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Chris and I both took Wednesday off to get Adoption Stuff done and had a really long but great day!
*Dropped off Russian Visa applications in the morning (took about 15 minutes) without any problems. Our passports will be ready to pick up Monday afternoon.
*Had breakfast with friends and got to spend some wonderful time with them.
*Bought really cute fabric to make blankets for our boys. {See below}
*Stopped by the church to get papers signed, witnessed and notarized.
*Added items to our Wal-Mart Baby Registry.
*Bought mattresses for the boys' beds.
*Got a phone call from the Officer that processed (and APPROVED) our Immigration Papers!!! They are on their way to us as of Wednesday morning!
Very busy day, but so worth it!
This is the fabric that will be the blanket for David:
This is the fabric that will be the blanket for Michael:
Please continue to keep us and the boys in your prayers during this time. We will be traveling soon and it will be a long and exhausting trip (physically & emotionally) for both of us.
So far we are current on the paperwork. I plan to start working on the Dossier Part 2 next week.
Spent 2.5 hours last night working on paperwork and most of today (classes and students were worked in during the day) but finally got our visa paperwork ready to go. After Chris got home and cleaned up, we went and got our visa application pictures done (had to measure before cutting as they need to be a smaller size). They have been glued to the correct applications (getting the applications to print correctly was NOT FUN and spent 10 minutes hogging the school copier to make sure I made 2 correct copies [front & back] while others were waiting for school work stuff). It is so nice to work with such understanding teachers!
After school I stopped by the bank and picked up a cashier's check for the visa application fee (expedited service please!) on the way home.
We are ready to go to the consulate in the morning. We are planning on going early (they only take applications from 9-12) so that we won't have to wait long (and have time to fix any thing not correct - PRAYING THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE APPLICATIONS!)
Tomorrow afternoon we are going to the church to get papers signed & notarized (our wonderful church secretary is a notary!) and mail them off to Buckner.
All that is left to do is finish going over the other papers for our trip, work on papers for Dossier Part 2, and add stuff to the Baby Registry we have at Wal-Mart (for those who want to get specific things for the boys/us - gift cards are always welcome!!). I am sure that there is more to do, but I can't really think right now. Brain is not working properly due to lack of sleep, and stress. :)
Only a week and a half before we leave to meet our boys. We are really excited, but trying to stay calm and relaxed.
We took advantage of Babies-R-Us's Great Trade In this past weekend. We traded in an old car seat and booster seat for new ones. We were able to get 25% off (each) of 2 new convertible car seats that will also work as a booster seat later for Michael, as well as 15% & 20% 2 new tall back booster seats for David. All totaled was a great deal!! All 4 cost less than $250!! So, we are set for transportation issues (one set per vehicle). We are going to get the mattresses tomorrow.
Please continue to pray for us and our boys during this time of waiting and paperwork, not to mention the traveling!
We have accepted the referral and are planning our first trip around the beginning of October!
We are really excited about meeting our boys!
Until all of this is finalized, we won't post specifics or pictures (confidentiality concerns), but we can tell you some things:
*the ages are 4 & 2
*they look really great
*we are going to keep their Russian name as a middle name and adding a new name to go with their new family
*we are going to name the older brother David
*we are going to name the younger brother Michael
Please continue to pray for us:
*that we stay calm and focused
*that Rachael can get school stuff done in a timely manner (has to leave lesson plans, etc for a sub)
*that we get all the papers sorted, organized, filled out, signed, notarized, apostilled, etc as needed and as soon as possible (the sooner the dossier part 2 is completed & sent to Russia the sooner we get a court date!)
*that we make good travel arrangements (we will be traveling to the Archangelsk Region)
*we are about $8,000 short of what we anticipate
*there are probably more things but this is all for now.......
Chris and I met with a doctor this morning and have a big decision to make.
Please continue to keep us in your prayers over the next few days as we discuss and pray about the decision as to whether or not we want to pursue these 2 precious boys to be our sons.
We don't want to make an emotionally based decision, so we have told our caseworker that Rachael will let her know on Friday of our decision.
Thank you for your prayers and support during this time.
Wednesday I called our caseworker to check on the status of our dossier. She had a referral ready for us!!!
We are being asked to consider 2 brothers (age 2 & 4) for adoption.
We have an appointment with a doctor at Texas Children's Hospital International Clinic at 10:00 am Tuesday to go over the pictures, papers, etc that we have. We are praying that all looks good regarding their health. We will make a decision after we meet with the doctor as to whether or not we want to pursue the boys in adoption.
Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we meet with the doctor and consider these 2 boys. Also, keep the boys and their current caregivers in your prayers.
Right now, we are about $8000 short of what we anticipate needing for all of the travel expenses and fees. Please keep our financial situation in your prayers as well.
