Travel

We received word today that we can begin making travel plans for Eastern Europe!! We have to apply for our visas (which looks like they take about 8 days to process) and make travel arrangements. Right now, we are looking at the end of February/early March. We may be traveling with another couple who are also going to the same region as we are, just a different orphanage.  We will have our February fundraiser announced soon on our blog (www.elliottsfamilystory.blogspot.com), but you can make donations at Reece's Rainbow (http://www.reecesrainbow.com/sponsorelliott) on our family page if you feel led to do so. We will also be taking a donation of goods to the orphanage on both visits if you would like to donate items for the orphanage (calling all my couponing friends out there), these are some things that are NEEDED MOST (we are going to a "baby" house which I think has children under age four or five): This was a generic list we found on-line. We are working with our translator in EE to see if she has other suggestions as well. (If the two links don't work, try copy and pasting them into your browser). It was also suggested that we put a translation with any of the ointment, etc. google translate is what we use to translate our things.

antibiotic ointment
topical barrier cream (Desitin)
topical antiseptic (Caladryl, Bactine)
gloves, sterile and non-sterile
petroleum jelly
stethoscopes
sterile gauze wrap, pads
lip ointment
Band-Aids
otoscopes
blood pressure cuffs
thermometers
paper tape, surgical
burn ointment
skin cream
infant liquid vitamins
chewable vitamins for children over age 2 years
MISCELLANEOUS SUPPLIES
wash cloths
toothbrushes
nail clippers
hair bands, barrettes, combs
new shoes and boots of all sizes
handknit clothing- sweaters, vests, socks, hats, mittens
new underwear sizes for 12 months to 16 years
large inflatable balls with pump
collapsible tunnels and cubes (mazes)
educational/developmental toys*
pull-push toys
wind-up music boxes
puzzles, sorting toys
rattles, tething rings
art supplies- crayons, clay, markers
coloring mats (erasable)
safety scissors
Matchbox sized cars, trucks
picture books with little or no text
cards, jacks, jump ropes, balls

Wishful Thinking...

Just an update on the adoption from how I know it. It's what I've gathered from talking with Judy at Global, reading on the internet, and talking with friends. My timeline may be a little (maybe even a lot) off, but I'm trying to look at the positive:

We have sent off to get a fingerprinting appointment. Should have that back in a couple of weeks and approval a couple weeks after that. From what I understand, we don't have to have it on our first visit, just by the second court visit in EE. Still not sure on this one. We'll just play it by ear.

We have finished our homestudy and are in the process of compiling our dossier(a big chunk of paperwork) -we have three documents that need both of our signatures and to be notarized still-- that has to be notarized, county certified saying that the notary is legit, and then apostilled at the state department in Nashville saying the county certification is valid (hoops, hoops, and more hoops). We send it to EE for translation and to register with the courts that we want to adopt a fairly specific child (we've identified her "special needs," age, sex, other characteristics that we know of). It takes about two-three weeks to get registered, then we get the call that we are matched with our daughter and start making travel arrangements. So, best case, we could be traveling to EE around the end of February/first of March and possible bring her home end of March-sometime in April. This, of course, is if everything goes PERFECTLY as I have planned. If you know anything about adoption, you know nothing goes as planned. But, we have faith that we will be in EE at the perfect time; even if it's not our perfect time, we know it is in HIS plan. 

Just thought i'd let you guys know. Keep praying for us as we go through this. It's almost out of our hands and in the  EE and US Government's (scary!!).

Now, these are my wishes, hopes, dreams. I know this is probably not reality, so don't burst my bubble people. I know that we could not get her until the end of the year (of course I hope that's not the case) but I know that is the reality of adoption. So, right now, MY plan is to have her home by Spring Break and take the rest of the school year off with her and enjoy the summer learning, holding and kissin' my three babies.

I'll keep you posted as our timeline gets adjusted... : )

Homestudy

We just got an email tonight that our homestudy is making its way to EE for translation. We should finish our dossier and classes this week and those will also be on their way!! Best case, we have our daughter in about four months!! Can. Not. Wait.