Tax Credit

Awesome news, it has been increased by $1,ooo. What a relief, I was really praying we would have our adoption completed this year because I was afraid the tax credit wouldn't be renewed meaning we wouldn't get a tax credit, which was one reason we went ahead with the adoption. Thankful for this miracle.

American Idol and Adoption

Found this on the Adoption Ark blog;

If you have been watching American Idol (and who isn't) you know who Aaron Kelly is. Aaron is a bright eyed talented 16 year old from Sonestown PA. He belts out songs with the voice of a singer twice his age and the girls swoon. One thing you may not know about Aaron is that he is an adoptee. At age 5, along with his brother, he was adopted by his aunt. Despite coming from tough circumstances, he thrived and travelled to various singing competitions before landing a coveted spot on the mega hit TV show. Aaron is yet another example of the determination of the human spirit and a testament to Adoption Ark's belief in the blessings of adopting an older child. We wish Aaron continued success in the competition as it narrows down to the top 10!!!

Awesome for adoptive kids to see and know!

MOJ and Government Officials meet to discuss adoption

This is an article written on a Bulgarian site about the meeting today;

After the changes in family code increases the number of adoptions abroad. Only the beginning of this year 30 Bulgarian children have found new families abroad.

In 2009, foreigners have adopted 200 children with disabilities.

Elina was born 5 years ago in Bulgaria, with serious birth defects of both legs.Abandoned almost immediately in the home for children with disabilities. Such is the fate of many children like her. After days but Elina will have a real home and family in the United States.

"I decided to be her mother because she captivated my heart. I knew him from the moment I saw her picture," said Yvonne.

Asked whether the procedure was difficult so the woman replies: "It was hard just waiting, but the procedure itself was not so bad."

Elina and her mother Yvonne Vilemyur participated in a conference on international adoptions. At present the list of children waiting for new parents abroad, Bulgarians have up to 1200 with severe disability or the age of 7 years. Chance they can find in our families is minimal.

"Many adoptions are, at times have increased - from Italy, USA, Sweden, the very good cooperation, a very large desire by foreign adoptive parents to accept and adopt children who actually have health problems and we work very well with those countries that willing to provide homes and support to children in such a situation, "said Justice Minister Margarita Popova.

Besides real home will have little Elina and 3-year-old brother, there will be new and suitable prostheses for legs. Yvonne and her mother had already begun to learn to speak English.

Yvonne is with our agency. The article only talks about Special Needs. Still waiting to see if healthy young children are being referred out of the country to other countries.

Funds for Adoption

Today was the last day for the MOPS sale. I sold Cathryn's used clothing from last summer and the toddler bed we got Calvin at a garage sale last summer. My take home is $103 after giving MOPS 30%. So total, from the fall MOPS sale and this sale we made about $300 to put towards our adoption.

I see there are no bids for the cute skirt my friend donated, so instead of putting a starting bid lets try 'make an offer' and go from there. I have just ordered 2 skirts from her, they really are cute. I noticed at Old Navy they are selling similar skirts for $15 so remember this is to raise funds to bring our son home. If you can and have a little girl, niece, grand daughter, please think about making an offer.Thanks!

Tomorrow I will be working on one more financial aid application for our adoption. So we will have officially applied to 3 organizations to help us bring our son home. Curious, how have you raised funds for your adoption, let me know.

Attachment Article from Univ of Mn

Recommendations for the First 6 to 9 Months

Our list of recommendations is based on the collective years of experience of our team of adoption health care specialists and has evolved over time. In presenting these recommendations, I would like to acknowledge the collaborative contributions of my clinic colleagues, Dana Johnson, MD, PhD, Angela Sidler, MD, Stacene Maroushek, MD, Kay Dole, OTR, Sandy Iverson, RN, CNP, Mary Jo Spencer, RN, CNP, and Maria Kroupina, PhD. "

• We recommend a low-keyed arrival scene as you return home from your child's country of origin. It is usually best to avoid having a large crowd greet you. Your child should stay in your arms and should not be passed to others.
• Develop daily routines and rituals, and stick to them as much as possible. In keeping mealtimes, bedtimes and playtimes consistent, your child will begin to feel that each day has a predictability and structure to it. This is comforting for the child who is experiencing a period of incredible change and transition from orphanage to adoptive family.
• We recommend that parents, as much as possible, be the only persons to feed, change, bathe, dress, rock to sleep, or comfort their child. We think it is helpful for your newly adopted child to practice having needs consistently met by you, the parent.
• When extended family members or friends bring gifts for your child, we recommend that you have your child sit with you and that you hand the gift to your child or assist your child in opening the gift. You may want to say something like "Look, Annie. Grandma brought you a present. You may open it now."
• In the beginning, you may want to advise relatives and friends ahead of time that they should ask your permission to pick up your child or do an activity with your child. Each time they ask permission, your child is hearing them reference you as the important decision-maker for activities that involve your child. This may provide your child with practice in referencing you before embarking on a new experience.
• In large group gatherings, like adoption shower parties, let guests know ahead of time that you will be holding your child and that you will not be passing your child around from person to person. Overall, we advise avoiding large group gatherings during your child's first few months home. A previously institutionalized child does not need trips to Disneyworld or a day of shopping at the mall. What he or she needs more than anything is lots of concentrated one-on-one time with a warm, loving and sensitive parent.
• Spend as much one-on-one time with your child as possible. Your child does not need to be surrounded by lots of toys. In fact, being surrounded by too many toys and an overly stimulating environment may be overwhelming. Instead, choose one or two toys and get down on the floor with your child, and play with the toys in an interactive manner with your child. Use lots of facial expressions and face-to-face gestures like peek-a-boo or rubbing noses together. Watch your child for cues that he or she may be getting overwhelmed or tired, and then switch to a soothing, comforting activity such as rocking your child.

We believe that all of these steps may assist your child in seeing you as the essential "gatekeeper(s)" through which all good things in life come. The goal is to help your child realize that you are the one(s) to meet his or her needs, to be trusted, and with whom to seek close contact.

Sometimes, despite undertaking the above recommendations, parents may notice their child is having a difficult time in developing an appropriate attachment relationship. If you feel you and your child are experiencing difficulties, you may want to seek the help of a trusted professional, hopefully someone with lots of experience in working with internationally adopted children. Unfortunately, a flurry of mass media reports has highlighted problems with a number of "attachment therapists" who are recommending therapies that are not only untried and unproven, but may be potentially dangerous or lethal. We at the International Adoption Clinic encourage parents to seek reputable therapists. If a treatment or therapy is recommended for your child that you, as a parent, feel is abusive or questionable, we urge you to trust your instincts and not condone or allow such treatment. We encourage you to seek a second opinion from a trusted and experienced physician, nurse practitioner or child psychologist.

Auction for our adoption...make your bids

This skirt fits my daughter who just turned 5. I would say it fits a child between 3-4 years old. Bidding starting at $15. If you are interested in making a bid leave a message with your bidding price in the comment section. Bidding will end at the end of next week. I will then contact you via email/blog and send it to you. Thank you for supporting us as we raise funds for our adoption. If you go to the top of my blog page and click on down lady bird lane you can see what the skirt looks like on. The girls are 3 and 5 years old.

Tea Party For Cathryn's 5th Birthday

Sisters dressed for tea party
Table Set for Tea
Cup cakes
Tea pot cake I made out of marshmallow fondant~ delicious

Cathryn will be 5 on Wednesday!

As we wait for Calvin to come home, life goes on. Cathryn was 3 when we decided to adopt, seems like time has gone by so slowly as we wait, but I can't believe our baby is 5 in a couple of days. Where does the time go? On Saturday we will be having a tea-party for her and her 2 cousins and 5 girl friends. It seems like tea-party's are getting popular. We have received two invitations to tea party birthdays since we decided to have a tea party.

There is a ton of information out there on tea parties. We have asked her friends to show up in formal attire (either princess dress or formal dress). We will have a nail painting station and make up station for the girls. And when they arrive they will make fruit loop necklaces. We will be drinking decaf tea/ lemonade (their choice). My girls actually love tea! Their British side coming out. For lunch we will have sandwiches, fruit kabobs,and chocolate covered strawberries. For dessert I am making a teapot cake and some cupcakes with ice-cream. I am very nervous about making the teapot cake so hopefully it will turn out. Some game ideas are; find the teacup (scavenger hunt), put the handle on the teapot, and a story about teatime manners. I am excited and I know Cathryn is too. I know I still have to post pictures of Caroline's snowflake party. I guess I will do it the same time I put Cathryn's pictures up on the blog. Sorry I am not very good at that. So as you see we are keeping busy.

On the adoption front, we have been registered now for 14 months....so if 18 months is the real time frame that means only 4 more months of waiting for a referral. But honestly, it seems like it will be Christmas before we get a referral. A fellow adoptive parent I keep in touch with has been waiting for 2 years now to get a referral for a young healthy child. Her agency says any day now! Will keep you posted. Please continue to pray for our son, and patience for us.

Right now there is a family in China from our church adopting their 9 year old daughter. They should be returning home this Sunday. They already have 2 adopted children, I think from Korea, and 2 biological older boys at home too. So excited for them.

Prov 3;5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.

ADHD and Adopted Children

http://center4familydevelop.blogspot.com/2009/12/adhd-among-internationally-adopted.html

Today also marks our 2 year anniversary since we started our adoption...We started this journey 2 years ago this month. Hoping you are home soon son!