Where are we in the process?

Many people have been asking us "where are you in the process of adopting the boys?" Well let me just say that adopting is not made to be an easy streamline process! The amount of paperwork, fingerprinting, "runs" to the courthouse, calls and Fed exs to VA (all of my legal documents are in VA), calls and Fed exs to NJ - (all of Matt's legal paperwork), it is totally overwhelming and mind boggling. Then you add in all of the doctor appts. for Matt and I, proving that we are healthy - do not have AIDS or syphilis (yes, those are the only 2 blood tests req'd for Ukraine)! Doctors' letters for our boys, etc. Soooo, with all of that being said - great news is that our Homestudy was approved this week! The main US document the I-600 is being filed tomorrow - the bummer about this document is that they are running at 60 days to approve them, so early Dec. will be our approval notice at which time our dossier will then be shipped to Ukraine. So still looking like late January or early Feb. before we get to Ukraine and that is if there are no "bumps" in the road.
I have been able to Skype with the boys on a few different occasions and it is so wonderful to see their smiling faces. Anatoliy is working hard on his English. He said recently, Me, Ivan, You - Family! So sweet. I can not imagine the feeling that they have, knowing that they are truly wanted for the first time, in a very long time. They have had no contact with their parents for about 5-6 years, when the parental rights were severed due to alcohol abuse, child neglect and some physical abuse of the boys.
Currently Matt and I are trying to figure out where will be "put" the boys once they are home. The debate of their bedroom seems like another overwhelming decision to be made, and yet it should be very simple! I'll keep you posted on that one:)
In other news, we have some wonderful friends (Andrea McRorie, Michele Schriber, Anna Rubin, Christy Manahan, Amy Gais) that are putting together a Fundraiser to help us raise money for the adoption - in all once everything is said and done we will have spent approximately $30,000 to adopt both boys. The fundraiser is a Silent Auction/Raffle and Dinner being held at the Ranson House here in Huntersville, and we have already received such a wonderful response for people attending. Everyone has put so much work into this event and we are so thankful for our wonderful friends. The fundraiser is open to anyone. I will include the link here. RSVP today, we would love to see you.

Also this week, I met with the photographer, Snookysmiles Photography, who took portraits of the boys over the summer (we were advocating to get them adopted and had professional portraits taken to make them look "better") and bought two 8x10's of them to hang on our entry hall wall with the other boys' portraits - can't wait to have them up and on display. Also can't wait to Skype with the boys and show them that they too have been added to the "wall."

It's Official!

Ivan and Anatoliy know that we want to adopt them and they are very excited!! Yesterday we were able to Skype with them through an American family that is there adopting their daughter. We didn't have the best connection, but we were able to communicate and use the computer to translate exactly what I was saying. Anatoliy said, "Lisa, you mama. Matt-Papa. Yes, Yes!" He had tears and lots of smiles. Ivan said, "Yes, I come to America. I love you!" Ivan was very smiley at the news and that is so great to see b/c he is definitely more reserved with us than his brother.  I also told them that our house is going to be crazy with 5 boys. Can't wait for that to happen!

I have such peace just knowing that they know they are wanted! We have had to wait to ask them about adoption, b/c we have been waiting on confirmation that they are on the Ukraine Orphan registry. Orphans have to be on this registry for one full year before foreign families can adopt them. We had no concerns that they weren't on the registry, but it took 5 weeks to get the final confirmation. It was so hard to wait, Skype with the boys and not be able to tell them. They asked us every which way they could - without coming right out and asking - if we were adopting them. Anatoliy said last week, "Lisa, I pray each night that you fly on an airplane to Ukraine." Love that boy!

Lots of Changes........

So where to begin with this new blog? Should I start with that first week that the boys left (August) and how empty our home felt? How I looked at pictures of them everyday, just so that I would  not forget their faces? Maybe I should start with Alex asking us to please not speak Ivan and Anatoliy's name, b/c it upset him to much to hear their names?  Fast forward a couple of weeks, Ryan says "we should just adopt them, "Mom, it would be nice to have someone looking after me for once, instead of me always looking after my younger brothers." Matt expresses, that he would be so "sad, when he is sitting there watching Ryan graduate one day, and knowing that Ivan and Anatoliy would never have that chance." August 1st when the boys flew back to Ukraine seems like it was a lifetime ago, yet some days feel like yesterday. In that time frame, Matt and I have had numerous discussions about Ivan and Anatoliy and how they impacted our lives and how we can impact their lives. We have also talked with our boys alot about them too. Matt and I agreed to give ourselves some "emotional distance" from talking about Ivan and Anatoliy. Let the sadness settle before making any "rash decisions." Afterall, we have 3 healthy boys. This is our first year with all kids in school, finally giving me a chance to really get my business (The Snazzy Stitch) going.......

Well, I think in life you always have "forks in the road." And sometimes those "forks" are easy to decide upon and other times they are difficult and life changing. Needless to say this was a family "fork" in our road and we all agreed on the same direction unanimously! Ivan and Anatoliy need us and they yearn for a stable and loving family life. They deserve to be loved for the amazing boys that they are and are yet to become. We love them and want them in our family forever!

So, our blog will be taking a little change......going from "Hosting Ivan and Anatoliy" to "Adopting Ivan and Anatoliy." We have started the adoption process and it is very daunting with all of the paperwork, but seeing their smiling faces on Skype makes  me work even harder to get, this paper notarized and this form filed, so that I can share and experience their smiles in person and not over a computer screen!

The ups and downs of this journey will be tedious, long and yet, so wonderful. I hope you will follow along with us on this journey to become a family of 7!