Why Russia and not the US?
When we first considered adoption, we were open to both. We know people who have adopted domestically and have had wonderful experiences. We also know people who lived through hell caught up in an adoption nightmare. In CA, the birthmom has 30 days to change her mind and request the baby back. Could not go there, even if it happens only 1% of the time. We were drawn to Russia for their established program (albeit -- it's constantly changing!) and we preferred a child with a European background just because.
Why not post a picture of your little girl on your blog...or e-mail me?
Just not Kosher. Out of respect for the little girl who is still an orphan and not our daughter officially, her anonymity must be preserved. The internet has made a huge world alot smaller. The first online pics will be "published" when the court announces "she is your daughter".
How many trips do you have to take before you can bring her home?
"Trip #1," scheduled for Sept. 21-28th, is when we meet K for the first time. We will spend 3 days at the orphanage for a few hours each day. Then, on the 28th, we come home and have a boatload of paperwork to do to send to the Court in Russia. We will then await the judge to:
1) request we redo paperwork (again and again most probably...)
2) determine a date to return to Russia to appear in Court ("Trip #2")
After appearing in court, we have a 10-day wait period (not including weekends). This can last over 2 1/2 weeks. We can either stay in Russia or, due to the high cost of hotels/food/devaluation of the dollar, we can come home and travel back for a 3rd Trip to get K. Chances are we'll stay in Russia for the 3-3 1/2 weeks...but we'll see. After K joins us, we will travel to Moscow for 3-4 days for K's VISA/Passport and then head home. Whew!
Will you keep her name?
JD and I have really come to know her by her given name and we really don't feel we need to change it. So, at this point, looks like we'll keep it and give her a middle-name. No one knows it except JD and me....you'll have to await announcements!!!
OK -- I think I covered most questions. Whatever I missed....just shoot us an e-mail and I'll post it!
Back to the paperwork trail...
6 comments:
Hi Laura and Jon!
OK - you already have me beat, I *still* haven't gotten around to a blog, and we just celebrated our 1-year anniversary back home! :-)
No, I probably won't get to it now for about 16 years, when the boys go off to college. ;-)
I'm so happy for you, and proud of you for being brave! It's an awesome, awesome experience that you'll have, and you and your daughter will be so blessed by the whole process. It is NOT easy...but neither is parenting. :-) Good friends told me before I adopted...this is EXTREME parenting that you're undertaking. Which means...double the work and triple the rewards! God bless you and Jon and K, your entire family, and all your friends who will support you through this. May the doctors not poke you too much, and may the dear judge not torment you. May God protect little K until you're all together!
Very best, Carrie.
Proud mom to:
Ellen Jeanette, DOB 8/27/98
Annika Elizabeth, DOB 1/14/02
John Roman, DOB 6/1/06, Home 8/18/07
Tommy Sergei, DOB 6/1/06, Home 8/18/07
Laura, I'm thrilled for you that your dream of being a mommy is finally going to come true. I can't wait to see a picture of you and Jon holding your new daughter in your arms.
I'm so excited for both of you!!
Love,
Nina
Come on 21!
Dear Laura and Jon,
I LOVE that you are documenting everything this way. We are so excited for you and can't wait to see how everything unfolds.
Thanks for including us on your journey to parenthood.
God Bless,
-Terrie Ames (BC Sistah)
Laura, thanks for giving us your blog address. I love it. These next few weeks can not go by fast enough. I'm sitting on the edge of my seat. I'm so happy for you and your dh, adoption is such a wonderful blessing. All the hurdles will be so worth it. You will never look back! Take care....
I came across your blog from another adoption blog. I am also going through an Ekat adoption. I was in Ekat in late June to get our referal for a boy age 14 months at that time. While there I met Carla and Matt who have since brought home their boy-Nicholas. I love reading their blog and seeing what I have to look forward to. I wish you all the best on your first trip. It will be a hectic one but you should be in good hands. I am curious about which baby home/orphanage you will be going to. I look forward to reading more about your journey. You can read about ours as we wait for our court date, we just finished the court papers for the judge. We'll see what we need to update I guess. My blog is at www.adoptingcolby.blogspot.com
Melissa
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