How we started!

After numerous failed fertility treatments, we decided to pursue adoption. We've found a wonderful agency and have decided on Russia!! We signed with the agency on 11/5/08. Right now it's just a huge pile of overwhelming paperwork, but we know it'll be worth it all in the end.

Here's a *brief* timeline of what's going to happen.

1. Get a home study (in process) - This is where a social worker compiles info about us and deems whether or not we are fit to be adoptive parents.

2. Start Immigration process. This is an easy form, but takes about 2-3 months to be processed.

3. Dossier - this is the time consuming part! We're working on this right now. Basically, it's a bunch of paperwork that will need to be notarized and apostilled (a step above notary, done by the Secretary of State). We will also have to get physicals and get a psychologist report done. This Dossier is our ticket to Russia. We will have to make 2 trips there.

4. Get a referral of a child! We have decided on adopting a BOY. Once we receive some info, we will travel to Russia for trip #1 (5-7 days in length). In this trip we'll meet the child and go to the court to petition for adoption.

5. About 2 months later - trip #2 (10-21 days in length). This is when we'll go to Court to finalize the adoption and take OUR child home! :)


Obviously, there's a lot 'in between', but this is the jist of it. We're so excited!!