Baby S is a...

Girl! We had our 20 week ultrasound today where they look at Baby's parts in great detail, and she revealed herself to be a girl. We are so excited to welcome another little girl into our family, because we love our girls! We can't wait until she makes her arrival in about another 20 weeks.

Thanks and other topics

This post is a big thank you to everyone who supported us financially and emotionally during our adoption journey. Our journey didn't end the way we had planned. Though Hadley is still waiting in an orphanage and we didn't get bring her home to her family, the journey and story are not over. If we are ever allowed to adopt her, we will. If we cannot, we will adopt another waiting child.

We wanted to let everyone know where your money is waiting while we wait to determine the best time to embark on another adoption journey. If you donated to us through Reece's Rainbow, it is being held in an account for our family to use at some point in the future. If you donated directly to us, it is being held in our personal savings account, earmarked for a future adoption.

We remain committed to adopting a waiting child. Our eyes have been opened to the thousands of children waiting for a family, and we won't turn our backs on these kids. If you want to see some of these beautiful children visit:

http://www.reecesrainbow.com/ or http://www.rainbowkids.com/

You might find the child or children who are waiting for you! And there are kids waiting in the U.S. foster care system too, so don't let money or distance discourage you from adopting, if you feel that this is your calling.

And now we move on to the other topics section of the post. I decided to do a redesign of our blog. Since, our adoption is on hold for now, I thought I would remove the adoption stuff and go for a redesign. So, that's why the blog looks different. I have no idea what this blog will become, but I'm sure it will evolve over time to tell the story of our family.

Thanks to everyone for your support and for reading this blog! 

While we're waiting...

we will be growing a new addition to our family! Yes, we are expecting a "home grown" little one! In the midst of all the craziness and changes happening with our adoption, we got a positive pregnancy test! We had even started exploring other adoption options, and had tentatively settled on venturing to China. Now, we will be putting our globetrotting plans on hold (unless something changes in Rus*ia), until a later date.

The new Baby S is already showing signs that he or she will be very much like our dear daughter Abby. During the last 2 ultrasounds, Baby S was flipping and turning so much that it was hard for the nurse and ultrasound techs to get good measurements. Most of you don't know that Abby was born breech. I had a scheduled C-section which turned out to be a very good decision. Abby had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck 5 times! So, she physically couldn't turn herself, and she must have been doing all sorts of crazy moves to do that to herself. I hope to not have a repeat of that situation this time!

Here's Baby S's first picture on our blog! This was from an ultrasound on March 7th. This Baby truly feels like a blessing and a gift...more than I can explain with words!

The past 2 months...

I wasn't sure what I should title this post. Maybe "when bad politics affects you personally". Or "when you are waiting for news that never really comes". Or "Rus*ian politicians who make you want to tear your hair out" and "Could they be any crazier? Yes, they can!" But, I think the title I chose is a little more diplomatic. Even though I am pretty much over being diplomatic. Rus*ian politicians are enjoying making the U.S. their chosen enemy at this point and we don't see that changing any time soon. I won't go into all the political wranglings because the details aren't really that important. The bottom line is not much has changed since this country signed their law at the end of December banning adoptions by U.S. citizens. But, the political climate seems to be getting worse by the week.

So, what have we been doing for the past two months? Communicating with our placing agency, who happens to be one of the few that is continuing to attempt to work in Rus*ia. They have asked us to send them documents here and here and we have dutifully done it. Will it make a difference? Realistically no. We've been on numerous conference calls with the U.S State Dept. as they try to do what they can to advocate for the many families who are caught up in this mess. And we've read hundreds of news articles from various U.S. and international news sources so we can stay current on the situation.

So, what is the result of all of this? Well, it remains very unlikely at this point that we will be able to adopt Hadley. The political situation between the U.S. and Rus*ia remains volatile. And it seems to be continuing down that road. The Rus*ian politicians are now twisting the purpose of this ban from a retaliation for the Magnitsky Act to "we are trying to protect our children", which we all of know is a lie. They are using the 20 children that unfortunately have died since being adopted by U.S. families to perpetrate this lie. Even if the U.S. repealed the Magnitsky Act (which they aren't planning on doing), I don't think that Rus*ia would repeal this ban. Justin and I are getting tired of Rus*ia's twisted politics and so we are choosing to begin to tune out a lot of it. When and if things change in Rus*ia, we will move heaven and earth to get on a plane to Rus*ia to complete our adoption, but at this time, it's just not going to happen.

Everyday, we think about our girls. Abby is in a safe place, but Hadley isn't. Right now, Hadley's future seems grim. I hate even thinking about it because it sends me to a dark place where I imagine the worst for her. And it makes me desperately sad think of how she has a family that loves her and is waiting for her, yet instead she will spend her childhood growing up in an orphanage with other orphans who have been forgotten and hidden away. We are definitely not giving up on Hadley or any of Rus*ia's orphans. We will continue to fight for their freedom and their right to a family. But, we will likely be taking a different direction while we wait for something to change in Rus*ia. Rus*ia has closed their doors (for now), but there are hundreds of thousands of other orphans in the world that need a family. We plan to be the family for a least one of these children.

I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes. And a picture of our sweet Hadley.


“We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty." ~Mother Teresa

Hadley, you will always be wanted and loved!