The Russian Roman...our adoption journey to Roman

February - May 2009

2009-10-05T10:03:00.000-07:00

I guess that once the adoption was final and we had settled into the routine of our daily lives being a family, the blog lost it's pull on me. I used to check about 15 blogs a day for updates on the adoptions of my fellow online friends...now, I just have a few that I check once a week to see how the families are doing. And, I have not updated our own blog since February of this year...that is a long time and Roman has changed so much.

Let's see, since February 2009 Roman has turned four years old, gotten a mohawk and started 5-day preschool (to just name a few things). Life is great and Roman is growing so much and thriving in our family and in school. He is now 4 feet tall...we couldn't believe it when he hit that 44 inch mark...and weighs in at around 42 pounds. A couple of months ago, it was bye-bye 3-point harness carseat and hello high-back booster!! Roman loves being able to buckle himself in and out of his big-boy carseat!!

Roman turned 4 in April 2009. First thing in the morning, he opened a couple of Thomas trains and wanted to go outside and play with them right away...in his pajamas. Then, later in the day we had a small family party. The pictures of Roman in his PJ's and red & blue jacket are from that morning. Then there is one from his birthday party with his cake :)

In late April, one of beloved kitties passed away...Sox was only 8 years old. For weeks afterwards, her brother, Perkins just wandered around the house crying out for her. And Roman just kept asking when Sox was coming home from the doctor. It was really tough.

In late May, we unexpectedly became the family for a new little boy kitten...he was found abandoned behind my brother's house and was just 3 weeks old. We bottle-fed him for several weeks and he soon became part of the family. We let Roman name him and he immediately started calling him "Meow-Meow". No amount of coaxing from us could convince him to change the name..."NO! His name is Meow-Meow!!!!". So, we just call him Meow for short. Having a kitten around was a change...we had forgotten what a kitten was like :)

No...I did not drop off the face of the earth :)

2009-02-19T07:46:00.000-08:00

The photo above was taken earlier this month...it is Roman with his Grandma Joann reading his favorite Thomas books. Grandma Joann is my Mom :)

I just never seem to be able to find the time to update Roman's blog...I don't even check the blogs of my friends very often.

Roman is doing great!! He is going to turn 4 in just 2 months! I can't believe that my little baby is going to be 4...it seems like just yesterday that he had just turned one and we were bringing him home from Russia. Roman is growing like a weed...the youngest in his class at preschool, but one of the tallest. He towers over some of the other boys.

He and I went to Phoenix, AZ earlier this month to see his Great-Aunt Wanda who is my Dad's oldest sister. She is 88 years old and loved meeting her nephew :) Roman and I met my 2 first cousins, Karen & Cathy, out in AZ and we all stayed together in one hotel suite and went to visit Aunt Wanda a couple of times a day. We had such a great time listening to her tell stories of her childhood with her siblings (my dad, aunts & uncles). My cousins bought a DVD camera so we got a lot of her stories on tape for future generations to enjoy.

One of the other highlights of the visit to Aunt Wanda's was her sharing her own adoption journey 56 years ago when she and Uncle Cleo adopted my cousin, David. I knew that David was adopted, but I had never heard the story. It was amazing to hear Aunt Wanda tell of the phone call that they received that David had been born...and how she felt the first time he was placed in her arms. She had found her child...this was her son. The same exact feelings that I had had upon being handed Roman for the first time in Russia.

On our trip, we also got to see a lot of friends: my old roommate, Kristy who married my college friend, Charlie; some family friends of the Lins', the Heredias; and my best friend, Colleen, and her family. It was a lot of fun, but Roman and I were both happy to be back home...I think he got sick of seeing me 24/7 for 5 days :)

I can't want to love you, Mommy...

2008-07-18T07:29:00.000-07:00

So, I know I have been really, really slack about posting on here..I just can't seem to find the time. I have even gotten behind on reading my friends other adoption & parenting blogs...and I have lost touch with many of my fellow adoptive friends here. I promise to try to be better and maybe to even be witty sometimes...like my friend, Elle (http://www.lifeofelle.com/).

Okay...so, now, onto discussing the title of this post...

me: "I love you, Roman"

R: "no, Mommy...I can't want to love you"

me: "But, why Roman...I do love you...you are my baby boy"

R: "no, Mommy...I am a big boy"

me: "okay, big boy...let's go poo poo on the potty"

R: "I can't want to, Mommy...I am a baby"

me: "Come on, Roman...let's try to go poo poo on the potty"

R: "no Mommy, I can't want to fall in and get flushed"

This is my life trying to get my son to go poop on the potty. The kid wears big boy underpants all day long and pees on the potty no problem at camp...but the goofball holds his poop all day long and then will go at night when he has a nite-time pull-up on!

Why does he not want to sit on the potty and poop you might ask? Well, the answer is simple...he is terrified that he is going to fall in and get flushed down the potty.

Why?

Because in May we were in Delaware at a family wedding and his Aunt Erica and cousins Casey & Haylee took him to the bathroom. (It is always a group trip :) Anyways, I am sitting down at my dinner table calmly eating my dinner when Haylee (6) comes running up to the table talking a mile a minute...

"Aunt Gaye, Aunt Gaye...you have to come now...Lightning got flushed"

Seriously, you could hear Roman screaming from across the restaurant...he was hysterical. Apparently what happened is he put his Lightning McQueen car on the back of the toilet so he could go pee-pee. Unfortunately, Lightning went in...no big deal normally because we could get him and rinse him off.

Well, no one realized that this was an automatic flushing toilet...right as Haylee was reaching in to get Lightning, the toilet sensed the motion and flushed. Roman watched his beloved Lightning flushed away to his death. Nothing we said or did would console my son...

"I want Lightning back, Mommy...can you get him! I don't want him to be in the ocean!!"

It was so sad and now he is forever traumatized that he to will be flushed away like Lightning.

3rd Birthday!!!

2008-04-13T15:57:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Roman's 3rd birthday this weekend with a joint party with his friend, Jack...they are 4 days apart! It was a fireman-themed party complete with a pedal fire engine, fire hats, a fire birthday cake and a real-live fireman that came and did a fire-safety puppet show and talk. It was great! The fireman is our good friend, Todd, who is a firefighter in Arlington County.

Here are a few pics of the day :)

The Russian Roman says "The Pledge of Allegiance"

2008-03-17T21:47:00.000-07:00

Go Leafs Go!!

2008-03-15T21:20:00.000-07:00

Roman will be a hockey fan
and a player
if his Daddy has
anything to say about it!!!!

My first parent-teacher conference...

2008-03-03T20:38:00.000-08:00

Yes, it was today and it felt kind of surreal, you know?!!? Anyways, she told me what I already knew...that Roman is very bright and smart. That he is always smiling and cheerful. That all the kids like him. That he has a girlfriend...and SHOCKER...he always has to be first. Those of you that know my husband personally will know where that competition streak comes from.

They also took class pictures today. Roman looked so cute in his little suede bucks, khakis and plaid shirt and we can't forget the woven belt. I have got to stop buying clothes for this little guy...I am a toddler clothes horse while I just walk around in sweats all the time. Huh...what's wrong with that picture? Roman is the best-dressed member of the family!!

More pictures...

2008-02-16T18:24:00.000-08:00

Top Middle is in February 2008; Below left is November 2007
Walking Rockie is January 2008; Below with Haylee & Rockie is November 2007

Sledding in December 2007; Bashful in Jan. 2008

Mom stop taking my picture in Jan. 2008

Playgroup with his best buds from school...Leo, Sam & Jack, Feb. 2008

Playing Hungry, Hungry Hippos Jan. 2008

Is it February already?

2008-02-09T17:10:00.000-08:00

My resolve to post more in 2008 has already been a bust...here it is almost half-way through February and this is my first post!!!

Well, let's see, what's been happening??!!?? It seems like everyone we know is pregnant now...there are babies being born everywhere it seems :) We know someone who is due almost every month from now until June...weird, huh? We had friends that had babies in December & January too :)

Roman loves little babies. I wish some of our friends that are having new babies lived closer so that we could see them more often. I have been sending Virginia Tech baby things out because they are all on sale now...there is nothing cuter than a little baby in a VT cheerleading outfit :)

Roman is growing so fast! He is 38 inches tall now and off the charts for height! Everyone thinks he is at least 4 and he is not even 3 yet!! As he says..."Mommy, I am a big boy now!!"

Thanksgiving in the country...

2007-11-26T08:24:00.000-08:00

We all went out to my Grandma & Grandpa Perkins' house in Sperryville for Thanksgiving. They passed away many years ago, but it will also be their country house to me. My sister, Cindy & her husband, Gary, have since moved in and fixed it up beautifully. Brought it up to this century :) Roman had so much fun running free and not having to worry about cars hitting him or weird people snatching him. Roman did not stop running the entire day!!

My sister, Penny, took all of the photos on this page...she is a great photographer :)

Roman had the most fun playing with the dogs out on the field!!

Most of the family came...we were just missing the Nails in MO and my nephew, Gary who is in Kuwait with the Army now.

Big things happening this fall!!!

2007-11-05T16:11:00.000-08:00

First of all...I finally broke Andrew!! Yep, that's right...WE GOT A DOG!!! An absolutely adorable Miniature Daschund. His name is Rockie and he is 6 months old and we just love him. Roman cannot stop hugging him and giving him kisses...they are so cute. Rockie is the perfect size to be Roman's best pal. He is such a good dog too...such a lovey-dovey doggie. Rockie came to be a part of our family because my cousins, Milan & Karen, in Oklahoma bred their Daschund, Chloe. My parents just happened to be out in Oklahoma last month and brought Rockie home for us. He was such a great cross-country traveler too!!

Okay, let's see...what else? Well, we went to the pumpkin patch again with our friends, Ryan, Amy, Adam & Amy. It was as fun as last year...so much warmer though. We got lost in the Maize Maze though and Roman refused to walk...he made Daddy carry him the whole time. Needless to say, Daddy was pretty tired at the end of the day :)

Okay, what else...Roman started preschool and he LOVES it! There was no separation anxieties for my son...he just runs through the door yelling "Bye Mommy...I love you"! He is already singing his "ABC's" and can count past 10. He is a genius ;)

And, Halloween...Daddy got a costume way back in June for the low, low price of $3.50 online. So, although not my first choice for a costume for Roman, he made an adorable little pumpkin. It was fun this year because he could actually say "trick or treat" and understood the concept...well, for the most part :)

I know I have been a slacker about posting and I'm sorry. I will try to at least put pictures up more often. Just wanted to give everyone an update and let them know how great Roman is doing...he is growing so big and amazes us everyday with his vocabulary.

Summer is almost gone!!

2007-08-30T07:08:00.000-07:00

This has been a really busy month! It started off with a family reunion on Andrew's side of the family here in Virginia. We had family come into town from all over...Canada, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Florida. Some stayed here and others stayed with Andrew's parents and sister. Roman had a blast with all of his cousins, aunts, uncles & great-grandma!! We even made our own t-shirts to celebrate the event!

Other than the reunion, we spent the month of August with lots of family birthday parties, days at the pool, a day trip to the beach and so much more! Roman LOVED the beach...it was his first time seeing the ocean or a beach and he had so much fun! He was non-stop for hours until he finally crashed on the blanket! What fun it was watching him running everywhere!! He was so cute...I have never seen so much sand on a child!

Other news!! Roman's picture is in the magazine, "Adoptive Families" this month! It is featured on the "Family Photo Album" pages. Here is the photo that is printed...it is Roman admiring his Papa Tack's tomato plants during his Grandma Joann's 70th birthday party celebration! Roman's Aunt Penny took the photo. I had entered the photo in a contest and then forgot about it...the contest has not been judged yet and the photo could still win, but the editor decided to publish the photo now because it was so cute :) I did not even know it was in the magazine until a fellow blogger and future adoptive parent, Debbie, sent me a comment. Thanks Debbie!!

July is almost over? Really?

2007-07-22T19:06:00.000-07:00

I have been meaning to post this for awhile now...

We celebrated our 2nd July 4th with Roman home with us! Last year, all of Daddy's side of the family flew in to meet him and we had an impromptu family reunion that was so much fun!

This year was a little quieter...just us and Erica & Haylee. We went to a parade that was nearby...Roman really could not have cared less about the parade, but the flag was fun!! Then, we had planned on going to see the local fireworks...no way were we going into D.C. and deal with those crowds. Well, then it rained and we just didnt feel like it. So, we put them up on our HD TV and we watched them together...Roman was not very excited :)

A few days later, we went over to my Mom & Dad's house to celebrate my Mom's (Grandma Joann's) 70th Birthday! We had a lot of fun...Roman did a lot of running and would not get in ANY posed photos. This is the best that we could do...catch him as he was running by in his pajamas :)

Next month, Daddy's family is coming into town...once again for an impromptu family reunion. Once one decided to come, they all decided to come...a few have not met Roman yet. It is going to be so much fun!!

Well, it will probably be August before I post again, but Roman is doing great and will be going to pre-school in September :)

Roman and his many hats

2007-06-15T11:02:00.000-07:00

A year in review!!

2007-05-02T08:59:00.001-07:00

We had a lot of memorable anniversaries to celebrate in April!!

April 16th - Roman's 2nd birthday

April 25th - 1st Anniversary of the date that our adoption was granted

April 26th - 1st Anniversary of our "Family" or "Gotcha" Day

April 30th - Roman's 1st Anniversary of being a American citizen!!

I can't believe that we have been a family for a whole year! Roman has been our son for one year of his life...it feels as though he has always been with us!!

A little reflection on this year...it has been the most amazing year of my life! I have always dreamed of being a Mommy and this little boy has made my dream come true. Every day he does something that makes me laugh or smile. Every day I thank God that he is home with us.

My son is like a breath of fresh air...it doesn't matter how bad things are...all I have to do is play tickle-monster with him and everything is better :)

Now, I will admit, we had it pretty easy with our transition into a family. We had no bonding issues. We had no major sleeping or eating issues. We have had no aggression or delays. This kid has just eased right into our lives and into his life as a member of our community with no problems.

After just a few weeks, he was sleeping through the night in his own crib in his own room. He loved baths after we actually got him home and out of Russia (he had never had a real bath before). He loves meeting new children and learning new things. He will try pretty much any food at least once. He loves kisses and hugs. He loves the pool...and I mean LOVES the pool!! At least he did last summer...I hope it is the same this summer.

Now, this being said...we do have our off days. The days when Roman does not want anyone but Mommy and Mommy cannot take a break. The days when he thinks it might be funny to laugh while he has applesauce in his mouth. The days where no matter how many times you say stop when he is running up the sidewalk and getting further away...he will just turn around and laugh. He is testing his boundaries and sometimes it is hard not to laugh and be proud of his spirit. He has come so far from the sad-faced little boy we brought home just a year ago.

And, the language skills continue to amaze me. The Russian Roman who only heard Russian the first year of his life is talking in 5-word sentences and repeating every word we say. I tried to count the number of words he was saying before he had his 2-year checkup this past MOnday and once I got to 100, I gave up :)

That is another thing...the boy is growing like a weed!!! A big weed!! Since we got his referral, back in February 2006, Roman has gone from 21 pounds to 32 pounds. He is almost 6 inches taller and his head is really big. He is in the 99th percentile for all 3 things. The kid is going to be a linebacker or a tackle or some other big position. He is going to get a scholarship to Virginia Tech and play football :) Or, if Papa Tack has any say-so, he will go to Oklahoma State :)

Well, I am babbling, but tonight I am completely enamored with my son. I had a 'girl's night' with nails & dinner and I was so excited to come home to the little guy. What other man in my life gives me such a huge reception and smile every time he sees me? My husband? Well, sometimes :)

p.s. you can see lots more photos of Roman and the family on our online family photo gallery ...make sure you check them out....it is mostly Roman, but occasionally, I put someone else in there :) There are pics from 2006 and 2007 including a folder with pics of him month-by-month since he has been home. What at change in him!!

p.s.s. Roman and I were mentioned in an article about adoption and the workplace in the Washington Post. You have to know my full name and search for it on washingtonpost.com or email me and I will send you the article.

My life has forever been changed by The Russian Roman :)

It's been almost a year!!!

2007-04-02T10:18:00.000-07:00

I bet you all thought I had fallen off the face of the earth, huh? Nope, just being a Mommy who can't seem to find the time to keep this blog up-to-date or read the blogs of my trusty blogger friends. Elle, I just don't know how you do it...you are "Super Mom" in my eyes :)

Roman in May 2006 on the left and in March 2007 on the right.

Anyways, things are great! Roman had his first visit to the National Zoo about a week ago. To the adults, it was kind of disapointing because there where not many animals out, but he and his cousin, Haylee seemed to really enjoy it. Roman continues to amaze me every single day with his grasp of the english language and with everything he does...he is getting so big and changing every day.
And, Roman is going to turn two years old...yep, that's right...TWO YEARS OLD in just 2 weeks. And, on April 30th, he will have been a U.S. Citizen and home with us for a whole year!! Are we having a party? You bet we are having a party!! It is going to be his birthday/gotcha day/coming to America party since they were all within days of each other!! I can't wait.

Grandma Joann & Papa Tack already gave Roman his present...his big boy bed!! And, what a COOL bed it is. A bed with tons of cool accessories to go along with it. He is so excited about it and loves to climb on it, but his crib is still in the room too and we are going to make the transition soon. We tried last night, but I kept hearing "boom boom boom" and when I went in, he wanted to be picked up. Then, he cried and did not want to go back to the bed. Alas, I was too tired to deal with it, so I put him in his crib. He is down for a nap right now in his crib too...I figure we will try converting to the bed in the next few days.

Now, you may ask "why are you switching him to a toddler bed?" He is not climbing out of the crib...in fact, he seems perfectly content to be in there. Here's the main reason...Mommy will be having surgery in late May and should be careful about hoisting the 32-lb kid in and out of the crib. Hence the conversion to the toddler bed. This way, we have almost 2 months for him to get used to it...and he won't freak out while Mommy is in the hospital and Daddy becomes his primary caregiver.

The next question you might ask is "what surgery are you having?" Actually, I am donating a kidney to my amazing Mother-in-Law (MIL). She had a kidney transplant many, many years ago and recently that kidney failed. She had surgery last week to take out her original kidneys that were giving her trouble and as long as her recovery goes well, she will be receiving my extra kidney on May 29th!! We went through lots of testing and amazingly enough, I am the "perfect donor". We will do one more blood test a week before the surgery to make sure that her blood doesnt reject my blood (the first test was great)...then, the surgery will be the next week.

I am so excited that I am able to do this for her. My MIL is one of the most amazing people I know. She has so much strength & courage...it is so inspiring. I can't wait for her to start feeling better and start enjoying her retirement. Her failing kidneys and health made her retire early...now hopefully soon she will be able to get out and have some fun with my FIL :) So, anyways, please be thinking about us as May 29th draws near...I will keep you posted on any delays.

Mom & Dad Lins enjoying the National Zoo with their kids and grandkids :)

Court Jester?

2007-02-14T19:30:00.000-08:00

The Romanator's New Hat!!!

So, Roman got a new hat...he LOVES this hat! He thinks it is the coolest hat to ever don his head. He doesnt want to take it off once he has it on. The hat was on sale at Target for $2.88...boy was it worth the money spent and then some for the hours of enjoyment he has gotten from it.

It is kind of a mix between a court-jester's hat and a leprechaun's hat...he puts in on himself and smushes his ears down. He looks so funny and cute!! His Daddy has a great hat too...I have got to get a pic of the two of them in their hats.

Roman has been sick with bronchitis...thank goodness the anti-biotic is finally kicking in and he is feeling better. He still is kind-of clingy and wants Mommy all the time, but I love the snuggles he gives me all day :)

p.s. There are lots of new pics from the end of 2006 and the beginning of 2007 in our online family photo gallery ...make sure you check them out.

First snow and sledding adventure...

2007-01-25T21:08:00.000-08:00

Okay, first, I know that I have been extremely slack in the posting department! Honestly, I don't know how my other adoptive mommy friends do it...I can barely check my email.

Anyways, I promise to try to be better...at least about posting new photos and a few funny stories about The Russian Roman!

So, here he is in his cute little red sled...let me just say...he LOVED IT!! All I heard over and over was giggling and "again mama again mama". He was so flippin cute! I want more snow so he can do it again...because, of course, this snow melted by the next day!

Now, if I can just figure out how to get him to let me put gloves on...he loves wearing his hats and doesnt mind the heavy coats, but he freaks out about having gloves on. Maybe I just gave up too easily.

I have a short little movie of him sledding down our little hill in front of our house as well, but stupid me turned the camera longways and I can't figure out how to rotate it. It is not as easy as rotating pics. Once I figure that out and get it uploaded to YouTube, I will post it.

I have tons of video of Roman but I am too lazy to do much with it. Perhaps one day. Some of them are on YouTube already...first swim in backyard pool, first "roller coaster" ride, etc.

I have tons more pics too...I think I am a little picture crazy when it comes to Roman. The kid is going to have the best documentary of his life...now, if only I could get his adoption scrapbook started. I need more hours in each day.

Our First Christmas together...

2006-12-20T10:23:00.000-08:00

So, as promised, here is the link to the article on Roman and our first Christmas together as a family...there is another family in the article as well that adopted from China.

Hope you enjoy it...the photo is kind of small, so I have included a copy of that as well :) And, one of Roman & Haylee sitting on Santa's lap :)

Happy Holidays Everyone!! And best wishes for a wonderful year in 2007!!!

http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=75422&paper=72&cat=104 asp?article=75422&paper=72&cat=104

We are still here and things are great!!!

2006-12-12T22:07:00.000-08:00

Roman is thriving...getting so tall and filling out his 2T clothes. He is a little under the weather right now. I feel so bad for him...he is all congested and snotty and it seems painful for him to breathe. At least he is sick now and will hopefully be over it by Christmas.

Guess what!!!???!!! We were interviewed by a reporter tonight who is doing a newspaper article on us and our journey to Roman. Her focus is on our first Christmas together as a family. We are so excited. It is just a little local paper, but they publish their stories online and it will have photos of our little camera lover :)

The article is supposed to come out this week or next week...I will keep you posted. In the meantime, here is a recent pic of Sir Roman of the British Royal Guard. And, one of him with his favorite friend, Mr. Moo :)

Also...best wishes to all of my blogger friends. There has been some great news lately...court dates and trips to meet children. So exciting!!

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe...

2006-11-08T22:55:00.000-08:00

First Halloween...

2006-10-23T10:51:00.000-07:00

Well, I know that it is not officially Halloween yet, but we went to 2 different family Halloween parties this weekend, so I thought I would share...

For the first one at the International Adoption Center, we just threw together our costumes...when in doubt, go for Hokie football player look-a-likes...

For the 2nd party of the weekend which was hosted by the company I work for...our annual picnic with a Halloween theme...

We were supposed to go as "The Chronicles of Narnia"...you know, The Lion The Witch & The Wardrobe...but, we didnt quite get the wardrobe costume done, so alas, it was just Roman the friendly Lion :) Roman won the $25 prize for "Funniest Costume"!! You will have to wait until after Halloween to see Andrew dressed as the wardrobe :)

HAPPY FALL EVERYONE!!!

The Maize Maze...

2006-10-18T20:04:00.000-07:00

I will write more about this wonderful day at the Pumpkin Patch later...just wanted to post these adorable pics really quick

Introducing..."The Russian Roman"

2006-10-11T10:58:00.000-07:00

On the left is Roman in May of 2006 after we first brought him home...

on the right is Roman now with his first real boo-boo on his forehead.

You may have noticed the new design on our adoption journey blog...well, it's because they journey is over and life with "The Russian Roman" has just begun!!

I will try to keep this updated as often as possible with photos and stories of the active toddler...and hope to figure out the logistics of the left column soon.

The grass is an appropriate picture for the header because he is growing so fast (see pics above)!! He is just shooting up so tall!!

So many thanks to my friend, Elle...who along with parenting her own newly adopted Russian toddler, found the time to create this for me!!

Enjoy and please keep the comments coming...I love to read them all!!!

Dr. Roman Seuss...

2006-10-10T20:40:00.000-07:00

My friend, Elle had the perfect description for Roman in this photo...

He looks like a Dr. Seuss character in his new pajamas!!

These are 24 months and already almost too small.

The boy is growing like a weed!!

I can't believe how big he is...

2006-09-20T14:44:00.000-07:00

Roman had his doctor's checkup last week...the doctor said he is "thriving" and growing like a weed. He is so tall and already weighs over 27 pounds. Everyone who sees him thinks he is older than his 17 months :)

On the left, Roman is with his cousin who is one year old. This was taken the day of his doctor's appointment.

The photo on the right was taken the same day and as you can see, our son is still such a ham for the camera :) He will smile and smile and smile for the camera or any type of video...he should be in movies!

MUST SMUSH KITTEN!!!

Apparently, this is what Roman thought he was supposed to do to the little six-week old kittens at his Aunt Cindy's house :) We finally had to take him out of the room they were in because he would not stop trying to grab them and pick them up and HUG them as tightly as he could! He was so funny...he takes after his Mommy and Daddy and just love kitties, even his own, Perkins & Sox, who won't give him the time of day most of the time :) Aunt Cindy's dog was a little overwhelming for him...Sophie, the 70-pound chocolate lab, just jumped right up and kissed Roman on the mouth!!! Roman is used to Grandma's 6-pound poodle that is smaller than he is.

A big shout out to Elle & Derek!!!

2006-09-04T07:07:00.000-07:00

My adoption friends, Elle & Derek, became the proud parents of Oleg today in court in Russia!!! This has been a long journey for them and I am just so excited!!

Up until today, we have only known their son as "Pickle" as they did not want to reveal his name until the adoption was official...so, for months, we have all been referring to him as "Pickle"!!

We can't wait to see pictures of little Oleg...go over to Elle & Derek's site below and give them a big congratulations!!

http://unexpectedmiracles.blogspot.com

Our family...now and then

2006-08-30T20:34:00.000-07:00

So, on the left...is us the first day we met Roman in Kaliningrad, Russia...in March 2006.

And, on the right is our happy family in late July 2006...I can't believe how much Roman has changed. He doesnt even look like the same little boy. Amazing what a lot of love, sunshine, good food, laughs, hugs & smiles can do :)

God, I love this child!!

He lights up my life...fills my world

with sunshine, smiles & happiness.

His laugh is enough to brighten my day

and his snuggles at bedtime are

pure joy!! I can't even remember

my life without Roman in it.

Cutest little boy ever!!

2006-08-26T20:57:00.000-07:00

So, now that Roman has started walking...he is now running all over the place. Well, more like walking really fast until he trips and falls down. Then, he just laughs and does it all over agin :)

And...did I mention the talking? Yep...not only does my son understand what we say to him, he is saying a few words--cat, hot, bye, hi, daddy, mama. And, boy does he know his cousin, Haylee's name....it kind of comes out like HAAALYLEE!!

He loves everyone and everything...kisses & hugs aplenty :) Of course, he tried to tackle the cats...but he loves them!!

He had his first sleepover at Grandma & Grandpa Lins' house this past weekend and it went great! I am telling you...the kid is amazing!!

And...his first "roller coaster" ride...he liked it at first :)

Roman's Great-Grammy...

2006-07-30T17:15:00.000-07:00

Chick Magnet...

2006-07-28T10:17:00.000-07:00

That is truly what my son is...everywhere he goes, women fawn all over him. Andrew and I joked around about it, so I bought him a "Chick Magnet" shirt. Thus far, my husband says it has not worked :)

Also...can someone please tell me why my posts are showing up halfway down the page? They didnt used to do that. Thanks :)

OSU fan all the way!!

2006-07-24T17:45:00.000-07:00

Half of our extended family went to Oklahoma State University and the other half went to University of Oklahoma...as you can tell, most of my family is from Oklahoma :)

So...this is for the half that went to OSU and are Cowboys and to rub it in to the OU Sooner grads :)

And...many in our family think that Roman will play football one day. Grandpas Lins and Nail both think he will be a linebacker or some other big position. Our son is an eater :)

A true hockey fan!!

2006-07-17T09:46:00.000-07:00

This one is for my husband...the AVID Toronto Maple Leafs fan and for Elle who is also a raving hockey fan...

GO LEAFS GO!!!

New pics on Roman's online gallery...

2006-07-10T17:50:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to check them out... online family photo gallery

He is doing great! Sleeping through the night...2 naps a day...gives big kisses now...loves to snuggle...loves books...

Feels like he has always been with us :) I am always tired though...running around after a very active toddler is hard work!!

Roman swimming...

2006-07-09T13:25:00.000-07:00

Sorry, everyone...I had to take the video off because it was messing up the page...

:(

My son, the natural ham...

2006-06-28T17:22:00.000-07:00

He loves to be in pictures! The camera comes out and he just throws the smiles and laughs out there! Here he is in the little blow-up whale pool in our backyard...it was taken with a cell phone camera, so the quality isnt the best. I also have a video of him repeatedly dipping his head & face in the water, but I have to figure out how to do put cool videos on my posts like Elle.

I hope to post some new photos of him on our family photo album...check there soon. See above for the link.

Let's see, what else is new...well, my adoption blogger friends have had exciting things happening in their lives. I have not had the time to read lately, but I did today and your posts were heartwarming.

And...Roman is on the verge of walking by himself...he will walk from one person to another for about 10 steps. But, he is not ready to do it on his own yet...he still likes having ahold of the one finger of someone. he is almost there though...then it is all over. I will officially be the Mommy to a toddler :)

We have 10 family members on my husband's side coming into town for the 4th of July week...for vacations, but mostly to meet Roman. It is going to be so much fun...they are staying with Andrew's parents, sister and a few with us. We can't wait to see everyone!!

okay...Roman is in bed, so I am going to take advantage of the quiet and get some reading done.

Happy 4th of July to everyone!! ~ gaye

Roman and the horse they called a dog...

2006-06-12T17:30:00.000-07:00

We were at a BBQ on Saturday and this dog was there...his name was Toby and he was half black lab and half great dane. He was a freakin awesome and beautiful dog. He was so gentle with Roman and let him climb all over him...

Such a good-natured dog...but, Roman was more enamored with his friend, Amy :)

Roman is doing great!!

2006-06-06T08:33:00.000-07:00

I am sorry that I haven't posted lately...having a toddler doesn't leave much time for blog updating or for looking at my friend's blogs. I feel so out of touch with all of my blogger friends who are also adopting from Russia...I will try to take some time today to catch up on everyone's lives.

Roman is doing great!! He loves his red convertible that his Grandma & Aunt gave him (on left).

He has gained some weight and is no longer as pale as a ghost...in fact, he has a little tan. Even with 50 sunscreen on...

He is now sleeping in his crib all the time...it is still in our room, but it is farther away from the bed. When we first started this transition, I would lay next to him with Roman in the crib and me on the bed with the railing down...I would rub his back. It seemed like he woke up 10 or 15 times a night. Well, now...we just lay in my bed together while he has his sippy cup of milk and read "Goodnight Moon" and then say good night to all of the things in the room. Then, I give him kisses and put him in his crib...sometimes he cries for a minute or two, but usually he just lays there and I leave the room. He falls asleep right away....

Sometimes he wakes up a couple of times during the night, but mostly he just sleeps right through...now we start moving the crib even further away from our bed and then out of our room...

Roman went to his first softball game last week...Mommy & Daddy play on a co-ed team for Mommy's work. It was REALLY hot...almost 95 degrees. I am not really playing this season, so I sat with him and tried to keep score...We have another game tonight, but Erica & HAylee are coming to help keep Roman happy :) I am a commish of the league and the co-coach of the team, so it is hard for me to sit still. He is Roman bearing the heat...he wants to go home.

Roman also had his first trip to the pool...HE LOVED IT!!! I am so excited that my son is going to be a water baby. He also loves his Little Tikes water table...likes to sit in it though :) He also loves his froggy shades...he will keep them on for an hour or more.

Okay...gotta get some work done while Roman is sleeping...

First haircut and a brilliant child :)

2006-05-23T09:27:00.000-07:00

Well, Saturday marked a big first in our lives with Roman...his first haircut. He doesn't look like a baby any longer...he looks like a little boy. Here are some before, during and after photos of him. He did really well. He didn't fuss at all, he just kept trying to turn his hed and look at the lady as she cut it...the mullet is now gone.

On the left, is a before shot on the way to the Hair Cuttery. On the right is at the start of the haircut...Daddy was getting his hair cut too.

Then, look at the cool dude with his shades on our way home afterwards...such a big guy!!
Roman had his International Adoption Specialist Doctor's appointment today and he got glowing reviews. He is in the 50th percentile for weight & height and his motor, language, etc skills are at a 14-15 month old level. Delayed? NO WAY!!!

The doctor did disagree with our pediatrician though and told us that we need to try to get Roman into his own crib/bed asap. We are going to move his crib into our room next to our bed and start trying that tomorrow night...yeah, no sleep again for Mom & Dad!!

Last night, he just would not go to sleep. So, Daddy walked around with him in his arms and after about 5 minutes, he crashed there. So, then we were left with, well, how do I transfer him to the bed without waking him up and this is what the picture below is. I was cracking up.

Tired Mom here...

2006-05-18T18:51:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone...sorry that I have not posted in awhile. It seems like I cannot even find time to check my email, let alone read other's blogs or post to ours. Having a one-year old is like running an endless race...uphill :)

Roman is still a joy and a happy child. The only problems we are having is at nap and bedtime. He HATES his crib and screams and screams and screams if we put him in it. He will eventually calm down and fall asleep after we come in several times and soothe him...but, not before he "scares the poop" out of himself. 2 days last week he pooped in the first 5 minutes after being in his crib...and, not because he had to poop...because he was so anxious and scared, that he pooped. Poor baby...after 2 days of that, we just couldnt let him suffer any longer. We tried one last time and he did it a 3rd night and so I just took him into the guest room and slept with him in there...

We talked to the pediatrician on Monday at his one-year appt and he said that he was crying in fear and not in anger...so, it was okay that we let him sleep with us. Poor little baby has to be scared that he is going to be put back into the orphanage. He is back to normal now and snuggling at bedtime...our bedtime ritual is a bath at 7:30 and then winding down and playing with a few toys until 8:e0. Then, he has a sippy cup of milk (which he drinks in a minute flat) and we read "Goodnight Moon" and then we turn off the light. Sometimes he falls asleep within minutes and other times it takes an hour. Tonight he was wound up and it took a little longer...plus he spit up on me. I have not changed yet, so I keep smelling milk...yucky, I know, but in order to change I would have to go back into my bedroom and I don't want any chances of waking him up :)

We have a pretty good schedule going...here is a typical day in the world of Roman...

Around 7:00-7:30: Roman wakes up with a smile on his face :) then we eat breakfast. Usually oatmeal and some sort of mushed up fruit such as applesauce, bananas or pears. He won't eat the real fruit (probably doesnt like the texture), but he loves the Gerbers Baby Fruits.

Then, we play and do laundry and sometimes go for a walk.

Around 10:00, we have a snack...usually cheerios or some more fruit or maybe some sweet potatoes.

Around 10:30, we start winding down and he usually goes down for a nap around 11:00...sleeps for about an hour and a half and then we have lunch. Lunch is sometimes scrambled eggs or maybe soup. He LOVES soup.

Then, we either go out in the yard on a blanket and play or go across the street and swing on the swingset in our neighbors' yard. Andrew helped put it together, so we have visitation rights :) We bought him a baby swing that we can trade out for the bigger kids' swings when we go over. Roman loves being outside...just loves it!!

Sometimes, in the afternoons, if Roman is in a good mood...we venture out to the grocery store or to Target. He loves riding in the car and is such a good baby at stores...he likes to watch people. Then, Daddy usually comes home around 4:00 and we have some more play time and then an early dinner. We have been going for walks together as a family most evenings if it is nice. We have met a lot of neighbors that way that we didnt know before.

Sometimes, we have a friend or relative stop by for a short visit in the evenings or at some point during the day...Grandma Joann likes to come over during the day so she can get in some "Roman time". Cousin Haylee & Aunt Erica sometimes stop by on their way home from work/school since they drive by our house every day...if they see us, they will usually stop.

We do all the feeding, bathing, bedtime rituals, etc with Roman...and he is mostly with us all day and all night, but we do not tell people they can't come over to visit if they would like to and we are all up for a visit. He already knows that we are his MOmmy & Daddy...he is bonding and attaching with us. We don't feel that we are hurting any of that by having visitors in small doses. Roman even made an appearance at a shower last weekend and had the time of his life...he was having a ball :)

Roman has his evaluation with the International Adoption Doctor/Specialist next Tuesday. I am sure he will tell us that we should have him in lockdown, but we are doing what feels right.

Also, he got excellent healthy marks at the pediatricians this week...he is gaining weight and color. He is growing and flourishing with us...the doctor said he can see a difference in him already even after just 3 weeks with us as his parents. He had 3 shots to catch up on his immunizations and tolerated those very well. He is not anemic as the Russian doctor in Moscow said...

So, anyways...this post was a lot of rambling :) I just wanted to fill everyone in on what is going on in our lives...

I have new pics, but I havent put them on my computer yet...check the blog or the online photo album in the next few days.

To all of my blogger friends, hope everyone is doing well...I am sorry that I have been so out of touch. And, to all of my friends and family...we love you!!!

p.s. Lauri, email me. I am much better at checking that :) vgnail@cox.net

Roman's Posse...

2006-05-13T14:54:00.000-07:00

When we arrived at Dulles Airport, our family and friends were all waiting for us in custom-made T-shirts...

From the right, "Aunt Carrie", Grandma Joann, Aunt Erica, Uncle Brent, Cousin Haylee, Papa Tack, Grandpa Jeff, Grandma Beth, "Brother" Ryan and Friend Amy :)

My baby's cry...

2006-05-12T10:57:00.000-07:00

Here is Roman sleeping on the 8-hour flight from Frankfurt to D.C. You can't really tell, but he is drenched in sweat from head to toe...my baby is a sleep sweat-er. I asked the International Adoption Doctor about it and he said it is something that they have found in babies adopted from Eastern European countries and that it should subside in a few months...they don't have an explanation...

I am sitting here listening to little Roman cry in his crib from across the hall...it is nap time and he is exhausted, but still fights the sleep. I go in about every 10 minutes and rub his back and tell him that I am still here...sometimes it helps and sometimes it just makes it worse.

Today, it would freakin help if the neighbors didn't have the huge yardwork crew running 5 machines right under his bedroom window!! Geesh!! Don't they know it is nap time?

It is so hard to hear him cry, but I know I need to do it...he needs to learn to sleep on his own and to self-soothe. Last night, he went to bed okay after about 5 minutes of crying after his books and bottle...then, at 1:30 in the morning, he woke up screaming. I was so tired myself, that I just picked him up and he and I went and laid down on the guest room bed. We slept until 7:00 a.m....it was a sweet morning!!

Wait...I don't hear anything...I think he might have fallen asleep. Maybe? Do I dare hope? I better wait a few more minutes before going into check because he will hear me and it will all begin anew...

He really needs a nap because today is his Great-Grammy's 90th birthday and we have a birthday dinner planned. He has met her, but has not let us put him in her lap long enough to take the picture we so desperately want to capture...

This is a busy weekend for the little guy...birthdays and Mommy's first Mother's Day...

Alas...I think he is asleep...now, maybe I stop listening and go do some laundry :)

First night sleeping in his crib...

2006-05-09T12:41:00.000-07:00

So exciting!!! We had been having Roman sleep with us in our bed, but we knew it was time to try to get him comfortable and secure enough to sleep in his crib. So, I tried it last night...and he only woke up four times and then slept from 11:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. I was so proud of him...but, it was hard to let go and not keep him with us. He is such a snuggle-bug...and when he wakes up and rolls over and sees you next to him, his faces just lights up into the biggest grin. It was hard to put him in his crib and to hear him cry, but I just kept going in and reassuring him and rubbing his back.

Baby steps...

New Family Photo Gallery...

2006-05-07T18:10:00.000-07:00

So, I didn't go to bed...instead, Andrew & I created an online Family Photo Album. Now, you can see tons of pics of Roman :)

To view it, click here!

To get to it in the future...just look at the top of the blog description. We have added a link there. And, no...I could not have done these fancy links without my husband :)

Some more pictures...finally!!!

2006-05-07T16:52:00.000-07:00

After many requests from many, many people...here are some long-awaited photos from our trip to adopt Roman and bring him home. The trip was stressful and seemed like it took forever although it was just 12 days. We are so happy to be home with our son. As you can see, he is packed and ready to fly home on the right :)

Roman is doing great...he is sleeping through the night and taking 2 naps during the day. He eats pretty much anything we feed him (except Peas). He loves the cats...he tries to crawl after them really fast, but they are much faster. He already knows who his Mommy & Daddy are and the attachment & bonding are going well. We are doing pretty well sticking to a schedule for naps, meals & bedtime. We factor in a walk and a park visit at least once a day as well. He loves the outdoors.

We have been limiting the outings we take with him and the visits that people have with him, but he has become quite enamored with his 2 grandmothers, his cousin H & his Aunt E & Uncle B. The rest of the family will be meeting him over the course of the next few months as they come into town or to a shower or family gathering.

Okay...long day, long weekend...going to bed early. Roman has already crashed for the night!!

He is amazing...

2006-05-04T10:39:00.000-07:00

every little sound he makes, every time he lunges into my arms, every time he grabs my cheeks and laughs...my heart soars. I have a son...I can't believe I am finally a Mommy. On the plane ride home, Andrew & I both got so emotional as we watched him finally fall asleep...we felt as if we were dreaming. We had this life, this wonderful life, that we were now responsible for and we cried as he cried on the plane. We cried because at times we could not comfort him as he screamed because of his ear infection...it just broke our hearts to see him suffering.

how amazing little Roman is...when he wakes up and opens his eyes and sees me smiling at him, he just breaks into the most heart-warming smile that you have ever seen. he seems to already know that I am his Mommy and Andrew is his Daddy and that we are there for him. He knows we will catch him when we falls face first lunging at us as he is walking towards one of us...

he knows that we are his parents forever...and he is loved.

We are home...meet our son, Roman!!

2006-05-02T22:05:00.000-07:00

This pic is of Roman from our first trip to meet him back in March. I have not had a chance to download new pics from our trip to bring him home...this is the first chance I have had to post to our blog and that is only because it is 1:07 a.m. and he is sleeping and I can't seem to.

Roman is a joy and such a happy baby. Always laughing and smiling! Since we have been home, he has kept us very busy with his constant demands for attention and food :)

It feels so right...he is our son and we feel as though he always has been. He is amazing!

More pics and info on our wonderful return trip home soon...I promise! ~ gaye

We are now officially on vacation!!!

2006-04-28T07:39:00.000-07:00

We got to Moscow yesterday without any problems...Roman fell asleep before takeoff and slept until right before we landed!! Great plane ride :)

It took us 2.5 hours to get to where we are staying in Moscow from the airport...it is only about 30 miles. Traffic in this city is a nightmare...everyone turning when they want to, running red lights, blocking interesections. WAY worse than NYC or DC!!

Our first 3 days and 2 nights with Roman have been wonderful...he definitely knows us and loves to be with us. At night, he does not want to go in the portable crib...he wants to stay in bed with us. Which, of course, I love because I can snuggle him all night long. He has slept through the night both nights.

This morning, the doctor came at 6:15 a.m.!!! UGGGHH!! He pronounced Roman "healthy" with minor delays, weak muscles and bronchitis...which we knew. But then threw in that he might possibly be anemic...hmmmm...he also weighed him the old fashioned way by holding him in the air and saying he was about 20 lbs.

Then, Andrew (aka Andrei) went with Gregory to the US Embassy to pay our fees and get Roman's Visa applications turned in. We went back at 2:00 for our appointment and lo and behold there were 50 other families there with the same appointment. It was cool though because we got to meet so many other families that had adopted from all over Russia...they were all there for the same thing. And, because we are citizens, we got to skip the line :) HOORAY!! But, it was an hour and a half wait for the Visa...Roman was really good, he just wanted to be active...

So, as of 3:15 today (russian time)...Roman can now officially enter the United States as an immigrant. As soon as he touches American soil he will be a U.S. citizen!! So, Andrew says that we are now officially tourists and have no more official business to do...

Amazing...we are parents...to this wonderful boy...so full of smiles and laughter. We can't wait for everyone to meet him.

TOmorrow, our host and driver, Vidali will take us on a tour of Moscow...he and his wife, Natasha, have been taking good care of us. Natasha has offered to babysit Roman tomorrow so we can shop and sightsee, but we kind of want to take him along so that he will be in all of the photos.

We will be home soon...love too all...see you on Sunday :) ~ gaye, andrew & roman

Finally!!!!

2006-04-26T00:22:00.000-07:00

Yep...that's right. We are officially Roman's parents as of 10:00 am Tuesday morning. We have a birth certificate to prove it, even if we can't read it :)

Boy...did that prosecutor really hammer us with questions. Andrew had to do a speech before the judge & prosecutor first. This was about 15 minutes...he was a star! He had the judge in love with him by the end. Then, the questions started...who do you know in Russia that recommended Kaliningrad? Did they help you? How much money do you make? Do you know the post-placement schedule for reports back to Russia? What agency will help you with that? How many visits have you had with Roman? What kinds of things can he do? Did he recognize you?

Let's just say that our translator was invaluable!!!

During court we had to explain how he has attached to us...we told of how the day before, Roman was getting fussy towards the end of our visit and he crawled up in Andrew's lap and stretched out. Andrew rubbed his head until he fell asleep there. Look out Perkins...you have competition for your favorite spot.

More stories to follow when we get back!!

We will be picking up Roman's passport today at 3:00 and then going to the orphanage to pick him up after that. Can't wait to see and talk to everyone...we have a lot of stories :)

Also...we are flying out to Moscow as scheduled tomorrow morning. If all goes as planned in Moscow and at the embassy, then we will be home as scheduled on Sunday night, April 30th!!

Two more things...Happy Birthday from Russia to Cindy :) and Happy Wedding to Nate & Anna. We are thinking about you and wish we could be there.

~ gaye, andrew & roman

Andrew & Gaye in Kaliningrad with our Son...

2006-04-22T03:57:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!! Well, it is now Saturday in Kaliningrad and we have just had another visit with Roman. He was in great spirits today...laughing, smiling and throwing himself into our arms :) We actually got to go into the actual orphanage today and wait next door while Roman was finishing his lunch. There was another family there today with their son...they are scheduled to have court on Monday as well. They are from San Diego and were very nice...it will be nice to keep in touch with other families with children from the same orphanage.

Some new news...it looks like we will not have court until possibly Tuesday instead of Monday...we are waiting for an official document from Moscow (at least that is what we can figure out). We might have to change our tickets and fly into Moscow later which would change our arrival date back into the states...we will keep you posted. We are hoping that the later court date will not affect our flights to Moscow...but you never know. Once we get the official word from the courts that we are Roman's parents, there is a lot of paperwork and running around to be done, so it might not get done on time.

All is well here in Russia...Roman still has his perpetual cold that he has had for months, but is such a happy boy. He seemed to remember us and the silver heart bracelet. We should be able to visit with him again tomorrow and Monday before court.

Food is great...we went to a authentic Uzbekhistan Restaurant last night...the food was amazing. Gaye even liked it :)

Havent gone bowling yet...perhaps Yuri is scared of a rematch with Andrew ;)

Will try to post another day once we find out about court and our trip home.

p.s. please post comments...we love to read them

Roman's room...

2006-04-18T10:16:00.000-07:00

My Mom got us a new sage-green gingham chair & ottoman for Roman's room. We rearranged everything to make room for it and now the room looks a lot different.

Perkins thinks he is King of the Jungle Room...okay...last post...really...my parents are picking us up in less than an hour :)

going to russia, going to russia, going to russia...we're coming Roman. We love you!!

Leavin on a jet plane...

2006-04-17T21:04:00.000-07:00

We really are!! We are officially leaving today! We are flying to pick up Roman today! It is 12:02 and our flight leaves TODAY!!! Amazing...all this time spent waiting and now it is here! One week from today, we will officially be Roman's parents...we will be a family!

Here's the map of Russia again for you to look at until one of us posts again...you can think about us over there (as if you weren't already)!!

I miss him so much...I can't wait to see him and snuggle him and hear his beautiful laugh...see his gorgeous smile! My son...OH MY GOSH!! MY SON!!

Okay...I am going to try to calm down because I have to try to get some sleep. I have everything ready except for a few things that are still in the washer/dryer. Roman's bag is packed and zipped up. Ready to go downstairs and into the car. Our bag has a few more things to add...I am trying so hard to just get everything into two, so that we don't have to bring a carry-on (other than our backpacks).

My parents are picking us up tomorrow to take us to the airport...then, we are meeting my sister at the airport to say goodbye.

When we get home, both sets of grandparents are coming to the airport to pick us up and see their grandson for the first time :) I am sure they will have big signs and will be jumping up and down. When we flew in last time after meeting Roman...Andrew's Mom, Beth, had a sign that simply said "Roman's Parents". It was so cute...she just held it up as she was looking for us. Made us really laugh after a long day of traveling.

Beth will be posting for us in our absence...we will try to find a cyber cafe as well, but it is tough in Kaliningrad since we are staying with a family and don't have a lot of free time. Might be more likely in Moscow when we are not sight-seeing and going to the embassy, doctor, etc.

Okay...gotta go switch around the laundry and try to fall asleep...so excited...I can't stand it. Andrew fell asleep at 10:30 and is in there snoring away. But, then he has slept through a hurricane before :)

Thanks to everyone for their well-wishes and love...talk to you soon from Mother Russia.

Happy Birthday Dear Roman...

2006-04-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

Today is Roman's First Birthday!!

Don't worry, Roman...

Mommy and Daddy are on their way...

We will be there to see you in just 3 days!

We can't wait to see you and bring you home...

And together we will be a family, and never alone.

Happy, Happy First Birthday, Roman!!

We love you!

And, Happy Easter...the Easter Bunny has been here :)

New map of Russia

2006-04-15T13:26:00.000-07:00

So, here is a lovely map of Russia that I got from our friends, Elle & D. They are adopting from Khabarovsk, which is on the far right marked with the arrow. We are adopting from Kaliningrad which is the arrow on the far left. Could our children be any farther away from each other?? Opposite ends of Russia.

As I have mentioned before...Kaliningrad is on the Baltic Sea in between Lithuania & Poland. And that is where we will be in just 3.5 days!! With our son!! Amazing!

Rough few days with paperwork and stress levels (mine) and trying to get everything done so we can fly out...you would not believe how much there is to do.

Going out to dinner with some friends in a little bit...really need the distraction and some laughs.

Beautiful day...

2006-04-12T11:50:00.000-07:00

My friends, Elle & D are flying to Khabarovsk next week to meet their son. She and D have made the most amazing video from their last trip there in June 2005. Take a few minutes and check it out. She is flying from Washington state to Seoul to Khabarovsk...and then to Moscow. We will be in Moscow around the same time and we are hoping to meet up.
Same goes for Caroline & Blake, they are travelling for their court date (like us) to become the official parents of their son :) We hope to get together with them as well.

Elle posted a map of Russia on her blog that is so much better than the one I posted a month ago on ours...hers shows all of Russia and then Kaliningrad on the far left side of the map. Khabarovsk, where they are adopting, is on the far right side...our children are a country (plus a few) away from each other right now.

I want to use her map, but I am going to wait for permission from her...and I have to figure out how to do the cool arrow like she did...only pointing to Kaliningrad as well as Khabarovsk.

I haven't really started packing yet...I have all the gifts bought for the host families (one in Kaliningrad & one in Russia), Grey Goose for the facilitator (apparently he likes this brand better than all Russian vodkas combined), more orphanage gifts & caregiver presents. I have all of those laid out with the items for Roman (meds, diapers, wipes, bottles, spoons, toys, books)...not sure if there will be room for our clothes once I get his clothes together. We don't really know what size he is wearing right now...we are estimating 18 months, but I have some 12 months sizes too just in case.

Also...I wanted to correct a previous post that I wrote...the shower that was given for Roman last month, was just for small group of girlfriends that I see & talk to on a daily basis...plus my Mom, my mother-in-law, sister-in-law & Haylee. Sorry if anyone felt excluded...there will be more showers once we get home...family & friends and loved ones :)

Okay...gotta go...going over to Ryan's apartment to have dinner with him and his girlfriend, Amy :)

7 days from today...

2006-04-10T17:37:00.000-07:00

well, 7 and a half days...we fly to Frankfurt, then to Moscow then to Kaliningrad...

2 weeks from today...We have court and will get custody of our son...their is a 10-day waiting period that we are hoping will be waived so that we will be a family on April 24th...

In 3 weeks, we will be home with our son and the fun will begin :)

Haylee's rendition of Roman...

2006-04-08T07:11:00.000-07:00

Our 4-yr old niece, Haylee drew this picture the other day while her Mom, Grandma & I were getting our hair done. She had drawn it the day before on her own and showed it to her Mom...so, she re-drew it for me. She is so excited about Roman coming...her Russian cousin :)

Apparently, it is a picture of Haylee, me & Roman...Uncle Andrew wouldn't fit :) At first, I didn't have arms...but she remedied that rather quickly. Ignore the fact that there is a big dinosaur drawing on the other side that is showing through...I drew that for her to color while she was patiently waiting for us to get done with our hair. She was the entertainment at the salon that night and was very good until she realized we were not going to Chipotle for dinner.

Adoption Brain...

2006-04-06T06:59:00.000-07:00

Is there such a thing? I have heard that pregnant women get "pregnancy brain" because the baby growing inside them uses up some of their brain capacity. Sometimes, women become absent-minded or clumsy...

Well, I know I was those things before we decided to adopt, but it has been getting worse the last few days. Last weekend, while driving a friend to her bridal shower that I was hosting at a restaurant, I kept turning in the wrong directions and making weird u-turns that weren't really u-turns. My friend said I have "adoption brain".

Well, it gets worse...yesterday I fell down the stairs to our basement. Anyone that has been to our house know that our basement stairs are terrible anyways, but I hit the bad step and then missed the bottom step and just went flying down towards the cement wall. And, yes, I hit it...really hard. Apparently, I braced myself with my elbow because it is black & blue and hurts like a banshee. The wall didn't stop my fall though...I kept going towards the 52 inch big-screen in the corner. A was right there standing on a chair changing the halogen bulbs overhead. He just laughed (before he asked if I was okay) and then asked me to carry the long bulbs up to the trash. I said, yeah right...that's all I need is to trip again and then have the halogen bulbs explode and have blood everywhere.

Wait, it doesnt stop there...then, I met E & H for dinner at Chipotle. I couldnt find my keys anywhere...seems I jumped out of the car to greet them and left it running and unlocked. Didnt tell A this...he would probably just scream :)

Hmmm...Adoption brain...I mean it...it exists :)

One more thing...

2006-04-04T14:30:00.000-07:00

The plane tickets arrived today!! This is real now...we have a "lap ticket" with Roman's name on it. With his new last name...

My blogger friends...

2006-04-04T14:18:00.000-07:00

Throughout my blogging experiences, I have made many online friends who are going through the same processes that we are. It is so nice to have friends to talk to that are feeling the same things or can answer questions about their experiences. Thanks to all of you :)

Onto other items...Andrew went and picked up our medical forms yesterday. Our doctor's office is the best and they got them done in record time. Only, Andrew got home with them and I looked at them and the notary in the office forgot to put the seal on the docs. Andrew is a trooper and he worked from home today so that he could drive back over to the doctor's office and have the seal put on the form and pick up the blood work results while he was there. Only, he forgot to get the blood paperwork...no big deal, I am having them mail those as they are an extra added bonus.

So, everything was FedExed off to Richmond today to be apostilled. I am hoping we have it back by Friday, but that might be wishful thinking. The facillitator in Russia had originally told us just to bring this re-done paperwork with us when we fly...now, he wants it earlier. Well, that is probably not going to happen because last time it took the papers over a week to get there via FedEx and we will be there on the 19th. Will have to wait and see...Richmond is "behind" on the authentifications (apostilles), so it might be next week before we get them back.

Our Visa paperwork and passports are going to be taken over to the embassy tomorrow. I am going to learn the processes and how to do that part of the step...it seems like something I could do for people who are adopting. I mean, we are right here where the embassy is. When I went to Panama, I walked in and did the Visa thing myself...Russia seems a little more difficult.

Blah blah blah...last night, I had a girl's night with my sister-in-law (best friend), mother-in-law & niece. We went and got our hair done (well, Haylee just had her bangs cut...the rest of us had color and cut). Then, had a nice dinner. It was a fun night.

16 more days...

2006-04-02T17:52:00.000-07:00

Until we fly to Frankfurt, 17 more days until we get to Kaliningrad...18 more days until we get to see our sweet Roman again. 22 more days until court...

I can't believe that we will be parents in less than a month...unbelievable!!

Everything is ready to go...still waiting on the Letter of Invitation (little piece of paper that says they want us to come adopt Roman), and the signed of medical forms. Usually, 8 different doctors have to sign this while in Russia being examined by those same 8 doctors. Luckily, our region allows us to have a doctor perform all the same tests here in the states. Then, we had to get a letter from the VA Board of Medicine stating that our doctor was qualified to diagnose in all the different areas. Doc had to go out of town last week on a family emergency...hoping he will come back to the office tomorrow to see the results of our blood tests and sign off on the paper.

Next step...sending (or driving) them down to Richmond for the apostille (state seal). I wish I could just type up that little form and put that pretty gold seal sticker on the paperwork :)

Tomorrow, I have to FedEx our Visa invitations to be processed...fun times, fun times...

Gotta go...Andrew just came upstairs to watch a movie with me. Down time :)

My other babies...

2006-03-29T18:40:00.000-08:00

Gotta give my kitties some props...since the whole peeing on me thing, they have not been out of sorts at all. Even with us going out of town and coming back and the guests we had this past weekend...they have been fine. Sox hides as usual, and Perkins is all up in everyone's business...but they both come out when there are voices they know for sure :)

This photo above on the left is of Sox's little feet poking out from under the covers...her favorite place to hide. The photo on the right is Perkins hanging out in the basket on the top of Roman's dresser...2 smaller baskets inside of a bigger one and my 16 pound cat curls up in the one of the small ones.

And, the photo on the bottom is how my kitties always are with each other...this was taken yesterday as Sox came up and plopped herself down right on top of Perkie and there they stayed...always snuggling up with each other.

"Welcome to the Jungle..."

2006-03-28T16:50:00.000-08:00

That's where you are baby...you're in the jungle now...

Yes, I know I am a big dork, but I just can't help it...I want everyone to see the cute things that we received for Roman's shower on Sunday. So many wonderful gifts from family and friends. His room is almost ready now...and so is his bathroom. We just need a few more things for our trip...

I really hope that Roman likes monkeys and lions & giraffes and pandas...I know those aren't really the jungle, but it came from friends of our from the DC Zoo where the new baby Panda was born recently.

Plus, I just needed to do something to get my mind off all of this paperwork that we still need to get finished...don't even get me started on the medical stuff that was thrown on us at the last minute even though I asked our coordinator a month ago about it. We had our TB tests redone today...tomorrow we go for our other blood tests. Hopefully, I will have everything back in my hands by Friday or Monday (at the latest) and I can send everything back down to Richmond to be apostilled...we have our police reports and all the other paperwork that needs the official Virginia seal done...just waiting for the medical. Our doctor rocks...he is so great about helping us do all of our forms. If only the VA Medical Board would be so helpful.

The shower was wonderful on Sunday...hosted by my mother-in-law & sister-in-law (who also happens to be one of my best friends). My other best friend, Colleen, came into town from Phoenix just for the shower weekend and Friday night, we went out for a "girl's night" or my "last hurrah" before I become a Mommy. Our other good friends, Carrie & Kathy & Suzanne were there too...we had so much fun!! I love my girlfriends...they are the greatest!

On Thursday night, I am going to my first FRUA "Mom's Night Out" event at Corner Bakery in Fairfax...I am excited because my blogger friend, Jen, is meeting me there...first time we will meet in person :) YAY!!

I can't believe we leave for Russia to bring home our son in just three weeks...unbelievable!!

Roman and other things...

2006-03-24T11:48:00.000-08:00

So, I saw something like this in the PB catalog, but each letter cost $10. I came up with the brilliant idea that I could buy some unfinished letters and paint them and it would look as cute. Well, my materials cost me less than $15 which is much better than the $50+ from PB.

Anyways...now, that I have them finished, I am not sure if I really like the way they look...hmmm...

We talked to the International Adoption specialist today...he reviewed the DVD of Roman and gave us his professional opinion on his growth & development...

Roman was 11 months old when we met him and took the video. The Doctor said that his motor skills (crawling/cruising, pulling to standing, gesture games, etc) are at around a 9-10 month old level. He is just a little behind, but really close to what his age should be doing. For his language skills, since we really couldn't get him to babble (mamamam dadada) at all, and he was just laughing and smiling...that puts him at around a 5-month level. Doesn't really mean his language skills are that slow or that he can't babble...it just means we need to work on it and hopefully, he will start the babbling soon.

The Doctor said it wasnt surprising that he wasn't babbling because the babies in the orphanage do not hear their caregivers talking a lot...so, we the "family therapy" when we get home is crucial. All the things we would naturally be doing...loving him, stimulating him, and talking to him constantly. If he is not babbling/making sounds/talking after a few months, then we will go from there. his hearing will be checked when we get home, just to make sure that is not a problem. If he can't hear the sounds, then he can't make them. He seems to hear just fine though...

Well, gotta go to the airport in Baltimore...my best friend, Colleen, is coming into town this weekend for Roman's baby shower :)

We bought our plane tickets!!

2006-03-23T12:34:00.000-08:00

We will be back in Kaliningrad in less than a month...unbelievable. We fly out on April 18th and arrive in Kaliningrad in the evening on the 19th. Then we will visit with Roman on the 20th, 21st & 22nd. Court is on the 24th and hopefully the judge will waive the 10-day waiting period. If all goes well, we will become Roman's parents on the 24th and we will fly to Moscow with him on the 27th and home to Virgina on the 30th.

Alot of "ifs" in this scenario, but I am going to think positively and that everything will go smoothly.

We received our VA State Police clearances today as well as the updated documents from the home study agency. We are waiting to hear what kind of medical stuff has to be re-done and waiting for our letter of invitation to arrive...then, we will send off our passports to have Visas put in them and send the rest of the documents down to Richmond to be apostilled.

We are going to hand-deliver everything back over to Kaliningrad. No point in sending them FedEx again because it takes forever anyways. If we take them, we can guarantee that they will be safely in Russia and translated for court.

Boy, am I ever babbling...can you tell I am excited? I am so glad that I have so much to keep me busy with paperwork and my job so that I don't think about Roman still being in Russia without us too much. I think about him all the time, but I am too busy to be sad.

I want to take a minute to tell some of my fellow adoptive families that I am thinking about them. I am so sorry that referrals have been lost and visits not granted, waiting periods not waived. You guys have been so wonderful and supportive and I am here for you :)

~ gaye

Roman...

2006-03-21T16:26:00.000-08:00

Such a wonderful little boy...so full of energy, giggles & smiles. By the 3 day of our visits with him, his little face would just light up into the biggest smile as soon as he saw us there waiting for him. And when you tickle him, he just laughs and laughs and puts his face right up to my face and snuggles. I can't believe that we will be traveling back over to Russia in less than a month and he will officially be our son. Our son that we have been waiting so long for...our son that we have been dreaming of...our son to make our family complete...

He has the biggest blue-green eyes...and the blondest hair that sticks straight up on his head. (I am going to spike it up once in awhile, I won't be able to resist). When he starts to smile, you see it in his eyes first as they have a little twinkle in them and then his mouth follows behind and you see his 6 little teeth.

And boy, what a grip our son has...just try taking the toy back from him that he stole from another little boy. No way is he letting go. "Strong like bull" as Andrew would say.

I can't wait to dress him in the cute outfits we have bought for him and get him out of all of those layers they dress him in. When he comes into the room, he is bundled up from head to toe and is usually wearing a pink jacket and pink sweater pants...I will not take pictures of him wearing that :)

I am really babbling...I just can't stop thinking about our son and that he will be home with us in the states in a little over a month.

Roman...we miss you!!

Okay, so I know it is past "tomorrow"...

2006-03-20T14:39:00.000-08:00

But, I have been so tired since we got back and today I spent the entire day getting errands and new paperwork requests done...

I promise that I will try to write some tomorrow. The past 2 nights in a row, Andrew & I have both woken up at 6:00 a.m. and then at 4:00 a.m. and have been unable to go back to sleep...

Dreaming of Roman...

We are home...

2006-03-18T21:23:00.000-08:00

And going to bed after 24 full hours of travelling!!

Will fill everyone in tomorrow...thanks for all the comments and love.

~ gaye & drew :)

A Man's Perspective...under influence and with time

2006-03-17T10:50:00.000-08:00

Gaye's message should be read first...

So, I partially blame McLean for this one, as I am reading a book he recommened a long time ago... I do apologize for the delay McLean, but now was a great time, especially heading to Ayn's home country. For all those counting, I'm reading "The Fountainhead". And in the spirit, I'll start with the architecture (I'll get to Roman, but I can't possible cover it as Gaye has). There are two things that Russian do well, feed and build building that can withstand a small nuclear warhead. The walls of the homes all all concrete, at least a foot thick. And simple. The house we were in, a box, long wide "hallways" in the middle, rooms on either side. The stairs? outside - a half cylinder on the outside of the house with the stairs running up it. All rooms were square, (almost) all hallways and rooms had doors, top of the stairs, bottom, closets. Very functional, very elgant in it's simplicity.

Streets? dirty, but a clean dirty. The snow was black, but there was no trash. The roads had holes the size of me. Driving was an exercise in polite rudeness. Everone cut everyone else off, but no one minded. I can image that there is little crime there. They all have the same goal; to survive. Do what you need to do, not the attitude of Americans, didn't see much of a social inequality. I guess the communist mentality not only lives, but thrives. Very enjoyable to see in practice, but shoveling coal as a result, not for everybody.

Speaking of, Gaye got a lecture on that, Sergei had to shovel a few times because a certain wife of mine went crazy in the shower. After that, between the two of us, we probably spent a total of 10 minutes in the whower over a 4 days period.

Wow, almost forgot about the food, what a terrific experience. Vasilika (sp?) can really cook. But wow, I think she believes that Americans want to be fat. She expected us to eat for an army. Three meals a day, 3/4 courses each. Each course would have filled me up. The most amazing point, was when she gave us a huge casserole of meat, potatoes, and cheese (they aren't eating meat right now, so it was all ours), and then, I made it down to about 20% left (because she was urging me to eat more), so she made me a cheeseburger! For breakfast! Of course, we had Mango Coconut and snicker ice cream for dinner one night. Oh, and Apple cake. Unbelievable.

On to the pressing matter, Roman. What a great kid. He's wonderful and I'm so happy he will be growing up with us. I couldn't imagine a more perfect child. We were meant to be his parents. I'd go into details, but my time's about up, and Gaye got the general idea covered. We're so lucky to be his future parents.

BTW, thanks Alonzo and John for the European prep, it's certainly enlightening and was most useful.

And we are back in Warsaw again...

2006-03-17T10:32:00.000-08:00

Andrew & I are once again in Warsaw after spending 4.5 days in Kaliningrad with our handsome son, Roman. It was amazing to see the transformation in him from day to day. We actually got to meet him on Monday as planned, but just for an hour. He was a little overwhelmed and pretty quiet, but cracked lots of smiles and giggles. He crawled for us and passed his toys from hand-to-hand...we were watching for all the developmental signs. The doctor met with us before our visit with him and we were able to ask her questions about his growth & development.

Then, off we went with HUGE smiles and many photos to Sergei & Vasileeka's (sp?) house (that looked like a castle) off in the suburbs of Kaliningrad. We walked in the door and were told 5 mins until dinner...and what a dinner we had. It started off the many, many huge meals that Vasileeka would cook for us, but I will leave that to Andrew to tell you about, because his stomach was very happy the whole time.

Days 2 & 3 with Roman we saw many changes in him. He smiled immediately upon seeing us again and we really got him laughing and babbling and his smile could light up the room. Days 1, 2 & 3 with Roman, we were with him on our down in the Doctor's office. Nice and quiet place for us to really get to know him and for him to get familiar with us.

Day 4...what a day...we were in a room with 2 other families and their babies. Babies everywhere. We really got to see Roman interact with others besides us. We decided he might just be the bully as he stole many toys on his crawling journeys across the room. Look out Haylee...hide your toys :)

Then, court to meet with the judge one-on-one...HOORAY!! We have our court date and it is April 24th at 11:00 a.m. We will be flying to Kaliningrad the Wednesday before that.

We went bowling on the evening of Day 4 with Yuri & Sergei...and yes, Andrew embarassed the poor guys when he got three strikes in a row in the first 3 frames!! He won some kind of crazy contest on the first 2 games and got 2 free "shots" of whiskey!! Yeah, right...those were big "shots". Yuri was not happy with losing :)

Day 5 was our short 45 minute visit with Roman to say goodbye...we were alone with him which was good. We made friends with another family, though and hope to stay in contact with them. They were taking their son home next week...

Roman was full of energy today and seemed sad to be putting his coat on to leave after such a short play-time.

Now, we are in Warsaw again...but this time, by choice. There were no flights out to DC via Chicago on Lot today, so we are spending the night at the lovely Courtyard Marriott which is right across the street.

We just had dinner and it was a "St. Patrick's Day" buffet...complete with Irish Stew and Shepard's Pie. And Irish folk songs (along with some Scottish ones thrown in) while we dined. Now we are just in the Internet Room and Andrew wants to do his own post after mine...beware :)

It is 7:30 pm here now in Poland...or around that. Poland is 6 hours ahead of us in Virginia. So...both sets of MOms & Dads...give us a call when you get home from work :) We will be up. Love to everyone...especially, dear sweet Roman. ~gaye

p.s. I didn't cry until the plane was taking off from Kaliningrad, but as Andrew said "he has been without us for 11 months, one more month will go fast"

They meet at last!

2006-03-14T16:54:00.000-08:00

Gaye's mom received a phone call from Andrew and Gaye saying they had finally arrived! They actually went to the orphanage today and the word from across the continents is, "Roman is beautiful! He smiles and laughs and everything is just wonderful!" One little glitch to work out- something to do with the paperwork,but according to them it should be no problem. More news as it arrives! We certainly are all so excited!

Misadventures

2006-03-12T13:48:00.000-08:00

As far as we know, Andrew and Gaye are currently on a plane heading to Warsaw, Poland. They left yesterday afternooon from Dulles airport and had a short flight to Chicago. That is where the trouble began. Like the first trip to Russia, they've had a few delays along the way. In Chicago, they were on the plane ready to go to Warsaw when the crew noticed the plane had a flat tire. They sat on the plane for a few hours, hoping that the tire would be fixed. Instead they had to deboard the plane and spend the night in Chicago. They got to the Chicago airport early this morning and again had a delayed flight. We haven't heard from them since this morning, so we're assuming they're on a plane right now heading to Warsaw. Once in Warsaw they will (hopefully) get on a plane and be in Kaliningrad by 2:45pm (Kaliningrad time). They have spoken with the coordinator from their adoption agency and she is working with the contact in Kaliningrad to get their meeting with the Kaliningrad government changed from Monday to Tuesday. Hopefully they will get to see Roman on Tuesday!!! That is all we know so far. We will update the blog again as soon as we have any new information. Thank you to everyone for their love and support. I know that Andrew and Gaye truly appreciate it!

Photos, photos & more photos...

2006-03-10T11:06:00.000-08:00

This is a photo of the suitcase that has all the donations for the orphanage. Medicines, lotions, shampoo, teething rings, socks, t-shirts, bibs, outfits, a couple of toys. We are going to carry this one on the plane with us and our toiletries and clothes for our meeting with the Ministry of Education on Monday. So, if nothing else makes it there, at least we will look nice and the orphanage will have some nice things.

This is the guest room...or packing central. Piles and pile of clothes, toiletries, gifts and stuff. Hopefully everything will fit into the suitcase. We want to only take one that we will check in addition to the carry-on. Then, Andrew will take a backpack with the camera and the DVD player. And I will have my big Vera Bradley purse.

The elephant on the right is a big squishy pillow that I bought for Roman. It fits perfectly on the back of the rocking chair or the side of the crib. It is so soft and cuddly, I couldn't resist. It was made by a company called Jelly Cat (http://www.justjellycat.co.uk). There stuff is so cute. A little pricey, but so nice.

This is Roman's room. We are keeping the twin bed in there in case one of us needs to sleep in there with him some nights. The quilt is new. We don't have the crib set yet, but hopefully soon. It all looks so great together.

Can you tell I'm excited...geeesh!! Don't forget to leave your comments for us :)

Visa & passport dances...

2006-03-10T10:53:00.000-08:00

Yes, that's right, they did arrive yesterday...I didn't realize how tense I was about them until they actually came. Then, I literally crashed...I fell sound asleep for an hour while waiting for my Mom to come pick me up for Costco.

Costco was fun...Mom bought me 2 books for the plane and we shopped and had a good time. If you can believe it, I did not buy anything :)

Our neighbors/friends from across the street came over with their 2 little boys last night to say goodbye to us before our trip. We ordered pizza and just relaxed...

Perkins the cat is getting a little anxious...he knows something is up. He sees the suitcases and piles of clothes and he is not allowed in the back 2 bedrooms for fear that he will mess things up. He does not like being locked out of places...he is king of the house. Well, he must have been really pissed last night because he peed on me...that's right, you heard correctly, the most amazing, wonderful cat in the world urinated on me. I was laying on the bed talking to Andrew and had a big, baggy overalls...I didn't even notice that he had done it until I got up and kept smelling cat urine and realized I was wet. GROSS!!! Then, he threw up...

My poor baby. I took him to the Vet today just to make sure there is nothing else wrong with him and it is just stress. I haven't heard back from the office yet on the results of his urinalysis. if he has no infection and he keeps doing this, my sweet kitty will join the Prozac Nation and start on "kitty prozac" when we get home. If he does have an infection, our house & petsitter, Ryan will have fun trying to give him his antibiotics while we are gone =^..^= That is supposed to be a cat, can you tell?

So, except for actually putting the piles of our clothes into the suitcases, we are ready. We have our cash to take, we have the cameras & dvd players all charged and ready to go, we have given out our emergency numbers to family. I have some pics to post, but the Image posting thingy doesn't seem to be working right now. I will try again later...

Thanks to everyone again for their support & love...we will try to post while we are in Kaliningrad. Our flight leaves at 2:30 tomorrow and we get into Russia at 2:30 their time. We will be home on Saturday the 18th...and sleeping. Feel free to call or stop by on the 19th to see pics.

Thanks for watching our house and kitties, Ryan.

Anna...I hope you have a wonderful bridal shower tomorrow...sorry I am going to miss it.

Love to everyone...gaye

p.s. please post comments while we are gone. I love to read them and it will make us feel closer to home. :)

2 days to go...

2006-03-08T22:26:00.000-08:00

I know I should be posting more and letting everyone know what's going on and what I am feeling, but that's just it...I don't really know what I am feeling except anxiety. Anxiety about flying, anxiety about meeting Roman for the first time, anxiety about packing, anxiety about every little freaking thing. I am sure this is normal, but it doesnt feel so normal sometimes...

Especially when one of the cats pees on one of our suitcases...luckily, there was nothing packed in it at the time. Then, the cat would have been in even bigger trouble. Not sure which cat it was or when it happened...

I am trying to pack lightly...one whole smaller carry-on suitcase has all of the items to donate to the orphanage: clothes, toys, socks, medicines, books, etc. In that suitcase, I am packing our clothes that we will wear to the Ministry of Education meeting on Monday and to meet Roman for the first time, PJs & some essential toiletries. That way, if the other bag doesnt make it to Kaliningrad, at least we have our nice clothes there with us and the donations.

The other bigger suitcase will have the rest of our clothes and the gifts for the orphanage director, workers & the host family. Found out the host family is not really a family, just one youngish man...so, I have to find a different present. I really don't think he will like the stationary and journal that I bought.

And, all of this on top of trying to continue to work a full 40-hour work week while listening to the roofers banging on our roof...they are fixing the hole that the tree so graciously left behind.

Okay, so I am rambling, but it is 1:30 a.m. and I was awakened by the Carbon Monoxide detector beeping very loudly...so now, I am worried that we have Carbon Monoxide in our house which rationally, I know we don't, but alas...

On a brighter note...our passports & visas are being hand-delivered today sometime. And we will have an escort walk us through security at the airport on Saturday...god bless my sister who works for TSA.

2006-03-06T05:58:00.000-08:00

WOO HOO!! Looks like the documents are really on their way to Kaliningrad now...according to the FedEx tracker, as of 2:58 pm Moscow time, they are "in transit"

And, the contractors are finally here to fix the big hole in my roof where the tree hit almost 2 months ago...things are looking up :)

We are leaving in just 6 days!!!

2006-03-05T19:25:00.000-08:00

Can you believe it? We are leaving in 6 days and will meet Roman for the first time in just 8 days. In 8 days, I will hold my son in my arms for the first time...in 8 days, I will finally be a mother...in 8 days, we will see the beginnings of our little family.

Then, in 12 days, I will have to say goodbye to little Roman and tell him that Mommy and Daddy will be back soon. In 13 days, I will board a plane towards home again and I know I will be crying my eyes out because I had to leave my son behind...

Okay, enough sad things. Let's talk about our wonderful friends that have come together with so much love & support for us. A good friend came over to Andrew's parent's house today and gave us several adorable outfits to take with us to donate to the orphanage. And, others have given us learning toys, books, bibs...so incredible. We will have one whole suitcase filled with items for the orphanage.

I am also working on filling a little photo album with pics of us for Roman to look at when we fly home...it is the cutest little album given to us by Erica & Carrie. It is squishy and he can chew on it and not do any damage :)

I went shopping today for gifts for the orphanage director, the workers, the host family, etc...thanks to everyone who gave me such great ideas. I think that I have found some pretty nice things within our budget. Its so hard to know what people will like and enjoy. I still need to get a couple more things, but for the most part, I am done shopping and ready to start putting everything into the suitcases.

I am kind of babbling tonight...I have the Oscars on behind me. I keep turning around to see what the audience is laughing about. I'm so happy that George Clooney won, now if Joaquin & Reese win, I will be even happier :) I never really watch the whole show...I like the pre-show interviews and then I TiVo the actual show and skip through the parts that I don't care about. Andrew went to bed and I am kind of wired...too much Diet Coke today, I guess...not ready to go to bed and I was behind on my blog reading and posting.

My adoption blogging community friends have had some very good news lately...people will be travelling soon and meeting or bringing home their children. Such wonderful news! I am so happy for everyone!!

One more thing...I checked the FedEx tracker and apparently, our documents are in Moscow, but they are apparently being held up there for a "Regulatory agency clearance delay" and a "shipment exception". Not really sure what that means, but at least they are in Russia and will soon be on their way to Kaliningrad.

Also...our Visas & passports are being hand-delivered on Thursday. WOO HOO!!

HOORAY!!!

2006-03-02T10:14:00.000-08:00

All of the apostilled documents came from Richmond today and after making copies of everything...I am happy to announce that EVERYTHING has been Fedexed to Russia and should get there on Monday. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my chest and I can move onto the deciding what to pack and what we don't need.

We still need to get our passports and visas back in the mail, but we have 6 more days to get those, so I am not worried (yet)...

Packing...my husband doesn't do it...ever. Even if we are just going away for a weekend trip. Well, I guess he would do it in a crunch, but then he would end up with one pair of socks for 4 days. I went out yesterday and bought us each a new pair of jeans that will actually look nice if we have to wear them a couple days in a row while in Russia. We are both going to look like Americans because we both LOVE wearing tennis shoes and rarely wear anything else. Well, we will wear boots if there is a lot of snow in winter or I will wear flip-flops in summer if I feel like showing my feet that day (my fear of feet is an entirely different story).

So, we have a few items/donations for the orphanage...clothes, medicines, socks, etc. We need to get some gifts for our host family, the orphange director and the workers. Anyone out there have any ideas? When we traveled over last time, the facilitator and translator looked at us like we were crazy for getting them chocolates & coffees. HELP!!

I also bought some of the new "Airborne" medicine to try because I always get sick after flying. There is no proof that this stuff works, but I am willing to try anything...

Please leave comments with ideas of what to bring for gifts...and if you live in my area and would like to donate items for the orphanage, let me know and I will tell you what they need.

~ gaye

Wholesale clubs rock!!!

2006-02-28T17:59:00.000-08:00

I went to BJ's Wholesale Club with my friends, Carrie & Shane tonight and can I tell you how much it rocked!! We belong to Costco, but BJs has so much more baby stuff. I bought the car seat that we wanted and it was $20 less than at Target.

And, of course, I had to buy a new outfit...so flippin cute...a little baseball outfit. Andrew just rolled his eyes at me. I think we are good with clothes now...we have them running the gamut in sizes from 12 months to 24 months cause we just don't know what will fit him. Many of them have been handed-down to us from friends with boys. Thanks to everyone for helping us out.

Also...I haven't gotten the Fedex'd papers back from Richmond yet. You would think that since I drove them down there and they said they would push them through, that I would have gotten them today. Hopefully, they at least were sent out.

The baby room is looking so great...I still have a lot to do. We don't have any toys for ROman yet, but we can worry about those later. I just want to make sure I have the necessities covered.

Cute things...

2006-02-27T05:40:00.000-08:00

Andrew laughed at me when I took these pictures of the new window treatments, but I knew that someone would be interested :)

Plus, I just love the little animals and wanted to share them.

I went Glider shopping on Saturday with my mother-in-law & sister-in-law...we found one we all loved that we can get in a fabric that will match the green on top of the valance...so expensive though so we are waiting.

I will have to take more pics of Roman's new clothes, but these are the outfits that his Daddy loves the most...he actually got them for his last birthday before we even knew we were adopting a little boy :) Now, we just need to get him some Toronto Maple Leafs clothing to add to his wardrobe and his Daddy will never stop smiling :)

So tired...

2006-02-26T18:50:00.000-08:00

We did so much today...bought new faux-wood blinds for Roman's room and put them and one of the valances up. It looks so terrific...we were very pleased :)

Then...drumroll please...Andrew actually said we could go shopping for clothes for Roman. This is the first time he has said, "Okay, let's buy some baby clothes". He was being cautious before, but now this is all so real. We have our plane tickets, we have seen photos of Roman...tomorrow we have an appointment with the International Adoption Specialist....so, we went for it and bought some of the cutest outfits. And, my friend (and neighbor), Kathy has 2 boys (ages 2 & 5), so she loaded me up with some great hand-me-downs.

Today I asked Andrew if the reality has hit him yet that in just a short time we will be parents and responsible for another human being...he just kind of laughed and said that he has never been more ready....

What a fun day, but now I am exhausted. I am going to climb into bed and watch Grey's Anatomy (my favorite show) and crash.

Thanks to everyone for their support and comments...I love reading them. Please keep them coming.

Hi Ho Hi Ho, off to Richmond we go...

2006-02-24T14:14:00.000-08:00

Well, I just got back from spending 4.5 hours in the car driving to and from Richmond, the state capitol of Virginia...because of delays in getting our paperwork to us in a timely manner, I decided that I should hand-deliver the documents to be apostilled* in person. So, as soon as the FedEx truck pulled up in front of our house at 12:11 p.m., I ran out the door and proceeded to tell the driver that I loved him. Yes, I really did tell him that I loved him and when he looked at me strangely, I told him that I had to drive the envelope down to Richmond. He smiled really big and told me to have a great day...

If he only knew how happy I was to see that little white, orange & purple truck...after my meltdown last night when we didnt get the paperwork yesterday. Big time meltdown (even Andrew got a little teary-eyed by my sobbing, poor thing)!! Then, this morning, our coordinator calls and tells me that the company that I sent our passports and Visa applications to on Tuesday went out of business and she had to find someone else to do the invitation** and process the Visas at the Russian embassy. That almost started another crying jag, but I held it together...

My friend (and neighbor), Kathy took the rest of the day off work today and happily got in the minivan with me for the drive to Richmond. We had fun...talked, listened to music, etc. It took us exactly 7 minutes from the time we entered the building that houses the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office until we were back in the car. Unfortunately, they don't do expedited service, but me dropping it off sped it up a day or two. I was hoping that if I told her my story again (I had already told her on the phone), that she would give me those pretty little stickers while I waited. No such luck...

So, then we were on our way home...and we decided to hit the great southern classic dive restaurant, Waffle House. We realized that they don't take credit cards and between us we only had $13, so we split a double waffle order and a large hashbrowns. We were so proud of our ability to budget :0) We must have looked like dorks pulling up in our expensive minivan and then having to count coins to be able to eat. We were able to give the waiter a $2.00 on our $10 check.

On our way home after that, we thought about stopping at Potomac Mills outlet mall and shopping for baby stuff...we were both so tired, we changed our minds and headed across the street in opposite directions to take naps. What a day, huh??

*an apostille is a piece of paper that states that the person who notarized your marriage license, criminal record, passport copies, etc is a valid notary in the state. They type up a simple page and put a pretty gold sticker on it all for the bargain price of $10.00 per page. We had 18 pages today, so I wrote a check for $180. Over the past year, we have spent $850 on Apostilling fees. Hopefully, this is the last of it.

**The Russian government has to send you a letter of invitation for you to visit their country before you can apply for or receive a Visa to travel there. All for the reasonable price of $225 per Visa for a one-time visit within 30 days.

Pics...

2006-02-23T12:13:00.000-08:00

Still waiting for documents from the social worker so I can FedEx them down to Richmond for the Apostille...hmmm, wonder if I will be driving down there insted!!!

This is the gang at the DC Cowboys show...Across the front are my sister-in-law, Erica, me, and Carrie in the pink. I don't know the girl in the green or the girl in the white behind me...well, that's not totally true. They are friends of Adam's from work, but I didn't really talk to them. I am kind of leaning on Ryan who is behind me and then there's Amy...then Adam on the top right.

Then...self-explanatory...our crib and the new shower curtain.

Scatterbrained in Virginia...

2006-02-22T17:18:00.000-08:00

Last Friday night, I went out with my girlfriends to dinner because our friend, Anna, was in town from Denver. We had such a great time at this little dive restaurant...it was great because we could just sit there for hours talking and laughing and never feeling like we were being pushed out the door. Anna will be home again in March for her wedding shower and then in April for her wedding to Nathan. It will be such a fun wedding :)

After dinner, my sister-in-law, Erica, our friend Carrie & I went downtown to meet our other friends, Ryan and Adam at a country bar to see the DC Cowboys dance. The Cowboys are a dance troupe here in DC that my sister, Penny, manages. We hung out with my sister for a little while, but then she disappeared and we didn't see her again. Didn't faze us though, we had so much fun and got to meet Amy, the girl that Ryan has been dating for a month or so. Adam had some other friends with him, but I didn't really talk to them much. We sang "Summer Lovin" from Grease...Carrie was Olivia Newton John and Ryan was John Travolta. Pretty funny...I tried to post some pics, but they wouldn't take. I will try again later. I was the designated (oh so cool) driver in my Sienna Minivan...we were jammin :) Andrew didn't go...he stayed home with our brother-in-law, Brent and our niece, Haylee.

As far as the adoption and our upcoming trip, I feel like I am running around in circles and not really accomplishing anything...I know I need to put the laundry away, but writing a list of things to bring to Russia takes precedence, but then I get distracted from that and decide to check some blogs of my online friends. I honestly feel like I am in a dreamworld right now and I need to get my butt in gear and get ready for Russia...we will meet our son in just 18 days!!

We have the crib up and now I just need to get the rest of his room ready. I got a new shower curtain at Target to match our crib bedding...going with the safari/jungle theme throughout. I love what we have chosen...so cute.

Now, a little venting...we have re-done and re-notarized everything we needed to for our updated dossier. Everything is ready to be apostilled only we haven't gotten the paperwork from our social worker yet...time is running out since we need to have everything in Russia at least a week before we travel so it can be translated. I am a little hyper...and a little annoyed. At least we got everything sent out to get our russian visas this morning...we should have those next week :)

Oh, also...I made a big decision made this week. Well, less of a decision and more of a reality check. Now that we know when we will be traveling to Russia to meet our son, Roman...I decided not to go on the "girl's trip" to Las Vegas with my friends in April. Realistically, there is no way I could have gone once we found out we would be flying out March 11th, but a little part of me wasn't ready to cancel my trip yet. I finally did it a couple of days ago...told my friends that I couldn't go with them and changed the hotel reservation to my sister-in-law's name. Of course, everyone understands and... sorry Carrie & Cristine, but flying to Russia is a little more important than your birthday & bachelorette parties right now :) I will be with you in spirit and I am looking forward to the drunk-dialing phone calls that I am sure I will receive while you are there.

Well, I am going to go watch the olympics now...I love hearing the Russian names of the athletes.

Kaliningrad and our son :)

2006-02-22T05:29:00.000-08:00

We received more information about our son yesterday. He is a healthy boy of 11 months...he has blond hair and blue eyes and is so adorable. Our son's given Russian name is Roman. We have decided to keep Roman as his name to keep his Russian heritage :)

We bought our plane tickets on Monday...we fly out on March 11th and will be back in the states on March 18th. We will get to see our son in just 19 days!! I can't believe it!!

Here is a map and some information on Kaliningrad because most people don't know much if anything about the region. My Mother-in-Law and I went there in August for the first trip to hand-deliver our paperwork.

Russia's smallest oblast (region) of Kaliningrad is an exclave located 200 miles away from the border of Russia proper. Kaliningrad was a spoil of World War II, allocated from Germany to the Soviet Union at the Potsdam Conference that divided Europe between the allied powers in 1945. The oblast is a wedge-shaped piece of land along the Baltic Sea between Poland and Lithuania, approximately one-half the size of Belgium, 5,830 mi2 (15,100 km2). The oblast's primary and port city is also known as Kaliningrad.

Known as Konigsberg prior to Soviet occupation, the region was renamed Kaliningrad in 1946 after Mikhail Kalinin, formal "leader" of the Soviet Union from 1919 until 1946. At the time, Germans living in the oblast were forced out, to be replaced with Soviet citizens. While there were early proposals to change the name of Kaliningrad back to Konigsberg, none were successful.

Approximately 400,000 people live in metropolitan Kaliningrad and a total of nearly one million are in the oblast, which is approximately one-fifth forested.

IT'S A BOY!!! IT'S A BOY!!!

2006-02-17T14:41:00.000-08:00

That's right...we finally got word...our baby will be a boy!! We are still waiting for the official referral for the age, name, medical info, etc...but, we know enough today that we were able to go ahead and start working on re-doing some paperwork and we can get our flights scheduled over the weekend if we find good ones.

Yuri wants us in Kaliningrad on Monday, March 12th...so, we will be traveling either on Friday the 10th or Saturday the 11th. There are only 1 or 2 flights a day into Kaliningrad...one from Warsaw and maybe one from Moscow, so scheduling this is a little difficult. We might have to spend a night on the way. Then, he says we will be going back to Kaliningrad 4 weeks after we get home to bring our baby home with us forever.

Today, we went and got another copy of our marriage license triple-sealed...Virginia requires it that way for some reason. Made the mistake last time of mailing one off to be Apostilled (given the state seal) only to have them send it back to me. Then, we went and got our police records. There are just a couple of other things to update and we are on our way. I am hoping to have everything done & notarized and Fedexed off to Richmond on Tuesday...then, off to Russia it goes.

We are still awaiting a photo of our baby and his name...we want to keep the Russian name, so hearing the name is so important to us. And, of course the important medical information. But just knowing that a child has been chosen for us is so exciting...now if I can just stop myself from freaking out every hour :)

I won't be able to post the photo on this blog, but I will let you know when we have one. I am going out tonight with my girlfriends for a much-needed night of dinner, conversation and relaxation.

Happy Valentine's Day...

2006-02-14T14:15:00.000-08:00

Well, my prediction that we would be celebrating Valentine's Day in Russia did not come true, but....we did receive an email this morning from our adoption coordinator...she said that we will be emailed our referral and photos "any day this month". And we will travel very quickly after we receive it. The Russian facillitator is very pleased and sees this moving along quickly...

Our fingerprints expire May 5th, but the coordinator says we will be home with our child before they expire. Hmmm...will we? I say yes :) I just can't wait to see the photo of our baby...and to start shopping for baby things. We have held off since we didn't know if we would be adopting a boy or a girl. We didn't go pick up the crib on Sunday from our friends because of the snow. Once we have that in the room it will see more real.

Now...onto other things. It's Valentine's Day and do you know where my adorable husband is taking me for dinner? That's right, you guessed it...CHIPTOLE. And, yes, we do have our receipts to get our free burritos today :) Actually, Chipotle was my idea since it is free...tomorrow we are going to a nice dinner and a movie or something.

snow daze....

2006-02-12T18:29:00.000-08:00

Well, the weathermen were finally correct about how much snow we were going to get hit with...it started later in the day on Saturday, but by the time we woke up Sunday morning, we had 10 inches on the ground and no power. So, we started shoveling our huge driveway...

Then, our neighbors invited us in for breakfast and then Andrew helped them shovel their driveway while I played with their kids in the snow. Andrew, the good samaritan, then went and helped 3 other older neighbors shovel their driveways & sidewalks. He was so tired when he came in...we both were. We didn't do much the rest of the day but relax, nap, read and watch movies.

On Sunday, we went to the FRUA-DC "waiting parents" meeting. We met a few other couples who were adopting from Russia, the Ukraine, etc. Some were in the same place we were with the waiting, others had just started the process and some were about to travel. It helped to talk to others about their experiences.

Its now Monday and, of course, their has been no news on our referral except that our coordinator really things we will be back in the U.S. with our baby before our fingerprints expire on May 5th. Hmm....

Our niece is here now for a sleepover...on a "school night". She is four and stayed over so we could sled with her friends across the street. Fun times :)

Early morning craziness...

2006-02-10T03:58:00.000-08:00

So, I had the bright idea that it would be a good idea to get up every morning at 6:00 a.m. and walk with my husband before he goes to work...we started this past Monday morning, then I didn't get up early again until this morning. I tried, I really tried, I just could not drag my butt out of bed the other mornings. But, 2 mornings this week is pretty good for this non-working out gal. Next week, I will be better, I promise :)

I have never been what you would call athletic, but yet I have "coached" a work co-ed softball team for the last 8 years and been a commissioner for the league for the past 3. I work for a communications publishing company and we play other companies in our industry such as the FCC, C-SPAN, communications attorneys, etc. It has been fun...my team has a few players from my office, but most of them are part-timers that are on my staff or friends and family of those few employees. We have a fun team...we don't win that often, but we have fun.

Everyone keeps asking me if I will coach again this season and I just don't know what to tell them. I don't know what my life will be like in May when the season starts. I don't know if I will have a son or daughter that I won't want to bring to the games. I am pretty sure that I will not be the commissioner again, but even that I am dragging my feet on. Now is the time to start planning the season and reserving fields or to pass the torch, but I can't even seem to do that. I am not ready to relinquish the control or give that part of my life up. I know I need to, but I just can't do it yet.

This is a picture of my team from a few seasons ago...most of these people still play, but some have left for new adventures such as grad school, marriage, etc and new players have filled in.

Update!!!!

2006-02-07T12:31:00.000-08:00

So, I got another email today from our adoption coordinator... I promptly followed this up with a phone call to clarify...she said to go ahead and get our Visa photos taken and fill out the visa application. The referral should come in in a couple of days and we will know further about when we should plan to be in country. And, we will find out if it is a boy or a girl. Things are looking up today :) Here is the email we received...

Dear Gaye,
Here is today's message from Yuri:
"Please note that the committee is going to make a referral any day.
Have clients tentatively schedule to travel, prepare for visas in early March."
This is good and exciting news. I will be happy to help you with Visas should you not have the information in place from your first trip.

Waiting parents meeting...

2006-02-07T07:24:00.000-08:00

I have been viewing information on a website for the "Families of Russian & Ukrainian Adoption (FRUA)" for a few months now. They have a chat area where people post all kinds of questions and information on their adoption processes...and others that have already been through it or are going through it help to answer them. It seems like they really give each other support.

Well, there is a meeting for "waiting parents" in Fairfax this weekend. We are going to go to the meeting...when I asked Andrew, he didn't even hesitate in saying that he wanted to go. I am really excited about it...we can meet other families in the area that are going through the same thing we are. They also have a "Mom's Night Out" gathering in March that I might go to.

I think Andrew and I really need this...we have loving and supportive family and friends, but it will be so nice to make friends with families that are experiencing the same waiting pains that we are.

Also...I called our adoption coordinator yesterday...just as I thought...no word from Russia yet. I should have known when they said "next week" to know that it would be longer.

Valentine's Day in Russia?

2006-02-06T08:54:00.000-08:00

No, we haven't heard anything more yet...still waiting. Just thought it would be cool to celebrate Valentine's Day with our baby in Kaliningrad. Neither one of us are big on the whole celebration of Valentine's Day, but we do go out to a movie or dinner or something to be together :)

I had not realized how many of our friends and family are checking this blog on a daily basis...until so many of you asked me why I wasn't keeping it up-to-date. I need to use this space as more of any outlet so that I don't go crazy...and yes, I am going crazy with all this waiting.

We are living our lives on "Russian Time"...that means that everything is sooo much slower, takes much longer and is much harder to understand :) We heard over a week ago that we would be hearing about our referral and travel the next week...well, it has now been 11 days and still no word back from our coordinator here in the states saying that she had heard from our Russian facilitator. I was going to call her on Friday, but I decided that it would just piss me off so, I decided to wait and call after the weekend. Well, it is after the weekend and I still have not called or emailed her. Why? Because I don't want to hear the same "no news" line...I WANT TO HEAR SOME NEWS!!!

It is so hard to explain because we go on as if we are living our lives and we are to an extent...but, there is that underlying anticipation of waiting that is so hard to deal with. This journey for us started out over 3 years ago with us trying to have a baby...natural didnt work, so we tried IUI & IVF to no avail. So, we did not even hesitate to expand our family through adoption...after much research, we decided on Russia and on an agency...

So started the adoption process of homestudies, fingerprinting, paperwork, apostilling, immigration forms, more paperwork and finally travelling to Kaliningrad for our first trip to personally deliver said paperwork. No visits to the orphanage on this trip, just a meeting with our facilitator, translator and the guy that could have stopped this journey in its tracks. But, he said okay and that we were on our way to becoming parents and so we travelled home.

Now, here it is 5 months later and we are still waiting...waiting to hear that we will truly become parents, that we will be travelling to meet our baby...that the time has come. And in that waiting period, horror stories of adoptive parents killing or abusing their adopted Russian children slow down the Russian government's decisions...

And, your heart is breaking back in the states...then, when you get word that a referral is on the horizon and you call your husband at work to tell him...your heart soars because he is so excited you can feel the electricity through the phone. He has been so calm and stoic through all of this, being the mind of reason, the one keeping you sane and grounded. He finally lets it all out and his excitement shows through...

Now if they would just call so we can make our flight arrangements and fly a half a world away and hold our baby for the first time...

Cheap flights!!

2006-02-01T18:41:00.000-08:00

WOW!! The flights to Moscow & Warsaw are so cheap right now...if only we would get some word on our travel so that we can buy tickets. When we went in the summer, the tickets all the way to Kaliningrad cost us around $2500 each. Right now, flights to Warsaw are averaging about $250 each then, an additional $450 or so to Kaliningrad. $700 is a lot better than $2500!!

I got another email today that basically said no more news yet. I have started a "To Do" list just in case we are travelling soon...so much to do.

I am sitting down in the basement right now with the boys playing Poker on the other side of the room. Its funny to be the only girl and listen to their stories and stuff. Lots of comments on "Brokeback Mountain" and the Super Bowl.

Think I will head upstairs now and watch one of my shows or something.

5 Days...

2006-01-30T21:39:00.000-08:00

That is how long it has been since we got the email last week that we might hear something about our referral this week.

Last Thursday when I got the email from our adoption coordinator, it was 10:00 a.m. I knew that Andrew was in an important meeting in DC from 10-12:00...so, I waited until 12:10 to call him. He did not answer...so, I left a message. No call back, so I sent him a text that read, "Call me back ASAP! Russia called" or something like that. Still no phone call back...so, I called again. He was still in his meeting, but answered the phone because he figured that I probably really need to talk to him. He whispered a greeting and I started babbling about messages and Russia and baby...he screamed "WHAT?" in response and then started cheering. We were both so excited. He got off the phone and the first person he told was a colleague that he did not know very well who was in town from the UK for the meeting :)

I called my Mom & Dad and they both got on the phone and were so excited. Then, I called Andrew's sister, Erica and my Mother-in-Law...then when he got home, we both called his Dad. Then we called a few friends to spread the news to them...I also called my boss right away so that he would have a heads up. He has been great through all of this...understanding and compassionate. He has known me since I was pretty much a kid...seen me grow up :)

Andrew had "Poker Night" that night and he has such great friends...they toasted and celebrated with him with Russian Vodka and Champagne. By the time I got home from my class, they were all very happy and made me laugh. So nice to have such support.

All I can think about is our baby...will it be a girl or a boy? I can't wait to start decorating the baby room. We were waiting until we got the referral...so close!! I have gotten a few things here and there...VT jammies, a Snugli, etc. Now to turn the room into a nursery...so exciting!

Good news has finally come!!!

2006-01-29T18:02:00.000-08:00

We heard from our adoption coordinator this past Thursday...it seems that we will be receiving a referral for our baby this upcoming week. AND...she said we will be travelling to Kaliningrad to meet the baby in February!!

This is the email we received:

Dear Gaye & Andrew: We just heard from Yuri that all is fine and that next week he should know of a date for your trip to come and meet the baby. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It sounds like you will be traveling in February

We are so excited...I will post more once we get more information :)

Happy New Year!!

2005-12-31T21:24:00.000-08:00

Well, it is 12:30 EST and we just rang in the New Year with several of our friends and family...Erica, Brent, Carrie, Shane, Kevin, Ann & Jake!!! We also had Haylee here with us along with our neighbor's kids from across the street...Alex & Logan. Pretty low-key night with dinner at Red Robin (since they cater to kids) and games in the basement. The kids fell asleep pretty early.

Christmas was great. We went to my brother, Doug's house in Aldie, VA for Christmas Eve with many members of the Nail clan in attendance. My nephews, Jake & Joe, and my niece Julie were full of energy and we spent the evening playing ping-pong, air hockey and foozball. Then, Christmas day was spent at Andrew's parents' house in Springfield, VA. Both days were very relaxing and fun!!

On Wednesday, we drove up to Pennsylvania to visit with Andrew's cousins who were down from Canada visiting family outside of Philly. Andrew & I went with Haylee & Beth...roadtrip in the Sienna, oh yeah!! It was great to see Todd, Casey &amp;amp; Riley...and Cheryl, Kyle & Lucy too. Wish that we could have seen Wendy as well. We hope to have a family vacation this summer in Canada if we can.

Got an email from our adoption coordinator a few days ago...this is what she wrote...

"heard from Yuri. He said there are no worries (which is good) just more time. Happy new year in anticipation of your baby!!"

Happy 2006 and here's to more waiting!!

Christmas is coming...

2005-12-15T20:44:00.000-08:00

Hello all...no these are not our newly adopted Russian babies :) These are my kitties, Perkins & Sox and they are the lights of my life...when I am feeling blue or anything, all I have to do is snuggle up next to one of them and my day is brighter. They love to both sleep on Andrew's legs and are content to stay there for hours on end. They are our babies and always will be :)

There is no news on a little russian baby for us yet. So hard to remain patient and upbeat about it all. I realized on Tuesday that the last time I even heard anything from our adoption coordinator was on October 20th with the "no news is good news" bit. Hmmm...that is getting kind of repetitive. I emailed her on Tuesday to see if anyone had heard from Yuri and as of yet, I have not heard back from her. I wasn't going to vent on this blog, but several people have told me that they have repeatedly checked it for news and would rather hear anything than nothing...so venting it will be...

Have you ever taken an exam only to have the professor not grade it for what seems like forever? Well, this is worse...ten times worse. We seem to be putting everything on hold "just in case" we get "the call". We didn't go on the annual beach trip to Duck, NC with our friends this summer even though we really wanted to...we didn't plan any other vacations except for a couple quick weekend trips for weddings of family & friends...

Well, no more!!! I am going to make plans and go on with our lives as though we are not waiting on pins and needles...and if we have to fit a trip to Russia in around other trips, then so be it. Andrew doesn't want me to go on a girl's trip in the spring for a friend's 30th birthday celebration because "what if we get a call to go to Russia?" Well, then I will just cut my trip short or fly out from wherever I happen to be. Deal with it when the time comes.

So, now that I have vented a little bit, onto more cheerful stuff. Christmas is almost here...we have decorated the inside and outside of our house and it is so cheerful. Our little 5-year old neighbor kept asking us when we were going to put our lights up...starting the day after Thanksgiving :) We put them up shortly after that.

We are having our holiday open house on Saturday...for the 2nd year in our "new" house. I love this house and I love being able to entertain. We have great neighbors too who will be joining in the festivities along with our family and friends.

Well, I had better go to bed...Andrew will wonder where I am if he wakes up and I am not there. I can't seem to sleep lately. A million thoughts racing through my mind.

Waiting, waiting and more waiting...

2005-10-11T21:45:00.000-07:00

Andrew keeps saying that I have to be patient and I know this, but it is so hard when all I want to do is get started on decorating the baby room...I see so many cute things and I want to buy them all, but since we don't know yet if it will be a boy or a girl or how old, it is pointless. I guess I could decorate the room in gender neutral patterns and colors, but then what if (god forbid), the adoption doesn't go through, then I would have to see this beautiful, unused room every day. Feeling a little frustrated...wish we would get some word soon.

Another family is traveling to Kaliningrad...

2005-09-19T16:50:00.000-07:00

We got an email from our coordinator on Friday and she told us that another family with their agency is travelling to Kaliningrad this week. She says "we are awaiting news on your case though I realize we may still have to wait a while."

What does that mean? I have no idea...guess we are still at the no news is good news stage.

In the meantime, Andrew's birthday was yesterday and I got him a little Virginia Tech Hokie jersey and pajamas for the baby when it comes :) Hopefully, they will fit. Wish we knew if it was going to be a girl or a boy and the age so we could start decorating the baby room and buying things.

"No news is good news...."

2005-09-07T17:25:00.000-07:00

Or so we have been told...our coordinator here in the states said that she has not heard anything from Yuri over in Kaliningrad, but she says that is okay.

So, while we are waiting, I decided to post a few pics of Kaliningrad and the Baltic Sea :)

The first pic is our first view of the airport in Kaliningrad...we were a little nervous when the propeller plane taxied up to the "gate".

The 2nd picture is the view from our room at the Hotel Kaliningrad. So much traffic at all times of the day or night. No air conditioning, so we had to open the windows, but it was too loud outside to sleep.

The picture on the left is of the Cathedral of Kaliningrad...built on an island with a moat all around it.