Lilypie Waiting to adopt Ticker
"No I didn't give you the gift of life, but life gave me the gift of you!"

Monday, July 30, 2007

Holy Paperwork Batman!



It is official, my Dossier has been apostilled and it is now off to my Agency in Texas. :) Yahoooooo!

A quick re-cap, a Dossier is a bunch of paperwork gathered over the past 4 months that includes my Home Study, Financial Statement, Medical Evaluation, Guardianship Letter, Bank Statement, Home Ownership Letter, Copy of Passport, Birth Certificate, FBI Background Check, Letter of Intent to adopt, Immigration approval, Power of Attorney, Photos of my Family, Marriage Certificate (oh, oops, wait a minute, I didn't have one of those in my Dossier = saved $5.00 since that doc didn't need to be apostilled :), and so on. Once all of my Dossier Docs were gathered and notarized, I had to visit the Secretary of State in St. Paul, MN so they could Apostille each document. Apostilling is just the process in which they verify that my Notaries are in fact Notaries and that they are in good standings, so, I need to gather information, sign it in front of a Notary, so the Notary verifies that I am in fact me, and then I have to take it to the Sec. Of State so they can in fact verify that the Notary is in fact the Notary, and so on. :) Crazy!

Good news, I am me and my Notaries were all Notaries! Score!

One original pile of Dossier docs for my agency, one copied pile for my agency and a 3rd tree (oops sorry, pile) for me!

I now send off my Apostilled Dossier to my Agency, they compile documents (1-4 days) then send off my Dossier to be translated (2-6 weeks) it then gets shipped to the Embassy (about 8 weeks) and in this time, I should be getting assigned my region in which I will adopt my little girl from. :) At this point, I am told that the average wait is about 4-8 months.

Hurry up and wait now!

Nearly Official


This past weekend, we were up at the cabin cleaning out the last of the furniture, sigh! As of this coming Thursday, the cabin is Sold! S-O-L-D! This was supposed to be my 'fair trade' in my journey, trade my past life 'it is all about me' attitude for my new life 'it is all about her' realization, but as we know, it wasn't truly a fair trade. Stupid Buyer's Market! hehehe In the end, it is a huge sigh of relief, selling my cabin, at least that payment is gone and I can breathe a bit more easily! God knows what he is doing! How many sellers of second homes are able to actually sell right now? Answer: Not too darn many! So, all in all, life is good and I thank my lucky stars that I was blessed w/ an offer!

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

But I want one of these!!!





This past weekend was my nephew / Godson's baptism so I journeyed up to Montana to take part, can you even believe how darn cute he is!!!! The first photo is of me and Kolter giving kisses. He is still learning. Love! It was so super hot there this past weekend that we decided to wet down a washcloth and stick it on Kolter's head to cool him down, this is the last photo of the bunch. hehehe

Naming a Baby - Kazakhs Beliefs

Kazakhs believe that a person's name foretells and determines his or her future. Children were named by the names of their famous fathers and ancestors such as: Zhanibek, Abylai, Abai, Ybrai, or Shokan. There are also wishing names like: Mynzhasar (live a thousand years), Zhuzbai (a hundred years), and Toksanbai (ninety years) indicate the wish for a long and wealthy life.

But there are also so-called «unpleasant» names like Kushikbai (puppy) or Ayubai (bear). This tradition has an explanation to it. In the old times, when the medical knowledge was limited and life conditions were tough, baby death rate was quite high. Nomadic people tended to blame the evil forces and spirits for that. The idea was to give funny or strange names to babies (people would laugh when hearing them) as protection from evil spirits or evil people. An evil person or a spirit would be distracted by the name of the child rather that paying attention to the child himself. That was a very common in the families whose babies had not survived. For this reason babies were also named Tursyn (may he live) or Toktasyn (may he stay). Families that had no boys gave the name to a girl with a certain wishful meaning: Ultuar, Ulbolsyn (may she be followed by a boy

Innocence

If you are also an adoptive parent, I highly recommend you pick up, "Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew," by Sherrie Eldridge. There are so many wonderful thoughts that I never would have considered.

"Adoption day finally arrives, the day that at times seemed an eternity away. The home studies are over. The "what ifs" are behind you. Smooth sailing from here on out.
The birth mother tearfully signs the adoption papers as the nurse dresses the baby in the outfit you bought. The relatives gather at your house in anticipation of the homecoming. A meal is prepared. The mood is festive. Voices are loud and cheerful.
Cameras flash and videos roll as you carry the baby into her new home for everyone to see. "Isn't she beautiful!" they all say one after another. Grandparents hold her first, then the aunts and uncles and cousins. The baby lies quietly in each person's arms, seemingly oblivious to all that is happening around her. However, no one knows that beneath her crisp white dress is a tiny grieving heart ........ a heart that wonders where Mommy is. Her smell. The sound of her voice. Her heartbeat. Her body. Where did she go?
Such a primal loss that your adopted baby experiences on the day she comes to live with you. Before you ever held her in your arms she lost her birth mother and all she represents. It is a crushing blow that will affect her life forever.
She is grieving, others are rejoicing. She is wounded, others are unaware. She needs comfort and nurturing, others are celebrating."

My heart breaks reading this passage, but how true it must be, how scarey for her.

A Big Huge Smile Today

Lately I have been a mail checking fool, usually I only grab my mail twice a month around bill paying time, but not lately!! I checked the mailbox again this morning.......and no luck, just two bills, so when I got to the office this morning I decided to email my Home Study Agency to see if the turn around time from immigration on I-171Hs (not very grammatically correct, but who cares) is still at about 45 days....................and I just received an email back that they received my approval from the USCIS (immigration) today so it should be in my mailbox w/in the next 2 days!!! Yahooooooo! This is huge!!!!! This means that my Dossier will then be sent off to the Secretary of State for apostilling, then off for translating, and lastly off to Kaz where I will then get my invitation to travel to meet my daughter! I am so super pumped right now!!!! Maybe you could compare this to having an ultrasound, it is more real today, I have my okay from immigration, I am really moving forward now! Next I will need to get my psych evaluation, HIV test (which I just had this test for my life insurance and all came back A-OK), more shots (TB, Hepatitis, etc.) and so on! Ya-hooooooooooooo! Today is a big day in my adoption journey, today is July 25th!

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

I forgot to Post earlier....




Happy First Birthday Diesel, Sera & Nitro! Our puppies first birthdays were on Friday the 13th this month. :) Yikes! Diesel is my puppy (he is swimming), Sera is Becky's (she is in the truck) and Nitro is Dad's (he just passed his HRC field trials, thus the ribbon and proud poppa), they are all 3 from my Dad's Momma girl Shilo. Dad/Grandpa even bought them a DQ cake, okay so let's be real, he bought he and mom a DQ cake and called it a b-day cake for the puppies. :)

Dun Dun Dun Dun (Pretend that was with Music)


The final tally is in, but first, here were the guesstimates on our final numbers:

* Linda - $2250.55
* Marla - $2413.67
* Angie - Couldn't guess because I spilled the beans to her.
* Becky - $2350.00
* Sherree - $1615.14
* Suzanne - $2482.85
* Liz - $2600.00
* Jill - $2200.00

And the winner is.......Liz! Our final adoption garage sale proceeds were $2649.56!!!!!!! Who would have ever thought that you could make such incredible money at a garage sale? Pure craziness! It is now 2 days later, and it seems that we are all still recouping, what an intense weekend! Work, Work, Work in the Hot, Hot, Hot Sun! But, I must say, that I think that we all still had a great time hanging out, eating hot dogs, listening to music under the umbrella, baking in the sun, sorting and re-sorting, organizing continuously & drinking cold smoothies for breakfast.

What amazing, lasting memories! All this for my baby! :)

Thank You Thank You Thank You












This past weekend's 'Adoption Garage Sale' was a complete and total success, and I owe all the thanks in the world to my friends and family! Thank you for your time, donations, and complete support!

John & Nancy Haarstad, the Netterfields, Steve & Jeri, Kris Jergens, Shirlee Heitz, Seth & Erin, Windsong, Liz, Jill, Marla, Sarah H, Sherree, Linda, Heidi, Shannon, Angie, Becky, Dan, Ty, Izaak, Elijah, Suzanne, John & Denny!

"Negative Ghostrider"

Sometimes people are way too simple, so here is my funny 'simple McSimpleton' story: Last weekend, at our 'Adoption Garage Sale,' my sister was talking with a lady about pricing, etc and the lady had asked what the garage sale was all about. Becky, my sister, let her know that I was adopting a little girl from Kazakhstan, so all of my friends and family got together and donated items to help with the adoption. Very proudly, this lady announced to her 2 little girls, "Isn't that nice girls, we are helping this lady buy a baby from Pakistan."

Needless to say, my sister let the entire comment be. Pakistan? Buy a baby?

Simple McSimpleton!

Super Funny!

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Coming Soon ..... Adoption Garage Sale Results

I was hoping to journal the Adoption Garage Sale results & post photos already tonight, but I am absolutely pooped and just cannot get to it tonight. Please check back in the next 2 days, I promise to post our final numbers (which will be HUGE) and some wonderful photos of this weekend's sale. What an awesome adventure! Thank you so much to everyone that donated items, manned the sale and helped set up and break down, seriously I am not sure what I would have done w/out each and everyone of you, you all contributed to the sales COMPLETE SUCCESS! :):):)

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Nerd




Made another trip to Barnes & Noble today to get one book......and walked out with a couple extra. I am super pumped about the sign language books. Yes Melissa, you can steal these photos for your blog too. hehehe The photo with the "Z" bookmark is my inspiration and a clue to the name that I love right now. I also purchased the book, "Cross-Cultural Adoption" for my family members, they only had 2 at the store so I need to pick up one more, this is a great book that answers many questions that both children and adults may wonder and ask in a way that respects the adopted child and answers many curiousities. Some of the questions that kids ask that are answered in the book are: Where is she from? Why did they go all the way over there to adopt a child? Who are her 'real' parents? Why didn't her 'real' parents want her? Was she abandoned? Is she my 'real' cousin? Why does she look different? Why didn't they just have one of their own?

"As anyone who has spent time with a child knows, young children ask direct questions, want concrete answers, understand concepts in their literal meanings, and stop listening after their question is answered - which is usually in the first one or two sentences."

If you haven't yet read this book, it is a great read and well worth the $20. This is a great gift to buy your friends, family members, teachers and caregivers!

Getting Ready for the Weekend


I am pumped! This weekend is my official "Adoption Garage Sale," so needless to say this last week has been crazy with planning, sorting, pricing, picking up donations, etc. I can't wait! Tomorrow my sister is driving in with her husband and my nephews and Friday Suzanne, my adoption friend in CA, is flying in too! Yahoooo! I can't wait to hang out! Several of my other girlfriends are taking time out of their own lives to help me too. Thank you Angie, Sherree, Marla, Shannon, Liz, Jill & Linda, you guys all rock! Thank you also for the wonderful donations John & Nancy Haarstad (my favorite clients ever), Denny (my builder), Shirlee (my professional role model), Jill & Liz (great friends, volleyball teamates and past clients), Marla (great friend), Seth & Erin (neighbors and fellow adoptive parents), Sarah (wonderful office administrator), Sherree(greatest friend), Heidi (fellow in-process adoptive parent), Linda (friend and rockstar networker), Steve & Jeri (great friends - thanks for donating the hot dogs and buns) & my dearest nephews (thank you for making up the Monster Cookies and designing the custom Lemonade Stand sign, I can't wait to see it!)

Back to the Drawing Board


I am not sure if the real estate market is the same across the US, but here in MN it is definitely a buyer's market. At the beginning of my adoption process, my plan was to sell the cabin in a fair trade to finance my adoption. I thought that the worst case scenario was that I would walk away with enough money to finance the entire adoption, but yep, you guessed it, I was wrong! Back to the drawing board as the cabin sold, and I feel very thankful for that, but the funds are not what I had dreamed of. Ugh! Good thing there are additional options. Who would have ever guessed that a waterfront property would be so tough to sell. 3 years ago I could have sold the cabin in one week and my net profits would have been amazing, but as it stands, the sales price is what I paid for the cabin 3 years ago. Crazy! This photo was also taken at the cabin the day of the sale. Peace!

Now this is a Busy Mommy!


This Merganser had nearly 30 babies. Yikes! Just keep her in mind when you feel overwhelmed, at times, 2 of the babies were even riding on her back. :) This photo was taken at the lake home the day I sold!

Monday, July 2, 2007

2007 Single Kaz Mom's Shindig












Just last weekend we had our annual 'Single Kaz Mom's Annual Shindig' and can you believe that this year it was in Minneapolis? Crazy Lucky for me! I was the only 'waiting mom' this year and there were about 10 other moms from around the US there as well w/ their little Kaz beauties! It was so amazing! We met at the motel on Friday night for a casual get-together, Pizza & pop, and to watch our video of the kids throughout this past year. Then on Saturday morning we met up at Minehaha Falls Park in Bloomington / Minneapolis for a picnic & tour of the Falls, it is amazing that I have lived here for 8 years and never toured the park! We then went to the Mall of America to 'Underwater World,' had supper at 'Bubba Gump Shrimp' and then played at the Park at the Mall of America. It was so wonderful to meet other single moms through international adoption and talk with them about their experiences during their adoptions, now at home with their babies and just life in general. Blessed!

Long Time no Post

Life has been so crazy this past month, and will continue into the month of July. This week, I took a needed break and came up to my cabin, a true retreat! We had a small 'Girl's Weekend' this past weekend, our 3rd Annual, and now I am just relaxing by myself, doing yard work, painting the cabin, and checking my 118 emails at the coffee shop. :)

I am still awaiting my I-171H from immigration, hopefully I will see that in the next month. I continue to garage sale for nearly new baby clothes and am finding some great finds. I had my blood drawn for my Life Insurance - who knew I had to do that. I plan to get a basic will started to back up my Guardianship for my little one. I continue to get ready for the adoption garage sale coming up very fast. Suzanne just booked her flight, room and car rental - Yahooooooo, and my sister and the boys are planning too. So far I believe that Angie has re-routed her crazy schedule to be there, Sherree sounds like she too is in as a helper, Marla, possibly Heidi, Liz, Jill, John, Sean ???? I will verify more this coming week and post several photos after our fun weekend! Many of my friends have already dropped off their things so the garage is quickly filling up! :) Fun!

Mom has officially sent in her paperwork for her passport and I believe my sister has as well, so we are on our way! I am hoping to still travel yet this year?????

I continue to read my adoption books and am always amazed at how much there is to know. Right now I am reading a book on attachment and have learned so much!

Next on my list is to get her bedroom ready and interview daycare places. Yikes!

Izaak, Elijah & Ty 'Bear'

Izaak, Elijah & Ty 'Bear'
Cousins (Izaak wants to name my daughter (his cousin) Isabella, Sant (for 'Santa') or Hershey (his friend's dog's name.) Hmmmm I told him that if we name her 'Hershey,' that would mean that we get to give her a lot of kisses.

Kolter Matthius Simon

Kolter Matthius Simon
Littlest Cousin......possibly. Kolter may indeed be the same age as his little girl cousin in Kaz. :)