While we were waiting... the past 30 days...

In the 30 days between Trip #2 and Trip #3

Went to the Shrine Circus!

We climbed rock walls..... 

Spent Labor Day weekend upnorth

Hung the pictures that my friend Amy gave my kiddos... LOVE them

Painted and decorated Owen's room

 Don't worry the chair will be recovered... 

Painted the Foyer

We started school...

 I froze corn for winter... 

Painted the foyer...

We hosted our St. Louis friends and visited Greenfield Village, Detroit Zoo, Sterling State park  Beach with them...  We were busy busy the weekend of September 15th...

Kids turned the table at the roundhouse at GFV.

Patiently waiting for the Carousel

Glass Blowing... 

Visited with my College friends!

Also...

Elina started Brownies
Connor started Soccer
Elina went to her first birthday party for a child at her new school...
Connor made a best buddy... his new friend Mason is in his Kindergarten class and lives 2 houses away.
Working on Cleaning and organizing my room... it has become the dumping ground and is the only area that is a mess... ugh.
PTO
Made new neighborhood friends
Attended the Mane Grand Gala event for Children With Hairloss


I am sure there were 50 other things... Hope to get the rest of painting and organizing done before Sunday morning at 9 am when I leave my house to take the kids to my mom and go to Russia and rescue my little guy.  Oh and the packing!! LOL!!

Happy Birthday Owen

I am sitting here thinking of my sweet boy with his wide grin and wishing that I could have been with him on his birthday.  We will celebrate in Moscow... I am determined to find a cupcake for Owen to demolish! :)  I am almost there...  I leave this Sunday, just 3 more days!  I cannot even believe it...  please pray that Owen comes home and transitions smoothly.  Let him attach to me and begin a life long bond...

Time to Raise Some Ransom

As you all know, I am working to bring home a sweet boy from Russia. He is a beloved baby brother and son to my little family... he will also be a cherished nephew, grandson and cousin.  This Momma knows he will always be surrounded by love.

We don't need to discuss how expensive Adoption is, just the three trips to Russia is way more than pocket change. My goal is to cover a portion of the thousands of dollars in travel costs by fundraising.  

Also, for each item purchased from one of the below parties you will also become "a piece of Owen's puzzle".   This puzzle began a few months ago which has up until this point been a $5 donation per puzzle piece; however, I would love to finish his puzzle and feel that support thru these fundraising avenues should also be included in his puzzle. There will be updated photos soon so that you may see how many friends and family have already shown Owen support and love.  When the puzzle of St. Basil's Cathedral is completed it will be sealed and placed in a double glass frame so that he may look at all of the people who brought him home.

Please check out all of the great deals!  We held the parties until September in order for everyone to get the Fall New product arrivals!!  So, get a head start the Christmas shopping begin!!

Thank you to my wonderful friends Heather, Meghann, Tammy D. and my new friend Tammy M. for  choosing to show support by donating proceeds from these parties to Owen's adoption fund.  Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart!

Pampered Chef Party by Heather Robertson

Check out the stoneware, cookware, cutlery, utensils, cool gadgets and more!

http://www.pamperedchef.biz/hcrobertson?page=home

Thirty-One Party by Meghann Crawford

Add a monogram, personalize, initials... possibilities are endless!! 

Thirty One Fundraiser
http://www.mythirtyone.com/shop/eventhome.aspx?eventId=E2195660&custId=16441737&from=INVITATION&verify=true

Scentsy Fundraiser by Tammy Dziagwa

How about a warm fall scent like Cinnamon Vanilla or Baked Apple Pie... mmm... 

Scentsy Fundraiser

https://tammyd.scentsy.us/Scentsy/Buy?partyId=102688938

Be A Voice Fundraiser by Tammy McIntosh

Please check out all of the beautiful pieces of jewelry use the code word "Yvonne" so 75% of the cost goes into Owen's fund.

Be A Voice Fundraiser

T minus 10 days

And I will be on the road to my baby... and once he is in my arms and the decree is in my hands...  I will post pictures... LOTS and LOTS of them!  He is beautiful... he looks like the V side of the family... with his dark hair and brown eyes.  

I can not wait to meet my little guy!

Trip 3

Plane tickets are reserved.... Apartment is reserved... now just have to buy a few gifts for the caregivers,  drivers, translators, and other key team members, etc... then on my way to Russia to bring Owen home!  I can't wait to share him with everyone!

Please help bring Mr. "Zack" home...

You can find the following on my good friend Katherine's blog.  She is a wonderful advocate for little Zack... who is one of the children left behind.  He is the best friend of her daughter who just came home a couple months ago.  Now she is working hard to raise funds for a family to adopt him...  is he your son?  Do you know someone who can bring him home into their family? Please read below...

http://adoptingsinglemom.blogspot.com/2012/09/fundraisergive-away-for-z.htm

Fundraiser/Give away for Z!

Ok, so I have talked a lot about Maria's best friend at the orphanage "Z".  He is officially up on Reece's Rainbow and under the name "Zack", not his real name.  You can see his page here.

Maria and "Zach" about 4 years ago.

Yes, these two friends were very close and their story has touched many people.  My friend Vivian has been kind enough to make some fun entries for "Zack's" give away.  Shelley and Toni have done a lot of work to get "Zack's" file and give him the chance to find a forever family.  We all are very invested in having these two friends see each other again.

Ok, so here are the details....Below are pictures or descriptions of the items that you could win.  I'm going to have the fundraiser/give away going for 2 weeks (ending on 9/23/12).  Names will be randomly drawn the evening of the 23rd.  So, I'm sure you want to know how to enter to win...
1. Donate money to Zack's account (you can do this through the RR site or the chip in button on this blog).
2.  Help spread the word about Zack and the fundraiser (on your blog, twitter, FB, etc).

For every $5 donated you will get 1 entry.
For mentioning the fundraiser for Zack on your blog/twitter or FB you will get 1 entry.

If you are donating or spreading the word make sure you leave a comment on my blog so I can make sure I know who I need to include in the drawing.

Ok, you have waited long enough...

These are fun Christmas ornaments.  There will be 2 winners and they can each choose 4 letters to be made into ornaments and also choose the color(s) they want.

T-shirt headbands!  2 winners (each will get 1 headband).

Fabric covered canvases with buttons sewn on spelling out LOVE.  (1 winner)

Wood letters spelling out LOVE (1 winner)

Ceramic tile coasters (5 winners 4 coasters per winner)

Bead and cord bracelets (3 winners, 1 bracelet per winner)

FALL wall hanging- picture doesn't do it justice (1 winner)

SNOW wall hanging (1 winner)

Bandana shirt/dress for girls (5 winners, 1 dress per winner, winner can choose color)

Yummy soup for cold fall and winter days (4 winners, 1 bag per winner)

Jar of S'mores (2 winners, 1 jar per winner)

I also have 1 $25 gift card for Toys R Us (1 winner)  and 1 $25 gift card for Starbucks (1 winner).

A friend has also donated one of her customized nature photographs...will post it soon for you to see.

Please help Zack!  He is an amazing little boy who really needs a family.

Trip #3 is just around the corner...

Plane tickets are reserved on American.  I am kind of excited to take a new route to Russ*a and see what another airlines has to offer.  I also connect on FinAir on the way there and British Airways on the way back...  hopefully Owen will be a trooper in the air.  I have my Ergo to help keep him close and plan to take my single stroller for him.  I am so excited!

Trip 2 - Day 4-10 hr flight+JFK=Nightmare

I booked Delta/Aeroflot to Moscow (SVO) this trip (same as my first trip).  I left Detroit with a 5 hour layover in JFK.  No problem, I hung out with the other family that was traveling with my agency.  We had an awesome chat and I left them as they were on the Delta flight.  i would have gone Delta but with the last minute ticket purchase the fare went much higher than their Aeroflot partner.  So I left to Terminal 1 by foot... yes folks it is faster to go from Terminal 2 to terminal 1 and vice versa BY FOOT.  Remember this... it is important later.

So I arrived to Aeroflot's complete disorganized mess of a check in process (they have to reprint your boarding pass)... went thru security and sat at the gate for a good long time... the flight was great... the guy who was sitting next to me... his in-seat entertainment unit didn't work so he asked to move.... wa-la, SPACE!  Mind you the Russian airplane does not have the same amount of room that American plans do... they cram more people in theirs. Once over the ocean I took a good long power nap, after my 2 hours of sleep that night, it was a great flight and we arrived without a hitch.  After grabbing my luggage, I met the driver and I was off to see my sweet boy.

Now on the return it goes a little differently.  On the way back to the airport... it was again rainy and dreary.  But it mirrored how I was feeling...  I sat in my seat next to a nice guy who actually spoke English, I proceeded to doze for about 45 minutes or so even though I slept only 2 hours that night too.... but that was my fault because I took a nap in the afternoon.  We arrived to JFK right on time... yay for connection time.  I would have time to walk around and get my blood flowing again.  We taxied for 15 minutes; I joked and said I feel like we are driving here from Moscow.  Russian announcement and BAM, you will be sitting on the ramp for about 15 minutes.  Darn it!  I so want to get up...  I have been sitting for 10 hours in a very small space where my knees touch the back of the seat in front of me.  15 minutes passed and a second announcement... we are going to move; however, we will be moving to a holding position to wait an additional 30 minutes...  then another 15 minutes... our wheels hit pavement at 4:35 PM and it was now 6:00 pm.  We moved and pulled to the gate....  I moved like a girl on fire...  I just wanted to be able to hug and kiss my sweet Elina and Connor.  I jogged to Immigration, hit the restroom (because I knew bags would take a minute to roll in)... grabbed my bag and cleared Customs... next baggage re-check for Aeroflot.  It is 6:18 pm, my flight is at 7:05 pm from Terminal 2 and I am in Terminal 1.  The young guy behind the counter denies me my connection, says I won't make it...  I tell him I am familiar with the airport and that I will make it... he tells me to proceed to the Aeroflot ticket counter to be rebooked...  it is the last Delta flight of the evening to Detroit...  I do not want to be stuck in JFK.  I turn to him and say, "Fine don't check my bag...  I will take it with me and re-check it at Delta.”  I proceed out of Terminal 1 walk as fast as possible to Terminal 2 with a checked bag, carry-on bag, purse and backpack... walk in the door and only see stairs and not the elevator and escalator (I don't feel I had time to find it)...  I grab my bags and trudge up the stairs...  I am now a sweaty mess!  I see a Delta red Coat and ask him to connect my bag... he told me to go quickly thru the TSA Checkpoint...  I divest while the Officer checks my passport shoes off, lap top out, pockets empty and bam toss things into trays and I am thru and i am still in "moving mode"... I see the door open for the jetbridge and I am there breathless but standing there... melting... and I say can I still make my flight?  The gate supervisor looks at me and says, "Ma'am, we haven't even begun boarding yet.”  I wanted to fall the floor and laugh hysterically... like a lunatic.  Nice job Aeroflot!  JFK is such a mess, thank God Immigration and Customs was empty and that I had made that connection before so I knew where I needed to go!

Trip 2-Day 3-It's Official... It's a BOY!!

I am still jet lagged, though I managed a trip to the Shrine Circus with Mac and my kids last night.  How great to ride bumper cars, run thru the fun house and then go on the space ship ride... remind me not to do that again...  I got the centripetal force of that ride and the swirling of your head when the board crashes you back to Earth!  Yikes!  But what a great time for the kids… seeing the tigers, the elephant, the roller skating act, the Russian swing and the motorcycle acts… though Elina said her favorite was the dog and pony act.

So let me tell you about court...  The night before court I slept from about 1:30 am-5:00 am between nerves and jet lag it was hopeless.  "M" picked me up for court at 8:30am and we had a wonderful chat on the way to the courthouse.  We arrived just before the courthouse opened and went to sit the in the chairs outside the court.  I felt like crawling the walls which turned into pacing the floor a few times.  I am not usually a nervous Nelly but I was afraid things would get lost in translation.  That the judge wouldn't think that I was the right family for Owen.  A British family was scheduled before me and after about 30 minutes, they came out beaming from ear to ear…  They have a beautiful daughter.

I stood at the podium with my translator "S" and answered the judge’s questions.  One after another... odd that it was just a couple days ago and I don't remember all of the questions... It was then the Orphanage Director's turn and as she walked back to her bench she winked at me and I finally felt myself exhale for the first time that morning...  The municipality stated they also agreed with the adoption...  the Prosecutor elected to not challenge the adoption and was satisfied with my answers and the support of the Orphanage director and Municipality... and instead turned to me and smiled.  The judge left to deliberate in his chambers and return with a final decision...  I felt the whoosh of the blood in my veins, I could hear the beat of my heart, and it was as if it was all in slow motion.  He walked back in and read about a page in Russian... my heart leapt out of my chest when "S" turned to me and said, "He is your son, now just the 30 days for appeals.”  I was in awe…  I still am…  I have a beautiful baby with dimpled cheeks and a grin from ear to ear. 

I left the courthouse and took a short drive in Moscow traffic (an hour… ugh) to go to the baby home to see Owen.  As I walked into his group’s room, he beamed from ear to ear with recognition… I am so glad that I focused on him this trip and spent as much time as possible with him.  I know it cost a bit extra for the fees of the translator/driver, but if I can just get even a sliver of recognition when I pick him it will help so much with his transition.  I cannot wait to show you pictures but with the 30 day appeal process it cannot be until my pick up trip.

Trip 2-Day 2

Ok folks, so I went thru the 8 Doctor medical today... all together pretty easy, though I say you should dress in clothes that are easier to put on and off... UGH!!  Off-on-off-on... so many times!   It is very similar to the medical that Elina went thru in Bulgaria before she was cleared to leave the country.... visiting all of the specialist... not sure I can even go thru the entire list... Oncologist, Dermatologist, Neurologist, general doctor, Infectious Disease, Psychiatrist, each one in a different room... TB xray and blood work... so not too bad.  The coolest thing about the medical is that it was at the "Kremlin Hospital"... it was a beautiful building inside.

After the medical we grabbed a quick bite to eat at a little cafeteria and then off with "S" and we took the Metro to the baby home... just a 30 minute walk from the Metro... perfect today after a stressful morning!  Visiting Owen was great... he is very shy of men and each driver/translator that goes with me who is male... Owen gets upset or shy.  Today he reached for me and hid his face on my shoulder...  before that he tried to hide his face in the carpet... as if he couldn't see "S" then maybe just maybe he didn't exist.  LOL!  He is full of giggle and laughter...  and he is a total teaser! Love it!

After we left the baby home and were on our way back...  I walked past a bread shop... I requested to stop and see what they had fresh since I KNEW I wouldn't get back in time to meet the other family for dinner as it was already getting late... maybe 7pm or so... so I bought a spinach and cheese pastry and a meat pastry... yum... both were great!  We also were walking past this open air market...  I was intriged and asked if we might walk thru it to the other side near the metro... well "S" was happy too because he said there is not one near his home and this is much cheaper and more fresh than the grocery store... I also saw dried fruits and nuts, every type of specialty shop... butchers, fish, hair coloring and supplies, clothing, etc...

Court is tomorrow morning at 10 am...  I leave the apartment at 830 am.  I am so ready to get thru this... home for 30 days and then get back here to pick up my sweet boy and get on with family life! :)