Journal #195

Both of my girlfriends in Russia are excited to come home. Baby Michael will be joining his sister and parents on May 8th. CONGRATS K- I can't wait to hear the details!!!

ANDREA- the phone is free pick it up, I miss you-OOhhhhh are you tired- Is it hard to sit on the phone with a toddler??? Yeah yeah I UNDERSTAND!!!

Joanie and Family... Cupcake Thanks you so much for the PINK classic car- I wish you could have seen her face when it was put together! I know I said I was keeping Cupcake over at "Life with Cupcake" blog but I couldn't resist sharing this photo on both!

Everyone stuck in Russia for extra days because of holidays- You will be back home soon! For those of you on your way- Have a safe adn wonderful trip! Everyone else- Have a great weekend!

Journal #194

OMG! Is it bad enough to be with an agency who is slow in one of the fastest regions so you leave your child in Moscow City on November 30 and do not get a court date UNTIL April 10th? Is it bad enough to have an agency who basically feels annoyed with your questions and inbetween trips says you can gladly go with another agency? Curiously has anyone else taken so long in Moscow City? ANYWAY- Andrea arrived in Moscow with her parents in tow to share this special moment of picking up her son but as they arrived at SVO, her mother was put back on the plane and sent back to JFK- WHY? Because the travel agency (referred by the placement agency) sent her mother to Moscow on a single entry visa. They made three trips anyway BUT shouldn't SOMEONE have checked since the VISA is in Russian?

How sad on such a special day her mother will not be able to be with her! What a BIG BOO BOO!!!

Sorry Andrea- thinking about you and miss you much! Sorry Yeltsin died so you couldn't get Nic today and so sorry you will not have your mother tomorrow. On a positive note you are finished with AIA!

Journal #193

Bye-Bye Andrea! We can't wait to say "hello Nic!" One of my very good friends who you may have met through my blog entry on the day we arrived @ JFK (Andrea & Mario) who met us with an American flag and big hugs for Cupcake. She is on her way to Moscow on trip #3 to pick her son. It has been a long and difficult journey! We are sooo happy for you and your family!!! With so few children leaving Russia each and every child who can find their family is just a MIRACLE. Congrats again!

Journal #192

Lisa has reached Perm, met her girls, and sounds so happy! When you refer someone to your agency you hold your breath. Not because you doubt your agency. If this is the case yous houldn't refer but because ANYTHING can happen with adoption. I just feel happy tonight. It was a good way to end my day by reading Lisa's blog. They ugly truth is there isn't many children leaving Russia so everyone who gets home is one more forever family! Hurry home Lisa so you can get back to the girls to bring them home!!! Congrats!

Journal #191

Having been asked via email for updates on Dawn & Joe I will start with I do not know anymore than Thursday resulted in a later court date in June. Dawn described the findings as neutral for them adn not positive for the Birth Mother but Family Court will have to decide the fate of all involved! Let's all hope Baby Stephen makes it home sooner than later!

Delayed as usual on wishing Ann Marie & Zach a big congrats on their adorable son who they will be going back to St Pete's to bring home soon! XOXO

Tomorrow LISA will be leaving to meet her daughters. I am wishing you the best time of your life. These special moments are priceless. I am so happy to be traveling again through you!

Other than EAC & Frank I wasn't aware of any other agency bring home children so check out Denise's blog for a third option too. Anyone who can switch and bring another child home, There are too many waiting!!!

The Angels & Cupcakes I met are haunting me daily. I worry so much that by the time accreditation occurs they will age out of the desirable age for adoptions.

Have a good weekend!

Journal #190

When we go to bed this evening- Dawn will be waking up in Kaz for the final court ruling after being in country for 59 days, losing the first baby after 10 days, and the second child being put on hold the day Dawn was to get custody. The court process looks good but as we all know International Adoption has a personality of its own.

She has requested that everyone take a moment to light a virtual candle for Baby Stephen, Joe & Herself. Please take 2 seconds and reach out to another PAP who is stranded in the most awful predictament one could imagine!

http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=SJD

Journal #189

This whole accredition mess with the media creating a frenzy is unfortunate. Now some people won't even attempt to adopt from Russia which means children won't find their forever families. I have even received emails from families wanting to switch to Romania or Ukraine. Please families do your homework. Romania has been closed to the US for a some. Ukraine is an option but with limitations on age of children they allow to leave.

Adoption Journey's have an end. Everytime I sign to read our header I wonder when our journey should be considered over. Well, Tuesday evening will be our first PPR (post placement report). This is my sign. I will continue to post adoption related tidbits and news on this blog but we will be moving on to "LIFE WITH CUPCAKE" so if you are looking for us, pictures, how life is progressing, and the continues chronicles of "Life With Cupcake," You can find us @

http://ourcupcake.blogspot.com/

Journal #187

This past weekend we did some family photos since my grandmother is in town from Florida, and Aunt Reesy who is Cupcake's godmother flew in from Atlanta.

Nana, Poppy Larry & Cupcake

Reesy, Me, Cupcake, My Mom (AKA Nana), & Grandma K

Pics of Cupcake with her 2 great grandmothers' coming soon...

Journal #186

What a sad day for Russian Adoption...It seems as the media is using terminology to create a panic but all of us have known the last of the accredited agencies would expire April 11, 2007.

In my month in Russia, I asked, begged, and inquired every where I went for information to bring home. The information I found at the MOE, through drivers', translators, and facilitators seemed to ugly to repeat. Of course I was hoping for them to all be wrong. This is an election year, there are very powerful politicians who get points for being Anti-International Adoption, the society in itself has no regards for orphans, and the overall consensus was June maybe July. However, some have said it will be soon after all agencies are expired. Others feel if it isn't completed by June it will not happen until after summer holiday.

I believe no one knows but I do believe in Russian culture not many care about the orphans or they wouldn't be able to discard 750,000 precious lives.

So today is sad for all of the families who are waiting, and a tragedy for the children waiting for their loving families!

Journal #185

Where is Cupcake????

My grandmother used to make "Time Out" dolls so we put them next to Cupcake. Cute?

Check out the pics below too of Cupcake's first day to a Gymboree Class with Tyler.

Journal #184

Today is a special day. One month ago today Cupcake, my mother, and I departed Moscow, arrived at JFK, and Cupcake spent her first night in Project Pink aka Cupcakeland.

I will finish the post when I return home.

Sorry for the lack of postings but I have been quite ill since March 16th. Off to the doctor's...Well, the doctor has ordered a million tests to begin at 7am tomorrow morning YUCK! It didn't stop us from having a good day.

Cupcake and I met Tyler and Maria at a Gymboree class...As you see she loves bubbles....
Mom's Little Cupcake T-Shirt compliments of Baby Gap

Tyler gladly helps clean up as Cupcake waits to start taking the balls OUT of the box!
The only two who helped roll the tunnel back against the ball... It was very CUTE!
Cupcake- Happy 1 Month home, you are an absolute delightful daughter. You keep us on our toes and hope you continue to smile and giggle everyday of your life!

Baby Tyler- We love you. You are just a real SUPERBABY! We have a great time with you and Mommy!

911

For the past 2.5 weeks I have been ill with night fevers. I didn't go to the doctor because everyday I start to feel great but then it hits me again. NOT IMPORTANT as I will be on my way to a doctor but this is the reason i am posting at 4am.

There has been NO TIME in blogger history I have asked, talked about, or mentioned prayers. I am just not religious. HOWEVER, many of us in bloggerland are familiar with Dawn & Joe who have had a very difficult adoption from Kaz. After 44 days in Kaz, the loss of the first child they spent 10 days, a successful court date, Joe returning to the US, and Dawn preparing to get custody TODAY...They received news that AGAIN the birth mother has returned. She must wait until 5pm tomorrow to go to court. Again, they do not expect the adoption to be granted. She can not stay any longer as all funds have been exhausted and Joe is no longer in Kaz.

Prayers and MORE are needed for this family!