So while we have been waiting

I had decided back in November that I would not rush to complete the twins’ room - I'd take my time so that it would help pass the time until they came home.......that theory worked until about mid March when we pretty much completed everything that we needed to do to accommodate our growing family.

Since our third bedroom upstairs was our office we moved our office downstairs but our third bedroom is the smallest bedroom. I want to keep Angelina and Anthony together - not separate them in different bedrooms when they first came home - Nicholas room was set up from the beginning to accommodate a brother if we were to have a boy (or for sleepovers) if we had a girl. Since my plan is to not separate them yet we needed to work with a very small bedroom to keep them together.......the bedroom is so small I couldn't fit two twin beds in the room and didn't want to over power the room with bunk beds like Nicholas' because it is so small & this room will end up being Angelina's room and I picture a totally girly room (not sure what that will entail exactly) but in the meantime we needed to do toddler beds.......of course since they are boy and girl I decided to keep it multi gender (is that such a thing??) as opposed to gender generic.

Anyway it is hard to see from the photos but Anthony's bed is navy blue - his bed linens are all light blue - again I'm glad I didn't decide to actually make the beds up as it would have been a long time before they end up actually sleeping in their beds - anyway Angelina's bed is pink along with pink linens. Since the room is so small we needed to go with a light color so since green - light green has always been my very favorite color we went with very light soft green paint and the carpet is beige with very gentle specks of colors. I also didn't want to overwhelm, or over stimulate the kids with an over the top theme so went with a small cuddly type stuffed animal decor -bears, rabbits, etc. I again went reserved just to keep it light and airy not too much too soon. We also plan to put up some white wall shelves over the tall dresser and some shelves either over each of their beds or on each side of their beds......I guess we should getting working on that soon in hopes that they are coming home before long.


This is Nick's room - which will end up being both Nick's & Anthonys bedroom - Nick's animals will need to find a new place to hang!!

The small animals on each bed were added by Nicholas as he wanted to help decorate his brother & sisters bedroom....he is an amazing little boy!!

Small closet but it will work short term

Also since we now have the room downstairs we decided to add a playroom to the mix and this is where we started

During this time I have also started picking up clothes every now and again for the littles....but it has been a challenge since I'm not 100% sure on sizes - I am pretty much am starting with 3T but on some things I'm moving to 4T's only because it is so hard to guage from pictures?!

Now this makes me happy focusing on when they come home!


DND

So what are we waiting for.............

We are waiting again..................last time our dossier was returned because the judge wanted some changes - all about a name - Dennis Michael and Dennis yes they could be two different people according to the judge so we needed to re-do about 50 actually it was 52 documents - signed, notarized, county flagged & apostilled She also wanted/needed an extract of NY Notary law....OK my agency get's that done. We then learn our dossier will not make it before Russia has a 10 day holiday - May 1 - 10th GREAT so we wait..........we apply pressure that we want it on the desk on the 10th for the judge. We expected/hoped to hear something shortly thereafter until our Russian coordinator says it might not be until the end of the month - I nearly hit the roof - what@#!!!
We are told they want to give us the worse case but it of course could be sooner........

While we are waiting I had asked for an update on our children & I inquire a few times and finally I get some pictures and a note on how the "boy" (I'm sorry you mean our son) has changed so much - oh yes so what I want to hear, really you think 6 months he's changed.........the pictures are interesting and I will share but they are interesting because yes our son has changed and in the few photos they send he is smiling a very happy little smile and that makes me happy - he is smiling - I'm sure because he is outside in the play area (I won't call it a playground as it is far from anything we know as a playground) but he is smiling and outside playing probably after being inside the entire winter............our daughter however in the pictures has that same pained upset look - why she is outside to? She is not smiling actually she looks to be on the verge of tears and is not happy.............I have mixed emotions - yes I'm happy he looks happy and he is a cutie, sad that he is not home with us - they should be home already....now our daughter who looks pained in every photo- gives me more to ponder......it seems she is unhappy and it in these photos it not because she is frightened to death of us - whew that makes me feel better. I know crazy thoughts but it makes me feel better that it isn't just the thought of us that makes her sad as she was when we met her.............but I'm pained because we are here - we are her parents and can make her happy.....we will make them happy, we can make them happy and we can't because our judge. This judge is hearing her first US adoption case - our case (this detail we just find out and our agency has no relationship with the new judge). Yes this really makes us feel confident - just think the US women putting her son on the plane back to Russia - so the judge is cautious and covering herself by covering all basis before granting us a court date.

We heard back on the 10th (Thursday) late in the day..............and it just gets better and better........we are told one document needs to be re-done.... whew OK frustrating but OK......Friday morning we hear not just one but a few more things are needed...........after two calls with our Agency and then with the Director who said we just need to supply the judge with whatever she wants. Again we kick it into high gear....actually Dennis had to kick it into high gear because I am just to overwhelmed with all of it - it is painful and sad and I just can't believe how this is unfolding.

Dennis is amazing and does get the one document we need - our Agency gets the other one one and then we are stuck because neither of us (my Agency) or us can get one document the judge wants. The judge wants a letter from USCIS stating that they (USCIS) does not seal/sign or place a raised seal on our Favorable Determination to Adopt document - they supply this form to every single family adopting from the US and this is what they supply - But since this is something our judge is requesting & because it is not signed/stamped/embossed with an "official seal" how does she know it is a valid/real document from the USCIS???

Our agency asked us to seek out assistance from our congressman’s office to see if they can pull any strings to get such a letter. They tried and they have not had any success either - quite simply because it doesn't really make sense HOWEVER our congressmen’s office did offer and our agency accepted to have the Congressman provide a letter from him that the document supplied is valid. We are getting these few documents Apostilled on Monday and sending back to Russia on Tuesday. What will the judge say or do - we have no idea.

Dennis & I are lost.............we don't know what to think much less feel other then angry (Dennis) and me I’m just so sad....sad that our kids are lingering in an orphanage for over 2 1/2 years and we are here waiting to bring them home and we can't................Please continue to send prayers, positive thoughts & good vibes so that the judge will be acceptable to everything we have done to accommodate her requests and grants us a court date and a favorable decision to bring our children home.

Here are some of the updated pictures we received........

This one I just love....look at his hand........I so wish she was smiling........

When I showed Nicholas the photos he said - wow they look like they are having fun......the next day when he sees the pictures again on the counter as he is walking by, he sat down with me and said "so how are my brother & sister doing?"......................



And so we wait and wait and will wait for however long it takes.

DND