Yesterday I found out very sad news about Dasha.  She is not yet registered as an orphan at the SDA in Ukraine.  This means that she will not be available for adoption until 14 months after she is registered.  I found the nicest family who wanted to adopt her.  They really love her and she adores them.  I felt heartsick yesterday when I found out that she was not even registered.  This poor kid could be adopted by a great family and she will now have to live in an orphanage at least another year and a half. It is sad for the family, but it is really sad for Dasha.  She could be living in the U.S. and getting good nutrition and lots of love and a good education.  The family is planning to move to another state so maybe it will be easier for them to do the paperwork.  I think the SDA would not understand why paperwork had been notarized and apostilled in two different states.  It might have drawn a red flag on their paperwork.  I certainly understand that Ukraine has rules about international adoption.  The fourteen month waiting period is so that the child is available only to Ukrainian citizens during that period.  the truth of the matter is that Ukrainian citizens do not adopt older children. AT least they can host her at Christmas and next summer.  But that money could have been put towards the adoption instead of towards hosting twice.  I suggested that they hire an English tutor in Ukraine so that she learns the  English language while she is still living there. I think tutors are very inexpensive in Ukraine.

    Dasha's tooth is still bothering her.  She cried at camp yesterday for the last hour.  I called the hosting agency and asked them what they wanted me to do.  The dentist said that she needs to see an endodontist and the cost for a root canal is between $1200 and $1500.  The hosting agency is going to try to find a dentist who will do the work for free.  I could not find anyone willing to do a free root canal.  The good news is that the eye doctor called and he found an eye surgeon who will do the cataract surgery for free on Dasha.  I need to call the doctor back and get the address, details, etc.

  TODAY IS OLIA'S BIRTHDAY!!! Before I left for work, I crepe papered the outside of her door.  Dan stood outside with a camera to take her picture when she opened the door and he snapped a picture.  I called and wished her a happy birthday, then she broke through the crepe paper!  Yesterday she received a scooter in the mail from my son Joe.  She was so excited that she got a big box in the mail with her name on it.  When she opened it she said...."how did he know that I really wanted a scooter?"  I didn't even know that she really wanted one.  We decorated the kitchen  with balloons and crepe paper while she was at her friend Amber's house yesterday. She was excited when she came home and she begged us to let her open one gift.  I kept telling her that it wasn't her birthday yet!  She is dying to get an MP3 player or an IPOD so she will be excited when she opens her gifts. Radio Shack had a clearance on MP3 players so Dan bought two so that Dasha has one to use.  I always buy a few things when there is a huge clearance at Kohl's so I purchased a few sterling silver necklaces for a very low price several months ago.  Renee bought Olia a jewelry box so she will be happy with the jewelry box and the necklaces.