Cheaper Travel

I just did some checking around and I have great news! We can afford to travel to Russia in July. (This is extremely good news as we have to go whenever they tell us to whether we can afford it or not!...I would hate to sleep on the street while we are there.) Hotels drop considerably. There are two hotels I am watching closely, Courtyard by Marriott and Sokos. Airfare is up a bit when compared to this spring, but down a little when compared to June. Also, as time goes by it will continue to get cheaper. So, hopefully our second and third trip will be even less. Speaking of which, I am REALLY praying we won't have to make the third trip. Would you join me in that prayer? It is rare these days, but the judge has the power to wave our 10 day appeals period. If she were to do that, we would be able to bring Julia home on the second trip. It would make our second trip longer, but would save airfare and travel time of the third trip. But, I think you all know that I will do what ever I have to (I was willing to make the four trips that our first referral was going to require). Anyway, it would be a wonderful blessing and a great surprise ending to this journey.

Bump

We have received word back from our IA docs that the bump on Julia's head is most likely a benign juvenile thing that should resolve itself. Great News!

More info...

I have received several questions that I forgot to answer in my previous post, so I will answer those now. First, our agency is estimating travel for the first to middle of July. Which is great as that is her birthday. We are hoping to be able to celebrate it with her. Also, regarding her pictures, she does have a "growth" on her forehead, in her hairline. We are still waiting for the dermatologists that work with our IA docs to give us a guess on it. The Russian docs are calling it a "fatty growth" and say that she is fine, come and get her. (I thought that was funny.) We hope it is just some type of noninvasive cyst that can be removed at some point in the future. (Like the one I had.) We aren't too worried about it. Anyway, if you have any other questions that I forgot to answer, just let me know.

Julia...

We have accepted our new referral!!! Her name is Julia, pronounced Yulia in Russian. We obviously haven't had much time to think about it, but right now are leaning toward keeping it. I really like the name Julia (with a J not a Y). She is still having some growth issues, but we are planning on taking care of that!!! (Enter southern fried, home cookin' and of course Old McDonald's!) She has bright blue eyes like Andy and Luke and either dark blond or light brown hair (I can't decide which.) Either way, she is a doll!!! I have already found a baby picture of her on the MoE website!!!...priceless!!! The only thing that bothers me...she has that same "come and get me outta here" look that most babies do in an orphanage photo. I hate that! Anyway, we have made peace with the loss of our little Hope and know that God will take care of her. So, from now on, I will focus on Julia and our future with her. Thanks to everyone for your concerns and prayers and please continue to pray for our journey!

New Referral!

We have our new referral info. She is tiny, but within normal growth ranges. At first glance, she seems healthy and beautiful! Until last month she was in an orphanage that was underfeeding her. But, she was recently moved to a new orphanage and they said she is already starting to gain weight. (BTW, they are closing her old orphanage!!!) I have sent her info. on to our IA docs and will let you know what they say and what we decide ASAP. Please continue to pray for us!

We Have News...

I haven't posted sooner because I really don't know what to say. We have lost our referral. On Thursday, our agency called with some very disturbing news. They said as they were getting the paperwork together for us to make our first visit (this includes a medical exam of the baby) and the neurologist diagnosed our baby with Cerebral Palsy. They called us with this info. and our options. Well, on Friday all of those "options" went out the window. They said our coordinators in Russia, thinking they were doing the right thing, went to the MoE and got us a new referral as we didn't sign on for a "special needs child." Well, since this was a special case the MoE granted their request. In Russia, you can't have two referrals at the same time when you only requested one, so obviously this means the old referral is gone. Our little Hope is now longer ours. I guess the good news, if you want to see it that way, (I really can't right now.) is that we have a new referral. However, I know nothing about her. Our agency wants us to take the weekend to basically grieve, then they will give us the new info. on Monday. But, we will still, once again, have to send this new referral info. to our IA doc (who I am sure is getting tired of hearing from us by now, but loving the "donations" we have to keep making). Our agency is saying that if we accept her, she is paper ready (no waiting another 5 1/2 months) and we should travel the first half of July. Please pray for Hope. I hate the thought of just leaving her there, but it is out of my hands now. She is in God's hands. Silver lining...God's hands are much better than mine.

St. Petersburg Web Cam

I don't know why it hasn't occurred to me sooner to post this here, but anyway here it is...

http://www.livecam.ru/huge.php

The above link will take you to a web cam overlooking St. Petersburg. I like to look at it several times a day. Keep in mind they are eight hours ahead of us (Eastern Time). It should be interesting to watch next month as they will be having "white nights". This is when it is daylight all day and all night! This seems so strange to me...I hope to get to experience it in person!!! Enjoy!

New Picture!!!

I checked the MOE website today (like I do everyday) and found that our region had updated it's info. This includes a new picture of our girl!!! I am really excited to see her, but also sadden by how much I have missed of her growing. She could be home by now. They also updated some info. about her. They say she is very calm, pulling up, crawling well and she really likes musical toys. Her picture was the only one that had changed, so I am really praying this means things are moving on that end and I will hear something soon!

No News

I still have no new news, but I should be getting close! Maybe I will get travel dates for Mother's Day??? Some of my friends were getting antsy since I hadn't posted in a while...so here you go...I posted. Sorry it's not more exciting. Please keep our baby in your prayers.

Russian Economy

It has been two weeks since my last post and as I have no new adoption news, it is time for another lesson on Russia. Today's topic...Economics. I know most of you will probably not even read this one, but I have a minor in Economics, so I find this interesting. (If most of you quit reading my blog from now on...I'll understand. :) )

Economy Overview-

Russia ended 2008 with GDP growth of 6.0%, following 10 straight years of growth averaging 7% annually since the financial crisis of 1998. Over the last six years, fixed capital investment growth and personal income growth have averaged above 10%, but both grew at slower rates in 2008. Growth in 2008 was driven largely by non-tradable services and domestic manufacturing, rather than exports. During the past decade, poverty and unemployment declined steadily and the middle class continued to expand. Russia also improved its international financial position, running balance of payments surpluses since 2000. Foreign exchange reserves grew from $12 billion in 1999 to almost $600 billion by end July 2008, which include $200 billion in two sovereign wealth funds: a reserve fund to support budgetary expenditures in case of a fall in the price of oil and a national welfare fund to help fund pensions and infrastructure development. Total foreign debt is approximately one-third of GDP. The state component of foreign debt has declined, but commercial short-term debt to foreigners has risen strongly. These positive trends began to reverse in the second half of 2008. Investor concerns over the Russia-Georgia conflict, corporate governance issues, and the global credit crunch in September caused the Russian stock market to fall by roughly 70%, primarily due to margin calls that were difficult for many Russian companies to meet. The global crisis also affected Russia's banking system, which faced liquidity problems. Moscow responded quickly in early October 2008, initiating a rescue plan of over $200 billion that was designed to increase liquidity in the financial sector, to help firms refinance foreign debt, and to support the stock market. The government also unveiled a $20 billion tax cut plan and other safety nets for society and industry. Meanwhile, a 70% drop in the price of oil since mid-July further exacerbated imbalances in external accounts and the federal budget. In mid-November, mini-devaluations of the currency by the Central Bank caused increased capital flight and froze domestic credit markets, resulting in growing unemployment, wage arrears, and a severe drop in production. Foreign exchange reserves dropped to around $435 billion by end 2008, as the Central Bank defended an overvalued ruble. In the first year of his term, President MEDVEDEV outlined a number of economic priorities for Russia including improving infrastructure, innovation, investment, and institutions; reducing the state's role in the economy; reforming the tax system and banking sector; developing one of the biggest financial centers in the world, combating corruption, and improving the judiciary. The Russian government needs to diversify the economy further, as energy and other raw materials still dominate Russian export earnings and federal budget receipts. Russia's infrastructure requires large investments and must be replaced or modernized if the country is to achieve broad-based economic growth. Corruption, lack of trust in institutions, and more recently, exchange rate uncertainty and the global economic crisis continue to dampen domestic and foreign investor sentiment. Russia has made some progress in building the rule of law, the bedrock of a modern market economy, but much work remains on judicial reform. Moscow continues to seek accession to the WTO and has made some progress, but its timeline for entry into the organization continues to slip, and the negotiating atmosphere has soured in the wake of the Georgia and global economic crises.