From Home and Back, our journey of adopting in the Ukraine.

We are moving!!!

2006-03-29T10:52:00.000-05:00

I have started another blog, simply because it is so much easier to post pictures to it. I will add a link here http://www.spaces.msn.com/fromhomeandback/
that will take you to it. You can either copy and paste or click (if it works) to take you there. There are a lot of neat things on this one and yes, this blog will be linked to the new blog. Sorry for the inconvence, but it is just so much more convenient to post the pictures. I just hated to be in Ukraine and trying with out success to post pictures to this blog.

Thanks - Kristi

WOW!!

2006-03-27T14:04:00.000-05:00

I didn't realize how many people visit my blog on any given day. Today we are up to 21 at this moment. I would love to hear from you, where are you located etc....

Please introduce yourself.

Thanks

Waiting....

2006-03-23T08:20:00.000-05:00

It seems like that is all we do, in fact it is. We are waiting for a letter in the mail, which by the way I am not obsessive about at all now. I even let Kelso get the mail now, because I know it is highly unlikely that we won't be getting anything anytime soon.

The adoption center is closing in April to make the move to the new ministry and it has been said that they will reopen in May and double the amount of the adoptions. So, who knows when it will be. Hopefully before I have to redo all of the paper work.

As I said before my quilt is finished. We have had a wonderful person offer to make the raffle tickets for us at no charge at all. What a blessing that was, its amazing how many kind hearted people there are. There have already been several tickets sold and I don't even have them yet.

I was a little anxious about doing the raffle. I just feel guilty about it I guess, maybe that isn't the word, but anyway. Here we are trying to add to our family and we are asking people to give money in order to do so. I can't help but feel that there are so many more people out there who could use money, perhaps more than we can. As someone else said to us, God has chosen us to do this, to go and find this child that was meant to be ours. This child has not come to us in the way that one would naturally have one, but this child was chosen by God to be ours and we were chosen by God to be this childs family. Unfortunately it takes more money than one would need otherwise.

What I really hope is that we will not only have enough money for our adoption, but to have more than enough. I would love nothing more than to take the extra money and buy what those children who are left behind need. I think that I read somewhere that $2.00 will buy 20 pairs of shoes. That $100.00 will buy enough medicine to make it for one winter. I would love to be able to go and buy blankets, clothes, socks, hats, coats, toys, and even fresh fruit for those that will be left waiting for their Mama's and Papa's. I know it will be so hard see those that will be left. I have been told numerous times by those families who had gone and found their children how hard it is.

So for now, that is all there is. A whole lot of hope.

OH and by the way, I fixed my links to the right for those of you that would like to visit them.

New info..

2006-03-16T14:52:00.000-05:00

A law has been passed only giving jurisidiction to the old ministry through March. They will shut down the whole month of April and hopefully be opened again in May. So..... there ya have it.

Oh and an update on our homestudy will be $300 not $600 as initially quoted, so that's good right? LOL

Bleecchhhhh!!!!

2006-03-16T11:09:00.000-05:00

Yep, I have to start redoing paperwork again. Our homestudy expires on April 20th. I was told this morning that an update would be $600.00. Now I need to take a closer look at our INS forms, as well as everything else to see when they expire as well. I can't tell you how much I stressed over the paperwork and here I go again. Not to mention that this is going to cost us even more.

THERE!!!! It is finished

2006-03-15T16:11:00.000-05:00

finally it is finished. The quilt that is. I lost the charger to my camera and am expecting a new one to arrive in the mail today. I will be taking pictures and hopefull I'll be able to put some on here. So, hopefully everyone will be able to see what I have been working on.

No word yet on the adoption front. Our paperwork starts to expire in April, at least our homestudy does and we need to get an update done on it. The only thing is that I have tried to e-mail the woman who did it and for the last two weeks, going on three, I still haven't heard from her. Everything else starts to expire in June/July. Bleechhh. I hated doing the paper work and here I have to go again and do it. Whoever said that when you adopt there is no labor involved, well they sure are wrong. LOL

Talk to you soon,

Kristi

Almost, almost just about there....

2006-03-09T10:07:00.000-05:00

I am almost finished with the quilt. All I have to do is finish the edging on it. I tried to do it the other night, but some one had been sewing with my machine. That someone is about 4'8" tall with dark brown hair and big blue eyes and she just loves to sew. How many 9 year olds do you know that love, just love love love to sew on a sewing machine? I don't mind that she does it at all. The only thing I mind is when she gets something tangled up or when it quits working right. I just wish she would tell me right then instead of keep sewing right along. Needless to say I have to take it apart and clean out all of the thread that has seemed to make a nest in where my bobbin is and then get my bobbin out. LOL

She is very proud of the fact that she can use a sewing machine. She has made countless pillows for friends and teachers. She has even made me a few pin cushions or 3 or 4 for me and these are by far my most treasured.

So, my goal this weekend is to finish the quilt and then I hope to post a picture on here so that all can see.

40 days....

2006-03-06T13:04:00.000-05:00

We started the 40 Days of Purpose at church. Today was my turn at the rotation with the kids Sunday school class. I spoke to the coordinator about something that I have been wanting to ask, but I really did not know who to ask. This lady is wonderful by the way. Talk about a multi tasker and so organiazed. I wish that I were more like her. Anyway, I approached her about have the kids do something, if possible. I wondered if we could have the kids collect money and after we find our child, take the money and buy things for the groupa(class) that our child is in. Things like shoes, socks, clothes, toys, etc.... I am going on memory here but I think that I was told that $2 will buy 20 pairs of shoes over there. I think I was told that $100.00 will buy enough medicine to last through the winter, so on and so forth. She is going to take it to the education board and see what they think. I just think that it would be great to be able to e-mail back and forth while we are there and send pics to show them what their hard work has done for children who have no families to take care of them, to show them what their kindness and caring for others can do.

Kristi

Our girls came in second place in State

2006-03-06T11:23:00.000-05:00

Needless to say they lost, they were so disheartened and I do not think that their heads could have hung any lower. They do not realize yet that we are still so very very proud of them. It will take a few days for it to sink in, that no they did not win the State finals, but they did win second place and that is farther than our school has ever gone. Runners up!!!!!!!! I am so proud of them, but it was so very hard to watch the defeat on their faces.

GREAT NEWS HERE!!!!!!!

2006-02-28T13:25:00.001-05:00

Sorry to say that it isn't the news that we are all waiting for, but it is great news nonetheless.

Our high school girls basketball team has won not only the sectional and regional, but they have won semi-state as well. They move onto state this Saturday morning at 10:30 am. So, please send positive thoughts and well wishes, along with me to the team for a first time State basketball championship.

GO SOUTH CENTRAL REBELS!!!

Thanks all!

Nothing...........

2006-02-24T13:33:00.000-05:00

Absolutely nothing in the mail box yesterday, nothing, nada, zip, zilch, not even dust. Which is good, which means no bills, but bad because it means no letter that we are looking for. In our local paper there was an article about a mail carrier wrecking with mail strewn all over. So now I am wondering what if this happened elsewhere when our mail was enroute to us?? I'm sure it hasn't but it is possible I guess. Of course it is possible that ours isn't even in the mail yet. OH, I just remembered, a few months ago Kelso dropped the mail on the deck, what if it fell between the boards and it is now sitting under my deck....hmmmm..... I'll have to see if I can talk Tad into climbing up under there just to see, because well.... you never know, right??? LOL

Still waiting...... and watching the mail box very closely.

2006-02-16T14:48:00.000-05:00

I am wondering if I am starting to develop an OCD with the mail box. I find myself taking everything out and looking in the box and then I put my hand in there to see if I can feel anything in it. Then I look again, do the hand thing again and look one more to just because.....
Then I close the lid, open it just once more for a peek, (you know just in case) Then I start walking back to the house and I have to turn around and look behind me 4 to 5 times between the mailbox and the house, just to make sure I didn't drop anything. When I get in the house I carefully go through every little piece of mail. If there are any fliers or newspapers, I shake them to see if anything will fall out, (because it is possible that it is stuck between the pages). Then I look through everything one more time ( you know, just incase). Then just to be on the safe side, Yup I do it one more time. LOL Someone please stop the insanity!!!! LOL

Well, the quilt is coming along. I have found someone to quilt it as soon as I get finished doing what it is I need to do to it. She is putting me ahead of about 15 more people. She said it will take about a week to quilt it. In the mean time I contacted a Home Interior seller to do a fund raiser. So right now, not only am I working on my quilt, working, trying to keep up with things at home ( ROFL), and trying to sell as many candles as possible. Did I mention that Home Interior gives 50% of the price for fund raisers? I was impressed.

Well, I have to go. I have to go check the mail, and then check it again, and then just once more, and well maybe once more (cause you know, just incase ) LOL

I seem to have lost it..........

2006-02-07T10:24:00.000-05:00

What you may ask? The sense of calm acceptance about this whole situation. I have always known that we would go when and only when He has our child/ren ready for us. I have kept the faith that when the time is right, then we will go. Do we have a date? No, not as of this post.

I lost it when I found out that another couple who were registered in October and are requesting a boy under two or siblings under 5, have a date of March 28.

I lost it when I realized that we were registered in September and we are requsting the same as they are. They will be traveling next month.

I lost it when I realized that our letter could potentially be in circuit, over the sea now as I type this, on its way to our mailbox. We could potentially have an appointment date of next month.

I lost it when I realized that there is no way we will ever have the funds built up by then, if we have a date in March, or April, or May.......

I lost it. So, now I sit here panicking about what I need to do. I need to finish my quilt. It is almost done. I need to quit taking it apart and redoing it. I need to quit critisizing my work and just do it!! But, there is so much hope and heart in that quilt. I have personally touched every piece of it. It represents the hope and love that we have for a child or children that we have never seen. It represents the faith that we have that God has a chosen child or children for us. I truly do not think that I can put into words what it means.

So, now that I need to make a 'to do' list, I will now officially hit up anyone and everyone I can possibly see or think of to buy a raffle ticket for this quilt that I have made.

I will ask that every one take a moment to say a prayer for me to return to the calmness that I once had and have now seemed to have lost. Please pray also that our little one or ones stay happy and healthy until we meet.

God bless,
Kristi

It has passed....................

2006-01-31T17:39:00.000-05:00

President Yushekno passed a law, giving the old Ministry authority to process adoptions until May 1, 2006, when the Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports will take over.

Where does that leave us??? Looking at our mailbox every day. LOL

So, all of those letters with appointment dates that were to have gone out in Dec/Jan will hopefully be going out now. I hope that while the NAC was closed, those who were working were getting things in order so that as soon as they law was signed, piles of appointment dates were going out in the mail. The NAC is supposed to reopen 'officially' on February 1, 2006.

Kristi

Did I ever tell you about the dream I had???

2006-01-24T00:11:00.000-05:00

I dreamt that we found a little boy and a girl and they were twins, around the 2-3 year range. We named them Jackson and Jillian. Get it? Jack and Jill. I know corny isn't it? See I even think about it in my dreams...

So tell me what do you think? If we change names what would you recommend? It really depends on the age of the child/ren that we get. I'm think defintely keeping part of the original name or the American version. So tell me, what do you really think? I know I'm just corny right? LOL

Well.......... deep subject isn't it????

2006-01-23T23:52:00.000-05:00

Well needless to say we are still waiting. Rather than bore you with all the stopages ( is that even a word?) going on you can click on the Embassy link to the right to read for yourself just exactly what is going on.

Oh and we have a new e-mail address, if you didn't get my e-mail to let you know that we were changing e-mails, just e-mail me, so that I can e-mail you back, to let you know what our new e-mail addy is. LOL Sorry I couldn't resist. I think I got everyone, if not just leave a note here and I'll look into it.

Talk to ya soon.

OK, so who is out there?

2006-01-06T11:58:00.000-05:00

If you wouldn't mind just a quick post in the comment section, (found at the bottom of this paragraph) just give me your name, just so I know who is checking up and thinking about us... as we wait of course. Thanks

Kristi

Everything has come to a SCREECHING HALT...again

2006-01-06T11:18:00.000-05:00

The National Adoption Center (NAC) has no officially changed hands. So everything is put to a stop again. So it looks like we will not be getting our Dec/Jan letter afterall.

It was dissapointing to hear, but in the long run I truly belive it is for the best. It gives the orphanages time to update all available children and send that info to the NAC, it gives the NAC time to update the available orphans binders. It gives us time to add to our adoption fund as well. The only thing hard about it is the waiting, but we are getting pretty good at that. Actually its very easy to do, because we understand that when He has decided that we will meet our child/ren then and only then will we do so. So, needless to say Faith is in huge demand around here, as well as patience.

So as of right now, we are 13 months along. I have lost more weight 47, but I think the holidays added a few pounds to me. I'll know more when I get to work with that on Monday, as there is not a scale here, which is good.

We all had a good Christmas. Tad was so excited to give Kelsey her pony cart. He ended up hooking the cart up in the dark and they attempted to go for a ride in the car, while it was still dark on Christmas morning. I think it was hooked up wrong and something went wrong and the pony went nuts adn turned the cart over and ran into the side of the car. Fortunately no one was hurt, only the car. Kelsey scraped her hand a bit, but other than that all is well. I think it was a good thing that she could see what could go wrong. However, she is a bit timid about riding in the cart now. But I'm sure by warmer weather, she will have had many miles put onto her cart. Did I mention that this is the cart that used to belong to my Aunt Carlotta and Uncle Robert? We even rode in it as kids. I hope you all had a good Christmas and I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

Until next time,

Kristi

All I want for Christmas.............

2005-12-05T20:48:00.000-05:00

Is a little envelope in my mail box with an return address that says Ukraine, and enclosed I want an appointment date. That's all, Oh how happy that would make me.

So much to be thankful for

2005-11-28T19:39:00.000-05:00

We have so much to be thankful for. Our wonderful family and friends. We got to visit with many family members over the holiday and I really enjoyed it. Those we didn't get to see were certainly missed by all.

Thanksgiving has come and gone and now it is onto Christmas. My shopping is done. I have a few little things to get yet, but it is pretty much done. We have only decided to buy for the kids this year. We don't mean to offend anyone or hurt anyones feelings at all. We do love all of you out there, it is simply that our money is going elsewhere right now.

We went to get our Christmas pictures taken on Friday, which were awful, and it just felt like something/someone was missing. I couldn't help but think that at this time last year, we were looking forward to having another child to share Christmas with. As a matter of fact we still have Christmas presents that Kelsey so carefully wrapped last year, collecting dust and waiting. Waiting right along with us for their owner to come and claim them as well as our hearts. Although I must say, this little person has already claimed our hearts, we just haven't met them yet.

Ah, well. When the time is right and only when He deems the time is right, then we will find our child. Until then please our little one in your prayers, as we do every night, as well as us. Pray that when our little one is ready for us, that it is a speedy and happy process. Thanks to all.

I have hit a plateau...

2005-11-10T21:52:00.000-05:00

I have been stuck for three weeks without losing anymore weight. Of course it has been three weeks since I have been to the YMCA. Tad and I went last night and I plan on going tomorrow as well. With the yard sale and getting all of that together I seem to have gotten out of my routine. I love that Tad goes with me now. He pushes me more than I would normally go, not to mention that it is good quality time together. Whoa!!! hold on yes you read that correctly. He goes with me, he runs on the treadmill, he uses the work out equipment as well. No, you do not have to re read this again. I said that yes he does. LOL I know it comes as quite a shock to most of you.

Have I mentioned lately how truly blessed I am? I have a wonderful husband, a wonderful daughter, wonderful parents, sisters and a brother not to mention all my wonderful friends out there and the rest of my dear dear family.

So, what have you been up to?

Me? you ask, well lets see, taking a much deserved break after that huge yard sale. Last weekend we went out with some good friends to listen to a couple of bands play and it was 'my turn'. It seems as though that I am a very cheap drunk. It takes so little, because I rarely drink. But nonetheless we all had a great time. It was good to go out with those that we hadn't been out with in a while, not to mention so much fun.

So, who is out there? Anybody anybody?

Our Adoption Time Line

2005-11-10T21:46:00.000-05:00

November 2004
* We attended an adoption information meeting and knew before we left that this was what we were going to do.

February 15, 2005
* Made the call to the Social Worker about our home study. She sent out a packet and we scheduled an appointment for March 8, 2005.

Febrary 19, 2005
* Mailed off INS forms, home study application and state police background request. Made doctors appointments for all three of us.

March 12, 2005
* Received Back ground clearance letters.

April 10, 2005
* Got rough draft of home study

April 15, 2005
* Got passports in the mail. Home study is officially done and received the INS appointment letter.

May 24, 2005
* Went to Indianapolis to get finger printed.

June 4, 2005
* Received approval letter from INS with approval to bring home two children.

July 14, 2005
* Dossier checked and completed. Dossier notarized.

July 15, 2005
* Took dossier to Indianapolis to be apostiled.

July 16, 2005
* Dossier is in the mail and on its way to the Ukraine.

July 31, 2005
* Official word that our dossier was recieved in the Ukraine. It is to be translated and sewn and hand delivered to the National Adoption Center (NAC).

September 30, 2005
* Received registration letter in the mail. Dossier was registered on September 19, 2005. Invitation to request an appointment for the first half of 2006.

October 8, 2005
* Appointment request information being hand delivered to Ukraine, with hand delivery to the NAC for appointment. We were told not to expect another letter until after January. That's not that far away now is it?

Thanks to all!

2005-11-01T22:14:00.000-05:00

The yard sale that we had last weekend was certainly a success in my book. I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for all that you contributed and all that you did for us. Thanks to all of you, we were able to depost over $1,300 into our adoption fund. It was a lot of work, but I am so glad that we did it. Not to mention that we sold everything. Yes I do mean everything. I did not have to pack away and shove anything into the closet.

I can't believe how far people came just to come to our sale. We had plenty of well wishers too that came by and the fresh hot pumpkin bread out of the oven Friday morning was a hit as well, but I couldn't keep up with baking and doing the sale thing as well. So I had to stop baking.

So, now its onto working on the quilt. I made sure to get enough material so that whatever is left over I can do our new kiddos room in as well as something for Kelsey. She is really enjoying helping and it makes her involved. She did a great job at the sale and she loves helping me sew on the quilt too. So hopefully it won't be long and I'll be done with it and we can start selling raffle tickets on this quilt for our adoption fund.

So again, I want to thank everyone. It really means a lot to the three of us. May God bless you and yours.

Kristi

11 1/2 months expecting, is what we are now.

2005-10-18T21:22:00.000-04:00

It is hard to believe isn't it? Who ever heard of being 11 1/2 months along? That's nothing. I have met other couples who are 18 months along.

I find it so amazing that since we made the huge step in deciding to adopt how laid back I have been about it, well sort of. I keep saying that there are two very important things that you must have if adopting. Faith and Patience. Don't get me wrong, there have been a few times that I have started to second guess myself and the good Lord lets me know that we are on the right path. So faith and patience it is.

We started this in November of 2004. Here we are in the middle of October. Where did the year go???

Tad and I were talking this year and he asked if I had made the appointment for Christmas pictures yet. He then started smiling and said, 'do you realize that this will be the last family picture that we will have with just the three of us? Talk about smiling from the inside out. We both were.

So, sometime in the first half of 2006 we will be traveling. We were told not to expect an appointment letter until January. You know that is not that far away at all.

So until then.... Faith and Patience

God is good.

Kristi

Fall is in the air...

2005-10-10T21:59:00.000-04:00

Most definitley. We have had to turn the furnace on now. It is a bit chilly in the mornings. It was a high of 60 dgr today.

I love this time of year. The horses start to get their winter coats, the grass doesn't grow as fast, the farmers are harvesting their crops, and the leaves. My sister and I decided long ago that our favorite color was the 'iridescent' ones. The ones that are all different colors. It just depends on how you look at that one single leaf. It can be brown, red, yellow orange and green all at the same time.

I don't know if you out there are leaf rakers or not, but I am not. I love the way the wind blows them across the yard and how they accumulate in certain areas. However, I do sweep them off my deck. To me it is a never ending task to rake the leaves. Unless of course your going to do some good old leaf mound jumping. Boy did we have fun doing that as a kid. We would jump and throw those leaves at each other. Heck, we even buried ourselves in them.

Ah, fall is here.

Take care

OH MY GOODNESS, OH MY GOODNESS...

2005-10-01T19:26:00.000-04:00

I went to get the mail on Friday, never expecting to find an evenlope in it from the Ukraine. The return address said Adoption Center, Kiev Ukraine. My hands started to shake and I started to tear up. It took me forever to figure out what it said. It was all in Ukrainian, or so I thought. I took me a good five minutes to find the English on it.

Our dossier has been submitted and we have our registration number. It also invited us to request an appointment date for 2006. I called Kathy and she had me fax it to her. She and a group of others are going to the Ukraine next week and she is just going to hand deliver our appointment request date. I was told not to expect to hear anything else until 2006. So now the only thing we are waiting on is a travel date.

So hold on baby, here we come.

Dear Lord,

Please keep our little one/ones safe until we come to meet them. Keep them healthy and happy and bless them always.
Amen

30, 30, 30 do I hear 30...... Gone sold to the highest bidder

2005-09-19T20:35:00.000-04:00

Ha ha! 30 is gone and it's hello 35, or should I say good bye 35. Yep 35 pounds are off of me and I hope I don't see them again. So fare well and good riddance!!

Wow, I need to find some before and after photos of me huh? I wonder if you all can the difference as well as I can? Heck I can feel the difference.

Before....

Buzz buzz buzz went the bee......

2005-09-13T21:34:00.000-04:00

At least that 's the only thing we can figure.

We went riding on Sunday and while we were cantering through the meadow (ha ha) right over a nest of bees I went and just when I seen my horse put her head down, I went flying off as she was bucking trying to get away from the bees. I land on my back and had the air knocked out of me. Man I didn't think I was ever going to start breathing again. (I only did this once as a child) I finally did, by that time DH was off his horse helping me up and his horse is following my horse home. So, my DD ever so graciously offered to let me ride with her (pony). So sweet. Meanwhile DH is tring to catch both of our horses, hey I can't blame them I wouldn't want to be anywhere near a bees nest either. We finally found them, I knew they would stop up the trail a bit. The loggers have been raping some of the areas that we ride in and a few trees had fallen over the trail, thus saving us from having to walk up a huge huge huge hill. I would rather do it on horse back. So, needless to say I am one sore puppy. This morning was the worst, I didn't think I was ever going to get out of bed. I couldn't even lift my head up on my own, I had to pick it up with my hand. LOL it's not too bad as long as i keep moving. It's just after I've been still for a while. So the moral of the story? Don't let your horse ride thorugh a bees nest. That's one of the bad things about this time of the year and riding. Horses just don't seem to like it.Just thought I'd let you know what I was doing since I have been kind of slow with this blogging thing.

Nothing to update about the adoption, just waiting, waiting, waiting.....

So, what have you been up to?

The Power of Prayer...

2005-08-29T16:36:00.000-04:00

Now I know that there are a few of you out there who are at least visiting my blog. I know that because I now have a counter. Its intresting to see how many actually visit me. Thanks for that by the way.

Now to the purpose of this post,

Please take a few moments and say a small prayer for a few couples who are in the Ukraine right now. They are having difficulty finding their children due to some very unhealthy children as well as having to request more appointments. I know that they can use any prayers and positive thoughs. Thanks so much.

I believe in the power of prayer.

Kristi

2005-08-15T16:24:00.000-04:00

Tad and Kelsey April 2004 - Just because it is one of my favorite pictures.

2005-08-15T16:20:00.000-04:00

The three of us.

2005-08-15T16:15:00.000-04:00

Kelsey's first official barrel race right out of the gate. July 2005

Dossie is in the Ukraine

2005-07-31T22:44:00.000-04:00

Just found out that yesterday, July 30th that our dossier is now officially there.

What now you may ask? Well wait again. LOL. We now wait for a registration letter to follow.

I have found that you must have two things if you even think about doing this. The most important being Faith. You must have Faith. After all He is the one in control of all things. Tad and I have felt from the beginning that He has been in control the whole time. After giving God our worries and problems over not being able to have a child naturally, we found that adoption was the way to go for us. More in the first entry if your really intrested about it.

The second one is Patience, a must have. Sometimes I come close to running out and wonder which store carries it. I find if I pray about it a sense of calming and peace overcomes me and I find a whole new supply of patience.

So, please continue to pray for us and for our adoption process. That God continues to grant us the peace and patience that we have maintained thus far.

Thanks and God bless.

Kristi

30, yes I said 30

2005-07-20T21:49:00.000-04:00

Thirty!!! Pounds that is. I am now down a whopping thirty pounds from all the weight that I have gained from the infertility treatments and fertility drugs and lets not forget the darned ole depression that comes along with all of that whole 'failure' thing that I was going through.

But, hopefully before the year is out I'll gain that much more, by having our child, who is waiting for us, home before Christmas. I don't see it happening but it doesn't hurt to wish does it?

So YIPPEE for me being down 30!

Kristi

Huge sigh of relief...

2005-07-16T20:52:00.000-04:00

The dossier is now on its way. It is no longer in my posession and I am no longer worrying. We had a pastor who said that Worry was the result of not enough faith. It's not that I didn't have faith. I just didn't have faith in myself that I had everything right. LOL

So, Hallie and I went to Indianapolis two times on Friday, yes you heard met twice. I am glad I stopped to check and see if the paper work was right, I know I should have done that before I left, but I didn't. So, needless to say there were about 14 papers that had the wrong notaries name on it So, at least I was only 45 minutes away, instead of all the way home, which is about 2.5 hours away. So, I went back and had everything fixed.

I met with Kathy and Nancy this morning and they are no in posession of my dossier and they are sending it on its way to the Ukraine for translation and then to the National Adoption Center.

DH and I were discussing boys names today. We realized that we will more than likely come home with a little boy, which there are more of. Not to mention we have picked out a few names for a girl. We like Josephine Lilliann, both are family names. Any suggestions on a name for a boy? I would appreciate some input. Some we have discussed are Cooper, a family name on DH's side. I like Wyatt, but we'll see.

AS for time frame, well I have no idea. There is only one person who knows and I have faith in Him. After all, we truly believe that he has led us this far and when the time is right for our child to be available then and only then will we travel.

However, we would appreciate any prayers and positive thoughs that you may have.

Thanks.

Kristi

Huge Steps Being Made Here....

2005-07-14T07:42:00.000-04:00

I took our dossier to have it checked out Wednesday night. The two wonderful women told me that everything was great! So, now tonight everything is getting notarized!! On Friday I am driving all the way to Indianapolis to get everything apostiled. Little Ms. Hallie, my youngest niece, is going with me so that I wont be going alone though! I think she is excited about the trip even if she doesn't realize how big a step/ leap this is in our journey to bring home another family member. Then everything will be in the mail on Saturday and on its way to the Ukraine. So, hold on baby we're coming!!!

Kristi

27 pounds down and I love shopping in my closet...

2005-06-28T22:19:00.000-04:00

It is amazing what effect that the fertility medicines can do to a body. I don't mean just physically, but mentally and emotionally. I took the last fertility drugs in January and since then I have lost 27 pounds and counting. I love shopping in my closet, you know those clothes that you can't bear to part with because one of these days you'll loose that weight and fit back into them? Well I am starting to now. Some of the things are a little snugger than I would like, but I'm getting there.

I still have a long way to go though.

On the adoption front, well, we are still waiting on paperwork.

DH and I are leaving on Thursday for a bit of a vacation to South Carolina over the weekend. My DD is with her father's parent's for the next three weeks (for summer vacation)

OH and the judge finally ruled that he does have to have his house inspected before she can resume visitation at his house, but the best part is that I don't have to pay for it. YIPPEE!!! So, I'm sure that they will have it checked out soon. But we'll just have to wait and see about that.

So, that's it from here. Happy 4th of July and Independence day everyone!!

Kristi

Ho hum.....

2005-06-24T16:33:00.000-04:00

Hot and Humid!! Yep that is what it is here. We sure as heck can use the rain right now.

Not much going on around here. Today is my day off, so I am lucky enough to have my DD, my youngest niece and my even youngest nephew at my house today. I have managed to get tons of laundry done as well as some cleaning.

It has been a crazy week. DD has had vacation bible school all week and today is the final day. We have managed to be lucky enough to have friends go along with her too. They have all had fun fun fun.

Tad has been working very hard and for very long hours all week. I have hardly seen him at all. He met me to make a quick dash through the grocery last night and I told him that I missed him. The one thing you cannot say about my husband is that he is lazy. Nope that word does not fit him at all not one little bit.

On the adoption front, I'm just waiting to get paperwork back in the mail. For some reason we usually get it on Saturdays. So, I am hoping I will find something there tomorrow. Cross your fingers for me please.

Thanks

Kristi

SPEED BUMP!!

2005-06-14T17:27:00.000-04:00

I found out today that they are halting dossier submission for two months while the ministry changes hands. All of the dossier that are submitted now will go through. Leaving a two months hold on all the others. Not bad news, just a speed bump. We are all hoping that once the change over occurs things will go smoothly and quicker.

I started this blog to keep family and friends update, but to be honest I think that I am just doing it for myself. Because I really don't think anyone else reads it much. So, if by chance anyone is reading this, thanks!!

Kristi

APPROVED!!!!

2005-06-06T21:35:00.000-04:00

We got our approval letter in the mail on Saturday, June 4, 2005. I did expect it to be in the box too. Only because that is how the others came, approximately 10 days after we submitted paperwork.

So, now it's onto the rat race to get all my paperwork together.

So, that's an update from here.

Yes I"m alive!!

2005-06-02T21:35:00.000-04:00

Sorry it has been so long but we have been busy.

On the adoption front, we went to the BCIS office in Indy on May 24th for our fingerprints to be checked out by the FBI. Two and a half hours there, DH behind the wheel with tons of road rage... Needless to say I was ready to tell him to stop and let me out of the d*#@ van! 20 minutes getting fingerprinted and back on the road again for another two and a half hours ( I drove home). So it's onto waiting again...

We had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. We had tons of family and friends over for a cook out, bonfire and hayride. I think everyone had a great time, even if I never really got a chance to eat.

Speaking of which, I have lost 24 pounds!! Yippee, it's amazing what all those fertility drugs packs on ya. I can't wait til I get to go shopping for some new clothes. I need to now, but the frugal old lady in me just won't do it, besides I like to wear that belt that is way too big on me with the end of it sticking straight out by a good 10 inches!!! It is what I am watching to see my progress.

So, that's about it here. I hope everyone else is doing well.

Kristi

Wow, it has hit me like a ton of bricks...

2005-04-29T19:54:00.000-04:00

33 that is. I turned 33 on Wednesday the 27th.

What does this mean? To those of you who may read this it means nothing to you. To me it means another year has gone by and I have not accomplished what I wanted to and I now know that I never will. I'm ok with it I guess. I had always thought that I would have had another child by now. But alas my body has failed me again. On most days I am fine with it there is however, that very rare very occasional day that I think of the what should have been's.....

Especially when I hear that so and so is pregnant, who can't take care of the kids that she has now, or the woman who is addicted to drugs or the woman who found herself pregnant without trying..... etc etc etc.....

Overall I'm fine. As I said it is just those few rare days, like my birthday when another year passes.

Alas, now we have a child to look forward to. He, she or they are waiting for us. It's only a matter of time before we meet face to face but our hearts have already met and fallen in love.

Speaking of which, our home study is now on the way to BCIS, formerly known as INS. It should be about a month before we get our approval letter with an appointment date for fingerprints. We will have to go to Indy to have that done. So for now its just wait wait wait.

The waiting is something else that suprises me. I though I would be extremely impatient but amazingly I am not. I know that when it is meant for us to go we will go. When the good Lord has the child or children there for us then and only then will it be our turn to go. As I said earlier, our hearts have already met.

Kristi

We got our passports in the mail today...

2005-04-15T23:01:00.000-04:00

I was so excited. I have come to realize that this is almost like being pregnant. I have the same feelings about it anway. When we finally made the decision to move ahead with the adoption process was like finding out that we were expecting.

Having to do all the foot work to get all the paperwork ready for the home study and all that goes along with that was like the morning sickness. You don't like it but you have to do it.

And today when we got the passports in the mail it was the equivilent of feeling the baby move for the first time.

I know it sounds corny and I guess in a way it does but that is the way I see it.

Our home study is officially done now. The case worker will be sending it to INS, then I'll be watching the mail again for an approval letter for our appointment date.

After we get our appointment date I have 2 weeks to get the rest of the paper work together.

So it's hurry up and wait.............

Take care.

Kristi

We sound great on paper...

2005-04-11T17:10:00.000-04:00

We got the rough draft of our home study the other day and we sound pretty darn good. LOL

Our paperwork meeting was Saturday so now we know what to do with the next step. After we get the INS approval we have 2 weeks to complete the rest of the paperwork. So all the papers I had to get for the home study I have to re-get for our Dossier.

Have I mentioned that I have brain fart moments? Like today. I had printed out the medical form to take to the doctor to have him fill it out. Well he filled it out for me today. It was only when I got home that I realized that I had forgotten to use the 'high quality' paper. So, I guess it'll only mean another trip back to the doctors office for me. Did I mention that they are great there? They don't mind one little bit to do this stuff for me.

So, I hope I can say we have almost reached the summit of this mountain of paperwork.

Thanks for reading.

Kristi

It was another beautiful day here...

2005-04-04T21:13:00.000-04:00

Sunny and warm and ahhhhh..... I am so glad that spring is finally here.

Yesterday Kelsey and I did some yard work and took a walk to Nanny and Pappy's. When Tad got home we went for a short horse ride. Yowza what a difference a walking horse makes. I rode Kelsey's mare today, she was just a plodder. Needless to say my butt is so sore. I guess I'll just have to 'toughen' up huh?

It was a beautiful day for a ride too. It was so nice to see all the plants sprouting out beneath the blanket of leaves. The spring flowers are beginning to bloom. I can't wait until we have an addition to the family to introduce them to the 'outdoors'.

We have said that we plan on going camping a lot this year. Just like last year, which we didn't, but we will this year. Right...????

On the adoption front, we are just waiting for the paperwork to catch up to us. We are waiting for the INS to give us our appointment for the fingerprinting. We are waiting for our homestudy report to be done and we are waiting for our paperwork meeting on Saturday.

I have always considered myself a patient person... until now. It really feels like we are on one of those stationary bikes just peddling away and not getting anywhere. I know we are though. It isn't in my hands and it's not in my control right now. With the weather getting warmer I am sure it will keep my mind occupied.

Oh and we have a mare due to foal within the next two weeks. She is due in the middle of April.

So until next time.... Thanks for reading.

Kristi

Just another coincidence?????

2005-03-24T18:20:00.000-05:00

I think not. I went to the store yesterday, specifically looking for a 'special' photo album to put pictures of the family in. For our child once we get to the Ukraine. The purpose behind this photo album is to put pictures of our immediate family in so that we can begin to get our child acquainted with his or her family through pictures.... any who...

As I was looking for one I came across some antique looking albums with maps on them. Guess what the first one had on it that I picked up?? Yup the Ukraine with the city of Kiev marked on it. After all that will be our first stop once we are in the Ukraine. The adoption center is in Kiev. How cool is that?

Coincidence? I think not.

Kristi

Is there a top to this mountain of paperwork?

2005-03-16T20:47:00.000-05:00

It really isn't all that bad. We are now in the waiting process. (which I am not very good at). We are waiting on the paperwork to catch up to us. I got our background clearance in the mail on Saturday. The INS sent us some paper work saying that they needed our social security numbers, so off that info went in the mail.

So, now we are waiting on our Home Study paperwork, waiting on INS approval, waiting to get our birth certificates back from the Social Worker so we can get our pass ports, waiting to see if we need to do anything else, so I think it's safe to say that we are waiting....

Tad and I have our paperwork meeting with the two wonderful women that are helping with us on April 9. So we are getting closer. Just waiting................

Nice big cleansing breath....

2005-03-08T18:18:00.000-05:00

She is gone. She arrived at 1pm and left at 5:45 and she was a very nice woman. She interviewed us wanted to know how we were raised our values personal beliefs etc.....

According to her everything is a go. So we are approved now all we have to do is wait for the rest of the paperwork to come back to us in the mail. She will go and get the homestudy written up for us.

I know I had lots of people tell me not to worry. I really shouldn't have. She toured the house and the rest of the time we sat at the kitchen table and she even stayed to eat dinner with us. Of course Kelsey had to show her Ginger. She met all the rest of the animals too. Fortunately we didn't have a visit from the free range cow of our neighbors while we were here. However, the cow did leave a gift for us in the front yard.

So, now all we do is wait... Wait for the paperwork to catch up. So hopefully with prayers we will have a new family member (or two) before Christmas. There are no guarantees but we can hope. Hope doesn't cost a dime.

Thanks everyone and I'll keep everyone updated.

Kristi

AACCKKK the stress.....

2005-03-07T23:49:00.000-05:00

I am so completely and utterly stressed beyond my imagination right now. Here I sit at ten minutes to midnight because I can't sleep. Why you may ask?

The social worker who is doing our homestudy will be here at 1pm tomorrow to see if we are fit enough to be parents. Even though, by the grace of God we already are.

I have torn through the closets and cabinets. The house was a total disaster area. My dear sister Cindy came to help me today and assured me that I shouldn't worry that everything would be fine. My dear sister Lori said the very same thing to me tonight just a little while ago. "Don't worry about it everything will be fine."

I guess the thought of getting approval from one person, one single person is so strange. I worry the most inane things. About if it will be muddy. I know it will be muddy because its raining as we speak. Therefore if its muddy you'll have that wet horse manure smell coming from the pasture where we keep the horses. I worry about the baseboards not being up, the deck not being completely finished (the way I would like for it to be) But hey the bright spot so far in all of this is that I finally got ride of the VW rabbit that has sat in the driveway for almost 3 years now. That sucker is gone!!! Now I worry that it is obvious that there had been something there because now there are no weeds in this one spot. Easy enough to fix right, I'll just park the van there.

See, see, where my crazy mind has taken me? She won't look at the rocks in the driveway....will she???

However, I do have to say that I have gotten some honey do things done. Honey has put up shelves, cleaned the walk out and unsuccesfuly tried to keep me calm. I truly think he is just as nervous as me... OK well almost as nervous as me. LOL

So dear family and dear friends that is where we are in this process. I have all of my referral letters, medical reports.... now to just get through the homestudy tomorrow so please send all your prayers and positive thoughs our way. I for one can sure use them.

I'll update tomorrow after the home study.

Kristi

It is officaly official .....

2005-02-22T20:18:00.000-05:00

I went to the post office (with cash) and I was nervous for the 1/16 of a mile it took me to get from the bank to the post office with that much cash. I had 3 manilla envelopes. One for the INS forms, one for the application for our home study and one for the State police for our back ground checks. There ended up being a line of people behind me by the time I was done getting the money orders and what not. One woman was a bit upset 'all she wanted was a book of stamps'.

Well didn't she understand that all we wanted was another child in our family? How could she so rudely say that 'all I want is a book of stamps'. Well p on her. Of course she didn't know what I was doing or the planning and stress of filling out all of these very important papers. Our lives are in those envelopes as well of all 3 of our hearts. Boy, I hope she enjoys her book of stamps. LOL

Our home study is scheduled for March 8. I was told not to bother with cleaning out closets or cabinets but guess what I have been doing? Cleaning closets and cabinets. LOL

This woman, who I have talked to all the phone 2 different occasions, is coming to our house for 4+ hours to talk to the three of us. Of course I'll cook something for an early dinner and have her eat with us. After all, that was the way I was raised. I still make more than we need just in case someone unexpected shows up. Thanks to my Mom, I hope that I enstill this in our children too, as she did me.

Here is another reminder for those of you who we have asked to do referral letters for us. We need them in our hands before March 8. So please please please stop mentally writing that letter and put it on paper. LOL I have been told by someone that they haven't written it yet but mentally they are writing it. I laughed as I hope you all are doing now about that too.

Next on the list, a gyno appt for TB, STD and HIV. Just when I though I was through with all the poking and prodding. hmmm. This will be the last time right? LOL It's amazing what all the paper work requires to adopt. LOL

The next on the list besides doctors appointment is our passports. Now I just have to figure out where to go to get our pictures taken. Any ideas?

Until next time.

Kristi

First steps are taken...

2005-02-16T18:17:00.000-05:00

It began with me making a call to the home study people. I spoke with the social worker Marilyn for 20-25 minutes. Our conversation ended with her sending a packet out in the mail.

We finally got it.... it seemed like it took forever. Tad and I sat down and started to fill out the paper work. I scheduled medical exams for all of us. We have those done except that there was a glitch with Tad and mine. The doctor didn't finish filling it out. So, I'll call him tomorrow on that. I have ordered our certified copies of birth certificates. We need those for INS form I600 and our passports. I am waiting to get those so I can do that.

We will be sending the application in Saturday and hopefully we can schedule our home study soon afterwards.

We all went and got our fingerprints done yesterday at the police station. The lady there was nice enough and made sure that she included Kelsey in on everything. So we now have a set of her fingerprints too. Needless to say it feels like I am spinning my wheels but I am getting things checked off of our to do list.

Now all I have to do is remind those who are doing referral letters for us to get on the ball. (hint hint) LOL

I'll update soon.

Kristi

The Beginning..............

2005-02-16T17:57:00.000-05:00

Well, as you can see, I have decided to make a journal of our journey to add to our family. I hope to update soon and in short make it easier for family and friends to see where we are at.

In the beginning....

It started for me when I was little and learned that two of my distant cousins were adopted. From then on I knew that I wanted to adopt, some day.
Little did I know then, what I know now.

Tad and I have been married for almost 4 years now. We have been trying to conceive for the same amount of time. We were eventually successful. With the help of fertility drugs but unfortunately it ended in a miscarriage. At the time I was dealing well with it. I knew it was God's way of taking care of things, so to speak. We were again fortunate to get pregnant 2 more times only to loose those little angels too.

Then we began seeing a specialist. Let me tell you I was poked, prodded, flipped, flopped and turned inside out, only to learn that supposedly, the problem lied within my blood. It would clot between the uterus and the placenta, therefore choking the life out of life. I had a hard time with it. I felt very guilty too. I kept thinking to myself I could have dealt with it better had the problem lay with Tad. Believe it or not, our Tad is perfectly normal. LOL

So, the doctor decided that it was time to move onto more 'expensive' procedures. We tried for three months using the artifical method with no luck.

It came to the point where I just could not do it anymore. I had spent almost 3 years on fertility pills and they were taking it's toll on me emotionally and physically. I had gained weight, had severe mood swings. Poor Tad, all he was doing one day was helping me make dinner and I all but bit his head off and spit it out. My hair was falling out and I found myself getting depressed. On top of all of that I was having hot flashes, aching legs, blurry vision. It went from there to being poked and prodded for ultra sounds to see if my eggs were ready to trigger shots to induce ovulation. Then it was Tad's turn. We would make it a date once a month so to speak. LOL I even got breakfast out of the deal. From the artifical insemination it went to shots of heaprin twice a day, with Kelsey asking please don't do that anymore Mommy. After all, they left some pretty nasty bruises and I won't even mention the other medication I was on. Then I had to go in at the end of the month for them to poke me and take blood and pay them to tell me something that I already knew... that I was not pregnant.

Keep in mind this whole time that I kept bringing up adoption to Tad, he was open to it but kept wanting to try one more time. God love him I still feel guilty but I just can't keep doing this. Not only was it a waste of money but emotinally I just simply did not want to do it anymore.

Both of us feel that there is a reason we have not been able to keep a baby growing inside of me. We truly believe that this is God's way of guiding us in another direction. When one door closes, another opens.

Which brings us to our decision. We tossed around domestic and international, different countries etc... We were 90% sure that we were going to go with the Ukraine. We attended an adoption information session at South East Christian Church in Louisville with Kathy and Nancy. Needless to say boxes of tissues were being passed around the room. Fortunately for us, these two gracious women are going to help us on our journey at no cost. When we left there all I could do is cry. I could not talk, all I could do is cry. From then on we knew without a doubt 200% that we were going with the Ukraine.

Now we have been talking about this for what seems like forever. Kelsey is so excited about being a big sister. After all I certainly did not want her to grow up as an only child. My sisters and brother mean so much to me that I want to make sure that she has that too.

I'll leave it at that for now and I'll begin again with our process.