Six Flags fun

Last weekend we decided to go to Six Flags. It's expensive , but  I won free tickets we were able to go.

It was a lot of fun, and here is some pictures.

Few more things done

Today we notarized  our last document for our home study, and we should have our home study finalized hopefully this week. :) Also we did our fingerprints at local police station, and I will send them to Bureau of Investigation tomorrow. As long as I remember to get back our certified letter, it can take up to 6 weeks.

Once we have our home study we will start to get all other documents together. And next month or two looks like will be very busy for us, but we are very happy and can't wait to travel to meet our child/ren.

We are very happy that things started to move again, but also I do worry a lot about the process and girls, and "A" facilitator, just too many things. We are praying and we  know that God will never let us down.

SDA resumes processing adoptions in Ukraine

http://adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_alerts_notices.php?alert_notice_type=alerts&alert_notice_file=ukraine_4


Happy tears :))) Praise our LORD!!!

Home study update....and "facilitators"

Summer, and everyone is very busy. I dont' have time to blog, which is sad.

Today I e-mailed our social worker, and she said that we should see our home study draft tomorrow. :) Happy about that.  Our home study agency was saying that they have 10 days to get our home study draft, but it took way longer. Oh well, with Ukrainian changes, and with out knowing what it's going to happen  we are not in a hurry.  We are praying about adoption, and staying calm about all this situation. We know that God is in control, and the only thing we can do it's to pray... and trust God.

After I wrote an e-mail to "our female facilitator"(from now on I will call her "A"), almost 4 weeks ago,telling her that we will not be able to work together,  I finally got a reply from her today. She wants to work with us, and she gave us a lot of updates on sisters. I really not sure what we will do about this "facilitator" situation. I am really worry that "A" will do something and we will not be able to adopt sisters. Looks like "A", is in very good relationship with orphanage director. More praying and thinking.....

SDA will be close for...

Today I received an e-mail from our facilitator saying that the SDA is closing on July 11th. The question when it re-opens remains unanswered. By law it shall happen within 1-5 months period. I know that God has a plan for us, and He is always here for us with perfect timing. Please pray for our family, now we have some extra time to get our finances and get ready to bring our child/ren home. Also please pray for "sisters", and if they belong in our family, God give them peace and send people to take good care of them.


Now we just have to wait, pray. Once we have our USCIS approval we will start collect other documents for dossier. 

Father's Day Idea

 When he came home from work Friday night, that what he saw in our living room. Sergey was very exited, and like it a lot.

I know Father's day is over, but I want to post about this idea that I come up for this Father's Day. Me and kids did a little fun craft for daddy . Printed letters from regular word, and cut them out. Glue letters on black paper and this is it. :)

Happy Birthday my awesome Hubby!

Few days ago we celebrated  Sergey's birthday! Everyone who he wanted to invite for his b-day, ether left to camp, or were out of town. So we end up having only his mom over, and one of his cousin. Still it was nice, quite and we had fun together. Happy Birthday my Sergey, I am so lucky to be in you life! Love you very much and wish you the best in your life! I totally forget about camera, and didn't take almost any pictures but here is few pictures. 

I didnt' make this cake (i wish)

This is a cake I made, and actually everyone said it did taste better( i think they are saying this to make me feel better, oh well)

Daddy and a princess 

Facilitator update

After a lot of praying and thinking we decided to say no to our "lady facilitator". First we did talk to our facilitator, who we had meet during our first adoption, and he agreed to work with us , and help us to get our "sisters" home. Praise our God!   Because when we just found out about "sisters" and did ask our first facilitator if he can do our adoption, he wasnt' really happy, he didn't' want to get in in to "lady facilitator" business.

So after waiting for another week to get our contract and just simple questions answers from our "lady facilitator", we decided it was enough. We dont' need any more stress during our adoption process. Adoption itself is a stressful journey, rewarding but stressful. So now  we have our wonderful  facilitator Valentin with us. :)

Please pray that "lady facilitator" will not try to get in between us and "sisters". We are hoping that all this process will go fast and smooth.

Today we received last passport needed for our travel, our baby's passport.
Last week we received receipt from USCIS, and waiting for our fingerprint appointment.
As soon as we know something about our home study, we will start on other documents. I think for now we have to do our Certified letters( card fingerprints require for this one), as long as I remember it takes up to 6 weeks.

I think this is it :)

Father's Day Weekend!

Our weekend was very busy. Saturday we drove 1,5 hours to San Francisco to play on the beach by the ocean. Kids had a lot of fun (us too). It was a little windy, and not hot. It was perfect day to be outside, except we didn't' get a chance to wear our swimming clothes, oh well maybe next time. But we still had a lot of fun playing with sand.

Sunday we went to Auburn, Ca it's 20 minutes away from our home, and did some hiking and throwing rocks in the river. Had a nice lunch together, and had a relaxing day. Here is some pictures.

Castle, we tried to connect to an ocean

Everyone is busy

 Daddy digging...

Someone got into trap that daddy made :) Perfect size

Sergey is playing with Danik

Just happy :)

This little guy loves: sand, water, dirt, grass, anything, and everything that dirty or can get him there :)

Burning some energy

IT was very funny, boys got their P& J sandwiches and while Denik was eating his, Danik's sandwich bag flied away(remember it was a little windy). And still holding on to his sandwich , he went chasing a bag, Denik fell 10 times or more, chasing his baggy, but he didnt' let go of his sandwich . He was so proud of himself, when he came back.

LOOK MOMMY I GOT IT 

Snacking , watermelon. 

I like this picture, just so romantic

And again, I just want to thank God for wonderful husband, and awesome daddy for our kids. Sergey is my sol-mate  and I dont' even know why God choose me to be his wife. :)


*pictures from Sunday, I will post later. it's time to put kids to sleep. Also we have some new about our adoption, will share later.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

House update

Still working on our kitchen, today I finished all counters, but still can't not decide if I want to change color of our cabinets or leave it as it this. I will post all my before and after pictures.

While doing my painting in our kitchen, I heard Daniel asking me: " Mom, what are you doing? Should we be saving money? And If you are doing this, who is going to adopt "sisters"? It made me smile, he really looking forward to have more sisters, or brothers. I did explain , that it's only little painting , and it doesn't cost much, and we needed to do some touch ups, since we have "little artists in the house" (Denny, and now baby starting to use markers on everything, except paper).

  We are really hoping that everything will work out with sisters", and what can we do, yes only pray and do everything from our end, and only God knows what another day will bring.

Did talk with Ukrainian Facilitator

My husband was able to get a hold of Ukrainian Facilitator, and talk to her for few minutes. She was busy, and couldn't  talk, and we didn't' get any of our questions answered. She promised , that she will call us via Skype, but it been two days and nothing. Also still waiting on a contract from her, as she been working on it for a week. Praying that she will have her fees in  reasonable range. This lady representing "sisters", and I really, really hope that we will work together well. I do worry about our "relationship" with facilitator, because from the beginning we heard not really good things about her. Oh well, I know it will work our perfectly as God planned. We are learning to trust God more, and with every single step of our life.

Haven't talk to Ukrainian facilitator

We still didn't get a chance to talk with person who represents girls in Ukraine. Hopefully tonight, or tomorrow we will be able to get through and talk to her. We do believe in our  God, and we know He is with us in this process. We just have to do everything from our end, and God will do the rest. We are praying for all little and big details that have to happen before our trip to Ukraine.

Please pray with us! God Bless you

Sunday fun time

Sunday my husband with two boys went to church and I did stay home with our baby girl (she is still not sleeping through the night), as she was very cranky. After church we at lunch, baby took her nap, daddy with boys played some games, and after baby woke up we went to a park. Here is few pictures.
*Pictures of my husband, I did posted with his permission(I am talking about last picture)  :)

Here I come! Watch out! Trying to get ball from boys!

 Boys and Daddy!

Nothing to say :) He is really enjoying the swing :)

June 11, 2011 Home Study Visit

Today we had our home study visit. It went really well and we should have our home study done by the end of the month. Wow, things are really getting to move quickly. Also we found out today that USCIS process takes long these days, so we should be prepare to way for up to 4 month, oh no. We are praying that it will be done much quicker, because girls will be available for adoption in July, and ready to come home. And I dont think that I am ready to travel to Ukraine during winter time lol But if this is the case, and we will have to way, and travel later I am ok with that, as long as God is with us.

Today I received an e-mail from Ukrainian facilitator. She still insist for us to host "sisters" before we move on with adoption.Her story,  She is afraid that someone else will adopt them, and if we host "sisters" we will be their family. We wish  to host s"sisters" but do to our finances we can't do both, adopting and hosting at the same time, unless we will have all money needed soon.

My husband and I will call Ukrainian facilitator tonight or tomorrow and we will go from there.

Quick update on ...

Monday we went to post office to send our USCIS application and apply for US passport for our baby. We knew that just before we will go to post office we had to stop at our other bank(we have a saving account at different bank, it just work better for us this way to save extra money :))  to close our account with them and take money to get money orders for USCIS(we had just enough at our saving account to apply for USCIS).

And before we left our house, I  am not sure why, but I did check our regular account, and guess what I had see..........yes, our tax return/adoption credit. You should of see me, I did log out and log in back to our account just to check if I am not hallucinating, and after second time checking I told Sergey about money. Praise our God, He knew the perfect timing for this money to come.  We were happy...still happy :) This money will go toward our adoption, but we still will pray to get all the money needed to finish our adoption.

So we didnt' go to the bank, we went straight to the post office. :))) And the funny thing is that next day, we received letters from IRS, saying that our case is in the process and we should hear back from them by July 9, 2011. lol


Please pray for "sisters",  so Ukrainian facilitator will work with us, and will lower her fees. We heard that this lady that represents "sisters",  she wants these girls to come for hosting program first, and then do an adoption.  So we will see if this all will work our for all of us. We know and we trust God, that everything will go as He planed.

What else is going on in our house:
This Saturday we have our home study visit, please pray

We started on little remodeling in our kitchen (for now), I am almost done with painting our kitchen cabinets, and we will have to finish with counter tops, and floor.

I start learning about couponing, and so far enjoying. This way I am trying to save more money for our adoption.

Last day of school and home study visit soon

Yesterday was last day of school. Finally summer is here! Danik is very exited about school being over , and already enjoying his summer. We did sigh him up for summer school, for 4 more weeks, and he is very exited about that. He has one week before school starts, and we are planning a little trip to Oregon. We will see how baby will act for another few days, and then we will decide if we will go to Oregon this coming Sunday/Monday. It's 10+ hours of driving, and it's going to be only me and the kids, Sergey can't go. Baby doesn't' take a bottle, I still only breastfeed her, also she doesn't like car-seats, and it will be a lot of screaming.  I am not sure if I want to take this challenge :)

 Danik brought home his report card, and I am one proud mommy :) His grades are much better than last time, and his behavior in school is improving. I am still thinking about home school, but I will not even start/try until we bring child/children from Ukraine, hopefully this year.

Also we are doing some remodeling in the house, nothing big: just little pain touch ups, new curtains, in the kitchen new laminate floor, like I said little stuff :))) Today I already painted 3 kitchen cabinets, between cooking and all kids, it was fun. Hopefully I can finish painting my kitchen tomorrow, when Sergey will be home and can take care of kids.

We will have our home study visit June 11. Tomorrow we will try to send our USCIS application, apply for passport for a baby, and do our  fingerprints for clearance check.

God Bless you

Danik's first wedding

Sunday we were invited to the wedding. My husbands best friend was getting married. Sergey was in charge of  microphones, and all this sound/music/volume stuff. :))) At the last moment I decided to go to the wedding, and I knew it would be hard.
 Danik never been to the wedding, and I wasn't sure how big crowd, loud music, a lot of new stuff will affect him, and Denny doesnt' remember his last wedding, and being very very active 3 year old, I knew it will be hard. Boys did great, I am very proud of my sons, I had to take some coloring books, toys, and other stuff to keep boys busy, but Danik didn't need all of that, he was just watching everybody, and asking a lot of questions :))

Baby, ElliAna, it's a different story, she is a baby and like to run, run, run  and sometimes she turn her head to see if mommy chasing her :))) and it's ok if mommy is not behind her, she is keep running :)  I don't remember nothing from this wedding, except........my kiddos :) I was happy that I got a chance to be there, and celebrate Sergey's best friend BIG Day. And here is few pictures!
                                       
                                  My little cuties! Love them, and can't not imagine my life with out them!

In the car, on our way back home, everyone is tired and ready to go home (especially mommy)

Today Prayers needed!

1. God be with us through the whole process and everything will be completed in God's perfect timing.
2. Ukrainian facilitator will work with us and will lower her price (this facilitator representing "sisters" in Ukraine, and we heard that she does charge a lot)
3. God provide all the money we need it for this adoption (for today's day we have no money, enough to pay for FBI fingerprints, home study and USCIS only)
4.By the time we will go to Ukraine we will find a babysitter for our boys, or extra money to take them with us.
5.USCIS will approve us for two children( our income is might not be enough)

And we just need God's blessing to be with us, and I know Satan will try to attack, and not let us save these kids, but God will be with us, and we with Gods help we can go through Satan's attacks like heroes.

Thank you

Sisters- Part Two

I dial a number to speak to agency who listed "sisters". and like I said I was preparing for worst. In my experience agencies, don't really care about kids, they just trying to get more money, its a business. During last few weeks I had opportunity to speak with 2 different agencies, and they all said, fill out application, pay for it, and then we will give you more info on kids. So I knew reality of this world, and  business of adoption. 

Lady who answered a phone, was a lady who I did talked over e-mails, and when I introduced myself, she said: " This is weired, I was writing down your name, so I can contact you" :))) Perfect timing. I started talking to her, and did tell her that we would really like to do independent adoption, I was honest. And her reply was," I really want to help find these girls a home, I will not charge you, I help you with all your paperwork, These girls are so lost, and they need a family soon" wow, no way, I was not prepared for this. 

In the evening I talked to my husband and we prayed and we made a decision to do everything from our end to adopt these girls. And if this is God's plan they will come and join our family.  I am trying not to involve my heart, and my feelings, because anything can happen down rough adoption road, but I do think about these girls, and we already praying for them so if this is in Gods plans, He prepare us for their needs and them for us, so we have an easy attachment, and adjustment as a family of 7. 

I will tell more information later, when we will be closer, and we know more.

God Bless you

Two sisters, Part one

Yesterday, on one of the websites I saw two sisters in need, in big need to have their forever family.These girls got my attention, look on their faces, and just something about them....

 I did e-mailed listing agency about "sisters" and mine main question was "what country these girls are from?". Inside in my head I thought, they had to be from Russia, Ukraine doesnt' let agencies to post info and pictures of kids, and give a lot of information, so when agencies list kids from  Eastern Europe its usually Russia. I pray to God and I was thinking if God wants us to try to adopt "sisters", they will be from Ukraine, but I knew a reality and I was preparing for answer "from Russia".

This morning I was surprised by e-mail from listing agency, replying with "Sisters" are from Ukraine.  This was a big surprise. Also "sisters" are available for hosting this summer, and somewhere in July they will be available for international adoption.
Ok God, what do you want me to do next. I talked to my husband, and showed him pictures of "sisters", and our next question was if agency listing them, is their any way to go around agency and not pay "agency's fees", we just don't have that kind of money. Our first adoptions was independent adoption, and we really wanted to do same way our second one. I am Ukrainian myself, so I was really thinking how to go around, and was making plans in my head how I will contact our facilitator, pay him little more money and he can find "sisters" and we will do adoption through him with out involving any agencies.....I had perfect plan in my head :)))  God had His, better one.... Proverbs 16:9 “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” 

Today I decided to call listing agency, after e-mail from their director, Karen.  She was asking me some questions about our family, and how serious we were in adopting these "sisters". To be continue.....

*have to go, kids are ready to go to bed, try to post later

Ukraine or Russia?

We are still trying to decide, and see where God is wants us to go. We were praying and asking God, if He wants us to go to Russia we will need to have all the money soon, but..... We have no money, and we will need a big amount to be able to adopt from Russia through agency...
Also we saw two kids on one of the websites and we were open to adopt them. Those kids needed home study ready family which we were not, we had only 5 weeks to complete our home study, but there is no way we can get ready in 5 weeks.
We talked to agency which is listing two kids, and they said that Russia is very strict with international adoptions, and our income will be a problem/not enough. This agency did have a problem in that region with different family, when judge didn't let the other family complete their adoption do to their income(and the other family were making more money then we do). With all this problems that we might have with Russia, we feel confident to start our paperwork and go to Ukraine. Unless later God will change everything and in His power will change all the circumstances and we will end up in Russia. :)))  We have no problems with that.... :)

Also we will feel more comfortable in Ukraine, we know a lot their because we are originally from Ukraine. And somewhere deep in my heart I want to take all my kids to Ukraine with me (crazy) :)) but my husbands dad is in Ukraine, and he didnt' see our 1 year old, and our older son yet , so it would be fun to go and see grandpa lol.

 I really want to accomplish while in Ukraine. Be able to go to Danik's orphanage and see his caretaker, I still talk to her, and send her letters and pictures once in a while.

I really, really, really want to go to city where my son Danik  was born and try to find his family, maybe get some baby pictures. I really want to do this.  

I think this enough,  I am in the writing/typing mood today lol

Getting ready for home study.

We are almost ready for our home study visit. Sense we will have same agency for this adoption, as we did have for our first adoption, they call it re-study. Hopefully we will have our first visit soon, because we are liked "someone", and if it's from God we will go ahead and adopt. We are almost paperwork ready for our re-study, only one more medical appointment left, and FBI live scan.

We still not sure where God wants us to go, our two choices are Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine will be always #1 for us, but we are open for God plan. It just seems like Russia is more strict with rules, and we will need more money to adopt from Russia, if to be more specific, its twice as much money, but if this is the road that God wants us to send we will be happy to go.

Please pray for us and our finances!

Prayers needed! More news to come!

Please keep us in your prayers, our heart is ready to adopt. We know what God wants us to do, but we have a big financial need, to pay for our adoption. Our heart is open to welcome more "orphans" to our family, to love "unloved", and be a family for little ones who needs mommy and daddy.

But we have a huge need in funding our adoption, and we need funds quick. I can't share all the info now, but I can say we have only little bit over a month to start and finish our home study, and be ready to go! We trust God, and we know that we will have needed money.

Please pray!!! God Bless you

Happy Mothers Day!!!

My cuties:)

Here is some latest pictures:) Last week we decided to do a little photo shoot at home, and this is what we end up with. Our little cuties:)

Happy 1st Birthday our princess!

We all love very much and thankful to our Lord for having you in our life!

Birthday present from us:) First doll in the house:) Hopefully she will play with this doll, because for now she is playing with cars, trucks, hammers, and all boys stuff:)

Daddy, mommy, Danik and Denny :)) We love you our princess

Elliana is almost one year old!

Yesterday we had a little get together party for our princess Elliana! In few days she will turn one. Happy Birthday Our sweet baby girl.

I can't believe it's a year from a day I had her.

Elliana's story begins in August 2009, story of our little miracle.

We had our son Denny in 2008, and when he was almost a year old we started to think more and more about having another baby in our home. When Denny was around 1

0 month old we started to plan another baby. By the time Denny was 1 year old we were sure that we still want to have another baby and also adopt. There is another story why we choose to adopt, and we I can just tell you that God did call us to adopt, to give love and family to someone who is already born, and in need of love.

So when Denny was 1 year old, we did have our first meeting with social worker, and also were planning to have a baby. When we were pregnant with Denny, I did promised my husband a little girl, and we didn't want our kids to have a big age difference so this is why we choose to have another baby so soon. :)

We knew that it will not be easy to have a baby and at the same time go through adoption, but we trusted God and His perfect timing.

In August 2009 we were almost ready to be submitted in Kiev and still not pregnant but very close to go to Ukraine and bring our child home. In early September I found out I was pregnant, we were so happy and we knew that there is no way we will stop our paperwork because we were waiting for our Ukrainian child to be home with us, all the paperwork chase, and just thinking about all the kids in orphanages made me cry, we knew that there was no way we can stop our adoption, or do it few year later. And again we trusted our God, but it was hard.

We had a lot of worries about going to Ukraine with our 20 month old, me 4-5 month pregnant and a new child who we all will need to attach and learn what is to be a family of 5.

We had our appointment in November, and were back to US late December, by the time we got home I was 6 month pregnant. God was with us the whole time we were in Ukraine, and airports and just every second of our life. My husband had to go home after court, so I was alone in Ukraine with our almost 2 year old, 6 month prego and our new 7 year old son. To say it was hard to travel back and be 15 hours in the plane with 2 kids by myself, it like saying it was easy, it was very hard. I was very worried about our baby inside of me because all of the luggage and our 2 year old was always wanted to be held but everything went ok and I made it through my pregnancy with God’s help.

Like I said our daughter was a miracle from the beginning. When I had her, her lungs did open for her to start breathing. Our baby girl was full term baby, but something happened during delivery, and even doctors couldn’t explain what happened, baby lost a lot of blood (no one knows where, how, and when). So our baby did have enough blood to carry oxygen to her lungs. Doctors didn’t give her to me; I couldn’t even hold her after 12 hours of labor.

I will always have a picture in my head, “doctors got a baby, room full of other people(in a seconds after delivery), I am crying and trying to make anyone talk to me and tell me what is going on with my baby, why she is not crying, and when finally I saw my baby, she was across the room from where I was , baby turned her head and was looking at me, the only thing I saw was her blue little, sweet body and dark eyes looking at me, actually she was looking in direction where she heard my voice, I was still asking everyone “what is going on, if everything ok, I want to see my baby””

Doctors took baby to intensive care, and we were allowed to go and see her later. She had IV, and mask to breathe, and doctors made me sigh papers to give her more blood, because she wouldn’t survive without extra blood. We were very scared to sign those papers, all the side effects, and big possibility that our baby’s heart might not accept new blood and other scary things that doctors were talking, scary stuff. After I sign the papers, we prayed and 30 minutes later we got a phone call from baby’s doctor saying that they will not give her any blood, because baby is fine and don’t’ need any extra blood, and also doctors could not explained how did it happen, they were saying that it was a miracle. We know it was, God did answer our prayers.

Two days later we were able to take our baby home and since then we have a happy, healthy baby. Elliana only stayed 1 extra day in the hospital. She is our little miracle, when I look at her I can’t believe we did go through all this trouble. I was concern about breastfeeding, because I couldn’t feed her when she was in intensive care. While I was in the hospital, Sergey would take me down to see baby and try to breastfeed her, but only during a day, at night and every 3 hours when we were not able to go down, nurses would feed her formula. But we are thankful to our God that till today I am still nursing her, and she is healthy.

Praising our Lord for this little miracle and thankful for every moment of our life. Anyone who looks at our baby would never thought that she did go through all this stuff. Elliana started to walk when she wasn’t even 9 month, she is very smart little princess.

Tomorrow she will be 1, and we love her so much, she always makes us smile.

Happy Birthday our baby girl, we love you! Daddy, mommy, Danik, and Denny

*sorry for all the mistakes, I know my English is not perfect