Updates and Pics

I thought I should post an update about our actual progress here (or rather lack there of).

As you know our SDA appointment was August 19. For those of you not versed in Ukrainian adoptions, that was the formal “referral” appointment where they “show” us the child they are offering us and we agree to go meet them. They draw up papers and the next day they are available for the facilitator to give to the orphanage where the child resides. This is basically legal permission to go visit the child.

At our SDA appointment we learned that we need two appointments because the girls are not sibs. The second appt has not happened yet, nor is it scheduled as far as I know. Also we learned that Masha’s (Mallory’s) paperwork was not correctly done and her mother would need to get some things redone. We have not heard anything about how that is going.

We were able to meet both of the girls and, aside from the day the inspectors were at the orphanage, we can visit them whenever we want (during visiting hours). We are supposed to have a formal sit down with the doctor in each of our girls’ groupa houses. So far neither date has happened. We have tried twice with each but for various reasons it didn’t work out. We will try again on Wednesday the 1st.

Interpol, Interpol, Interpol, please hurry up. Right now Interpol is the hold up. Part of an international adoption requires being cleared by Interpol (yeah, that cool European version of the FBI that you always see in the movies). We cannot go to court without Interpol clearance. We were told that since ours is not ready, court will be set for September 8 in the hopes that it will be here by then. I am hoping for some miracle where it appears on Monday and they squeeze us in this Wed or Thurs.

Ok, so the judge agreed to waive the ten days. Wooo hooo, right? Well the next agency in line will not agree to honor her decision and will wait the ten days out before they will begin their part. OMG, seriously!?! That puts us at the 18th, which is a Saturday, so really we are looking at Monday the 20th to apply for the tax code. The tax code, yup, whatever it is, it takes about 5 days to get... and you need it in order to get the passports.

Monday the 27th we will be able to go for passports and whatever else is left to wrap up. That takes a couple days... Then beautiful Nadya smiles at us and says that this is of course the worst case scenario she has described to us.

Eye on the prize, eyes on the prizes...







Peach’s foot is the size of a newborn’s





Masha was very happy to see mama



She loved the little mirror compact we brought for her



Wish I felt this way about my reflection!



Let’s play telephone...

OMG, PTL

We have a travel date.

I have been checking everyday, three or four times a day until it gets too late over there to be writing emails... and nothing. It is like that last two weeks of pregnancy when you just can’t wait. Your skin itches, you can’t sleep, you are constantly thinking about the baby (or in this case babies).

I am not good at indefinite waiting... it makes me a slacker. I need a deadline to function in high gear... so that big long list of things we have been meaning to do for the past month is still just a list, not even a list on paper, just a list in my brain.

But this morning everything changed. High gear here we come!

August 19th we have a date with the SDA. That is not a typo. Next Thursday, next week we will be in Kiev starting the formal process of becoming Mallory and Peach’s parents.

Woo hoo... happy dance, happy dance.

Tomorrow

Peach is scheduled for surgery tomorrow. As far as I know, it is still on. Please be praying for her tonight and for the next couple days while she is in ICU.

USCIS tells me that our I17h should be on its way to us, so it looks like our dossier will be submitted on July 16th when the government adoption office in our EE country reopens.

If all goes well, we could be on a flight as soon as the end of July.

Um, shouldn’t I be off nesting or something?