2011 International Adoption Statistics Bulgaria

MOJ released the final statistics for international adoptions from Bulgaria in 2011. A total of 287 adoptions were completed, bringing 329 children to other countries. Here's the breakdown of adoptions by receiving country:

Italy 107

USA 65

France 31

Germany 24

Sweden 17

Netherlands 13

Spain 9

Norway 6

Greece 4

Canada 4

Cyprus 3

Switzerland 2

Luxembourg 1

Malta 1

The document also includes a column that I can't quite interpret with certainty. However, I think it shows the number of adoptions that have received the final MOJ approval, but the children have not yet been picked up by their parents. Those numbers are:

Italy 18

USA 45

France 7

Germany 5

Sweden 14

Canada 2

If I remember correctly, in 2010, there were 40 adoptions from Bulgaria to the US, so we are once again seeing an increase in children coming home.

For anyone wishing to review the original document, here's the link:

Справка по държави за брой преписки с дадено съгласие за международно осиновяване от Министъра на правосъдието за 2011година.

Picture Of The Day

Since Rex decided to get up at 5:40 am today, he was very tired right after lunch. Around 11:15 I found him fast asleep on top of his current favorite toy, his Mozart cube, which was still playing. I know I am biased beyond reason, but I just adore this child so much.

Rex Twenty-Seven Weeks Home

Yesterday marked twenty-nine weeks out of the orphanage and twenty-seven weeks home for Rex. The last two weeks have been quiet except for the things which I have already blogged: Rex’s trip to the ER, his scribbling attempts, and his marked progress in his developmental assessment.

One other thing that Rex has learned just in the last 24 hours is his second independent ASL sign which is “music.” We are all so excited to see this step in communication finally happen because now with two signs, Rex can learn to distinguish and will hopefully begin to understand that all the other different signs we are working on have specific meaning as well and that he can use them to get something. His receptive language continues to expand.

Rex is quite a joyful kid and the light in his eyes when he is having fun is amazing. He still has short tantrums and occasionally hits himself, but we are noticing that more frequently he is not doing it to hurt himself, but just to get our attention. All of his therapists think that we will see this behavior drop away as he gains more effective and appropriate communication skills. I can’t imagine how frustrated he must be stuck in there with all of his thoughts that he can’t express very well at all.

Rex loves to play with all the cool gadgets that aren’t toys: remote controls, electric toothbrushes, computer mouses (or mice if you prefer) and phones. He has managed to leave a two minute message on Craig’s work phone and also called my mom in Germany at 1:30 am her time one evening, unbeknownst to us, of course. She said she knew it was him because she could hear his music playing in the background and he was babbling. She eventually hung up, but our phone was busy for almost two hours before we discovered the mischief.

Rex is securely attached to us and loves cuddling. He quite frequently now crawls onto Craig’s lap in the evenings on the couch and just wants to snuggle. He also loves backrubs and foot massages from Mama. We just couldn’t imagine life without him even though there’s never a dull moment and our days are littered with challenges. Still, the love and happiness he brings to our family trump it all.

IAC 206 & 207 Results

The following referrals were issued in IAC session 206 held on 01/13/12:

1) U.S. dossier from December 2011 referred a waiting child (#1674) with a profile on the MOJ site

2) French dossier from January 2012 referred a waiting child (# 1351) with a profile on the MOJ site

3) U.S. dossier from January 2012 referred two waiting children (# 1274 & #1343) with profiles on the MOJ site

4) U.S. dossier from January 2012 referred a waiting child (#1158) with a profile on the MOJ site

5) U.S. dossier from January 2012 referred a waiting child (# 842) with a profile on the MOJ site

The following referrals were issued in IAC session 207 held on 01/17/12:

1) U.S. dossier from January 2012 referred four waiting children (# 1296 & #363 & #628 & #1762) with profiles on the MOJ site

2) U.S. dossier from January 2012 referred two waiting children (# 1161 & #197) with profiles on the MOJ site

3) U.S. dossier from January 2012 referred two waiting children (#975 & #635) with profiles on the MOJ site

4) U.S. dossier from January 2012 referred a waiting child (#865) with a profile on the MOJ site

February 13 & 14

February 13 and 14 seem to be developing a certain significance in our family as it appears that sometimes something out of the ordinary happens on those days.

February 13, 2000: Craig proposed to me.

February 14, 2009: We mailed our application to our placing agency.

February 14, 2011: We requested a waiting child from MOJ and learned that we had just been matched with another little girl.

February 13, 2012: Rex’s first visit to the ER after a bad fall that lacerated his lip repair. Stitches and anesthesia were necessary. He’s still smiling despite the stitches which will leave another scar. I sure hope it’s true what they say about chicks digging scars.

My Sweethearts

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach.

~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Angels At Play

Seeing them together like this makes my heart sing with joy and gratitude.