This is The Big One!!

The wheels on this thing have been turning since the moment Karen laid eyes on Ivan. However, this is one of the big steps we've been waiting on!

Hello Karen,

I reached the SDA. The date of your official appointment in the SDA is April 19, 2007.
I didn’t specify the exact time of the appointment. But tonight I go to Kyiv to get your official letter of invitation. I have an appointment there. I’ll keep you informed.

Olga.

This is a little less than a month away so we will have plenty of time to prepare but, I know the 15th-16th will be here before we know it. We'll drive down to Texas to leave the dogs with Karen's parents so we'll fly out of Austin. Another great bonus is that Karen's cousin Chris will be making his way to Ukraine sometime while we are there! It will be really great to have someone so close and in our support group there with us. So much to do!!! Can't wait!

Ivan's Room

A couple of weeks ago we finally got after our "Lance Ivan Room Project." A couple of long nights for these weekend warriors and a little spot work got it done. The walls are done and we have it somewhat furnished. We just need a few more things and it will be Lance-ready! The pics are a little out of order but, you get the idea.
This is Mattie's usual spot while we were working in the room. The trim and paint is already done in this shot.











This would be the semi-finished product. We're goin' with the whole moose-bear-forest look. No reason in particular we do really like the color scheme.














Karen likes the paint a little too much. This shot was taken after 20 hours of no sleep. Delirium had set in.















The before shot of where the chalkboard painted 1/4 " Birch plywood was going.















This looks like one of the last pics before we started moving things in.















Me filling the gaps around the chalkboard frame. It looks weird cuz I'm actually standing in the hall...on my tippy toes...not really.

Who Likes Molasses?!

Just like every other part of this adoption our wait is increasing. More delays and what not from our Eastern European friends. We've got to give the the benefit of the doubt but, we've got to get Lance Ivan here now!!!!! We actually have more we could be doing to prepare but, the room was the big thing and that has been done now for weeks. Okay God, we're ready!.....well...we thought we we're ready. But since we haven't gotten the call maybe You think we aren't....or maybe you're not ready. Patience will be with us.

Hi Karen,
Your dossier was registered. It has incoming registered number. But we need to know the registered number for the process. I called the SDA on Monday, March 12. They are very sorry but there was an epidemic of influenza in Kyiv. A lot of people in the SDA didn’t work that time. I was asked to call them in 2-4 days. They will do all their best to give me more information and I hope to find out the date where I will have to come to Kyiv to get the official letter of invitation. Please, don’t worry. I control the situation and I inform you as
soon as I have any news.

I’ll keep you informed. I will let you know as soon as I have information.

Love,
Olga.

I didn't get this posted Monday after it came. If it would have been big then I would have gotten it up quickly though.

Nothing Big

Just wanted to put up the latest email we got from Olga. Its nothing huge but, at least its something.

Dear Karen,

I called the SDA and I talked to the Director of Department of international adoptions. Her name is Valentina. She personally works with your process. She was very kind and we were very polite to each other J

The dossier was registered and all the documents are in order. They have 20 days to study the dossier and made a decision. But it’s formality. They have to study dossier during 20 days in accordance with legislation. I was asked to get in touch with Valentina in 20 days. The dossier was submitted in February 19. I am going to call the SDA in March 12. But if they call me earlier I will let you know. They have all my contact information and as I understand they remember me well.

Olga.

That is it. It now seems like we won't hear something big quite as fast as we thought before this email. Still sounds like it will be soon though!!