Hello All,

Sorry for the delay in posting.

We received good news last Thursday. We were referred a 22 month old boy. We received some medical background information and then promptly contacted Childrens Hospital of Philldelphia International Adoption unit to go over it with us.

Alex is considered "high risk" according to the Dr's because he had fluid on his brain to some type of trauma. They did surgery, removed the fluid, and he has been advancing. We will never know the source and/or reason for the trauma, but we have to be aware of this.

He is not on the charts for his height and weight, but his head size is OK, assuming this is not more fluid.

We travel April 15th through April 20th for trip one, we were hoping to go over our spring break, but to no avail.

We are swimming in "things" that need to be done, but we will get through it.

Please do not hesitate to email us with questions.

Thanks for reading.

Scott

Cathy and I both excited but really over whelmed by the amount of things we need to do before now and then.

Any

Hello everyone~

To begin, Scott and I want to thank our friends & family for their concern and prayers over the past week. It has been a trying ordeal. After visiting with doctors, it has become apparent that I have an ovarian cyst- specifically termed an "endometrioma." The course of action suggested at this point is to monitor it's growth, so I will return for another round of tests in 6 weeks. If any changes incur, then another laparoscopy may be in my future. We'll keep you posted. As for now, however, I am feeling just fine and enjoying a more peaceful weekend :)

On a different note, we also called the adoption agency yesterday to get an update on the progress of things. Unfortunately, our case manager had little information to offer us. She told me that very few referrals have been given out by the Russian government for children under the age of 2 and sibling groups in the last few weeks. When asking her about how this effects our timeline for travel her response was, "Well, I may have news for you in a few days or it may be a few weeks." That was disheartening, as we are going crazy waiting for "the call."

In the meantime, she also told us that the agency has yet to re-accredited by the Russian government, although they've fulfilled all of the requirements and aren't expecting any problems. Re-accreditation to work as an adoption agency is Russia is given yearly, which is to be granted in May. Hopefully, we will not be dealing with our adoption in the middle of that slow down.

Until next time-

Hello all,

It was a bad day yesterday. Around dinner time last night, (Friday), Cathy doubled over in abdominal pain and couldn't move. I tried to get her to stand, but she could not. Cathy crawled to the bathroom, thinking she was going to vomit, but did not. She was shaking, pale, and curled up like a baby.

I thought mayber her appendix ruptured. I brought our Expedition to the front door, cleared a path, picked Cathy up and carried her to the car. My thoughts were I can be at the emergency room in <5 mins. It would take longer to call 911 and wait for the ambulance. Chloe was great, she did not attempt to run out of the front door.

We drove really fast to the hospital. I drove up the ambulance entrance, beat on the door and a wonderful cleaning lady, opened the door and called for the doctors. They promptly came running out and got a gurney.

While Cathy was wheeled in, I signed her in, and her Mom, Dad, Maryanne and Matt (his patrol car and all) went in. They promptly took blood and tried to figure out was wrong.

About 4hours later, the ER doctor said it wasn't her appendix, but she may have had a cyst burst, but he down played that. Cathy has to go for an ultrasound on monday to see if that was actually the case.

So, in sum, what started out as a lazy friday, over dinner and possilby working on our dining room make over, turned into a small stay at the newly renevated Brandywine Hospital ER.

She is tired, but relaxing.

Till next time.

Hello all,

Nothing really pertaining to us, but I did learn that 30 families traveled in February. 15 Families making their first trip, 15 making their second.

Maybe their is truth then to my hypothesis that we are scheduled on a certain date, regardless of child availability. I am thinking the process is not driven by child avx, but by what the agency can handle in terms of family support when overseas. Of course, I do not know for sure.

Only 18 more days till we call our S/W again, unless she calls us with good news.

Till next time.