Today I received Gingers first, middle, last name. I knew her real first name, but I needed this info for our last remaining documents. As I received this info, I heard the old song "It's a bright, bright, bright, sunshiney day, look all around there's nothing but blue sky..." I just happened to look out the window, and the clouds began to move on. I brought the kids to the Pediatrician to have their shot for travel. I showed the Dr Gingers pic, who will also be her Pediatrician, he's checking out the pic, and than he says, "oh, what a beauty, she is going to have such a great life now" I've been reading more of a book regarding internationally adopted children, and attempt to understand the book "Russian translation for dummies" We're coming Ginger!

Yesterday we went to Cape Cod, and spend the day at the beach. It was like summer yesterday. Frank and I were talking about how Ginger would like the beach or not. We hope she does, as we do. She could feel the warm sand in between her little toes, run back and forth into the edge of the tide, splash in the water, pick up shells, dig in the sand with her brother and sister. Her having freedom beyond the orphanage. Can't come soon enough.

The kids passports arrived in the mail today! Another step closer, thank you God.

The other day Matty had a Dr appt, and I dropped Ashley off at my moms I asked the ENT Dr if he was taking new pt's, he asked why, and I told him about Ginger, she will be one of his pt's. Matty saw his cardiologist, and started calling his name, and ran to him. I asked him if he would take Ginger as his pt, he said he would. He also stated about children being internationally adopted, and with DS the risk of undiagnosed cardiac defects, I told him we understood this risk, we want her. The Cardiologist, said great, this child will have a nice life He would like to see Ginger ASAP after getting home and situated. Back to my moms after the Dr appt. Since she is south of Boston, and we're north of Boston, rush hour can be a nightmare, so we stayed at her house for dinner. After we got situated at home, went to check my E mail. There was an e mail, with a new picture of Ginger! She's beautiful, dressed mainly in pink, cute light blue spring shoes, a little white head band with a small flower on it. Her pic had really changesd from the RR pic of last summer she looks like she grew also. A few of our friends have commented on how Matty and Ginger look so much alike, not just the DS characterisitics. They're only a few monthes apart as well. As far as our paperwork is concerned, our homestudy has been approved by our caseworker, and the social worker will mail us a few copies that will be notorized by her boss, and can send one copy to USCIS (Immigration), Frank is having his fingerprints redone on tues morning in Boston, 3 documents to be notarized, and a letter of request to the country she is in we will be requesting to travel in June or early July.. I did my first draft of that letter yesterday, and will get input from our caseworker. I looked at apartments on line in the city Ginger is in, can rent daily, some look really nice, 2 bdrms, and some near McD's and TGIF restaurant. A little taste of Americana.

Went through the dossier checklist, and realized another apostille is needed, too bad sicne I could have had that document done last week while I was having others done. That's ok, I'll go back to Boston next week when the kids are back to school. The homestudy will be sent to AAC, for their review probably in a few days. Than we will get the originals, send it to USCIS. Beside that, think we only have 3 more documents to be notorized too. Our friends 16yr old daughter wants to go with us, she asked her parents, and would help us with our kids. She has babysat for us numerous times, has a little brother with DS so she is very familiar with that. She is a good, smart, nice young lady, and would like her to come with us too We'll will sit down with her parents this friday I have been friends with her mom for years, and she said it's fine for her daughter to go with us and knows her daughter would be safe with us, her dad wants more info.. Last night, Frank and I went to the Boston Bruins playoff hockey game, and sat behind the penalty box. It was a tighe squeeze with the plexi glass right in front of us, for Frank , sicne he's so tall, he mentions that this would be like the plane trip to Eastern Europe, so that made us pine more for Ginger. I'm praying we'll be heading out in June, still waiting for the kids passports. Can't wait to bring you home beautiful Ginger, hang in there, we love you.

Just me with the our kind, awesome Town Assessor for a notary with his signature regarding the proof of property document. We're heading near completion of our dossier.
Katie

Our homestudy has been completed and approved, we're getting closer for the dossier to be complete. I'm going to Boston tomorrow to have more documents apostilled. Just waiting for our kids passports.