can't believe this is finally happening! It will have been 8 1/2 months since our first trip and 2.7 years since I started this journey, whew, I am glad this part is coming to an end and best is yet to come!

Jane

p.s. SBP, I got your sweet card and note, thank you!

Oh Happy Day!

It finally happened: I got my court date!!!

August 20th, 2007

I will leave for Moscow on August 14th, Birobidzhan on August 16, and my courtdate is scheduled for August 20th.

We then come back to Moscow on August 29th, and leave for the US on September 4th.

I cannot even describe the feeling that came over me when my casemanger called. I am just totally joyous. I am going to officially become a mommy on August 20th!

Jane

Happy 4th of July!

What a great day for Russian Adoption! The Ministy of Education in Moscow held a ceramony this morning and handed out the accreditation certificates to several adoption agencies. It won't be long now.

Katia and Pasha will be coming home!!!

Hold on to your hats!

I've got news!

It looks like I will be getting a courtdate and bringing home my children by the end of this month! I don't have a definitive date yet, but my agency is indicating that it most likely will happen at the end of July. With the agencies receiving their accreditation certificates tomorrow, July 4th and then forwarding them on to the regions they anticipate that the judge will start scheduling courtdates and mine will hopefully be before August. My homestudy and several other important documents are expiring in August, so this is perfect timing. I do not want to go thru the expense yet again of redoing all these documents, I would much rather spend the money on my kids.

So thank you to all who have been praying and keeping the positive thoughts about this ordeal. It's not done yet, so please keep the prayers coming, but it looks promising now!

Love to all,
Jane