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."
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."
How neat! Love the adding to the wall! It's official when they make the wall of fame, right? :-)
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