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In 5 days we'll know if we are able to adopt a little girl

545 replies

lettinggo · 25/06/2011 12:44

I won't go thorugh all the process that's brought us this far, but we're 6 1/2 years in the process.

In 5 days time, on June 30th, we're going to find out if we will be able to adopt a little girl from Russia. She must be made available for domestic adoption until June 30th and after that will be able to be adopted internationally. She has some minor health issues, as far as we know nothing hugely serious, but apparantly Russians don't like to adopt children with health issues. She's been adoptable since she was 2 months old.

For the past month we've known about her and have been told that if she doesn't get adopted domestically, we will be allowed to adopt her. In my heart I know we should be hoping she gets to be adopted domestically because that would obviously be what is best for her but it's hard not to hope that it doesn't happen. I'm just not that good.

And now there's only 5 days to go and she's still there. I'm not at all religious, I certainly don't pray. But I remember years ago doing a novena (type of prayer service you do for 9 days where you pray for a specific thing) to St Francis Xavier and the words are rattling around in my head

"but if what I ask is not for the glory of God and the good of my soul,
I pray and desire that which is most conducive to both"

Might not make sense to anyone not Catholic but it's a comfort at the moment.
Sorry for the ramble. I wish I could go to sleep and wake up on Thursday at 1pm (close of business in that part of Russia).

OP posts:
hester · 04/10/2011 22:00

That was such a lovely post, ProudKazmum (I can't being to type out your user name Grin

lettinggo · 05/10/2011 12:16

Thanks for the lovely messages. Proud Kaz Mum, you had me in tears with your lovely post.

Our facilitator phoned us this morning to say the judge won't look at our file until Oct 20th but that we have a court date for Dec 8th. I still don't think we can rely on this as a definite. But at least wel'll know for sure on Oct 20th. Until then I'll try hard NOT to think about the fact that we might be home with her for Christmas Grin ( See how well that's working for me Grin)

OP posts:
Kewcumber · 05/10/2011 12:39

ProudKazmum - do I know you? .... near liverpool

lettinggo · 20/10/2011 18:37

WAHOO!!!! We have a court date- Dec 8th - so as long as there are no weather hold ups, we'll be home with our little girl on Dec 23rd!!!!!!!!!!!

OP posts:
ChippingInToThePumpkinLantern · 20/10/2011 18:40

Oh WOW that's brilliant, absolutely brilliant!!

Big Big celebrations in your house tonight then!!!

Wine
Lilka · 20/10/2011 19:36

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! Grin Wine

boohoohoo · 20/10/2011 19:46

God this just made me well up, congratulations! That is absolutely fantastic, your little girl home for Christmas, how wonderful!

CamperFan · 20/10/2011 20:03

Wow, lettinggo that is brilliant - I have just been reading your story and I am so pleased for you.

MidnightHag · 20/10/2011 20:06

What a wonderful Christmas present for your family!

hester · 20/10/2011 22:30

Wow, Christmas is going to be busy this year!
I am so, so pleased for you xxx

ImHotNoYoureHot · 04/12/2011 10:26

(Name change cos I let go ages ago...)

Well tomorrow's the day! The bags are half packed (but they don't write songs about half packed bags Smile), instructions are written out for my sister for minding my ds and for my friend who's minding my dog, the turkey is ordered, Christmas presents bought and wrapped, the tree's coming down from the attic today, have I forgotten anything?

The nerves are in overdrive. I have a list that's on 2 sides of an A4 sheet and it's covered in post-its too. Court for us is on Thursday and I'm really nervous about it even though I know it will more than likely be fine. When I'm nervous though, I talk absolute shite and I'm afraid I'll come out with something stupid in the court. Anyway, presuming things go ok and the judge says "da", we'll have a daughter next Thursday Grin. We can't take her from her Baby Home until Monday 19th so I'm going to stay in her village and visit her every day in the hope that by the time we take her from the home, she'll know me and will take some comfort from me because I think leaving her carers and her baby friends will be terrifying for her.

My dh will go home again this Friday and will go back to Russia with my ds on the 18th. Then they'll come to collect me and MY DD!!!! on Mon 19th. We have to go back to the city and wait for a couple of days to get her passport, then we get an overnight train to Moscow to go to the Irish Embassy, then we're flying home that day and will arrive in Dublin airport at 11.40pm.

Reasons to be scared:

  1. The big reason. Something will go wrong in court and the judge will say "niet"
  2. The plane will crash with me and dh on it and my ds will be orphaned ( I'm not usually afraid of flying but I hate travelling without ds)
  3. I won't see my ds (11) for 2 whole weeks (and yes, I'll Skype him every day and he won't miss me I'm sure)
.....I could go on and on. I have officially turned into my mother. I worry.

BUT, if everthing goes ok, the judge says yes and the planes don't crash, in 3 weeks time I will be sitting here in my kitchen with a gorgeous little girl who will be mine forever. I just can't believe this is really happening.

Besom · 04/12/2011 10:34

How lovely and exciting! I wish you the very best of luck with everything. X

nothruroad · 04/12/2011 10:53

All my very best wishes at this exciting time - I was in tears reading this!

stigofthelump · 04/12/2011 10:53

I'm so excited for you, good luck with it all!

HaveToWearHeels · 04/12/2011 13:00

ImHotNoYoureHot only checked in on this thread last night as I was thinking of you. Best of luck, hope all goes to plan and your little family is complete for Chrustmas.

Lilka · 04/12/2011 13:00

Very exciting, YOU WILL BE FINE! How fantastic you're almost there! :)

Tmesis · 04/12/2011 13:41

Best of luck! Really hope everything goes smoothly from here on.

KristinaM · 04/12/2011 19:33

Good luck with all your plans . A few suggestions

Assume that there will be delays and make sure your tickets and plans are flexible

Ask if you can take DD from the baby home the day aftre court. There is no official reason why you cant if the adoption is granted.

You may not have to say anything in court.

Dont you have tp stay in russia for the appeal period? Are you sure it will be waived?

Are you sure that the irish embassy will issue her visa the same day?

Im a bit concrned that your timescale is really really tight. I hope it all works out for you

KristinaM · 04/12/2011 19:40

Oops i forgot

Take clothes and toys for the baby home and see if they will give you hers to take home

Ditto bedlinen, buy them soem new and take hers with you

Find out what brand of baby milk she is on and buy soem.

Get a detailed breakdown of her routine

Get photos of DD with all her carers. Write down their names

Ask if they will let you take photos of the other children she is with ( probably not). And of her room /ward ( ditto). But no harm in asking

After the adoption is granted, aSk if they have any information at all about her birth family. If its a village soemone probably knows. They may not tell you until aftre court. The russians often assume that you dont want to know .

KristinaM · 04/12/2011 19:43

If she is still on a bottle, keep her on it and ignore what your health visitor says. Im assuming she is about 12 months so she may not be weaned yet

Keep her diet as similar as possible for as long as possible

ChippingInNeedsSleep · 04/12/2011 19:51

I was thinking of you today while I was out - I was just going to do a search to find this thread and up it popped Grin

I am still so incredibly excited for you and hope you can keep us updated as you go? If not, we'll have to settle for a looooooong post when you get back :)

MudAndGlitter · 04/12/2011 19:52

This is the nicest thread I've ever read on mumsnet. Huge congrats to all of you and the best of luck for your lives together.

Also I'm dying to know what her name is! Self confessed names addict lol

lostinwales · 04/12/2011 20:03

So glad I found this thread, congratulations and good luck, I will be following you until the minute you land home with your beautiful daughter. (I was adopted as a baby albeit from the UK and have a very soft spot for these threads, even more so than labour ones Smile)

fridakahlo · 04/12/2011 20:50

Just read the whole thread, what a wonderful story. Fingers, toes and everything else crossed that you will be home for christmas with your baby girl. Smile

tralalala · 04/12/2011 21:12

Oh what a wonderful thread, I am tears, I wish you all the best. A good friend has just adopted a 12 month old and they are over the moon as is their 7 year old.

Despite being a complete atheist I repeated your prayer at the beginning just now with all my heart.