So Close and yet so far

     Here is Jake.  Sytlana emailed me some updated pictures and Mattie and I were VERY excited!!  We are not sure what he is eating??  But we know it is not Papa Gino's Pizza!!  I know I am not a great cook but I hope I can do a little better then that?!?!?!  WOW it has been 3 months since I first meet Jake and I hope he is home with us soon.
     Well all the paper work is DONE and APOSTILED except one more Dr Apt next Tuesday and Mattie's Birth Certificate which has been a night mare to get and still have not received it!!  That is another LONG story for another day or blog.

     I have a meeting at WHFC on Monday and will hand in all the paperwork I have done and they will be sending it to Ekat to get translated so YAH some progress.  

     I sent a care package over to Jake with a family and I know he received it and I have another one on the way with another family so Mattie is excited about sending things to his brother.

     Oh and Mattie does not want to be called a little boy any more he wants to be called "Big Brother"  and since he is a big brother he does not know WHY he needs to sit in a car seat.  Oh yes I am in trouble with him.   

Almost Done with paperwork

     Well tomorrow I have an apt. with the neurologist then 2 more Dr apts and they will be done. I was able to find a oncologist and a Psy. to see me so I will be done on Aug 4th with the apt!!!  YAH and since the sun has finally come out I should pass my psy. apt. LOL!!!

     After my apt tomorrow I am going to head to FallRiver for more appostilling.  WHFC said they will send what I have done to Russia and then wend the medical stuff when it is done so that is some POSITIVE news!  Mattie and I have been waiting patiently but Mattie does ask nearly every day when is his brother coming home and he has big plans for him and his brother when he gets home.  I hope he is this excited when Jake is actually home with us.

     Not much more to report the judge in Ekat. comes back from vacation on August 3rd so hopefully he had a great time and is well rested and ready to look over some adoption paperwork.  I can not believe it has almost been 3 months since I met Jake, I hope he will be home soon.

     Since the weather finally cleared up Mattie and I have been enjoying the pool and the beach so that is a good thing.  Here is a picture of my little surfer dude.  And also a picture of us that I am putting in my paperwork packet hopefully the judge likes it.

Check list

     Ok my list is getting checked off day by day YAH!!!  FBI fingerprints back and once again no crime has been committed.  Psy eval done, guardianship letter done, birth cert. and divorce cert updated since the judge in Russia considered them expired, so now I just need to finish my Dr apt. and Mattie needs a physical then I will be done.  I am still trying to get an appointment with an oncologist and a psychiatrist so if anyone knows of one in my area please let me know.  I live 20 minutes south of Boston.  On Wednesday I am going to go to FallRiver and get what I have done Appostilled.

     Three more days left of school then my summer vacation begins.  Mattie is very excited to go to the beach and swim in the pool so all we need now is some SUN!!  I checked the weather and it will be warmer in Ekat. Russia then here go figure??  

     Mattie is getting excited about being a big brother.  Every day he asks when is Jake coming home.  Today he started to pack his back pack and he thinks he is going to Russia with me??  YIKES, I am telling him he needs to stay home to get the house ready for Jake, but he wants to go.  I do not think I can handle 2 little ones alone in Russia so Mattie will have to stay home.

2 doctors down 6 to go

Well the pool is almost clean and Mattie is ready to go swimming!!  I am so excited I was able to see 2 doctors this week so just 6 more to go.  And I got my Psy. eval done so now I have documentation that I am sane!!  

Mattie new thing is that he can not wait for his baby brother to come home because he wants to be taller then someone.  So lets keep our fingers crossed that Jake does not get to tall over the next couple months so Mattie will be taller then him for a little while any way.

Paper work Part #2

     It is hard to believe that it has been one month since I meet my son Jake.  I hope he knows mommy is home working hard to get back to Russia to bring him home.  Mattie is so excited about being a big brother.  Any time he puts on something that is to small he gives it to me and says to save it for his baby brother.  I do not think Mattie understands that Jake will probably be  2 years old when he comes home,  Mattie has plans on carrying him around and he is picking what toys he can play with and what ones BABIES do NOT play with!!  He even finally shared a picture of Jake with his daycare which was a big move since he would not talk about Jake over there at first and would say "it is a secret".  

 Ok I am about half through round 2 of the paper work for the judge in Ekat.  It is like having another full time job.  I have made some of the Dr. apt. but can not see some of the Dr.'s till July so trip 2 will probably not be till November at the earliest!!!!

     I am hoping to find some one who is going to Ekat. Russia this summer so I can send Jake a care package and I am hoping to maybe get some pictures between now and trip 2.

      Well time to give Mattie dinner but I just thought I should update my blog.

Last day with the little guy

Hello,  And yes it was my last visit with the little guy today.  The nanny's said he knew his mommy was coming ok now I need to get the paper work so I can get back here.  We had a great visit!!  We went outside and of course he was all bundled up.

     They let us take him to the grocery store today so we could buy cookies for the kids.  I think it was his first trip to a store but it won't be his last.  Wait till he gets home Mattie will show him around the mall and tell him Mommy's favorite word in on sale.  

     The nanny's said they loved the lotion I brought them so back to Target to get some more.  And thank you Auntie Carolyn the perfumes were a huge hit.  I bet these Nanny's would be regulars at our school store.  SO I took lots of pictures and video so Mattie can see his new baby brother.  I just talked to Mattie and he was very excited to hear only one more sleep till Mommy comes home and he can not wait to get the cars I bought him.  Wait till he has to start sharing his toys with baby brother YIKES we better  start working on that.

     Well for my last afternoon here I walked around the city and got caught in a rain storm so yes I was soaked and muddy.  That should be fun packing muddy clothes maybe I should just leave them here??  I hope you like the pictures from today and I will be home word bound at 3AM Russia time Friday morning.  Why bother going to bed.

Day 3

Hi,, Got to visit my little guy this morning.  It was drizzling out so we visited inside.  He seems happy to see me I get smiles and no tears.  He plays with the stacking cups, likes the photo album of me Mattie and the family which I am going to leave him.  Today he had fun taking everything in and out of my bag.  He giggles and babbled some words today.  

    The hardest part of visiting the baby home s when all the little kids look at me and some say MAMA I told Sylanta they are so sweet and I wish I could take them all home!!!!!!  She said all are not available for adoption some parents are still involved and some parents are in jail and having their kids in the baby home may be there ticket out . How sad.  Lucky for me Gennadly's parents did not sign his birth cert. so no one will be coming back so it will make court easier for me.

     Today I had my first real russian meal.  Sylanta took me out to lunch.  I had salad, cabbage soup and some kind of chicken/rice dish not so bad and herbal tea.  ANd yes a diet coke can not have a meal with out my favorite.  Sylanta has been great and works very hard for us and the children so as soon as I get home I will work on my paper work so I can get back here quickly to bring home Mattie's brother.

     I talked to Mattie on the phone today.  He seems to be doing great I told him 2 more sleeps and mom will be home.  I found him cookies and cars so he will be happy because that is what he told me he wanted from Russia.

     Thanks everyone for all your messages and emails I love to read them!!!!!!!  OK I will post a new picture then to sleep for me it is 11pm here.

Beth