Why, yes, yes! I have news! And it's finally about adoption related stuff - not magazine sales, football games or new pets.
I was sitting at my desk today and the phone rang - it was our coordinator from CHI. Was I surprised? Absolutely! I had planned on calling her on Friday (our 2 mth mark having our dossier in Russia) and never expected her to call me. Actually, to be honest, it seems like the vast majority of the communication with the St. Louis office is one way - us calling them (and I've heard that from many others). Maybe the change in staff is a good thing and communication will start flowing?
Anyhow, get to the point, right? She called to let me know that the two families that are completing their adoptions in Krasnoyarsk have gotten their court dates!!!!! They will be heading back the 1st week of October. This is great news. Why? Well, let me tell you. It's great news because those of us whose dossiers are in Kras right now will be waiting until these two families complete their adoption before being able to receive referrals. Since it's a new region, the agency wants to complete these adoptions successfully before sending anyone else over.
I asked the coordinator if we were still at about the same point on the "list" for Kras referrals for a boy less than 24 months. She said "hmmm.... yes, you're in a good spot". I didn't have my secret decoder ring with me to figure out what that meant, but I'm thinking it means we didn't get pushed back too far! :-) (Why would we get pushed back? There are families that have been waiting for a very long time and they are given the opportunity to move to a new region if they don't want to stay in a non-working region while waiting for accreditation. I wouldn't be upset if they moved to the beginning of the list - but just want to know if I've been moved backwards) They won't tell us where we are on the list anymore, so it's really a guessing game.
She also mentioned that since we requested less than 24 months vs. less than 18 months (the youngest you can request) we'd have more children available to us. If they had a referral for a 30 month old (2 1/2 years for those of you not good at mommy math like me!) they would give us that option as well. Keith and I talked about whether or not we would consider an older child and we just decided to cross that bridge when/if we come to it.
I was sitting at my desk today and the phone rang - it was our coordinator from CHI. Was I surprised? Absolutely! I had planned on calling her on Friday (our 2 mth mark having our dossier in Russia) and never expected her to call me. Actually, to be honest, it seems like the vast majority of the communication with the St. Louis office is one way - us calling them (and I've heard that from many others). Maybe the change in staff is a good thing and communication will start flowing?
Anyhow, get to the point, right? She called to let me know that the two families that are completing their adoptions in Krasnoyarsk have gotten their court dates!!!!! They will be heading back the 1st week of October. This is great news. Why? Well, let me tell you. It's great news because those of us whose dossiers are in Kras right now will be waiting until these two families complete their adoption before being able to receive referrals. Since it's a new region, the agency wants to complete these adoptions successfully before sending anyone else over.
I asked the coordinator if we were still at about the same point on the "list" for Kras referrals for a boy less than 24 months. She said "hmmm.... yes, you're in a good spot". I didn't have my secret decoder ring with me to figure out what that meant, but I'm thinking it means we didn't get pushed back too far! :-) (Why would we get pushed back? There are families that have been waiting for a very long time and they are given the opportunity to move to a new region if they don't want to stay in a non-working region while waiting for accreditation. I wouldn't be upset if they moved to the beginning of the list - but just want to know if I've been moved backwards) They won't tell us where we are on the list anymore, so it's really a guessing game.
She also mentioned that since we requested less than 24 months vs. less than 18 months (the youngest you can request) we'd have more children available to us. If they had a referral for a 30 month old (2 1/2 years for those of you not good at mommy math like me!) they would give us that option as well. Keith and I talked about whether or not we would consider an older child and we just decided to cross that bridge when/if we come to it.
Sooooo... in summary, we should hear back from CHI after the 2 Kras couples have court and we'll know better what the next steps will be. I still, in my heart of hearts, know not to expect to travel anytime this year. If it was to happen, it would be a very pleasant surprise but one I'm not even remotely counting on.
I have many other things to update you on - our visit to UAB's IAD clinic and our visit with Melissa and her family. I think I'll save those for tomorrow - I'm tired, finally don't have any work to do tonight and want to just veg and watch TV! Let me just say that Melissa and Nathan's little boy, Iliya is just as precious in person as he is in his pictures - actually, more so if you can imagine that! Smart as a whip too! He taught Keith and I some things! But more on that later...
I'm so happy to have some news to tell you all. I'm sitting at the top of the roller coaster, just put my hands in the air and am waiting for that next plunge downwards! But for now.... I'll just enjoy the view from good-news-land. :-)
Night, night!
Becky
I have many other things to update you on - our visit to UAB's IAD clinic and our visit with Melissa and her family. I think I'll save those for tomorrow - I'm tired, finally don't have any work to do tonight and want to just veg and watch TV! Let me just say that Melissa and Nathan's little boy, Iliya is just as precious in person as he is in his pictures - actually, more so if you can imagine that! Smart as a whip too! He taught Keith and I some things! But more on that later...
I'm so happy to have some news to tell you all. I'm sitting at the top of the roller coaster, just put my hands in the air and am waiting for that next plunge downwards! But for now.... I'll just enjoy the view from good-news-land. :-)
Night, night!
Becky
18 comments:
That's wonderful news Becky! I know you must be so excited, and it is great to get some encouragement that you are moving in the right direction! :)
Becky -
I'm so happy for you and I saw the cute picture of the visit w/ Melissa & family! That is wonderful! I can't wait to hear how it all goes for you guys! Do the families that are adopting in Kras have blogs for you to read? If so let me know so I can check them out? I hope that you two are moving up on the list!
MandyJo
Hey Becky,
YAY! That is great news..I actually talked to Marti the other day too, and I am looking forward to seeing what the "protocol" will be once these 2 Kras adoptions are finalized in October (I also got some vague responses to The List question:).....I wonder if our CHI dossiers will be able to be registered with the Ministry of Ed even though we are not yet accredited as an agency? I told Marti, I would happily fly right over to Kras and register independently like the 2 couples with court dates if that's what it would take to get the ball rolling!! I'm am praying to keep the faith because I would sure love to have my daughter home for Christmas!!
Arrione Galvin
That is so great that you received that encouragement today! I liked your roller coaster analogy. How many people around you each day have sonething that special to look forward to in there not too distant future?!
So happy about the good report!
That's great news. So glad to hear things are moving in the right direction.
so glad to be reading good news. I am hoping for a holiday baby for you, like we got last year.
Wonderful news Becky! So happy that things are going to start moving in your region. Info always comes when you least expect it. And for feeling like the communication is one-sided with an agency...I feel that way too sometimes with my agency. I hate to "bother" them sometimes. Can't wait to hear some more good news in the upcoming months. Amy
October!! That's in like, 13 days!!! (and okay, it's a pretty big month, but still!!!) That's such great news! And you know that things are rolling, so that's wonderful!!
Congrats guys! That is very encouraging news! I'm praying you get your referrals soon!
-Penny
I'll be praying for you as well!!! It's so exciting seeing blogger friends get what they've been waiting for and then finally it's your turn... so fun. Good luck, best wishes, crossing all parts that I can cross!
Wonderful news!! How excited am I for you and other families waiting for referrals in Kras. I know having your coordinator call and update you on the status is also helpful and relieves your adoption anxiety. I can't wait to catch up once were back!!
Alright Becky this is awesome news!!
In secret decoder adoption speak, I'm wondering if they already have a little boy in mind who may be a tad over 24 months??????
It will be fun to see in retrospect!
It won't be long now Mommy!
Outstanding news! Thats great.
I am looking forward to hearing about your trip to the IAD. I finally got the pediatrician to call me back, of course it was when I was out walking without my phone...so I am calling back shortly to make my appt.
I love you soooo much, Becky! We're closer to getting our little peanut! :-)
Yahoo! Great news!! I can't wait to hear that the two families have had successful court dates. Not too much longer now at all.
Also, I too think the communication with the CHI office has gotten much better over the past few weeks. Let's hope it continues.
Woohoo!!! Great news! I hope the other couples court dates will go smoothly so you guys can get the ball rolling on your referal. Fingers and toes crossed for you!
Becky,
I am so excited for you. I hope all goes well for these couples. Do these couples have a blog for you to follow?
This is great news. Do you receive a referral ahead of time or do you go to the baby house and get to choose one child from a couple possibilities. I'm confused about how adoptions work in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine. Also, how is it that even though CHI isn't accredited yet in Russia, people are getting referrals and adopting?
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