I don't expect to hear anything soon so we are just waiting,...patiently. We've been trying to keep up with all the other blogs we read but there just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day. It takes us about 3-4 days to make the round trip though all the blogs and boards.
Have a Happy Saint Patrick's Day. We reckon we can say that since we're both at least half Irish by ancestry :).
Monday, March 17, 2008
Monday, March 3, 2008
Great News for us :)
I can now say that we've been recently submitted. Yeah!!!
Things were crazy last week, in a good way. The week ended on such a high note. Virginia's brother and his family will be down for Easter and we found out we were submitted :). We've also been nesting again, looking at kids beds, painting rooms, buying furniture for the upcoming family growth. We're just having way too much fun.
From my understanding, for what it's worth, is that the numbering system (dossier registration number) didn't start at 1 for 2008, but continued from where 2007 left off. I guess there were some assumptions made on one of the boards which didn't sound quite right. I had a hard time imagining the quota already filled up when the year had just began. Then again, this is Ukraine we are talking about (not meant in a negative tone). I'm hoping that the SDA can get in the groove and streamline their process for everybody's sanity.
Lastly but not least, I want to congratulate 'About A Child' for getting their Hague accreditation. That's all for now, just a quick update :).
Things were crazy last week, in a good way. The week ended on such a high note. Virginia's brother and his family will be down for Easter and we found out we were submitted :). We've also been nesting again, looking at kids beds, painting rooms, buying furniture for the upcoming family growth. We're just having way too much fun.
From my understanding, for what it's worth, is that the numbering system (dossier registration number) didn't start at 1 for 2008, but continued from where 2007 left off. I guess there were some assumptions made on one of the boards which didn't sound quite right. I had a hard time imagining the quota already filled up when the year had just began. Then again, this is Ukraine we are talking about (not meant in a negative tone). I'm hoping that the SDA can get in the groove and streamline their process for everybody's sanity.
Lastly but not least, I want to congratulate 'About A Child' for getting their Hague accreditation. That's all for now, just a quick update :).
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Amazing what one can find
Two weekends ago, Virginia and I were in Portland, Oregon visiting her brother and his family. We always enjoy visiting with him and his wife, not to mention the fun we have with their 6 kids. Portland was having unseasonable weather as there were two sunny days in a row. With the nice weather, two of their girls wanted to have a picnic with me in the park/highschool grounds across the street.
While walking through the grassy area on the school grounds, I walked over a small baggie that contained a yellow brown crystalline substance. I really didn't want to handle this thing, but I couldn't just leave it there either. I gave it to my brother-in-law to have it destroyed. He contacted the Portland police who sent over an officer to take possession of the drug. Our suspicion was that it was crystal meth and the police officer guessed the same. Though I know about this drug, I've never had the displeasure of seeing it first hand until now.
We used this instance to teach all the kids what this particular drug looked like and to not handle it. The officer also explained what the drug does and how it can wreak someones life. It seems that many of us know someone personally where this drug has damaged an otherwise good person. I can only hope that these kids learned a valuable lesson and never touch this stuff.
Later that day, the police officer confirmed what the drug was after testing it. There must be a really bummed drug dealer out there because the officer appraised the street value at about $600. She explained that this was a very pure form in large crystals and not the powdery stuff the users usually use. I'm glad this little bit is off the streets.
The scariest part here is that I found it on school grounds where some kids could have thought it was rock candy and eat it, or a dog could have consumed it. I don't know how lethal eating crystal meth is, but I don't want some child to find out the hard way. All's well that ends well.
While walking through the grassy area on the school grounds, I walked over a small baggie that contained a yellow brown crystalline substance. I really didn't want to handle this thing, but I couldn't just leave it there either. I gave it to my brother-in-law to have it destroyed. He contacted the Portland police who sent over an officer to take possession of the drug. Our suspicion was that it was crystal meth and the police officer guessed the same. Though I know about this drug, I've never had the displeasure of seeing it first hand until now.
We used this instance to teach all the kids what this particular drug looked like and to not handle it. The officer also explained what the drug does and how it can wreak someones life. It seems that many of us know someone personally where this drug has damaged an otherwise good person. I can only hope that these kids learned a valuable lesson and never touch this stuff.
Later that day, the police officer confirmed what the drug was after testing it. There must be a really bummed drug dealer out there because the officer appraised the street value at about $600. She explained that this was a very pure form in large crystals and not the powdery stuff the users usually use. I'm glad this little bit is off the streets.
The scariest part here is that I found it on school grounds where some kids could have thought it was rock candy and eat it, or a dog could have consumed it. I don't know how lethal eating crystal meth is, but I don't want some child to find out the hard way. All's well that ends well.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
More documents in Ukraine
Our redoes are done and we're doing the waiting game again. We expedited the apostilles again so we could get the docs to Ukraine as soon as possible. We've been told that we are on top of our facilitators list to be submitted so you can understand our rush. We're hoping to hear some positive news very soon. The documents got to Kiev on Friday but were not delivered because of a customs delay; they should be delivered on Monday. I suppose these will need to be translated and be ready by the end of the week.
On another note, most of you following Ukrainian adoptions know the SDA is now accepting dossiers again. I was informed that the dossiers being accepted were those for older and special needs children (not that they all aren't special needs). I suppose that as the new gov't settles in, it'll speed up the processing of the dossiers. We can only hope.
As many have said before us, as we say now, and those that will say it after us, "It's worth it in the end". We don't question this by any means and keeps us pushing on.
On another note, most of you following Ukrainian adoptions know the SDA is now accepting dossiers again. I was informed that the dossiers being accepted were those for older and special needs children (not that they all aren't special needs). I suppose that as the new gov't settles in, it'll speed up the processing of the dossiers. We can only hope.
As many have said before us, as we say now, and those that will say it after us, "It's worth it in the end". We don't question this by any means and keeps us pushing on.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
May a Smile be Upon You All
We received our state background checks in the mail today :). First thing tomorrow morning I'll be heading to Carson City to have these documents Apostilled. Due to cost, we'll have to wait until Monday to pick up the documents and then get them shipped off. We're hoping this update will be the last one we'll have to do and the dossier can get submitted.
Just a quick update, no novella today. Virginia is always telling me that I ramble on so, and here I'm doing it again.
I do want to thank the Nevada Department of Safety for getting me these documents in a VERY timely manner. Thanks!!
Just a quick update, no novella today. Virginia is always telling me that I ramble on so, and here I'm doing it again.
I do want to thank the Nevada Department of Safety for getting me these documents in a VERY timely manner. Thanks!!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
More Dossier Updates
Originally, when we started this blog, we imagined that there would be more updates than what we have. We also planned on just keeping this blog specifically orientated to our adoption process. Well, from the lack of updates, you can see that the process is going much slower than we had hoped and expected. So far, we are keeping this blog adoption process related.
It's hard to believe that it's already time to update some of our documents. We got an email last week listing three items that needed to be updated, the state security check, physicals w/tests and the home study social workers license (it expired on Dec 31st, 2007). It's Tuesday and we have completed the physicals w/tests, the SW license and are awaiting the security checks in the mail. When I submitted the forms and fingerprints, they said that it would be several weeks because they were backed up. I asked if there was a way to speed things up and explained why we were in a hurry. I was advised to make a note on the forms because the person who does the checks is sympathetic to adoptions and I might just get it expedited. We wait by the mail box each day with baited breath. OK, we're usually at work when the mail comes but it's the first thing checked before we step into the house.
When our Dossier was sent to Ukraine, we had hoped that this stage of hurry up and wait was over. Now, here we are again. We've read many blogs and stories of this part of the journey taking 1 to 2 years and couldn't understand how this could be. Now we know and hope to get through this once and for all. We're approaching the year mark when we started this process in earnest (it's been such a long year). When we started this process, we never would've expected this to happen unless the Ukrainian gov't closed it down again. We did get caught up in the quota shutout and that's what has slowed this process down. We're hoping that 2008 will be the year!
Lastly, there is significant cost with these redo's. And, since we are needing to hurry the process to try and get it done in early February, we once again need to expedite these documents through the apostille process. The basic cost of redoing these documents is at least $500, assuming our insurance is going to cover the physicals and lab tests. OUCH!!
A little late for us, but the lesson I can pass on to others is this:
-The HS and USCIS takes the most time to complete.
-The state security checks take about 3 weeks and is about the second longest process.
-If hindsight was foresite, I would have waited to do the simple, quick tasks till the end so I wouldn't have to worry about those items expiring too soon.
-If you do have to redo documents, it much easier because you already know the paths :).
We hope this little bit of info can help others keep their expenses down in the end.
It's hard to believe that it's already time to update some of our documents. We got an email last week listing three items that needed to be updated, the state security check, physicals w/tests and the home study social workers license (it expired on Dec 31st, 2007). It's Tuesday and we have completed the physicals w/tests, the SW license and are awaiting the security checks in the mail. When I submitted the forms and fingerprints, they said that it would be several weeks because they were backed up. I asked if there was a way to speed things up and explained why we were in a hurry. I was advised to make a note on the forms because the person who does the checks is sympathetic to adoptions and I might just get it expedited. We wait by the mail box each day with baited breath. OK, we're usually at work when the mail comes but it's the first thing checked before we step into the house.
When our Dossier was sent to Ukraine, we had hoped that this stage of hurry up and wait was over. Now, here we are again. We've read many blogs and stories of this part of the journey taking 1 to 2 years and couldn't understand how this could be. Now we know and hope to get through this once and for all. We're approaching the year mark when we started this process in earnest (it's been such a long year). When we started this process, we never would've expected this to happen unless the Ukrainian gov't closed it down again. We did get caught up in the quota shutout and that's what has slowed this process down. We're hoping that 2008 will be the year!
Lastly, there is significant cost with these redo's. And, since we are needing to hurry the process to try and get it done in early February, we once again need to expedite these documents through the apostille process. The basic cost of redoing these documents is at least $500, assuming our insurance is going to cover the physicals and lab tests. OUCH!!
A little late for us, but the lesson I can pass on to others is this:
-The HS and USCIS takes the most time to complete.
-The state security checks take about 3 weeks and is about the second longest process.
-If hindsight was foresite, I would have waited to do the simple, quick tasks till the end so I wouldn't have to worry about those items expiring too soon.
-If you do have to redo documents, it much easier because you already know the paths :).
We hope this little bit of info can help others keep their expenses down in the end.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Happy New Year
Happy New Year and a belated Merry Christmas.
My intentions for this blog is to keep is pretty close to our adoption journey. Well, as you can see, there hasn't been anything happening for the last month. This was such a disappointment for Virginia and I. We were hoping that we would have been accepted in the 2007 submittals but just wasn't in the cards for us. We know our kids are there when we get there, but it's still hard to now push this out several more months.
Our New Years was quiet like usual. It's not a big deal for us. We spent it at home with our nephew and one of my wife's brothers. We watched all three "Resident Evil" movies and had a wonderful dinner.
Our Christmas started on a rough note but ended up being quite a wonderful experience. We decided to visit with one of Virginia's brother and family in Bend, Oregon. The roads were very icy and just enough so to put us in a ditch after doing a few 360's. I wanted to cry, but we were both unharmed and the damage could have been much worse. I baby my '06 Mustang and didn't even have a door ding after having her for over 2 years. Oh well, I guess that's what insurance is for.
Our visit went wonderfully. Bill and Laura have 5 kids living at home from ages 8 to 14. I had forgotten what it was like celebrating Christmas with so many young ones (I'm the youngest of 6). It was great just playing games and spending time together. They are a great bunch and we are glad to be a part of their family. It's these kids that made me realize that not having any children is what was lacking in my life as well as Virginia's.
As for our adoption, it's time to look at the expiration date of some of the documents and get them redone. We're concerned about all the appearant changes in Ukraine and hope these will settle down for the betterment of the children. I hope all goes well with those in the process and it goes easier for those about to embark on their own Ukraine adoption journey.
Happy Holidays to All.
My intentions for this blog is to keep is pretty close to our adoption journey. Well, as you can see, there hasn't been anything happening for the last month. This was such a disappointment for Virginia and I. We were hoping that we would have been accepted in the 2007 submittals but just wasn't in the cards for us. We know our kids are there when we get there, but it's still hard to now push this out several more months.
Our New Years was quiet like usual. It's not a big deal for us. We spent it at home with our nephew and one of my wife's brothers. We watched all three "Resident Evil" movies and had a wonderful dinner.
Our Christmas started on a rough note but ended up being quite a wonderful experience. We decided to visit with one of Virginia's brother and family in Bend, Oregon. The roads were very icy and just enough so to put us in a ditch after doing a few 360's. I wanted to cry, but we were both unharmed and the damage could have been much worse. I baby my '06 Mustang and didn't even have a door ding after having her for over 2 years. Oh well, I guess that's what insurance is for.
Our visit went wonderfully. Bill and Laura have 5 kids living at home from ages 8 to 14. I had forgotten what it was like celebrating Christmas with so many young ones (I'm the youngest of 6). It was great just playing games and spending time together. They are a great bunch and we are glad to be a part of their family. It's these kids that made me realize that not having any children is what was lacking in my life as well as Virginia's.
As for our adoption, it's time to look at the expiration date of some of the documents and get them redone. We're concerned about all the appearant changes in Ukraine and hope these will settle down for the betterment of the children. I hope all goes well with those in the process and it goes easier for those about to embark on their own Ukraine adoption journey.
Happy Holidays to All.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)