Homestudy ALMOST complete!

I just have word in that ALL paperwork is finally in at the homestudy agency and they should have a draft written up for us within 2 weeks!  So sometime the week of the 18th, I am guessing!

I am very excited to have some type of date to put down, as it is now showing the progression of our adoption.  I have looked at other adoption blogs of families going to the same region and I have noticed that usually once the official homestudy is submitted to the agency, the court date is usually about 2 months after this submission date.  So under a normal time frame, this gives a little over a month to submit the dossier and hear back from the government on the date, and just weeks to schedule the flight, pack, and go!

Based on other people's blogs, it appears that the Ukrainian government is taking a 2 month break starting around July 12th from adoptions.  So of course this affects us, as it will push out our court date inevitably. So a 2 month turn-around could end up being 4, or even more!  I also have heard news that they are only allowing adoptions from our region if the child is considered high risk.  I am praying that we will find favor in the eyes of the government to be able to adopt Evan, and they don't deem him for any reason to be "unadoptable". 

We have recently received additional confirmation from God about this adoption and we have such peace over it all!  I only bring up the above details, not because I'm worrying, but only as specific prayer points for you, our readers, to be praying for!

My heart just breaks for Evan, and as much joy as I receive from David- it is still very hard because I know my family is not complete!  We have a son that is waiting for us, that needs us, and I just want him home safe and sound.  More updates to come whenever we have word....

David's Feeding Session

I'm going to try to make a promise to myself and to David to work on a proper feeding session daily.  Here is a decent session (sorry for the double screen- it looks like blogger.com's embedded video player doesn't support 3-D videos):

Though it's not as a perfect feeding session as they do in playgroup, it's better than me just feeding him and not giving him an opportunity to try his "hand" at utensils!

Here is some steps to a "perfect" feeding session for a 1-2 year old:

1) First get a little chair and table setup
2) Attach a suction cup bowl that will not pull off
3) Sit your little one in the chair, pull up their sleeves, and wash their hands with a spray bottle filled with mostly water and a little bit of baby shampoo as a cleanser.
4) Have the child do the "fishy song"- put their hands on their cheeks and rub them up and down and in circles to "wake up" their mouth muscles.
5) Show the child 2 types of food to start out with.  Encourage them to point, or reach to choose something to start with.
6) Put a little bit of that food in their bowl with a proper utensil to eat it. Only a little bit at a time!
7) Let them try to eat it, help them if they are getting frustrated or distracted.
8) When the food is gone, ask them if they want more, and encourage them to sign the word "more".
9) If offering 1 new food type have them sign the word "please", if offering 2 then pointing will do!
10) When they are finished eating have them put their utensils and dishes away in a dish tub.
11) Wash their hands again (and face) and you are finished with your perfect eating session!

So you can see why it's hard to always do all the steps! But in a short time period David has been doing much better at feeding.  It's about giving him the opportunity to try and not always doing it for him.  This will give him more independence, and more self esteem!  I know this will be a life lesson I will take with me for raising David and Evan.

Yesterday I have been informed by my husband's friend that he turned in his reference form to the homestudy agency. So that was the last form needed to finish up everything!  I hope we can get the homestudy finalized soon!