The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 184 which was held on 05/28/11:
1) Italian dossier from 2006 referred a female child, aged 5 years and 8 months
2) French dossier from 2008 referred a child, male, aged 2 years and 10 months with peculiarities in the neuro-psychological development
3) Italian dossier from 2008 referred a child, male, aged 5 years and 9 months
4) Italian dossier from 2009 referred two male children, aged respectively: 2 years and 2 months & 5 years and 5 months
5) Italian dossier from 2009 referred a female child, aged 3 years and 3 months, with data on family history
6) Italian dossier from 2009 referred a child, male, aged 2 years and 6 months with features in health status
7) U.S. dossier from 2009 referred a child, male, aged 4 years and 3 months with features in health status
8) Italian dossier from 2010 referred a female child, aged 9 years and 3 months
9) Italian dossier from 2010 referred a female child, aged 7 years and 2 months with peculiarities in health status and data on family history
10) Swedish dossier from 2011 referred a waiting child (#1359) with a profile on the MOJ site
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
This & That
It’s been a few quiet June weeks here, but I did want to post an update on some odds and ends that have been going on.
1) Even though our Giveaway Fundraiser ended, more donations have trickled in which increased our total orphanage funds by $200 to $1415. We have sent a note to each orphanage director, asking them to compile a wish list in the value of $300. Our son’s director has already replied and is asking for specific medical supplies which we will buy in-country. We are still waiting to hear back from our daughter’s orphanage. I have also been buying children’s toothbrushes and vitamins.
2) After a cold and rainy spring, my garden was finally beginning to thrive. I have a composter, so I usually get a lot of vegetables that grow spontaneously from my compost. I decided this year to let myself be surprised with some of them and just kind of allow the garden do its thing except for some herbs and tomatoes that I put in. Unfortunately, a massive hail storm about two weeks ago shredded my garden to pieces. Not sure what will bounce back and whether to start over again this late in the season. Here’s a photo from before the storm:
3) My culinary experiments usually slow down in the summer because there is so much deliciousness in season that it takes little inventiveness to make a scrumptious meal. I did, however, decide to use up some baking supplies last week and made these yummy marzipan coconut macaroons. And then we had a favorite German treat for dinner one night: Steamed Yeast Balls with Blueberry Sauce. I remember when my sister and I were little, we often asked our mom to make this dish for us when we’d been sick and were just beginning to get our appetites back.
1) Even though our Giveaway Fundraiser ended, more donations have trickled in which increased our total orphanage funds by $200 to $1415. We have sent a note to each orphanage director, asking them to compile a wish list in the value of $300. Our son’s director has already replied and is asking for specific medical supplies which we will buy in-country. We are still waiting to hear back from our daughter’s orphanage. I have also been buying children’s toothbrushes and vitamins.
2) After a cold and rainy spring, my garden was finally beginning to thrive. I have a composter, so I usually get a lot of vegetables that grow spontaneously from my compost. I decided this year to let myself be surprised with some of them and just kind of allow the garden do its thing except for some herbs and tomatoes that I put in. Unfortunately, a massive hail storm about two weeks ago shredded my garden to pieces. Not sure what will bounce back and whether to start over again this late in the season. Here’s a photo from before the storm:
3) My culinary experiments usually slow down in the summer because there is so much deliciousness in season that it takes little inventiveness to make a scrumptious meal. I did, however, decide to use up some baking supplies last week and made these yummy marzipan coconut macaroons. And then we had a favorite German treat for dinner one night: Steamed Yeast Balls with Blueberry Sauce. I remember when my sister and I were little, we often asked our mom to make this dish for us when we’d been sick and were just beginning to get our appetites back.
4) My friend Amie issued a challenge at the beginning of this year to walk/run 50 miles a month. Of course, I told her no way six months ago, but by some sort of inexplicable determination, I am still in this thing. As of this morning, I have walked/run 301 miles for the year. I’m doubtful that I’ll be as successful in the next six months when my toddlers will be home.
5) Lastly, I wanted to let you know that Yvonne and I are working hard on organizing the summer reunion for families with Bulgarian adoptees. We’re both very excited about the event and cannot wait to meet everyone. If you’d like to learn more, please visit our reunion blog here.
5) Lastly, I wanted to let you know that Yvonne and I are working hard on organizing the summer reunion for families with Bulgarian adoptees. We’re both very excited about the event and cannot wait to meet everyone. If you’d like to learn more, please visit our reunion blog here.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Ups & Downs
UP: We just got word from our agency that the US Embassy in our son’s birth country has given our lawyer the green light to schedule a court date. If all goes well, we might officially become a family in 2-3 weeks.
DOWN: Our daughter had her provisional visa interview at the US Embassy in Sofia earlier this week and the consular officials decided that we are not approved to adopt a child with her particular medical need. It is true that our home study and USCIS paperwork do not specifically list her condition, but we are approved to adopt a child with any correctable medical needs which is what our little girl has. So, we are in the process of trying to figure out how to resolve this situation. It might be a very easy fix or a very time-consuming one. We shall see. For now, I remain hopeful that the simple fix will work. If anyone's had this experience in IA, your advice would be appreciated.
DOWN: Our daughter had her provisional visa interview at the US Embassy in Sofia earlier this week and the consular officials decided that we are not approved to adopt a child with her particular medical need. It is true that our home study and USCIS paperwork do not specifically list her condition, but we are approved to adopt a child with any correctable medical needs which is what our little girl has. So, we are in the process of trying to figure out how to resolve this situation. It might be a very easy fix or a very time-consuming one. We shall see. For now, I remain hopeful that the simple fix will work. If anyone's had this experience in IA, your advice would be appreciated.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
He's Doing What?
This week friends of ours are visiting their child at our son's orphanage. They were kind enough to take a gift for him and even received permission to deliver it to him in person. After our friends saw our son, I got an email from them and guess what they told me: Your little guy is walking! I was so thrilled to hear these news as an update at the end of May indicated that our son was still just cruising along furniture and walls and seemed afraid to let go and walk. Here's a photo of him we received about a month ago:
I have been talking to our little guy from afar, telling him that it's okay to let go and take those unassisted steps. Isn't it great that he already listens to his Mama?
And, might I just point out his confidence? He's totally rocking that pink turtle neck or as they say on one of our favorite sitcoms, How I Met Your Mother, "Pulling [it] off!"
I have been talking to our little guy from afar, telling him that it's okay to let go and take those unassisted steps. Isn't it great that he already listens to his Mama?And, might I just point out his confidence? He's totally rocking that pink turtle neck or as they say on one of our favorite sitcoms, How I Met Your Mother, "Pulling [it] off!"
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
IAC 183 Results
The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 183 which was held on 05/20/11:
1) Norwegian dossier from 2007 referred a child female, aged 2 years and 10 months with a family history
2) U.S. dossier from 2008 referred a child male, aged 2 years and 2 months
3) German dossier from 2008 referred a child male, aged 4 years, with features in health status, subject to hotfix
4) Italian dossier from 2009 referred a child, male, aged 5 years
5) U.S. dossier from 2010 referred two children, male and female, aged 6 years and 2 months and 3 years and 6 months, with features in health status, subject to hotfix
6) French dossier from 2010 referred a waiting child (#1275) with a profile on the MOJ site
7) Italian dossier from 2011 referred a child, male, aged 8 years and 4 months with data for family history
8) U.S. dossier from 2011 referred a waiting child (#95) with a profile on the MOJ site
9) U.S. dossier from 2011 referred a waiting child (#1132) with a profile on the MOJ site
10) U.S. dossier from 2011 referred two waiting children (#1265 & #1266) with profiles on the MOJ site
By my count, of the 401 adopters confirmed with MOJ as of 12/15/10 and registered from 2005 through 2009, 85 have now received referrals. That’s roughly 21% matched in the five month period from mid-December to mid-May.
1) Norwegian dossier from 2007 referred a child female, aged 2 years and 10 months with a family history
2) U.S. dossier from 2008 referred a child male, aged 2 years and 2 months
3) German dossier from 2008 referred a child male, aged 4 years, with features in health status, subject to hotfix
4) Italian dossier from 2009 referred a child, male, aged 5 years
5) U.S. dossier from 2010 referred two children, male and female, aged 6 years and 2 months and 3 years and 6 months, with features in health status, subject to hotfix
6) French dossier from 2010 referred a waiting child (#1275) with a profile on the MOJ site
7) Italian dossier from 2011 referred a child, male, aged 8 years and 4 months with data for family history
8) U.S. dossier from 2011 referred a waiting child (#95) with a profile on the MOJ site
9) U.S. dossier from 2011 referred a waiting child (#1132) with a profile on the MOJ site
10) U.S. dossier from 2011 referred two waiting children (#1265 & #1266) with profiles on the MOJ site
By my count, of the 401 adopters confirmed with MOJ as of 12/15/10 and registered from 2005 through 2009, 85 have now received referrals. That’s roughly 21% matched in the five month period from mid-December to mid-May.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Singing Through The Wait
It’s been seven months now since we left our son in Eastern Europe on a mild November day. The wait is oppressive and permeates every aspect of our life, but sometimes we try, despite the pain, to lighten the mood around here. Recently, one such moment happened when I changed the earworm in my head by just one noun, replacing every “baby” with the word “mommy”:
Give me a ticket for an aeroplane
Ain't got time to take a fast train
Lonely days are gone, I'ma goin' home
My [mommy] just wrote me a letter
I don't care how much money I gotta spend
Got to get back to my [mommy] again
Lonely days are gone, I'ma goin' home
My [mommy] just wrote me a letter
Well she wrote me a letter
Said she couldn't live without me no more
Listen mister can't you see
I gotta get back to my [mommy] once more, anyway
At first it was just me mumble-singing The Letter in the kitchen, but then suddenly Craig and I were both belting it out, letting catharsis take over and thinking of our son who will receive a card and a gift from us in a few days via another adoptive family that is visiting his orphanage. And we knew as we were singing that if all goes well from here on out, he could be home with us before the end of the summer. The wait is almost over!
Give me a ticket for an aeroplane
Ain't got time to take a fast train
Lonely days are gone, I'ma goin' home
My [mommy] just wrote me a letter
I don't care how much money I gotta spend
Got to get back to my [mommy] again
Lonely days are gone, I'ma goin' home
My [mommy] just wrote me a letter
Well she wrote me a letter
Said she couldn't live without me no more
Listen mister can't you see
I gotta get back to my [mommy] once more, anyway
At first it was just me mumble-singing The Letter in the kitchen, but then suddenly Craig and I were both belting it out, letting catharsis take over and thinking of our son who will receive a card and a gift from us in a few days via another adoptive family that is visiting his orphanage. And we knew as we were singing that if all goes well from here on out, he could be home with us before the end of the summer. The wait is almost over!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
We Got Them!
The I-800 provisional approvals for both of our children arrived in the mail today. I can hardly believe how quickly our applications were processed. After it took us nearly a month to get them through the TX lockbox facility, it's been less than three weeks now to receive these approvals. I am so thankful to our NBC officer for her speedy and efficient work. I think I might send her some flowers.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
IAC 182 Results
The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 182 which was held on 05/12/11:
1) French dossier from 2009 referred a waiting child (#1271) with a profile on the MOJ site
2) Italian dossier from 2009 referred a waiting child (#749) with a profile on the MOJ site
3) Italian dossier from 2010 referred two waiting children (#1525 & #1526) with profiles on the MOJ site
4) Italian dossier from 2010 referred a waiting child (#1045) with a profile on the MOJ site
5) U.S. dossier from 2010 referred a waiting child (#1441) with a profile on the MOJ site
6) Italian dossier from 2011 referred a waiting child (#1338) with a profile on the MOJ site
7) Swedish dossier from 2011 referred a waiting child (#1230) with a profile on the MOJ site
8) U.S. dossier from 2011 referred a waiting child (#271) with a profile on the MOJ site
9) U.S. dossier from 2011 referred a waiting child (#1098) with a profile on the MOJ site
10) U.S. dossier from 2011 referred a waiting child (#912) with a profile on the MOJ site
11) U.S. dossier from 2011 referred two waiting children (#1212 & #1398) with profiles on the MOJ site
1) French dossier from 2009 referred a waiting child (#1271) with a profile on the MOJ site
2) Italian dossier from 2009 referred a waiting child (#749) with a profile on the MOJ site
3) Italian dossier from 2010 referred two waiting children (#1525 & #1526) with profiles on the MOJ site
4) Italian dossier from 2010 referred a waiting child (#1045) with a profile on the MOJ site
5) U.S. dossier from 2010 referred a waiting child (#1441) with a profile on the MOJ site
6) Italian dossier from 2011 referred a waiting child (#1338) with a profile on the MOJ site
7) Swedish dossier from 2011 referred a waiting child (#1230) with a profile on the MOJ site
8) U.S. dossier from 2011 referred a waiting child (#271) with a profile on the MOJ site
9) U.S. dossier from 2011 referred a waiting child (#1098) with a profile on the MOJ site
10) U.S. dossier from 2011 referred a waiting child (#912) with a profile on the MOJ site
11) U.S. dossier from 2011 referred two waiting children (#1212 & #1398) with profiles on the MOJ site
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