The Song "Home"

Thanks to a little help from Kim, I was able to add in the playlist to my blog. The first song I added is "Home" sung by Blake Shelton. Some might have heard it sung by Josh Groban I believe. The song doesn't completely "fit" in this whole adoption voyage but it does have a special meaning to me.

After many hours on 2 different planes, seeing 3 different countries and continents, and after I think about 22 hours, Mike and I finally landed at JFK airport in New York. We were exhuasted but we still had a 2 to 2 1/2 hour car ride to get back home. Once we got settled and were waiting in traffic (oh joy, welcome in NYC!) this song is the first one that I heard on the radio. It almost sent me into tears. Here I was going home, after an airplane ride, yet I did feel alone. I began to question where my home now was. Home hasn't seemed like home since that day. Am I home or is my home in Russia? I feel torn apart. This song will always be close to my heart. I have bought the CD and when I feel sad, or just need a moment, I like to listen to it and I feel a little better. It helps me to connect with Colby while he is so far away. A little sappy, huh? I'm not sure if you all can relate, or can understand, but even still, the song is just beautiful so listen to it and enjoy!

Yuck! Paperwork!

Well, Mike and I are trying to weed throught eh list of 24 documents that the judge wants us to update. Right now, we have 8 of them done to the notarized stage. We are currently waiting on: the psychologist to write his letter (supposedly in the mail!) so that I can then call the state to ask them to verify his license, the accountant to write the list of our assets and liabilities so that I can then ask the state to verify his license, the state to send the verifications of the doctors' licenses, the FBI criminal check #3, Mass to verify our social worker's license, and I'm not sure what else. Most of it is waiting on various government agencies which will be a bit of a wait since no one wants to work this week with Thanksgiving on Thursday. Once we ahve all the documents, then I need to send them to Hartford to get the state apostilles placed on them. That's another weeks wait. This can drag on forever...... Needless to say, the judge won't have our documents until almost Christmas since they need to be translated in Moscow first. Then the judge will be coming here for a short vacation. He will also be visiting with our agency. Maybe they can convince him to speed up this process.... Doubtful...

So we are making progress, but certainly not as quickly as I'd like. Slow and steady better win this race, and win it quickly.

Some News and Updates

Mike and I received an email from the agency yesterday. I guess the judge has looked at our paperwork because we now have the list of updates that he wants. We are now working on a list of about 25 more papers to chase after, get signed and notarized, and then get apostilled. Of course, some need to be completed before others so dates need to be a certain way. We need to update all of the medical paperwork and most of our financial paperwork as well. Not only do we need the doctors to sign more paperwork, but then we need to contact the state and certify their licenses' again. It is all paperwork that we have already done, and there is really no reason to update it because nothing has changed but that is what the judge and court wants so that is what we will do. Luckily I have a couple days off next week to chase after signatures.

So some good news I guess. I large step in the right direction. Another step closer to Colby. However, we still have no news or updates on his progress and how he is doing. Perhaps soon. The agency is looking into getting an update but Svetlana, the coordinator in Yekaterinburg, is working with another family on their second trip. They have their court date tomorrow! YEAH! I am thrilled for them. They have waited a long time.

More Waiting

Well, here we are now in the middle of November with Thanksgiving only a couple weeks away. In some ways, the year has gone by so fast and in others it seems to have taken forever. Was it really 5 months ago that we first saw Colby? It seems like only yesterday but yet it also seems like it happened ages ago. So much has happened that my head is still spinning and I can't find a quiet place to rest.

We still have no word from the Russian courts. I'm not even sure if the judge has looked at our paperwork yet. Probably not. Vica and Kim have no updates to give us either. I'd love to get a photo or at least a note telling me how Colby is doing. That would make this holiday a little more bearable. I'm just not sure how I'll get through the holidays knowing that Colby is not with us and is still in that orphange. That is not the place for any child to "celebrate" the holidays. I just want to hold him again and tell him how much he is loved. So many people are waiting for him to come home, especially his mommy and daddy.

In other news, Mamie is now in a nursing/rehab home. She was in the hospital a week and now expects to be in the home for about 3 weeks. She will come home for Thanksgiving though. That is good news. Thanksgiving without her and Poppy would be too much to bear. I'm not sure if she will stay home or what will happen after that. She seems so unsteady and she can't be alone. My once strong Mamie now seems so so little. It is a hard thing to see. I just hope that she will still be around to see Colby come home.

Well, I guess that is all the news, or lack there of. I hope to hear something soon.

A Dreary Week

What dreary weather we have had this week. It has been raining off and on most of the week. Hopefully it is supposed to stop and tomorrow should be nice but chilly. I guess fall is certainly here. The storms have taken most of the leaves out of the trees so tomorrow will be leaf racking day. Misha certainly makes this chore fun. She runs after the rake and dances in the leaves. It is rather cute watching an 80 pound black lab "dance" in falling leaves.

To go with the dreary weather, my family has had a set back this week as well. Wednesday my mom called to let me know that Mamie (her mom, my grandmother) was back in the hospital. They weren't sure what was wrong. Now we know. She has congestive heart failure. I went and visited her a few times this week. Tomorrow I think the hospital is deciding what to do. They have talked about sending her to a convelesant home but my mom and her siblings don't want that. I am not sure what would be better for her. I know that living alone at the farm isn't the answer though. I guess we will see tomorrow what everyone decides. I only hope that Mamie still has the strength to fight this and that she will still be around to see Colby come home.

On that front, we still ahve no updates on Colby. We know that most couples are waiting about 10 months or more inbetween trips. I guess we need to just sit and wait in limbo for the court to get its act in gear and get us back there. I just wish I knew what was going on. The unknown is the hardest part. That, and not having the power to help resolve the problems. Ugh.... So we still wait. And wait. And wait....

Many Thank Yous

I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for reading this blog and for all of the warm thoughts and many comments that I have received. It has been a very difficult week this week and knowing that there are other families there that have gone through, or are going through, similar circumstances is reassuring. It has always been difficult for me to express my feelings outloud. Through writing I am able to share my thoughts and feelings, good and bad. I only hope that by doing so on my blog that I might help other families as they go through their adoption journey. In numbers, there is strength. Knowing that I have the support of others will get Mike and I through this terrible wait until we see our Colby again.