8 Months!

Happy 8 months baby boy!!! Hold on...we're coming soon for you! Mom and dad LOVE YOU!

Local Legend

Ryan has had the honor of being name a Local Legend! We've only really been here for three years, so he must've made an impact on someone! Last night at Country Kitchen from 5-8 p.m., if you presented your Local Legend Voucher, 20% of your guest check was donated to the Boys & Girls Club. Now Country Kitchen is not the most fancy place, and to be honest, I was actually scared to eat there! There was a handful of people who came out in support of Ryan and it was really cool. He had his picture posted in the front of the restaurant, and even signed an autograph! Now we just have to make sure that it doesn't go to his head :)

No baby news...still nothing, nada, zilch, zip, zero. Please continue to pray and have good thoughts, vibes, mojo, juju, etc., that things get moving soon!

This weekend most men will be headed out for the opening weekend of deer season - well rifle season - My darling husband included. Originally I was going to go to the cabin too just to hang out, read some books, do a little nothing. I've also been invited to a "Men go hunting, girls drink Wine" party on Saturday. At this point I'm debating whether or not to go. It's nice to go to the cabin and really do nothing...although sometimes I do end up cooking for the boys and cleaning up after them! I haven't hung out with any girls in some time and I could use that too. If I stay here there are plenty of things that I can do around the house. There's a heaping pile of clothes that need to be ironed, kitchen that needs to be organized and cleaned, baby's room still put together...decisions, decisions. Either way I plan to have myself a good weekend!



An almost hidden fist...but still a fist!

UGH

Well, well...I got a stunning email today with the following news:

Alert: Kyrgyz Adoptions Appear Stalled
November 14, 2008

The Department of State recommends adoptive parents and agencies exercise caution in pursuing an intercountry adoption from Kyrgyzstan. A number of prospective adoptive parents have reported that their cases are not being processed. The U.S. Embassy has requested official clarification, but no formal announcement has been made.

According to local experts, few if any cases are being processed at this time. Further, the government of Kyrgyzstan appears to be making moves to strengthen its internal controls of and develop new legislation on adoptions. It has been reported that Kyrgyz citizens may have been denied the opportunity to adopt during the past year, even while some intercountry adoptions by non-citizens were being approved. At this time it is not clear what action will be taken on pending cases or if the Government of Kyrgyzstan will accept any new cases.

The U.S. Embassy continues to monitor the situation and will provide clarification as soon as it is received.

Suck! Over the past week other PAP's have been talking about contacting our US Senators, Representatives, and other US government officials about the status of international adoption in Kyrgyzstan. Others have been talking about writing letters to the Kyrgyz Ambassador, Kyrgyz Embassy, US Embassy in Kyrgyz, Joint Council for International Children's Services (JCICS), Ministry of Education, etc...I just have to say that I really hate that it has gotten to this point! It's so heartbreaking to hear this news, when all we're trying to do is stay positive. We want our little guy home, along with the 60+ other babies waiting to come home. Ugh. Nothing more to say, but ugh!

Ryan and I are heading to the cabin in Black River tonight with our pups. He'll be hunting and I'll be snuggled up by the fire reading a book...all the while thinking of Arsin...

Nothing, nada, zilch, zero...

No news. These days, no news isn't necessarily good news. I was just at the grocery store and decided to stop and print off pictures of Arsin. I know, I know, I'm a bad mom. I don't have any hard copies of the pictures...I just gaze at them on my computer. Anywho, I put my little jump drive in the machine and I burst into tears - out of nowhere! The young man behind the counter must've thought that I was a crazy lady. he quickly came over to help me with the machine. Clearly he thought that was what I was crying about.

This wait is the hardest thing I think that I have ever had to do. I've been through bad relationships, I've been hurt by my friends, I had a challenging childhood...but nothing, I mean NOTHING, compares. We got updated photos and measurements from an adoptive mommy that was in Kyrgyzstan last week visiting with her daughter again. I just cannot believe how much he's growing up. He looks very healthy and happy. I have been reassured by the mommy's that just traveled that although the circumstances are not exactly ideal, our kiddos are being taken care of and the caregivers seem to really care about the babies. I was also told that Arsin seemed to really like his caregiver which is so HUGE! Still, even as I write this I'm tearing up.

The reality is that there are no answers. Apparently there is an on-going investigation and we can't move forward until that is all squared away. I just want them to square it and move on. I realize that it is totally a culture difference and I probably could never wrap my American mind around it. At this point all I can do is pray and send good vibes, mojo, juju, you name it. My heart just breaks, and I pray that we can have him home before Christmas.

On another note...
Last night Ryan and I were snuggling on the couch and just like any other time we get close, our two dogs came jumping right in. Ryan was reclinging, I was sitting over him and the two dogs on my lap laying their heads on his chest. I wish I could have taken a picture! Ryan and I can't get close or kiss without one of our dogs jumping in on the action. While we were laying there dozing off on the couch I asked Ryan where Arsin fits in this snuggle group. He quickly answered, "Right here of course," meaning on the other side of him. Then he proceeded to tell me that Arsin will snuggle him like this until he's 18 years old and that he will love his dad so much. Of course I'm sure he'll love him, but snuggling until he's 18?...don't count on it pal! We talk about Arsin like he's already here and we've already made all kinds of plans. We say goodnight to him every night (to the pictures on the computer of course). We just cannot wait until we can kiss him and hold him and snuggle him. Life almost seems strange without him here....

GObama!

What an exciting day in history! I'm certainly not one to get overly involved in politics, but I think that this is definitely history in the making and I'm glad to be a part of it.

This past weekend we were in Cary, IL for J and Hannah's reception. They got married on October 21st in Hawaii. We are so glad to be a part of their celebration. J is one of Ryan's best friend's from high school and he was also the best man in our wedding. I also got to meet a lot of Ryan's classmates...



We also had the chance to spend some time with my nieces from Kenosha. They stayed at the hotel with us on Friday and we swam and played all afternoon on Saturday. It's amazing how much things quiet down once the kid leave :) We are in for a very rude awakening..one that we absolutely are much anticipating!



No news on the adoption front. We haven't received any updates in quite some time and it is so easy to get discouraged. Right now there are some fellow PAP's visiting their babies for an interim trip. I received an email today from one of them and she let us know that she has gotten photos of Arsin and most of the other AA babies! She was also able to get some updated measurements. It's so awesome to have such good virtual friends to check in on our little ones. The wait gets tougher and tougher. Some days are certainly harder than others. Please pray that we are able to bring him home soon! In the meantime, we have confidence that he is being taken care of at the Bishkek Baby House. The last family that traveled and got pictures for us also said that Arsin is in a smaller room than all the other kids. I believe there are only 4 or 5 other babies. We also have pictures of him with his caregiver, Z.

Here's a picture of Ryan and I at J & Hannah's reception...for whatever reason we have very few pictures of us together!