Heidi P., stop reading RIGHT NOW.
For the rest of you, we will have to skip part II of how not to adopt from Kazakhstan, as we now have more pressing matters:
There is no child for us here.
That's right -- we flew for 30 hours, around the world, to sit this morning in a stinky hot room and listen to two angry Kazakh women yell at our coordinator and translator that Americans only want to adopt babies, and they have older children who need homes, and the only child they could offer us was three years old.
And they had told her that her momma and dada were coming today. She screamed "Mama!" at me as we walked into the orphanage.
We are only approved by immigration for an infant under one year. We cannot adopt this child, no matter how hard it is to think that they are going to have to tell her that.
Our coordinator thinks they are lying. I think he is right -- it's a long story, but basically they were told last week that there were six children under one year old available for adoption. Today we were told that there was only one, and that she had been adopted last week by a Kazakh family.
D. is livid.
I am working on Zen.
Our coordinator is working frantically to call her bluff, and if that fails, to move us to a different region. We are exhausted, and jet lagged, and frustrated.
Please say a few more prayers for us.
Oh my God. You are in my thoughts. Please, please, please let them find your baby.
Posted by: Polichick | August 02, 2005 at 09:55 PM
I am so very, truly sorry you are going through this right now. I will keep you in my prayers - I hope some solutions presents itself.
So sorry. Ack.
Posted by: Anna | August 02, 2005 at 10:08 PM
This is horrifying.
For you both & the innocent children.
Oh my god, I am gobsmacked. I feel for you, being so far from home & so helpless. I am sending prayers & hope for a miracle.
Posted by: Simone | August 02, 2005 at 10:37 PM
sorry Soper :(
Posted by: MollieBee | August 02, 2005 at 11:36 PM
Delurking to say how sorry I am that you are going through this. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Posted by: Beth | August 03, 2005 at 12:36 AM
Oh that is so horrid! Horrid all round! I mean, how could they tell that child that her mama and papa were coming when you don't even have an immigration clearance for over a year old? Even if you wanted her you couldn't! You, her, the whole shebang. Horrid. I really hope that your coordinator can work something out while you are there. I'll keep my fingers crossed. ps, I am here via thenakedovary.
Posted by: cluttergirl | August 03, 2005 at 02:32 AM
omg i feel so bad for yall iam so very sorry your n my preys
Posted by: Jenifer | August 03, 2005 at 04:22 AM
Thinking good thoughts and thinking them hard to get them to where you are!
Posted by: gawdessness | August 03, 2005 at 07:36 AM
I am sending many prayers your way. Hope this all works out for you and your family
Posted by: Sparky | August 03, 2005 at 08:07 AM
Oh Soper. You are in my thoughts. I hope that things are working out for you as I type and that the poor girl will find her momma and pappa soon.
Posted by: Jennifer | August 03, 2005 at 09:19 AM
OK, So you don't know me and that's kind of weird, but I am really, really, really sorry for everything your're going through. I so hope that something goes right for you.
Good luck!!!
Posted by: Amanda | August 03, 2005 at 09:23 AM
that SO sucks ass! I'm sending EVERY freaking prayer I can your way - RIGHT NOW.
LOTS of hugs and vodka for you...
Shelli
Posted by: Shelli | August 03, 2005 at 10:06 AM
Oh my gosh. I am so sorry you have to go through this! I hope things work out for you and you can bring your baby home!
Posted by: Danielle | August 03, 2005 at 12:55 PM
Oh no. Oh no. How utterly awful, for you both and for that poor child. How utterly awful. How awful to live through this. I am so sorry.
Posted by: Menita | August 03, 2005 at 02:11 PM
OH SOPER. Honey, I'm sending prayers as fast as I can.
Posted by: Mandy | August 03, 2005 at 03:04 PM
I can't think of anything appropriate to say to such an unimaginable situation, other than that I'm praying for you, and for the children that can't go home with you.
Posted by: Becki | August 03, 2005 at 04:11 PM
Oh man does that just fucking SUCK. Hoping and praying that it all works out.
Posted by: Kristin | August 04, 2005 at 01:27 AM
OMG. This fucking sucks. How dreadful. I so hope a solution can be found that actually works.
Man at times I just despair of the universe.
Posted by: anna v | August 04, 2005 at 05:35 AM
OMG. What a freaking nightmare. I am so sorry. Praying that somehow someway things work out so ya'll don't come home emptyhanded.
I want to know where the hell those 6 babies went???
Posted by: Stephanie | August 05, 2005 at 08:07 AM
Oh, I am so sorry. I do hope that things work out.
Posted by: Nina | October 15, 2005 at 09:11 PM