Adoption is a lesson in Geography

JCICS and "The Kyrgyz 65" Help bring them home

2011-06-12T23:14:00.000-07:00

https://jointcouncil.myetap.org/fundraiser/thekyrgyz65/individual.do?participationRef=883.0.281524259

Three Years / 200 posts

2011-06-09T23:03:00.000-07:00

Sadly tonight my ticker counter says all that can be said. Today Three years ago I met and accepted a little girl as my daughter.

And as if that were not enough another milestone This is post number 200! Sigh

Immersion in Kyrgyz Culture/ and One year as Momma

2011-05-28T21:43:00.000-07:00

First before I go into Kyrgyz stuff..... I just have to say. I am an awful blogger. Really! I started this blog over three years ago. And up until about a year ago I was obsessed. Hmm wonder what could have changed that??? Oh yeah I became a mom! We became a family. I simply respect all those great bloggers out there who can blog and be mom/dad. I just seem to forget to blog. Poor Kolya.. Although he is growing up on Facebook!!! However I just have to say that one year ago,May 27th, in a courtroom in Novgorod, Russia, I became mom to Nikolai Ivanov I. And he became Nikolas Benjamin Richard Bates. He is our love, our joy, our new life. He means the world to us and I can't imagine how this road came to be. Without the road which has been rocky and rough. Full of so many periods of waiting and tears, Kolya would not be a part of our life. Kolya one year ago became part of a family (on paper) and he was no longer an orphan! Next month (June 24) we will have him in our arms for 1 year. Sure Hope I can find the time to do him justice and get a one year home blog post up!!!!

Ok... Maybe.. Just maybe by being immersed in the culture of everything Kyrgyz we can herald in the coming of good news from Kyrgyzstan???? If one is to believe in dreams I must admit I had the first dream that I was actually holding Shelby Kristina in my arms. We were laughing and running... All my past dreams have been of seeing her in the distance. Just out of arms reach. Not allowed to get close. Not allowed to touch or even let her know I am there. Can it be???

Anyway back to Kyrgyz stuff. We are spending the night in Bethesda Md. In the morning Kolya and I will meet so many that we have met only virtually on this journey. So many that hold our struggle close. So many that pray for resolution. The day I am sure will bring a large circle of emotions. The joy at seeing Kyrgyz kids in their families. The fun of reliving the culture of Kyrgyzstan. The food, the people I have come to love so much on this journey. This weekend is The Kyrgyz Children's Future Kyrgyzstan reunion weekend. Then on June first we will return to Washington D.C. for festivities at the Kyrgyzstan Embassy. June 1st is National Children's Day in Kyrgyzstan. And the Kyrgyz Embassy is sponsoring a day for children, as well as a meeting in the evening for all those who hold an interest in Kyrgyzstan Adoptions. They will be updating on the latest news available. Hoping that this weekend the sights of children having fun, Children thriving, Children being children in their adopted families from not only Kyrgyzatan, but from The United States, Russia, Kazakhstan and Ghana. Children need their families. Children need love. And love knows no international boundaries.

Roza speaks to us again personally on FACEBOOK

2011-04-24T02:58:00.000-07:00

Amendments to the Family Code of the Kyrgyz Republic, children adoption issues.by Roza Otunbayeva on Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 3:42amDear sirs & madams,
I wish to share the information that the Kyrgyzstan’s Parliament has approved the draft bill “On implementing amendments into the Family Code of the Kyrgyz Republic”, which I am going to sign in the very nearest future.
This draft bill is a good result of rigorous and coordinated efforts of the Government and the appropriate Committee of the country’s Parliament. It builds up a firm base for our further cooperative work to improve the legal framework in this area.
The approved draft bill is also enabling us to complete adjusting the rules of international adoption, in particular to set number of regulations providing for procedures for accreditation of adoption agencies and adoption itself.

Dear adoptive parents,
Passage of the law on Аmendments to the Family Code of the Kyrgyz Republic is an important step towards lifting the moratorium imposed by the former Parliament upon international adoption.
I believe that joined and tireless efforts will allow us to pass promptly all required by-laws in the field of international adoption, and enable to adopt children.
While remaining committed to do my best in achieving the mentioned objectives, I thank you once again for your patience and understanding.

Sincerely yours,
Roza Otunbayeva

Family Code... Baby Steps

2011-04-14T23:43:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update... Yesterday The Parliament of Kyrgyzstan passed the readings of the Family Code. This is our first step towards getting our children out of Kyrgyzstan. Next we need Roza to sign the family code into law. We need someone in kyrgyz to sign off on the MOU that has been written and re-written by our DOS. We believe there may be a reaccredidation necessary for our adoption agencies. But "supposedly" all this is just a formality and all just need sto get signed.

Let's hope that the "formality" happens quickly.

Aidar

2011-03-09T23:25:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

This is a totally out of the blue request... I hope I can tell this story as briefly as possible yet convey the great need for prayer, good vibes, juju from the Universe but also potential a shout out for sponsorship for a little orphan boy in Kyrgyzstan who is now in a hospital in Bishkek. I hate asking for donations I have never been good at campaigning. And I hope I did not get in over my head. So I am looking to you guys to help spread the word... Maybe someone has ideas of fundraising for this story.

But on to my story.... Several here already know this story so this will be a recap for them. For the rest of you bare with me as I recap two years.

In April and May of 2009 I spent two weeks with John seeing all the aide he, his group and another NGO in Kyrgyzstan provide. I spent a few days in meetings for our 65 kids but for the most part this trip was Humanitarian Aide. During the trip we met with a woman whom I had met on my second trip to Kg. She along with her team leader took John and I and a friend to a specialized orphanage. We were the first "outsiders" allowed in this orphanage since the Hilary Clinton debacle which caused much stress to orphanages around Kg.

In one particular section of the orphanage we were met by a little boy at the door. This we found out was Aidar.. Aidar immediately took me by the hand. Which was my first clue that something was wrong! Aidar's hands were as cold as ice. When I looked down his hands and fingers were purple! And his fingers and nails were clubbed ( medical term which is a definitive diagnosis for a person who lives not getting enough oxygen to their extremities). Aidar spent the next hour holding me by the hand and showing me his classroom. He sat in my lap and hugged me. I knew he needed help. And he stole my heart. Once back home I asked to get more information about Aidar. I sent some funds to cover expenses to drive to his orphanage. Betty (who has been the main advocate in Bishkek for Aidar) met with the director of his orphanage. The director at that time basically said sorry there is nothing that can be done for him and we have no plans on allowing you to have access to his medical records. So the case was closed. I was here and Betty was leaving. Nothing we could do........

But then December came. And I received emails from Betty who is now back in Bishkek. She went to an orphanage 7 hours outside of Bishkek. And in those photos were pictures of Aidar. Sometime in the last two years Aidar was moved. The door was again open to advocate for Aidar. Betty met with the new director. He was much more open to allowing Aidar to receive care. His records were copied last month and sent to us here in the states. Several of us here in the U.S.( I will let those folks name themselves if they want to be named) reviewed his medical records and determined he needed further testing before we could figure out the next plan of care.

Well the next step has happened very quickly. We were anticipating getting an ECHO of Aidar's heart. Aidar returning to his orphanage and waiting for input from doctors here in the U.S. to review the results. What we have been met with is a little boy in heart failure. Aidar is now 9. He is the size of a 5 year old and his hands are now purple to his wrists. It may be too late to save Aidar. We do not know yet. Surgery may in fact be too much for his heart to handle. But I do not think that the cardiologists expected to be met by a little boy in such severe medical distress. Betty said he was completely out of breath when he climbed the stairs to her apartment and it took him a long time to recover. Aidar has been admitted to the hospital in Bishkek. I have very limited information tonight. But i have been told that Aidar needs immediate surgery. Which I am not sure if he will get in Bishkek or will need to come abroad. Surgery in Bishkek is very very risky. I along with the other moms here in the U.S. believe surgery in Bishkek is not the best answer but unfortunately we are not there. We can only advise from 7000 miles away.

So I leave this story with a request for prayers, juju, good thoughts to be sent to Aidar. A little orphan boy who has touched my heart and many others this last two years. I do hope we have done the right thing by bringing him to Bishkek. And as much as I hate to ask.... Along with prayers if anyone is interested in helping financially. We can either send money through John at Act of Kindness and make sure to write "for Aidar" in the comments section. Or we can send support through YWAM. If anyone wants to send support through YWAM (Youth With A Mission) I can get that address to anyone who wants just let me know.

I will leave you with a photo of sweet Aidar. taken several years ago.

Hugs

Ann

Another Birthday Post. I Support Adoptions

2010-12-06T02:29:00.000-08:00

Ok WOW.. I just found that this was never posted. It is over a month old...

In honor of Sweet Shelby's 4th Birthday I want to write and thank Maria and iSupport Adoptions. A few weeks ago Maria wrote to me and granted us. Literally.. she granted us a grant to be used towards our adoptions. She is holding the grant for now while we wait for Kyrgyzstan to begin the process. When will that be? Who knows.

http://isupportadoptions.blogspot.com/

Take a moment to check out iSupport Adoptions. Maria is striving to help bring more children into families through adoption. Adoption is costly and full of roller coaster ups and downs. But through the efforts of organizations such as iSupport Adoptions more families may get the chance to extend love to orphans around the world.

Thank you Maria!

December 6th AGAIN Another Happy Birthday from 7000 miles away

2010-12-06T01:08:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Sweet Noodle... I still do not know when we will meet again. But until that day know you are loved beyond imagination. Your childhood is being held hostage. But I can assure you that as soon as the word is given you will be swooped into the arms of love. Your birthdays will not come and go unnoticed. Every day will be full of love and learning. You will never know the feeling of being alone. Your days will be filled with laughter and your nights with sweet dreams. You will begin and end every single day with a snuggle and a kiss. Your brother your daddy, your family and your dogs will fill every waking moment. We love you more then ever Shelby Kristina. Hold on little girl one day we will be in each other's arms forever.

Ok that was one story for the day...... The second story is my gift from Shelby on her Birthday last year... This is from my secret squirrel blog that I kept while we were preparing to adopt Nikolas.

Sunday, December 6, 2009
December 6, 2009
So today was Shelby's Birthday. The day sort of came and went since I worked all weekend. Not without me thinking hard about where I want to be, where I was last year and what has not occurred yet. We will have some cake when I go home on Monday or Tuesday.

But what I want to post here is a truly amazing possibility. Today, on Shelby's Birthday of all days. Another post has appeared on Rainbowkids. I found Shelby on Rainbow kids in a very similar fashion. checking back all the time her post just appeared hours after I had just checked. Now tonight I check several times and a new post has appeared. This is what I found........

ChildID / Name Birth Date
KF5 10/1/2008
Location Gender
Unspecified Male
Date Added View Siblings of this Child
12/4/2009
Agency KidsFirst Adoption Services LLC

Details This child is available for immediate adoption and we are looking for a family who has a current approved home study. This child is approximately 14 months old - the date of birth listed is approximate. He was born at 32 weeks gestational age. The doctor and teachers are very happy with his developments. He is walking with support (while holding on to furniture or someone else). He plays with toys attentively and is showing good progress. The doctor reports that he is still showing an 11% defecit in weight, but they believe this is due to the prematurity. If you are interested in more information about this child please contact Inna at (317) 843-2300.

Time will tell.. But I feel like God has sent this Birthday present from Shelby to us on her Birthday. I sure don't know how we will financially handle this. But if this is meant to be I am going to let God figure that out.

And third on this December 6th 2010. My very dear friend is arriving in Moscow. My prayers and thoughts have been with her all day and night. She is meeting the little girl this week that she hopes to call her daughter. It has been a long road for her. I hope this is finally her moment and that the next few weeks will bring her to mommyhood.

Kisses In the Wind

2010-11-18T03:45:00.000-08:00

Found this by Blog Surfing!

KISSES IN THE WIND
(The Waiting Child's Lullabye)

I hold you in my heart and touch you in my dreams.

You are here each day with me, at least that's how it seems.

I know you wonder where we are... what's taking us so long.
But remember child, I love you so and God will keep you strong.

Now go outside and feel the breeze and let it touch your skin...
Because tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God hold you in His hand until I can be with you.
I promise you, my darling, I'm doing all that I can do.

Very soon, you'll have a family for real, not just pretend.
But for tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God wrap you in His arms and hold you very tight.
And let the angels bring the kisses that I send to you each night.

~Pamela Durkota

Be The Answer (JCICS) National Adoption Month

2010-11-02T10:23:00.000-07:00

Please advocate for the 65 Kyrgyz children waiting to be adopted by U.S families. To learn more about one of these children read this story.

http://betheanswerforchildren.wordpress.com/2010/11/02/the-answer-for-nikolas-and-be-the-answer-for-shelby/

A Tale of Two Children

Two children so beautiful, so special and so loved. Both my children but only one I can hold and kiss, teach and provide for. The other lives in my heart and I hold her in my dreams.

In June of 2008 I met Shelby Krystina. She was then 19 months old. Her medical reports include hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, severe malnourishment, global developmental and physical delays; all consistent with the suspicion for cerebral palsy. Shelby sat for the first time unassisted on my first trip. She walked unassisted just prior to my second trip in December of 2008. She remains extremely small for her age. And she remains in an orphanage in Kyrgyzstan. Two and a half years after meeting her government has continued to invoke delay after delay. We have no end in sight. We have no timeline for when or even if she will ever get to be more then the child of my heart.
On a positive note due to continued delays my fiancé and I chose to pursue a concurrent adoption. In December of 2009 (on Shelby’s Birthday) we received photographs of a little boy who we knew instantly was meant to be our son. Six months later Nikolas Benjamin Richard became a United States citizen as we landed on U.S. soil at John F. Kennedy Airport.

I met Nikolas (aka Kolya ) in April 2010. He was just shy of 18 months old. He too is tiny, malnourished and developmentally delayed. But Nikolas has an advantage. Russia, despite recent troubles, has continued to allow International Adoption to proceed. Their government has worked closely with many adoption advocates to unite as many children with families as possible. Kolya turned two on October 10. In less then 4 months he has learned to not only walk without toppling every three steps, he now runs, jumps, skips, and climbs. He has gone from not talking in the orphanage to saying at the very least 25 English words. His latest melts my heart. His new saying makes me sad and happy at the same time. Two days ago Kolya started saying “I wub oo” When going to sleep or being held, “I wub oo” is said over and over. Kolya has transformed from a lonely scared developmentally delayed child into a happy, shining little boy who is almost right on target in all areas for his age.
Kolya came home at the same age that Shelby “should have” come home. I am reminded daily, just by watching him blossom, of what Shelby is missing. No speech, physical, or occupational therapy. No nutrionist to help her thrive, no one to sing her bedtime songs or hold her when she cries. Shelby will turn four in two months. She potentially will be moved to the orphanage for older children. Her world will become scarier as she will go from one of the oldest to the youngest, smallest, and frailest of the children. What will happen to her? Who will watch over her? Who will tell her repeatedly “ I wub oo?”

Nikolas has An Answer. Be the Answer for Shelby by posting the below message on the president of Kyrgyzstan, Roza Otunbayeva, facebook page (found here):

”Please advocate for the 65 Kyrgyz children waiting to be adopted by U.S families. To learn more about one of these children read this story.”

Be sure that you link to this Blog Post on the President’s Wall!

10-10-10

2010-10-19T19:26:00.000-07:00

(blogger is not allowing me to upload photos!!! So I will have to load them later)

Ok So I am not really writing this on 10-10-10 but seems that my days slip away from me lately.
10-10-10 was our little guys 2nd birthday. What a great day we had! Kolya was surrounded with family and friends. I have never had so many people in our house before. Some came to meet our little guy for the first time. The day was absolutely beautiful. A good thing since we had so many people! The hit of the day was pumpkin carving. The littlest kiddos used markers and stickers. But almost everyone else carved their own creation. Another big hit (literally) was our Tractor Pinata. The little kids got to play the longest as this pinata did not hold up so good to the older kids. A few good swings and that was all she wrote.
A round of Happy Birthday, and cake and ice cream followed. By this time most folks needed to leave as the day was getting late. Pumpkin carving took a lot longer then we anticipated, but all the kids were having so much fun we could not get them away from their creations.
Kolya opened his gifts like a trooper. He sat and oooed and ahhhhed and wow'ed at his trucks and cars. Like a true toddler any clothing was ceremoniously tossed aside. However MOM is truly grateful for the clothing, the footie PJ's, sweatshirts, overalls, and long sleeved onesies.
A bit over a week later we are still discovering and opening the boxes of trucks and cars and tool sets. Lightning McQueen is a huge hit, we send him flying up and down the hallway many times every day. Tonight I think Kolya was trying to clean his ears with the drill set. The chuck cars and sets were opened on our visit to Brian's parents and his Grandpa helped him put the pieces together. The My First Reader went to duPont with us for his appointments last Friday. And the set of CAT trucks and John Deere tractors get rolled across the floor being pushed by Kolya vrroooooming them around on his knees.
Thank you to everyone and to my Sister-in-law Kathy for helping with the pumpkins! Just a perfect day!

Dear Marina

2010-10-10T20:03:00.000-07:00

Dear Marina,

I want to thank you with all my heart and all my soul. Today our son turned two. Yes! Our son. Kolya is one lucky little boy. He has two moms. You gave him life 2 years ago in Novgorod. And for whatever reasons he could not stay with you. You gave him a wonderful gift by knowing he could have a better life by giving him up. I am Kolya's other mom. And I will tell you he will be raised with the love of a family and surrounded always by friends. He will grow up knowing his heritage, and that he has a mother halfway around the world. Thank you.

Ann and Kolya

Another Eurasianet article

2010-09-30T20:42:00.000-07:00

Thank you Laurie.

YOU ROCK

http://www.eurasianet.org/node/62055

Almost three month photos

2010-09-24T09:09:00.001-07:00

Time Flies

2010-09-24T08:32:00.000-07:00

I just can't keep up with posts. Such a bad blogger. I went from posting almost every day to trying to figure out why I can't get a post in every week! Not for lack of being on the computer I tell ya. I get plenty of computer time. Not for lack of things to say about Kolya or photos because we have PLENTY of those. Maybe its Blogger's cramp? Maybe its the overwhelming up and down of emotion. I can't begin to explain the happiness we have with Kolya being home in our arms. He brings such joy and love to our familiy and to our friends and to everyone who sees him. Yes folks who just see him rollin along in the stroller just stop and smile, and they don't even know his story. This little man just exudes happiness and positive energy. Last week we went to the Oley Fair. Now I know I am biased and I am a proud mom. But, I could not help but notice the people who would look his way and just smile at him for nothing more then him being.. Just being! There were tons of children in strollers the place was packed. And I tried to be aware of these same reactions others were having to other children. And it just weasn't there.
Along with the happy is the overwhelming sense of hopelessness about our Kyrgyzstan daughter. We will receive a report from Ambassador Jacob's trip on Monday Sept 27th. From all we hear the trip and negotiations went well. But still no timeline in effect. We hear YES we will reunite the 64 kids (yes 64 kids I will write a full post dedicated to one special little girl). Yes we will sign the MOU, Yes, Yes, YEs... But no action on WHEN. Sigh.
But back to Happy note... Kolya has been home just shy of three months now! I can't believe it. Three months. We have a great routine. Kolya does best with schedule and routine. When we are off by even a little he is a bit of a bear. Sleep is very good! He continues to sleep through the night. And by through the night I really mean it! sometimes 12 hours! This morning he did not get up until after 10am. Yikes Sorry MOM! Not sure what that will mean for nap and sleep the rest of the day. Eating.. well that has tapered of a little bit. When he first came home he ate EVERYTHING we offered. He now his his favorites. And Pasta is not one of them. His favorite now is Mashed Potatoes and ground beef,. He does eat all day long, but kind of snacking all day long. I have not officially weighed him for a few weeks as I was discouraged at being stuck at 18.5 pounds. His legs are chunkier, and you can no longer see ribs so all weight aside I know we are moving in a positive direction. Speech- He still sees speech therapy every Thursday. He has at least 25 English words. But mimics everything we say. He understands simple English commands. "Pick up your juice cup, come here, " He calls Sabyr, Hannah and Ruger by name depending on which dog he wants to torment at the time. Kolya has three speeds now.. Run, Jump, and sleep.. nothing in between will do.
In two weeks we will celebrate his first birthday with us. And his Number 2!!!

One LAst Chance

2010-09-13T20:39:00.000-07:00

Can't really write all the details here just yet. But what I can write is that for the last 24 hours and for the next 24 hours, the group and friends of the waiting families groups are all in the midst of a prayer vigil. We may not know the outcome for about two weeks. But this is our last hope. If this does not work then our waiting kids may never come home to our families. But if this is successful then we may be boarding plains soo. Hope we will be boarding planes.

Catching up

2010-09-08T23:25:00.001-07:00

I am such a bad blogger. Once upon a time I blogged almost every day. Now that I actually have something to blog about I have been lax in sharing. And, my computer battery died tonight so this post will lack the photos everyone oh so looks forward to. My apologies!
I can't believe it but Summer is over. Coolness is in the air. The air conditioner is not running full blast every moment of the day, and we are spending many more hours outside enjoying the weather. Kolya has been home for 9 weeks!!! The time has gone so quick. My whirlwind adoption from Russia is fading to a distant memory. The unbelievable amount of tme spent in a car from Moscow to Borovichi doesn't seem so long at all anymore. In fact I miss my travels. I have learned many things from this adoption journey. One is a love of traveling abroad. I miss my Kyrgyz friends. I wish I could return to visit. I loved seeing the sights of Russia (mostly Moscow).
This month may mark an end of one story and the beginning of another for our waitng Kyrgyz kids. I know that is certainly a tease. But I can't get much further then that in detail. We have one last hope, One last prayer, One last ditch effort to reunite our families. Pray this works. But if this does not then pray for our kids as we will all be needing to figure out how we can support them from afar. I sure hope and pray this won't be the case, hwever I can't stomach knowing that Shelby is living in an orphanage any longer then she needs to. Does that mean she will always be the child of my heart? Possibly. But this is out of my hands. All I can do is Pray and ask that all our readers do the same.
On to happier thoughts. Our dear Kolya is blossoming. He make us all laugh. He is 99% fun and 1 pure toddler. That 1% can be a bit trying. Especially to a new mom who has not had time to adjust to a child in the house let alone a toddler. Kolya is 100% boy. He jumps, he climbs, he bonks his head on everything. The other night I turned arund to get his clothing ready for bed. In less then 1/30th of a second he was able to scale his toybox nd do a double gainer smack(thud) on to the hard floor below. Ay, AY, Ay.... Luckily the only thing he hurt was a bit of a bite to the bottom lip and a lot of pride. But he hasn't tried a bely flop off the toy box again. So hopefully lesson learned. He will be 2 in a month and a day! A birthday party is in order! Can't wait.
What have we been up to? Last weekend we traveled to Argyle, NY to Shannon's and to the Washington County FAir. Kolya was intrigued by the tractors and the heavy machies! Tractor was his new favorite word that weekend. We visited Harrisburg with friends Kaitlyn and Brandon where we played in the fountain and took pictures of the building whee his paperwork was conceived. Speech Therapy is every week. We counted up a total of somewhere between 15 and 17 words, but that was a few weeks ago. His new favorite words .. Horse which he says like a whisper. Tractor, uh oh, who's that, Anna (for Hannah our German Shepherd) Nonna ( Donna our friend from dog training), Mammy (grammy), Poppop. He baaaas like a sheep and quacks like a duck.
We watched Star Wars this last weekend and he was MEZMORIZED!!! So fun to be sitting with our son watching a movie that was one of my first movies as a child.
Try to add a phto post soon.

Someone

2010-08-16T20:44:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I finally heard the song I absolutely knew I wanted to use for this video. I was rocking Kolya to sleep listening to Pandora on my blackberry. "Someone" just sounds so much like a story of a child who has been adopted. I looked up the song and hunted and hunted for the MP3 with no luck. So I emailed the Artist! I received email this afternoon from Sara Hickman's label company, Sleeveless Records. They not only replied to my email, but sent me the MP3 of the song!!! WOW! They hope to upload the songs from the CD "Toddler" sometime soon to be bought as MP3's.

Thank you Ms. Hickman for this beautiful song. And a huge thanks to Lance at Sleeveless Records for sending the MP3 for this video!

6 weeks a little late!

2010-08-15T20:53:00.001-07:00

Kolya is pretending to be pretty buff in this photo. In reality he has one of those swimming outfits on that has the floats inside. He looks like Arnold Swartzenager. No such luck at gaining that much weight. Actually the weight gain is not really happening. A little worried but not too much. He had gained a little weight before he got sick. Then lost that weight during the few days he was pretty under the weather. He did not eat much when we went to D.C. But he is back to eating really good again so I am hoping we'll start see the weight. Wish I had this trouble. Can't I just give him the weight I want to lose?

Sadly the first dog Kolya called by name was Tressa. He would walk up and down the hall calling Tressa, Tressa!! But last Saturday we lost Tressa. She was a sweet sweet little dog and I miss her a lot. She was full of energy and so full of cuddle. We will never know what actually was the cause of her dying so suddenly. We know she was sick for a few days before. She went to the vet and we thought she had an infection from a bad tooth. She had several days of antibiotics and some pain meds.. And we scheduled for surgery to remove the tooth. But she got worse and did not make it through the weekend. She was only with us for 2 years. I sure hope that those two years were happy for her. I will miss having our little dog. And I will miss her high pitched happy howl.

Washington D.C. August 5th

2010-08-15T18:41:00.000-07:00

The first few weeks of August a delegation of folks from Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan is visiting here in the United States. The two members from Kyrgyzstan were Janyl and Cholpin. They are here in the USA to work on adoption issues between the US and their two countries. We are very hopeful that this visit will result in a resolution for the pending 65 cases. But this is a very cautious hopeful. We have been hopeful so many times only to get our hopes squashed and be left with no end in site. On Thursday night a get together was sponsored by JCICS and by Teaisms restaurant. The delegates from Kyrgyz and Kaz met with families that are waiting to bring kids home from Kyrgyz and Kaz. But also there were children there already adopted from Kyrgyz, Kaz, domestic and of course Kolya from Russia.

The meeting went well. We all had a chance to introduce ourselves. Tell a little about who we are, who our adopted children are and about our children who are waiting for us. Much to my surprise Janyl is/was the same Janyl that I met in Kyrgyzstan back in April 2009. We met her at the Ministry of Education and had a very nice long meeting with her then. She recognized me right away. Her eyes got as big as saucers. When she introduced herself she even made trhe statement about meeting me in Kyrgyzstan. I think she was just as excited as I was to see a familiar face in a crowd. Later we had better opportunity to chat one on one with the delegates individually. I shared a photo album of updated pictures of some of the waiting children, as well as a photo album of children who are already home from Kyrgyzstan (thank Hilary!! This book is getting a lot of use!!) They genuinely seem sad for the kids who are waiting. They really seem to want to come to a resolution. I sure wish, hope and pray that we will get the news we are hoping for this week. If not our kids will be doomed. I don't know what will happen then.

Pamela and baby E (adopted domestic), Emily(Kyrgyz 2008), Far left Tom Difilipino from JCICS

Cholpin, Kolya, Myself, and Janyl

These photos are a little backwards.. After our meeting we stopped at the Navy memorial which was right outside Teaisms. I never even knew there was a navy memorial. Coincidently the outfit Kolya wore was a Navy outfit. Actually this outfit belonged to my Godson Richie. I will have to find his photo and post it here too just as a cool little tribute to the outfit being older. Richie is 16 now! For the meeting I put the sweater vest over the navy outfit and it looked so darned cute. But then posed for the Navy pictures without it. I did realize after the fact that I had forgotten to get a good picture of just Kolya with the sweater vest on. Oh well.

In the middle of the Navy memorial is a flat circular map of the world. Kolya is sort of walking on what is about the vicinity of Novgorod Russia. Give or take a few hundred miles! A passer by saw me taking photos of Kolya and commented on how cute he was. And asked if he could take our photo together. Kolya did not particularly care for this statue. To me now looking at this photo I think of my grandfather. Poppop Fizz was a Navyman. And although he never left U.S. soil I can imagine this statue being him. My brother was also in the navy. So this memorial to the Navy is pretty special.

This is the sort of out of order part of the days. The Carousel is on the mall in D.C. right outside the Smithsonian Institutes. There weren't many people around so we were first in line for the carousel! Yes.. We (well I) got to pick the dragon!!!! He's is really pretty cool.

ANd I had plenty of time to take lots of shots while the other kids were getting on. Then we were off like a shot. There was a big storm coming in and we were about a mile away from Teaism. We took the photo at the top of this post and then power walked (Kolya power strollered) back to the parking garage. We made it just as the heavens opened up.

This was the night before in our SUITE hotel room. I used our Marriot rewards points that we had acquired staying in Moscow to book this FREE room. The room was humungous. It was actually two rooms. A bedroom and a living room. Too bad it was just Kolya and I. The photo above just goes to show how happy this little guy is. He was pretty sick Wednesday driving down to D.C. He had a fever and a runny stuffy nose. He hated the drive. But even sick this little guy just always seems to be wearing a smile!!!

just photos 5 weeks home

2010-08-02T18:59:00.000-07:00

home 4 weeks

2010-07-26T23:13:00.000-07:00

Today marks a month home from Novgorod/Boruvichi. I can't believe we have been home for a month already. The weeks have just flown. For the most part all is going very well. We have seen so many changes already. 99% good changes. The neatest thing to watch is the development of a child into a little boy. A child who we would not allow to walk on the driveway because his balance was not great. We were so afraid he would bounce his head off the asphalt. Now just one month later he has started to run. His blanace has improved. He can now walk on the driveway, run on the grass, climb up on the chairs, the bed, and just about anything else that is suitable for a little boy to climb on. In Russia we had a hard time the first few days getting Kolya into the pool. Now we can't get him away from water. Of any kind! Tonight he ventured out to the middle of the baby pool all by himself. He went to explore the fountain in the middle.
But alas with all the good comes the bad... I am not sure what sparked a sudden change in bedtime scene. But I know that since we are back from our trip to duPont Kolya is having a horrible time falling asleep. Once he is asleep he is great, and will sleep for 8-10 hours. But the last few nights getting to sleep has started with a round of SCREAMING. I think he has realized that he has no other way to keep himself from falling asleep then screaming. I have ignored all his attempts to stay awake. But its hard to ignore downright screaming to the point that he is hot and sweaty. Tonight we took a car ride. A 30 minute trip in the car and off to dreamland he went. I am so open to suggestions! We think he may now be remembering night times in the orphanage.? not sure.. But I feel so bad for him. For now I myslef am off to dreamland.. Tomorrow I will post new photos!

2-3 weeks photos!!!

2010-07-23T09:03:00.000-07:00

2 and 3 weeks home (text only LOL)

2010-07-23T08:19:00.000-07:00

Two weeks have passed since I have posted. WOW!! And I am still not updated on our whole Russian experience. I understand now how my friends who I follow diligently along their adoption path trickle off their posts once they return home. Seriously it really isn't lack of time. I have planety of time. Well now I do anyway. The first week home I really could not find free time away from our little cutie. He did not allow me out of his sight. Over the last two weeks I have been able to do house work while Kolya entertains himself in his wonderful play yard. I just wonder how long that will last until he figures out he can climb the walls. Do they make extra tall play yards to contain the children in safety? For now I enjoy watching him play safely with interactive learning toys. But I digress. Time... I do have plenty of time at night that I could post. But once Kolya is in bed I have found myself just vegging in front of the TV or talking with friends about our day. We have had tons and tons and tons of great learning and exploration as a family of three.. Well if you count the four legged familiy members we are now a family of 9. The four legged furr family members are doing great with our new "man cub" I could not have asked for a better adjustment period. So what have we done since 4th of July???

Kutztown Folk festival- our first outing as a family of three- we unfortunately had to leave the other seven members at home in the air conditioning. Although it was hot enough I think they got the better end of the deal.
Back in Moscow, when we were in Gorky Park, there were people giving not pony rides but REINDEER rides. Kolya wouldn't even touch the reindeer let alone ride it. Now just two weeks later he has GOATS eating out of his hand and off the tray of his stroller. He even tried some of the goat food himself. YUK!!
Knoebels Amusement Park- His first solo ride? a fire truck. Second ride at Knoebels? An EMS helicopter. We are conditioning him for a life in the health care field?? Although several people have guessed engineer in training. But thats another story. Kolya loved his trip to Knoebels with his cousins and his grandparents and especially his Uncle Eric. Boy do those two love each other already. They just took to each other right away. An instant love just like the rest of us. He has the ability to capture everyone at first glance with his contagious laugh and smile. (can you tell I really like this little guy? We spent the first hour playing on new rides, then Brian and I switched kiddos and we took my niece and nephew to the BIG KID rides. Unfortunately we then got thunderstorms so our day ended pretty early. We did squeak in a train ride before we left. And of course tons of photos!!!
Early Intervention assessment- EI was here July 15 to evaluate Kolya on his age of development. Not really any big surprises. He tested slightly behind in fine and gross motor skills, like balance, walking, that kind of stuff. He tested at the level of a 12 month old for speech so we are able to get a speech therapist to work with him once a week. The speech therapist started July 20th. She was great. She not only helps with speech but also works on fine motor skills and language development. She also said that due to his situation and need for English we are going to apply to get an educational instructor to come in once a week as well. We are going to strive to get every single service and help we can so our little guy has as much opportunity as possible to catch up and reach max potential. On the cognitive level EI evaluated him on the level of a 23 month old!!! We sort of knew he was processing how things work! He is a smart little cookie.
Post adoption physicals- A.I.duPont and his family physician all agree he is attaching well, adjusting well, and is for the most part a pretty healthy little guy. Dr. Renwick and Dr. Harbonic are very very concerned that Kolya is off the charts small for his age. Dr. Renwick has placed Failure to thrive in his charts as a diagnosis. Hopefully we can remove failure to thrive sooner then later. We have been given permission to feed him all the fatty foods we can muster in to him.
As of July 21 Kolya is 29inches tall and 7.6kg which is still only 17 pounds. On July 22 we had our opthamolgy appointment with Dr.Lehman. She is pretty happy with Kolya at this point. Yes he has a Ptosis of both eyes. The left more so then the right. But for now we are going to watch it. We do need to return in 4 months. She is concerned that as his head and face grow his ptosis can hinder his eye growth. If one eye were to grow and develop at a different rate it would cause vision problems. So we need to be very diligent in watching this area. She does think there may be a mild Blepharophimosis, however BPES is a very broad spectrum. And she says his is very mild form. Needless to say we will be very friendly with our eye doctor over the next few years.
I think that brings us up to date on activities.......
What has Kolya learned?
To play alone at times.
To be "nice" to the dogs rather then pet by hitting on the top of the head. (except poor Tressa)
To CLIMB.. he can now climb up on the chairs and the bed. He also knows to turn around and come down backwards. Sometimes this game goes on for a long time. UP DOWN, UP DOWN...
Words- UP, DOWN, HIYA (sometimes) Koshka (cat) Daw (Dog), Da da, Mommmm, Good Job, Peek a Boo, Ball.

What does Kolya like? The dogs, Swimming, water, his drumsticks, noisy toys, his family and friends, rides, and climbing. Chicken Nuggets, French Fries, Pediasure, ice cream

What does Kolya not like? car seats, bed time, diaper changes, getting out of the water, getting off rides, Cold drinks, and did I mention bedtime???

Hopefully it will not be another two weeks before our next post!!!

Monroe

2010-07-23T08:15:00.000-07:00

I am reposting this from several of my friends' blog sites. What gorgeous and cute little guy this is. If I were in a bit different of a time in my life I would bring this sweet guy home to get all the help he needs. Perhaps we can find a family together for Monroe? Please spread his story to the adoption community! One day perhaps in Monroe's name Brian and I will be ready to parent a child with the more extreme needs that Monroe has. But I have seen the places that children like Monroe end up! And it is not pretty. It is a fate worse then dying.

http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/2010/07/im-pleading.html

Home One Week

2010-07-06T09:36:00.000-07:00

We are home for 1 week today. What a whirlwind week it has been! I am hapy to say we have a routine down that seems to work!! The first day was rough for both of us we were both disombabulated. It has been pretty easy for me to adjust to time zone changes on my own. But adjusting with a toddler who also needed to time warp was a little bit more difficult. Day one we slept very little and by 5 pm we were both exhausted. Bedtime came early. I thought we'd lay down for a nap. No dice... that nap lasted 12 hours for both of us. Day two we woke up at 6am, nap at 10:30 and then bed by 9pm. Finally day three we slept until the late hour of 7. Now I think we have it down that bed is between 8:30 and 9:30 and Little Man sleeps until 7 or 8 am.

So after a week I can make some lists!

What does Nikolas like?
Water... he loves loves loves the water. He spent almost all day the 4th of July in my cousin's pool. The day before he spent an hour in his other cousin's pool. And every day we spend time in the bath tub!!! Yeah for liking water.
Dogs...I can't say that he loves the dogs yet. But I am at least relieved that he has taken to the dogs and the dogs to him so well. Day one was rough. he was fine as long as the dogs were about 2 feet from him. Now he feeds them Cheerios every morning for breakfast. Plays fetch with Sabyr, follows Tressa around for a random bonk on the head, and is guarded by Kasey, Ryott, and Hannah. The dogs are so gentle with him. This morning he had the puppy by the ear and puppy just looked at both of us as if to say "can you please remove this?" Sierra sleeps right outside his bedroom door at night time. And all the dogs greet him in the morning when he wakes up.
Cookies-well what kid does not love cookies! So far he is just getting the biter toddler cookies. But I am sure no cookie is a bad cookie
Peek-a-boo

Being tickled

What does Nikolas NOT like?

diaper changes, bedtime, cold milk, cold juice, cheerios (thus they are for the dog every morning), and so far he is not interested in watching TV.

Nikolas Firsts this week.

First amusement ride- flinstones train at Community Days with cousin Zoey

First English words- Momma, Dadda, Up, Down, Ball, Daw (translate to dog).
First sweets- a cupcake given to him by Aunt Pam- he liked it but it sure did not do well in his

poor digestive system.

First Bath- screamed for 30 seconds, but then was all smiles and giggles.

First 4th of July picnic with family!!!
And so many more that I can't even begin to write.

HOME!!!

2010-07-01T04:27:00.000-07:00

Home at last. Yesterday was day one at home. A day full of discovery and more miraculous understanding that this is just the right little boy for our family. Less then 12 hours after his homecoming he was playing frisbee with Sabyr!! I knew Sabyr would be his favorite. Sabyr just loves loves loves to play catch. And Kolya loves loves loves to throw! Very quickly Little man decided he really likes Daddy too. And Dad loves to tickle and play with Little Man. We were going to go visit Brian's parents last night but instead Kolya and I fell asleep. We fell asleep at 5pm. For what I thought was a late afternoon nap. Neither of us woke up untl 5am!! 12 hours! Good bye to jet lag hopefully! I am still not caught up with pictures. I promise to get more Russia pictures and homecoming photos here soon. This morning we deiscovered the power of children's television which has allowed me to at least start oranizing phots and write this post!!

exploring Moscow

2010-06-27T14:04:00.000-07:00

Moscow Zoo! Polar Bears, Tigers, Elephants, Hefalumps, Tigger, Piglet and even Pooh!! Oh My!! More photos later

Skype Friday night with the family.. Video conference from Russia with love!

And asleep after every day of exploration!!
Just for the memory. On Friday night I was able to weigh Kolya. 17 lbs. 7.6 Kg

Bittersweet

2010-06-27T13:51:00.000-07:00

Before I send another sweet word... Before I attach another beautiful photo.. Before I share another moment of miraculous activity with our new son here in Moscow... I must take this moment to write to my little girl. For the only reason I am here is because Shelby is not home. That is so sad. Sad that it has been two years of waiting. Angry sometimes that it has been two years of waiting. Two years of all the miraculous firsts that Kolya is experiencing should already have happened for Shelby. The first time drinking from a sippy cup at 20 months, the first time in a swimming pool, the first time falling asleep in your mother's arms. And then waking up to your mother waiting to hold you. For awhile I was patient. For awhile I was not angry. And I sure do know that there is a reason for the Kyrgyz delays. For without them I would never have even thought to start a journey to Russia. My heart is elated with the fact that I have a beautiful baby boy. The discoveries at every moment of every day are breathtaking. But a very very large part of my heart still lies in Kyrgyzstan. In an orphanage behind cold walls is our little girl. Still going to bed alone every night, still waking up alone every morning. I have watched the morphing of a stolid child to a happy happy little boy over the course of just a few days. And can't help but think how unfair it is that Shelby is being deprived of the same experience.
So Tonight to my Little Girl..

Dearest Docha
I love you more then anything. My heart is waiting for you. My arms are waiting to hold you and your baby brother every night until you fall asleep and wake in the morning to my waiting arms as you wipe the night's sleep from your eyes. Not a day goes by that I don't think of you and also thank you. For without my experience, without our wait, you would not have a baby brother who will be at home waiting for you. Little Noodle we are trying. We are doing everything we can think of. Stay strong. And even though you may be alone... You are not alone. You are surrounded by a family who eagerly waits, friends who pray every night that one day soon you will be allowed to come home. Hugs and Kisses.. Mommy, Daddy, and Kolya

just gotcha pics!

2010-06-25T23:15:00.000-07:00

Moscow

2010-06-25T04:52:00.000-07:00

Ok I am running a few days behind with posts. And I feel awful. Renaissance Marriot is a really cool hotel but the only free internet is in the lobby areas. And thats hard now!!! To boot the hotel in Borovichi was not the same hotel we stayed at before and no internet there either. Non at all! So today I am just catching up on the blog. I have been able to update in the moment on facebook with my blackberry. VERY COOL GADGET i might add. Actually the blackberry and the global plan have been the best thing I have done for these trips to Russia.

So what everyone wants to hear... then I will back up later and give details.... Kolya is now with us!!! Yeah!! He is doing great. He did well on the car ride. Slept as soon as we got in the car. Then another nap halfway. Then 10pm he went down for the night and slept until 7 when we had to wake him up for his doctor's visit.

The pics above are from June 23... Not gotcha day. I don't have them loaded on the computer yet,.... GRRRR.. I think we will pay for the internet tonight!

on a jetplane

2010-06-20T16:42:00.000-07:00

Just a note from the airplane! We are a bit late leaving. But the good thing is we have no connecting flight! Next stop...MOSCOW. Ugh then seven hours in a car to Novgorod. Where I will be very happy for the beds at Beresta Palace. Just a few more days til we bust Kolya out. Hugs.

YIKES!!

2010-06-18T21:16:00.000-07:00

Ok well the last 16 days FLEW by. I had meant to do a countdown. I had meant to write many many posts. I missed them all while I was in Vermont. I had tried to set up my blackberry to act as a modem while in Vermont but since I had no cell service that was not going to work either. Anyway.. Vermont. One week at Camp Gone to the Dogs! We always have a blast. The dogs come home tired. Ruger tried Lure Coursing and Sheepherding, frisbee, and agility. His favorites were sheepherding and agility! Although he thought Lure Coursing was pretty fun too. He did not want to stop Lure coursing. Hopefully I will get a video compiled and will add that here and to Ruger's blog!

Then it was off to Shannon's in Argyle, NY. we had two days of shoppin'. Bought some outfits for Kolya. My favorite is his comin out of the orphanage outfit. Oh he is gonna just be so handsome in it. (sure hope it fits!)

iSupport Adoptions!!!!

2010-06-18T09:15:00.001-07:00

The day I was approved for court I received a wonderful email. Maria at iSupportAdoptions has chosen our family (our kids ) and our stories to be sponsored through iSupportadoptions!! I support adoptions is a nonprofit organization that supports orphanages around the world and has just begun sponsoring families who are adopting. We have been selected as the pilot family in this campaign. And the second family sponsored. Please pass along the iSupport adoptions page! Maria has been a great support to me over the last few months.

http://www.isupportadoptions.org/ISA/Support_This_Adoption.html

All donations made to I Support Adoptions during this time and towards our second sponsorship goal, will be awarded to the Bates family here at the Support This Adoption page. Please read below about this family’s extraordinary adoption adventure.

My adoption journey is nearing almost 3 years. It has led me around the world several times and I have learned about countries and geographies I did not know about before. My story reflects how adoption has forever changed me and how I am in the world…

My name is Ann Bates. I am a 39 year old pre-adoptive mother. I have filed 3 dossiers as a single person, however my fiancé, Brian, and I plan to marry soon after our children are home. He will then adopt them officially as we re-adopt them here in the United States. I live on a farm in South Eastern Pennsylvania with dogs, cats, horses, chickens and even a miniature donkey. I train dogs for competition as a hobby. I am also a life-long photographer and a pediatric critical care transport nurse in Delaware.

My initial dossier was submitted to the Ukraine for translation in April, 2008, but soon after, Ukraine closed adoption to single people. Brian and I made a difficult decision to consider adoption from another country. Our hearts opened to a 17 month old girl. She was a waiting child who had been premature, has delays and has mild Cerebral Palsy. Shelby Krystina, now three and a half years old, is still living in her home country of Kyrgyzstan. Although I have visited with her, we were unable to bring her home to her “forever family” because of political unrest that led to the closing of international adoptions in that country. There were 65 other U.S. families whose adoption plans were crushed along with us. We are waiting and waiting for legislation and governmental decrees to re-establish adoptions in that country. As a group, we pray, lobby and advocate for the children frozen in that system. I have traveled to Kyrgyzstan three times and last year spent two weeks on a humanitarian aide trip working in invalid homes, orphanages, and senior facilities. Kyrgyzstan truly has my heart!

Since there was no timeline for our daughter’s homecoming, Brian and I decided to pursue a concurrent adoption. We found a handsome fellow waiting for us in Russia. This past Easter Sunday I traveled to Moscow and then made a 7 hour car ride to meet this charming Prince. I was immediately smitten by his golden, red hair and beautiful smile and knew I had been led to where I was called to be. N. Benjamin is 18 months old. He has a treatable condition called blepharophimosis which is a fancy term for a droopy eyelid that will potentially require several surgeries. Currently we are waiting a court date for our son-to-be. Sometime in the next 1-2 months he may be home safe and sound and beginning his new life as an American citizen.

Brian and I never imagined we would be called to two international adoptions! We were intimidated by the cost and mindful of the money already invested. I researched ways others have successfully raised money for their adoptions, made grant applications and connected with I Support Adoptions. Additionally, Brian has taken a second job. I also took a part-time position in addition to my full-time nursing job. We have raised money by selling household items at community forums on the web and yard sales and are hopeful that we will be able to finance our adoptions.

The journey to adopt has led me down an unexpected path. I have been places and met people I am honored to know. I have shared my gifts and helped those with less. I have developed a huge network of pre-adoptive and adoptive friends. I have friends and new family from places all over the world! The adoption process is filled with twists and turns and is not for the faint of heart! I am blessed to know all about that!

For my full adoption story spanning the last two years, please see www.myadoptiongeography.blogspot.com.

Thank you for considering a donation,

Ann Bates

16 Days and counting

2010-06-04T04:21:00.000-07:00

16 days before we leave to go pick up Kolya! We are delayed by one week. We = Grammy and I. Yes Kolya will get to meet grammy when I go to pick him up at the orphanage! We were originally set to leave on June 13. And as much as I want to get Kolya home I was actually grateful for the one week delay. Sunday I leave for one week at dog camp. YEAH a week with my four legged children. I will go from Dog camp to my friend Shannon's for a few days of SHOPPING. Then home for a few days of work and off to JFK Sunday the 2oth. (father's day)

So why the delay? June 12th is Russia's Independence Day. The 12th falls on Saturday. Just like here in the US if a holiday falls on a weekend they throw their government holiday to the next working day. So the registry office is always closed on Mondays, which means they will probably also be closed on Tuesday. So instead of being in Russia for several days and not being able to get anything done.... We will go a week later.

While we wait.... we build a wardrobe of boys clothing. I did not have any boys clothes. And while going through the paperwork process and even while waiting to go back on trip two I refused to buy clothing. I have become just a little scared of adoption timeline for obvious reasons. So now that Kolya is actually our son and we have a definite date to go pick him up... We need to have clothing and boy toys!

Wednesday Corey and I went out for some shopping. We bought some really cute Carter's and Disney outfits. Then Thursday I bought some craigslist specials!! Meanwhile Grammy is having a blast buying little boy's clothing!!

Leaving Moscow

2010-05-29T00:15:00.000-07:00

As I write this I am a bit teary. Not because I miss my little guy (which I do ). Not because I am tired and ready to be done traveling (which I am). But because of all the emails, facebook posts I'm's and letters I have received over the last 24 hours. To feel how much love this adoption journey has brought about. To know how loved one little boy is even though he has not been met. To know a million fold how much 65 other little kids are loved and missed and longed for. For all that I am teary as I bump along a back road to the airport. This has been an incredible journey. I am so thankful to everyone who is sharing it with me/ us. To all of you... THANK YOU,Bolshoi Spaceba!

Hang on its not over yet

Nikolas Benjamin Richard

2010-05-27T22:54:00.000-07:00

I would like to introduce you all to a very long awaited addition to our family.

NIKOLAS Benjamin Richard

Nikolas aka Kolya has officially joined our family today. His adoption has been finalized in Veliky Novgorod. I will write more about the actual court later. I am writing this a bit ahead of time so that I can post it from the car on our way back to Moscow. We will return to Borovichi Moscow in two weeks to bring him home!!!!!!

But for now if you want to go back and read how this all fell into place go to

http://myadoptiongeography2.blogspot.com/

Update-Russia

2010-05-27T22:02:00.000-07:00

One thing stands out in my mind. Again I know I am right where I am supposed to be. Funny and amazing at the same time. God has sent signs all along this route. Even when there were road blocks and speedbumps. One such sign I know had to come as no mere coincidence was sent on my arrival to Moscow airport. David and Jayne Schooler were sitting right in front of where I was getting off the plane. I could not believe it! Well Jayne had just gotten up to walk away and I could not walk fast enough to catch her. But I did call out to David, who I believe was equally amazed to be hearing someone calling his name in the middle of Moscow airport. A wonderful welcome to Moscow indeed. For thos of you who do not know David and Jayne they are just returning to the United States from several months in Kyrgyz they are located here at The Journey Continues (http://dandjschooler.blogspot.com/)Like I said I missed Jayne as she had just walked away. But I got email from her later in the week. And I sure hope I will see her in July at the adoption conference in D.C.

Today I really should change the blog style... But I just can't bring myself to do it. I started this blog two years ago and wow what twists and turns we have taken over the last two years. Two years ago I was preparing to travel to Kyrgyzstan to meet Noodle. two years later Noodle is still in Kyrgyzstan and I am in Russia!!!

And I promise only to tease for a few hours longer... Then I will be temperarily posting a link to a different blog I have been working on until I can figure out how to combine the two! Until then Paka!!!

2 years

2010-05-19T19:48:00.000-07:00

Well Today marks this blog's 2 year Birthday. Hard to believe I have been writing here for two years. A very long and mostly hard troubled two years this has been. The rocky road of International adoption certainly did plague us. Kyrgyzstan has forever changed my and my family. But all good things come to those who wait correct!! God certainly had a plan in mind of while we waited. Today came awesome news on the anniversery of the blog Birthday... While I wish the news was that we were finally going to get our Kyrgyz Princess home.... it is not.

What is the news you ask????

Well I am going to keep everyone waiting for one

more

week!!!!

But its well worth the waiting for..

Hint Hint

Das Viedanye

Roza Otunbaeva on facebook!!

2010-05-15T08:07:00.000-07:00

Good morning all!
I have failed to post here lately because I have been overwhelmed with a sense of helplessness and sadness. Latest updates have been far less then good for our kids. But finally a sliver of good news. I take a sliver of good over some of the bad.

Over the last few days evidently many of our waiting family members have reached out to the Interim leader of Kyrgyzstan. We have expressed support for her leadership while also asking very politely for a swift resolution to our cause. Anyone on facebook feel free to do the same! But here are two other email addresses to contact her in support of her country, her leadership and support for a resolution of 65 pending adoptions!

sdpkkenesh@gmail.com
otunbayeva@gmail.com

Dear Ms. Otunbaeva,
My name is Ann Bates. I know this is a very troubling time in your country. I am writing to express my words of support during this time of rebuilding. My thoughts, prayers and well wishes are with you as you re-establish a safe and secure environment for the people of Kyrgyzstan. I have visited your country three times. The first time two years ago. Then, I was just an American mother hoping to give a little girl a home in America. But two trips later I have not only fallen in love with a little three year old girl I hope to one day be able to call Daughter, but I have fallen in love with your beautiful country. I have made many friends and stay in contact with them on a regular basis. One has recently returned from an education trip here to the United States and I had the pleasure to host him for a day and show him around America. Your people have welcomed me on three occasions with open hearts and arms. I wish for them a country filled with many freedoms and the safety that a good leader will provide to them.
I am writing also today as a heartbroken mother to be. I am one of the 65 families waiting to adopt a child from an orphanage in Bishkek. I traveled to meet her 2 years ago. She was 18 months old then. She is now almost four. She has mild cerebral palsy and was born very premature. Her developmental delays are more and more evident with every update we receive. I know the baby houses are doing the best they can with their resources. But families are waiting with open arms to give these children the love and medical care they so desperately need and deserve as a human right. I am writing to you in the hopes that there is a way to bring closure to this situation. 65 kids are waiting for families. 65 families have been waiting for 2 years to call these kids son or daughter. I know that our cultures have many different religious beliefs. But I pray that God will grant peace to your country. I pray that your leadership will go on to sustain a new and better Kyrgyzstan. And I pray that God will grant safe passage for our 65 children.
Sincerely
Ann BAtes

Answered Prayers

2010-05-03T00:22:00.001-07:00

Over the last two years I have come to know and care about 65 children and 60 some odd families "stuck" in the same waiting game as we are in. We share our fears, we share tears, we share hopes and dreams. Even as those dreams slowly change and take on new shapes, we share them. Originally we all had dreams of bringing home infants and toddlers. Today all those infants are toddlers and the toddlers are slowly becoming preschool age. Some are older. How must it be for those few who KNOW they are waiting for their moms and dads to come back and take them home to the family they were promised. They know something has gone horribly wrong. But I digress......

One of those mothers has become a very dear friend. Someone I talk to almost every night in our virtual world. Either by computer or recently by Blackberry, whether she is in Indianapolis, Salt Lake City, Denver, and I am at home or in Moscow we have still been connected by this wonderful virtual realm we live in. I have met Kimberly.... And I have had the great pleasure to meet Moonbeam on two seperate occasions. We had dreams that Moonbeam and Noodle would grow up as Kyrgyz sisters here in the states. We dreamed and hoped of the day we could plan our trip to Bishkek together and travel to pick up our daughters together. But tonight over at Hoping for Hannah (http://www.hopingforhannah.blogspot.com/) that dream has changed. But step back to March 6th first. Kimberly's wish /prayer for Hannah was that she no longer had to wait in an institution. That a family would come and take her home to be their forever child. The best gift a mother could ever give. The gift of letting go.... A prayer for God to find a family so that Moonbeam would not spend even one more night in an orphanage. How exciting and appropriate that she has learned that as soon as that prayer was sent up God listened. And tonight a call that affirmed the answer to the prayer. God has found a family for Moonbeam. Someone in Moonbeam's Biological family has come forward and decided to apply to adopt her! The paperwork has been started. A PRAYER ANSWERED... But that does not make the loss any easier. So for all those reading tonight say a prayer not only a thanksgiving and a hope for a wonderful future for Moonbeam... But remember that for two years Kimberly was Moonbeam's Momma. She held this little girl close to her heart. She prayed for her. She loved her. Pray that Kimberly will find peace in this answered prayer as her adoption journey winds down yet another road of uncertainty.

More wait... More uncertainty

2010-05-03T00:01:00.000-07:00

Almost a month has come and gone since our conference call with the Department of State. It has been almost a month since the fateful day of uprising in Kyrgyzstan. The interim government of Kyrgyz is at work implenting new decrees, drafting a constitution, holding talks with high level officials from the U.S. and Russia. But we remain not even a blip on that radar. Don't get me wrong, in the world of countries and politics, where lives are at stake and freedoms and all those other things I really just don't care to think about, I understand our 65 kids are not even a blip on the interim government radar. How could they be with so much else going on. But in my world I want to be more then a blip! I want our kids to be known and have a voice. I want to scream to the mountaintops THIS IS IMPORTANT TOO!!!! What if one of these kiddos IS the future of Kyrgyzstan? Or even better yet the future of the world we live in!! Wait... Not what IF? These kiddos ARE our future. Don't they deserve to be treated with the same respect and dignity with the same rights as everyone else. The right to be loved, and held and to have a family and medical care and an education? Isn't that just as important? I think so! Do you know what is the most frustrating? It has been one month since the 65 families had a conference call with our government concerning these kids. And our one request has yet to be granted. Involvment in this issue by SOS Hilary Clinton. To date we have no idea if a letter has been drafted? They have openly admitted they do not "want" to engage SOS CLinton. They do not "want" to ask the Interim government of Kyrgyzstan if anything can be done to expedite our cases. Can anything be done? At least can we ASK the question? If they say no we wait again but at least we have ASKED!!!

The Reading Eagle... an Update

2010-05-02T23:13:00.000-07:00

http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=214849

Originally Published: 4/23/2010 Latest comment: 4/23/2010 2:06:08 PM
Stalled overseas adoptions: Bernville woman knows firsthand
A Bernville woman's attempt to enlarge her family collides with strife in Kyrgyzstan and a botched arrangement in Tennessee.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By Dan Kelly
Reading Eagle
Ann Bates of Bernville writes a blog about her preparations for adopting a child from central Asia.

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Ann Bates and her fiance, Brian Achey, had hoped to give Brian's parents their first grandchild.

Then their hopes to adopt two children, a boy from Russia and a girl from Kyrgyzstan, were suddenly dashed.

Bates, a pediatric nurse who lives in Bernville, was on her way back to Moscow from an orphanage in the countryside on April 7 when she began receiving text messages from friends and family members reporting that an apparent coup d'etat was under way in Kyrgyzstan.

When she got back to the hotel she tried to contact friends in the Kyrgyzstan capital of Bishkek. Her friends live near the orphanage where her 3-year-old adoptive daughter-to-be is living.

"I was so worried about the children and about my friends in Bishkek," she said.

The next day, Ann was resting in her hotel and watching television for more news from Bishkek when the BBC broadcast in Moscow reported that an American woman, who had adopted a Russian boy, had put the boy back on a plane to Moscow unaccompanied.

The boy carried a note from the mother, Torry Hansen of Tennessee, saying a Russian adoption agency had lied to her and that the child she adopted was psychotic, had threatened her friends and family - and had even threatened to burn down her house.

"I sat there for a minute and the only thing I could think was, 'You have got to be kidding me,' " Bates said.

Bates said she couldn't believe that two international incidents had occurred in two days, both of which threatened to keep her from adopting children.

She started adoption proceedings in Russia last year after becoming disheartened by constant delays of her adoption efforts in Kyrgyzstan.

Chuck Johnson, acting chief executive officer of the National Council For Adoption in Alexandria, Va., said Bates' family is one of more than 60 that had been trying to adopt children from Kyrgyrzstan for about two years when the former government, acting on allegations of corruption, declared a moratorium on foreign adoptions.

In Russia, adoptions had been proceeding well until the Hansen incident, and probably still are being processed, Johnson said.

"The problem some families have experienced in Russia is a lack of uniformity in the courts," Johnson said. "One court may make requirements on a family, even though the law says differently, and the family has no choice but to comply."

When the 7-year-old Russian boy stepped off the United Airlines flight from suburban Washington, D.C., Russia's foreign minister declared a moratorium on U.S.-Russian adoptions. The problem, Johnson said, is that adoptions are controlled by the Russia's Ministry of Education and the foreign minister apparently didn't have clear authority to change policy.

The U.S. State Department asked if it could send a high-level delegation to Russia to resolve the matter quickly, so as not to delay adoptions already in the works.

"The delegation was on its way to Moscow when their flight was ordered to turn around because of the volcanic eruption in Iceland," Johnson said. "Their hope is to get to Europe as quickly as possible."

Meanwhile, the Renton, Wash.-based World Association of Children and Parents, which had arranged the adoption for Hansen, had suspended its work on U.S.-Russian adoptions.

Julie Snyder, a spokeswoman, said the organization had been asked to suspend further work in Russia while the case in Tennessee is fully investigated.

Her statement wasn't clear as to who asked for the suspension or whether it was voluntary on the agency's part.

"In unusual situations such as this, it is expected that authorities would suspend an agency until a full investigation can be completed," Snyder said.

The State Department and the Russian Ministry of Education have scheduled talks for Thursday and next Friday in Moscow.

In the meantime, the Russians have clarified their position that adoptions are still going forward, provided the U.S. continues to commit to a bilateral agreement on adoption.

Johnson of the National Council For Adoption said the U.S. is already party to the multilateral Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-Country Adoption. But the Russians did not adopt the Hague Convention and instead seek individual contracts with countries it allows to conduct adoptions.

The U.S., which previously had resisted bilateral adoption talks with the Russians, has agreed to seek an agreement because of the Hansen case, Johnson said.

Meanwhile, Bates said she hopes her Russian adoption will go forward, but she has lost hope that it will happen before June.

"They say kids lose three months of development for every year they are in an orphanage," Bates said. "I still have hope."

Contact Dan Kelly: 610-371-5040 or dkelly@readingeagle.com.

The Associated Press

2010-05-02T23:07:00.000-07:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100423/ap_on_re_us/us_kyrgyz_adoptions

US families persevere in seeking Kyrgyz adoptions
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Facebook Twitter Delicious Digg Fark Newsvine Reddit StumbleUpon Technorati Yahoo! Bookmarks Print AP – This August 2008 photo provided Friday, April 23, 2010 by Lisa Reickerd shows Reickerd holding a baby … By DAVID CRARY, AP National Writer David Crary, Ap National Writer – Fri Apr 23, 4:03 pm ET
NEW YORK – Amid high-profile furor over adoptions from Haiti and Russia, about 60 American families are persevering with a two-year struggle to complete adoptions from Kyrgyzstan — an already emotionally draining quest further complicated by recent political upheaval.

The families were formally matched with the children — most suffering from serious medical problems — in 2008 and have grown deeply attached to them after visiting their orphanages and bringing back photographs and videos.

"I feel that's my daughter, and she's my responsibility. I can't let go," said Angela Sharp, a 36-year-old cosmetology instructor from Flint, Mich., who visited for a week in April 2008 with the now 2-year-old orphan she hopes to adopt. A room with a crib and children's clothes awaits the girl, already given a new name by Sharp — Mia Angelina.

The nearly completed adoption proceedings for Sharp and the other families ground to a halt in late 2008 when Kyrgyzstan said it needed to overhaul its adoption system because of suspected corruption. A reform bill was introduced but never finalized, an investigation launched but never finished, and Parliament was dissolved following a bloody revolt this month that ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.

Meanwhile, one of the waiting children has died and another suffered such severe neurological damage that her prospective mother in Florida — a pediatrician — shifted from trying to adopt to campaigning to help ailing Kyrgyz orphans get better medical care.

"These children in Kyrgyzstan â€” their level of care is sub-par at best, and they've been waiting there now for two years," said Tom DeFilipo of the Joint Council on International Children's Services. "The commitment of the families to these children is astounding. Once they get attached to a child, it's their child."

Lisa Reickerd of Orange, Calif., the single mother of a girl adopted from Kazakhstan in 2003, is now trying to adopt a 3-year-old girl she met in an orphanage in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital, in August 2008.

"I knew she was meant to be with me," said Reickerd, who has served as the waiting families' main liaison with the State Department, which handles international adoption matters. "I feel no less love or compassion for this little girl than for the daughter I have now. We're all very committed to waiting this out."

However, recent events have compounded the frustrations of the waiting families. They noted that hundreds of pending adoptions of Haitian orphans by Americans were expedited after the earthquake in January, and they felt neglected amid the tumult this month that prompted Russia to freeze U.S. adoptions after a Tennessee woman sent her adopted son back to Moscow alone on a plane.

The families are now making two specific requests — that the State Department draw up a detailed plan to resolve the stalemate and that Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton telephone the new Kyrgyz leader to raise the issue.

The State Department says it empathizes with the families, while noting that the new Kyrgyz leaders are struggling to restore basic government functions and may not consider adoption a high priority for the moment. The department also accepts Kyrgyzstan's position that its corruption probe must be completed before adoptions resume.

"The Kyrgyz authorities should urgently complete the criminal investigation into alleged adoption fraud and resolve the pending cases so that eligible children can be placed in loving homes," Michele Bond, the deputy assistant secretary for overseas citizens services, said Friday.

She stressed that many of the waiting children have serious health problems and that the U.S. families, despite the challenges, remain committed to adopting.

The families and their supporters say the Kyrgyz investigation appears to be stalled and are pleading for the pending adoptions to be finalized now.

"There is no legal concern over these pending cases, no concern whatsoever regarding these children's orphan status or their availability for adoption," said Chuck Johnson, chief operating officer of the National Council for Adoption.

Both Johnson and Reickerd suggested that U.S. officials have placed the adoption issue on the back burner while they try to make sure the new Kyrgyz leaders will let the U.S. continue using a strategic air base for the war in Afghanistan.

"The air base and oil are on the top of their minds; our children are not," Reickerd said.

One of the waiting Americans is Ann Bates of Bernville, Pa., who is not only persisting with her Kyrgyz application, but also trying to adopt a child from Russia — and thus is affected by Moscow's new freeze.

The Kyrgyz group initially numbered 65 families, Bates said, but four have dropped out to pursue adoptions from elsewhere, while Dr. Suzanne Bilyeu of Jacksonville, Fla., shifted to pushing for broader orphan assistance after the severe deterioration of the hydrocephalus-afflicted child she'd been matched with.

One couple, Kevin and Shannon Fenske of Reeseville, Wis., already have an adopted child from Kyrgyzstan — a boy named Esen who turns 4 next week. They were part of the first significant wave of U.S. adoptions from Kyrgyzstan, which increased from four in 2005 to 78 in 2008 before the delays began.

Eager to expand their family, the Fenskes were matched in July 2008 with a Kyrgyz baby girl afflicted with a severe cleft lip and palate. They hoped she could start corrective surgery this month, but the political upheaval forced cancellation of a mission to Kyrgyzstan by German doctors who were going to operate on her.

Meanwhile, Esen has been learning about his native country and the plans for him to have a sibling.

"It's hard for him to understand why the country he's from won't let his little sister come home," Shannon Fenske said.

A New York City couple, Drew and Frances Pardus-Abbadessa, had been hoping to adopt a child from Vietnam, but when corruption problems disrupted that system they turned to Kyrgyzstan.

The couple, both in their 40s, were matched in June 2008 with a newborn boy named Vladimir, and they've visited his orphanage several times.

"We think of him every day — when we're eating dinner, we're thinking what would he like to eat," said Frances Pardus-Abbadessa. "I can't imagine abandoning him at all."

"As time goes on," she added, "we get older and it gets harder."

NEWSWEEK!!!!!!

2010-04-22T01:08:00.000-07:00

http://www.newsweek.com/id/236778

SPONSORED BY:
A prospective mother with the child she hopes to adopt walk the grounds of an orphanage in Kyrgyzstan in 2008. A Long Way From Home
After two years, prospective parents hoping to adopt children trapped behind bureaucracy and chaos in Kyrgyzstan are running out of hope.

By Laurie Rich Salerno | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Apr 21, 2010

A Long Way From Home
After two years, prospective parents hoping to adopt children trapped behind bureaucracy and chaos in Kyrgyzstan are running out of hope.

By Laurie Rich Salerno | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Apr 21, 2010

When the news broke about Torry Ann Hansen, the Tennessee woman who pinned a note on her adopted son and sent him alone on a plane back to Russia, Pennsylvania pediatric nurse Ann Bates composed a one-word e-mail from her Moscow hotel room. It said: "Seriously?"

That was the most that Bates, who was in Moscow to meet the 18-month-old boy she was in the process of adopting, could muster. Thanks to Hansen, it looked as though Bates's Russian adoption was going to be suspended. But this was frustratingly familiar territory for her. She and 64 other U.S. families are already mired in an endless-seeming battle in Kyrgyzstan to bring home 65 orphans whose adoptions were nearly finalized almost two years ago but have since been held up by obstacle after obstacle. To wit: two days before the Russian announcement that Hansen had sent her son back, Kyrgyzstan toppled its own government in a bloody revolution.

"I was sitting in the hotel room just bawling the first night, worried about Bishkek and my friends there and the little girl I hope to one day call my daughter," said Bates, who started the adoption process for the Russian boy in 2009, after mounting obstacles left her fearing she would never be allowed to complete the Kyrgyz adoption. She still hopes to bring both special-needs children to the U.S. "The second night, I heard about the Russian thing. I just couldn't believe it." That's when she sent her e-mail to the other waiting parents in the Kyrgyz group.

In the days since Russia announced a temporary freeze on American adoptions, these 65 families have watched the flurry of media coverage and rapid U.S. government action that's followed: the State Department will send a delegation to meet with Russian officials on April 29 and 30 to smooth over the crisis. In response, many of them have echoed Bates's sentiment of "Seriously?" For all the attention being given to people who might have their adoptions frozen, lost in the noise is the struggle of the families adopting from Kyrgyzstan who have already spent almost two years stuck in a dark comedy of errors.

"I am absolutely supportive of [the U.S. State Department] doing those things [in Russia]. I feel for all those people," says Lisa Brotherton, a California woman trying to complete the adoption of a 23-month-old Kyrgyz girl with cerebral palsy with whom she and her husband were matched in June 2008. "But where's the white horse for our kids?"

It was right around June 2008 that Kyrgyz adoptions began falling apart. Up to that point, the number of American adoptions of orphans from Kyrgyzstan had been increasing for four years, with 78 in 2008, compared with just one in 2004, soon after adoption from Kyrgyzstan first became available. (In 2003 a Colorado woman working in a Kyrgyz orphanage petitioned the government to bring a toddler with severe facial deformities to the U.S. for reconstructive surgeries. After the successful surgeries, she worked with the government to formally adopt the child, opening the door for U.S. adoptions.) Ironically, many prospective parents who had been seeking to adopt internationally wound up in Kyrgyzstan because of the comparative ease of requirements and speed of the process.

After they were matched with and visited a child in Kyrgyzstan, many of the families were told that their adoptions would be completed within weeks. Then a quiet freeze took hold of the process. Scheduled court dates in late summer and early fall that were necessary to finalize adoptions were postponed again and again, but waiting parents were told that their cases would likely be resolved soon. "We all really believed that at the beginning of the year, things would turn around," says Suzanne Boutilier, a California advertising copywriter hoping to complete her adoption of a toddler.

Weeks pushed into months until Feb. 2, 2009, when Igor Chudinov, Kyrgyzstan's then–prime minister, called a moratorium on all international adoptions. He cited fraud and abuses of the system by orphanages and adoption-agency liaisons, and said his government would investigate these cases, work with UNICEF to start drafting new laws for such adoptions, and consider joining the Hague Adoption Convention, the international treaty designed to set consistent and transparent country protocols for international adoptions.

That's when the 65 prospective parents whose cases were stuck in the pipeline contacted the U.S. State Department for help. "I applaud them," Boutilier said of the Kyrgyz legislators. "I would never want to find out after the fact that I adopted a child that wasn't legally adoptable. Unfortunately, it's caused an incredible delay." Time is vital for many of the pipeline children who have disabilities and other special needs—everything from severe cleft palates to cerebral palsy—and the adoptive parents want to address these issues medically as soon as possible. They also fear that the kids will develop attachment disorders and other emotional and intellectual issues that commonly result from growing up in an institution. A study out of Boston's Children's Hospital, the Bucharest Early Intervention Project, found that children raised in orphanages had on average significantly lower IQs and higher rates of mental illness than those raised in family-type environments. "In my nightmares it's going to be another few years [before the adoptions are processed]," says Brotherton, "and we're going to get her home and we're going to have to deal with all the stuff that happened from the time we met her as a 3-month-old until then."

Although the State Department did not send a delegation, as with Russia, it did host a small group of Kyrgyz legislators in Washington and introduced them to some of the waiting families last May. In June it sent a U.S. adoption expert to the country to meet with Kyrgyz lawmakers. And then, after a few more months of inactivity, adoptive parents thought they got their big break.

Prime Minister Chudinov was headed to the U.S. for the U.N. General Assembly in September, so the waiting parents lobbied their respective representatives, asking them to press their cause with him when he was in the country. Both Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback and Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey met with the prime minister on behalf of the stranded orphans. According to Brownback's office, Chudinov declared that upon his return he would tell the parliamentary committee in charge of adoption legislation to expedite the 65 waiting cases.

Three weeks later, Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev dissolved his cabinet, forcing Chudinov to resign. The waiting parents were crestfallen.

Proposed deadlines for the Parliament to present and vote on new adoption laws came and went. This February three waiting parents, including Brotherton and Boutilier, went to Kyrgyzstan with an international-adoption advocate to meet with members of the Kyrgyz Parliament, the ministries of health and education, and UNICEF. They also saw almost all the 65 pipeline children in their orphanages in Bishkek and outlying regions, and were able to take pictures and provide updates to the parents waiting stateside. When they left, the four had little hope that their trip had truly changed things.

To their surprise, a month later, on March 19, the English-language news agency 24.kg reported that the Kyrgyz Parliament had passed the bill addressing adoption by foreigners. But two weeks later the rumblings of unrest that would eventually foment the overthrow of President Bakiyev and his administration began. As a result, the Kyrgyz Parliament and the entire administration, which had each spent nearly a year and a half working on the issue, were dissolved, and a new government is now being built, piece by piece.

A U.S. State Department official said that "we are working to determine the provisional government's stance on the pending cases, and the status of the bill and the related draft regulations. We will continue to urge the Kyrgyz government to resolve the 65 cases."

But the families don't know where the bill itself lies, whether it will be enacted by the interim government of former opposition leader Roza Otunbayeva, or whether they'll have to wait for what many are saying will be six months until a new government is elected. Or whether anything will happen at all.

Rich Salerno is a freelance writer in New York specializing in Central Asian affairs.

© 2010

In The News

2010-04-20T02:27:00.000-07:00

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/04/15/families-sick-russian-adoption-suspension/

Silence is not always golden.....

2010-04-20T00:55:00.000-07:00

A month has gone by since I wrote here. Oh what another roller coaster April has brought to us. Emotional highs and emotional lows. So should I start at the top or the bottom? I guess I will start at the beginning. I was trying to keep a secret. But because of so many events of the past two weeks it is not much of a secret anymore. I was trying to not get hopes up, emotions caught in the middle of yet another roller coaster ride. But I am not such a good secret keeper for one, and for a second I have been thrown in the middle of yet another debacle. I yearn for the days when I can get on the carousel and ride a pony to the peacful music around in a peaceful circle. So what is my secret you may ask..... Since October Brian and I have been pursuing a concurrent adoption. Homestudies updated, paperwork re-gathered, dossier resubmitted, translated, shipped. Trip one BOOKED. From April 4th until April 10th I was in Russia. I met a little boy who I sure hope will soon be our son. I could not have been happier. I knew immediately this was meant to be. We spent two short visits together and then the long drive back to Moscow. (sorry there are still some things I am keeping a bit hushed about until we get a court date)April 7,2010 On the way back to Moscow my cell phone started blowing up with inbox messages that our dear Kyrgyzstan was in Chaos. The opposition forces and the public have started protesting in the streets. By nightfall Bishkek was literally a battleground. Public buildings burned to the ground, The white house raided, The Parliment building overtaken, Looting, A high end restraunt destroyed and the owners killed, hundreds of Kyrgyz people injured, and at latest report 84 people have lost their lives. I sent emails out as soon as I was able to get a good internet connection. I was worried about my friends in Bishkek and Tokmok, I was worried about Noodle and the baby houses. By the next day I had heard from just about everyone. They are safe but staying indoors. The President has been overthrown. A new leader has taken control. And a week later the President Kurmanbeck Bakyev has officially resigned. Leaving a new Leader in his place Rosa Otunbayeva. Our hope for Kyrgyzstan is that Rosa O. (my apologies for lack of respect. This just flows better) can lead her country to a new and better way of life. But our number one hope is that we can possibly persuade her to somehow issue a decree to release the 65 children who have been held as political hostages for the last two years.
But my story does not end there. My stay in Moscow is littered with bad publicity. On April 8th Torry Anne Hansen decided in a selfish and hideous act to put her adopted son on an airplane and return him to Russia. BY HIMSELF. I understand this little 7 year old boy was not the inocent child she was hoping to adopt. A child with severe RAD is not the angel child, the golden end to adoption dreams. And I am not in her shoes. BUT seriously. What was she thinking? Was she thinking? There is a system in place for a reason. Home studies and post placements are not just a hassle they are for the child's protection. And not only the child... If she was having issues why did this not reflect in a post placement report? Why did a home study agency not step in with resources and help. So many unanswered questions. WHY has there been not a single charge brought against her. At the very least child endangerment or reckless abandonment? SOMETHING... All that aside. I am now sitting in my Moscow hotel room in utter disbelief. I have just met this beautiful little boy. He needs to come home! I am scared that I am now thrown in the middle of not just one IA crisis but possibly two. Despite all I tried to enjoy my last day in Moscow. Red Square is amazing beyond words. Moscow is very much like NYC but cleaner, and not quite as busy.
My first week home from Moscow was crazy. Trying like crazy to figure out what this is all going to mean. So far no answers. A delegation from the department of State will be in Moscow to talk about IA with the Russian officials. We'll see what they come up with. The 65 families had a conference call with the DOS and others on April 12th. We came out of that meeting extremely frustrated. No answers. No time frames. No clear plan. And every question was answered with a skirt around the issue. When will Hilary actually contact Rosa O? A letter, a phone call. No clear plan. So we are on a warpath! A media path that this week started in full swing. More on that as it all unravels!!!!! Hope is not gone nor will it ever be. WE WILL FIND A WAY TO GET THESE KIDS HOME. We are determined we are passionate, and we love these 65 kids with all our hearts and all our souls. We will do what it takes. And one day they will have much to be proud of.

A friendship spans MILES

2010-03-22T20:16:00.000-07:00

Warning: Super Long post.. with tons of photos!
Lori, Jengish and I on the steps of the Capital building in Richmond.
Almost a year ago to the date I spent a day with John, Jengish, Kolya, Asylbek, and Jengish's adoptive grandmother. Who knew that day would start the beginning of a friendship that spans the miles. Who knew that that friendship would connect/reconnect me with a blog buddy Lori ( ). The beginning of our day we made good on a promise. That if Jengish ever was in America we would enjoy a starbuck coffee together. And that we did! A Vente Caramel Frappucino for both of us. YUM... My absolute favorite. We both have good taste. But before we could enjoy a good coffee, we visited the Harley Dealer in Richmond. Hmmm I wonder... How do we send a Harley to Kyrgyzstan? He would be the first Harley owner in all of the Kyrgyz Republic!!!

Lori met us at Starbucks.. which by the way was right next to the Harley Dealer.. And no .. I did not plan it that way, but wow was completely suprised to find out it was there. To tell the truth actually I am not suprised at all. We spent some time getting to know each other in person. For Lori and Jengish and Lori and I this was our first "in person" meeting. In the course of this getting to know you session we were talking a little about Noodle. I made the comment that Noodle is of Russian heritage. Jengish looked me straight in the eye and said " Ann, that is not a Russian last name, her last name is a Ukrainian name." One could have heard a pin drop.... For those who do not know. My first dossier two years ago was translated and sent to Ukraine! Just weeks after it arrived in Ukraine, the adopton rules changed and I was no longer eligible to adopt fro Ukraine. And here I sit and find out that I was right all along. I was determined I was going to adopt a little girl from Ukraine. And although seperated by a few thousand miles. The plan was just that all along. Just goes to show I am not in the driver's seat. I am merely following His lead....

Then off we went to do some sightseeing and introduce Jengish to some Southern U.S. history. The Capital of Virginia and a Civil War museum were our major stops.

The rotunda at the capital there seemed to be a statue missing. These two seemed like a perfect fit for the vacant spot!

Outside the Capital building we were getting a lesson in photography. This shot was just perfect. Jengish's camera with his new lens on his back, my camera with his 50mm lens being used to take a wonderful photo (seen next). I leaned over quietly to Lori and said oooo, oooo take that shot!!! What a great Shot too. Lori I stole this from your facebook page!

Jengish's flower photo.. so cool!!!

The American Civil War museum. Tredegars. They made canons here for the Civil War.

Civil War era glassware. Awesome colors.

Lori, Myself, Abe Lincoln, and Jengish.. The past, the present, and the future of our world!

While talking in the morning. We discovered that my young friend Kolya (And Jengish's friend) would be ecstatic to receive the simple gift of guitar strings from America. Evidently strings from Central Asia snap easily. So off we went to a guitar shop in Careytown. Jengish picked up one of the guitars and told us he was going to play A Kyrgz National Song.. What fun when he brke out in a wonderful rendition of Sweet Home Alabama! But.. with a twist.. As the story goes this song was originally written in Kyrgyzstan.... It was then stolen by an American who was visiting Central Asia. Too funny!!

We ended our day with Jengish with a simple meal at an all inclusive type um diner. we talked about how our paths have come to cross. How amazing we believe the others to be. Jengish has given his life to helping homeless men. To Teen Challenge. A life that has given him amazing opportunities. Lori is surviving. We will continue to pray for her.. And continue to remember Matthew. In 9 months and 8 hours his life has touched so many.

A Camilia bush has been bought to honor and to remember Matthew. John and Lori have been planning a memorial garden. This bush practically picked us! A bush that flowers in December. Oh My! The bush is a gift to Lori, John and Matthew from the waiting parents group. Sorry Lori I am sure this has sprung some tears. Hugs, prayers and wishes for much love to surround you and be shoulders to cry on any time you would like.

Dreams

2010-03-14T10:15:00.000-07:00

Had to write this one down. Just odd... I just woke up from one of those dreams that are just vivid. You know, the ones you can remember all the details. I dreamt there was a gathering of some kind. But towards the end it was obvious the gathering was many of the waiting parents I have come to know. Some I have never met but yet there you were as clear as day in my dream. A few were carrying new babies. I assume that to be a few in our group have done a concurrent adoption. As the gathering wound down we all gathered around a circle and in the middle of that circle was K our in country driver/translater. While he did not offer a time line what he did offer was to get us prepped and ready for a semblance of order that we would be presented for court dates! Here is to dreams!

More of our waiting parents speak out. Spread the word!

2010-03-05T12:59:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago Kimberly over at Hoping for Hannah told me she was asked to help our adoption coordinater in Colorado do a news report on our story. Kimberly was uber nervous! But last weekend the story aired! What an absolutely powerful video put together by Channel 9 news in Denver. Please share! Pass along.

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=133614&catid=188

Parents adopting from overseas experience long, 'painful' waits
Lori Obert 4 days ago Toolbox: Read Comments PrintEmail ArticleSmallerLarger
DENVER - Kimberly Baldwin looks at the pictures almost every day. It is all she has. "It's been a long wait. Longer than I ever imagined it would be," Baldwin said.

When Baldwin first held the little girl she would one day adopt from an orphanage in Kyrgyzstan, she says the love was immediate. Nothing else in the process has gone quickly.

"It makes me sad to think of her having to have me not come back right now," she said.

It has been a year and a half since that meeting. Since then, Kimberly and the 3-year-old little girl have been victims of a political impasse.

The child is one of many orphans forced to stay in their country when they have adoptive parents ready, approved, and waiting in Colorado and other parts of the United States.

"Your love for the child just grows. Being that far away and knowing that no one is picking her up when she is crying at night and comforting her is awful. It's been painful to know that I can't do that for her," Baldwin said.

It could be another year before she can, unless the United States government can convince the Kyrgyz government to allow the children to leave the country.

The Kyrgyz government made the decision to investigate its adoption policies to make sure there was no corruption. It decided it needed to update the adoption laws. Children's advocates working with the country say those are positive measures. However, dozens of children have been caught in the process. Children who were already matched with families and approved through the process are now caught between the existing laws and the laws that have not been finalized.

"There are 65 kids that were known orphans and now they are kind of stuck. Their paper work is done but they can't go and be with their families because there is no legislation that has been signed that can be grandfathered in so they are pretty much stuck by the legislation," Karen Allred, with Adoption Alliance, said.

In the last four years, 200 Kyrgyz children have found forever homes in the United States. This stall was unexpected.

At the Adoption Alliance in Denver, there is a wall with the faces of smiling children. Children from Kyrgyzstan who are now part of families in Colorado. They are the success stories. Their stories are possible because of the story of a special little girl named Taby, and a courageous missionary from Littleton, Colorado named Tami Snowden.

Snowden was working in an orphanage in Kyrgyzstan when she first saw Tabi. Tabi was 4 months old. She was in a crib alone. Most people wouldn't touch her because of the severe facial deformities she had. But Snowden saw past them. She committed to doing whatever it took to get the child help.

A year and a half later, she and Tabi traveled the 7,000 miles from Kyrgyzstan to Colorado. Dr. Randy Robinson donated the surgery to repair Tabi's face.

As she healed, Tabi and Tami's love got deeper. Tami decided she wanted to adopt the then toddler. But the Kyrgyz government had not allowed an American to adopt one of its children in decades. Undeterred, Tami Snowden waded through piles of documents, pleaded her case to the government, and worked to establish trust with them.

In 2004, Tabi became a United States citizen. The adoption was official.

Tabi's adoption opened the door for other children from Kyrgyzstan to be available to American families for adoption.

Baldwin says she hopes the red tape will be sorted through quickly, so more children like Tabi can be with the parents who so desperately want them.

"That is my prayer that things will get resolved. These children are just waiting and aren't getting the kind of support they would be getting in a home," she said.

The wait has already been excruciating. It could be much longer before Baldwin has her daughter home. She says she will not walk away. She will not give up. She will wait for the child she has already grown to love so much.

This month, members of the Joint Council for International Adoption and some of the waiting families went to the country to make pleas for the children. They are asking you to be part of a growing effort to complete the adoption process for the kids. They want Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to contact the Kyrgyz President directly and ask that he intervene.

For more information, visit the following Web sites:

Dept of State's Adoption Alert about Kyrgyz issued 11/2009 http://adoption.state.gov/news/kyrgyzstan.html

http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav091009.shtml

http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav092309b.shtml

http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav100709a.shtml

http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav121409b.shtml

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOzvPHLiujc

(KUSA-TV © 2010 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)

JCICS- Be The Answer Blog opinion request

2010-02-26T19:02:00.000-08:00

JCICS has a blog. A recent post has asked for the opinion of the readers. What do you think is the definition of an orphan? What is the definition of the needs of a child. Suprisingly the answers you may have and the answers some others come up with are quite different! Below is my reply!!! Not a little bit synical though.

UNICEF- now there is an interesting organization. Everyone seems to know who UNICEF IS, and that UNICEF helps children. But do they really? Or are they a charade of an organization that has extreme power and an extreme backing of financial resources that SAYS they help children. In my own opinion UNICEF is an extremist organization with members similar to the PETA group of extremists. I do not agree with their views on what child is an orphan and that orphans are better off in their own society and culture. My belief is that a definition of an orphan is a child who has been left (regardless of why) without the care of a parent or guardian who is capable to provide for the child’s needs. Every child should have the right to a family. Whether that family be true blood relative, friends down the street who have chosen to raise a child as their own, or an adoptive family from 7000 miles across the globe. If a child has been deprived of the gift of a family, he or she should be allowed the opportunity for a family to be found. A child’s well being should include love and family. Research has shown the affects of children growing up in institutions. Internationally and as human beings are we not wise enough to understand when solid research says that a large majority of orphans who age out of institutions will either become criminals, be victimized by trafficking, or prostitution or will commit suicide by the time they are adults. Only a very small percentage of children will actually be lucky enough to find an adoptive family. Domestic or International. So why then are there so many organizations that are so willing to make it even harder for a child without a home, without a mother or father figure, without proper food, a sense of self, education, without love determined to make it even harder for a child? Maybe one day UNICEF can answer that to the children.

Hmm. Not a little bit resentful about UNICEF am I

More wait.. more delays... BUT PHOTOS and HUgs!!

2010-02-22T02:43:00.000-08:00

To all who followed this regularly I really must apologize. I feel so bad for NOT writing. But I feel that I would mostly be reiterating the same hurtful saga over and over. We still wait daily. We still hope daily... We still PRAY daily... For now... We just are.

The last two weeks has been up and down. We were hopeful for some news this week. Another date that was given to us has come and gone. Three waiting mothers accompanied by Tom from JCICS spent 1-2 weeks meeting with some high ranking officials in Kyrgyzstan. They met with everyone and anyone who would give them an audience. We were told every meeting was about the same. Everyone wanted to see our waiting kids united. But yet everyone has their hands tied. Powerless to make a change. So... as soon as we regroup from yet another delay we will move on to the next phase. Operation Secretery of State Hilary Clinton. More on that as it develops.

While Suzanne, Lisa, Teresa, and Tom were in Kyrgyzstan they also had the chance to meet EVERY one of our waiting kids. They threw parties big and small for each individual groupa, at each orphanage they visited. One larger Bday party was thrown for one of the children in Noodle's group. So a wonderful party complete with cake, and gifts was had by all. Oh how I wish I could have been there. The good news is we have new photos. Bittersweet. It appears that Miss Noodle is still very tiny. Maybe she has not grown out of some of those girlie clothes hanging in her closet after all? yet again... snippets of photos... Thanks Suzanne, Lisa, Teresa, Tom, S and K for hugging and kissing our little miss.

Videos!!!

2010-02-11T22:53:00.001-08:00

Two videos.. one Russian, one English.. A labor of love put together on behalf of 65 waiting children. Children who are waiting for a family. Thank you to all who helped make these videos possible, and to all who sent photos. Please share far and wide!!!!!!!!!

At long Last PIE VIDEO!

2010-01-09T23:54:00.000-08:00

While the Pie Challenge funds are continuing to be distributed I figured I really really need to stop procrastinating on this video. However I really was just at a loss of how to convert the DVD video that was shot of my PIE in my face to video able to be used withing a video. (does that make sense?) Then.... wooohoo I got a wonderful email form my cousin! " I see you have been having technical issues with your video. I just got a new video program " So tonight we sat and created the long awaited PIE Challenge video from the PAP's. I big hooot and thanks out to Kevin for putting this together. And again many many thanks to all the PAPs that donated to the Pie challenge. And last but not least to Sergey for the exclusive video of the kids with Torte, Suzanne for The awesome pics in front of the Golden Gate Bridge, Kimberly and Syd for their great pics and hilarious funny faces, Lisa for bundling up and heading to the banks of the Mississippi River, my niece Theresa, and nephews Paul and Noah for their awesome commentary and for hittin me in the face with our PIE. Thank you to everyone who is distributing the gifts for the folks in Central Asia. You are all amazing!

Our voices being heard!!

2010-01-08T23:17:00.000-08:00

One of our families has been published in their local paper. Our stories being told. Sounding out for a plan!

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2010/01/post_79.html

"I'm watching her grow up from far away"- Flint woman waits two years for daughter she loves in Kyrgyzstan
By Beata Mostafavi Flint Journal
January 08, 2010, 5:45PM

Angela Sharp, of Flint, stands in the room she has set up waiting with clothes her adopted daughter Mia has already outgrown while stuck in adoption limbo with Kyrgyzstan because of paperwork delays. Sharp is among 65 families in the same situation. She met her daughter Mia in April of 2008, expecting to bring her home six weeks later. Mia is almost 2 and still in the overseas orphanage because of the hold up. Sharp and others are calling on Hillary Clinton and Obama to step in. Ryan Garza/The Flint Journal
FLINT, Michigan — Mia-Angelina’s room is ready to welcome the baby girl home in Flint, with a pink and green polka-dotted bed set, a closet stuffed with tiny dresses and shoes and Dr. Seuss books lining the shelf.

The brown-eyed orphan was three months old and just weeks away from being officially adopted when she met her mom-to-be Angela Sharp in April 2008.

But Mia has outgrown the never-worn ruffly outfits. She has never slept in her pastel-hued crib or played with the stuffed animals in the pink bins in her nursery.

Mia is among at least 65 children stuck in adoption limbo in the central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan because of a moratorium the Kyrgyz government placed on all international adoptions as it overhauls regulations to its adoptions system.

“It just makes you think of what almost was,” said Sharp, 35, through tears, touching price tags still hanging off pajamas bought in preparation for Mia’s expected arrival nearly two years ago.

Sharp is among dozens of heartbroken families who were just days away from becoming legal parents before the adoption halt and are at an indefinite standstill as their intended babies — many with special needs— pass milestones in orphanages thousands of miles away.

“The judge asked me ‘Do you like this girl?’ I said ‘I love her,’” Sharp recalled of her trip to Kyrgyzstan in 2008. “She said ‘I see no reason why you two should not be together. You even look alike.’

“Now I’m watching her grow up from far away.”

Sharp holds Mia for the first time in Kyrgyzstan. Adoption reform there has stalled Sharp’s efforts, as well as those of more than 60 other families.
On the visit, the two spent hours together. Sharp fed, changed and cuddled with Mia who was stiff at first because she wasn’t held often in the orphanage of more than 100 children.

Mostly, they just stared at each other.

“The lady at the orphanage said ‘You two have your own language,’” recalled Sharp, a local hair stylist who is single. “She had these big brown eyes. It was instant love. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was. She was beautiful.”

When Sharp left, she promised Mia that the next time they walked out of the orphanage’s gates together, she would be bringing her home.

That was only supposed to be less than six weeks later.

Mia turns 2 on Jan. 22.

“I told her to be brave and that I would be back soon,” Sharp said, wiping away tears.

“I worry about her,” she added, looking at a photo of Mia with her single-candle topped cake on her first birthday. “I wonder is she happy? Is she eating well?”

Sharp and other waiting families who have connected through the Internet have written hundreds of letters to lawmakers, foundations, even Microsoft founder Bill Gates for help.

They’re now calling on Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and President Barack Obama to get involved to urge the Kyrgyzstan government to allow them to bring their intended children home.

The U.S. State Department is also working on the families’ and children’s behalf to try to grandfather them in to the new laws being developed in Kyrgyzstan meant to clear out corruption in the adoption system.

The families had passed months worth of background checks and home visits to be matched with children who had been cleared as legitimate orphans after an exhaustive process.

For many families, it was simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

“I’m asking everyone to pray for a miracle,” said Frank Shimkus, 48, a retired politician and pastor in Scranton, Penn., who has been waiting more than a year to bring home baby boy Aidan Josiah who is in the same orphanage as Mia.

He and wife Gabrielle also believed Aidan would come home with them just weeks after meeting him November 2008, when he was 3 months old. They already had their “baby’s first Christmas” ornament.

They also had lined up doctors to perform needed surgeries for Aidan’s cleft lip and palate which they’ve been told is most successful at a younger age.

Like Sharp, it’s hard for the couple not to get emotional every time they pass the green nursery they prepared for him in their home.

“This is not a political issue. This is about a little boy. He is our hearts,” said a choked-up Shimkus. “We will never give up.”

Sharp made the decision to adopt nearly four years ago.

“I said here I am wanting a child and here are all these children wanting a mother,” she said

But it was a much more complicated process than she’d realized.

She said she pursued the domestic route first but that her single status made her an unlikely choice for birth moms who often choose homes with married couples.

And the wait in other countries was up to five years long.

Sharp started the adoption process with renowned Pennsylvania-based World Links International Adoption Agency in January 2008.

The agency could not be reached for comment.

Sharp has asked for the help of local lawmakers, including U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, asking them to sign the letter. The Flint Journal could not reach Stabenow for comment.

Back in Kyrgyzstan, Mia is taking steps, babbling in Russian and growing into a playful toddler while waiting for a mom.

Sharp said she’s holding off on another visit to the remote mountainous country because of the emotional toll she thinks it would take on both her and Mia.

“I just ask people to write their senators and tell them what’s happening so hopefully someone can help us bring our children home,” she said. “The next time I go, it will be when my daughter can come back with me.”

What’s happening in Kyrgyzstan

• International adoptions had been on the rise in the Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan where the eight- to 12-month adoption process was relatively faster and smoother than in other countries and an attractive choice for families looking to adopt. The waiting lists in other countries, such as China, are as long as four to five years.

• Amidst allegations of fraud by adoption workers in 2008 and 2009, all adoptions abruptly stopped in Kyrgyzstan. That included the adoptions by at least 65 families who had already visited their intended adoptive children and were just weeks away from a court hearing to make the adoptions official.

• The government has been investigating claims of fraud in the adoption process, and is developing new adoption guidelines with the help of UNICEF.

• Senators Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, Bob Casey, D-Pennsylvania, and Barbara Boxer, D-California, are reportedly preparing a letter to Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev concerning the 65 stalled adoptions, with other senators expected to sign it. They hope to grandfather in the 65 families to new rules.

• The Kyrgyz Parliament is set to discuss the issue again Feb.15.

• How to help: Families waiting for adoptions are asking people to write Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and ask her to become directly involved in the situation.

People can write to: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20520

Close to the heart

2010-01-05T18:52:00.000-08:00

Tonight I am cross posting yet again from John's site. I hold this whole post very close to my heart. The blankets, the story of Sergei's hand... and another in need.

cross posted from www.actofkindness.blogspot.com

Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Just because it is Christmas
As I write this My friends in Central Asia are waking up to Christmas eve day... Maybe we should call it the 13 days of Christmas ... Our friends are busy trying to fit in all the Celebrations before the end of the 7th...
But just because it's Christmas doesn't mean the hurting stops... The fact is that we are deep into the clutches of winter in a country still gripped by the effects of a world recession.... The hurting goes on... I am so blessed that we have had the opportunity to get around to those children that we know and love, but that doesn't mean the hurting stops we have even been able to bring some special blessings to the hospitals the invalids and the seniors... , and the blessings will continue for a few more days yet, but that doesn't mean the hurting stops....
We have the mattresses made, and are have begun making over 180 blankets for the baby orphanages and the hospitals, and in a few days they will be delivered as well, but that doesn't mean the hurting stops... We have now topped 30 tons of coal we have delivered in our efforts to keep those in the dark corners of society from freezing this winter, and we have another food drop ready for the baby hospital, but that doesn't mean the hurting stops..
If we step back and look at the big picture , we see an incredible movement that is bringing hope and restoring dignity , but if I truly stop for the one in front of me, I see that the hurting has not stopped ...BUT, and this is a big BUT... there is HOPE.... As I have said , our focus has been to restore HOPE and Dignity to those in the dark corners of society....

Here is the message I received today from Jengish....
"Hey John Baike, can you give me a call sometime soon. I need to tell you about this guy that is going to get his leg amputated if they don't do some surgery now".
I Gave him a call right away... I needed to hear the storey...
This man he is trying to help is survivor from Chernobyl... after the melt down he found himself living on the streets in the Capital, against all odds he has survived over 20 years ... with out the proper documents he could never get ahead... then a year ago he came to the rehab centre with jengish where he has been working as a cook... he has done very well there, and although he is finished the program, he will stay on working at the centre... then when he was in the city shopping, he was hit by a car... something any of us who have been on those streets will understand... He now has a serious infection in his leg. The Dr's have said that they could save the leg if they operated, but since he does not have the means, just come back in a few days and they will remove it.... this is where HOPE comes in.. He has asked Jengish to please talk to his friends ( That's you and me ) and see if we could help... he recognises that this is a lot of money , and he is not sure that he could ever repay it, but he is kind of attached to his leg and would like to keep it....
For me, I just think about what life would be like with out a leg in that country. I have been to and visited with the men in the invalid homes, and would give just about anything to get them out of that situation, and now we have the opportunity to save this man from such a fate... I told Jengish that I would share this need and see what we could come up with... what is needed is $250 ...

It kind of reminds me of an email I got last year... it simply said "Our friend has injured his hand at work... the Dr's want to know do we have $700 or should they just cut it off...?"
We were able to convince the Dr to begin the restoration process, and buy us a bit of time to find a sponsor...
It did not take long before one of our readers heard about his storey, and how close his injury was to her own... it hit home, and she was able to raise the money to save his hand... in an amazing turn of events, she ended up in Central Asia has our friend was completing his physiotherapy.... This is a life and a family that has been forever changed... and now is an ambassador of HOPE in the region ...

I have told Jengish to get me some more information, to talk to the Dr's himself , and to give me a day to see what WE are able to do.... and that our answer will follow.

Posted by Julie and John Wright at 6:45 PM

From 24.kg We know this will be true!! Thank You

2010-01-02T22:24:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, dear readers!
31/12-2009 10:00, Bishkek – News Agency “24.kg” News Agency 24.kg wholeheartedly congratulates its readers and all Kyrgyzstanis on the coming New Year’s Day!
We sincerely believe that the new year will bring you peace and prosperity. May your holiday be filled with joy and the coming year be overflowing with all the best things in life!
Happy New Year to all who believe in miracles! We wish you the biggest slice of happiness and good luck this New Year!
URL: http://eng.24.kg/community/2009/12/31/10066.html

2010

2010-01-01T10:52:00.000-08:00

I am certainly very glad to see today. I dawn of a new year. Hopefully the dawn of new beginnings for many families and children. 65 of us have about 6 weeks before we hear any new news. In the meantime life still continues to move forward. But with 2009 behind us, a new hope hangs low. A new hope that THIS will be OUR year. This year children will know the love of a family. This year our families will grow. This year America will gain at least 65 new American citizens. This year will bring much love, Much life, and many new suprises. Don't get me wrong... I am very appreciative of many opportunities I had in 2009. I am most appreciative for the support of friends and family through a very long year. And without the wait there are several opportunities I would have missed and trips I never would have been on. New endeavors would not be sought out. So while God knows what the outcome is going to be. I continue to follow only getting glimpses here and there of the why.

Good Bye! So Long Farewell Good RIDANCE to 2009

2009-12-31T16:31:00.000-08:00

And that is all I have to say about that!

Christmas 2009

2009-12-28T17:25:00.000-08:00

When ZHU Zhu's Attack!!!

Molly and the Zhu Zhu's

A new photographer is born!!!

Jazzy and the presents

Ruger

Noah, Paul, and Theresa

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T02:47:00.000-08:00

I am going to not be sappy, I am going to not be sappy, I am going to not be sappy!!! LOL. I don't want to make my mom cry again ( and I know you are reading this!!!) So I am not going to post my usual man I wish the kids were home for the holidays sadness. Instead I will reiterate what I have said both on facebook, and to my waiting friends.
Merry CHristmas everyone! Peace to all my fellow waiting friends. love to all my family, friends both new and old, Joy to all the children and the young at heart. My CHristmas wish for Santa is to bring me an end to the journey I have started. Thank you to All for being along on the path.And comfort to our kids while they are waiting. (here I MUST insert a message to a friend of mine VK you know who you are. And yes I am antagonizing you! But I don't care what you, or anyone else says these 65 kids are ours in our hearts, our souls, our whole being so I WILL call her my daughter on this CHristmas Day and forever. Whether she becomes legally ours this year it is not our time to know that yet. But rest assured our group will not go down without a fight.)

Last week Santa in Kg sent a nice suprise. photos. More stripes!! I swear Miss Noodle when you come home you will never ever ever wear stripes again!

Then Christmas Eve morning I received great photos and updates from our friends at www.actofkindness.blogspot.com The donations from the Pie Challenge have been sent to the teams all over the globe. The shopping has been done and the parties have begun. Over the next few weeks the kids will be met by numerous fun gifts and suprises. ( and to those wondering... I am having a video issue with my Pie video... I promise it will get done... As soon as I resolve my technical difficulties!)
For this Christmas morning I leave you with the words of Tiny Tim in the Muppet Christmas Carol. And a peak at our photo of Noodle. " Life is like a journey, who knows where it ends?" and

God Bless us ... Every one!!!

7 Days before Christmas

2009-12-18T04:22:00.000-08:00

Twas a week before Christmas....
The emotions are stirring....
I want to be happy, I want to be glad
So many things but instead today I start sad.

sigh... I look back over
this year that has gone and
we are still in the same place one year later.

Really. I could just repost all the posts from last year every day from now until Christmas and the emotions would be exactly the same. We are no closer today one year later to being parents of Noodle then we were one year ago.

But Christmas will come and we will visit our family and friends. Its been a very rough and emotional two years. I sure hope that an even year of 2010 can offer some more even emotions. We are facing some difficult decisons. (don't worry none involve quitting the Kyrgyz program. I will stand outside the orphanage when she is 16 if I have to) Hopefully those decisions will bring about some good changes for the rest of our lives.

On a good note there was a new Kyrgyz article written last week by our friend Laurie Rich. Lisa B and myself were quoted. There are some plans being laid for the beginning of the year for our Kyrgyz "friends" (thats a bit sarcastic). Check back mid January and early February on that news! In the meantime here is the article.

http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav121409b.shtml

Friday, December 18, 2009

EURASIA INSIGHT
KYRGYZSTAN: ADOPTIVE FAMILIES LOSING HOPE AS KYRGYZ CHILDREN REMAIN STUCK IN CENTRAL ASIA
Laurie Rich 12/14/09

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US lawmakers intend to press the government of Kyrgyzstan to expedite the adoptions of 65 Kyrgyz children by American families. The adoptions have been stalled as Kyrgyz officials mull changes to the Central Asian state’s adoption framework.

Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS), Bob Casey (D-PA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) are preparing a letter to Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev concerning the 65 stalled adoptions, according to a spokesperson in Sen. Brownback’s office.

Despite encouraging signs earlier this fall that the situation might be resolved, the Kyrgyz Parliament failed to take action on new adoption legislation in a mid-November session, as had been expected. The parliament pushed off further talks on the issue to February 15, citing a need for "deeper study," according to the parliamentary press service. The latest delay is causing some of the prospective American parents to lose hope that they will ever be allowed to bring the children to the United States.

"Every time we think we’re right there ...something changes in the government," said Ann Bates, a Pennsylvania pediatric nurse who has been waiting since June 2008 to bring home the four-year-old girl with mild cerebral palsy she was matched with. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

The prospective parents thought they had achieved a breakthrough back in September when Kyrgyz Prime Minister Igor Chudinov promised senators Brownback and Casey that he would urge parliament to expedite the pending adoptions. But three weeks later, Chudinov resigned in a governmental shakeup by President Bakiyev. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

It was Chudinov who instituted a moratorium on international adoptions in February of 2009 amid allegations of fraud and child trafficking on the part of orphanages and adoption workers. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. The government has been investigating those claims, and, with the aid of UNICEF, is developing a new adoption framework.

The 65 US families had gone through the often year-long process to be matched with an adoptable Kyrgyz child and were in the final stages of adoption when the Kyrgyz officials stopped processing applications. Many of the children have disabilities, including one girl who has become blind and deaf and has incurred brain damage during the wait because of late-diagnosed hydrocephalus, a problem that likely would have been treated immediately in the United States, the girl’s prospective adoptive mother, a Florida pediatrician, believes.

"The human costs of these delays are so enormous," said Lisa Brotherton, who has been waiting to be handed the baby girl with whom she was matched since 2008. Brotherton, who visited Bishkek last August, believes the baby has Cerebral Palsy and is malnourished based on diagnoses she received from doctors who examined photographs of the girl.

"For her to continue to be victimized by languishing in a place where she can make no life-long bonds adds insult to injury," said Brotherton, who worries that the adverse psychological effects -- like attachment disorders, depression and PTSD - will affect their children.

The prospective parents are well aware of an ongoing Harvard Medical School study called the Bucharest Early Intervention Project, which has shown that children in Romanian orphanages had significantly lower IQs (65 versus 103) than children living in the community. Those living in orphanages also have a much higher rate of mental illness than those living in the community, the study also shows. Those placed in foster families made dramatic recoveries in mental health and language acquisition - but the success rates were significantly diminished for those who were older than two when they were put into the foster homes.

The US State Department has tried to intervene on behalf of the families, raising the adoption issue in meetings with Kyrgyz diplomats, according to a State Department official. The US government also brought a group of Kyrgyz MPs this May to the United States to discuss the adoptions and to meet with some families.

"The Department of State has urged the Kyrgyz government to complete its criminal investigation and resolve the pending cases so that eligible children can be placed in permanent homes," the official said in an e-mailed response to EurasiaNet’s questions. "The Department will continue to engage the Kyrgyz government on this issue."

Editor's Note: Laurie Rich is a EurasiaNet staff writer.

Posted December 14, 2009 © Eurasianet

3

2009-12-06T04:19:00.000-08:00

Today Noodle is 3. I hope that in years to come I can look back at this blog with Noodle sitting next to me and tell her that she was loved, thought of, prayed about, every single day from even before I knew anything about her. Over the last 18 months I have watched from afar as Noodle has changed from a baby into a toddler. Although she is not legally our daughter, she is my daughter in my heart from the day we met. I hold her close every day and every night. So today I say Happy Birthday. Last year we celebrated together. Last year we made sure every child in her orphanage had a little something special. But this year all I can do is pray that next year will not be the same. If when we are reading this you can learn anything from what we endured waiting is the never ending love, and passion so many people had for each and every one of the children who are waiting. You are loved and you are longed for.

мой дочь, я Вас люблю. с днём рождения

Only a few more hours for PIE

2009-11-26T13:58:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to All. This year I am thankful for everyone who stands beside us while we patiently (andsometimes not so patiently) wait for a certain Central Asian government to let the children we love become a part of our families. I am thankful for my friends, my family, and for all my new found friends. This has been an amazing year full of heartache and tears. But also full of new found wonder at the how the kindness of others can affect so many... There are just a few more hour in our PIE Challenge. Help CIndy reach $500... or any of us reach $1000.... Tell your friends, post and cross post. Just $5 a piece!!!! Thank You John and Julie for all you do. Thanks to Kyle and Sergey, Anya, Larissa, and Jengish and so many others for giving of themselves so many others will have HOPE!!!
http://www.actofkindness.blogspot.com/

Shout it OUT.

2009-11-13T08:45:00.000-08:00

I no longer intend to stay quiet! I will get the attention of someone, anyone and everyone who will listen. If you are reading this feel free to send it to your Senator, your Congressman, your local newspaper. Hilary Clinton, ANYONE who we could get involved. We are at an impasse. And we have nothing to lose. SHOUT IT OUT for our kids. and for all the kids in any orphanage where their GOVERNMENT believes they are better off. I have seen things in those institutions that would make your toes curl! It is abuse and neglect! And someone needs to help!

Good Morning,
As you are all aware I am one of the 60 plus waiting families in Kyrgyzstan. This morning (Nov 13) the latest news out of Bishkek states that Parliment has put off the state of International adoptions until February of next year. I do not believe that some of our children have this time to spare. I have seen photos of some of the waiting children. There is obvious neglect in this situation. The human rights of 65 children are being totally violated. There is a child with such a severe cleft lip and palate that it is preventing her from getting enough nutrition to grow. At the age of almost two she is the weight of a 3 month old child. There are kids with Cardiac defects that are not being evaluated by cardiologists. Children with Cerebral Palsey that are not getting the necessary intervention to provide them with the opportunity to have a normal life. Children who are being denied the love of a family while political parties can't decide their fate. I intend to become very verbal in this fight against the neglect that is going on. Kyrgyzstan is just one country and one example of children's rights being violated by foreign politicians who have no education in the field of child welfare. I believe at this point the only thing that will save our children from many more months of institutionalization is gaining the support of a higher authority in our government. Please pass this along to every level. I believe that the 65 cases could be resolved but not without intervention from above. I appreciate everything that JCICS and the Department of State has done and is doing to help resolve this. I send out those words of gratitude over and over. But we have come to an impasse where we need even more help. Please, Please help us help our kids. February 15 is just another date in a string of 2 years worth of dates.

Ann BAtes

Ryan & Ambassador:

If there is no word tomorrow (NOV. 13) that the Kyrgyz Parliament is going to immediately release the 66 children who have been waiting

for their adoptive families almost 2 YEARS, is it possible for Secretary of State Clinton's office to make direct contact (phone call) to the

Kyrgyz President to request the lifting of the moritorium on THESE 66 adoptions????

The families and agencies have waited and waited for almost 2 years now. It seems no one --- not the new Prime Minister nor the

Kyrgyz Parliament has the will or courage to do the right thing and release these already referred children to their families. This issue

should NOT be linked to what Kyrgyzstan wants to do about international adoption in the future..

We will encourage families and agencies and any other concerned parties to contact your offices hundreds of times a day, if needed, to

stress to you that your high level contact with the Kyrgyz President is now our only hope for the immediate release of these 66 children,

many who desperately need surgery and other medical care.

Please do NOT put this issue off until next month or next year. This is a case of the human rights of orphanaged children being abused.

Immediate, strong, direct action is a must now. We are depending on you.

Thank you for your involvement

Madder then a hornet!

2009-11-13T08:44:00.000-08:00

Ok so this am we got the news we thought we would get... Another date to wait for.

This from 24.kg. Basically the same info:

Consideration of the transfer of children from Kyrgyzstan on international adoption postponed until February 2010

13/11 08:25, Bishkek --IA «24.kg», Ayzada Kutueva

Consideration of the transfer of children from Kyrgyzstan on international adoption postponed until February 2010. This decision was made today at a meeting of the Jogorku Kenesh following consideration of the actual implementation of the LCD of the CD on the transfer of children left without parental care, for adoption (adoption) to foreign nationals.

Thus, the deputies have enabled the new government to understand the existing legislation and to take adequate measures to address this issue. Recall that last year set up an interdepartmental commission has identified a number of violations in the area of adoption of children by foreign citizens and the problems in the legislation governing this issue.

URL: http://24.kg/ parlament/ 51927-2009/ 06/16/114991. html

Pie in Your FAce Christmas Challenge

2009-11-10T17:10:00.000-08:00

Every Year in Central Asia there are orphans and others who know what Christmas is. But it is only because there are folks who care and make a difference in their lives. Just think, what would you do with $5? Buy a starbucks coffee? In Central Asia that same $5 will allow a child to attend a day ful of Christmas activity lunch at a favorite local restraunt an activity with adults who care and a Christmas gift that they will cherish the whole year. Not to mention years worth of positive memories. This year I have joined my friends to help with this Christmas Challenge. I am partnering with my fellow waitng families. My Challenge is to come up with $500 in donations. For each $500 I will be taking a PIE in the FACE for the children. I am sure my fellow PAP's would love to also partake in this. My pooches will really be happy for every Pie In MY face there will certainly be 7 happy pups will to catch whatever hits the floor!!! So my first challenge is to generate $500. My second challenge goes out to all my fellow PAP's..... send this out to all your friends.... All your friends' friends and family.... For $5 lets see how many Pies we need to come up with.
All right so how do you donate???? Follow the link to John's site...
http://actofkindness.blogspot.com/2009/11/one-for-kids-pie-in-face-challenge.html

Go to the donate button and then be sure to choose Ann for all the PAP's !!!!! We will be credited for the donation.

And for the record... In just one 24 hour period. we have already received $200. GO PAPs.

Be The Answer Day

2009-10-27T15:19:00.000-07:00

Ok so I have not posted for awhile. Not really anything to post... But figured would jump in here on a fellow blogger and friend and PAP's challenge and see what we can whip up!! Feel free to copy and paste and send all over.

As everyone is well aware Joint Council for International Children's Sevices has been a HUGE advocate for not only our Kyrgyz adoption but for all PAP's and countries dealing with issues in international adoption and children's affairs. On Facebook There is a Causes page and Causes has come up with an American Giving Challenge. Each day causes will be eligible to win $1000. And at the end of the year $50,000 will be won. The challenge is to get donations sent to the Cause we are supporting. This is link to the pledge page!

http://appls.facebook.com/causes/fundraisingpledges/84262

Follow up articles

2009-10-08T07:49:00.000-07:00

Two follow up articles from our angel reporter Laurie Rich of Eurasianet

http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav092309b.shtml

Thursday, October 8, 2009

EURASIA INSIGHT
KYRGYZSTAN: US AND KYRGYZ LEGISLATORS SEEK WAY TO END ADOPTION DELAY
Laurie Rich 9/23/09

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The 65 American families whose adoptions of Kyrgyz orphans have been stalled for more than a year are picking up political support in both the United States and Kyrgyzstan, as they hope to bring their ordeal to a quick conclusion.

US legislators became active on September 18 in trying to broker a solution. Eleven members of the US Congress sent a letter that day to the Kyrgyz Embassy in Washington, DC, requesting a meeting with Prime Minister Igor Chudinov during his stay in the United States in connection with the UN General Assembly. An embassy spokesperson said on September 22 that the congressional request was under consideration.

The catalyst for congressional involvement was US Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN). Other signatories of the letter included; Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS); Mark Kirk (R-IL); Maurice Hinchey (D-NY); Gerald Connolly (D-VA); Roy Blunt (R-MO); Tom Price (R-GA), K. Michael Conaway (R-TX); John Salazar (D-CO); John Linder (R-GA); and Jason Chaffetz (R-UT).

"As a former foster mother to 23 children, I experienced first-hand the importance of every child being placed in a stable and loving family," Bachmann said in an email interview with EurasiaNet. She is familiar with the issue both because she has a constituent who is affected by the moratorium, and is a member of a Congressional group on adoption. "In this case, 65 children have been blessed with families who want to provide this wonderful experience, and it is imperative that they are united as soon as possible."

Chudinov placed an official moratorium on international adoptions last February to restructure the nation’s system and investigate alleged corruption, though the processing of adoptions had effectively been frozen six months before that date. Since then, the 65 American families have been caught in a state of limbo. They had already been matched with - and, in many instances, had already met - adoptees during in the summer of 2008. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

In early September the US State Department said that there is no known timeframe for when the new Kyrgyz adoption regulatory framework will be submitted for parliamentary consideration. US diplomats noted, however, that a special court ruling would be sufficient to enable pending adoptions to be completed. These days, adoptive parents’ anxieties are compounded by the special needs of many of the children, who, according to the families, could benefit from early medical intervention.

On September 17, Kyrgyz MP Damira Niazalieva raised the issue during a session of parliament, citing the waiting orphans’ special needs. She called for the rapid completion of pending adoptions by Americans, according to the Kyrgyz News outlet 24.kg.

"They suffer from very serious diseases: hydrocephalus, cleft palate, cerebral palsy. Operating on these children requires a lot of money, which is lacking in Kyrgyzstan. That is why these children should be joined as soon as possible with new parents who can pay for their operations," 24.kg quoted Niazalieva as saying.

Editor's Note: Laurie Rich is a EurasiaNet staff writer.

******************************************************************

http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav100709a.shtml

Thursday, October 8, 2009

EURASIA INSIGHT
KYRGYZSTAN: PRIME MINISTER CHUDINOV PLEDGES ACTION ON STALLED ADOPTIONS
Laurie Rich 10/07/09

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Kyrgyz Prime Minister Igor Chudinov has promised US legislators that he will urge his country’s parliament to expedite the adoptions of 65 Kyrgyz orphans by American families.

The 65 cases have been held up for more than a year amid a Kyrgyz government effort to overhall the legislative framework covering foreign adoptions. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Chudinov met with US Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Bob Casey (D-PA) in late September in Washington to discuss the pending adoptions. The Kyrgyz prime minister was receptive to the legislators’ requests that the cases be processed, according to the offices of both senators.

"It is my hope and belief the Prime Minister will work to grandfather in these adoption cases and the families in the United States will be able to proceed with their adoptions," Brownback said in an e-mailed statement to EurasiaNet. "I thank the PM for his willingness to work with us, and I stand ready to help as the process continues."

Chudinov told the senators that upon returning to Kyrgyzstan, he would meet with the members of the Kyrgyz parliamentary committee that is in charge of overhauling adoption procedures. Chudinov pledged that he would tell committee members that there is no need to keep holding up these 65 cases, senator Brownback’s office reported.

The Kyrgyz prime minister also agreed to put this pledge in writing, although Senator Brownback’s office had not received any documents regarding this as of October 5. The senators said they would follow up on the status in the next few weeks.

Chudinov introduced a moratorium on international adoption in Kyrgyzstan last February, amid allegations of corruption in the system. The Kyrgyz parliament has been working since then to draft new regulations, providing no timeframe for the completion of the process. In-country UNICEF officers who are working with the government on the issue said on October 6 that the legislation and amendments are finished and are under review by different ministries. As soon as the ministries sign off on the amendments, officials promise to allow for public debate on the proposed changes. Only after ample time for public discussion will the legislation be submitted to parliament. That process could take another six months, according to UNICEF.

Caught in between the old laws and the new are the 65 US families whose adoptions were nearly complete when the system entered into its holding pattern. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Senators Brownback and Casey both have constituents whose pending adoptions remain stalled. Brownback has four families waiting in Kansas, while Casey has five in Pennsylvania. Brownback has taken a particular interest in the case. The senator is the father of two children adopted internationally. "I know how difficult it is to wait to bring home your child," he said.

Before meeting with Brownback and Casey, Chudinov briefly spoke with two of the families enduring stalled adoptions. They told the prime minister about the little girl they were each waiting to bring back with them to the United States and showed him photos. The two families said Chudinov was courteous and offered assurances that he expected a swift resolution to the pending cases. "I was touched ... by his sincerity," one prospective parent said. "It gave me renewed hope that the wait will not be much longer."

Shannon Fenske, a Wisconsin woman who was matched with a little girl with a severe cleft palate in July of 2008, heard about the meetings and feels that real progress is finally being made.

"The fact that the prime minister was so generous with his time and talked with the senators and agreed to go back and address the issue, I have great faith that he will keep his word and do that," Fenske said.

A quick resolution is especially important for the child Fenske and her husband are in the process of adopting because of her cleft palate. As she ages, surgeries become more difficult and offer a diminished chance of success. The family originally thought they would be able to bring the girl to the United States at about four to five months in age and met with surgeons to plan the child’s operations. At that point, according to Fenske, the child would have needed three to four surgeries right away, and five to eight in her teen years. At 14 months the child is now looking at five to seven surgeries to start off, and many later on, Fenske said.

"She has a brightness about her, she still smiles," Fenske said in an early September interview about the pictures she’d recently seen of the girl. "But she’s 14 months old now and we have a very, very long road ahead if we’re allowed to adopt her."

Editor's Note: Laurie Rich is a EurasiaNet staff writer.

Eventful two weeks

2009-09-29T17:19:00.000-07:00

Wow! My last two weeks have been crazy. First, on the adoption front I want to thank all my familiy, friends, fellow bloggers, the 60 ish other waiting families and our Senators for this last rally. There is not a lot I am free to share openly but we are hoping we have raised voices loud enough to be heard in Bishkek. We are hoping the mountains in Central Asia are shivering and amazed at the power that we have yielded. Shivering enough so that they may be moved this Friday (Thursday night our time). Hopefully this will be a turning point day. Thursday night my candles will be burning, my prayers being sent out across the miles.

But while all that is going on behind closed doors, and all our folks are working with and for us; life has been quite busy. Well eventful at least. After a few days of my poor coworkers thinking I had gone crazy (hot cold hot cold for two straight nights) I was off again last week for yet another CT scan which landed me back in the hospital for 5 days. Yuck again. This time an abscess maybe or maybe not related to my first surgery. Who knows, but three attendings, 3 CT's and a drain later I am discharged (drain still intact yuck yet again) So I have another unplanned vacation from work. Slowly loosing my time I was supposed to have for when I brought Noodle home. We are going to have to be a bit creative here soon.

While I was in the hospital the new puppy came home! Yeah!! He's so cute. But I guess I am biased. Today was my first full day with him. He is going to be fun. He visited me twice for a few moments while I was in the hospital, then today he had his first outing. He attended a football game. He had some of the kids wrapped around his little paws! My nephew plays football for the Junior High team of my old alma mater. So very cool. The Mifflin beat Muhlenberg this afternoon. Go Stangs!

Anyway here are some fun photos raw from the day. Maybe I will go play with them in photo shop. Enjoy

Football photos

2009-09-29T17:15:00.000-07:00

Ok so my last post got a bit mixed up and the photos decided to all leave. And I am being lazy.... So instead I am just posting the photos here! Sorry.

News Article

2009-09-10T13:22:00.000-07:00

Wooohoooo. Well last week myself and a few others were contacted to tell the story of our waiting kids. Pass this along to everyone you know!! We are also hoping to gain audience with the Kyrgyz Prime Minister when he visits the UniteD States next week!! Pray this happens because I do honestly believe it is our last hope of getting our kids home in any kind of timely manner. If this does not happen it could be anotheryear before all the red tape is ironed out... Sad.

oh and check out the photo! It is not credited to protect the person who took it!! Guess who?? I won't hint. Anyway enjoy and pass along...

http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav091009.shtml

Please share this and circulate it.
We really need the plight of these children to be spotlighted. We would like every member of congress to receive it. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, President Obama, former presidents, whoever you can think of, please consider joining this campaign. I personally will be using every form of media (email, phone, fax, and snail mail) to get this issue embossed on the hearts of anyone I feel might be able to be a voice for these children.
http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml
The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign relations from Kyrgyzstan are due to visit DC soon. We want this to be fresh on the minds of ANYONE that might come in contact with them.
Thank you!
The 65 waiting American Families

http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav091009.shtml

Eurasia Insight:
KYRGYZSTAN: ADOPTION REFORM LEAVES KYRGYZ ORPHANS, AMERICAN FAMILIES, IN LIMBO
Laurie Rich: 9/10/09

Last November, Suzanne Boutilier was sitting outside a Kyrgyz orphanage, cradling the slight 6-month-old baby girl she was set to adopt.She sang to her daughter-to-be and kept returning to a Carly Simon tune with the refrain "Lovin' you is the right thing to do," and every time she came to the chorus "Even though you're 10,000 miles away," she would sob.
In a few days Boutilier would be back in California, and the baby she had been waiting five months to finish adopting would remain at the orphanage.
Now, more than a year after she was first matched with the little girl by an international adoption agency -- and told she'd likely be able to bring her home in eight weeks -- she is still waiting.And by all accounts, there is no telling when her wait will end.
Boutilier's saga is one of approximately 65 cases in which families in the United States had in-process adoptions put on hold by the Kyrgyz government. The government halted all international adoptions early this year as it pondered ways to overhaul regulations and means to root out corruption in the adoption system.With the government still mulling the issues, 65 American families are stuck in limbo and losing hope. Meanwhile, 65 Kyrgyz children -- many with special needs -- who could have homes, instead sit in orphanages at a time when, developmentally, every day is significant. "We are trying to be very patient, because we know [the Kyrgyz government is] doing their best to make sure everything is legal. And we wouldn't want it any other way," said Ann Bates, a Pennsylvania pediatric nurse waiting to bring home the three-year-old girl with mild cerebral palsy she was matched with in June 2008.
The Kyrgyz government hasn't given any indication when or if the adoptions will be allowed to go through, according to the US State Department.The Kyrgyz Embassy in Washington did not respond to EurasiaNet's requests for comment. The State Department told EurasiaNet by e-mail that an official in the Kyrgyz Prime Minister's Office said the government is still working on new adoption regulations, but did not know when they would be submitted to Parliament, or how long it would take for Parliament to approve them. If approved and then signed by President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, it would take at least three months before they were implemented, and more for adoption agencies to be accredited under the new regulations.
It's unknown how a new regulatory framework would affect the 65 pending American adoptions. According to the State Department, the adoptions could be grandfathered in under old laws, if Kyrgyz courts intervene. American adoptions from Kyrgyzstan had been rising steadily since 2004, hitting 78 in 2008. Nine US-based international adoption agencies had programs in the country that year. Prospective parents were attracted to Kyrgyzstan by the relative speed and smooth flow of the adoption system.Agencies listed that the full process would last eight to 12 months, while in China and some other nations, the process was lasting up to five years.
A slowdown in the Kyrgyz process began in the late summer of 2008. Families who had accepted the children they were matched with, whom many had visited, realized that they weren't getting the requisite appointments to finalize the process. They then contacted the US government and international adoption organizations.
In mid-November, the State Department cautioned individuals and agencies about beginning adoptions in Kyrgyzstan.The 65 families whose adoptions were nearly done continued to wait. Some, like Boutilier, an advertising copywriter, returned to Kyrgyzstan to visit their intended children. "There was that little fantasy in my mind -- what if things happened when I was there?" she said of her hopes the process would start moving again during her November trip.
But nothing progressed. In January, the State Department released a statement that no new adoptions from Kyrgyzstan should be started "because of serious, ongoing problems in the country's inter-country adoption process."UNICEF, the UN's children's agency, held a retreat in January for Kyrgyz legislators to discuss inter-country adoption. With the quick uptick in adoptions from many nations in the past few years, the agency was urging the government to review and restructure its system so that "potential bad practices" did not arise. UNICEF officials also intimated that some had already occurred, according to a written summary of the discussions. The summary recommended that Kyrgyzstan suspend inter-country adoptions while it created a central authority for adoptions and considered signing a Hague Convention agreement on adoption practices. The UNICEF summary also stated that "cases where contacts between prospective adoptive parents and child to be adopted have already taken place should be allowed to be completed."
On February 2, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Igor Chudinov placed an official moratorium on international adoption. About the same time, stories of criminal behavior at orphanages began emerging in the Kyrgyz press. In February, the 24.kg news agency reported that an orphanage was accused of child abuse and of illegally transporting children from the country using false documents.Rumors arose about local adoptive families being denied children so that lucrative international adoptions could occur.
Throughout these months, some of the 65 adoptive families received sporadic updates on their matched children, like pictures, measurements and health updates. At the end of March of 2009, Suzanne Bilyeu, a Florida pediatrician, received a picture of the little girl she and her husband were paired with the previous June and panicked. The child's head was gigantic. Immediately, she suspected that the girl had hydrocephalus, and had had the condition for quite a while.
Hydrocephalus is a buildup of cerebral spinal fluid in the skull. The pressure of the excess fluid can cause brain damage, a host of other complications, and, if left untreated, death. With the help of her in-country adoption coordinator, she was able to get the child seen by a local neurosurgeon and eye doctor. They confirmed the diagnosis.The child needed surgery immediately to remove the fluid from around the brain, according to Bilyeu. She needed a shunt, a tube implanted from the brain to the abdomen, to drain fluid to the abdominal cavity.
It took two months to get her into a hospital, and then another two weeks once there for the surgery to occur.The operation in May was successful, but the child is deaf and mute and has permanent vision loss, according to the local doctors, as recounted by Bilyeu. Based on the CT scans she was sent, and the fact that the child at 16 months cannot sit up by herself, crawl, pull to a stand or walk, she said brain damage is likely, but only time will tell.Bilyeu agonizes over the child's condition and feels the lasting effects could have been prevented.
"This was a child that, had she been home with us, she'd be toddling around my house right now. She'd be in the pool with us today," Bilyeu said. "She would have had a shunt as soon as there was any change in her head circumference ? and she would have been OK."Bilyeu's story increases the anxiety of many of the other families. Some prospective adoptees with issues like cleft palates and cerebral palsy would benefit from early medical intervention. And according to studies, all would be helped cognitively and emotionally by living with a family versus being in an institutional setting.
In May, a Kyrgyz governmental delegation traveled to the United States and met with five waiting families and 11 who had already completed adoptions. It was a meeting organized by the US State Department and child welfare organizations. MP Gulnara Derbisheva and Damira Niazalieva, along with Ekatrina Khoroshman of the Prime Minister's office talked to the waiting families about the children they were hoping to adopt. When the MPs returned home, they held a news conference calling for the 65 cases to be resolved. They also sent a letter to the prime minister requesting that he lift the moratorium so that these cases could be processed. In June, the Department of State sent a US adoption expert to meet with Kyrgyz officials.
Since then, the 65 families have heard little. According to the State Department, the criminal investigation of alleged corruption is still ongoing, and two adoption coordinators affiliated with US agencies were arrested and released on bail.The families continue to wait."I don't regret my decision to adopt from Kyrgyzstan because that decision lead me to the child I now love. I'm daily amazed and inspired by the depth and vastness of the love I feel for her, even after having spent only 45 hours with her over the past 14 months," Boutilier said. "While there are days that I believe that my heart could not be more broken over this turn of events, I'm certain that my heart has never been more full."

Editor's Note: Laurie Rich is a EurasiaNet staff writer.

http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav091009.shtml

Thank you,
EurasiaNet
http://www.eurasianet.org

A Loooooong weekend

2009-09-08T23:54:00.001-07:00

Labor Day weekend... The end of summer. And traditionally a long weekend. Well this truly was a long weekend. Every week for the lst year and a half we 65 look for answers to our same old . Every week for the last year and a half (almost two for some) comes and goes without the actual answer we are looking for. Friday comes and we get no news. So we look forward to the next week.. And hope for the best... This friday we got an update from the Department of State. Again not really any news. It dd send us 65 reeling for what to do next. Over the weekend frantic emails were sent. What next, what is our plan, who do we engage next.But with the long weekend we had no one to answer some of those questions, so we did what we have done best... We wait! This next few weeks if we do not see anything on movement from the "other side" I believe the movement on "this" side is going to take on a higher tone.

But on a happier note.. Labor Day wekend is for picnics and familiy gatherings. On Sunday we did our traditional once a year picnic grilling up Kabobs (in Kyrgyz this would be Shasleek!!) YUMMMM.

On Monday we headed north to the Pocono Mountains. Mt Pocono and the waterpark known as Camelbeach. A bit cool for swimming in the early part of the day but the tubing fun in the afternoon (well for me anyway) was worth the wait. My mom gets some free passes every year to this park. So the family enjoys a day of complimentary fun in the sun (err clouds). Mom and I headed even further up. We headed up the ski lift to the top of Camelback Mountain. While there I silently sent up some prayers for the mountains in Kyrg to be moved. Hearts to be lifted. And movement to be made to release the kids from the orphanages. From the Mountaintop of the Poconocs to the Mountain/ Valleys of Bishkek hopefully soon the distance will not be so great.

Going for a blog record

2009-08-29T03:42:00.000-07:00

Well I think I am up to like 7 different blogs that I am maintaining right now. Not that I am doing a great job at keeping any of them except this one up to date. Well as if I had nothing else to do I started yet another. Ok so maybe I am copycatting. But I have been asked many times over to see some of my photos. My longest running hobby is taking photos! I got my first camera as a prize for selling candy when I was five years old. I eventually will try to get some of those old photos scanned. I have done many weddings, action, kids, etc. over the years. One of my friends from 7000 miles away asked me to put photos online. So tonight I have started. Just a start... I'll try to get more up soon. www.photosbymeamb.blogspot.com

Trades/Craigslist/and a cool idea anyone want to do this also?

2009-08-21T13:44:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I was watching TV. A show came on about a man who started out with a paperclip and traded his way to some big stuff! Hmm, "I thought to myself" I wondered if this could work.... So I tried. A few weeks ago I posted an ad on Craigslitst ( I am addicted you see) I had a hot pink frisbee that my dog had won at a toss and fetch competition and would anyone want to trade for a good cause.. (I'll get to that in a bit) Anyway.... Just a few days later I was the proud owner of a golf club! So I listed the golf club...... and waited, and reposted... and waited.. well I am now the the owner of a Zeiss Contaflex camera circa 1957!! ( and the golf club) I made my golf club swap this morning. The owner of the camera promtly said " I own a golf course in North Carolina. I have about 50 cameras sitting around my house. This golf club will do me no good, please take it back and relist it for your cause!!! Yikes!!! serious??? I was ecstatic. So I have another person who was already interested in swapping the golf club with me. So now I am not swapping one thing I am swapping TWO for a "cause". I am going to take some photos with this camera and actually get them developed and will post them here soon. Supposedly the type of lens that is on this camera is superior to any lens made to date.

And what about the "cause"? Well anyone who knows me knows where my heart lies. ( I am going to be a bit vague here because there are some key words that I am going to try to avoid for various reasons.) I am hoping to swap up several more times until I have something that will hopefully be worth auctioning off. The proceeds to help our friends at http://www.actofkindness.blogspot.com/ . I so can't wait to see what happens next. I already have some bidding on swapping for the camera! So exciting!!!

Part three... This project takes some time... and patience.. But would be very cool to have some others playing along with me, and see what we can come up with in the next month. There are soooo many people that a few hundred dollars would change/ save their lives in our beloved central asian country 7300 miles away!!! But all you have to do is find something relatively worth nothing that you are willing to part with... post what the cause is for and (filter out the spam) wait.. and then go swap!!! Its fun. The people I have met are not really interested in what they are getting...... They like the "cause" and they get to be a part of the game!

A Beautiful Portrait!!

2009-08-07T22:31:00.000-07:00

Just after my sweet Ripley dog died, Emma started offering to do portraits to help support her trip back to Central Asia. She wants to stay longer on her next trip and is hoping to do this by using her talents as an artist. I first saw her work back in January at the weekend of Hope in Ohio when she had a portrait with her of one of the children who has been adopted. I have always wanted a larger version of one of my favorite pictures of Ripley and Ryott together. Just never got around to it. But now thanks to Emma.... I have an absolutely amazing 11 x 14 painting of my two beautiful blue boys. Everyone who sees the painting is just in awe. And to think this was Emmas first try at animals. I think she did a marvelous job. I made Ryott pose next to the painting. Emma's work is found at http://www.customportraits.blogspot.com/ . Thanks Emma I absolutely love the portrait!!!! I can't wait to get it framed.

155th Annual Reading Fair

2009-08-07T21:15:00.000-07:00

Ever since I was a little girl one of my favorite times of the year has been fair season. I can remember going to all the different fairs in and around Berks County. The grandaddy of all fairs (well in our area that is) is the Reading Fair. The fair has changed over the years. The original location for the Reading fair is now a shopping mall. Back then I can remember going not just one night to the fair but several. Either with my parents or with my grandparents. We were always there. Cotton Candy, Funnel Cakes, Candy Apples, Sammy's french fries, Pizza, Games, Prizes, Rides. The sites, the smells, the food, the games... they have not changed much. But the location sadly has. Although the new location seems to be a great improvement to the few years that they attempted to squish everything in the parking lot of the mall that took over its location, or Kutztown which seemed all wrong. (Kutztown is like 30 minutes north of Reading and seemed just wrong to have the Reading Fair no where near Reading) The last few years the fair has been held just slightly north of Reading an awesome location appropriately close to the Reading 4-H building.
Tonight we continued the Reading Fair tradition with my niece and nephew. The kids had a blast. I am still walking quite slow, so it took us pretty long to get through the whole fair. All the old favorites were there. I could not really ride the rides, but Theresa and I were able to get on the Ferris Wheel. This was the longest ferris Wheel Ride I have ever been on. We rode for at least 20 minutes. At one point I told theresa I thought that we were being held hostage! But we had a blast.

We took a quick trek around the original intention of the Reading fair..... the agricultural section. Cows, Sheep, Pigs, goats, rabbits, fruits and veggies... I hope that when Noodle comes home and gets a bit older she will want to do 4-H. I would love to partake in the fair as exhibitors of whatever choice animal she decides we should raise (well except pigs!!)

Well we had a great night.. enjoy the photos!

Post Op Day 4

2009-07-28T17:50:00.000-07:00

Yikes... Well four days later I can at least explain a bit better what happened. Prior to last Friday I had about one week of a mild and annoying stomach ache. Which I did not think too much about, but when said stomach ache was not going away and the doubled me over on Friday when I jumped out of bed. I figured it was time to get it checked out. So off to my family doc... then to the Cat Scan Department. From CT scan I was not even allowed to get my cell phone from my car!!! The nerve! I wasn't even allowed to walk to the Emergency Department! Again the nerve! I had driven myself to the hospital. Within 20 minutes I had seen the surgeon, the anesthesiologist. After an IV and a bracelet mix up I was in the Operating room less then 5 hours after waking up. Post op my surgeon says he can not believe I was not sicker then I was. I did not have a straight forward apendicitis. My apendix had been "leaking" for some time which caused a nice whole to be formed in my large intestine!!! So my common laproscopic appendectomy became a full laparotomy with a section of my large intestine being removed! So now at day four post op I am finally on the up swing. Battling pain and just today was allowed to start eating again. So... I am on an unintentional diet and a 4 week unplanned vacation from work. Guess that is the bright side. Many thanks to all here and on facebook for all the well wishes. I will eventually try and get an email back to everyone!

Ann

Appendectomy... yikes

2009-07-24T21:07:00.000-07:00

Ok this is short. will tell the whole story later when not on drugs
but I am 6 hours post op emergency appendectomy!!!!! GOOD DRUGS ARE MAKING ME SLEEPY. Good night blog buddies!

Prayer Cards

2009-07-18T17:48:00.000-07:00

So this last month has been probably the most quiet month as far as adoption news is concerned. The words "nothings happening" are pretty fitting here. We have heard nothing. Our friends at JCISCS keep saying they are working on "things" but they have nothing concrete to report. The delegates who visited here in May have worked hard to make a positive move towards International Adoptions. They have held press conferences and met with their government and parliment. But still the most important thing is there is no forward progress towards signing paperwork or agreements or news yadda yadda yadda....

On the home front though the prayers continue. Tami Snowden (one of the original adoptive mothers and pioneer of Kyrgyz adoptions) spoke at a prayer service where our 65 were the main focus of the prayers. Several of the 65 sent photos, stories and prayers to Tami. Kimberly over at Hoping for Hannah ( http://hopingforhannah.blogspot.com/) attended the service. She told me it was wonderful. Man I wish we lived closer! Well this week we received prayer cards from the folks who attended the meeting. I couldn't wait to rip open the cards and read the notes from those who had attended. To all those who too the time to write and even draw pictures, Noodle and Brian and I say thank you!!! It means so much to know we are not alone in our prayers to bring these kids into our homes. Below are some of the excerpts from the cards.

Saidii- We pray thatthe pride and whatever else hinders them be lifted to allow you and others to adopt these children and give them a better chance in life

Jordan- Children are a gift from the Lord. HE won't fail you. Be strong in the Lord. He answers prayers and He will give you hope.

The K family- Be encouraged, His arm is not too short to save. Nothing is too difficult for Him. "Wait on the Lord and do good. So shalt thou dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed"

Amy- Remain strong in the Lord! We have faith that He can move mountains to bring your Noodle home to you. In the meantime I ask that your hearts would be closely knit together while you are apart.

Todd, Lisa, Emma, Tessa, onnor, Maddisen, & Isabelle- "Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles!

Joanne- Remember that with God All Things are possible

Diane- I will be praying for this situation, that things change so that you can be together.

Abbey (age 7) - Waiting can be so hard, but remember, God NEVER sleeps. He's ALWAYS working for His children.

Anna - I pray that you stay strong through the paperwork.

We in our group prayed that God would overcome the schemes of Satan and to thwart entire governments so that HIS willcould be done.

Tami and Tabi- We are praying for you and Miss Noodle!!!!!

There were a few more and I thank them also.. Jerrod, Lauren, and the children who drew pictures!!!!

Russian Lessons, Prayer Cards, agility instructors and Swim meets!

2009-07-14T19:16:00.001-07:00

Oy now how can all those things be related to one post? Hmm well they are not all interrelated really, they just all happened to be part of my last few days. My last post sort of sums up my state of mind over the last few weeks. Sad... I still miss my handsome Ripley dog endlessly. But I have gone hrough the grief process, and I can finally look at photos without crying. Some days I still can't believe he is not here..... But anyway like I said I have moved through the stages of grief, and I am trying to revamp my world.

Last week I started formally taking Russian Lessons!!! Yeah! I have a semi-private lesson every Thursday evening. My fellow russian student is one of my neighbors. (We'll call him Q because I do not have permission to post his name) I have known Q and his twin brother C since they were born. I worked in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit where they stayed for several weeks. I did not stay in contact with them and their parents. But eight years ago we moved to our current house. Our first meeting with Q and C's parents went something like this... " Wait a second we know you!!! You were a nurse in the NICU when we had the boys!!" Why yes... yes I was and I remembered them well. Goes to show you just how small this tiny world is that we live in. And now 14 years later I am in Russian classes with Q! Lets just say Q can run circles around my Russian skills. But I am studying hard and I hope to at the very least keep up with him. Our instructor comes to us!! And guess what??? She is originally from Kyrgyzstan. Again... small world. So last night I felt like I was in 1st grade again. (and after this post I will go back to my studying) I was very busy and studiciously writing my Cyrillic letters each 10 times so I can memorize them. We jumped right in last week. And I need to be able to read a bit better this week.

Next topic-- hmm you know what I am going to post this as its own topic... After I finish some studying.. It is too important to be smuggled in here between the Russian and the agility.

I am proud to report as my third topic of this post, that I have started to help teach agility lessons with my agility instructor. I went out last week to help her. We had a blast. My dream job would be to raise and train dogs for a living. Anyone want to invest???!!!!

On to swim meets. As a kid, my brother and I swam all Summer long. Once I hit Junior High I started swimming on the Winter team as well. I swam all through high school. Long distnace freestyle! Boy could not do that if I tried right now.... But I am wandering. My niece has started swimming! She has been swimming on the team for a few weeks now and her strokes are greatly improved in one month. Last night I went to her swim meet. wow blasting back to the past. The memories were golden. She swam at one of the pools we used to swim at. My brother and I sat and reminisced about the summers at the differnt pools. Hopefully I will get a photo posted here soon of her. (I forgot my card at home tonight)

Well thats what is what in my world right now. Trying to stay busy... Stay patient and stay focused on life. Patience, Patience, Patience...

Ripley (tissue warning for those who are pet lovers)

2009-06-23T04:30:00.000-07:00

To my Dear Ripley dog,

I love you and I already miss you immensly. My heart bleeds every moment since you have been gone. Your life was such an pleasure. You gave me nine years of unconditional love. I want to thank you for your life, thank you for your smiles. But I also want to tell you I am sorry. So many times in life humans seem to be... well too human... We have our faults and our downfalls. I feel in many ways I have failed. I was gone too often, I did not see when you started to hurt, I was too late and we humans could not figure out what to do to keep you with us in the physical state for longer. I will always second guess my decisions, I will feel pain over this. But I will seek peace in knowing I did what I felt like was the best possible thing in the end. I held you close to me. You left our world surrounded by your friends, and I hope that you were not scared. My hope for you know is that you are united with your two sons and Dodger, Rusty, Brandie and Boo. There will be others with you that you have never met as they have come and gone before you, but they will wait with you at the rainbow bridge until it is our time to be united. Until that time I will never forget you. You will live in my heart every one of my waking moments and my asleep moments also.

I have cried a day full and a river full of tears. You left unexpectantly. Somewhere in Heaven god must have needed a really good Dog.

But today I celebrate 9 years of wonderful memories. You came into my life and provided so much joy. You were the happiest dog I have ever known. The only time you were not happy was when you saw me getting ready for work. You lived every day to be by our side. It did not matter what we were doing as long as we were together. Your favorite words were " do you want to go see George?" and " lets go play frisbee!" I knew you were sick when you no longer wanted to chase the frisbee. I sure hope there are tons of them and someone to throw it for you at the Rainbow Bridge. Every time I throw a frisbee for Sabyr, Hannah and Kasey I will throw one for you too! You played agility with me because it made me happy. And we had many wonderful runs. Last year you told me you were done. For the most part I listened. You stopped being happy at jumping. And for that I only wish I would have pursued trying to figure out why. Perhaps we could have changed this outcome, but we will never know. It is a human flaw I guess. If ifs and buts were candy and nuts oh what a life this would be. That isn't quite the saying it is supposed to be but it fits better for the moment. We live our lives sometimes looking backwards. The last 24 hours has been full of If's and But's for me.

Ripley.... thank you for your smiles, for your tail wag (one speed all the time, and always swooshing to the right), for your chewbacca howl everytime you greeted me, for your willingness to wave hello at any given moment, thank you for giving many people such pleasure of knowing one of God's wonderful creatures, thank you for leaving with us 11 wonderful puppies who still live on in our lives, thank you for Ryott (I will cherish him as he is a lasting part of you) thank you for giving Brian and I 9 years of unconditional love. I hope you know you were loved, I hope you were as happy as you always appeared. To our Ripley dog we love you.... You will be sadly missed in our life and in many others. You were well known and touched many lives. I am grateful we were able to spend one last wonderful week together enjoying Camp. One week that was all for you and Kasey and Tressa. I am not sure how or even if I will be able to do Camp Gone to the Dogs without you. It was your favorite week of the year for 6 of your 9 years.

Chase frisbees hard my friend, I will never ever forget you.
Ripley

June 8, 2000 - June 22, 2009

Radio Free Europe

2009-06-18T20:41:00.000-07:00

Briefly..... There are many many articles such as this one flying around in hyperspace and in print all over the world. We have made HUGE news!!! We are 65 and very proud to be in that number, although wish the reason was a bit different.

Kyrgyz Orphans Awaiting Decision To Join U.S. Parents

June 17, 2009 BISHKEK -- Sixty-five children with special needs are waiting in Kyrgyz orphanages for a court order that would allow them to be adopted by U.S. couples, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.Kyrgyz parliament deputy Gulnara Derbisheva said on June 16 that although all the necessary procedures have been completed, a final decision allowing the children to be adopted must be made by the court.Kyrgyzstan announced a moratorium on international adoptions several years ago due to a lack of proper legislation.Despite the moratorium, 27 Kyrgyz orphans were reportedly adopted by American couples in 2007 after going through court procedures.There are seven U.S. adoption companies operating in Kyrgyzstan.

Backwards Catch Up...

2009-06-14T02:36:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks have totally been a blur of emotions, excitement and of course relaxation. This post is more about the relaxation piece of the last two weeks. I will do D.C. in yet another post after I compile all the different files from all the different places.

Camp Gone To The Dogs

The name truly does say it all. A week long excursion with three of my pooches in beautiful Vermont. For 1 week every year for the last 6 years I have spent a wonderfully relaxing stay with friends that I see only once a year, my dogs and my home away from home Whttemore house. We were introduced to CGTTD's by our dog class instructor/owner George. We were immediately hooked and I just can't imagine not going. This year my four legged roommates were Kasey, Ripley and Tressa. Two Border Collies and my powderpuff Chinese Crested. We were also joined by our two legged house mates Ann, Betty, and Sheri. Each with pooches of their own. Bringing the total to 6 dogs in the house on a regular basis. Then the visitors arrive and on one evening we have 9 pooches all playing and rambling around our humble abode. The amazing thing is they all got along. No grumbles no complaints just tails waggin. Our activites for the week range from agility, to frisbee, sheep herding to dog swimming in the nearby pond, lure coursing to the grand finale of "I want to Be A Star" Staring KAsy and Tressa and our fellow house mate's dog Jax. eventually I will figure out how to format the video and I will post it here. Another of our favorite activites (for the people that is) is the food. We get two (three if you get up earlier enough to partake in Breakfast) wonderful meals a day. And we get to spend time with 200 other dog people all here just for the love of our four legged faithful companions.

After our week was over we headed to Shannon's (by way of the Cheese House yum) (oh and BTW Vermont was open this week. For those who remember back to a post in January.... Vermont was closed on Tuesday back then) The dogs and I spent three days with Shannon and Aaron, Adam and Eli on their farm in upstate NY. They run a horse rescue there. Double L Stable Equine Rescue and Sanctuary.http://llstables.blogspot.com/ 25 acres of

rolling NY hillside. another relaxing three days. The Highlight of the trip is our quick visit to The Saratoga Racing Museum. They are running a very nice display featuring two rescue horses that live and have lived at Double L Stable Dawn and Willie. (more about this on the actual Double L blog) But even more personally some of the photographs from the digital display are taken by yours truly. Very exciting. Well after the race museum Shannon and I head to our favorite place to eat. Putnum Market and for dessert Cold Stone Ice Cream in downtown Saratoga. While we eat our ice cream we take a stroll through the beautiful Congress park. My favorite stop here is the fountains featuring Spit and Spat two Triton looking statues holding seashells apparently spueing water at each other. Of course who could resist the opportunity to throw coins into the fountain for wishes! Well after three days + 7 I am ready to go back home. So of we head for our 6 hour trip. We arrive home to lightning striking some of our electrical equipment and the farrier trimming the horses feet, humidity, rain, and at 6am the following morning the horses loose in the neighbor's yard. AAA yes no sleep for the weary, we are home in full swing. BAck to cell phones, and internet, work, work and more work.

One Year ago

2009-06-10T15:36:00.000-07:00

One year ago I was returning from a very emotional first trip to meet Miss Noodle. This year has been filled with incredible emotions, and amazing opportunities. Last year at this time my world was turned upside down by a tiny little girl with big brown eyes. I did not imagine that one year later she would still not be here permanently in our arms with our friends and family. For now we continue to pray and wait and wait and wait. But over the last year I have had several jaunts across the world! Met many amazing people and have expanded my circle of family and friends to include folks from all over the world. While I am sad that we continue to wait, I am not not sad for the year of opportunity that waiting has given me. The single most important would be that over this last year I have seen God at work over and over and over. I may question why we wait. And I continue to be answered with another friend or another experience being given to me. Friends and experiences that had this road been short, and Miss Noodle have been home here already, I would never have experienced. I certainly will have many many tales to tell my beautiful brown eyed girl once she is old enough. So to all of you out there in blog world and those not in blog world my friends new and old, and my family new and old, who are waiting with us and the other 64 families.. I want to just say I am thankful that I am on this journey with all of you together. I would love to list everyone by name! However I would be so afraid to miss someone...... So if you are reading this you know you are one of those folks I am thanking! And to Miss Noodle and the other 64 + children waiting know that you are loved already. We are collectively doing absulutely everything we can do to get you home.

AMAZING

2009-05-30T20:32:00.000-07:00

I am exhausted. Physically, Mentally, emotionally. This has been an amazing week. I continue to be amazed at the opportunities I have been given. But I am even more amazed at the incredible bond and the incredible people I am meeting along the way. My incredible people of the week include Pamela, Lisa, Suzanne, Shannon, Cindy and Kenny! You are all amazing and I am so happy to have you all in my life. I can not wait for Noddle to meet each one of you.
To everyone reading I must be brief as I again am just exhausted. I will detail my trip when I return from the next leg of my June jaunt. (although this year my jaunts will not lead me around the world and back again) But I must say that the meeting yesterday was simply 100% an amazing testiment to the power of prayer and unity in numbers. We prayed that we would move the delegates from Kg's hearts. We moved them to tears. Not a single dry eye in the meeting room. Ofiicials from Kyrgyz and the United States, all agreed. This was an awesome meeting and an awesome representation of being proud to be representing America. We moved hearts, broke down barriers and hopefully built bridges!

For now I must get a few hours of sleep before heading North to Vermont. I promise to detail this more as soon as I can. And add photos!!!

Sneak Peak

2009-05-28T21:27:00.000-07:00

In less then 12 hours 6 of us will be gathered together in yet another amazing turn of events! I am quietly, and comfortably relaxing just outside of Washington D.C. I am headed for a shower then I will be spending some time revamping my dialogue once again. So my sneak peak....

To the members of the Kyrgyz visiting officials, I say Thank You. Bolshoi Spaceb. Welcome to the United States. My wish for you is that you will feel as welcome and at home here in our country as I have felt visiting yours...................................We are a group of incredibly strong and dedicated families whose common goal is to provide a familya life filled with love, happiness, familiy, and most of all the opportunity to become individuals who will be the future of the world we live in...........

Oh and the photo books arrived just in time!!! These are the same books (started by Hilary) and added to over time of children who have been adopted from Kyrgyzstan. The photos show the love and happiness these kids have once they are here. Each official will be presented with one of these books!! Everyone who has received one has cherished this as a prized possession. Thank you to every family who is in this book.

Well I am of to read and reread and reread some more. I don't want to have to look at my paper.

Dobre Nocha!

Moving Mountains and knocking down walls!

2009-05-23T03:24:00.001-07:00

As my last post implies we have been simply waiting......... Praying for mountains to be moved in Kyrgyzstan. We love our kids, we want them home. We have no news.... Until this week nothing has been happening. But over the course of the last few days we have learned that three Kyrgyz Republic officials will be visiting The United States next week as part of a political exchange program of sorts. Joint Counsel on International Children's Services has worked hard behind the scenes and they have secured the waiting families not one but TWO meeting to be held next Friday MAy 29th in Washington D.C. One meeting will last approximately 90 minutes (half of that being translation time) ANd the second meeting will take place ( now get this) ON CAPITOL HILL. Yes folks you read that correct. Now according to Rebecca the kind folks folks on Capitol Hill that day will most likely be the assistants to our Senators and Congressmen. HOWEVER we are hoping to change that. I know I asked for some help a few posts ago and I did have amazing response. Many people said "I wrote to the congres or the Senate on your behalf" Here is another opportuniy and this time it is real. Not a story. We are hoping that some of our actual Senators and Congressmen show up on this day to show support to the 65 families waiting. Below I will include the email from Rebecca Harris and JCICS.
But even more exciting news!! Six families have been chosen to represent the 65 waiting families. From as far away as California and as close as a family in D.C. We will come together as a group and do our best to portray the love, and hope we have for bringing these kids into our lives. Thats right.... I get to go too!!! I am so excited to be given this opportunity to represent my friends. People from all over the country (and a few from other parts of the world) I am linked in a unique group; A new kind of family; a family of waiting parents all linking hands to advocate for our children who are so innocently waiting for our reunion. God has been quite amazing over the last few months. I can't begin to tell in a post how many amazing opportunities I have been blessed with. And while I sure would have liked my journey to be quick and painless, this road has provided a lifelong opportunity of learning. And for that I hope that I have become as strong a person and as strong of a mom as I could ever hope to be for Miss Noodle. Thank you to everyone who is waiting, and all those who are waiting with us.
The letter
May 22, 2009CALL TO ACTION: KyrgyzstanDear Friends and Families,As noted in Joint Council's President & CEO's communication yesterday Joint Council has worked closely with the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) to secure a 15 minute meeting with Congressional Staffers and the six families traveling to Washington D.C. to represent the group. The meeting will occur just before the Kyrgyz delegation meets with Congressional staffers. In order to ensure that as many Congressional Offices are in attendance at the two meetings Joint Council is initiating a Call to Action requesting the 65 families contact their Senators and Congressmen. Joint Council requests that all families contact their U.S. Senators and Congresspersons on Tuesday, May 26th. The purpose of your call is to request they attend the meetings on Friday, May 29th. Please note that Friday, May 29th is during a Congressional Recess.On Tuesday, May 26th we request that you do the following:1) Call both of your U.S. Senators and your representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives:You can find your Senators' phone numbers and email address at www.senate.govYou can find your Representatives' phone numbers and email address at http://www.house.gov/2) Include the following in your calls and emails:"As constituents, I/we urge the Senator/Congressperson to attend the meeting with Kyrgyz officials hosted by Senator Landrieu and the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute on Friday, May 29th."If they have not heard about the meeting, ask them to contact the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute at (202) 544-8500 or Joint Council at (703) 535-8045.3) Send an email to everyone you called:The email is important, but the phone call should be placed first.Additionally, feel free to forward this request to your friends and family, asking them to contact their Senators and Congresspersons requesting they attend the meeting.Thank you!Rebecca HarrisGovernment Relations and Communications Manager

WAIT

2009-05-13T12:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we were given more non news. more waiting, another excuse, another date, another reason why our children will remain in an orphanage. Another season will come and go and our children will not be home. But yet everyone says "they will come home we just do not know when" So by faith we wait...

One of my blog buddies and new found friends through this wait has posted this over on her site. Hilary always knows just the right timing to lend support to those who are waiting. Thank you's go out to her, and to her children who pray for our kids every night. http://bringinghomeanara.blogspot.com/2009/05/wait.html

"WAIT"

Author Unknown

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried:

Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.

I plead and I wept for a clue to my fate,

And the Master so gently said, "Child, you must wait."

"Wait? You say, wait!" my indignant reply.

"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!

Is Your hand shortened? Or have You not heard?

By faith, I have asked, and am claiming Your Word.

My future and all to which I can relate hangs in the balance,

and You tell me to wait?

I'm needing a "Yes", a go-ahead sign,

or even a "No" to which I can resign.

And Lord, You promised that if we believe

we need but to ask, and we shall receive.

And Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:

"I'm weary of asking! I need a reply!

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate

as my Master replied once again "You must wait."

So, I slumped in my chair,

defeated and taut and grumbled to God,

"So, I'm waiting...for what?"

He seemed, then, to kneel and His eyes wept with mine,

and He tenderly said "I could give you a sign.

I could shake the heavens, and darken the sun.

I could raise the dead, and cause mountains to run.

All you seek, I could vie, and please you would be.

You would have what you want - but, you wouldn't know Me.

You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint;

You'd not know the power I give to the faint.

You'd not learn to see through the clouds of despair;

You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there;

You'd not know the joy of resting in Me;

When the darkness and silence were all you could see.

You'd never experience the fullness of love

as the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove;

You'd know that I five and I Save, for a start,

but you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

The flow of my comfort late into the night,

the faith that I give when you walk without sight,

the depth that's beyond getting just what you asked

of an infinite God, who makes what you have last.

You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,

what it means that "My grace is sufficient for thee."

Yes, your dreams for your loved one overnight would come true,

But, Oh, the Loss! If I lost what I'm doing in you!

So, be silent, My child, and in time you will see

that the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me.

And though oft' may My answers seem terribly late,

My most precious answer of all is still,

"Wait."

One Year Ago

2009-05-04T19:07:00.000-07:00

I have been Ochen quiet lately. My life has been truly changed over the course of this last year. One year ago on April 28th my plans were changed for me. At the time I was all ahead forward waiting a travel date from Ukraine. Paperwork filed, translater hired. Then the government decided to change the way the game was played. Starting to sound like a recurring theme? So I had to make choices. At the time I thought those were the hardest two weeks we were going to have to deal with. The loss of one country and choosing a new road to follow. Well I did not wait long... my road was chosen for me. A sweet little girl looked out at me from my computer desktop in the middle of the night at work. That night noodle was born into my heart. I had some moments of uncertainty those first few weeks. But soon thereafter I was boarding a plane to a country I had never even heard of before. I could not spell K-Y-R-G-Y-Z-S-T-A-N. Now look how far I have come. Several trips to this far off country. I can not only spell Kyrgyzstan but I can point to many of the northern cities on the map and can spell them too!!! But not only have we been found by the little girl who will eventually be our daughter, I have also not counted on extending my family with the addition of friends from all over the United States, Canada, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Thank you Thank you Thank you to each and every one of you who have been a part of this year!

Referral photo One year ago!

No Words tonight.... But some tomorrow when I compile my thoughts of the day

2009-04-15T22:42:00.000-07:00

For Now.. As I was driving home from a wonderful evening these words just came over and over and over.... Show me the Way!!! Show Me the WAy.....

Road Less Traveled

2009-04-07T18:27:00.000-07:00

This is perhaps one of my most favorite poems(although may be a tie with the one hundred years from now...... poem). Perhaps this poem best describes my life in general. I have never done anything the easy way or the most obvious way. But This certainly describes the last year. And the choices I have made.

ROAD LESS TRAVELED

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth

Then took the other as just as fair

And having perhaps the better claim

Because it was grassy and wanted wear

Though as for that, the passing there

Had worn them really about the same

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet, knowing how way leads onto way

I doubted if I should ever come back

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence

Two roads diverged in a wood

And I took the one less traveled by

And that has made all the difference

Robert Frost

A message from Blog Baby!

2009-03-30T05:57:00.000-07:00

Our wait to bring our children has felt like eternity. But one thing that has made the wait much easier is the support from our fellow Kyrgyz adoptive families. Some of the families have children who are already home but continue to support for those of us waiting. I have followed blog baby (actually I must admit I not only follow but stalk!) since last June. I anxiously awaited her gotcha day. I love her Mamma's photos and her stories of growing up. Yesterday Ellie celebrated her 1st birthday. I knew that her Mamma was cooking some special events that included the children who are waiting to come home. But man I was not prepared for the absolutely wonderful tribute of events that happened over at Blog Baby's house yesterday. Maria you are so wonderful! I emailed Maria told her she must have wonderful time management skills. And asked for permission to cross post this beautiful tribute to those of us waiting. Hopefully Maria has stopped laughing by now (she thought I was pretty funny telling her she has great time management) Anyway without further words........

Feel free to go visit Ellie over at http://introvertedextrovert.blogspot.com/

P.S. one of my other blog buddies is having some surgery today, please pray that surgery goes well and recovery is swift.

Something to Smile about

2009-03-26T21:49:00.000-07:00

Well I certainly do not have any news to smile about adoption wise. I can however report that my dear friend came through surgery well. I will hopefully be visiting her tomorrow afternoon. I have been pretty upside down lately. No news. None at all. We are all awaiting the day when just a smidgeon of good news can be sent our way. But for today a smile has lifted my day and given me reason to continue on. Our dear Noodle sporting a smile! These photos are again bittersweet, always appreciated and always a surprise as we never know what to expect. I see my wee one happy, but for every month there I see months fading and developmental milestones falling further and further behind. Dear Noodle I hope I can see you soon. Much love to you and keep smiling.

More Prayer requests

2009-03-24T19:19:00.000-07:00

I have been quiet. There is nothing to write. No news. No updates. No new dates to pray on. March 20th has come and gone. Hopefully the adoption commission has completed and submitted their recomendations. No one knows if this has been done. The Parliment is on break.... Go figure. We have heard several different stories about when they are returning. Some have said they will come back and resume Parlimentary activities on March 26th, and some say April 1 (no foolin). I have stopped banking on "dates" that we will "hear" something. All that said we know nothing more now then we knew 30,60,90 days ago.

On to prayer requests...... A few weeks ago I got news from not one but two of my friends that they are dealing with some health problems. Both Cancer!! One my very dear friend from High School will be having surgery tomorrow morning. So tonight I like some of my other posts before am sending out prayer requests that her surgery goes well and she may have a fast and uncomplicated recovery. My other friend has found out she will also require surgery and then eventually radiation for her cancer. Hopefully she will not need chemotherapy, and the type of cancer it is usually is not malignant and usually does not metastisize.

So tonight prayers sent out for these two wonderful women in my life, and to 7000 miles away that maybe sometime soon news will be positive and not just quiet. And last but not least I send out my thoughts and prayers to friends who are currently in Kyrgyzstan doing awesome, wonderful, phenomenal work making a difference and touching one life at a time.

And to update..... remember several posts back? I put out a request for the man needing hand surgery?? HIS SURGERY HAS BEEN COMPLETELY SPONSORED!!! My heart skipped a beat today when I found this out. So to all those out there who are lending a helping hand.. THANK YOU!!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!!

Stripes and Plaids

2009-03-09T22:47:00.001-07:00

Wow!! someone is sure going to hate me for this post someday. Along with the shoes from the last post rest assured there are tons of fancy clothes waiting for Miss Noodle. But for now she is spending her days in stripes and plaids. Oof hopefully this early style will soon be forgotten!!

Fingers and Toes!

2009-03-06T04:28:00.000-08:00

Wow, I have not entered anything for over a week! Actually I have not really had anything to post about. It has been a very uneventful week waiting for Noodle. No real news to tell. This does not mean things are not happening. On March 3. Joint Councel posted that they have had a meeting with the Kyrgyz government but they can not reveal yet what the conclusion of the meeting was. Hmm thats a bit odd EH? The post did say " they were pleased to announce that a meeting was held." so has to be at least a bit of good news or they would not be "pleased". But that is not really newsworthy.

So why the title of this post? First fingers.... Last Friday Brian and I had our fingerprints redone at the United States Customs and Immigration office. We decided to stay overnight in Philadelphia. Near where we did our first set of prints 16 months ago. When I went to plug the address into the GPS I made a startling discovery! The USCIS support center had moved to a new location. 45 minutes north of where we stayed. We discovered we could have driven straight down the turnpike and would never had been near Philly. Oh well, we spent a nice quiet night together. The woman who did my fingerprints decided she did not want to take the chance of my prints being rejected so she did my prints two ways. The new scanning way and the old fashioned messy ink way. I have had my prints done several times but this was the first time I had to get my hands dirty. Wow that ink is a mess. Good thing I did not get an itch at any time during the process there would have been black everywhere.

My toes story basically just is the purchase of 16 pairs of shoes for Miss Noodle's toes! Different sizes from 6-8. So hopefully she will be home before her toes do not fit them. Noodle's room is overflowing with attire for her from head to toe. Hats, and hairbands, dresses to jeans, denim to lace, socks and stockings, sandals and sneakers, boots and clogs. Attire for every occasion! Can't wait to see her in real clothing, and the real clothing on a real baby.

Let's Get it Right for the Wrights!

2009-02-26T12:21:00.000-08:00

I am a day late with this posting. I want to join my friends and blog buddies in this campaign of hope. The Wright's are doing amazing, amazing things in Kyrgyzstan. Feeding the hungry, clothing for the cold, extreme makeovers, providing love to children who would otherwise not know it. While I wait to bring my daughter home it is good to know that people like these exist to help make a difference in the lives of the forgotten in Kyrgyzstan. Please accept my apologizies if I know I have posted the needs here on my blog many times. But this plight is near and dear to me. I have seen the people who have been recepients of the generosity of the Wright's and I myself have been the recipient of the generosity of the Wright's. See the posts on my blog http://myadoptiongeography.blogspot.com/2008/12/beshbarmak-traditional-kyrgyzstan-at.html and the two previous ones.

Let’s Get it Right for the Wrights!
Dear Friends of the Wrights,
We all know and understand the effectiveness of the work John, Julie and family have done in Kyrgyzstan – the country they love so much and have been called to. Let’s get them there ON THE GROUND full time! We can do this.
This post is coming out with other blog posts all over the country – people who have blogs that know the Wrights. Let’s shock them with the provision of financial resources and letters/notes of encouragement to help them return to Kyrgyzstan . They want to go as full time missionaries – they just need our help to get them there.
We propose that we raise a minimum of the following:
$20,000 to cover a year’s needs on the home front
· Home expenses – the place to come back to
$30,000 to cover a year’s needs on the foreign front
· Travel in and out of the country with family 2 x a year
· Travel in the country to the different sites
· Family expenses – including the educational needs of one daughter
· Lodging and meals
This is just $50,000. We can do this and we can do it quickly. Here is how. Go to JOHN’S Blog and hit the button that is for the Wrights….support.
www.actofkindness. blogspot. com
AND guess what – you can watch all that is done there on his blog..you will learn to live vicariously in a healthy way by reading and supporting the RIGHT cause. What an opportunity – Will you help?
Let’s do it RIGHT FOR THE WRIGHTS!
Blessings, Lynn and Ruby from LAMb International

Thank you! A day Late

2009-02-24T04:09:00.000-08:00

The beginning of this post goes out to my mom and dad. Without them I would not be. Thank you for being my parents and the beginning of my family.

Even though Noodle is a million miles away and my family is not complete, I must say that I feel very blessed. I have had an amazing nine months filled with joy, heartache, tears, discovery, travel and most of all friendship. I have met new friends, made new friends via the new fangled new age internet, and through the same technology have reconnected with many old friends. I am amazed at the power of the internet.
That all said I will get on to my story.... on Saturday, my mom made her bestest and my most favoritest meal. Meatballs.. Ok and spaghetti too. But my mom's meatballs are just simply the best. Hmm somehow I forgot to take a picture of the meatballs. Oh well that just means she'll have to make more!!! My niece, nephews, and my sister-in-law had an awesome lunch ( unfortunately my brother was out saving lives he is doing his clinical rotations for his paremedic license.) My sister -in- law's mom made cake and even came by with flowers. Ok both with a story!!! First the cake... My niece wanted candles on said cake.. I said its ok... But she insisted. Well the only candles my mom had were a 1 and a 3. So I had a choice. I could celebrate my 13th or my 31st birthday. I chose 31. So This year I turned back the clock a few years and I am now 31 years old!!! The kids did their rendition of Happy Birthday. and my nephew beat me to the candles. I really hope that does not mean I missed out on making a wish on my birthday candles. Anyway My sister in law's mother dropped by with roses, a dozen actually. She said she has prayed on each rose for Miss Noodle to come home. She prayed to Saint Theresa and sent prayers up to her daughter Theresa who died several years ago. Her daughter and my niece are named for Saint Theresa!

Then last evening my work friends also bought cake (no candles this time I think the hospital would have frowned) and a peace plant. Sorry Corey I forgot the name of the plant again. And then there is facebook. WOW... I received a happy Birthday greeting from so many of my friends, both past and present!!! Thank you to ALL!!!

A Note from the DOG

2009-02-22T10:56:00.000-08:00

Dearest Mancub...

Come home soon. As you can see the dogs need a break. We hear that once the mancub comes home SHE needs frequent bathing. Maybe this will mean no more baths for the dogs. (we can hope right) We just hope that you are as crazy about frisbees and balls as we are! Of course we can teach you how to throw them just the right way. Oh... We have also been informed that when Mancubs eat they are messy. So we are looking forward to cleaning the floor under your seat! Don't worry, if you spill your milk. Milk is a delicacy for us so we will be happy to make sure there is no evidence left behind of any milk mishap.

Luv,

Ryott (just one of your four legged brothers)

P.S. the tub is not fun, but the towel dry afterward is simply marvelous!