Happy Holidays From Our Family To Yours

Playing while looking for the perfect tree



WOW, That's Our Tree

Happy Birthday & Happy Anniversary!

Happy Birthday Jeff, I hope you had a great day :), I know your days at work right now are long with the Holidays.

Happy 3 month Anniversary to us, I cannot believe it's been that long since we became a family of 3 instead of two, yet it seems like Logan has always been here. It has been so UNBELIEVABLY JOYFUL (and stressful) watching Logan change from this frail little "Chicken Man" into this beautiful little beefcake(he was just as beautiful then). He amazes me everyday at the things he does, he is definitely trying to say words now, the newest Papa. I am going to have his speech evaluated with the school district some time after the New Year, it's a free service until they are 3 and it will be great to just have a scheduled activity. I think that is the only thing he is delayed in, I get a toddler tracker from babycener and he is doing all of the things others his age besides words. His speech delay is not from just hearing English for the first time a few months ago it is from lack of communication and face to face contact, believe me Logan understands just about everything you say to him now.

I also want to say Happy Birthday to Tania, you are truly a GREAT friend and I couldn't have made it through the last couple of years without you :)!

Happy Birthday to my Mom tomorrow the 23rd, your support through all of the crap since we have been home has been wonderful.

Photo Shoot!

I wanted to share these pics, Logan was Hilarious, I really thought I would only get one shot with him squating down in front of the tree. We put his stool in front of the tree and I just sat him on it and he went to town. It turned into this big shoot, as you can see, I must have 30 pics. It really was sooooooo funny, I said Logan go get Teddy and he did, we just rolled with it, We had so much fun.

He is getting so big, 6 pounds and 2 inches, it's gotta hurt growing that much in 11 weeks. Every day is different mostly happy and affectionate but still some whiny and distant days. When this happens I carry him and hold him more than normal and believe me I carry/hold him all the time, it really helps. I think this past week there was so much crap going on it made him a little cranky. I am sure he misses his old home, care-takers and friends. We need a play date with some kids soon, anyone available?

He still does not call me Mommy, he knows if you say take it to Mommy or look at Mommy he will. I know he know's my name is Mommy but I wonder how long it will take before he calls me Mommy? I do not think he knows what a Mom means yet but we are making strides. He still has trouble making eye contact when I rock him with his bottle to sleep, I am really working on that but man it's a hard thing for him to do, I know he will get there. He is starting to snuggle and lay down next to you and showing many other positive signs of attachment but just like anything it will just take time.

Daddy showed Logan how to smile

What a ham

I Love My Teddy, thanks Deb, Jay & Alec!



Kissing Elmo

My Blankie

Welcome Home!

I got Logan's pictures back, I think they turned out really cute. These were taken about 4 weeks ago, Logan has changed so much since then, that's the only bad thing about Walmart it took that long to get them back.

8 Weeks, WOW, What A Difference!

I cannot believe it has been 8 weeks since we picked up Logan, he has changed so much over such a short time. He has went from not liking books to LOVING them, it is the first thing he wants to do when he wakes up, well after turning on his music box :) He can get on the couch all by himself now, he is not so anxious anymore when I walk out of the room, none of the 12 month shirts fit him, he is now in a 12 month pant. He has 4 new teeth and now weighs 24 pounds and that is just a few of the things. Everyday I look at him in amazement of all the changes he has made physically and emotionally, how well he is doing for such life changing events that have taken place in his short life. I love him more every day, I didn't think I could love him any more than I did yesterday :)

On Friday I put him in this outfit that he wore in Russia, I couldn't believe it, it fit him perfectly. Everything I brought to Russia was WAY to big, poor baby, nothing fit, we had to go buy him shoes, we made do with the clothes but he was swimming. This inspired me to do a couple of comparison pics from our time in Russia to 8 weeks later, enjoy and smile at the difference, I sure do!

Oh ya, Logan painted today for the first time, he had a great time as you can see from the pics, thank God for non-toxic paints.

Our visit before court and Chix Pox

Our Gotcha Day, poor "little Chicken Man"

I cannot believe the difference


Full blown Pox!



I'd rather paint my arm!

I'm hungry Mom!

Masterpiece's

Finally!

OK, Logan's Passport finally came back from the Russian Embassy. I did not mail a return envelope with all of the documents and the pre-paid way bill, they called and told me I needed to send an envelope. I guess it is to hard to ask the Fed Ex driver for a free envelope when they are picking up or dropping off. I sent it to them at the beginning of October but they said they never got it so I sent it again, they got it this time and sent it right away. All they did was put a stamp in his passport, it is nice that we finally have it back, I finally got to go and apply for Logan's SS#. he has to have a number before we could claim him on our taxes. I was at the SS office for about an hour, I went there as soon as they opened so it wasn't that bad.

Logan is doing really well, what else can I say besides I am amazed at the changes I see in him everyday.



This picture reminds me of one of my favorite Christmas movies "A Christmas Story" is he not the cutest thing!

Just A Few Pics!

I just found these pictures on my Camera, I took a few pics without my memory card in the camera so these were stored in the internal memory. I forgot about them until I did it again the other day, I forget to take the card out of the computer and put it back in the camera, oh well!

These pictures are of our apartment in Moscow, we stayed right on World Famous Arbat Street, what a view we had and we were up high enough all of the traffic really didn't bother us. This apartment was great for Newlyweds(or if you don't have a child w/you), singles or if you picked up a hooker/stripper, check out the pics and you will see what I am talking about :)(you can click on the picture to make it bigger). We really did enjoy having a kitchen and our own space. This was the last apartment available when we were traveling so we took it, I thought it had a washer/dryer, it didn't but still the KITCHEN, nothing like it when you are traveling with a Toddler or your husband.

You will notice Logan in our bed sleeping and not in the play-pen, it is because he blew out his diaper and it smelled something awful. I tried everything to get the smell out but nothing would work, I scrubbed it w/soap, sprayed it with odor-eater at least 5 times and then used Purell on it to disinfect it. I just could not put him back in it, I swear nothing as cute as him should smell that bad. :) Thank God that was our last night in Moscow. I really feel bad for the next kid that gets put in it :)



Notice the shower right behind the bed, it was surrounded by mirrors and windows and right in the middle of the room, this is where the stripper/hooker comes in.



View from our apartment window.

Happy Halloween!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!






We decided this year to lay low, we did not pass out candy and we did not take Logan out. I thought it would be way to much stimulation for him and I was right. We went by my Mom's house, they were passing out candy and Logan was loving all the kids that came to the door. Well before you knew it he was walking in circles not knowing what he wanted so we packed it up and headed home. He had a hard time going to sleep tonight but he is out now.

I had to take the picture of Logan's Certificate of Citizenship off of the blog, I did not notice that it says no pictures or copies can be made of it, it is punishable by law, OOPS!


I just like this picture (besides the ugly jammies) :)

One More Piece of The Puzzle

Today in the mail we received Logan's Certificate of Citizenship, it is really cool so I thought I would share it. There are only a couple of things left to finish. We have to get Logan's SS# but we have been waiting on this certificate to do that so it looks as if I may be going to SS this week to apply for it. We need it for taxes, we cannot claim him until he has a number. We have sent his passport to the Russian Embassy to register him with the consult, Logan has dual citizenship and this is one of the steps that the Russian government require, hopefully we will get it back soo

We are also planning on re-adopting him here in Michigan so that way he will have access to a Birth Certificate if he ever needs more than just the original. We only have one and if it ever gets lost or he needs multiple copies we will have to get it from the Russian Government and who knows if that would happen.

Logan is doing well, I know he feels a little more comfortable everyday. He has started to engage play and bring his books to me. He is so cute, he has not wanted me to read to him but I have done so any ways. He would come over and try and close them, I wouldn't let him and would keep reading, now he knows that I am going to read if he likes it or not. It seems like he is paying no attention to me and then when I am done with the story I will say The End, he comes over takes the book from me puts it back on the shelf and sometimes hands me another. He has started coming to us for hugs and kisses, He likes to be held when he first wakes up and has started playing in his crib before falling a sleep and when he wakes. Every day I notice he climbs on me a little more or just wants to sit on me, AHHHHH, it's so nice. I know some of you may not think these things are big deals but believe me they are.

The changes I have seen over the last month are just amazing. He is so intelligent, funny, smart, bright and just so darn adorable. Jeff and I took him to the park the other day he loves the slide, so Mommy got to go down them with him, boy it's been a while. Logan gets cabin fever so we have to something everyday, usually a walk will do the trick, if not we head to the store, he loves to shop :)






I took this last picture today. Logan and I were going for our daily walk and my friend Jennifer was out so I asked her if her and Blake wanted to go. I used her props to take a couple of pics. Logan loves Blake and he got so excited when Blake walked around the corner, I am so glad I got his excitement on film, he loves kids.



We took him to have his pictures taken today, we tried Babies R Us but they all turned out yucky. He was all smiles until they tried to take his picture. So on our way home we stopped at WalMart and guess what, they did a great job and got some great shots. I cannot believe we have to wait until Nov. 25th to get them back, it will be a long wait. I will post one when they come in.

4 Weeks!

I cannot believe it has been 4 weeks since we picked up the little "Chicken Man". The changes that have taken place over the last 4 weeks blow me away, look at these pics the change in his face is incredible. He hated baths now you can't get his clothes off fast enough, he starts to climb over you to get in. He has figured out that if he does not like something he does not have to eat it, there will be something different. Logan has really started to bond with Jeff and I, he loves to snuggle when he first gets up, everyday he becomes more attached to his yellow blankie. Just 3 days ago he really wanted to play by himself but he wanted me to watch, now as of yesterday he has really started to interact with me and engage play, handing me books and pointing at the pictures. I read to him everyday whether he likes it or not, he usually tries to close the book as I am reading but I don't let him and I keep reading. It was the greatest yesterday he dished out at least 30 kisses to me, He has started to hold my hand, I know some of you may be thinking "big deal" but it really is. He held my hand and we walked around the house twice pulling his new toy, I was in heaven.

Sometimes I sit and stare at Logan and I want to pinch myself, it's hard to believe that this funny, beautiful baby is my son, it was such a long journey for us to find each other. I cannot imagine having any other baby as my son, bio or adopted, I guess there always is a plan even if it takes a while for us to get there. :)

Our First Day Together


Having Fun in Moscow


Like My PJ's, My Dad sure does :)


On the Plane Leaving Moscow


Check Out My Cheeks, Home 4 weeks!


I Love My Blankie!!!!!

Some Pictures, Finally

A Long Awaited Reunion

Picking Up The Chicken Man

Finally a Family

St. Basil Cathedral

A US Citizen

How Cool Am I

Growing By The Day

I Finally Like My Bath

How Cute Am I!

2 Pounds And A 1/2 Inch, Oh My!

Logan has been home just over 2 weeks now, some days it still feels like a dream. He is gaining weight and getting taller by the day. At his Dr's appointment on Thursday we were told that he acts like a typical 18 month old, he has a delay in speech which we already new and he is still small but as the title says he gained 2 pounds and grew a 1/2 inch since we picked him up 3 weeks ago, WOW. I bought him 2 rompers when we got home and neither one of them fit anymore, it seems like he would be in some pain growing that fast.

We are still struggling with some attachment problems but I know everything will be just fine as I expected them. I am so glad that I did all of my research, no matter what anyone says, I know what is going on, I would be lost if I didn't. I think Logan might be experiencing some grief over his loss of his past care-givers and home, he seems to be pretty whiny the last couple of days, poor baby, I hope he can feel the love here. He pushes his boundaries more with me than Jeff but I tell him no and Daddy is a push over still, HA-HA. Jeff said I was going to be the push over, I kept telling him there was no way, he would be and it looks like I am right. I know Logan misses all of the kids that he use to play with everyday, when we go for our walks he just stares at the kids playing, he has played with a couple of the kids but I am still trying to limit him being around other woman. I want to take him to the mall and let him play in the play area soon, Jeff and I did last week and he had a blast.

Any ways, I have been trying to post pictures but blogger won't let me so I am going to try ad use my Moms computer, we'll see. Leave comments if you wish I love to hear what you have to say.

10 Steps Back!

I learned the importance of everything I have been saying about attachment for the last couple of months last night. It is sooooooo important to limit the affection from others down to none for now. That means no touching, caressing, long eye contact or hugs, even if Logan wants it. It is very important for others to re-direct him back to me if he goes in for a hug. I sent out an email with some great advice about this but I think it may have been overlooked. When he try's to hug someone it is crucial for that person not to hug him back, you should look at Logan and tell him who you are and say something like Logan where's your Mama, oh there she is and she loves you very much and she takes good care of you, go give Mama a hug. I know this is a very hard thing to do but it is very important. There should be no engagement from others while he is being fed, getting his diaper change or when there is any other care taking going on. It is crucial to Logan's well being that all of this happen.

Last night we had a house full of people (this was our own fault) and our little chicken man was having a great time, he even went in for a couple of hugs, which under any circumstances should be given in return. I know this is asking a lot but it is very important and it is only for a limited time. Some may say this is a good thing but for now it is not. Logan has only been with us for less than a week and to him we are just 2 people taking care of him. He has had many women take care of him so to him I am just another and we need to change that. He needs to BOND with ME before any other women. So he got way to much caressing even when he tried to move away it was still done, he gave a hug and it was returned. I am upset about this because I have talked to and sent many emails about this out. I guess people really do not respect our wishes so we have decided that we WILL NOT be having any company for the next couple of weeks.

Logan has been doing great with us and forming and attachment to both Jeff and I but it has been less than a week since he became a family member. He really does not engage with others (besides kids) and that is a good thing, for now. Logan has a very strong will and like any other toddler he is testing his ground and trying to figure things out. Of course he is not like any other toddler who has been raised in a home since birth, he has very special needs as far as bonding and trust, just a week ago he was in his home, the only home he has ever known and we took him from all of that. I know what he has now is better but he does not know that, he is to young to understand. He does like Jeff and I and wants us to love on him, YAHOO!

OK, let me tell you why the title of 10 steps back. When he goes into a tantrum he still wants me to pick him up and love on him. I have rocked him to sleep every night with a bottle since we picked him up and last last few days he has started to stare into my eyes while this is happening. Well last night after getting all of this affection from another women, my son did not really want me, he wanted Jeff. That is OK but he has never acted that way before he has always wanted to come to me. Last night it was horrible, I started to rock him with his bottle and he drank it for about 2 minutes never looking at me once, he then proceeded to start beating himself in the head with his hands, kicking his feet and trying to get away from me. When I let him down he grabbed his blankie and curled up on the floor by himself and fell right to sleep. This is why it is so important for others to show him NO affection. I know that some people do not get this because they did not parent their children this way but their children was not adopted at 18 months from a Russian orphanage.

I ask you all to please RESPECT what I am asking and do not hug or caress him and limit your eye contact, Please! His best interest is the most important not anyone elses

Our Trip Home

Well, we made it! It took us 2 different planes and about 19 hours to get home but we all made it in one piece and with all of our luggage, amazing. We flew Delta this time and Jeff and I both preferred Northwest. The nice thing is, is that Delta and NW are sky partners so we got to transfer our miles to NW so we should get a free flight out of all the travel we have did over-seas now.

I think for everything our little chicken man has been through in the least week he did a great job on the planes. We had one melt down and that is when we started to descend into Atlanta coming from Moscow, the poor baby was asleep and his ears popped and he woke up scared and in pain. I did everything I could to get him to suck on a bottle, nook or his thumb but he was not having any part of it. He finally got startled by the kid behind us and took a deep breath and popped his ears open. I felt so bad not being able to comfort him but as soon as his ears opened up he fell right back to sleep. He fell asleep on the way home from the airport and slept the whole night from about 11 pm to 8:30 am.

We were on the plane and I was up waiting for the rest-room and I looked back and there was Jeff standing there holding Logan and I was overwhelmed with emotions. I couldn't believe there was my great husband holding our son. This man had taken us over 5000 miles to find our son. We have been trying to start a family for almost 5 years now and it was really something to see my family right in front of my eyes, it truly was a WONDERFUL SIGHT!

It is great to be home with him and it all feels so surreal still. I will update while he naps (if he naps) he does not like to nap, everything is so new and he does not want to miss anything. We have limited his toys and no TV, he gets overstimulated so easy because he had such a simple life before.

We are family!!!!!!!

Moscow, The Last Stop

We are in Moscow until Thursday the 28th. Today we had our last legal bit of paperwork to do at the American Embassy. Nothing that bad just a few signatures and we had to be sworn in. We had our appointment at the Embassy for 2PM with about 15 other families adopting from different agencies but because of the little chicken man they wanted us to come at 2:45 after the rush. It worked out to our benefit because we got right in signed our papers got Logan's entry papers and Visa and we were off, a total of about 25 minutes.

I was going through all of our documents and there really is a lot of cool stuff in there. We have a new Birth Certificate that has Jeff and I listed as the parents. We have a lot of info on his Birth-Mother for him, I think it is great just in case he wishes to find her one day. I know a lot of people ask questions about why he was given up for adoption and we have decided that is pretty personal information that only Logan and us have the right to know, so we will not be sharing that info with anyone. Also, it is funny to me when people say, were are his real parents, well that would be Jeff and I, the only REAL family that he will ever know. It takes more than just giving birth to be a parent, believe me I know a lot of people that have given birth and should not have custody of the child/ren.

Today before our Embassy visit the Chicken Man and I went for a walk while Daddy took a shower, Logan loves it outside and was getting very restless. He sits in his stroller just looking around and kicking his legs, he also gets very vocal. He does not say a lot, he has learned how to say Mama and Dada and yesterday he learned how to say hi. My mom wanted to say hi to him so I put the phone up to his ear and now he walks around putting his hand up to his ear and says eye (hi), it is just to darn cute. He will be strolling down the street just waiving hi and saying eye, love him!

After our Embassy visit the 3 of us walked down to K,L&J's and we took a stroll down Old Arbat street. It is really cool, a lot of local artist, musicians and shops and of course out of all of the great restaurants all of us Americans wanted McDonald's, there is nothing like a quarter pounder w/cheese to make you feel at home again :). The guys went into this store where Daddy found his boy a Russian hockey jersey and this lady came walking out telling Kim and I congratulations on our adoptions, she said she knows that it is a difficult thing and she was very happy for us, we were very taken back by this because this is not the normal feeling around here. Who knows maybe she once placed a child for adoption but she was very excited for us, it really made both of us feel great. It is strange here nothing is kept cold, even the milk and yogurt can be bought warm, ugh, that's just nasty. Tomorrow we have our last day here and no appointments so we are going to take a walk to Red Square to get some pictures of Logan, I just want to let him run around the park on some grass, I cannot wait to see the look on his face when he touches it for the first time, of course it is nothing like the carpet his Daddy keeps at home but it will do for now.

We have really been trying not to over-stimulate him, which is not easy to do he has had such a structured life and very little activity so I am sure just walking down these busy streets are a lot for him. We have kept his toys to just a few board books, stacking cups and a musical toy, he loves music. The T.V. and radio have been pretty much off. We are having some poop problems so tonight we changed his diet to some very blan things, oatmeal or rice cereal mixed w/apple sauce, banana, Cheerios and he is taking some soy formula, no more apples juice for him, I know he will be upset about this because he loves his juice (even though it really is mostly water), I pray it works.

Little Chicken Man

Poor baby, our little guy has developed the Chicken Pox. We had been told that there was an outbreak at the baby-house but had not seen any children with the Chicken Pox. We did get very lucky to get him out of the baby-house before he developed a rash or we would not have been aloud to take him. I guess they put the children in a 21-day quarantine, could you imagine, Jeff and I being pronounced his parents and then not being able to take him for 3 more weeks. I think we would have died, we would have had to leave Russia and come back for a 3rd trip, YIKES!

We are heading back to Moscow on Sunday and are supposed to do our medical exams on Monday. I think we may have to wait until Weds because they are not going to allow us to take him out of the country with the poxs. My Mom called us and she looked them up on the Internet, she said they are actually only contagious for the 2 days before the rash and only if you touch an oozing blister after that, I never knew that it was an air-born illness. Thank God I packed the Caladryl, I am not sure why but I am sure glad I did. I am bummed because we have to keep him inside and away from Jackson, we really wanted to let them play together but we do not want to get him sick.

Well, I got thrown into motherhood with a sick baby and I think Jeff and I are doing OK. Despite him not feeling very well and being taken away from everything he knows he did give us some smiles and laughs. He ate well, but don’t let anyone tell you an orphan will eat anything he tried everything but he did not care for the Apple Cinnamon oatmeal I brought but ate up the meat and potatoes baby food I bought here. He is still on pretty much all pureed food so we will stick with that until we get home. He did not gorge and stopped eating once he was full, good thing because I have no idea how much to feed him. J

He played with some toys and of course got a little over-stimulated so Mommy (that would be me J) picked him up and took the toys away and we just talked well, I talked and he listened, he is not very vocal but I am sure having a mommy that talks as much as I do will change that. I rocked him to sleep and he took a nap for about 2 hours. Now bedtime was a little different. He of course was scared and really did not want to go in the playpen to sleep, he wanted to just lay on me or sleep in the bed next to me, I let him fall a sleep on me then I tried to move him and he woke up, he did finally fall to sleep hard enough that I got him in the playpen and that is were he still is. I put him down about 9:30 and it is 7:15 so he is doing pretty well. He sleeps like a Tornado, he moves around so much, just like his Daddy.

I still cannot believe we have our baby, someone pinch me, I think I may be dreaming!

After suffering from what I thought was anxiety for 2 days it turns out I had the flu and I was down until the day we left, I spent the last 3 days before we left for Russia in bed. I had things that had to be done like packing our clothes, last minute things we needed for our trip. I did manage to get most of them done but I didn’t get the house cleaned like I wanted to, oh well, it could have been worse. I did forget a few things but nothing of importance more just for convenience. I wanted to bring some movies to pass the time but I forgot my DVD case that was lying right next to my suitcases. I forgot panty-hose to wear with my skirt for court. It could have been a lot worse, at least I remembered everything that I wanted to bring for Logan beside the lovie I bought for him a while back that I have been sleeping with.

It was funny when we were checking in at the airport in Detroit we started talking to these older women in line in front of us and they asked if we were going for a vacation or work and Jeff told them we needed to pick someone up to fill our stroller. One of them got it right away and the other it took her a second but it was very funny, leave it to my witty husband J.

We met up with Kim and Lance in Kemerovo on Wednesday morning, we did see them for about 15 minutes in Moscow but they had to take a different airline to Kemerovo because Aeroflot was full. We had thought we would meet up with them in New York and fly to Moscow but the ended up getting a direct flight from Atlanta. WOW, that flight from New York to Moscow was soooooo long, Jeff and I decided we really liked flying to Amsterdam having a short lay-over and then on to Moscow it really just breaks the flight up nice 11 hours straight is really yucky and on the way home it is going to be like 13, YIKES!

When we landed in Kemerovo on Weds. morning our translator Svetlana was at the airport waiting for us and Kim and Lance came in about 30 minutes behind us so we just waited for them. While waiting I started asking questions about when we will go and see our boys, we had hoped that same day because our flights came in so early but we just were not sure. Svetlana said not until either after court on Thursday or Friday morning if court took to long. Well there was no way that we had just traveled that long and not seen them for 11 weeks that we wanted to wait until Friday so I started to beg to please take us today. Well she pulled it off, THANKS, Svetlana!!!!!!

On Wednesday afternoon they picked us up and we drove for 3 hours to go see our boys. Last time we came to meet Logan we stayed in Novokuznetsk, this time we had to stay in Kemerovo because that is where court is and it is a long drive. Novo is a city in the state of Kemerovo, like Detroit is a city in the state of Michigan. When we got to the baby-house after a very bumpy ride we just could not wait to see them. They brought Jack in first, that is the K & Ls son, he is just a cutie, of course I was dying to see Logan and a few seconds later they opened the door and there he stood holding the finger of his care taker. It was great to see him walking by himself. Poor baby, he took one look at us and got all scared, like who the heck are all of these people. He started to cry so I just picked him up and loved on him, after a few seconds he stopped crying, he knows that in the baby-house crying does not get you any where so why bother, well we hope that changes fast.

Dr. Lubmilla only let us spend about an hour with them because she knows it is a long drive back and she wanted us fresh for court Thursday morning. None of us cared at least we were with our sons and able to love on them for a few minutes, 11 weeks is a very long time to not see your baby. Logan didn’t seem to be feeling very well but he warmed up to us much faster than last time. Once I started tapping on my chest with his hand and saying Mama a light turned on and I think he remembered me, after that he was smiling and laughing very easily. He is so darn cute. I think he may have lost a few pounds since our last visit, I know once they learn to walk they usually loose a few and I think maybe the Chicken Pox may have gotten him also, poor baby.

Our visit with the boys went fast but it sure was great to hold them, the 6 hour round trip drive, 16 hours in air, 14 hours of layovers and the 12 hour time change seems like nothing, he is definitely worth every once of jet lag. J


Ready For Court?

All we could do was be our selves and try to be as honest as possible and it worked. We had court on Thursday September 21st at 10:00 AM along with K&L. Of course our agency didn’t care who went first so the only logical thing to do was flip a coin. We both wanted to get it done and over with, you see, both of our families have been trying to adopt for 2 years now and this was it, it was going to be over after court. Jeff flipped, Lance called and they won, bummer for us but there court proceedings lasted a whole 25 minutes and they were pronounced the legal parents of their son and then it was our turn. It has been so wonderful being here with them, we met them on trip one.
Kim and I had chatted a few times online and made plans to meet up for dinner in Moscow on our way out of Russia as they were coming in. We had a feeling we would be traveling back together and that is exactly what has happened. Kim and I have talked on the phone at least once a week since we got home and I know we have built a lifelong friendship, besides our boys are from the same place and it will be nice for them to be able to share that growing up.

We walked in nervous as hell, although we we’re well prepared by Svetlana, the outcome of our families future was in a judges hands who we could not understand, Svetlana did an awesome job of translating everything for us. The courtroom consisted of the judge, a prosecutor, the court reporter and the social worker we met on our first trip that both of our families have affectionately nicknamed Stinky, J she actually is a very nice Russian woman with some really bad BO and a lot of gold teeth, we are told in Russia that is a sign of power, I would rather not have the power and stick with the white ones. J

Any ways, court was quick and painless, it lasted about 20-25 minutes and they pronounced Jeff and I the legal parents of Logan Vladimir Jarema. They waived the
10- day waiting period because of a Chicken Pox outbreak at the baby-house. What does that mean? Well, Jeff and I get to go pick up Logan first thing in the morning on Friday along with K&L. Ours and our sons life is going to be forever changed at about 10:00 am on Friday, September 22, 2006.

Look, there’s our lucky number 22 again.

Leaving On A Jet Plane!!!!!!!

I can't believe it we finally got the call and so here the story goes.

I had just went to bed and about 10 minutes later I heard the phone ringing at 1:00 am I seen a 415 area code and I new either it was good or very bad. Well it was GREAT, Elina was on the line telling me that our release letter has arrived and she asked if we could be in Russia for a court date on the 21st, I said of September and she said yes so I replied, of course, yes we would move heaven and earth to be there to get our son. Well that is only a week away and in order for us to make it we would have to leave by Monday. On Thursday September 21st Jeff and I will be the proud parents of Logan Vladimir Jarema, DOB March 13, 2005. I wish I could attach a couple of photo's but it is against Russian law so I will wait just a few more days.

I could not fall a sleep so I started making calls to the airlines and got our tickets book. There were still Visa's, airline tickets needed in Russia and a hotel/apartment. I got it all done, by 6:30 pm I had all of our stuff booked Passports in the mail to get our Visa's. We did an urgent Visa and they are being shipped Fed Ex so please Fed Ex don't screw anything up. I just got our air tickets in the mail so that is all set now but please pray that our Passports are back on Saturday.

Of course I was so tired, I had only slept from about 5 am to 7:10 am. I took a sleeping pill at about 6:30 Thursday night and slept from 7:00 pm until 5:00am Wednesday morning and the race was on again. I have to do laundry and get everything ready for our son and us, we will be gone about 10 days. Thank God I did get most of the house ready for him while in my nesting stage (the last 4 1/2 years, LOL). I will try and update our blog while in Russia but we may have our hands full with our adorable little guy.

We leave Detroit on Monday September 18th arrive in Kemerovo, Russia on Wednesday the 20th at 5:50 am. I think we will get to go see Logan that day and then we have court on the 21st. I pray they waive the 10 day waiting period so we get out of there on time if not we may not be back until sometime in October. As of now we should be home on September 28th. Everyone please say prayers that our 10 days gets waived and we can pick Logan up right after court.

Jeff and I have been through so much tyring to have a baby, I just cannot believe we are really going to be parents, WOW. Did I mention just how adorable he is, if not he is just the most beautiful baby I have ever seen :)

OK, I know I have not posted in a while but it's because not much has been going on. Jeff and I are both moody and really want to go get Logan. It has been 8 weeks since we signed those papers petitioning the court for the adoption and it feels like there is no end in sight. I was told at the begging of August not to expect court until September and now of course it's September and I was told most likely not until October. I am not sure how much more of the waiting I can take, I just wish our baby was home with us getting all the love and nourishment he needs. I just wish they could give us a court date even if it is not for 6 more weeks, at least we would know something, this not knowing is for the birds:(

Ally, at our agency asked me to DHL (I know not UPS but UPS does not go to Russia) the last of our Dossier over to Kemerovo, they have started to translate our documents so that is good and I really think our letter will be back in the next week. The only thing they need from us is our medical, we had to wait to last minute because it is only good for 3 months, so please pray hard that they do not expire because if they do that means it would be like 5 months after our first visit and I will seriously have to be put in a rubber room to bounce off of some walls for a while if it takes that long for us to bring our baby home. This is all so unfair for the children to have to sit there and wait for their families to come back and bring them home, how is this for the best interest of the children, have someone come and love you for a couple of days and then not see them again for OH LETS SAY 4 MONTHS.

We met a couple in Moscow, Kim and Lance who are adopting from the same baby-house and they had one document that has to go also so we are splitting the cost, which is nice because it is so darn expensive to ship over-sea's. Kim and I have become friends and try and talk once a week, we know exactly what the other is going through, we are at the same point in our journey, waiting for court. They went to Russia to meet their son Jackson as Jeff and I left the country. I really hope and pray that we all will be traveling together, most likely we will.

Any ways, that is the last that I heard, not to expect court until October, it has to be then, if not we will fall into the Holidays and we probably would not get to go back until after the first of the year and I know my heart or mind could not take that. As soon as I know something I will post it. I hope everyone had a great Holiday weekend, until next time.