Application to Begin Home Study

Today, we filled out the application form for Nathanson's Adoption Services to do our home study.  We had a choice of either going with Nathanson's or Levacy Smith.  Levacy had cheaper fees, but it would have likely have been a little more expensive since it would involve having to pay a social worker mileage expenses to come from Charlotte.  Nathanson (based in Charlotte) had a social worker in Cary that could be assigned to our case.

The costs: 
        $1,450  -   Standard processing (8-11 weeks)
             300  -   Expedited processing (1-2 weeks)
             200  -   Document fee for Eastern European adoptions.

We ultimately decided to pay the expedited processing fee to get the process completed faster.  On Saturday, the check will be in the mail to Charlotte to start the home study process!

Medical Tests and Medical Forms

On Tuesday, I head over to Lifesigns of Raleigh for my TB and AIDS testing.  I had previously had my physical back in January, so there was no need for me to have another one done.  This was necessary for the Ukrainian government.  I returned today (Friday) for the results of the test and to pick up the signed and notarized medical forms.

 I forwarded the forms to David Avilla (Stork Adoptions) to see if they were complete.  Unfortunately, he stated that the county on the notary block had been crossed out and additional handwritten information had been written in regarding the TB tests.  He will have to contact the doctor's office on my behalf to explain exactly what needs to be done.

Start of Our Adoption Journey!

Our adoption story began last July where we met two kids, Ilya and Snezhana at a picnic sponsored by Hope Community Church and Redline United for the kids from the Ukraine and for the host families.  We had not made a firm decision in regard to adoption, but came out to visit the kids and meet some of the ones who were likely not going to be adopted by their host families.

We met Snezhana that day, but did not realize that she would be the one we would decide to adopt, along with her brother.  My wife, Diana, recalled an incident that day when we sat down and talked with her and one of her friends.  Snezhana was taking the cheese curls off her friend's plate, while her friend would do the same from her plate.  

We left that Sunday afternoon still unsure about our adoption plans.  I initially desired to adopt a girl, while Diana wanted to adopt a boy.  Little did we realize at the time how God was working to bring an answer to our dilemma.