Onward!

Today, while at our farmers' market in Boalsburg, we received a text-message from our adoption facilitator in California.  The text message read, "dossiers have been submitted today!  Expect to hear a travel date in 2 weeks.  There is a good likelihood of an appointment with the Ukrainian authorities either late November or early December.  If that schedule holds, we can expect to be home from our first trip just before Christmas, then I will return to the Ukraine10 days later for a 6-10 day stay, from which Dema will be coming home with me.  

When Cindy and I make the first trip, Dema's birth certificate will be changed--the old one will be almost like it never existed.  So, it will read, Dema __________ Noel.  Cindy and I working to decide on an American middle name.  We haven't made the decision whether he will be called by his given name or middle name--there are many factors that will weigh in, but we want him to have an active roll in the process. 

Waiting, waiting, waiting

For those of you who have been following our process to this point, the buzz word has been, "waiting".  Wednesday, we sent our completed dossier Fed Ex to Kiev, Ukraine.  As of right now, it has left the Paris, France site and is headed for Kiev.  Once the dossier is received, it must be translated, notarized, and apostilled before being submitted to the proper government authority.  After the submission, we can expect an invitation to travel 2.5-3.5 weeks later...so we (and Dema) wait!