tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886739888167904916.post7727279862834681727..comments2008-05-14T07:00:37.233-07:00Princess Mononokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062180421571379213GlobalAwareness101@gmail.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886739888167904916.post-35499880498993428232008-05-14T07:00:37.233-07:002008-05-14T07:00:37.233-07:00Hi Mammoth, welcome back! I missed you...<BR/><BR/>I am so very happy for you!!! That is some pretty awesome news.<BR/><BR/>This little one you are adopting is so very lucky to have people who are going to GREAT lengths to want to provide her with ALL of the love and affection she so deserves. Thank you Mammoth! May you serve as an example for many many others to follow.<BR/><BR/>Have a great day! ~ Princess MPrincess Mononokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062180421571379213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886739888167904916.post-26822607171342603822008-05-13T07:39:00.000-07:002008-05-13T07:39:00.000-07:00Just returned from a week-long trip to Russia. Went there to meet a blue-eyed, blonde Russian babe. Quite literally! <BR/><BR/>You see, four years ago we initiated the process to adopt a child from Russia. After tons and tons of paperwork, waiting and more waiting, jumping through an endless number of hoops, and the frustration of dealing with a barely competent adoption agency on this end and an infuriatingly complex bureaucracy in disarray at the Russian end, we were finally given a referral in mid-April and told that we had to be there in a week.<BR/><BR/>So we flew halfway across the planet and for the first time were united with (hopefully) our daughter. She is an adorable two-year old with a calm disposition. We visited the orphanage on three sequential days, and when we arrived on the second day she remembered us, as she came to us with her arms open wide and a big smile on her face.<BR/><BR/>Little Nadia has been institutionalized since birth, and while she appears to have been well-taken care of, she does not receive much individual attention and is very much in need of the love which only parents can give. Although she has some medical issues, we believe she will be just fine once we can get her to the US.<BR/><BR/>So, what is the next step? More paperwork, forms, expenses, red tape...then around early July we will be invited back to Russia to undergo medical exams, and then we must go to court. There, we will have the pleasure of being grilled by both the judge and prosecutor. Then there is a 10 business day waiting period, followed by a few more days taking care of paperwork, followed by a flight to Moscow to take care of still more paperwork at the US consulate.<BR/><BR/>This second trip will take about 3½ weeks, and there is no guarantee that we will bring home the child. That’s Russia. Wish us luck!<BR/>- MammothMammothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15331079890390629462noreply@blogger.com