A Bucket List

I've seen so many bucket list lately, just thought I'd add one of my own. Here goes, in no particular order:

• Go on a cruise with my family; If I can only talk Eric into this one
• Travel to Hawaii
• Take the kids to San Diego Zoo. JD has always wanted to go there.
• Visit Red Square (planning on doing this one in a month or so)

• Attend an LPA national conference and become active in our local group (baseball seems to get in the way with this one)
• Achieve National Board Certification
• Get my master's. In what, I'm not sure (technology education, special ed, reading?)
• Learn a new language-this one is hard and I don't practice well
• Go back to Broadway

• Take a road trip with no plan on where I'm going
• See the Grand Canyon from the air
• sew more for charity
• Get published in a magazine
• Visit all 50 states. I'm about 1/3 of the way through them

I know there's more, these are just from the top of my head.

And we wait...

We're ready to go back and get our sweet angel, but our US government isn't quite in the hurry we are. We were fingerprinted back in February (the 11th to be exact). we have all of our documents ready to be notarized and state sealed as soon as we get the wonderful golden ticket, the I-171h that gives us permission to bring our Lyubov Jane home. We've tried calling the USCIS many times; we've emailed numerous times and finally yesterday got the response from our officer that if she didn't have so many phone calls and emails to answer our case would move much faster. Really??? We have a few friends who went after us for their fingerprints and have already received their ticket. What gives? We've contacted congresswoman Black and our two senators to see if there is any way they can help get our case expidited. maybe we'll have that approval soon. The average wait is 75 days; we're about 30 or so in. I can not wait another 45 days to see our girl.

On the other hand, we found out we don't need a physical here since we had one done at the US clinic in EE when we were there. Of course that could change the week we go back. One thing is for sure, adoption is not predictable.

What can you do? Pray that we get the I-171h soon, That our court date is scheduled as soon as the approval gets to them, that Lyubov Jane still remembers us when we return.

Referral Trip: Day Two

Fortunatly, we were able to have our flight ready by 8:00 to leave for Eastern Europe. And, it was a LONG flight. I was able to sleep most of it, or maybe doze is the better word. If you ever have to fly that long of a distance, opt for the extra leg room ticket. It costs more, but I think it will be worth it. Eric was miserable the entire flight because the guy in front of him decided to lay his seat back as far as it would go.

We landed around 2:00pm local time, drove 45 minutes to a bus stop and rode the bus 3 hours to our region. Finally, around 9:00, we made it to the hotel. I kept reading blogs about how cold the rooms can be. Evidently, no one has stayed at our hotel, because the room was around 90 degrees. We have to keep the window open so we don't have a heat stroke while we're in here.

Day Two was mostly travel again. But, Day Four was worth it.

Referral trip; Day 1

February 19, 2011
Five o'clock came way too early. We needed to make it to the airport by 7:00 for our 8:55 flight. First, we had to get ready, finish packing, get the kids up and ready, and go get mom to get her to drop us off at the airport. Only a few tears fell from my eyes. I would call that a success!!

We sat in the airport all day. Our flight to DC was the worst. We had to attempt landing twice because of the wind gust of over 40 mph. When we did land, it felt like we were tossed all over the runway. Once we finally made it into the terminal, we took a shuttle to our next terminal, which was across the tarmack-who designed this airport anyways? Then we sat. And we sat. And we sat some more. I walked up and down the terminal several times because I was so board and knew I would be sitting for 10 hours pretty soon.

Finally, our plane boards around 4:00. We got settled in for the 10 plus hour flight; a movie came on; my ear buds were in; I was ready. "Attention passengers, we seemed to have lost a generator on take off and we can't fly over open water without it. We're going to have to dump some fuel (aka so if we crash there won't be a huge explosion) and make our way back to Dulles." As we circle around the East coast area, I look out my window and see fuel being dumped out of the plane. Finally, we make it back to Dulles with emergency vehicle lights going and following us to the terminal. Pretty exciting day, and we haven't even left the USA!!!

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