Vaccines completed!

Back in August when I had to go for my physical required for the adoption paperwork, my provider went over the CDC recommendations for vaccinations when travelling to Bulgaria. Now before I scare anybody Bulgaria is a country that you don’t really need a lot of vaccines to travel to, but as my provider politely pointed out: a children’s orphanage is not a typical tourist destination. 6 months and 8 immunizations later I’m officially up to date and ready to go! (I was behind in my vaccines before, and had even missed a few childhood immunizations…most people shouldn’t need 8 vaccines in order to travel to Bulgaria)

As a healthcare provider myself I cannot stress enough how important it is for all parents-to-be (adoptive or not) to check with your primary care provider and make sure you are up to date on all your own vaccines. Potential Adoptive Parents travelling to foreign countries should also look into what additional vaccinations are recommended for the region you are travelling to and (if your doctor agrees) GET THEM! In addition to protecting you while you are overseas the vaccine (in some instances) may help prevent you from contracting an illness that your precious little one is bringing back to the U.S. with them.

OK, I’ll step off my soapbox now.

Read: Toddler Adoption- The Weaver’s Craft by Mary Hopkins-Best last week. So far this has been the best adoptive parenting book. I highly recommend it.

Well, this sucks.

Today, likely while I was still in bed being awakened every 1/2 hour by the public works department who decided to remove frozen snow from the sidewalk AND PARK A FLASHING POLICE CAR 40 FEET FROM MY BEDROOM WINDOW…

The Bulgarian Government Quit.

Yup. I thought someone was pulling my leg too. Then I Googled it. They quit. And from what I understand they essentially quit over protests of rising electricity prices. Clearly, I have no understanding of how this government works.

I didn’t even bother to e-mail anyone to ask if this is going to effect the adoption. I don’t see how it WON’T slow things down. If it has no effect…well, then I’ll be suprised.

I’d like to make a formal apology to anyone adoption from Bulgaria. Apparantly my personal Karma is starting to rub off on an international scale. This is how my life typically operates. You should have seen how the kitchen remodel went down…

Dossier update

Got the awesome news today that my dossier was submitted last week to the MOJ for consideration. I should hear back on if it has been accepted/registered within a month.

I also only have to redo one document. That’s it. Hopefully by this time next week it will be like nothing ever happened.

All this has made for a very good Valentine’s day.

In the news

Out little adoption crisis had made national news headlines! You can follow the link below to see Time’s article. NPR ran the exact same thing.

http://nation.time.com/2013/02/11/2-u-s-adoption-agencies-closing-citing-woes-abroad/

I consider myself lucky to have weathered this storm so well. But to say there has been no impact would be lying. Since last week I have had to come up with $1,452.12 to continue my adoption. It is nothing compared to the loss some have experienced over the course of Adoption Ark closing, but it is still a significant financial hit. But, it could have been much worse. Much, MUCH worse. It is due entirely to the graciousness of One World that this has been as small as it has been. It’s hard to put this behind me, but I’m trying my best to forgive. My newfound mistrust/uneasiness I feel is going to make for an even harder time as I wait for my referral.

I am still passing the time the best I can. The last week has been e-mails and phone calls (and even more paperwork) but inbetween times I continue on my reading list. I’ve just finished “Parenting Your Internationally Adopted Child” by Patty Cogen. If “The Attachment Parenting Book” was a beautiful impressionist painting (the ones that show landscapes and sunsets and you go “Wow, I wish I was THERE!”) then “Parenting Your Internationally Adopted Child” is an angry modern art piece (the ones where the artist has put nails and barbed wire on the canvas). It’s art. It’s relevant. But you definitely walk away from the expereince with an enitirely different feeling. I think that is a good thing. I’ll see all perspectives in these parenting books and hopefully the truth will lie somewhere in the middle.

Rescued!

All credit for this goes to the original artist: Amy Brown

I have been rescued! I have a new agency: One World Adoption Services.

My new personal hero there: Allison

My ongoing heroes at St. Andre’s: Jessica, Debra, and Lee

And then of course: My family, friends, and co-workers.

Somehow with the help of you all we have turned my International Adoption Disaster into a “Hiccup.” Thank You!

It was with sadness that I did learn today that Adoption Ark has let most of it’s staff go. I never had the opportunity to thank either Alla or Allyson for everything that they have helped me accomplish since July. If either of you ever come across this I would like to say that I truly appreciate everything that you ever did for me. I know this is not the ending that anyone envisioned, but you ladies have helped me come so far, so fast. Thank You. I wish you the best.

So I am still knee deep in new paperwork. Re-signing contracts and whatnot. So far I have no word on my dossier. And I have no idea how much of it will need to be re-done. In looking at my copy Adoption Ark is only mentioned on 3 of the 13 documents. I get the impression (maybe incorrectly) that the homestudy (which is one of those documents) is no biggie. Especially in light of that fact that I’m 99.9% sure that I’ll need to update it at least once before kiddos come home. 2nd document is the contract with the Bulgarian Partner Agency. I would bet that needs to be redone (but oh what I wouldn’t give for some white-out…Adoption Ark is only mentioned in there one time). 3rd document is the INS form. If that is the only thing that I DON’T have to re-do, I will be a happy woman. (seeing as that I’m 99.9% sure that it too will need an update)

But all in all I am one grateful and relieved woman tonight. This could have been so much worse than it turned out to be.

A step in the right direction

So step 1 was panic. Did that. (See previous post). Step 2 is cry, worry, fret, and not sleep. Did a really good job at step 2.

Step 3? Do something.

Started with e-mailing my awesome social worker. Her e-mail back allowed me the 2 hours of sleep I was able to manage. She had seen something like this before. E-mailed the homestudy agency (my only link now) and THEY ARE THE MOST AMAZING PEOPLE EVER. They spoke to me on the phone for a 1/2 hour this AM calming and reassuring me and allowing me to at least attempt to work today. They also gave me some information to move forward. I’m all about moving forward now. Oh and chocolate-chip brownies. Chocolate-chip brownies for dinner. Very helpful for the nerves.

Very cautiously excited to annouce that I may have found a new placing agency. I know the e-mail from Adoption Ark stated they would contact me later this week with some more information…but I’m impatient. And this is my family’s future we are talking about here. Explained the whole situation and the new people are very willing to work with me. But my favorite part about this whole thing: They use the SAME Bulgarian Partner Agency. Not sure if that is at all beneficial, but in my gut I know it just has to be. Just trying to figure out now how to get whatever needs to come from Adoption Ark over to the new people. My assignment for tomorrow I suppose. That and try to eat something resembling healthy; but then again there is still half a pan of chocolate-chip brownies left.

An adoption nightmare

I got the following e-mail from my adoption agency just a few hours ago:

Adoption ARK, Inc.
830 Buffalo Grove Road
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089

February 4, 2013

******** ****
*** ****** **
*******, Maine *****
USA

Dear **** Family,

On January 1, 2013, the Russian government put into effect a law that prohibits the adoption of Russian children by US citizens. This ban is a result of the Magnitsky Act, a bill passed by the US Congress as a response to what Congressional leaders felt were human rights violations in Russia.

The passage of law by both the US and Russia is heartbreaking for the families who were in the process of adopting from Russia and, especially, the children who will remain in orphanages across the country, unable to grow up in the loving arms of a family.

As Adoption ARK’s largest program, Russia was over half of the agency’s annual income. The Board of Directors and agency management, after carefully reviewing all of our programs, projected income and expenses, and trends in intercountry adoption, made the difficult decision to close the agency.

Adoption ARK is working with agencies both in and outside of Illinois to take on its clients. The first clients to be transferred will be those with referrals and those traveling soon. We will send notification later this week, via e-mail, to all families currently in process, providing notification of the agency which has expressed willingness to work with families to move their cases forward. Adoption ARK staff will work with the new agencies to make the transition as smooth as possible. In order for this process to proceed as smoothly and efficiently as possible, please review the contact information on file at Adoption ARK and reply to this email:
(Information deleted for privacy reasons)

If this email is correct, please respond to this email informing us that this is the correct information.

If this information is incorrect, please respond to this email with the correct contact information.

Adoption ARK has helped nearly 1,000 children find homes with loving families, since 2003. As an organization, we had sincerely hoped to be able to continue uniting children with parents who would love and cherish them. Adoption ARK’s staff members thank you for your understanding at this difficult time.

Should you have any questions, you may direct them to **********@adoptionark.org. Please indicate in your e-mail if you would like an appointment time to speak to a staff member and the best number to reach you.

Sincerly,
The Team at Adoption ARK
**********@adoptionark.org

I am devestated, frightened, crying, shaking…you name it. Didn’t see this coming at all. I don’t now anything anymore. The only thing I know right now is that I will continue to persue adopting from Bulgaria.