gettingmegan

Everything Is Wonderful

2009-04-19T17:48:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!
Mom and I have been home since Thursday afternoon and to sum up everything.....it is wonderful! I have been a mom for 10 days and it is great. Megan Sabrina is an absolutly wonderful child. She has the best personality and is very happy. She seems very smart and able to catch on to new things after you show her how to do something a couple of times. She loves to laugh and play and she loves Georgia Girl. Georgia Girl is very good with her, but is a little jealous. Megan loves her Gran and Pap and generally doesn't meet a stranger. We went to church today and she became the center of attention! The only times Megan gets upset is when you try to take something from her without "exchanging" it or at bathtime. Let me say that "upset" at bathtime is a gross understatement. She gets frantic and screams bloody murder. I was afraid that the police would come in Moscow to arrest me for abuse. I don't know what they did to her at the babyhouse, but she is very scared of water. We have tried, a bath, a shower, the sink, the tub, a little water, lots of water, and toys of all kinds, and nothing works! I thought she did better last night and was excited about tonight, but tonight was terrible. Maybe it will get better this week.
I know many people would like to know about the "flight from hell". Well, Megan was an "angel", ten of the twelve hours. There was another child on the flight that was the complete opposite. I felt sorry for his parents and everyone sitting around him.
We go tomorrow for our first medical exam and I am interested in hearing what the doctor has the say.
We are going to "keep it low keyed" this week and stay home together most days.
I will try to keep you posted on how she is doing.
Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers!
Michelle and Megan

Leaving On A Jet Plane.........Coming Back With Megan!

2009-04-07T17:18:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,
Well tomorrow is the big day! Mom and I leave for Russia. I can't believe it is finally here!!! I have shopped, done laundry, packed and cleaned!!! I think I am prepared as I can be!!! I must admit I am not looking forward to the flight tomorrow or the one coming home. Of this entire process, the long flights (9 hours going and 12 hours) coming back have been the worst part (well that and the waiting). I am thankful that Delta does have a direct flight to Moscow on most days.
If all goes well, we will be back next Thursday. I well try to update the blog while I am gone. Maybe it will not be blocked. We will be calling Dad, so please call him at home for information, if I can't get it updated.
Just think, this time next week, I will have been "officially" a Mom for four days and hopefully be less than two days away from bringing Megan home.
Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers! We have so many "firsts" coming in the next week (leaving the Baby House forever, first bath, first flight, first time going through customs and being on US soil, first time in a carseat, etc.)that all help would be appreciated!
Thanks for everything!
Michelle

There and Back

2009-03-30T16:16:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,
Dad and I made it back to Atlanta Saturday night before five and after clearing Customs and driving back, we were home before nine. Everything went well in Moscow. Megan was friendlier this trip and took up with both Dad and I. She laughed and played and seemed to be much happier than on our last trip. Dad and I got to visit with her three times for over an hour each on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. However, most of it was outside in the cold and snow. She may never see that much snow again when she gets to Georgia! I had court on Thursday and it went extremely well. It only lasted roughly 15 minutes, but because the case in front of ours took over two hours, we were not able to go to the Baby House after court. However, we were able to go on Friday and the Baby House allowed us to take Megan to get her Passport and VISA pictures made. This will be one less thing Mom and I have to do when we get to Moscow.
While I was in Moscow, Olga, my translator gave me the dates and plans for Mom's and my third trip to Moscow. If everything goes as planned, we will be leaving the US on Wednesday, April 8th and arriving in Moscow on Thursday, April 9th. We will go immediately to pick up Megan's passport and to check in at the hotel. We will go to the Baby House Friday, April 10th, Good Firday, morning to pick up Megan. We will not be able to do any "business" over the weekend. So, Megan, Mom and I will be spending Easter Sunday in Moscow. On Monday, I will go to the Embassy to do paperwork. On Tuesday, Megan will have her medical exam. On Wednesday, all of us will go back to the Embassy for the exit interview and final paperwork. On Thursday we will then fly home.
Sorry I did not update the blog while I was gone, for some reason the hotel's internet service had it blocked.
Thanks again for everything!
Michelle

Finally......Getting To Go To Court

2009-03-21T06:31:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,
Well today is the day....Dad and I leave in a few minutes to go to Atlanta to go to Moscow for our court date. Through all of the delays, I really wasn't sure this day would ever come. In fact, earlier this week, I wasn't sure I was going to get to leave today, because there was a problem with my VISA. I think that sort of summed up my entire adoption process!!!

In case you don't know, I got the email/call Thursday, March 12th about the court date, which is Thursday, March 26th. As of now, I will be going to the Baby House to see Megan, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with Dad and I returning to Atlanta on Saturday the 28th. As with everything, these plans could change, but I hope to see her at least three times, if not more. I hope that will mean Mom and I returning to Moscow on April 4th (Dad's birthday) and returning home with Megan on Good Friday or Saturday before Easter. Again, this isn't set in stone, however it is what I am hoping for! If we don't go to the Baby House on Tuesday, Dad and I are planning on taking a tour of Red Square and the Kremlin!!!! That should be fun!!!!

Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Mom is having a hard time staying at home by herself and wants to go see Megan. So if you could call and check on her, that would be great!!!! I plan to update the blog frequently while we are in Moscow.

Thanks for all your prayers and support! I finally feel like the end is in sight!!
Love,
Michelle

Adoption Hell and Stuck in Purgatory

2009-03-12T06:35:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,
I know I haven't blogged in a while, but to be perfectly honest, I haven't wanted too. I also haven't wanted to talk to people about the adoption. (Sorry if I haven't emailed or called you back.) There are only so many times and ways I can say/tell people that I am still waiting on a court date. It gets very depressing to say over and over, I don't know anything and I don't know when I will bringing Megan home.
And as of today, I am still waiting....it has been over three months since I visited Megan Sabrina in Moscow and I still don't know when I will be going back to court. I have redone all my paperwork and gotten new FBI and GBI clearances (which are only good for three months). Everything is in Moscow, so as soon as all the documents are translated and given to the judge, I should be hearing something. I hope every week will be "the week", but so far no luck. Hopefully, I will hear something soon!
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers!
Michelle

Still Waiting

2009-02-06T10:28:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,
I know I have not updated my blog in awhile, but quiet honestly I haven't had good news to report. I am still in the paperwork "shuffle" game, and at this point there is no end in sight. I have done all I can do and I am just waiting on CHI to give me a court date. However, since my orginial INS approval expires on February 15th, they will not give me a court date until I have a new INS clearance. I have not heard anything from the INS and it has been three weeks since I sent all my paperwork to them. When I finally get the INS approval, I will have to get it apostilled and sent to St. Louis; which will take about a week. So.....if I get to travel to Moscow and go to court by the end of February I will be surprised.
I am now getting very discouraged and very worried that my GBI clearance and medical exam that I had done when I returned from the first trip (which is only good for three months) will expire again before I get a court date. Which means have to have both redone again, apostilled and sent to St. Louis. It seems never ending.
Please keep Megan and my family in your thoughts and prayers! Her grandparents are getting as upset and "antsy" as I am. We are all so ready to bring her home. I know there is a reason for all the delays, but at this point I can't see the reason.
Love,
Michelle

Paperwork Must Be Redone

2008-12-10T10:59:00.000-08:00

I received some bad news this week. All of my INS paperwork expires on February 15, 2009 and I will not have Megan home by that point. This means that I have to redo ALL of my Dossier Paperwork, including my Home Study. Of course this news upset me, but I don't have a choice. If I don't update the paperwork I cannot bring Megan into the country. So.....whatelse am I going to do? Please pray that I can get all of this done by next week, so that things can be processing before and after Christmas. That way maybe I can get everything together before I head back to Russia, hopefully at the end of January.
At this point, I am hoping to have Megan home for my birthday, February 23rd.

Five Days and Counting

2008-12-01T08:09:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,
It has been five days since I last saw Megan, and overall the time has gone pretty quickly. I have been staying busy and showing her pictures off to everyone. I can't post her picture on the blog until after court. So, if I happened to miss emailing you one, just email me and I will send you one!
The twelve hour flight got Mom and I back into Atlanta Thanksgiving night and it was a long ride home. We spent Friday working on some Christmas decorations at mom and dad's house and THANKS to my cousins, Jeff, Susan, Jill, Jan, and Jay, mom and I were able to have a leftover Thanksgiving meal!!! Saturday morning, I went to my grandmothers to show her pictures of Megan, but other than that, it was a bad day because Georgia lost to Georgia Tech. Yesterday, found me at church showing off pictures and telling everyone about our trip. I got to work early today, trying to get some things caught up, but it didn't work. I have been getting emails and visits from people wanting to see more pictures of my little princess. I sent three out this morning, and everyone thinks she is BEAUTIFUL!!!
As of now, I am once again waiting. I know I have to redo some paperwork, but I have not heard anything from CHI as of yet. According to CHI in St. Louis and in Moscow, there will be no way that I will have court until after January 12th. So, I am hoping to have court either the 12th or 13th and then start the 10 day waiting period. That would put her home near the first of February! I will just have to see how everything goes!!!!
Again, thanks for everyone's thoughts and prayers. Please keep Megan in your prayers, she is VERY ATTACHED to her caregivers (she has been in the same Baby House since she was three days old)and I know taking her out of the Baby House is going to be VERY traumatic for her.

I'm a Mom!!!!

2008-11-25T07:24:00.000-08:00

Today was a VERY big day. Mom and I started at around 10:00 and traveled (I use that word loosely in downtown Moscow) to the Ministry of Education where I was matched with a 17 month old little girl. We then traveled around Moscow for an hour before we made it to her Baby House. After waiting for the Director and getting the basic information I got to meet my daughter. She was dressed in a GOD-AWFUL ugly blue dress and they had just shaved her head, but she came to me right away and seemed very happy until she saw herself in the mirrow. She then screamed her head off.......she visited with her Grand for a few minutes, but she wanted her Nurse. She is very attached to her. We then left her so she could go back to sleep and meet with her doctor. She was very nice and answered all of our questions.
The best news is my little angel is healthy!!! She is 17 months old, walking, potty trained, feeding herself, and very independent!!! She has a set of lungs, which I heard when she was upset. She also has a few teeth!!!! She is weighing in at over 25 pounds, so she isn't petite........
We will be seeing her again tomorrow and they said I could take her outside for awhile in the snow if I wanted to!
Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers!

We Made It!

2008-11-23T04:59:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to let everyone know, mom and I made it safely to Russia and to the hotel! Lots of rain and now snow flurries!
Post more later!
Love,
Michelle

Time to Travel

2008-11-21T12:25:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe, but tomorrow is the big day. Mom and I will leave Atlanta around 4:40 Saturday afternoon and arrive in Moscow after 11:00 the next morning - their time. After all this waiting, I will finally be meeting my little girl next week.
I have heard from the Israel's (they went to court today) and it is snowing and cold in Moscow. I have checked the long range forecast and it is going to be in the 20's and 30's the whole time we are there and snow is predicted for most of the time. I wonder if Moscow residents drive any better in the snow than southerns?
I want to Thank everyone that has offered me words of encouragements, sent cards and emails, phoned, etc.....all of your words and actions have been wonderful! I know that many people are praying for me and this adoption and that helps all of the nerves and worries. I have put the matter in God's hands!
I will try to make two posts in Russia, one when we arrive and one after I meet Megan and visit with her. Hopefully everything will go well and mom and I will back in Atlanta Thanksgiving night.
I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!
Love Michelle!
GO DAWGS - BEAT TECH!!!!

Fingerprinting Done and Getting Ready

2008-11-14T12:39:00.000-08:00

This week is finally over and I feel like I can start the countdown to departure. Mom and I will be leaving Atlanta in less than eight days. I am going to make my first Target and Walmart runs this weekend to start picking up stuff and slowly start packing. That way, all the things I know I will forget, can be picked up next Friday evening!
I have been getting the nicest cards and emails from people wishing me the best on this trip!!!! Thanks so much to everyone who has been keeping my family in your thoughts and prayers. Having caring friends is a gift from God!
I think Mom is more excited and nervous than I am about leaving next Saturday. Since she hates to fly and has never been to Europe! I wish I had someone filming her!!!!!
I got my fingerprints done on Wednesday....one less thing that I will have to do when I get back!
It's hard to believe that after all this wait.....eight days and I will be leaving for Moscow!
Have a great weekend!

Two Weeks and Counting

2008-11-08T08:01:00.000-08:00

When someone starts the process of International Adoption, their Adoption Agency tells them that there is no guarantee on a time frame. Things might happen quickly (probably not) or it could take months or even years to be matched with a child. Considering I have been in this process for over 16 months and have had my paperwork in Russia for over a year, one would think that I would be accustomed to the wait. However, now that I have been given a travel departure date, time has basically stopped moving. I feel like everyday just drags by. I am so ready to go to Russia and meet Megan. I could literally be packed and on my way to Atlanta in less than an hour, if I got a call for a change in departure dates. However, I don't see that happening, so I will have to continue to wait patiently for November 22nd. After all this waiting, it is really hard to believe that my wait time is down to two weeks.
Since my wait time has been so long, all of my Dossier documents have expired, including my INS fingerprints. I will be travelling to Atlanta this week to have them redone. For anyone that hasn't been to an INS office, it is an unique experience. Think of security at the airport and multiple it by two, then add a bunch of people that speak multiple different languages and you are close to the scene. There are lots of officials sending you to different "stations" and lots of different lines. However, even though there are lots of people and lines, they do manage to get you out quickly.
I heard from my new friends the Israels' this week. They are from Florida and will be heading back to Moscow on November 19th for their court date. I can't wait to see their little girl and hear all about the court process. I know that in the next couple of months it will be me getting ready to go back to Moscow. However, I know it will not be before Christmas. I am preparing myself and I am realistic enough to know that I probably won't be having my court date until near the MLK holiday. That means I probably won't be home with Megan until the first of February. However, great things can happen!!! Maybe I will be surprised and get to go before the end of the year. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Get Ready......Get Set.......

2008-10-28T10:01:00.000-07:00

Over the last couple of days, I have been busy getting things done for the trip to Moscow. Mom and I will leave Atlanta on Saturday, November 22nd and will return (hopefully) on Thanksgiving Day, November 27th. For those of you that do not know, I have an appointment with the Ministry of Education on Tuesday morning, November 25th. From his/her office, I will travel to the baby house or orphanage to meet my little girl and visit with her. Her age and schedule will determine how long we get to spend with her that afternoon. I will then have that evening to make my decision and if I decide to accept her, I will visit her again Wednesday morning. Then that afternoon, I will appear before a judge (probably a court clerk) asking to adopt my little girl and change her name. If these plans hold, mom and I will leave Moscow Thursday afternoon. If anything should go wrong or happen, we will remain in Moscow until Friday or Saturday. Please be praying that everything goes ok and mom and I have the strength to make the decisions we need to make.
As of today, I have purchased the airline tickets, made the hotel reservations, applied for our Visas and mom and I have purchased new "snow" boots and luggage. I think that other than putting things in the suitcase, we are as ready as we can be at this date! Needless to say, I am ready to go!
I talked to Leslie from CHI yesterday (via email) and she said that barring any major problems, CHI plans to have me finished before March. So........even though I now know I won't have Megan for Christmas, I now have some sort of deadline to work towards. I feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel and I am slowing making my way to it.
Please continue to keep Megan in your thoughts and prayers!
Thanks for everything!

"THE CALL"

2008-10-23T12:29:00.000-07:00

Well in the "world" of International Adoption , yesterday was one of those milestone days. I got the call from the adoption agency. I have been matched with a little girl and invited to travel to Moscow the weekend before Thanksgiving. I know no details on age, weight, ethnic background, etc.....it is a blind referral. However, I am still very excited and ready to go! I can't wait to meet Megan!

Approaching A Year

2008-10-20T13:01:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,
On October 23rd, it will be one year since my paperwork was sent to Moscow City. When I started the International Adoption process I knew it would be a long wait, but I never dreamed it would last for over a year with still no word on a completion date. My first adoption consultant(Arati) hinted that it would be February, 2009, before I got my little girl. I never dreamed she would be right or at least close to the date! At this point, I am number one in line for a little girl in the region of Moscow City, but have no idea when I will be matched or when I will be able to travel. I am in the process of updating paperwork because the paperwork that has been sent to Moscow is either out of date by this point or will be soon! The paperwork "game" in International Adoption is a never ending process! BUT.....I just keep thinking that all of this will be worth it once I get my little girl.
For those of you that don't know, her first name is going to be Megan. I needed a "M" name for the Bailey side of the family, and finally decided on it. I have told people that Megan Bailey sounds like a good Irish name for my little Russian girl!!!! The nursery is also almost finished. I will post pictures soon. I am not buying a bed yet, because I don't know if I will need a baby bed, a toddler bed or a twin bed......that will be a purchase for after the first trip. If you want to see Megan's room decor before I post the pictures, you can go online to "Kids Line" and type in "Clothes Line".
Please continue to keep Megan in your thoughts and prayers! I know that by this point she has been born and is waiting for me somewhere in Moscow City!!!!!
By the way.....GO DAWGS!!!!!