We Have Our Girl!

We brought our baby girl home this month! She was adopted domestically, and we couldn't be happier. We didn't want to post anything earlier about throwing our hat into the domestic adoption arena because we would have also gone to Krygyzstan if it had reopened. Anyway, everything finds its balance sooner or later.

She is happy, healthy, and no exposure to drugs or alcohol. We are thrilled, and she couldn't be more perfect.

Hibernating at Home

There is nothing much to report on the adoption front.

It is hot hot hot outside, and we are staying inside and trying to stay cool. I've been doing some sewing lately. I just finished a baby quilt, and a crown. I have a pattern for some cute girl's dresses, but I don't know the sex of the child we may adopt one day.

Update, But Nothing Exciting

We are considering some other options right now. I've read that things might begin moving in Kyrgyzstan before the end of the year. That may or may not include families without referrals. Anyway, that isn't what we are checking out. But we aren't just sitting around waiting.

UPDATE: Kyrgyzstan

This from JCICS:

It is Joint Council's understanding from discussions with the U.S. Dept of State, Office of Children's Issues that a number of arrests have been made in Kyrgyzstan in connection to intercountry adoptions. It is also our understanding that key Kyrgyz officials have confirmed the arrests of at least one adoption coordinator. Joint Council is currently working to confirm the arrests of at least two other coordinators. The latest information indicates that some of the illegal activity under investigation involve intercountry adoptions for children matched with U.S. citizen adoptive parents, including the creation of fraudulent paperwork for the purposes of intercountry adoption. Joint Council is currently working to confirm the charges and the extent of investigations. It is unknown at this time how this will affect the 65 pending cases.

In response to the current developments in Kyrgyzstan Joint Council is currently advocating with the U.S. Dept of State, Office of Children's Issues for a conference call for families who are matched with a referral. Given the limited schedule of the U.S. Embassy in Kyrgyzstan this week we do not anticipate this call occurring until late in the week of May 11th or during the week of May 18th.

Further, Joint Council has at this time decided it is necessary to suspend the current campaign of waiting child stories and the U.S. congressional campaign until further information is available on the investigations, charges, arrests and extent of illegal activities. At this time we respectfully request that prospective adoptive parents with referrals not take drastic advocacy measures for their case or the 65 pending cases. In conversations with government officials it is apparent that aggressive advocacy efforts at this time may simply be counterproductive. In order to ensure that advocacy efforts are strategic and directed at the appropriate officials and within an effective context, it is necessary to see how the investigations are resolved in Kyrgyzstan. Joint Council is greatly saddened by these recent events and offers our continued support to all families. We will continue to advocate for the children of Kyrgyzstan and the processing of legal, ethical intercountry adoptions from Kyrgyzstan with the strongest of commitments. Joint Council will also continue to update Member Organizations, adoptive families and all key stakeholders as the situation develops.

Thank you for your continued support of Joint Council and the children we all serve.

One of Many Updates....Sort of

This is an edit of a post from an agency very active in Kyrgyzstan. They are kind enough to keep people updated on what is happening (or at least what they know).


The Parliament did not discuss adoption this week. Next week is holidays, so if they meet they may not discuss adoption. The following week they are back on schedule and we expect they will issue their decision. The MOE is clearly operating with the belief that they will give a green light to completing adoptions in process; they indicate that it will take about a month to catch up with the matched waiting families. We do not know if they will then continue to make referrals to other families, or if the Embassy will accept new dossiers, or what. Hopefuly all of the above. The investigations continue. Most in-country coordinators have been called in for questioning. A couple judges have been unseated. They continue to raise those bizarre questions about "Why do foreign families want Kyrgyz orphans?" We've heard that family stories and photos have been helpful at debunking myths and allaying fears. The US Embassy is actively engaging the Kyrgyz officials to resolve the impasse. I don't know how many more times I can bear saying "one more week" or you can bear hearing it, but we are still stuck.

Killing Some Time, Burning Some Money

Aiden and I spent a couple days at Disney World this week. It was nice to get out of town with another mom and Aiden's best buddy. I asked Aiden what he liked best about the trip. He said it was riding the monorail, jumping on the bed in the hotel room, and the Legos store. I didn't have to purchase park admission passes for that. But then, knowing he isn't a big fan of too many people and too much noise (I liked lounging around the hotel pool the best), I could have guessed that.

We may go back again when the crowd is thinner. Then again, we can head west for 15 minutes and get a hotel room on the beach (with good beds to jump on), ride the beach trolley, and float in the Gulf of Mexico for less than the cost of a park pass to the Magic Kingdom.

Latest Update on Kyrgyzstan Progress

Based on an email from a wonderful agency director:

The powers that be say they are working on it, but there is nothing of substance yet to report. The investigations seem to center on Bishkek, although the adoption documents from Tokmok may not have been reviewed yet.

According to The Economist, The Kyrgyz president gave the US six months to renegotiate the US base arrangement. While it does not affect adoption directly, any swing between Russia and the US from inside Kyrgyzan can influence how the Kyrgyz government feels about the US in general.

DOS has not directly reported anything new, but the talk is that they are working hard to get children home. It isn't known whether they can make it happen this month or not.

JCICS Update

March 3, 2009 - Joint Council is pleased to confirm that U.S. Embassy officials in Kyrgyzstan met late last week with the Vice Prime Ministers Office regarding the 65 in-process intercountry adoption cases and the future of intercountry adoptions from Kyrgyzstan. At this time Joint Council cannot confirm the exact contents of the conversation.

Further, we can confirm that police investigations are occurring in Kyrgyzstan in regards to accusations surrounding child buying for intercountry adoption. No further information on this subject is available at this time. As soon as more information is available Joint Council will release it on our website.

Help is Just a Click Away

By just clicking on the Google ads in the sidebar, you make an automatic contribution to those that help folks in Central Asia. John Wright said they received $20 in just five days. As more folks add the ad and others start "clicking" the ad, the amount should grow.

If you don't have anything to do, would you take a minute to do some clicking?

Rita

Helping Those So That They Can Help Others

This is about a wonderful family that helps the less fortunate in Kyrgyzstan. The Wrights want to be in Kyrgyzstan full time helping, but money is always the problem. They have spent everything they own. If you want to make a difference please consider making a contribution.


Let's Get It Right for the Wrights!

Dear Friends of the Wrights,

We all know and understand the effectiveness of the work John, Julie, and family have done in Kyrgyzstan - the country they love so much and have been called to. Let's get them there ON THE GROUND full time! We can do this.

This post is coming out with other blog posts all over the country - people who have blogs that know the Wrights. Let's shock them with the provision of financial resources and letters/notes of encouragement to help them return to Kyrgyzstan. They want to go as full time missionaries - they just need our help to get them there.

We propose that we raise a minimum of the following:

$20,000 to cover a year's needs on the home front

• Home expenses - the place to come back to

$30,000 to cover a year's needs on the foreign front

• Travel in and out of the country with family 2 x a year

• Travel in the country to the different sites

• Family expenses - including the educational needs of one daughter

• Lodging and meals

This is just $50,000. We can do this and we can do it quickly. Here is how. Go to JOHN'S Blog and hit the button that is for the Wrights..support.

www.actofkindness.blogspot.com

AND guess what - you can watch all that is done there on his blog..you will learn to live vicariously in a healthy way by reading and supporting the RIGHT cause. What an opportunity - Will you help?

Let's do it RIGHT FOR THE WRIGHTS!

More News Out of Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyz Republic Government Addresses Regulation of Adoption Procedures


BISHKEK (AKIpress) – Kyrgyzstan's prime minister, Igor Chudinov, has signed a Kyrgyz Republic (KR) government directive addressing child adoption issues. This was reported today, February 17, 2009, by the KR Government Press Service.

The document in question was approved with a view toward regulating the procedure for adoption of children who are citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic, and improving the Kyrygz Republic's legal framework in that area.

Given those considerations, and in accordance with Article 130 of the Kyrgyz Republic Family Code, the Government of the Kyrygz Republic resolves:

To declare invalid Section 3. "Adoption of Children Who Are Kyrgyz Republic Citizens by Foreign Citizens" in the "Statute Regarding Rules for the Placement of Children Without Parental Guardianship for Adoption by Cititzens of the Kyrgyz Republic, and by Foreign Citizens", as approved by KR Government Resolution No. 121 on February 22, 2006, "Regarding Confirmation of the Statute Regarding Rules for the Placement of Children Without Parental Guardianship for Adoption by Cititzens of the Kyrgyz Republic, and by Foreign Citizens".

Simultaneously, it is resolved that adoption of children from the Kyrgyz Republic by foreign citizens or stateless persons shall be authorized only if an international treaty exists between Kyrgyzstan and the foreign state.

The KR Ministry of Education and Science and the KR Ministry of Labor and Social Development have been assigned to submit by March 31, 2009, following established procedure, their proposals regarding improvement of those statutes that regulate child adoption.

Pursuant to this document personal responsibility for compliance with KR legislation in adoption matters is placed upon the heads of state administrations at the level of the republic's regions and districts.

It should be noted that this directive becomes effective immediately on the date of its official publication.

AKIpress

A New JCICS Post (Or If We Didn't Have Bad Luck...)

We have waited since July of 08 for a referral, and nothing has been happening in Kyrgyzstan since that time. Because of this stagnation, approximately 60 families have waited for months and months for a court date, with no end in sight, even though they have already met and bonded with a child. Countless other children remain in orphanages, and agencies are not getting any additional referrals.

We are going to remain on a wait list for Kyrgyzstan, but we are now going to throw our hat into the ring with Russia. If we didn't have bad luck in international adoption, we would have no luck at all. We will, however, persevere because we won't stop trying.

Here is the latest JCICS post:


February 17, 2009 - The U.S. Department of State does not recommend that U.S. citizens consider adoption from Kyrgyzstan at this time. Currently, no adoption cases are being processed, including at least sixty-five adoption cases by U.S. citizens already in progress. In addition, the Kyrgyz government is considering significant changes to its adoption regulations.

The Kyrgyz Government has formed an adoption commission that includes officials from the Vice Prime Minister’s office, the Ministries of Education, Social Protection and Labor, Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, and Justice, as well as the General Prosecutor’s office. This commission is responsible for drafting new adoption policy and legislation, with special emphasis on clarifying the roles and responsibilities of the different agencies involved. The commission will recommend whether the Kyrgyz Republic should join the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption. The commission plans to report to Parliament by March 20; the Parliament will then choose what action it will take on these proposals. The Kyrgyz government does not intend to process any adoption cases, new or pending, until the adoption commission issues its report and Parliament has taken action on its recommendations.

Although the new legislation likely will not affect existing cases of children already matched with adoptive parents, it will allow the Ministry of Education authority to resume processing these adoption dossiers. New adoption cases would be subject to any new requirements established by Parliament.

The U.S. Embassy continues to monitor the situation and will provide clarification as soon as it is received. This notice has also been posted at Adoption.State.Gov/news/notices.html.

Another JCICS Post

January 23, 2009 - It is Joint Council's understanding that 17 high ranking officials of the Kyrgyz government, including the Minister of Education and the Vice-Minister of Education, have been removed from their positions. Obviously this will have an effect on in-process intercountry adoptions. It is currently unclear exactly how the changes will effect in-process cases. As more information becomes available Joint Council will update the website.

Please see the post dated January 24, 2009 on the Ann's blog, "myadoptiongeography.blogspot.com/" for more details.

Inauguration Day

I took Aiden to a local coffee shop to watch the inauguration on the big screen and make it a celebratory event rather than just another show on tv. While drinking hot cocoa and eating a bagel with cream cheese, Aiden watched our 44th President of the United States sworn in. He didn't understand it all, but he understood enough.

I hope we can leave this world a better place for our children.

About Blog Wallpaper and TVs

I am seeing a whole lot of darling blogs. I'm talking totally gorgeous. Where does this breathtaking wallpaper come from? Does this cost money?

I'm always caught between remaining hip and trendy, and keeping things simple and basic. I generally just remain caught in the middle. For example, we have a 20+ year old TV. There is a dead zone at the top of the screen, and people's heads are chopped off at the forehead because of it. We have to bang the side of the TV for the picture to come in. We can afford to go out tomorrow to get a new TV, but it just isn't important to us. We don't even have cable. We care next to nothing about this. Next month we won't have a picture at all when we turn on the TV. I suppose we will get a TV then. Maybe.

When I see the TVs at the store I'm amazed at the colors and detail of the picture. Aiden just sits down in the middle of the TV aisle staring at all the TVs, and is in the twilight zone of course. But I still feel no compulsion to get one, except for the thought of the minimal floor space we would gain from having the TV on the wall instead of a table.

I'd appreciate some feedback on blog wallpaper options. I may not buy a TV, but I'll surely consider some hip and trendy free blog wallpaper.

Happy New Year

We are thankful for all the experiences of the past year, both positive and painful, as they make us who we are today. We look forward to the new, and wish everyone peace, love, happiness, health, and acceptance in the coming year.

Drew and Aiden spent New Year's Eve cruising the family-oriented activities downtown at the waterfront. It is nice that we are so close to downtown. I have some sort of a cold, possibly strep throat, so I tried to get some rest. I will call the doctor today to see if I should be tested.

The weather is delightful. Highs around 70 and cool enough for a comforter at night.

We cleaned out three boxes from the attic this week. More is coming down this coming week. Almost all the infant things will be donated. We can get what we need again if we need it. Aiden enjoys replaying with the baby toys. He doesn't remember them (it seems like just yesterday), but plays with them nonetheless. I like getting things out of the house. Drew says soon I'm going to remove him from the house too.

I'm beginning to add adoption blog links to my blog. It is a good way to keep the blogs in one place so that I can find them.