Adoption Update

In the past month, we've run from one extreme to the other regarding the adoption. I was emotional about Christmas, thinking of a baby out there waiting for us, and in some ways just wanted to get it done right now and have our family complete. Then, I had a mid-month crisis brought on by reading bad adoption stories on the internet (Jim hates it when I read surf the internet) that put me into 2 days of panic-stricken terror, questioning what on earth we are doing. I think we are back on track now, somewhere in the middle. Wanting to get it done. Not necessarily rushing it - mostly because I don't want Natalie and the baby to be too close in age. Not wanting to wait too long though, because the thought of Siberia in the winter is very...very...cold. I looked at the weather in the city our agency is placing most babies from right now, and this week the highest temp was 3. All week. I won't even mention what the low was. Let's just say, it would be good to get this done before winter arrives.

On a positive note, we have made paperwork progress despite some setbacks. We've gone in circles a bit with Jim's birth certificate certification, and some of the Notary certifications (the County Clerk told me that the Notary was not signing her name correctly (didn't match their file). Found out she had been trying to "write neater". But the Homestudy Update was officially completed as of Jan 2nd, and sent to CIS (Immigration) to ask for our re-fingerprinting and Change of Country. Also, while Jim's parents visited, they kindly watched the kids while I trekked the 30 minute drive to the local County Courthouse to get copies of our Home Deed and to plead for someone (anyone) to sign a letter that Russia requires. They had already told me on the phone that they would NOT sign it. So I went with my best sad cat face (like the cat in Shrek), telling everyone (at least 5 different people) in the Courthouse that I really needed someone to put this letter on their letterhead and sign it. Finally, someone directed me to the Tax Assessor's office down the road. I didn't have high hopes, but again made the sad face and repeated that it was for a Russian adoption. The girl at the counter had relatives who had adopted siblings from Russia last year. Yes!!! She went to get the Head Tax Assessor guy for the county, because she said "I know he will want to help you." Turns out, he had traveled to China with his daughter last year to adopt. He didn't even question why I needed this odd letter - he promised to put it on his letterhead, with 2 originals, and have it notarized and mailed to me. I got it a day later in the mail. Yes!!! That surely was a bit of divine intervention.

So we march on, with many more Notarizations and State Apostilles left to get.
Oh yes, and we found a lady bug in the house right before New Year's Eve - surely a sign of Good Adoption Luck in 2008.