Time to panic?

Well, everything is moving very fast! Our paperwork has been approved and we should receive our LOI (Letter of Invitation) within the week! This means we will be traveling in the next couple of weeks!
Now we begin collecting all of our travel and court documents.
I went to Babies 'R Us and bought the highchair, car seat, and diaper bag. I have started a collection of all the items that I have to take with us on the trip. Some of the items are unneeded but I will sort through it as I pack.
We had a shower Tuesday at school. Something like that makes everything seem so real!
We have an appointment Monday to get our fingerprints done for a state criminal history check. It's kind of funny that our dossier had to have a local check and a FBI check and now we add a state check. This is the one document that I am most worried about getting in time. The boards say it could take 2-3 weeks! We are hoping that doing it electronically will move it along faster.
The question is how do you make sure that you have everything you might need without having too much!?!?!?

Bobby's Room

Mom and Dad came up this weekend and helped get the baby's room all put together. Michael's mom and cousin Ryan came over to help us put the finishing touches on. It is terrific! Any little boy would love it dearly!

We hope to be traveling during the first part of June if all of our paperwork is processed quickly enough.

If you have comments about our blog you can click on 'Comment' and add to it. Also if you haven't heard about the developments last week please leave a comment and I will give you some updates that aren't available online.

Kirsten

What's in a name?

ROBERT CURTIS GOFF

That is the name we have chosen for our son! We will call him Bobby. He is named for his great Uncle Butch, whose given name is Robert Curtis Martin Jr. This is Michael's mother's brother. Check that off the list of many things to do!

The Dance of the Dossier

I talked with Andrea tonight. For those of you who are curioust as to waht the consulate is doing with our paperwork, here it is.

1. One person checks the papers for any errors and initials every page
2. Then his supervisor double checks it
3. After that the paperwork travels to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where it is checked to make sure the consulate didn't make any mistakes
4. Paperwork is then moved to the Ministry of Education (MOE) where it is logged in.
5. Once we know which region we are traveling to, our paperwork will again be moved to the Regional MOE
6. The Regional MOE then asks the the Central MOE to send a Letter of Invitation (LOI) to us to travel.

Meanwhile, we will be here waiting for the call and completing more paperwork that is required for travel.

Translation

I can't believe it! Our paperwork has made it to through translation in less than a week! Mom said "Do I need to pack?" If things go this fast... WOW!!!!

Not exactly, Mom! Our paperwork will probably remain at the consulate for approximately 2 months.

I'm cleaning the house and getting ready for the baby! I guess that's called 'nesting.'

My parents will be coming up in a couple of weeks and we will set up the baby's room.

I'll keep you up to date!

Update 3/6/2006

Happy birthday, Ciarra! Here we are a year later and still working on getting our baby home.

We are closer than last year, though. Our paperwork is being sorted and then will be sent to the translator which will take approximately 2-3 weeks. After this is completed the dossier will be sent to the Kazakhstan Consulate in New York.

I have started making our baby registry and buying supplies such as wipes (can't have too many of those!)

We are going to wait to pick out any names until we have our child.

I have decided that so many people are having troubles with the Yahoo! Group that we will try using the Blog instead. Other families say that this is more convenient method for families to keep their families and friends informed. I don't think you even have to sign up to read or comment to the blog.

Update 2/13/06

Hello everyone! I thought I would give you an update on our little boy.

Right now there is not alot to share other than our paperwork status. We have sent our completed dossier to the Texas Secretary of State for the apostille. The apostille is the paper required by other governments which tells them our notary has the right to sign our documents verifying our signatures. After the dossier comes back, we will FedEx it to our agency which adds a couple of papers to it and then sends it on the Kazakhstan consulate in DC for translation. Once the document is translated it will be sent overseas to Kazakhstan. Then we will be officially waiting for the PHONE CALL!!!

Also, my mom has begun working on the baby's room. I placed 3 pictures of the most gorgeous bumper pad you will ever see at the bottom of this message. Prepare to be impressed by the most talented mother in the world! We are having fun planning and buying for our little boy.

Love, Michael & Kirsten

Kaz info

Here is a link to where you can learn more information about the country of Kazakhstan.

http://kazakhadoptivefamilies.com/kazakhstan.html

Russia Update

It has been a while since we have updated everyone but there hasn't been any news to report until this past Friday.

After talking with our facilitator, Andrea, we have decided to make some changes.

Our agency is waiting accreditation from the Russian government to continue adoptions. After waiting for a few months, it appears that the government is 'dragging its feet' in reissuing accreditations. Our agency feels that this is something that will continue through the holidays and into to the new year. We have become frustrated with this wait and so has our agency. They have suggested that we consider changing countries. Michael and I talked about it and decided the best thing for us is to change countries. We are changing all of our paperwork over to Kazakhstan! This is a lot of paperwork to complete but no more than we would have to complete for Russia. The good news is that we only have to do one set of paperwork. In Russia you have to do 2 sets for each child! The bad news is that Kazakhastan only allows one child at a time but their ages are lower than Russia. The children are on the national database for only 6 months as opposed to 9 months in Russia. The child will most likely be a boy. Kazakhstan moves quickly so we could have our child very quickly! We will have to spend several weeks in Kaz but at least we won't have to leave our child behind.

This was a very hard decision but we feel that it was the right one. We are ready to have our child home and want to do it the best and fastest way!

We will keep you up-to-date as things start to move.

Signed,

Michael & Kirsten

Russia Update

How about some good news!!!! We just found out that our dossier has been moved to a region. We will be traveling to Chelyabinsk, a region in southeast Russiaon the border of Russia and Kazahkstan. This is one step closer to our children! I have enclosed a link so that you can learn more about it. Still no travel date or referral but at least we are moving forward.

http://www.kommersant.com/tree.asp?rubric=5&=382&doc_id=-39

Love, Kirsten

Oops!!

I'm sorry...I put the wrong direction for our region. It's southwestern Russia.

I guess we know why I teach Special ed and not Social Studies!!

Kirsten

Russia Update

The following is an article from the Moscow News about the latest information available out of Russia. The forwarded email at the bottom is from our adoption coordinator. So what does this mean...we aren't exactly sure! But we do know that the Russian government is against a moratorium of international adoptions. What we believe will happen is more paperwork. Nothing is written in stone yet.

We hope that everyone is well.

Love, Kirsten & Michael

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Russia to Clamp Down on Foreign Adoption Agencies Violating Law

Created: 08.09.2005 15:58 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 15:58 MSK

MosNews

The Russian Prosecutor General's Office intends to strip foreign adoption agencies of their accreditation in Russia if they break the law, Deputy Prosecutor General Sergei Fridinsky said during a meeting with Thomas Atwood, president of the U.S. National Council for Adoption, RIA Novosti reports.
Speaking about a check conducted by prosecutors, Fridinsky said that over 30 ofthe 52 accredited foreign agencies were breaking the law, and the Prosecutor'sOffice is going to raise the issue with the Ministry of Science and Education.
Meanwhile, Thomas Atwood told Fridinsky that although he shares the concern ofthe Russian authorities, in his point of view international adoption must not bestopped.
According to him, 49,000 Russian children have been adopted in the U.S. over the past few years. "They have a good education and a happy life and, most importantly, they have a future," Atwood stressed.
In 2004 the number of children adopted by foreign nationals surpassed the numberof those adopted by Russians. Foreigners adopted 9,600 Russian orphans, while Russian nationals adopted only 7,400.
At the same time society has been shocked by the notorious trials of adoptiveparents from the United States. The court hearings in the case of Peggy Sue Hilt, charged with killing her 2-year-old adoptive Russian daughter, are to begin in the U.S. on Tuesday.
Another woman, Irma Pavlis was sentenced to 12 years in prison in May forkilling her 6-year-old disabled adoptive son. She was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in April but was acquitted of the more serious charge of first-degree murder.
Altogether, 13 Russian children have been killed in the U.S.
In Aug. 2005 the Pennsylvania State Court found adoptive father Matthew Alan Mancuso guilty of incest and the rape of his 12-year-old daughter adopted from Russia.
Several days earlier an American couple was charged with manslaughter, first-degree child abuse resulting in death and reckless endangerment after their adoptive son from Russia died of starvation.

-----Original Message-----

From: Andrea Jacobs Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 1:52 PM
To: adopt@littlemiracles.org
Subject: Russia Update

YAY!!!!! Russia voted no for a moratorium!!! Let's worry about new time frames down the road; for now, let's rejoice in this good news :).

Andrea

It's official!!

Our paperwork is on its way to Russia!!! Now begins the long waiting process! It is estimated that we will be waiting 6-8 months for our referrals. A referral is the receipt of official information on our children. After receiving a referral it is recommended that we share this information with an international adoption doctor for their opinion on any possible missed diagnoses or clarification of any diagnoses. Then we can accept or reject the referral. We will not travel to Russia until we have accepted 2 referrals.
Next week I'll be going to Disney World with my family. Unfortunately, Michael is unable to join me in the adventure due to his new job. He has made plans to fish with some friends during the weekend so I know he'll be having at least some fun. My brother and his family leave for Germany in just a couple of weeks for a 3 year tour (something they have wanted to do for a long time). It will be nice to spend some quality time with them. We hope to be able to stop off in Germany on our way home so that our children can meet his children.
I guess now I'll start to work on our children's lifebooks. A lifebook is a kind of scrapbook that you create for your child/ren so that have a book to look back and learn about their life with their new family. I'll make blank pages that need pictures added and then add them when we return from Russia. I'm also making 2 little photo albums to leave with the children after our first visit. This will help familiarize them with what their new life will be like. We won't start planning the children's rooms until after the first trip. I have been reading alot lately about coming home and how to prepare yourself, the house, the children, etc. I have started collecting items that are recommended for traveling (travel sized toilet paper, travel sized kleenex, first aid, etc.)
Some of you have heard about the problems in Russia lately due to the untimely & sad deaths of 2 toddlers at the hands of the adoptive mothers. One mother wasconvicted and sentenced to 12 years in prison. The other mother goes to court inAugust. One concern lately has been what the Russian government will do after these to situations. It appears that the Russian government is not up to stopping the adotion process at this time (Of course with international adoptions from any country anything can happen.) What appears will happen is more work for us as parents. Two items mentioned for possible additions are a personality test and parent training. Neither one of these is unusual. As a matter of fact, some agencies and states already require these items. Also, some of the regions in Russia require these already. We aren't concerned at all. The one change that may affect us is that the judges may resist placing 2 young children with a couple at one time. It has been suggested that we either consider bringing home one infant or increasing the age of the other child to 4 or 5. Michael and I both believe we are supposed to adopt 2 children so we have agreed that we will raise the age.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I hope this message finds everyone happy and healthy.

Love, Kirsten & Michael

PS - If you haven't signed up for automatic reception of these messages. pleaseclick on the link below.

Update 6/6/05

Great news! We got our homestudy in the mail Saturday! Think of it as a biography of our lives. We tell the story and the social worker writes it for us. He has recommended us for adoption of two children under the age of 4 just as we requested. We had not seen the reference letters that our friends and family had written until we received this report. We have such incredible friends and family! We feel so loved. The next step is USCIS approval (the former INS). We have a form to complete and send in with our homestudy. We will be fingerprinted and then receive approval to bring home 'orphans.' We also have a registration packet to send in which will register us for an adoption in Russia. Then the agency will begin searching for our children. The agency believes it will be approximately 6 months to referral. Have a good week and happy 42nd anniversary to Kirsten's Mom and Dad!

Update 5/31/05

Not much to report this week. Just waiting for the final homestudy. The reference letters should arrive to the SW tomorrow or Wednesday. Then we just wait for fingerprint reports from the state.I have been in contact with our facilitator. She is checking out our registration packet that will be sent in once the homestudy is completed. Here is an analogy for you on our 'pregnancy.'

Morning sickness - paperwork

Labor - waiting

Exhaustion of delivery - getting there and back

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. Have a good week!

Kirsten & Michael

Mon May 23, 2005 7:09 am

We heard from our social worker this week. He has completed our homestudy but there was a problem with the fingerprints from the state so we will have to have them sent back. There was supposed to be a letter stating that they are true and accurate in order for the international adoption to continue. This is our first delay. I will try not to count them because it will become depressing! Evidently delays are very common in international adoption.
Our SW has received one of three reference letters (thanks Mom & Dad for doing this for us!) Hopefully, the other two will arrive shortly.
I had to drive an hour to Denton Friday to correct our marriage license. My name and the minister's name were spelled incorrectly. Russia would never accept it with my name wrong. All the state of Texas does is attach a notarized sheet of paper stating the mistake and the correction.
Have a great week! This is our last week of school so next week Iplan to start cleaning out this house. This may be the last chance I have for many, many years!

Sun May 15, 2005 7:45 pm

We received our copy of the binder which has everything in it that you everwanted to know about adopting from Russia.

We also received copies of your marriage license. (Mind you this was the first time we had ever requested copies of them.) Turns out after almost 11 years my name has been spelled wrong (what a shock!) and the minister's name is spelled wrong. It took several phone calls to the court house to finally get this straightened out. Now I have to drive to Denton to complete an addendum which will be added to the original marriage license. They will reprint copies of the license free of charge.

Today makes 3 weeks since our home study - SW should have it completed in the next 2 weeks. Then we can proceed with the dossier preparations and immigration. Russians are concerned about parents who take anti-depressants because they see it as a mental problem. I asked my OB/GYN in Nacogdoches to write a letter stating the purpose of my medication. I received the most wonderful letter from my doctor this week. I wanted to laminate it and hang it on my wall. One of the things that happens through this process is you get to hear some wonderful things that the people around you think. The letter literally brought me to tears.

Take care this week. Please let us know if you have any questions about thislong drawn out process.

Kirsten

Sat May 7, 2005 3:30 pm

Finally got my passport this week! I was beginning to wonder. I took care of some paperwork this week that needed to be done. Sent the contract to LMI via FedEx. Sent some documentws to our Social Worker. Should hear something about the contract Monday. Then LMI will send us a folder that will have all of the documents needed to send to Russia to get a referral.I've been reading alot lately about people who are getting referrals again. Sounds like Russia is picking back up. There have also been lots of people returning from their first trip and getting their court date to return to Russia a week later. They will be traveling within a month. It's nice to see all of this back up and running.

New update

Michael and I were both off Friday so we went to have his fingerprints done and asked the officer to do a local background check on us for the homestudy. The officer said he would have this completed for us by Monday. About 15 minutes after arriving back home, the officer arrives at our house with the background checks completed! Talk about curbside service! Michael started his new job today. He seems really happy about it!

Sunday, April 24, 2005

We spent yesterday cleaning the house inside and out getting ready for our homestudy. I don't know if this house has been this clean since it was built! It was well worth it! Our social worker came today for the homestudy. It was an excellent interview. I was worried for nothing. Of course all the reading I have been doing said that but some things you just have to see and do for yourself. Here is a quick overview of the process of a homestudy.

1. We were interviewed together. We were asked questions about how we would raise our children, how we would discipline our children, and what kind of expectations we have for our children.

2. Then we were interviewed separately but asked the same questions, like how we met, how we solve problems together, our childhood, our families, and about our marriage.

3. After we came back together, we took Brad on a tour of the house, inside and out. He wanted to know where the children would sleep. He also checked for safety concerns such as plastic plug protectors, fire extinguishers, and smoke detectors.

Brad estimates it will take him about 5 weeks to complete the study. He will send us two originals, one original to the INS, and one original to the adoption agency. Now back to completing the registration packet which will get us on the list for a referral.