Certificate of Proptery Ownership???

A wrench has hit us square in the forehead.  At least that is how it seemed. 

Our good ole' city folk at City Hall, have no clue as to what this document is.  They refused to type us out at letter stating that it isn't their policy to do such a thing.  I guess not many people in our town adopt from the Ukraine.  However, Dale got in touch with one of the city councillors and YES!  We have someone who understands, and cares. 

The city councillor we got in contact with is familiar with the requirements of Eastern European countries (as well as international adoption! ) and has been working with the City Clerk's Office to help get things smoothed out for us.  I recieved a call today letting us know that the letter we require is on the Clerk's desk just waiting to be picked up.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that everything is the way it should be.

Now I'm off to bed, before my head hits the keyboard.  Night All!

The Paper Rush is ON!!!

Check, check, check... as the forms are being mailed out, and filled out.  We are on a roll.  Looks like the paper work for our dossier may be completed by mid Feburary ~ a month ahead of schedule! :D

We have checked, recheck, ripped up and redone several forms in order to get things right the first time, so we don't have to do any remailings.    We are keeping our fingers crossed that the delays from here on out will be small.  

Potty Mouths ARGGGHHHH...

What do you do when your child don't stop swearing? 

I have had it!  I've used the swear jar which they outsmarted and started to put money into it just so they COULD SWEAR!  Good Grief.  After that it was bye-bye Swear Jar.

Next it was if you use a potty mouth you have to clean the kitty's potty.  They threw up, and ended that clever consquence.

Reasoning doesn't work, telling them I don't like it doesn't work. 

Now my eldest swears when he thinks I'm not listening, but does it softly, and my youngest shouts it when I'm not around but I can still hear it. 

I get that they pick it up in school, but I am just frustrated.  I don't like grounding them over it, but I might have to, I believe that punishments should really fit the crime. And I don't consider soap in the mouth an option.

There is something tragic about a ten year old whose language is better suited to sailors and roofers, instead of child.

Careful What You Wish For...

With in minutes of publishing last nights post, an email came from our adoption agency.  :D  and though I am delighted, the forms we need to do (and do ASAP if we want to do this while the boys are still in school) came in.  Yikes!  It is an awful amount of paper work, but a day not done is a day wasted.  I need to go through them more thoroughly, but I have an idea of where to start. 

A note to other adoptive parents is don't look over them if you get them in the evening.  I suspect Dale was torturing himself and didn't get much sleep.  It is an awful amount of stuff to take in, from money due, and deciding what forms need to be done first, reading the fine print about doing it right.  The Ukraine Government seems to be a little fincky, but who can blame them? 

Get yourself a good night sleep! 

Silence is TORTURE!!!

We are still waiting for our homestudy to be processed with the Ontario Government.  It should have been submitted a month ago but due to changes the Ukraine Government has made there was another couple of glitches.  Not to mention that Dale noticed his passport was about to expire and needed to resubmit it.  Finally, we have our homestudy on the way to the Ministry’ Office.  Things are quiet now, too quiet.  We are suppose to be working on some forms, but they were outdated and an need to be redone. 

It’s been three weeks now since our last email from our adoption agency and I am restless.  Trying to stop myself from going insane, computer games have been in the forefront of my life next to writing while the kids are at school. 

I don’t want to be a pesty parent, but I think I’m going to have to be.   Right now I’m waiting for Olha, my Russian tutor to arrive, but due to stormy weather I think she’s decided to bail.  All well, I have a fully loaded pasta dinner to enjoy,  and I can practice my newest Russian phrase. 

Hold my hand, please.   Держи меня за руку, пожалуйста (and yes I can actually read Russian now.  I may not know what I'm reading, but I can say it pretty goood.  LMAO )

Buying For Our Child...

I started shopping today, and I'm so proud of myself that I didn't go over board.  The reading that I've done suggests buying clothes here, as they are more expensive in the Ukraine.  But how does one go about shopping for a child when you only have a hit and miss guess as to what size they are?

I hit the clearance rack at Walmart.  I figured that whatever didn't fit could be donated to the orphanage.  I am assuming that we may be getting a girl around the 8 year mark, but we have been approved for as young as 5.  That's a big jump in sizes.  I figured if things were a little too big she'd grow into it, but for now I purchased two pairs of jeans, size 7 & 5, two tops, a hoodie, and a package of socks and underwear. 

It was a very surreal experience knowing that I was buying clothes for a daughter that I've never even met.   It's not like picking out baby clothes, where you know pretty much everything will fit at some point, and they won't care what colour it is, or if it has kittens or hearts on it.  It should have been enjoyable, and it kind was, but it felt frustrating at the same time.  It wasn't the same as shopping for my nieces, when I know their hair and eye colour, and style would best suit their body type.  There is a certain satistfaction in finding that one outfit that you know will look great on someone special, and instead I felt like my purchases will have to make do.

So while I have to accept my "make do purchases" for now,  it does bring a smile to know that it won't be forever.

Schoolitis Anyone? (When a Child Fakes Being Sick A Lot!)...

From Math attacks to making himself throw up, what is one to do with a child who refuses to go to school?   And when I do send him he often calls home complaining of being sick. 

I believe in school, I often tell my kids it is the best thing they can do for themselves when they complain about it.  I attend parent teacher meetings, even for my high school child.  (I was shocked to learn that none of the LD parents made the effort to speak with their child's intergraded teachers).  I am a firm believer that words without actions mean nothing.  It is one thing to say school is important, but by God they will know "what" and "how" they do at school matters to me.

It is harder for them due to their learning disabilities, and Cyrus is struggling, he is in a regular grade 4 class with an IEP (indivual Education Plan) and has extra support.  Though, I don’t object to the occasional day off, which rarely happens and even then it is Alex, faithful in his attendance, who asks for it.   Cyrus is missing about 1 day a week.  

I used to do lunch dates with my kids in rotating shifts, once a month so they can have some special one on one time with me.  However, I haven’t been able to do since my youngest is constantly (and sometimes Preston) is  playing sick.

I know Grade 4 is hard, but the fact that he is making himself sick has me concerned.  I’ve called the school a couple of times and spoke with his teacher.  This morning, however, after another plea and a bucket line with chucky spit accompanied with empty wretchings, I called and spoke with the special education teacher. 

It is amazing how a phone call to the right person can change things. I really hope it works out better for Cyrus.  We did come up with a plan that Cyrus would come see her first thing in the morning, instead of going straight to his regular class, as he seems to thrive better with her.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that things will be going better now.  Next year we both are hoping that Cyrus will go into a smaller class that will lessen his anxiety.  But for now, we will have to wait and see.

What To Pack???

Well the New Year has arrived and I couldn’t be happier.  We started the day with homemade egg McMuffins and took the boys to see Mission Impossible 3.  They were on the edge of their seats for the entire movie.  I loved it, and so did everyone else.  Then after the theatre everyone seemed to have had their cranky buttons pushed, and I was having none of it. 

I told the kids that I wasn’t going to join in their “Its not Fair” cries, and that even though we couldn’t do lunch at a restaurant, because we are being more responsible with our money,  I had hamburgers waiting to be tossed on the BBQ along with a special treat of curly fries.  And knowing the man I love best in the world , who was grumbling about the kids not understanding things,  among other things, he received a playful slap on the derriere and a plate of food in front of him to snack on while I set about getting lunch started.  Now that everyone is fed and in a much happier place I can focus on this.

So with the New Year here, my mind is focusing on traveling to the Ukraine. 

I’ve been doing a lot of research into what to bring.   But the one thing that is chaffing me is I can’t seem to find a place that sells an anti theft purse.  It is a purse with metal mesh in the lining, and straps to prevent someone cutting it open.  I am hoping to purchase one before we go.  I’ve also been buying small packets of wipes (because I’ve heard that they stingy or don’t even use toilet paper).  I want to pack light but when you expect to be staying there for several weeks it’s really hard to know what exactly to bring.

So far on my list is besides the obvious ~ I don’t think I need to tell you how many pairs of underwear I’ll be bringing and such lol.

Ziplock bags

All in one makeup kit.  (This is hard as I do enjoy makeup but I figured getting a makeup kit with travel brushes would take less space than bringing several containers that I’d really hate to lose.)

Small package of laundry soap

Adapter/ surge proctector  ~ not sure where to get this, but I haven’t really started looking yet.

Small backpack for our daughter.

Stuffed toy (already purchased)

Extra prescriptions for eye glasses/ medications

Phone numbers for embassy

Papers in pocket file folder ~ complete with photocopied passports.

Deck of cards / Travel games

Complete Guide to International Adoption and other reading material

Pens/papers

Sleep masks

Gifts/gifts bags for Orphanage directors.

It seems that I may be missing a lot without listing toiletries/clothes but I have never travelled before. Or rather I should say that the only time I went on an airplane was when I was 7 and my mother did the packing for me.   If anyone has further suggestions I am open to them.  ~ to be quite honest I feel that my list seems to be frightfully lacking.~