WOW! That is all I can say to describe this day! Kevin called me at work saying I got an envelope in the mail from INS and asked if he could open it. Well, he did, and it was our INS approval to adopt from overseas. PRAISE GOD!!
Kevin then called Kevin at AWAA to make sure that is really what we received. He then faxed to Kevin and found out that indeed the letter was the INS approval. Kevin than asked Kevin W. if Marina was still available. And guess what...She is!!
AWAA is sending us her video and medical report on Monday; we will receive it on Tuesday. Sometime this week, I will take the packet to Dr. Mcgonagle for her to look at. We will probably accept the referral by the end of the week, and travel to Russia at the end of the month! Thank-You Lord- We now see that Marina is our little girl!
We received Marina's video and medical Report. It was delivered to the hospital, so I had to hunt for it. It was in the mailroom. The problem is, I was supposed to sign for it, and Fed-Ex was not supposed to let anyone else sign for it. When I got home from work, Kevin and I watched the video together. She is so tiny. Just over 2 � years old and the size of a child � her age. And she is so cute. These cheeks are so pudgy. She also has a big white bow in her hair. We have watched this video so many times already today. I just can't wait to have her home.
I got a bunch of our documents notarized, Kevin got his employment letter, and we got our police clearances in the mail today. Lynne at AWAA is sending us our list of region specific documents for our dossier, so hopefully I can go to the Secretary of States Office in Concord on Tuesday to get the rest of our documents appostilled.
We have decided that Marina will keep her name. A beautiful name for a beautiful little girl. So, from now on, Marina Petrovna Gavrilova will be known as Marina Elizabeth Carrier. We are hoping to take her video and have still shots made from it. Kevin has made some phone calls and found out to do this is quite pricey.
I took Marina's medical report and video to Dr. McGonagle to review. She wants Marina out of the orphanage ASAP! She has some major development issues caused by lack of nutrition, probably from having her bottle taken away, and put on solid food too early, and her not having the chance to properly learn how to eat, causing her to suffer from failure to thrive. She will need a lot of extensive OT, PT & ST. She also told me that she would need a lot of 1:1 to get her to want to be with us all the time, and to get her to know that she belongs with us. Kevin at AWAA told me that we would not be able to bring her home on the first trip, but maybe make our 2nd trip after 3 weeks and have the 10-day waiting period waived due to medical issues. This should get her home before Easter.
Well, about 95% of my dossier is appostilled and on it's way to AWAA (thanks Kevin). I left home at 8am to head for the State House (which is a 90 min drive away) Got there at 10am (had to stop and get gas and breakfast... hadn't really eaten for a couple days and was suddenly starving!) Then I had to explain to the security guard exactly WHY I was at the State house on a day that the House was meeting, then he said "you will see a bunch of people in the hall, just plow through them, they'll move". Went through 2-3 offices before I found the person I needed, and she was wonderful! Now to find the way out. Don't ask me how, but I ended up finding the back door instead of the front door, but thats OK, I'm out! Of course, I had to go shopping for Marina.. after all, it was HER day, bought things for her life book (love those craft stores) and a latch hook wall hanging for her room. Back to the state house (easier to find my way around this time, even went out the front door) Picked everything up, then headed to Kinkos to photo copy everything...X2.. a grand total of 150 pages!! Can you believe I could not ship it from there because Kinkos didn't have any boxes to pack my papers in, I didn't have a fed-ex acct, and Mail boxes ect. didn't open till 3, and it was 1PM. SO I head home. On my way, get a call from DH Kevin, wanting me to meet him at the eye docs, he had an emergency appt..... (nothing to worry about) BUT, we had a chance to talk with the doc about the diagnosis Marina has of "Menace of Myopia"... and guess what... they had a new Doc there that specializes in eye care for children. Dr. Le was very happy to talk to us, and is very much looking forward to meeting Marina, and wants to see her as soon as she comes home. Now it is after 4pm, and I am trying to get to UPS BEFORE they close. I get to Vermont, get to UPS.. Thank-you God, they don't close till 6! And guess what!!! They don't have anything I can pack my dossier in to ship it except a plastic envelope. No thank- you!... off to Mail Boxes Ect. WOW, they actually had a box. I found one on the shelf while the clerk went hunting for one in the back room...go figure.. thats the type of day I am having anyway. I am able to walk into my front door at 5:30... what a day!! I am totally exausted, so now, its time for an early bed time!!
Well, the end of the month is here, and we have no travel plans in site. Just hoping to hear something, anything soon.
I have officially moved John into Frank's room, and have just finished shampooing the carpet in the room that will become Marina's. Her new bed is in pieces in the living room, and I will be putting that together after I return home from church today. Next, I will hit the JCPenney catalog and order her sheets, as Wal-mart literally had nothing but pillowcases!! I guess they are clearing things out to make room for their spring lines. But we did buy her blanket, which Daddy picked out. (Ugg.... big yellow sunflowers!) Once I get all my quilt squares together, I will start her quilt.
Boy, this is really happening!! WOW!!! I am now finding the days all running into each other. and they are dragging.... Talk about slow motion.
Kevin is finding it hard to watch her video as he has a hard time with the reality that his daughter is sitting in an orphanage 1/2 way around the world, and he can't be there for her. I just keep reminding him that she doesn't even know we exist, and that is the only life she has ever known, and she is being well taken care of. I love the video, and watch it all the time.
We heard from Lynne today. We leave for Russia around March 22nd. Marina will not be home before Easter, but at least we will meet her before Easter. Thank-You God!!
I am finding this last leg of the wait the hardest. I am hardly sleeping knowing that in 2 weeks we will be in Russia, waiting to meet Marina. We had a hard time finding matt finish passport pictures, but finally found a place that has them. They do it on computer, so buying 3 prints is easy.
I got my first "baby gift" yesterday. The night shift at work got Marina the cutest little dress with bloomers that would be perfect for Easter! Unfortunately, we will not be with her. In the bag also were a purple sweater, a white straw hat with matching handbag, and the most beautiful soft, pink Easter bunny! Another of my coworkers is getting her a gingham elephant pajama bag. Mom is not having a "shower" but instead is waiting for us to bring her home, and she is giving her a birthday party. (We think her birthday is June 1).
We have almost completed Marina's picture book. Just need a few more pictures of her brothers, her bedroom, and me. I am going to wait to take pictures of her room until after her bedding comes in. (hopefully on Monday)
We had our travel meeting today, and everyone was there except for us of course. We will be traveling to Russia with 2 other couples. We were given our itinerary. We will be very busy for those 4-5 days. Hopefully, we will have time to go and do some sightseeing. We will see a bit of Moscow when we arrive.
It is really happening! Pinch me please, but don't wake me up! We leave in 1 week to meet Marina.
John is getting very excited since I gave him a picture of his new little sister, only now he wants BETTER pictures. I will take LOTS of them while at the orphanage.
Debbie told me today that our Visa would not arrive until Sat....We have leave for New York Sat. morning!! They are sending it to the Hotel we are staying at! I have to work tomorrow, and then drive my kids to meet up with their Dad to spend the week with him. I should get home around 9pm. Then I get to finish packing. I think we are taking the 7:30am bus to NY so we can get there about the same time our Visa's are due to arrive. We are having trouble finding a suitcase that is the right size to hold Kevin's cane. I can't wait to show you all Marina's picture.
Well, this is it. We leave tomorrow (Sat) to head to JFK Airport, and then off to Russia on Sunday, where we will meet up with Vivie and Mike, Susan and Ralph, and Lynne and Debbie from AWAA. I want to give that big sigh of relief, but just not ready for that yet. We still have some last minute packing to do because of the wt restrictions, we may be a little over with carry-ons. We sent the boys off to their Dads tonight, dropped the dog off at the vets for boarding, and right now, its very quiet in my house...just Me, Kevin and Sammi..the cat. Lucky kitty gets the whole house to herself for a week! I even remembered to pack my journal... the one thing I thought for sure I would forget!
We will leave Vermont at 7:45am (we decided to take the early bus so hopefully we will arrive in New York before our visa's do) we got a prescription for meclizine (great for travel sickness...much better than Dramamine), and probably packing things we won't use, but I thought we might need them and kick ourselves for not bringing them. I will let you all know what we needed, or wished we had when we get back.
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