GOTCHA DAY

Court Date

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Packing For Our Court Trip

Sorry it's been a while since I last updated. Nothing new to report. Just trying to get all of our documents together for court and US Embassy.
I have been trying to pack for Dan & I plus guessing on what to bring for AVA. Its hard to pack for her because I really dont know her size so I am bring 12-18month clothing.
I also have to pack for Allen & Zachary because they will be going to NJ to stay with Grandma & Grandpa. We leave in 5 days to drive Allen & Zachary to North Florida (3-4 hour drive 1 way) to Uncle Brent's and then drive back to leave the next morning.

I will update before we leave and I will also be taking my computer with us.

3 comments:

Pollock Family said...

I am so happy for you.
Are you taking light strolers or Baby ergo for transporting Ava?
FYI diappers are very expensive.
Nadia was size 3.Good luck, I love reading your blog. I'm looking forward to hear more..

Trisha, Duane, and Family said...

One of the fun things to do is shop during that ten day wait!!! So, don't pack too much for baby Ava as you may want some room for new clothes from Russia for her, too. They have some really cute baby clothes in the children's stores there. Oh my....their little fur coats in Siberia are very lovely. We bought a larger size one for our baby in 2005 and she is just wearing it this winter. It's her favorite;-). Many blessings and enjoy your journey!!!

Geneva & Tom said...

Congratulations April and family...!The time has finally come. It's been a long wait, but it will be worth it in the end. I'm very excited for you and your family. Please post photos once your adoption is final. As far as size goes I looked for items that were in the weight range our boys were in at the time of their adoption. If you get a chance to go to the armoury do it. It's amazing we went each time we were in Moscow (5 times) my husband was fascinated by the history. Also if you get a chance ask the driver to take you to the flea market. Best wishes. Have a wonderful trip, talk soon - Geneva in California



Foreign adoptions down in Russia as foster care grows

Foreign adoptions down in Russia as foster care grows

Fewer Russian children are being adopted abroad, although the number of total adoptions in Russia is declining, figures show. The statistics point to a complex future for the country's orphans as the government struggles to implement additional means of foster care even as it tries to encourage more Russians to adopt.
According to the U.S. State Department, which released figures for the 2008 fiscal year, the number of foreign children adopted by Americans fell by 12 percent.
In 2008, there were 17,438 adoptions for abroad, while there were 19,613 in 2007. Much of this decline is due to fewer adoptees from Russia and China. Although Russia has not yet released statistics for 2008, the numbers from previous years confirm the trend.
There were 6,689 foreign adoptions in 2006, and only 4,536 in 2007 - a decline of over 30 percent - according to statistics provided by the Ministry of Education and Science, which is responsible for developing adoption programs and legislation in the country.
The United States is the chief destination for Russia's foreign adoptees - in 2006, American parents adopted 3,468 children, making up well over half of the total number of foreign adoptions.
But these numbers do not indicate that Russians are adopting more children. Of the adoptees, the share of those who remain in Russia has increased - from 7,767 in 2006 to 9,537 in 2007. But overall adoptions decreased in 2007 by about 3 percent. Indeed, the number of adopted children peaked in 2004 at 16,434, and has been declining ever since.
This is explainable by foster care programs. While adoptions declined, there has been a rise in the number of children in new, alternative foster care initiatives. Whi­le not adoptions formally, these included various kinds of foster care in which a child lives with a guardian or a family that is paid by the government. There are at least three kinds of foster categories apart from adoption. Although the government officially considers adoptions the best option for orphans, it has opted to develop these programs to bring down the number of children without parents.
Since 2006, more stringent laws regulating foreign adoptions have gone into effect. According to Yekaterina Bridge of the World Association for Children and Parents, that has meant more paperwork.
"In 2007, adoption agencies were getting accreditation based on new rules, and that has led to fewer adoptions," she told The Moscow News.
"The first accreditations were received only in June, 2007, and this caused a delay."
Explaining the decline in the number of adoptions, Bridge cited alternative forms of foster care, but noted that these forms had their drawbacks.
"Local officials in the provinces are wary of developing foster care because of the money issue. They fear children could be taken advantage of for the government subsidies."
While she said her agency was supportive of the government efforts to develop newer forms of foster care, she cited the latest figures for children without parents as "staggering."
As of December 31, 2007, 171,044 children were listed in the official adoption data base.
Officials acknowledge the need to encourage more Russians to adopt.
"Adoption is the top priority in placing children with families," says Alexandra Ochi­rova, who chairs the Public Cham­ber's Commission on Social and De­mographic Policy.
"But the statistics do not show that the problem is being solved. Since not enough children are being adopted, other forms of foster care are being offered."
Ochirova does not believe that foreign adoptions will solve the problem, however.
"There are various points of view, and the interests of the child should be put first," she told The Moscow News. "But I believe that this problem should be solved inside the country. This doesn't mean we should have a ban on international adoptions, but considering the demographic situation, it would be good to make the population better prepared to adopt Russian children."
Ochirova says that raising awareness, advertising, and easing bureaucracy would lead to more adoptions. There are many Russians willing to adopt, she says, but they are daunted by the bureaucratic process.

LOVE

Love... bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. - 1 Corinthians 13:7
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves."-- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7