My Surprise Baby Shower!!!! 23rd February '13

Behind the scenes-unbeknownst to me.

Friends who were there to make it special: Vidhi, Rashmi, Neenila, Aradhana, Lakshmi, Rajul, Jas, Saweena, Laura, Samara, Simran & Naveenta.
The planners: Deepak, Rashmi & Vidhi (who could win a spy award for the way they did everything behind my back-I am not an easy person to surprise.)
The financier: Dee, my darling hubby.
Gifts: Just awesome gifts, not a single gift I would want to exchange! Loved each one of them! Everyone was very generous, and so wonderful to make this such a special evening for me. Thank you!!!

test: Posting via email

test: Posting via email

Woohoo! Success. Now I can post via email incase blogger decides to ditch me in Kaz.

Acceptance Letter is finally at the Ministry!

Header says it all. :)

Now we wait for the visa supports. And then we apply for the visa here in Ottawa.
If we're lucky then this will take 4 weeks appx. Since the staff at the Ministry of Education (in Kaz) is busy with an important conference in a few days, it may get delayed by a few days.

But the bottom line is L says, "Get Packing!" :D

'The Ultrasound':
THE Phone Call. The time and date we found out we were having a Son!

Letter still not with the ministry. Sigh!

So, it has been about 2 weeks now since we couriered the letters of acceptance, and as before the courier is missing somewhere between Almaty and Astana. Liana and Tanya are trying their best to find out what's going on and be on their case, but the letter has still not reached the ministry. The good news is, the ministry is aware of our decision and has made a note of it, so the kids are not going anywhere till we get to them.

Since everything is new with the new Hague rules, there are changes in the Immigration medicals as well. Old Doctors having left, new ones still figuring out things, etc. So that is expected to add some delay too, after the 30 day bonding period and before the court date can be given. So, its definitely not going to be a straight 30 days of bonding+Court in a week after+2 week appeal period+1 week for passport etc. If only it were that easy and simple as that. Some agency is telling their clients that they can go for just a single two-month trip. Though this would be great, practically speaking, unless things change drastically and they smooth out all the wrinkles in the process/timeline wise/no hiccups etc...that doesn't seem likely to happen. 3 months straight stay may be more realistic, to be honest.

But we are going to do the 2 or 3 trips for sure. 1st for the month long bonding period. Then 1 week appx for the court trip and then one or both of us can go back to pick him up for the last 1 week trip. Maybe we can go visit our family in Delhi, India (just a 3 hr flight from there!) after the 2nd trip while we wait out the appeal period, or maybe I can stay back, depending on many things. Let's see. All the better to use our wonderful Aeroplan Points for! :)

The fact that Adoption Horizons in Ontario is the first one to be doing this with the new process (and Sophie's agency in QC), they will take the brunt of the wrinkles in the new process, since after us 3 couples, these agencies will know what the ministry expects exactly and that can & will save time for future couples-or at least be prepared for the same.

Home sweet home.

Whew! its been a crazy past few days. First with all the packing and boxing up of our stuff getting ready for the move and then the final move itself. Glad to say it all went smoothly and we are now officially in our new home, bag and baggage! It feels wonderful! And perfect for the new phase of our life.

Our Couriered acceptance letter sent on 7th Feb still hasn't reached the ministry in Kaz since the courier service mysterious 'lost' the package but then thankfully found it when T and L pushed them to figure out where it is. All is well that ends well, it should be delivered to the ministry on Monday.

Friends come to share our joy of the new home-we just moved in about 2 hrs before. :)

With our friend Shailesh, the artist of that gorgeous piece of art on the wall:Their housewarming gift to us. Thanks S&N!

Now back to unpacking the 1000s of boxes of stuff and get settled in our new home. We had a few friends over an hr or 2 after we got the keys and moved in yesterday and had a great late night laughing, sitting around the kitchen island, eating, drinking wine and having a blissful time. My best part was holding hands in a circle with everyone, around the table and chanting the beautiful and magical Gayatri Mantra as a prayer for a good future in this beautiful new house that will become our home for many years to come. Amen!

GiveMondays. No more Monday Blues. What a great Idea!

I came across this really neat concept on Random Acts of Kindness.
http://www.givemondays.com/

So, basically the idea is to put a little surprise in a blue envelope (Monday Blues-something to look fwd to now, perhaps!?) and leave it somewhere or give it to a complete stranger. And mention on the note that they should go online and note the act of kindness-so the word spreads around.

I think its an awesome idea! Pay it forward right. Isn't that what feeling good and doing good is all about?

Am going to start doing this from next Monday. #givemondays / @givemondays

Whirlwind!

Ever since that phone call from Liana, at 11:30am on 5th Feb, we have been high on emotions. Decisions, fears, decisions, fears being calmed down by facts and discussions with Doctors, excitement, sharing our thoughts and decision with close family and a few friends. Gazing a 1000 times at the pic of 'Rasgollu'. :) Rasgulla is a cold, delicious, soft juicy sweet that we Indians eat (and that i LOVE!). And 'gollu' is an endearing term used for anyone who is a lil chubby-in a cute way. We LOVE chubby cheeks, I had them when I was a little baby, i would pull my darling niece's cheeks for the same reason. They are like little rasgullas! :) So, Lil Rasgollu is highly awaited!
I have already made a round to the nearby Carter's/OshKosh store to try and find cool boy clothes since my closet is full of clothes we got from my sisters Hanu and Preet (who have the most beautiful daughters IMO and Im crazy about my nieces) and my friend Rohini (whose daughter is like a pretty lil angel that I absolutely adore!)
So, Im in a bit of a panic as far as dressing him up in 'diff' cool clothes that will make him smart and hip. I know. I know. I am so bad! That is so wrong! :)

But apart from all that silly stuff, our acceptance letter is needed in original by the ministry they insist. They refuse to accept the ones sent by email and are scanned copies. So, off to the Purolator office it was for poor Deepak last evening in -30C weather. Cant get over how awesome it is that Dee can read, speak and write in Russian!
And the other couple K&J have also accepted their referral so we will be there at the same time! So, both our letters will be couriered today to Astana and once the ministry gets it next week they should give Tanya the paperwork required to apply for a visa here. So shooting for early March to be in Kaz!

Referral! ITS BLUE! What an emotional rollercoaster of a day!

Yes, we have finally received a referral! 

So, there were a lot of tears and tissues in the Arora house today. ;)

These past few months, esp since changing our country from Russia to Kazakhstan in July, we were preparing and planning for a little girl. However, there are no girls in the age group we are recommended to adopt, at this time, in the system. The good news is that we do have the referral of a little, adorable, cute, chubby cheeked boy!!!
More later, but we hope to hear a prelim report from the Dr we have engaged in Toronto who is Russian and also a pediatrician. There are, as expected some scary medical terms used in the referral and there is a correctable issue as well, so it is a bit overwhelming. But the good news is that there are a lot of positives and we do have a lot of information, which is a good thing, so going to sleep on it and look forward to hearing what Dr Vitali has to say about the reports and picture we have sent him.

7pm Ha! No sleep today. Too much going on. Discussing all we know with friends who are also Doctors, and other adoptive parents getting their suggestions and opinions. We are lucky we have been given quite a bit of information-about 5 pages of them, not everyone is lucky to get that, we have been told. We have made an appointment to have a consultation with a specialist over the phone tonight.

11pm: After having a long and good conversation with Dr Vitali in Toronto, mulling over things, discussing everything possible, talking to my aunt and uncle, friends and sister and of course my parents this morning, we are saying yes to the referral of Lil Chubby Cheeks! Things should move quickly now. 3-4 weeks from now we should be in Aktobe. Let the games begin! :D Yippeee!!! We are going to have a SON!

Agencies Accredited till now for adoptions from Kazakhstan

Here is a notice L sent me from the website of the Ministry of Education: Committee on Child Protection.

"As of 17th of January 2013, twenty foreign agencies received a positive decision on accreditation and registered offices in the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan:

1. Le Petit Prince d'Interadop" (Spain), 
2. La Asociacion para el Cuidado de la Infancia (ACI)» (Spain), 
3. Iniciativa Pro Infacia, (IPI)» (Spain), 
4. INTERADOP-Galicia» (Spain ), 
5. De la asociacion Familia Universal» (Spain), 
6. Adoption Options, Inc" (USA), 
7. Child Adoption Associates, Inc» (USA), 
8. Amerisa World Adoption Association» (USA), 
9. Tree of Life Adoption Center" (USA), 
10. Adopt A Child, Inc» (USA),
11. Frank Adoption Centre North Carolina» (USA),
12. Asross The World Adoptions » (USA), 
13. « Little Miracles International, Inc » (USA)
14. Alliance des familles du Quebec» (Canada),
15. Adoption Horizons, Inc (Canada): WOOHOO! OURS!
16. Enfants du monde (Canada),
17. Cuore Onlus» (Italy),
18. CIFA Onlus» (Italy),
19. Centrum für adoptionen (Germany), 
20. Enfance avenir» (France).

As of late Feb, I am told, there are about 37 Agencies around the world licensed to facilitate Adoptions from Kaz. A number the authorities feel is high, so might see a reduction in the coming year or so.