Sorry for the delayed post, we all fell asleep last night at about 7pm, it seems like the week caught up with us. Mom and I went to the green market and the tsum store again, we picked up a few more souvenirs and had a piece of faux pizza. We called it faux because it looked like pizza but it was really bread w/ vegetables on top, garnished of course with dill. We were supposed to have dinner with Emil, but he could not make it so we decided to go there for lunch today. We will be posting again tonight before we leave and will give the daily details at that point and final Kazakhstan thoughts… for now. An explanation of what this journal has been all about.
Dear Karleigh and McCale,
We are coming to the end of the adventure of a life time and heading to the adventure of your life. We have waited for you and wished for this day to come for a very long time. We have had tears of joy and pain during this journey. The joy of meeting you and holding you in our arms far outweighed any of the hard times while waiting. Even before you knew us, we felt a deep connection with you and looked up to the stars with comfort knowing that you were under the very same ones waiting. We know that we were brought together by a higher power, much bigger than us. We know that the family that has been formed was meant to be and we promise to love you forever.
We have been fortunate to share this journey will friends and family who have grown to love you through the stories of our adventure and the happy smiles you gave them in the pictures we posted. You will be loved far and wide, by friends we know and people that are going to follow in our footsteps to form their own very special families.
Please know that no matter what, we will be here for you, and that we will always support you and love you for who you are and who you will grow to be. We want to provide you with opportunities and a loving home, where you can start your life.
We will embrace your culture as we will share ours with you. Our hearts have grown ten sizes larger since meeting you, allowing us to leave just a tiny piece behind in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is a very special place that we look forward to returning to, with you, so you can learn about yourselves and your culture through your own eyes. Everyone’s life will benefit because of the diversity we will have to offer.
Always remember, you are truly our dream come true. We are so thankful you are part of our family.
With all our love,
Mom and Dad
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yes, those are underpants on his head
The Timeline....
We contacted our agency last July, 2003
Our contract was signed and returned to the agency Sept. 03, 2003
Our dossier was sent for translation from English to Russian Dec. 2003
Confirmed translated dossier and shipment to the embassy in NY Jan. 27, 2004
Dossier shipped to Almaty at the end of March 2004
Dossier waits in Almaty for referral March 2004On June 28th the magical call came, referrals of an infant girl and boy!
Travel dates were provided on August 4thThey will be ready for us in Kaz the first week of September!!
Our Children and adventure to find them in Kazakhstan
McCale and Karleigh
spring 08
easter 08
yes, those are underpants on his head
June 2007
Referral Mc
Referral Photo
At the Ecik Babyhouse - We are going home.
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August
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- August 30, 2007
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- Home Sweet Home
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- 10/04/04
- 10/03/04 - a note from Grandma
- 10/2/04
- 10/01/2004 COURT
- 9/30/04
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- September 14, 2004
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- September 11, 2004
- September 10, 2004
- September 9, 2004
- Sept 8, 2004
- September 7, 2004
- The Belli Family
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August
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Why Kazakhstan
Why Kazakhstan???
Kazakhstan is known for it's high standard in child care, and the baby houses are impressive in terms of cleanliness and genuine love for the children. The adult/child ratio in the baby house is 1:6. The children remain with their own age group (usually 10-12 children) and each group always has at least two caregivers. This stability in their environment facilitates their emotional development and ability to form attachments with their caregivers. The infants in the Maternity Hospital remain there until they are 6 months old, then they are transferred to a baby house.
In both the hospital and baby house, the children receive specialized care from the doctors and nurses. The baby houses are actually medical facilities that consist of a staff of Doctors, Nurses, and a diverse team of Specialists. These include Neurologists, Orthopedic Specialists, Speech Pathologists, Physical Therapists, and Teachers. The children are evaluated on a daily basis in terms of their medical health and overall development.
A common day in the baby house consists of music lessons, massage therapy, physical education, play therapy and speech therapy.
How does this come together?
It starts with piles and piles of paperwork, which has travelled to all of the appropriate people, has been blessed, signed, stamped, sealed and delivered (some of these things were even done twice!).Then comes the wait - while your paperwork and profile are magically matched with waiting child or children who are meant to be yours! It is at this time that the referral is provided and the details needed for us to make our decision. Can these children be OUR children? Once the decision has been made, travel dates can come anywhere from 10 days from referral acceptance to a few months.
Patience is a virtue during this period of time. Once the dates come for travel, there is alot of last minute prepration for visas, airline tickets, pet sitters, etc. We have been assured that there will be enough time to complete all of these tasks and make it to the airport!
When we arrive in Kazakhstan we will stop first at the financial capital, Almaty, meet with our lawyer and learn more about the children waiting for us. We will complete our financial transactions and sign more paperwork. Then it will be off to the city where our children are. We will be travelling to the city of Ecik, a very small village outside of the financial capital of Almaty.
There are many cities in Kazakhstan, all with phenominal care and wonderful children. The difference by city could mean a slightly longer or shorter trip.
We have been blessed with an estimated four week trip, Colene's mother will be joining us for the last week to help us prepare and bring the children home. While we are gone, our parents will be taking turns watching the pets and putting the final touches on the house getting it ready for the children to arrive! We will miss them all terribly. (the pets and parents!)
Although the process above can be explained in 5 short paragraphs, it does not begin to give insight on the emotional rollercoaster that we have been on for the past year. There have been wonderful highs and devastating lows. True tests of patience and endurance. This is a venture not for the feint of heart. We have learned about ourselves, our family and the great lengths we would travel again in a second to add a child to our family. This eye opening experience, although not a traditional labor or delivery - was certainly as rigorous and greuling in the most wonderful way.
Kazakhstan is known for it's high standard in child care, and the baby houses are impressive in terms of cleanliness and genuine love for the children. The adult/child ratio in the baby house is 1:6. The children remain with their own age group (usually 10-12 children) and each group always has at least two caregivers. This stability in their environment facilitates their emotional development and ability to form attachments with their caregivers. The infants in the Maternity Hospital remain there until they are 6 months old, then they are transferred to a baby house.
In both the hospital and baby house, the children receive specialized care from the doctors and nurses. The baby houses are actually medical facilities that consist of a staff of Doctors, Nurses, and a diverse team of Specialists. These include Neurologists, Orthopedic Specialists, Speech Pathologists, Physical Therapists, and Teachers. The children are evaluated on a daily basis in terms of their medical health and overall development.
A common day in the baby house consists of music lessons, massage therapy, physical education, play therapy and speech therapy.
How does this come together?
It starts with piles and piles of paperwork, which has travelled to all of the appropriate people, has been blessed, signed, stamped, sealed and delivered (some of these things were even done twice!).Then comes the wait - while your paperwork and profile are magically matched with waiting child or children who are meant to be yours! It is at this time that the referral is provided and the details needed for us to make our decision. Can these children be OUR children? Once the decision has been made, travel dates can come anywhere from 10 days from referral acceptance to a few months.
Patience is a virtue during this period of time. Once the dates come for travel, there is alot of last minute prepration for visas, airline tickets, pet sitters, etc. We have been assured that there will be enough time to complete all of these tasks and make it to the airport!
When we arrive in Kazakhstan we will stop first at the financial capital, Almaty, meet with our lawyer and learn more about the children waiting for us. We will complete our financial transactions and sign more paperwork. Then it will be off to the city where our children are. We will be travelling to the city of Ecik, a very small village outside of the financial capital of Almaty.
There are many cities in Kazakhstan, all with phenominal care and wonderful children. The difference by city could mean a slightly longer or shorter trip.
We have been blessed with an estimated four week trip, Colene's mother will be joining us for the last week to help us prepare and bring the children home. While we are gone, our parents will be taking turns watching the pets and putting the final touches on the house getting it ready for the children to arrive! We will miss them all terribly. (the pets and parents!)
Although the process above can be explained in 5 short paragraphs, it does not begin to give insight on the emotional rollercoaster that we have been on for the past year. There have been wonderful highs and devastating lows. True tests of patience and endurance. This is a venture not for the feint of heart. We have learned about ourselves, our family and the great lengths we would travel again in a second to add a child to our family. This eye opening experience, although not a traditional labor or delivery - was certainly as rigorous and greuling in the most wonderful way.
Timeline and how it works..
The Timeline....
We contacted our agency last July, 2003
Our contract was signed and returned to the agency Sept. 03, 2003
Our dossier was sent for translation from English to Russian Dec. 2003
Confirmed translated dossier and shipment to the embassy in NY Jan. 27, 2004
Dossier shipped to Almaty at the end of March 2004
Dossier waits in Almaty for referral March 2004On June 28th the magical call came, referrals of an infant girl and boy!
Travel dates were provided on August 4thThey will be ready for us in Kaz the first week of September!!
About Me
- Deciding to adopt
- Deciding to adopt... The decision to adopt was found deep within our hearts. A series of open and closed doors lead us down the path that we now know is right for us.
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