We Wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

This picture is from the same photographer that did our "Celebrating Adoption" photos.
http://kristihibbetts.com

CQ'S GOTCHA DAY!
Happy Gotcha Day Baby!
It's flown by, and I just can't believe it! It has been a year.
1 year ago, Daddy and Mommy were in Russia getting ready to bring you to your new home.

It was a whirlwind trip.
Look at you before... And now Look at you!

Words cannot describe how you have changed our lives in so many wonderful ways.
When we first saw a video of you, we didn't want to get too excited because we had already been to Russia for another referral and it fell through.

We didn't want to get too attached...but we were really hoping it would be you!

After 1 long week of waiting to confirm our trip, our trip got postponed another week. Then, we finally got the word that we could go and meet you the week after.

Going to Borovichi was very emotional because your brother was from Borovichi too, so it was like we were re-living his adoption.

When we arrived, we were greeted with smiles and hugs and kisses because all of the caregivers remembered your brother and really enjoyed seeing his pictures.

Every other parent (who was there to adopt too) was sitting around the table listening to the medical/history reports from the orphanage doctor/chief director. We were last to hear about you, but the social workers whispered in our ears to get up and leave the room because they were just too excited for us to meet you.

Before we even got to the music room, one of the social workers was walking with you down the hall and you were all dressed up with a hat on ready to see us...or were you?

You began to cry because you were so painfully shy and held on for dear life to the care-giver, but mommy came up and kissed you on the check and picked you up. I told you that everything was going to be alright! I said, "Mommy is here now...shhh shhh" and finally you calmed down, but still wanted nothing to do with Daddy(yet).

We played with you for about an hour, then the music teacher came into the room and waived at you. Your eyes lit up! She brought out a CD player and began to play a song and you began to dance! It was so cute! When the music went off, you, again, went to the shy little one from before. Would barely even look at us.

Daddy and I noticed that care-givers kept coming in and out of the room...we think that they were checking on their little lady to make sure all was well...which it was.

Next, you were ready to eat. Boy did you eat. When we walked into the room, it was full of all boys...about 12 of them(all blonde hair blue eyes) and then...there was you. Curly BLACK hair, olive coloring and in a bright red dress. OUR GIRL!

I can honestly say that they spoiled you there. We could tell that they were pretty much willing to do ANYTHING for you! Hummmmm a sign for the future? :)

Anyway, it was time to leave and FINALLY you waived, blew kisses, and smiled at Daddy and Mommy. We were already missing our little girl!

On the second trip, you were alittle more social, but still pretty shy.

We played for awhile with you and then left for Veliky Novogord for court.

In court they talked about how special you were and that they were so happy that you were going to live with a special little boy...your brother.

The judge and prosector were so nice.

We picked you up the next day...the orphanage van met us 1/2 way and we took you

from the orphanage van to ours. You were all smiles and giggles.

Like you had known us forever! We sang Christmas Carols and

you danced.

No shy girl to be found!

Mommy got sick, again, in Moscow, but felt better before returning home.

Here you are getting ready to see Dr. Boris...I don't even remember this because I was soooo sick. Can you tell?

Your adoption story is so special because we almost didn't get you. We had to go through heartache before we had the chance to get you. I know that they were waiting for a couple and a boy who were just perfect for you...and we are so lucky it was us.

We love you forever and ever and ever!!!!!

Daddy and Mommy (and Aiden too!)

You are a happy little girl who is so loved and so wanted in this world!

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

This little guy is so special to me because he truly saved me. I had gone through so much to have a baby and to finally have him in my life was just a miracle. I find it amazing that at just the right time, we surrendered our infertility and decided to adopt. AND at just the right time we signed up at our agency. AND at just the right time our little guy was available for us, a world away, and was chosen for us.
It's all a wonderful miracle.

We adopted Buddah at 9 months and he has been with us for every birthday. I am thankful for this. His sister, was not with us for her 1st birthday, but she has more information about her history and pictures of when she was an infant, and he does not. So, this is something special for him.
As a tribute to his 5 amazing years, I am going to post his MONTAGE, which is of his adoption story and beyond. He has changed so much, though even in his first referral video his personality is evident.
He is a very loving child, though very very emotional. Spoiled, and Strong-willed are other words to describe him. :) Aren't they all?
He is so very bright, and I know as a teacher that everyone thinks that their kids are the brightest in the sky, but there is some kind of spark about him. He is a calm, very calm child. He is a thinker. He forgets nothing. Remembers things very specifically even things that happened when he was 2. He never forgets a place. He even knows directions to get most places. He questions, argues to get his point across, can manipulate anyone or anything, and he is so funny. Again, at a very young age he "got" humor.
He is even sarcastic at times...a trait his daddy has mastered!
He is also a perfectionist.
He is WAY smarter than I ever was.

His birthday was the 14th, and we celebrated as a family. Next weekend, his party will be at the Bounce Zone...such a cool place!
What an amazing little guy, and growing up so fast. Happy Birthday Buddy. You know you're our world!
Mommy ( and daddy too)

In a Parallel World

Right before leaving for FedEx

and the Airport

This is a picture of me after we got home from FedEx. This was pretty much me until about 8pm that night. Very frusterating!

Since I wasn't able to go to Russia this week, I somehow felt like I was in a parallel world...kind of "out of it" all week. Like I was suppose to be somewhere else.

I am currently working with FedEx and Russian-American Consulting to see what reimbursements they will consider doing. I have to admit that things/stress has gotten much better. I know that the trip will happen eventually, but it will hopefully be a time when I can go. I will go again.

On a better note, this week, CQ has really been clingy to me. That's good for me...and her. She keeps telling me that she loves me and won't let me put her down. When other people, even Daddy, hold her, she says..."I want Mommy" This has been going on all week and I am loving it!! My goodness she has come so far. God love her, she is trying! It will be 1 year home in just a few weeks.

Buddah, my little guy, will be 5 on Friday.

Oh my! He has grown

so fast.

It's truly amazing how he's grown. I just can't seem to keep up with him. I am so proud of him. He is a miracle child! He had a very difficult beginning of his life (in Russia) and today, you'd never ever guess that at all. He is a thriving almost 5 year old with the whole world at his feet. Isn't he so handsome?

I continue to keep up with most blogs and it looks pretty good out there in bloggerland. I think we are all just enjoying our kiddos so much that it's hard to find the time and stuff to write about to keep people interested.

I still love to do it though, so I'm hanging in there.

I'll be posting our x-mas cards very soon.

OUR PASSPORTS/VISAS WERE A NO SHOW FOR THE TRIP :(

Our passports were lost by FedEx on Saturday morning.
All that I could think of was...THANK GOD WE WEREN'T LEAVING FOR OUR COURTDATE!

After 6 hours of waiting, our passports were finally found and shipped to the closest FedEx Hub. Just 3 hours shy of our plane tickets being able to be switched to a Sunday departure.
I talked to several people at FedEx and begged, pleaded, and cried for help. We waited one time, 1 hour for a call back and when we got it, it was a manager saying that it was lost....somewhere in Tennessee with no tracking at all to be found.
I can't tell you how much $ and time we've lost, but it's alot!

I have to say that I'm pretty upset at our travel agency Russian-American Consulting, which I've never used before. They made the plane and visa arrangements. They told me to send it on date "X" and that the visas would arrive Nov. 30th. Knowing that we were leaving on the 1st (because they also made our flight arrangements), they failed to send the passports/visas out on time, but assured me that a 9:30am pick-up at the FedEx Hub was fine (on the 1st just 3.5 hours before our flight)..."People have to do it all the time!" I actually had a very funny feeling about it once I heard that the visa's weren't sent on time.
I also can't tell you what a big emotional toll this has taken on me. It took so much for me to get up the courage to take this trip...without my family. I was totally packed and on my way to the airport, totally prepared to go to Russia.
I actually had a mini-panic attack that morning at about 4am. It's just so hard to leave, but I knew in my heart that this was a good thing for me to do. AND I was excited to do it!

Anyway, I don't really know where to go from here. I could tell that the person who planned the trip was very upset that we wouldn't re-buy tickets...$2800.00 last minute tickets. (granted our original tickets were just $900.00). I know alot was riding on us going and helping, but we just couldn't justify spending this kind of $ to volunteer...volunteer ourselves to this cause. We had already put our jobs, family, lots of $, and ourselves on the line for the cause. It was asking just too much.
I guess I'm venting a little, but at the same time I guess I would love to hear some feedback. What would you do in this situation...?
Plan to go on another date.
Cut our loses and move on.
Do you think the Travel Agency and the Fed Ex people need to held accountable?
I just need to hear what you all think.
We do have a phone conference with FedEx tomorrow morning.
Jen