Prepping For Home Visit

The final portion of our home study will be a home visit/home inspection.

Our social worker will come and check out our place for safety features and be sure there is adequate room for a child.

One thing we needed to get was a fire extinguisher. So today we did!

We also have outlet covers, and before we bring our Little One home we will be baby-proofing the rest of our place. One step at a time though!

References!

Just a quick update!

We have sent out the paperwork for our references to fill out. So one more thing done!

We're also working away at the paperwork tonight.

This is exciting!

The Imperial Palace

 

I came across a wonderful interactive website that allows the viewer to take a peak around Moscow from the view of the Imperial Palace.

The Imperial Palace is better known as the Kremlin.  It's is where the President of The Russian Federation lives, and it was the home of the royal family.

I can't wait to see it in person, but for now, here's a fun website for you.

http://tours.kremlin.ru/#/ru&1_5

Enjoy!

First Home Study Appointment

Today we had our first home study appointment.

We drove out to the social worker's office and spent 2 hours talking. We discussed how we came to adoption, talked about our lives and upbringings, and discussed the MOUNTAINS of paperwork we need to get done in the next couple of weeks.

The social worker seems to be a lovely lady; we are both very comfortable with her. I think we're lucky to have her working with us. She's familiar with our agency and has experience facilitating Russian adoptions.

Driving home in the car we were both in awe of the fact that we are in this now. It feels so surreal. We are finally on the path to bring home our child.

So, the paperwork is a little overwhelming in volume, but we're still thrilled to be doing it. As Adam said on the way home, it's wonderful to be filling out paperwork that will actually lead somewhere. We know we are doing something that will finally lead to parenthood.

So the paperwork starts!

The Document No One Talks About

That's right - the Last Will and Testament . . .

Ours are completed as of tonight!

It's such a surreal thing to do, but it's done now - one more thing off the list!

Also, Adam found a Russian Society here in Halifax!! I'm thrilled - our child will have a place to go to maintain their Russian heritage and we'll be able to learn too!

International Adoption Training - Day 2 !!!

Let me just start by saying this - we are done the mandatory educational portion of the adoption process!

So Day 2 was another good day. Everyone was more relaxed and talking to each other a bit more, which proved to be very helpful! I'm hoping to keep in contact as these are some great people and it would be great to have a little community of Russian children that we could introduce our child too (and maybe do picnics and dinners with).

Again the day dealt with a lot of race issues (including brushing on white privilege) which, while it is a reality in the international community I feel that it would have been better to focus on the cultural aspects instead of skin colour. However, it did bring a lot of issues forward and certainly opened up a lot of interesting conversation.

This afternoon was my favourite part - they had a panel of APs come in and share their journeys. There were 4 mothers and each story was very different.

The first adopted from Russia and nothing she said surprised me - she did this in 2009 when only 2 trips were required. Still - it's good to know someone from NS went before us!

The second adopted later in life from China and had a touching and good story.

The fourth was a lady who had adopted after suffering secondary infertility. She adopted from China and brought her (adorable) son with her.

But the most touching was the third lady - she adopted from Ethiopia and her son very nearly died during the process due to some sort of infection/illness that to date hasn't been diagnoses. At 7(ish) months he had dropped to 8 lbs!!! And he was still in Ethiopia as he had been so sick he had to be hospitalized and therefore couldn't get a passport picture done. They had been told he wouldn't survive - all I can think is how terrifying and sad and angry and exhausting the whole journey must have been for them.

The day, and weekend, was good. It brought up a lot of potential issues that I don't know if we would have considered otherwise. And we're done!

Next step is our first home study appointment at the end of this coming week. Step 2!

International Adoption Training - Day 1 !!!

So today was Day 1 of International Adoption Training for Nova Scotia Community Services.

What a day!

We met some great folks - there were 4 couples planning to adopt from Russia and 1 couple considering between Russia and China. Apparently the CST (Community Services Team) have never seen a this many people interested in Russia. A little trend in IA (International Adoption) perhaps?

There was one couple there who had IA'd THREE times - they are a great resource! The shared a lot and they definitely added a much needed humour to the day as I think most of us were new to the process and still a little intimidated/scared/nervous about the entire thing.

The days topics were based around cultural adaptation in the adoptive family. We watched a film that followed 2 journeys. The first journey was of an adult adoptee who had trouble with her identity and self-actualization given that she was of Asian descent in a very small-town Caucasian American family, which was followed by the expectant loss of her parents to cancer. Her struggle was a lifelong one.

The second journey followed childless APs (Adoptive Parents) through their referral and pick up of their first child from China. This made me tear up!

The day's conversation focused on 7 main adoptive issues:

1. Loss
2. Rejection
3. Guilt and Shame
4. Grief
5. Identity
6. Intimacy
7. Mastery/Control

These issues are issues that both the AP's and the adoptee experience and deal with (in no specific order, at any time during the lifespan, and often more than once).

The conversation was heavy in some ways, but yet very focuses on race versus culture (in my personal opinion). But an eye-opener none-the-less.

But, after sitting in a hotel meeting room in the World's Most Uncomfortable Chairs watching movies and having discussions we are drained!

I look forward to seeing what tomorrow's session will bring.

(Okay, so I googled "World's Most Uncomfortable Chairs" and this is what I got. I take back my previous statement, but they were really uncomfortable!!)

Telling Our Families

So last night and tonight we shared our adoption plan with our families!

We have to say how pleased we were with everyone's reaction. For the most part everyone was a little (or immensely) surprised and (thankfully) supportive.

We're lucky that way!

So now that people know, we expect the word will start being spread around - time to tell some friends too I suppose!

 

Medicals!

Through the adoption processes there are many, many, many medical clearances needed.

Our future child will have many medical reviews, both in person and on paper. For now, however, we'll focus on us!!!

So here's what the medical side of things will look like for us:

1. Get vaccinations up-to-date!
2. Have our Family Doctor to sign off on basic medical clearances for provincial approval.
3. Have my Neurologist to sign off on my medical clearance for provincial approval.
4. Have our Family Doctor to sign off on basic medical clearances for agency approval.
5. Have my Neurologist to sign off on my medical clearance for agency approval.
6. While in Russia have Russian physicals. With 8 physicians!!!
1. I can't begin to tell you how nervous I am about this part already!

Oh vey! I get to get started on this tomorrow. We need to start getting shots!

References!

Hey All!!

So not much has changed, but we've locked in our 4 references, so I am thrilled to have one more thing sorted out.

So, in asking these wonderful people to speak for us, it meant we had to share our adoption plan. This is still a very new step for us and we're working our way up to filling everyone in. As it is, if you take a peak at the "Our Journey So Far" it's still blank.

But each person/couple we've asked to speak for us has been wonderful and caring and very excited about our path. So, to each of you,

 

You're support has meant so much to us, especially at this early juncture. It means a lot to us.

 

More Developments Tonight

I actually got an email response from the Social Worker tonight! Hooray!

She answered my questions (she's worked with both agencies that we're considering, has worked with Russia before, etc). She also advised that we will be working with both her and her associate, which is a good thing.

It doesn't take long to get things moving. Our first appointment is scheduled for October 26th - exactly 2 weeks away! From what I understand that is a general first meeting and we will be given a list of documents to get together which needs to be done before the interviews start. These documents are things like birth certificates, Criminal Record Checks, marriage certificates, references, etc. Not a big deal but will be a little time consuming. Me, being so laid back and relaxed *ahem* will not worry about it until then . . . except I plan to get those things together right away next week. Go ahead - laugh at me!

(We also squared away 1 reference of the 4 we need so there's progress there too!)

Luckily we only need to be pay the first half of the fee in the beginning, and the remainder when we sign the report at the end. So that's good to hear!

When I asked questions about how long it takes, she couldn't really say as it depends on how fast we get documents together, how our interviews go, the home inspection, etc. When I asked how long it takes to have the report written at the end of it she said it would only be a couple of weeks I was thrilled! In my research I discovered that it can sometimes take 2-3 months so that was a relief!

I'm hoping our on-the-ball attitude and get-to-it-ness will help everything move a good pace.

This also means that we'll start the fund raising sooner rather than later. So be prepared!

Things Move Fast!

Lots has happened so I thought I would give another update.

Last night I spoke to a lady from NL who was listed as a reference for one of our considered adoption agencies. We talked for 2 hours!

She was full of great information and didn't miss a beat. She offered SO may little details of things I wouldn't think to ask. I'm very grateful she was so open to talk to me! I got some great information and made another contact (she asked me to keep in touch and keep her posted on our journey). I have to say - I've lucked out with people so far!

In today's mail was our list of approved private home study practitioners! This means we passed the Child Abuse/Child Welfare Registry Check!!

In Halifax there is only one person to choose from (the others are spread out across Nova Scotia). She has a very impressive background and has worked in many different areas (you get a mini-resumé with the referral).

I've put in a call (and an email) already, but given that it is nearly 4pm on a Friday afternoon I doubt I'll hear back today. Either way, we hope to hear back soon, and that it won't take TOO long to get started.

Cost of such a home study? $2000 so not TOO bad actually, compared to some other provinces.

Application Received!

So, in my oh-so-nervous-something-will-go-wrong-at-every-turn way of handling things, we put a signature tracker on our application, so I could know when it was received and who signed for it.

It was received at the office today :)

I do love Canada Post sometimes!

Also, one of the two adoption agencies we're considering had included a list of patrons as references, complete with their phone number. I called one family today (they're from Ontario) to see how they found the process, and more specifically, their agency. This one agency is really hard to find reviews on and we want to be sure we made the right choice!

She had nothing but stellar things to say, which was a huge sigh of relief for me. She praised the staff, their comprehensive process (both in Canada and while travelling to Russia) and answered a few of my questions.

This wonderful lady also sent me a link to the blog she kept while travelling to and from Russia so I could follow her family's adventure. I must say that I hope to have time to sight see while in Russia - there are so many things there that sound amazing and beautiful.

The conversation left me feeling much more comfortable with this particular agency. You see, here in Nova Scotia there are no adoption agencies, and you need one for inter-country adoption. So, alas, you need to find one from another province that will work with you, and is licensed to work with you, as well as be licensed with your Country of choice (in this case that's Russia).

So I set out on a few weeks of MAJOR research reading everything I could and we got things narrowed down to 2 agencies. Now we just need to wait to see if anyone in Nova Scotia (the provincial government authorities or the private home study practitioners) have an opinion on either agency.

_________________________________

While I was writing this we got a call from the lady who signed for the application today. She wanted to check on a few things:

1. Have we looked into agencies? Have we found agencies that will work with Nova Scotians?
2. Are we aware of all that's involved with adoption from Russia (the travel, the translation, the cost, etc)?
3. Did we make it any further in our domestic adoption application?

She also told us that they are holding their International Training next weekend and would we like to attend? Umm...yes! The next time they are holding it isn't until the spring so I would say we lucked out! Furthermore, it turns out that this training is the international equivalent of PRIDE training here in Nova Scotia.

This is great! And it's completely odd that I am off work both weekend days - so hooray!

Also, the lady I spoke with told me that she's doing our Child Abuse/Child Welfare Registry Check now and will pop the list of approved home study practicionners in the mail as soon as it's done.

Today is a pretty good day on the adoption front! I would have loved to have seen Adam's face when I called him at work to fill him in!

Happy Thanksgiving 2012!

The First Paperwork!

And the beginning of a very long series of paperwork has begun!

Today we mailed off our initial application. It felt wonderful. I do hope it doesn't take long to hear back, so we can move on to the next step.

We're both feeling good about this and can't wait to move forward.

A couple I know of online are embarking on their second trip to Russia this coming week for their court appearance. I will be thinking of them!

Welcome To Our Adoption Blog

This blog is a way for you to follow us along our journey to adopt our child from Russia.

For those that don't know us, we're a couple from Nova Scotia, Canada who are adopting from Russia after a bumpy road trying to start a family.

Welcome!