I'm Still Here.. with a countdown to something??

I know I haven't posted much lately. But I'm still here. I'm just trying to get through each week. I seem to look forward to Saturdays. While most adoptive parents looked forward to Mondays... (when there were accredited agencies, that seemed to be the day info came out since Russia is a day ahead) I seem to like Saturdays. I'm not sure why, possibly because it is one more week that's gone in this waiting period. I don't know. But lately I've been a Saturday girl.
Still no "official" news on the accreditation front. Although I read in a Moscow paper (translated to English.. I don't read Russian) that the MOE officials were stating/quoted as saying-- June is when agencies can expect new accreditations. If that's true then I only have six more weeks. Now if that is true, then agencies should start finding out in about four or five weeks. I'm told by my agency director that agencies will know about two weeks before the accreditations come out. So let the countdown begin. I know it's hopeful thinking.. but at least it gets me to my Saturdays!

Nothing New

Nothing new to report. For those not in the adoption loop, (as one who works in the media) I can assure you that most of the newspaper articles that are out there are a little strong in the message and give the impression Russia is STOPPING adoptions.
The articles really don't say anything more than what you've read on this or any other adoption blog. Accreditations have expired. Yes. This we knew would happen. It's not like Russia put a sudden stop to everything, it's something that's been happening over time. Now there is a process in place to get things going again. Any agency interested in working in Russia has applied for accreditation. Now it is up to the government to decide when that paperwork will be approved. So until then we wait.

What Have You Heard?

I know it's hard to get info from the Russian Gov. But has anyone heard anything from their agency about reaccreditation? Right now I just want to hear anything.. something... I heard something about the Dept. of State getting involved and giving Russia a form stating that all states will consider the child a citizen and the child will have the same rights (minus becoming president) as natural born children. But other than that form being submitted, I think it was to happen by today, I haven't heard anything?

And since I'm bored, just waiting for this accreditation thing to happen, I've been playing around with the blog site. Please tell me what you think of my Russian additions. :) If it's too much or too hard to understand, please let me know. Thanks!!

To Keep a Name-- To Give a Name -- That is the Question

Again, I will say...... "While we WAIT for Russia to give out accreditations"--
Lets talk about a "hot" topic on many blogs.
Do you keep the child's Russian name or do you Change it?
I've heard over and over again that judges will ask this question while at court, so it's something adoptive parents should think about before heading in.

Some people feel keeping the child's Russian name is best. It permits the child to connect with his/her heritage. It says to the child, while you are an American and you are our child, we wanted to let you know it's a gift your birth parents gave you and we want you to keep that. And it's a way for adoptive parents to keep the discussion door open, to say it's okay to talk about the past and your name and where you are from.

Now on the other side of the discussion, are parents who say this is my child now and I should be able to change his/her name! For some, they don't want the child to feel "different" with a name that will stand out. Or maybe they've had a name in mind for a long time, and now they can name the child what they've always thought.

There isn't a right or wrong answer here. It's simply what's best for you and your family. Where do we stand on the issue? I digress for a moment.

My mother is a school nurse. And what you are about to hear is a true story!!! There was one time the school administration got together and asked a parent to change the name of a child who just transferred in from another country. The family was Asian. The child's name was Fook Yu. I'm not kidding this is a true story.!! I don't remember what it meant in their language, but it did have a meaning, HOWEVER, in our country the child would have had a hard time in life.

Now again, where do we stand with the name issue? Well, we don't think Boris will have a name that will cause as many problems as the one above. But we do look at the name of a child as a gift from the parents. We want Boris to have a name we chose for him-- we want him to have that gift. Now with that said, we will more than likely keep the name his birth parents gave him as a middle name. That way he can still connect with his Russian heritage, understand where he's from, but also understand he's moving forward with our family and feel apart of us.

Lets do the HAPPY DANCE ---- shall we!!!!!!!!!!

Hello Brandie,

Your package arrived in pristine form, although I got feeling that I am undressing the mummy opening your package, but on end it's played well, everything looks just perfect!!!!

I will organize your paperwork and will forward it to Zoya.

It should be in Magadan by mid April and by the time we will get our accreditation ( don't know when , but hopefully not too long) it will be ready to filed the next day.

Best regards,
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the e-mail I received today!!! I told everyone the mailman could have dropped my pkg in the ocean and it would have been fine. There were just two things that could have happened... one: they could have lost it / or two: set it on fire. But thankfully nothing happened and it is PERFECT like she said!! YEAHHHHH
And my paperwork might actually be there sooner----- there is a family heading over in the next week.... and they will see ZOYA!!! And to be honest... I do feel better about a fellow agency family delivering my paperwork after all the mail problems I have had. I trust it will be in safe hands.
Now what can we do about this accreditation issue?????

Still Waiting

Yes, I am still waiting for my documents to arrive at the agency!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I sent them out by Registered mail through the United States Post Office on March 15th. I was told the package should arrive in about a week. I was told this was the most secure way to send and a signature was required once delivered. Well it hasn't arrived. I called the phone number and asked why it hasn't -- she said "although we have anticipated time lines for things, this is registered mail, your package is under lock and key, so it could take up to 15 business days to reach the location!!!!" I asked if we could track it and see how far it is in the process, she said "no, not until the 15 business days are up and that won't be until next week or so. So call back then!" And HUNG UP!!!

I am pulling my hair out!! While the documents weren't easy to get,
My GOD THEY WERE EASIER THAN SENDING THEM!!!
I am not joking, if this package doesn't arrive or there is a problem -- I will be on the next flight to to hand them to our agency director personally!!!

Borris your DAD is in the HALL OF FAME!!!

While we wait for the Russian Gov. to decide what they want to do, lets see if Steve even reads this blog, shall we???

A few weeks ago I posted that Steve was being inducted into the PIAA Hall of Fame. It was a very nice ceremony held during the state competition. This is the picture that was posted in the program. It's Steve's State Champion photo.

(I told him I was going to post it, although I don't think he believed me!!)

And here is a photo with his two brothers and his dad. (Steve is wearing the red tie.. he said he had to wear the school colors!! ) Now when I say I married into a wrestling family, that is an understatement. Both brothers are state champs too and his father is in the Hall of Fame for coaching. He coached all three boys and the school teams to numerous championships. His dad was featured in Sports Illustrated for his accomplishments. So needless to say, Steve is excited and prays Boris is into sports of some sort. I keep reminding him Russia is known for ballet as well!! We could be adopting a dancer! Which I wouldn't mind, I took dance lessons as a child!