Saturday, May 14, 2011
The Haircut
Friday, May 13, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
The Details
Shriner's Hospital in Philly called today. (yes, I just talked to them yesterday.) This phone call was to go over any last-minute questions we have before Axel is admitted on Sunday afternoon. We also discussed the details of surgery day:
What to bring:
Comfort items for Axel. He doesn't really seem to have anything that his is attached to, but he does have a couple stuffed animals he likes that I think I'll bring along.
Button-up shirts: Pull-over shirts will have to be pretty big to go over his halo if he gets one. We don't know what hardware he's going to have until the surgeon can open his spine and visibly see his bone. Yes, that creeps me out a bit to write that. Anyway, he'll either have a pinned halo like this one.
Or the new, non-invasive halo like this one.....
What to bring:
Comfort items for Axel. He doesn't really seem to have anything that his is attached to, but he does have a couple stuffed animals he likes that I think I'll bring along.
Button-up shirts: Pull-over shirts will have to be pretty big to go over his halo if he gets one. We don't know what hardware he's going to have until the surgeon can open his spine and visibly see his bone. Yes, that creeps me out a bit to write that. Anyway, he'll either have a pinned halo like this one.
Or the new, non-invasive halo like this one.....
Or a customized cervical collar similar to what he's been wearing, only it will limit his movement far better. He can still do his "Stevie Wonder" head thing in his current brace, which is not acceptable after surgery.
So, Sunday afternoon he'll be admitted to the hospital, and the I.V. started that night to insure he is well hydrated. (they might even give the mom a sedative! It could happen.) They'll also do labs and verify that the blood products ordered for him last month are ready.
Monday morning is the big day! He'll be taken to surgery sometime between 6:30-7:00 a.m, once he is under anesthesia, if they determine his bones are not adequate they'll put him in a halo right then before they even make the first incision. Otherwise they'll determine that afterward. They'll open his spine and take measurements, then they'll use those measurements to take the appropriate size bone graft from the iliac crest in his hip:
I'm told by my friends who's children have had this procedure done that the hip portion of the surgery is more difficult to recover from than the actual spinal fusion!
Using screws, wires and plates, the bone graft will be attached to his spinal column. Ouch.
The surgery will take from 7-9 hours. He'll come out of surgery with a drain in his hip and his neck. I've had those drains, the are not fun. They're not super painful, just very annoying since they're stitched in and those sutures sometimes pull.
He'll spend a couple of days in the Intensive Care unit before being moved to a regular room. The trick is to get him up and moving quickly, partly because better circulation helps the bone graft develop attachments sooner. You know, make the kid move when we've just cut apart his hip and screwed stuff into his neck!
I'm nervous. Very nervous. Not scared nervous, just "I want to get this done and over with" kind of nervous.
Angela is going to be with us when Axel goes into surgery so she can say goodbye to him. She'll hang out with us for a bit until my friend Colleen comes to get her. They're going to have a fun day together, which will be much better than hanging out at the hospital all day! Also, Angela is not allowed in the ICU the night of surgery since Axel will be very uncomfortable. But the next day she can come in for periods of time. Dean and I will be taking turns sitting at the hospital with Axel and keeping Angela busy. Thankfully the Ronald McDonald house (if we can get in there!) has plenty to do!
So that's what Sunday and Monday will look like. Have I mentioned I'm nervous?
Axel Update
So we don't really know what was going on with Axel yesterday. Although he was pretty clumbsy in the morning, by afternoon he was doing a lot better. That's because we had an appointment with the pediatrician and 2:45 and he wanted to make sure his doctor knew I was crazy. He was still tripping once in awhile, but that's about it. But, like we'd been saying all morning, not much they can do about it before Monday when he's scheduled for surgery.
This appointment was actually scheduled a month ago, as a pre-op exam for surgery. Guess what? Since his dental surgery 8 weeks ago he has gained 4 lbs and an inch in height! Amazing what can happen when you get rid of chronic infection.
This appointment was actually scheduled a month ago, as a pre-op exam for surgery. Guess what? Since his dental surgery 8 weeks ago he has gained 4 lbs and an inch in height! Amazing what can happen when you get rid of chronic infection.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Urgent Prayers Needed!
Axel woke up this morning with a definite change in his motor skills. The best way to describe them is very uncoordinated, and parks kind of...kind of collapsing under him. I just called Dean to tell him what I was seeing, and he said he saw a couple strange things last night.
Something is GOING ON! We've known since Feb. that he is at serious risk of catastrophic spinal cord damage. There is definitely something happening. Please pray! I have a call into his neurosugeon in Philly, and the pediatrician here.
Something is GOING ON! We've known since Feb. that he is at serious risk of catastrophic spinal cord damage. There is definitely something happening. Please pray! I have a call into his neurosugeon in Philly, and the pediatrician here.
I feel like I'm beating my head against a wall
Wow....just wow....If you could see my inbox, and the emails I have received directly or that have been forwarded to me by people, that is what you would be saying. Wow.
I am absolutely shocked at some of the things that have been said, some of them by people who are often worshiped in the international special needs adoption community. I would like you to read this post, if you will. Then come back and read some more of my venting.
I am tired of being called a liar. I would like to know what my motivation would be to post this, then volunteer the contact information for the authorities in Serbia so you can verify it for yourself? I don't care who you are, contact me and I will give you that information without asking a single question of you. Perhaps some of you making the claims of "She's fabricated all of it" should have contacted the authorities MONTHS ago! Does that make ANY sense at all? There were eight people in that meeting on Monday, two Americans, one Serbian/American, one Serbian citizen, and four Serbian government officials. Do you honestly think NONE of them look at this blog and would say nothing if they saw me post something about that meeting that was untrue? Just where, exactly, do you think that would get me?
I will not post emails that were forwarded to me. But I will post emails sent directly to me. I am tired of receiving emails like this one from Amy O., a name many of you know in the international adoption community.
Here is what I don't get and here is where I'm going to loose my tempter....
People think **I** brought this on! WHAT??? WHAT????? This makes my head spin in confusion! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!!!!!!! I answered questions asked of me by government officials!!!!!!! First U.S Officials, then Serbian. If **YOU** were contacted by government officials, and asked the same questions, what would you do??? Would you LIE???? I know that some of you HAVE! I, along with the MLSP have SEEN the emails sent by Dr. Jasmina Jankovic asking people to LIE and say they paid her nothing!!! How many of YOU LIED?????
I have heard time and time again that I "did this" because of my own anger or, as the email above states, my own "selfish wishes". WHAT? I didn't "DO" anything other than HONESTLY answer the questions asked of me.
The email above is just one over the course of several months, written to make me feel bad for doing something I had no control over. It is not my fault I was questioned! The email above is exactly why others who are having problems in other countries refuse to say anything when they, too, have had problems in their adoption process. There is NO support in this community when you run into a problem such as I have experienced. There is only ostracism and attacks like the one I posted above. It is for this very reason people are becoming afraid of adopting from places like Ukraine. They have heard about the extortion by some of the Ukraine facilitators, and they have heard from families who received absolutely no support from their US based agencies or organizations when that happened. Yes, I worked with Reece's Rainbow, and no, I have not heard one single word from Andrea Roberts regarding this issue. Over the course of four months, I have received not one single reply to any email sent to her, other than to answer a question regarding grant money disbursement. Although she has never asked me for clarification herself, she has told people in private emails that I am lying and that much of what I have said is "fabricated". I did have contact with my representative from About A Child (who also happens to work with Reece's Rainbow) but her responses were in the capacity of agency rep.) but that agency turned around and paid Dr. Jankovic an additional 1000 euros, wired to her directly, to pacify her! The words "We don't want to burn one bridge before we've built another" were used. After my adoption was complete, and the all of the problems during my and other adoptions were brought to light, Reece's Rainbow and About A Child continued to work with the same facilitator, even after other families had come forward.
People are of the mistaken opinion that Serbian adoptions will now be even more expensive because of this mess that I supposedly created.
1) One, I didn't create the mess. It was created by Dr. Jasmina Jankovic by what I think was a simple, honest error on the visa paperwork. This lead the U.S. Embassy to start asking me questions, which lead to other questions, which lead to a lot of paranoia on the part of both Serbian and U.S. individuals who were a little freaked out that I was questioned. Also, this investigation was started a FULL YEAR prior my adoption. The MLSP stated time and again that they determined Dr. Jankovic was doing this for nothing more than personal gain, and had been watching her for more than a year before I came along!!!!
2) The email above mentions an agency charging $40,000+ for a Serbian adoption. Well, they were doing that BEFORE! They started advertising that MONTHS ago. (actually, right around the time I came home, I believe.) They also state they have "recieved approval from the Serbian government and is accepting applications for inter-country adoption". The ministry officials in the adoption unit have never given any agency "approval" for anything. They are familiar with the claims that agency is making and stated in our meeting that was a LIE. The ministry also claims to have not had any contact with that particular agency. They were also appalled to hear that agency is asking people to bring HUGE sums of cash with them for their adoption facilitator, not to mention the claims this agency is making to families about the types of children they can hope to adopt, and the timeframe in which it will happen.
3) There is now a cooperative effort between the MLSP (Serbian government) and the U.S. Embassy regarding Serbia's adoption process to keep it intact, and keeping it as inexpensive...actually less expensive...than it has been since it began. Something you would discover for yourself if you actually contacted the MLSP and asked questions yourself.
4) Depending upon the type of accommodations you like to stay in, your expenses in country - including hotel, in-country transportation, translation services (both written and spoken) - should not cost more than around $3500 if you stay in country for 21 days. I paid those expenses, plus a facilitation fee of 4000 Euro ($ 6500 U.S. dollars including the bank fee)
5) there are plenty of HONEST people in Serbia willing to help you complete the in-country part of your adoption. I can put you in contact with Cherish Our Children International, a U.S. based NON-PROFIT organization who wants nothing more than to see the children of Serbia get out of the institutions and into families. They will also give you the receipts you need for tax purposes. The U.S. Embassy and the MLSP are aware of this organization, and know exactly what happens for the families working with them. Cherish Our Children International has met with BOTH the U.S. Embassy, and the MLSP. You can verify this for yourself by contacting them the Embassy and the MLSP. I personally participated in both meetings.
6) Families are still not required to use an adoption agency to adopt from Serbia. If you are working with an agency who is asking for tens of thousands of dollars to do what you can EASILY do yourself, PUT THE PHONE DOWN AND WALK AWAY! Adoption from Serbia **is** easy compared to many other countries. It is also the cheapest country to adopt from. But keep in mind, if anyone promises you a healthy child from Serbia, WALK AWAY! There are only approximately 40 children registered for international adoption from Serbia, and it was verified Monday that every single one of them has "significant special needs, some of them very severe". (keep in mind that "severe" in Serbia is very different than "severe" in the U.S.) (*note* I say "approximately" 40 because at the time of our meeting with the MLSP they did not have a list of the children sitting right there, so this was the estimate given.)
7) If any more emails accusing me of lying and falsifying information come through my box I am going to start filing slander and/or defamation of character law suits. NOTHING I have said on my blog is untrue, and ALL can be verified by contacting both the US Embassy and the Serbian Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.
***EDITED TO ADD*** July 2013: Since this post was first published in May of 2011, Serbian adoptions have significantly decreased on cost and become even easier than they were before the investigation which lead to the crack down on corruption in Serbian adoptions. I have gone on to adopt twice more from Serbia. My first adoption, using the corrupt facilitator, was $18,000. My second adoption, AFTER the investigation, was $7100. My 3rd adoption, my STATESIDE costs increased, bringing my total adoption costs to $11,500. Although people tried to bully me to give up fight for truth and transparency in Serbian adoptions, I didn't. Serbian adoptions are alive and well, with proof sleeping right down the hall from me and in the homes of other families around the U.S.
I am absolutely shocked at some of the things that have been said, some of them by people who are often worshiped in the international special needs adoption community. I would like you to read this post, if you will. Then come back and read some more of my venting.
I am tired of being called a liar. I would like to know what my motivation would be to post this, then volunteer the contact information for the authorities in Serbia so you can verify it for yourself? I don't care who you are, contact me and I will give you that information without asking a single question of you. Perhaps some of you making the claims of "She's fabricated all of it" should have contacted the authorities MONTHS ago! Does that make ANY sense at all? There were eight people in that meeting on Monday, two Americans, one Serbian/American, one Serbian citizen, and four Serbian government officials. Do you honestly think NONE of them look at this blog and would say nothing if they saw me post something about that meeting that was untrue? Just where, exactly, do you think that would get me?
I will not post emails that were forwarded to me. But I will post emails sent directly to me. I am tired of receiving emails like this one from Amy O., a name many of you know in the international adoption community.
Unfortunately, you are obviously you are a bit naive about adoption proceedings internationanally. It is the case in each country worldwide that you either use independently or through an agency a person or team that is hired directly or through an agency that all see your personal information. You are never given the legal back ground of any person you use for any assistance in any country. This is true for China, Russia, Estonia, Ethiopia, Ukraine, Serbia, Phillipines, Korea, well all of them actually. Each and every international adoption occurs because your complete dossier is sent to people you don't konw personally reads, translates and submits your dossier for acceptance. In fact, Serbia out of all of the countries in the world that can be adopted from is in fact one of the ones where the least amount of people view your dossier and the costs are the lowest in the world and one of the least corrupt. Yes, you read that right out of dozens of countries you can adopt from as a US citizen,Serbia was the cheapest, easiest least corrupt process IN THE WORLD----- IN THE WORLD, LEAH, IN THE WORLD UNTIL YOU. I have been working with international adoptions for over 12 years, several countries, Hague and not, independent and not and we have seen the cheapest easiest country in the world to adopt from now go down the drain right in front of our eyes since you adopted. I think in your mind you have some sort of intention that you are doing something good, but instead we have seen children who were adopted purely because a small group of people were adovocating for the children see those children, the adoption numbers country wide go up signficantly. Now that will be turned over to agencies who will benefit financially now and the families interested in those children will pay 20X's as much to go through an agency as they did without. Is this better, is this less corrupt? No, just a new cow will get milked. What was one of the best processes in the world, not perfect, not Leah's ideal world, but in the relative look at the world wide adoption community. But you choose not to look at the world wide situation and the best situation for the children but instead wanted your perfect, the typical American wanting their version of the world. This very very naive opinion will cost everyone. I am sad you don't see it but there is now nothing we can do, the ministry is now denying adoptions of families I had coming for children because of you. We have in fact been told the children will be referred out through an US agency that currently charges $40,000 for an adoption. I am so glad we adopted before you applied, I look at my child and I say thank you Jesus for sending us to her before Leah adopted so we could see the good, the caring, the truth the way things should have been before you. Somehow we were guided to her before this all changed and we did not have to live through the hell that the families that have applied now have to live through now being told they can no longer have that child they know is waiting but now their advocacy is no longer acceptable. I pray for those children that they will not be forsaken for your own pride being hurt, for your own glory, for your own child you were told you could not have does not now cost others their children.
I think of the story of Soloman, you might know the story, which woman are you Leah?
"Two young women who lived in the same house and who both had an infant son came to Solomon for a judgment. One of the women claimed that the other, after accidentally smothering her own son while sleeping, had exchanged the two children to make it appear that the living child was hers. The other woman denied this and so both women claimed to be the mother of the living son and said that the dead boy belonged to the other.After some deliberation, King Solomon called for a sword to be brought before him. He declared that there is only one fair solution: the live son must be split in two, each woman receiving half of the child. Upon hearing this terrible verdict, the boy's true mother cried out, "Please, My Lord, give her the live child—do not kill him!" However, the liar, in her bitter jealousy, exclaimed, "It shall be neither mine nor yours—divide it!" Solomon instantly gave the live baby to the real mother, realizing that the true mother's instincts were to protect her child, while the liar revealed that she did not truly love the child. The reputation of the king greatly increased when all the people of Israel heard of this wise judgment."
Do not forsake the children for your own selfish wishes.
..........................................
Do not forsake the children for your own selfish wishes.
..........................................
Here is what I don't get and here is where I'm going to loose my tempter....
People think **I** brought this on! WHAT??? WHAT????? This makes my head spin in confusion! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!!!!!!! I answered questions asked of me by government officials!!!!!!! First U.S Officials, then Serbian. If **YOU** were contacted by government officials, and asked the same questions, what would you do??? Would you LIE???? I know that some of you HAVE! I, along with the MLSP have SEEN the emails sent by Dr. Jasmina Jankovic asking people to LIE and say they paid her nothing!!! How many of YOU LIED?????
I have heard time and time again that I "did this" because of my own anger or, as the email above states, my own "selfish wishes". WHAT? I didn't "DO" anything other than HONESTLY answer the questions asked of me.
The email above is just one over the course of several months, written to make me feel bad for doing something I had no control over. It is not my fault I was questioned! The email above is exactly why others who are having problems in other countries refuse to say anything when they, too, have had problems in their adoption process. There is NO support in this community when you run into a problem such as I have experienced. There is only ostracism and attacks like the one I posted above. It is for this very reason people are becoming afraid of adopting from places like Ukraine. They have heard about the extortion by some of the Ukraine facilitators, and they have heard from families who received absolutely no support from their US based agencies or organizations when that happened. Yes, I worked with Reece's Rainbow, and no, I have not heard one single word from Andrea Roberts regarding this issue. Over the course of four months, I have received not one single reply to any email sent to her, other than to answer a question regarding grant money disbursement. Although she has never asked me for clarification herself, she has told people in private emails that I am lying and that much of what I have said is "fabricated". I did have contact with my representative from About A Child (who also happens to work with Reece's Rainbow) but her responses were in the capacity of agency rep.) but that agency turned around and paid Dr. Jankovic an additional 1000 euros, wired to her directly, to pacify her! The words "We don't want to burn one bridge before we've built another" were used. After my adoption was complete, and the all of the problems during my and other adoptions were brought to light, Reece's Rainbow and About A Child continued to work with the same facilitator, even after other families had come forward.
People are of the mistaken opinion that Serbian adoptions will now be even more expensive because of this mess that I supposedly created.
1) One, I didn't create the mess. It was created by Dr. Jasmina Jankovic by what I think was a simple, honest error on the visa paperwork. This lead the U.S. Embassy to start asking me questions, which lead to other questions, which lead to a lot of paranoia on the part of both Serbian and U.S. individuals who were a little freaked out that I was questioned. Also, this investigation was started a FULL YEAR prior my adoption. The MLSP stated time and again that they determined Dr. Jankovic was doing this for nothing more than personal gain, and had been watching her for more than a year before I came along!!!!
2) The email above mentions an agency charging $40,000+ for a Serbian adoption. Well, they were doing that BEFORE! They started advertising that MONTHS ago. (actually, right around the time I came home, I believe.) They also state they have "recieved approval from the Serbian government and is accepting applications for inter-country adoption". The ministry officials in the adoption unit have never given any agency "approval" for anything. They are familiar with the claims that agency is making and stated in our meeting that was a LIE. The ministry also claims to have not had any contact with that particular agency. They were also appalled to hear that agency is asking people to bring HUGE sums of cash with them for their adoption facilitator, not to mention the claims this agency is making to families about the types of children they can hope to adopt, and the timeframe in which it will happen.
3) There is now a cooperative effort between the MLSP (Serbian government) and the U.S. Embassy regarding Serbia's adoption process to keep it intact, and keeping it as inexpensive...actually less expensive...than it has been since it began. Something you would discover for yourself if you actually contacted the MLSP and asked questions yourself.
4) Depending upon the type of accommodations you like to stay in, your expenses in country - including hotel, in-country transportation, translation services (both written and spoken) - should not cost more than around $3500 if you stay in country for 21 days. I paid those expenses, plus a facilitation fee of 4000 Euro ($ 6500 U.S. dollars including the bank fee)
5) there are plenty of HONEST people in Serbia willing to help you complete the in-country part of your adoption. I can put you in contact with Cherish Our Children International, a U.S. based NON-PROFIT organization who wants nothing more than to see the children of Serbia get out of the institutions and into families. They will also give you the receipts you need for tax purposes. The U.S. Embassy and the MLSP are aware of this organization, and know exactly what happens for the families working with them. Cherish Our Children International has met with BOTH the U.S. Embassy, and the MLSP. You can verify this for yourself by contacting them the Embassy and the MLSP. I personally participated in both meetings.
6) Families are still not required to use an adoption agency to adopt from Serbia. If you are working with an agency who is asking for tens of thousands of dollars to do what you can EASILY do yourself, PUT THE PHONE DOWN AND WALK AWAY! Adoption from Serbia **is** easy compared to many other countries. It is also the cheapest country to adopt from. But keep in mind, if anyone promises you a healthy child from Serbia, WALK AWAY! There are only approximately 40 children registered for international adoption from Serbia, and it was verified Monday that every single one of them has "significant special needs, some of them very severe". (keep in mind that "severe" in Serbia is very different than "severe" in the U.S.) (*note* I say "approximately" 40 because at the time of our meeting with the MLSP they did not have a list of the children sitting right there, so this was the estimate given.)
7) If any more emails accusing me of lying and falsifying information come through my box I am going to start filing slander and/or defamation of character law suits. NOTHING I have said on my blog is untrue, and ALL can be verified by contacting both the US Embassy and the Serbian Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.
***EDITED TO ADD*** July 2013: Since this post was first published in May of 2011, Serbian adoptions have significantly decreased on cost and become even easier than they were before the investigation which lead to the crack down on corruption in Serbian adoptions. I have gone on to adopt twice more from Serbia. My first adoption, using the corrupt facilitator, was $18,000. My second adoption, AFTER the investigation, was $7100. My 3rd adoption, my STATESIDE costs increased, bringing my total adoption costs to $11,500. Although people tried to bully me to give up fight for truth and transparency in Serbian adoptions, I didn't. Serbian adoptions are alive and well, with proof sleeping right down the hall from me and in the homes of other families around the U.S.
Just A Few More Days
I've had several posts spinning through my head since 3:30 a.m. this morning, all revolving around the emails I received about this post. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the words "fabrication" and "all lies" and very neagtive "thanks to you" comments by supposed LEADERS in the international special needs adoption community. (if you don't want to say it to my face, just say it to someone else and it will eventually get forwarded to me.) Really? You don't think one person of the eight people who were in that meeting read that blog post and wouldn't jump all over me if I posted something about the meeting that was untrue? ............sigh.........
I'm choosing to bite my tongue right now. I have other things to worry about. On Saturday we leave for Philadelphia, admit Axel to the hospital on Sunday, then Monday around 6:30 a.m. he'll be brought to surgery. And, he's the only surgery that day (it takes many hours!) so I expect they'll be on time! LOL
How do we explain this to him? We can't. We show him pictures of kids in halos and various types of neck braces. We really have no idea what hardware he'll come out with, as it's all dependent upon what his bones look like when the surgeon gets in there. (Just the thought of that creeps me out a little bit.) Like many post-institutionalized children, he stims with his head, which worries me about neck braces, etc. He's able to do it in his current neck brace, but I'm not sure what other type of neck brace would be used for him after surgery.
The person who is staying at our house came today to pick up keys, go over details, etc.
Oh, and I shaved down two dogs today too. One more to go. UGH! They were a mess, and now they have ugly haircuts. I just couldn't spend the money to take them to the groomer right now, not knowing how much we might have to spend for hotels while in Philly.
Tomorrow ....oh wait, it is tomorrow...I have a new person coming to clean. We're doing BIG cleaning. Big I tell ya. Might even get the floors mopped! LOL
Somehow there is laundry to do. Really? I came home with a suitcase full of clean clothes, and Dean did at least 2 loads of laundry in the 10 days I was gone. (could be more, I said "at least" because that is all I see evidence of.) If only we could all walk around naked. It could happen.
I need to send more tax stuff in this week...........sigh............
I have an IEP meeting for Axel set up for Friday morning. I'm dreading it.
I woke up at 3:30 this morning and am still up (it's 5:20 now) Somehow I think I'm going to need a nap by 10:00 a.m.
I'm choosing to bite my tongue right now. I have other things to worry about. On Saturday we leave for Philadelphia, admit Axel to the hospital on Sunday, then Monday around 6:30 a.m. he'll be brought to surgery. And, he's the only surgery that day (it takes many hours!) so I expect they'll be on time! LOL
How do we explain this to him? We can't. We show him pictures of kids in halos and various types of neck braces. We really have no idea what hardware he'll come out with, as it's all dependent upon what his bones look like when the surgeon gets in there. (Just the thought of that creeps me out a little bit.) Like many post-institutionalized children, he stims with his head, which worries me about neck braces, etc. He's able to do it in his current neck brace, but I'm not sure what other type of neck brace would be used for him after surgery.
The person who is staying at our house came today to pick up keys, go over details, etc.
Oh, and I shaved down two dogs today too. One more to go. UGH! They were a mess, and now they have ugly haircuts. I just couldn't spend the money to take them to the groomer right now, not knowing how much we might have to spend for hotels while in Philly.
Tomorrow ....oh wait, it is tomorrow...I have a new person coming to clean. We're doing BIG cleaning. Big I tell ya. Might even get the floors mopped! LOL
Somehow there is laundry to do. Really? I came home with a suitcase full of clean clothes, and Dean did at least 2 loads of laundry in the 10 days I was gone. (could be more, I said "at least" because that is all I see evidence of.) If only we could all walk around naked. It could happen.
I need to send more tax stuff in this week...........sigh............
I have an IEP meeting for Axel set up for Friday morning. I'm dreading it.
I woke up at 3:30 this morning and am still up (it's 5:20 now) Somehow I think I'm going to need a nap by 10:00 a.m.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Verification
Several people have emailed me, asking me to verify the information in my blog post. I would be more than happy to, by referring you to the MLSP directly, and asking them to verify it for you.
Please email me privately at deanleah at comcast.net and I will give you the email address. I will also give you the email address of the person in charge of adoption related issues at the US Embassy.
Please email me privately at deanleah at comcast.net and I will give you the email address. I will also give you the email address of the person in charge of adoption related issues at the US Embassy.
Monday, May 09, 2011
Formal Announcement
To all my readers:
I have now received official permission from the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy (hereafter referred to as the MLSP) in Belgrade, Serbia to inform you of the events of the past several months.
In April of 2010, the family of Kaci was questioned in person by the MLSP when they appeared for the Ministry appointment to complete the adoption of their child. At that time they were asked about the involvement of Dr. Jasmina Jankovic in their adoption process, including questions about money paid to her. How they received information about the child, and other areas of Dr. Jankovic's involvement. At that time the MLSP informed Dr. Jankovic that she was to have no further contact with Kaci's family. In addition, the Velika Plana Social Center informed Ms. Jankovic that she was no longer allowed in their facility.
Over the course of the next year, although the MLSP suspected that Ms. Jankovic was continuing to facilitate adoptions in an illegal manner, they did not have substantiated evidence to confirm their suspicions, and no other families came forward with complaints.
As most of you know, during the in-country portion of my adoption process in Serbia, Dr. Jasmina Jankovic, doctor at the Zvecanska Street facility located in Belgrade, Serbia, acted as my adoption facilitator. (As she did for ALL the Serbian adoptions to US citizens, as confirmed today by the Serbian MLSP.)
During the course of my adoption, there were many issues brought to light including corruption, extortion, violations of privacy rights of children not legally available for adoption, and violations of Hague Convention regulations. Children who were not legally available for adoption were listed on the website of Reece's Rainbow. Although it was discovered there was a girl listed who was not legally registered for adoption, the director of Reece's Rainbow, Andrea Roberts, told me she had "verified the status" of all the other children. At the time my adoption was completed Reece's Rainbow was informed of the questionable activity of Dr. Jankovic, but Reece's Rainbow continued to send families into her hands.
At the end of my adoption process, I was questioned by the U.S. Embassy, and in February 2011 I was contacted by the MLSP Adoptions Unit requesting additional information, which was provided to them in the form of all email correspondence with Dr. Jankovic, along with copies of my adoption contract with About A Child, and written correspondence with Reece's Rainbow. During that same month the ministry informed Dr. Jankovic she was to have no further involvement in the adoption by a family currently in country. It was also discovered that most of the Serbian children listed on Reece's Rainbow were not legal orphans.
In May, 2011, I, along with Kaci, agreed to travel to Belgrade, Serbia in order to provide in-person testimony regarding the situations surrounding our adoptions.
On May 5th, 2011, I had a meeting with Mr. Pete Marigliano at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade. At the meeting I was informed of exactly what the Embassy is able to do for me as U.S. Citizen and adoptive families while in Belgrade, and what they are not able to do. The U.S. Embassy is well aware of my recent involvement with Cherish Our Children International, and how that organization helped me during my adoption process when it became clear that the situation in December had become an issue of my personal safety. In addition, the Embassy informed me that Dr. Jankovic had made an appearance before Embassy Staff, as well as staff from the MLSP to plead her case in the situation.
Today, May 9th, 2011, I along with Kaci appeared before the MLSP in a closed meeting. At this time we were informed that, based on their investigation, the MLSP has brought formal charges against Dr. Jankovic for violating Hague Convention regulations by conducting adoptions as an employee of the Serbian government, including but not limited to releasing private information of vulnerable children. There is also an ongoing investigation of other issues related to adoption, and a suit against her by the Zvescanska organization. These statements were signed and sworn to and subsequently entered into evidence for an upcoming trial against Dr. Jankovic.
The MLSP has also verified that although Dr. Jankovic has announced that an official communication from the MSLP was released stating Serbian adoptions are closed - a statement which was supported by Reece's Rainbow although they never verified it with the ministry - the statement absolutely untrue! The MLSP has never issued such a statement. Serbian adoptions have never been put on hold. Although families who have recently contacted the MLSP about their case, and told that no travel dates would be issued until after a certain date, there has never been a "hold" on adoptions. Because Dr. Jankovic was releasing information about children who were NOT legally available for adoption, the MLSP is now taking additional steps in the adoption approval process to assure that all children being presented are, indeed, legally free and available for International Adoption. These additional steps have added time to the adoption process.
Prior to their contact with me in February, 2011, the MLSP was completely unaware there were so many families currently interested in Serbian adoption. This has led to a high volume of emails and phone calls to the MLSP Adoption Unit, which they were not prepared to handle. Although they are trying their best, please be patient as you wait for responses from them.
There are currently approximately 40 children currently registered for International Adoption from Serbia. This information is available to families by contacting the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy Adoptions Unit directly.
The MLSP confirmed in our meeting that there are ABSOLUTELY NO healthy children being adopted out of Serbia. Also, although in the past some Roma children were registered for International Adoption, this is now a very rare occurrence as they are now being adopted by Serbian families.
The MLSP was appalled to hear that families were sending all of their financial information, including bank account numbers, social security numbers, level of income etc. directly to Dr. Jankovic. and that agencies and non-profit organizations in the U.S. were encouraging this practice of sending sensitive information to non-qualified individuals. They were equally shocked to hear that some agencies are telling families to carry large amounts of cash into the country to be handed over to their in-country facilitators. If you are working with an agency who has made such a suggestion, you are strongly encouraged to contact both the MLSP and the US Embassy with that information. It is reasonable that your ONLY expenses while completing your Serbian adoption would include:
Taxes for legal documents (birth certificate, passport, visa, etc.)
Translation fees of dossier and post adoption documents (with the going rate being approximately 8 Euro per page)
Lodging
Transportation
Translator fees
Food
In conclusion, the MLSP is eager to move forward with a 100% transparent adoption process. Any claims that were made by Ms. Jankovic that families cannot contact the MLSP directly, and the MLSP is to be feared, is 100% false. You can feel confident that the MLSP wants nothing more than to see future U.S. adoptive families complete the adoption process without fear, and instead only with joy as they bring their children home. The MLSP is now working jointly with the U.S. Embassy to insure a smooth process for everyone.
I want to encourage each and every one of you who have had similar experiences in your adoption process to speak up. Yes, there are children's lives at stake, but extortion and bribery taking place during international adoptions runs a line very close to child trafficking, something none of us want to be party to.
Lastly, I would like to thank those of you who have offered your support over the last four months, as we very carefully took each measured step to insure that future U.S. adoptive families do not experience the fear and/or extortion that we experienced.
I especially want to thank Dean, who one year ago wanted nothing to do with adoption, and suddenly found himself in a difficult place, watching me through skype during what were sometimes some very intense situations. Even through all of this he is eager to adopt again. Only God can do that.
Please feel free to distribute this blog post to any families, past or present, involved in Serbian adoptions.
Sunday, May 08, 2011
Guess What I'm Doing Now?
Do you know what I'm doing now?
Yep, packing! It's time to go home, and I'm ready.
It's been a long, very emotional week here. Thankfully God has been preparing me for several months, and I was able to complete all the tasks He set before me. These tasks were no small feat, and involved the assistance and cooperative thinking of several agencies and organizations, both Serbian and American.
My heart is still broken about Ianna. I just want to be done. There is really nothing *I* can do (nor has there ever been) but there is certainly much that God can do. I have done all that He asked me to do. I'm weary. It's like an elevator door that is closing, and you kind of want to get off. You put your hand out to stop the door, but at the same time want to pull it back because instinct says you're going to get hurt.
And so I head home.
Yep, packing! It's time to go home, and I'm ready.
It's been a long, very emotional week here. Thankfully God has been preparing me for several months, and I was able to complete all the tasks He set before me. These tasks were no small feat, and involved the assistance and cooperative thinking of several agencies and organizations, both Serbian and American.
My heart is still broken about Ianna. I just want to be done. There is really nothing *I* can do (nor has there ever been) but there is certainly much that God can do. I have done all that He asked me to do. I'm weary. It's like an elevator door that is closing, and you kind of want to get off. You put your hand out to stop the door, but at the same time want to pull it back because instinct says you're going to get hurt.
And so I head home.
Axel's Language Development
So, I found out something interesting about Axel's language development. (His Speech Therapist will love this, I'm sure.)
For the first two years of his life, Axel was in an environment where Serbian was spoken.
Next he was moved to an environment where Hungarian is used. The children were rarely talked TO, only AT, which is very different.
After several years he was moved to another location where either Hungarian or Serbian is used, depending upon who is working.
Then he was moved to the foster home, where Serbian is spoken.
After two years he came home to us, where we speak English.
Do you think he might have given up at some time? I know I would have! Poor kid! Each of these languages have different sounds, requiring the tongue to make different movements. About the time he'd be ready to understand or use the language, he was moved.
He sure seems to be understanding a lot now. I would venture to guess he's getting about 70-80% of what we say. (it helps that we're signing as well.)
For the first two years of his life, Axel was in an environment where Serbian was spoken.
Next he was moved to an environment where Hungarian is used. The children were rarely talked TO, only AT, which is very different.
After several years he was moved to another location where either Hungarian or Serbian is used, depending upon who is working.
Then he was moved to the foster home, where Serbian is spoken.
After two years he came home to us, where we speak English.
Do you think he might have given up at some time? I know I would have! Poor kid! Each of these languages have different sounds, requiring the tongue to make different movements. About the time he'd be ready to understand or use the language, he was moved.
He sure seems to be understanding a lot now. I would venture to guess he's getting about 70-80% of what we say. (it helps that we're signing as well.)
Birthmother's Day
In the adoption community, the Saturday before Mother's Day is known as "Birthmother's Day". How fitting that on Birthmother's Day, 2011, I met Axel's birth mother....and the rest of his birth family...for the first time. Isn't God so good?????
Saturday, May 07, 2011
Coming Full Circle
Five months ago, I came to Belgrade, Serbia, and heard the details of the little boy I would be adopting. During that meeting, the social worker told me the birth family was interested in contact, to which I agreed. My whole family is full of adoption, and we believe it's important for a child to know their history. But, after that meeting when we got in the car to drive to the foster home in Kragujevac, the facilitator turned to me and said, "You will not have contact with the birth family. I do not advice it. It would be very bad for you."
Most of you know my opinion of the facilitator (which is another post that will be coming soon.) and so I took her words with a grain of salt.
We arrived in Krag. met Axel, took custody of him, then on December 9th had the adoption ceremony. After the ceremony the head psychologist from the social center told me that Axel looked a lot like his birth father. She opened his file and pulled out a photo copy of both his mother and father's identification cards. She was right, he did look a lot like his birth father! I handed it back to her, and she said, "No no, this is for you!"
About 2 months ago I tried looking for Axel's birth parents on google, but the name is a very common one. I finally gave up speculating about all the people I was finding!
Fast forward 4 1/2 months, to April 29th, when my friend Kathie picked me up to take me to the airport. Our plans for the week in Serbia had suddendly changed. Really, they fallen right to pieces! But as I walked to the car, it occurred to me to run back and grab that photo copy of the ID cards. Perhaps my friends in Serbia could find them?
Once in Belgrade, I asked my friend Zoran if he thought he could look up the birth parents. On Monday he was able to do just that! The birth mother cried on the phone. OH she was so happy! She said her heart died 7 1/2 years ago (I'll explain that later) and she has felt dead ever since. She told Zoran that the day before the adoption ceremony, the father went to the social worker, made a copy of their ID cards and begged her to please give me a copy of their information so that if I ever wanted, I could contact them. They wanted to know their little Djordje was having a good life and they had not made a mistake.
Over the course of this week, the birth mother had many phone conversations with Zoran. He told the mother how much we loved Axel Djordje, how he loves his new sister, and she loves him. That he goes to school, and many other wonderful things. She asked, "What do I call him? Axel, or Djordje?" Zoran assured her that she can call him whatever she wants. I had explained to Zoran that "Djordje" is the boy who lived in Serbia, and "Axel" is the boy who lives in the U.S. Axel is NOTHING like the little boy who left here, he is a very different person. SHE knows "Djordje", and that is how she remembers him, and she should feel comfortable calling him that. We know "Axel", but we have kept his Serbian name because it is a part of him. His history. Something they gave him.
And so today was the big day. We made the drive to Kragujevac....
We arrived at the meeting place, got out of the car, and hugged each other like only two mothers who share the same child can hug. She kissed my cheeks. She hugged some more. Kissed me some more. She thanked me for coming for Djordje. How they longed to know he was ok. That for the first time in 10 years she feels whole again. She is smiling again.
The father hugged me just as tight, as I felt his tears on my cheeks. He held me and held me. He told me things in Serbia in my ear that I know meant that he loved is boy.
Axel has a biological brother who is turning 14 in a couple of weeks. He, too, was crying. He loved his brother, and misses him very much.
Here is our first family picture together.
If my entire trip to Serbia had been a failure, and I got nothing accomplished, this day would have made it all worthwhile. It was truly one of the most joyous days. I was able to tell Axel's birth family thank you for giving this gift. That he is loved and cared for. That he has everything he needs. That he goes to bed at night with a kiss on the cheek, knowing he is safe. At night I give him three kisses: 1 from me, Dean and Angela. Now he will go to bed with 6 kisses...because he has a mother, a father and brother on the other side of the world who love him too.
Most of you know my opinion of the facilitator (which is another post that will be coming soon.) and so I took her words with a grain of salt.
We arrived in Krag. met Axel, took custody of him, then on December 9th had the adoption ceremony. After the ceremony the head psychologist from the social center told me that Axel looked a lot like his birth father. She opened his file and pulled out a photo copy of both his mother and father's identification cards. She was right, he did look a lot like his birth father! I handed it back to her, and she said, "No no, this is for you!"
About 2 months ago I tried looking for Axel's birth parents on google, but the name is a very common one. I finally gave up speculating about all the people I was finding!
Fast forward 4 1/2 months, to April 29th, when my friend Kathie picked me up to take me to the airport. Our plans for the week in Serbia had suddendly changed. Really, they fallen right to pieces! But as I walked to the car, it occurred to me to run back and grab that photo copy of the ID cards. Perhaps my friends in Serbia could find them?
Once in Belgrade, I asked my friend Zoran if he thought he could look up the birth parents. On Monday he was able to do just that! The birth mother cried on the phone. OH she was so happy! She said her heart died 7 1/2 years ago (I'll explain that later) and she has felt dead ever since. She told Zoran that the day before the adoption ceremony, the father went to the social worker, made a copy of their ID cards and begged her to please give me a copy of their information so that if I ever wanted, I could contact them. They wanted to know their little Djordje was having a good life and they had not made a mistake.
Over the course of this week, the birth mother had many phone conversations with Zoran. He told the mother how much we loved Axel Djordje, how he loves his new sister, and she loves him. That he goes to school, and many other wonderful things. She asked, "What do I call him? Axel, or Djordje?" Zoran assured her that she can call him whatever she wants. I had explained to Zoran that "Djordje" is the boy who lived in Serbia, and "Axel" is the boy who lives in the U.S. Axel is NOTHING like the little boy who left here, he is a very different person. SHE knows "Djordje", and that is how she remembers him, and she should feel comfortable calling him that. We know "Axel", but we have kept his Serbian name because it is a part of him. His history. Something they gave him.
And so today was the big day. We made the drive to Kragujevac....
We arrived at the meeting place, got out of the car, and hugged each other like only two mothers who share the same child can hug. She kissed my cheeks. She hugged some more. Kissed me some more. She thanked me for coming for Djordje. How they longed to know he was ok. That for the first time in 10 years she feels whole again. She is smiling again.
The father hugged me just as tight, as I felt his tears on my cheeks. He held me and held me. He told me things in Serbia in my ear that I know meant that he loved is boy.
Axel has a biological brother who is turning 14 in a couple of weeks. He, too, was crying. He loved his brother, and misses him very much.
Here is our first family picture together.
Some of this story is saved for Axel, when he is old enough to understand. Let me tell you, his birth family loved him enough to let him go to a better life. There is nothing for him here in Serbia. NOTHING. They did have him at home for a time, and they tried so hard, but really the doctors know nothing about Down syndrome and they knew it would be difficult to provide what he needed.
This mother and I will forever be bonded by Axel. Our hearts are for this child. She will be able to watch him grow into a man, and know that he has everything he needs. That is all she ever wanted for him...more than she was able to give him.
Somehow I don't have a picture of me along with Axel's birth father. Let me tell you, were it not for this man, I would never have found them. For 7 1/2 years this man visited Axel every month. He never stopped loving him. He spoke to me from his heart, with tears in his eyes, things that can only come from a father who loves his son.
Axel has an older brother, and OH they look so much alike! He is already learning to speak English and doing quite well! He doesn't even have an accent when he is speaking english! He used to go with the birth father to visit Djordje, and he misses his brother very much. He is a wonderful young man! He is doing well in school, and loves computers. He is a very smart teenager.
While you're sleeping
While you're sleeping, I'm going to be having a VERY big day. It will probably be, for me, the highlight of the entire trip. Something totally not planned for but which became a possibility literally as I walked out the door for the airport.
Please pray it goes well. It will be life-changing for all involved.
Please pray it goes well. It will be life-changing for all involved.
Friday, May 06, 2011
The World Hasn't Gone to the crapper yet!
Look what happened when this young man, who has autism, was singing the National Anthem at Fenway park. This gave me goosebumps. Watch it here.
Wow, what a day!
Let me first day, your prayers in the wee hours of your morning were were very much needed today, and very much felt!
Today we drove from Belgrade, Serbia to Kostajnica, Republika Srpska. You can see Beograd (Belgrade) to the right side of the picture, and Kostanjnica (which is not shown because it's TINY) is marked with the pin.
It was a beautiful day for the drive! Of course, I have to take pictures of some "stuff" along the way!
Like the memorial to the Jasenovac Concentration camp in Croatia. Between the day it opened in 1941, and it's evacuation in 1945, between 45,000-52,000 resident Serbs, between 12,000-20,000 Jews, 15,000-20,000 Roma (gypsies) and between 5,000-10,000 ethnic Croats and Muslims were murdered. Additionally, the Croation authorities murdered between 320,000-340,000 ethnic Serb residents of Croatia and Bosnia. This memorial, sitting on the site of Jasenovac, represents those lives lost.
We crossed where the Una an Slava rivers come together. It's a beautiful area.
And stork nests. These are huge! For those watching the Decorah, Iowa eagles, this is about the same size.
When we arrived in Kostajnica, we met up with some of Mary's extended family. This is her 1st cousin Gloria. Mary, (left) is Eastern European coordinator of COCI, and is who I've spent the last week with.
While walking to Gloria's apartment, Mary took me
This is Mary's aunt. Isn't she lovely? She lives on the 5th floor of her apartment building, and can no longer leave. There is no elevator, and while she can go down all the flights of stairs, she can't get back up them. The laws have recently changed here, and they are now required to install an elevator in any building more than three floors. Hopefully this will allow Mary's aunt considerably more freedom.
This is her aunt's sister. She couldn't get over the fact I didn't understand Serbian, and kept asking me things, then laughing when I didn't answer. LOL
This is the NADA school in Kostajnica. The original school was bombed out during the Bosnian war. COCI offered to rebuild the school, but only if they would give space to a special needs classroom. NADA (which means Hope) was started by parents of children with special needs to give them a place to learn. It is called Some of the children do not attend school, others attend but are never accepted by their peers. NADA...Hope School... is where the children love to come and are accepted.
The grounds in font of the school are all torn up because the city has just installed new drainage systems. In the foreground you see pavers, these will be placed to make a beautiful playground for the children.
When I was here in December, COCI donated this car to the school. This allows staff to drive children who's families would not otherwise be able to get them to and from the school.
The workshops meet in the evening from 5:00-7:00. This allows those who attend school to come to the NADA school afterward. Today they were working hard making luminaries. All of the children in this program have mild-moderate cognitive delays.
This little girl is actually a sibling to one of the NADA students. Just an adorable little thing!
This young man WANTED my camera in the worst way! He did get a little carried away while posing with his scissors and just about cut his hair. LOL
All of the children wanted to make SURE I took a picture of their tree! This was a fine motor activity and is made of rolled up papers.
Mary Borojevic (left) Dr. Zoran Popovic (with the sachel) and NADA staff.
We left Kostajnica about 6:30 and started the four hour drive home. COCI is doing amazing things here, all over the Balkan region.
Although the clinic did not take place, COCI has a staff member, Dr. Zoran Popovic, who is a dentist and today (Friday) he will start seeing some of the children COCI serves who live in and around Belgrade. He is donating his time and talents to start getting the dental needs of the children with special needs met. Most of these children are shut-ins, and without help from COCI would never make it to a doctor, dentist, or school. So, the toothbrushes you donated were going to instead be used for this program. They're a great training tools since they have a built-in timer in them. Instead they're sitting in a customs office at the airport, and who knows what will happen to them from there?
More great stuff happening today!
Today we drove from Belgrade, Serbia to Kostajnica, Republika Srpska. You can see Beograd (Belgrade) to the right side of the picture, and Kostanjnica (which is not shown because it's TINY) is marked with the pin.
It was a beautiful day for the drive! Of course, I have to take pictures of some "stuff" along the way!
Like the memorial to the Jasenovac Concentration camp in Croatia. Between the day it opened in 1941, and it's evacuation in 1945, between 45,000-52,000 resident Serbs, between 12,000-20,000 Jews, 15,000-20,000 Roma (gypsies) and between 5,000-10,000 ethnic Croats and Muslims were murdered. Additionally, the Croation authorities murdered between 320,000-340,000 ethnic Serb residents of Croatia and Bosnia. This memorial, sitting on the site of Jasenovac, represents those lives lost.
We crossed where the Una an Slava rivers come together. It's a beautiful area.
And stork nests. These are huge! For those watching the Decorah, Iowa eagles, this is about the same size.
When we arrived in Kostajnica, we met up with some of Mary's extended family. This is her 1st cousin Gloria. Mary, (left) is Eastern European coordinator of COCI, and is who I've spent the last week with.
While walking to Gloria's apartment, Mary took me
This is Mary's aunt. Isn't she lovely? She lives on the 5th floor of her apartment building, and can no longer leave. There is no elevator, and while she can go down all the flights of stairs, she can't get back up them. The laws have recently changed here, and they are now required to install an elevator in any building more than three floors. Hopefully this will allow Mary's aunt considerably more freedom.
This is her aunt's sister. She couldn't get over the fact I didn't understand Serbian, and kept asking me things, then laughing when I didn't answer. LOL
Some of you donated toothbrushes for the screening clinic that we had planned during this trip. The clinic was to take place at this school in Kostajnica. . Just days before leaving to come to Serbia, all the arrangements made for the clinic fell apart. The children were disappointed! This is a very remote area with NO access to services. This clinic would have brought to them something they've never before had.
This is the NADA school in Kostajnica. The original school was bombed out during the Bosnian war. COCI offered to rebuild the school, but only if they would give space to a special needs classroom. NADA (which means Hope) was started by parents of children with special needs to give them a place to learn. It is called Some of the children do not attend school, others attend but are never accepted by their peers. NADA...Hope School... is where the children love to come and are accepted.
The grounds in font of the school are all torn up because the city has just installed new drainage systems. In the foreground you see pavers, these will be placed to make a beautiful playground for the children.
When I was here in December, COCI donated this car to the school. This allows staff to drive children who's families would not otherwise be able to get them to and from the school.
The workshops meet in the evening from 5:00-7:00. This allows those who attend school to come to the NADA school afterward. Today they were working hard making luminaries. All of the children in this program have mild-moderate cognitive delays.
This little girl is actually a sibling to one of the NADA students. Just an adorable little thing!
This young man WANTED my camera in the worst way! He did get a little carried away while posing with his scissors and just about cut his hair. LOL
All of the children wanted to make SURE I took a picture of their tree! This was a fine motor activity and is made of rolled up papers.
Although the clinic did not take place, COCI has a staff member, Dr. Zoran Popovic, who is a dentist and today (Friday) he will start seeing some of the children COCI serves who live in and around Belgrade. He is donating his time and talents to start getting the dental needs of the children with special needs met. Most of these children are shut-ins, and without help from COCI would never make it to a doctor, dentist, or school. So, the toothbrushes you donated were going to instead be used for this program. They're a great training tools since they have a built-in timer in them. Instead they're sitting in a customs office at the airport, and who knows what will happen to them from there?
More great stuff happening today!
Wednesday, May 04, 2011
Far from Home
Let me first say that Dean is doing a darned good job at home with the kids, as is our morning home support staff who is making sure they're getting on the bus on time. (the last time I left, Dean posted on his FB that he'd only gotten Angela to school on time twice while I was gone, so clearly, there are improvements!)
And, today there are more improvement. This afternoon I was on skype with Dean when Axel got home from school. When I asked Dean why Axel was wearing a Pajama shirt to school, he told me that all his other clothes are in the washer! That means laundry is getting done. (and I'll ignore the fact Axel is wearing pajamas to school.)
Axel is, of course, being a pill. There are a couple rules about going to school. 1) No hats allowed. Axel LOVES baseball hats, but there are no hats allowed at school, so they're just something to get lost so it's silly for him to wear them. 2) No toys to school. That one is pretty obvious and probably doesn't need any explanation.
So, Dean was a little surprised to get Axel off the bus to find him wearing his Twins cap. Hmmm...pulled one over on the home support staff. LOL Once they got in the house, Axel went in the other room while Dean opened Axel's backpack to find his magna doodle and toy cell phone in there. Dean called Axel back into the kitchen and told him to open his bag, and take out the toys. If I could get a million dollars for Axel's guilty look, I'd be so rich right now. Nobody can ever tell me Axel doesn't know when he's breaking the rules.
But everyone is alive, and healthy, which is what's most important. This is little stuff. It could be much worse.
Oh wait... there is school, which is another post all together. It's now 5:51 at home, but 12:51 a.m. here in Belgrade, and I have to get up early. I'll have to save it for another time.
And, today there are more improvement. This afternoon I was on skype with Dean when Axel got home from school. When I asked Dean why Axel was wearing a Pajama shirt to school, he told me that all his other clothes are in the washer! That means laundry is getting done. (and I'll ignore the fact Axel is wearing pajamas to school.)
Axel is, of course, being a pill. There are a couple rules about going to school. 1) No hats allowed. Axel LOVES baseball hats, but there are no hats allowed at school, so they're just something to get lost so it's silly for him to wear them. 2) No toys to school. That one is pretty obvious and probably doesn't need any explanation.
So, Dean was a little surprised to get Axel off the bus to find him wearing his Twins cap. Hmmm...pulled one over on the home support staff. LOL Once they got in the house, Axel went in the other room while Dean opened Axel's backpack to find his magna doodle and toy cell phone in there. Dean called Axel back into the kitchen and told him to open his bag, and take out the toys. If I could get a million dollars for Axel's guilty look, I'd be so rich right now. Nobody can ever tell me Axel doesn't know when he's breaking the rules.
But everyone is alive, and healthy, which is what's most important. This is little stuff. It could be much worse.
Oh wait... there is school, which is another post all together. It's now 5:51 at home, but 12:51 a.m. here in Belgrade, and I have to get up early. I'll have to save it for another time.
Prayers please
We need lots.....and lots....of prayers for tomorrow. Lots.
Unfortunately most of you will be sleeping right around 3:00 a.m. central time.
Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.
Unfortunately most of you will be sleeping right around 3:00 a.m. central time.
Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.
Tale of the Toothbrushes
Lets back up to Saturday when I arrived in Belgrade, and my flashing toothbrushes attracted the attention of Customs. My bag was confiscated, toothbrushes removed (and played with be the customs staff as they realized when you move the package a certain way the little lights go off.) boxed up, wrapped with security tape, and I was told to come back on Tuesday to get them. I asked if I would have to pay to get them out of customs, because this is a donation, and they insisted, "Oh no....no...no paying for donation because of customs."
So yesterday Mary and I went to customs to get the toothbrushes, but the staff was not working that day. You know, because Sunday was a holiday, making Monday....and apparently Tuesday too...a holiday. We were told to "come back tomorrow."
Well, it's tomorrow now (Wednesday for those like me who are starting to loose track of time!) and we still can't get the toothbrushes. It's not the $200 import tax that is stopping us. It is the fact every single toothbrush must be individually inspected by "sanitation control", to make sure they are clean.
Seriously. They're in FACTORY SEALED PACKAGES.
And...we may have to pay for the inspection.
Seriously.
If that's the case, we'll be leaving the toothbrushes in customs and eventually the customs employees will take them home for themselves.
Insert big fat sigh here.
So yesterday Mary and I went to customs to get the toothbrushes, but the staff was not working that day. You know, because Sunday was a holiday, making Monday....and apparently Tuesday too...a holiday. We were told to "come back tomorrow."
Well, it's tomorrow now (Wednesday for those like me who are starting to loose track of time!) and we still can't get the toothbrushes. It's not the $200 import tax that is stopping us. It is the fact every single toothbrush must be individually inspected by "sanitation control", to make sure they are clean.
Seriously. They're in FACTORY SEALED PACKAGES.
And...we may have to pay for the inspection.
Seriously.
If that's the case, we'll be leaving the toothbrushes in customs and eventually the customs employees will take them home for themselves.
Insert big fat sigh here.
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