Ups and Downs

This past week has been full of ups and downs, but I’m trying to look at it like I do a roller coaster – it’s scary, but it’s exhilarating.

It may be cheesy, but that is how it feels right now. On the downside, our computer crashed and I lost everything I had been working on – homestudy paperwork, fundraiser planning, blog posts, a book I started, all of the work I did to set up our estimated costs. It may be fixable and retrievable in the future, but my husband doesn’t have the necessary equipment to fix it, so right now, we’re just starting from scratch.

On the upside we’ve got a lot of the paperwork going already. I’ve started grant applications, turned in our Family Sponsorship Program paperwork into Reece’s Rainbow, finished our USCIS paperwork. The next steps are getting the paperwork turned into USCIS and getting our passports. We’re continuing on with our homestudy as well.

And somewhere amidst all that there are job interviews, making things to sell, planning fundraisers, etc.

Oh, and since we’re on the subject of jobs, I got one! Yay! I start my new job at Zumiez Customer Care on November 2^nd and I’m pretty darn excited about it. It’s only part time until closer to Christmas, and won’t bring in a ton, but it’ll help. My new boss is also familiar with international adoption and wants to do all she can to help, so that’s a blessing in itself.

But since there’s all this talk about money and how much we need, I thought I’d break it down so you can see exactly what we’re up against. I had to redo it anyway since our computer crashed, so I figured I may as well share it. My goal is to do a new post every time we get a chunk paid so everyone can see exactly where we stand.

• Homestudy – $3000
  • $1500 Social Worker
  • $1500 Oversight Agency
• Passports – $555
  • Ian – 110 (application fee)+25(execution fee)+60(expedite fee)= 195
  • Karleigh – 110+25+60= 195
  • Axel – 80+25+60= 165
• USCIS Fees – $890
• Marriage Certificates – $35
• FBI Police Clearance – $30
• Apostille Fees – $450
• Plane Tickets, Estimated (Total for there and back) – $10650
• Adoption Fees for both kids – $12000
• Estimated cost of travel in country – $500
• Roman and Lynda’s medical appointment for Visa – $440
• Roman and Lynda’s Visa application – $650
• Roman and Lynda’s passports – $1000

Total estimated cost if everything goes perfectly – $33700

33700. That’s on the lower end of estimated costs if everything goes right. If anything goes wrong, if paperwork gets lost, if someone somewhere causes something bad to happen, that number will only grow.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t intimidated by it, even scared. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t going to fight for it.

Roman had brain surgery in May and he needs medical care. He needs someone to hold him and play with him to hopefully round out the flat spot on the back of his head. He needs therapy and braces to fix the contractures in his leg.

Lynda needs out of the hell hole she’s been thrown into. I have no idea what’s happening to her and I feel sick about it daily. I haven’t received any updates and I’m so worried that she’s in terrible shape. Well, I can almost guarantee that she is, but I fear she’s worse off than I could ever imagine. On top of that, I know she needs medical care and therapy.

I will do anything and everything in my power to get these kids home. I am very humbled by all who have supported us and continue to support and share. But please don’t stop now. These two beautiful babies need their mommy and their daddy. They deserve to have their little brother doting on them and playing with them. They deserve to eat whenever they’re hungry instead of being given food on a schedule. They deserve to wear clean clothes and smile and laugh and be kids.

We’ve taken off, and there’s no slowing down now.

There are several ways you can get involved and the most basic is to donate to our YouCaring page. We need the USCIS and Homestudy fees yesterday. So please consider helping – there is no donation too small. Once our page reaches $1000 I’m going to share what we’re naming sweet Lynda! We’ll also be announcing our first giveaway at that moment as well. And anyone who donates $10 or more to help get us to the $1000 mark will be entered into a drawing to win 5 entries into the giveaway!