Update on the wait for a court date

Hi all,

I was somewhat depressed yesterday evening...............I had found out that the translator still has not received the 1 document she needs from the Moscow adoption affairs office. It has to travel snail mail from request to answer. It is the letter saying that Isabelle has been released for adoption.

This is sad because we'd just heard a week before from the translator and she made it sound like she had already received the letter. We were planning on travel dates around the week of September 17th. Now, I am thinking that the court date (2nd trip) will be around the 1st week of October at the earliest. Hopefully getting her (3rd trip) around the middle of October. Our little girl is just sitting there and wondering why those 2 people came to see her and showed her the rest of the orphanage........and all that stuff outside. She's wondering if we'll ever return and take her on a walk again, blowing bubbles, laughing, and trying to understand her babble talk...........and helping her try to walk.

But, I choose to look at the positive. I have more time to raise funds for our 3rd trip cash and the airline/hotel costs. I also had been struggling with returning to school after we get her. I also wanted to keep the momentum I currently have with my job, because I know that this momentum will be a LOT less after we bring her home.

I'm doing a little better with the thought of returning to school, but I really didn't want to come back before Christmas break.........but I wanted to spend at least 8 weeks with our little girl, then another 4 weeks with her after her surgery. Well, I should be able to go back after Christmas break now with only being out about 8-9 weeks off.................so that problem would be resolved (and I'd actually be getting 12 weeks off then because of holiday breaks as well).

So, that's it for now...........hopefully this time will also mean that Gary is able to find a job prior to traveling for the 2nd trip..........please pray that this happens and any potential employer will understand his need for traveling and not let that interfer with hiring him. Optimally though, they will have him as a substitute until we come home.......then hire him fully, because that way he won't use/lose any of his leave time (or if it's in my district, use any of our COMBINED 12 weeks off for FMLA).

Thank you for your continued prayer.

Terri for the Casebier's

Update on paperwork to Russia #4 and more

Hi everyone.

I'm finally physically recovering from our 1st trip. The jet lag didn't really hurt me at all..................it was the really back strain that I'd created on my upper back!!!! My shoulders and neck are starting to feel better after heading to the chiropractor for a few "treatments"............that will teach me for trying to lug 2 suitcases, a laptop, and a backpack around Russia..........and that's not even including the larger backpack and 2 duffle bags that Gary was carrying around!!!!

I've already determined that on the 2nd trip we'll have 1 backpack, 1 duffle bag (gifts), and 1 suitcase (with a handle and wheels)........that should make it a lot better. On the last trip we'll have 2 suitcases (wheels and handles) and 1 large backpack. One of the suitcases will be for all of Isabelles things (clothes, food, toys, etc). We'll leave all that stuff in our Moscow hotel before going to get her because that trip will be one giant turn around to stay in Moscow the same (or next) night.

Update on finances~~~~ well, God (as always) is wonderfully good. 1. We still do not have money for hotels/airlines, but we do have credit that we can use if necessary. I'm just afraid that if we use it (and end up maxing it out) that we may be stretched to far, bills wise. 2. We have most of the cash in hand for the 2nd trip though (about 3000 out of 3500 needed). The 3rd trip is only 10 days after the 2nd, so I'm not sure about the cash in hand for that one though............it's ok, so far He hasn't let us go anywhere without everything we need!!!! (and He never will...... :):):)).

Update on her paperwork!!!! ~~~~~ Her paperwork is all in Russia and the translator is trying to schedule a court date. We hope to know in the next couple days when the court date will be (and thus when our 2nd trip will start). We've been told to expect the "10 day wait" to be 10 business days..........and if the 10th day is a Friday, it may require us to wait until the Monday afterward. We're still planning on coming home in between trips so that I can continue to work and not lose any leave days without our daughter.

Well, that's the word for now...........I'll be posting AS SOON AS!!! I have the court date........YEA!!!!! Then I'll have to quickly order the visas and purchase plane tickets.............we still hope/expect to be traveling the week of Sept. 10th or 17th.......All looks very positive.

Thanks for all your continued prayers and love!!!!

Terri for the Casebier's

Update on paperwork to Russia #3

Hey!!!

I found out today that the 1st (larger) batch of our dossier paperwork was received in Russia and is being checked over and translated!!!! Translation (of ALL documents) takes 2-3 days............

The 2nd and final (smaller) batch was also sent out today (Fed Ex tracking number is 8606 0518 3509)..............and if I go with how fast the other batch went, they could have it by next Tuesday or Wednesday...............and fully translated by (at least) NEXT FRIDAY!!!! (8/24).......................now if we could only figure out where the paperwork from Moscow was in the process!!!! If it's there by translation time, we could have a court date set as early as 8/27!!!!!...........maybe even a day or two earlier!!!

So, keep watching for our next update within the next week and a half to two weeks!!! I'm SO excited!!!! We may even have a travel date before going to the Family Reunion at Labor Day!!!!.............lol we're in Labor!!!!! :):):)

Terri for the Casebier's

Remainder of Dossier to Agency!

Well, we went to the Secretary of State today and got the rest of our Apostilles done. Afterward, we overnighted our documents to IFS..........they should get them on Monday, copy them, and then send them right back out to Russia on Monday as well. I've requested the tracking information for both sets (she sent out the 1st part of our dossier earlier this week so Svetlana could start translating it) and will update you as soon as I have that information.

Levahna told me that Svetlana is also waiting for a document from Moscow (snail mail) to allow Isabelle to be "released" for adoption. Once she has that document (along with ours) she can set the court date. I figure she should have all of our documents by August 27th and all of them translated no later than August 30th (she said it only takes her about 3 days........and most of the documents will be there by about the 20th). I really hope the Moscow document is there by the time the rest of our documents get to her. I also hope that we are one of the 1st families in court once the judge returns from her vacation on September 10th. Only time will tell though.

Please pray for speedy travel on the documents, a close court date, and money for the trip.

Thanks!!!

Terri for the Casebier's

Remainder of Dossier to Secretary of State!!!

I just finished the last of our dossier paperwork today and am driving to Austin tonight and the sec of state tomorrow for apostilles.......................then overnight to agency and they copy and overnight to Russia..............we've already sent about 98% of the dossier to Russia and that should be almost completely translated by the time that these last few items arrive. The translator told us that when we get to go to court totally depends on how fast we send in the rest of the documents..............little did she know that we REALLY DID have them done!!! She kept saying that she hears that all the time. I told her we only lack our 171 (in the mail when we came home), our physicals (couldn't do until we returned from the 1st trip), and the document she had to email us once we returned. Tomorrow all that will be heading back to the agency and then on Monday out to Russia!!!

We received the email from the translator yesterday, the 171 in the mail when we returned on Monday, and the doctor forms were filled out today (Thursday).........remember we just got home late Sunday night. The translator should be floored when she gets these in less than 2 weeks from today. She should have our completed dossier within 2.5 weeks of our returning from our 1st trip to Russia!!!

Now if God would just reveal where the money is going to come from...........lol He is so good at teaching us patience isn't He?! lol

Terri for the Casebier's

We met her!!!! and adoption update

Hi everyone.............we couldn't post in the city of Szyran (sp?), but we got to meet her. Other than the cleft and orphanage related delays, she's perfect!!! She is dinky though!! I mean, I couldn't believe how small she was as they brought her in.

She crawls and tries to stand, but it's so cute and funny how she tries to stand. She holds onto things with her legs way too far in front of her. She gets up on her legs with her head on the floor. I almost think that she'll be standing on her head before she stands on her feet!!! :):):)

We knew after seeing her and talking for a little while to the dr. that is on the property that she was meant to be ours. Our translator said that we were very lucky to get her because Russia usually doesn't let such a healthy child leave the country.

We were able to take her for short walks around the orphanage and were worned about mosquitoes, but we only saw a mosquito once............in our hotel room that 1st night after the orphanage visit.

On the 1st visit day we got to spend 6 hours with her: laughing, eating, napping, etc. She was so over stimulated with all the things around her, that she didn't pay much attention to us for quite a while. She was too busy crawling around the room checking everything out. She stared for quite a while in the mirrors, I doubt she'd ever seen much of anything outside of her bed and playroom. It was great to see her explore. For naptime that 1st day, we took her outside in the stroller for her nap because we didn't want to bother the other children. There was a little covered area with about 4 beds and a large wooden playpen under it. We sat there until she finally fell asleep. She slept for about an hour and a half...........then we had to go in and meet with the orphanage director, social worker, and the doctor again. The doctor gave us all of the information on "Yulia" and the social worker talked to us about the family.

Yulia's mom was a young single woman that only signed the release papers because of Yulia's cleft issues. Her mother (Yulia's grandmother) works in the medical field and both women agreed that it was best for Yulia to be taken care of in this way.

Yulia had her 1st cleft surgery (lip) in April..........thus she didn't look much like the referral photo we'd received. I'm very glad that she's had the surgery, but she can't really breathe out of the right side of her nose...........it's really sad to hear her try to breathe.

Our 2nd meeting day was cloudy by my thoughts of her being left there. Though the caretakers work really hard and give the children all they can, they also can't give the children all the individual attention they need. She just spent 2 days getting tons of attention and being able to explore.......now she has to just sit there again. I watched her after we put her back in the wooden play pen in the play room on the 1st day (there are 2 really large pens there) and I saw her just sit and stare at the bottom of the pen. It was like I'd just put her in jail and there was no hope and nothing new to learn there. There were a small pair of plastic keys in the pen and she picked them up and kept hitting them on the floor.........not much excitement or fun could be seen. When we talked to her the 2nd day (after putting her in the pen) she was still laughing and interacting with us, like she was sure we'd be back.

I can only think about her wondering where we went and why we didn't come for her again. Then, when we do return in a couple months, she may be excited, but we'll only be able to see her for an hour that trip..............and have to leave again. She will never be able to understand that we'd be back in about 2 weeks to take her home. I can't stand the thought of how lonely this must make her feel and how much distrust it could build in her.

We know that Yulia will probably be walking by the time we get to return..............and I'm happy for her, but sad that I won't see it.

There are so many good things we've seen in this trip and so much more we're having to deal with in our thoughts.

I know that your prayers have really helped me to keep my fears at bay after talking to the doctors here in the states. I know that they also are what blessed us in being able to make an immediate decision on our little girl. We are so BLESSED by her and by our friendships.

We've been told by our interpretor (sp?) that we can return as early as Sept. 11th..........because the Judge is on vacation until then. She said when we return is totally up to us and when we get in our paperwork. I told her that all we're missing was the 171 (got it today in the mail!!!) and the dr. physical's that we weren't allowed to do until now. The 171 is now ready to head to the state department for apostille and we checked out the dr. information. We go tomorrow for blood work and then have to return in a week or so for the physical (once the bloodwork has returned). Hopefully we'll get it totally completed and to Austin (for apostille's) before I have to return to work for 2 days on the 14th (a week from tomorrow)/15th..........or at least before I return full-time on the 20th.

I'm going to post video/pictures within the next few days. We've been given the ok to post them. You can see just how cute,smart, and tiny she is. I'll also post the original referral picture for her too so you can see the change.

Prayer Requests:

1. Isabelle Hope Yulia Casebier -- that she won't be sad/lonely and will quickly trust us again when we return and are finally able to get her. For her also to stay healthy and safe until we are able to pick her up.

2. Gary still needs prayers for a permanent teaching position........so he still has a little more flexible schedule still.

3. This also means that we have financial issues for the adoption as well. This was an unexpected blessing..........but that also means that our time to raise funds was limited. I'm figuring with about $4000 per trip in airline tickets and $3500 per trip in cash, that we need at least another $15000.........PLUS hotels. We have a little in the adoption savings account thanks to a couple of Gary's family members and a church garage sale. I'm just praying that God really opens those flood gates of blessing so we can bring her home without any MORE credit card debt.

4. Our medical reports to go quickly so that everything will be in Russia very soon and they can schedule our court date.

Thank you,

Terri for the Casebier's

We're in Samara!!!!!

Hi everyone!!!!

2 words............HOT and FAST!!!!!

This trip is SO FAST!!!!! Every night we've been in a different hotel. They have looked really nice, but their food is REALLY expensive!!!!! A water (16 oz.) is about $3!

It is as hot and muggy as Texas here, but the big difference is that we have no recognizable (significant) air conditioning in doors...............there's no way to escape the heat, be prepared to sweat all the time!!! :):):)

We arrived in Samara today and met with our translator and driver. They are WONDERFUL. We've already gone to get our notary documents done (something normally AFTER you've seen your child, but because our 2nd day falls on Saturday, it's not open) and have met with the assistant to the minstry of education here. They have all been delightful!!!!

A few months ago someone showed me how to access the Russian site for children and I looked at all of them. I only saw 1 little girl with a cleft in 2006 and didn't think it looked like her. Well, apparently they have already done lip surgery and that IS our little girl. She looks so different it's scary to me............I want to make sure it's the same child that we've been falling in love with this whole time............ :):):)

I can't wait to meet her tomorrow!!!! I'm SO excited to make that trip!!!!! We get to be with her from 12-6 tomorrow (we're 10 hours ahead of TX from here) and then rest...........just to meet with her for about 4-5 hours the next day as well. I just realized that I may need to change my outgoing flights!!! I need to ask 1st thing tomorrow so I don't mess up there................hopefully it will only change the Samara flight and not the home flight. We were already having to stay the night in Moscow..............so that's not a big deal if we can get this all figured out pretty quick.

Well, tomorrow we will not have internet access and the access here costs us by the 15 minute intervals.............so I'm off for now.

Please pray for us and know that we are thinking of all of our friends in China right now..................I hope you're staying a little cooler than we are. Also, remember that you get to go home with your little ones, we don't this trip. We have to leave her for about another 2 months until court........... :( so pray for me not to cry too much tomorrow. The closer it gets, the more attached to this little one I get, regardless of what the dr.'s say and what I see tomorrow..............Gary is pretty much committed already and I've kept my heart at bay until we see her................but I don't know how much longer I can hold it back.....................and it breaks pretty easily!!!! Please pray for our return trip as well.

Also, we went to the store this evening and things are MUCH cheaper there, we had to get a taxi though and it cost the same as the total of our groceries (mostly water of course).

BTW, the diet is SO OUT with this. I have no idea of what I've eaten this week so far.....................but I did get in 2 shakes today (yea me!!!). I WILL gain weight, but I'll also lose it too.

Thanks,

Terri for the Casebier's