Tuesday, October 28, 2008

IT HAS BEEN A YEAR.

It amazes me how much has happened in just this past year since we met our beautiful daughter, Nika in Arkalyk, Kazakhstan. She has come so far and delights us everyday with her exuberance and joy. She has retained a few Russian words that we continue to use so she is familiar with the language. We talk about her Kazak home as Albina dom (the director of the orphanage was Albina), but what she loves to talk about is Brooklyn the home we first took her to when we returned to the States and now after 4 months in a new home in a new town Nika still refers to our house (every time we pull into the driveway) as Nika's new house. She loves her home, her family, her school, new friends and food. We have learned a lot from one another this past year and what I know most is that we are all so special and with a little work and a lot of love we can grow and flourish in the most surprising ways. I love my daughter and am thrilled this past year is behind us and will remember what we once were as we move forward and grow.

Timeline

11/08/07 Left Kazakhstan on route home to NYC
10/22/07 Left Arkalyk for Almaty
10/03/07 Court Day - Petition for Adoption Accepted!
9/15/07 First day in Arkalyk at orphanage, met Veronika
9/12/07 Departing NYC on route to Kazakhstan
9/04/07 LOI - arrived today!
8/24/07 Heard from Agency with information about children, region and some details about trip. (1 week to gather info while caseworker on vacation)
7/27/07 Began process of updating FBI clearance and medical forms
7/03/07 Dossier arrived in Astana, Kazakhstan at the MFA
6/27/07 Approved by Kaz Embassy in DC and shipped to
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Astana, Kazakhstan (MFA is the 1st ministry to review dossier)
6/22/07 Dossier shipped to Kazakhstan Embassy in Washington, DC
6/01/07 Dossier fully translated and awaiting to be sent to Kaz Embassy.
5/21/07 Agency submitted dossier for translation.
5/15/07 Dossier complete / sent to adoption agency
5/09/07 I-171H Approval letter forwarded by INS to US Embassy in Almaty, Kazakhstan
5/01/07 Notarize, Authenticate, Apostille and copy of all documents
4/24/07 INS fingerprinting
4/08/07 Paper work hell...........working to gather all that is needed to complete dossier
3/12/07 Received notice of FBI clearance from US Department of Justice
3/11/07 Second home study visit
3/04/07 First home study visit
3/02/07 Had fingerprints taken for FBI clearance
2/28/07 I600A - Application filed with BCIS (Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services ) for I-171H
2/21/07 Applied for home study review and began collecting documents for dossier
2/20/07 Signed with Adoption Agency - Adoption Ark