So Very, Very, Very, Frustrated!!!

Today, got several emails clarifying the "extra" paperwork that is needed.  It seems Ed and I have to have some blood tests, Xrays and EKG done.  We also will need to have a medical exam done in  Russia which is $856 per person.  Great!  Also, both Zach and Jake need to write personal letters giving their blessing on the adoption and state how they will help Grisha transition when he comes home.  And, lastly,  Ed and I have to write letters.  Really?  What more?

The agency also said that July is pretty slim for getting any court dates, so August would be more likely.  That is, if we get all this to them.  Plus, Ed and my physicals are only good for three months, which would be at the end of August.  If we don't get a court date by then we have to redo our physicals.  Cha Ching!

So Very, Very, Frustrated!

Drove to Wauseon.  Got the notary "authenticated."  Drove back home and prepared the papers to send to Columbus by way of Express Mail.  Oops!  Just saw the postman drive by so now I will have to run this up to the post office once I get it ready. 

Ok.  Express mail envelope ($17.95) with papers for Columbus, return envelope ($20.45) and check for apostilling ($40.00) inside taken to post office to be sent.

45 minutes later:  
Just got a call from the adoption agency.  I just want to throw up.  It seems there is more paperwork!!
I cannot believe this!!!  I thought I was done!  Now, I have more papers to get notarized and apostilled which will require another Express mailing ($17.95) with return envelope $20.45)!  Not to mention the fee to get these papers apostilled.  I wouldn't have sent the paperwork I just did and saved a little money at least.

I am so upset and can't believe this!

 Reminding myself it is all worth it in the end.
 

So Very Frustrated!!!

Today drove downtown to the courthouse to get the new marriage certificates and visit the Lucas County Clerk of Courts.  Had to wait a little bit to get the marriage licenses but, no big deal,  I am a patient person.  Went down the hall to the Clerk of Courts to authenticate the notary and the notary was not listed with Lucas County.  What?  So, I called the person at the Whitehouse Administration building who did the notarizing and she said her notary is from Fulton County (Wauseon)!  No big deal, right.  It got to be too late to go today, so I will venture to Wauseon tomorrow and be done with this!

Happy Birthday, Grisha!

Today our little boy turns 8! I am sad I will not be spending it with him. :(. Hopefully, he will get the email I sent and his gift should arrive at some point, also. I can't wait to throw him a big party next year!

Road Trip to Columbus

So, yesterday was a road trip to Columbus.  Why? You ask.  Well, I finally finished up our side of the paperwork which was getting our physicals, completing a financial statement, completing a proof of housing statement, and obtaining certified copies of our marriage license.  Once these were obtained or completed, each piece of paper had to be notorized.  Then, they must be apostilled.  What?  I know.  Never heard that word before either.  Basically, eventhough the papers are notarized by someone official who is certified to notarize, the notary has to be proven official by the state the notary is from.  Huh?  This requires sending the papers to the Secretary of State (in Columbus) or presenting them in person and they attach a piece of paper to the document saying it is apostilled.  I chose the latter because I prefer to hand them to a person and receive them back to me versus trusting the mail or Fedex.  So, yesterday was such road trip to Columbus.

My dad came with me on the trip which was nice for company and for having an extra driver (I had him drive us back).  We made a visit to my cousin, Rena, who lives in northeast Columbus.  She has an 8 month old daughter, River, that I was excited to see, also. 

One glitch -A couple of the papers I had notarized by my adoption lawyer who has a notary stamp that never expires.  The other papers I had notarized by a notary at the Whitehouse Village Administrative building because it was close and convenient and they needed to complete the proof of housing form.  That notary stamp has an expiration though so, there is another step required before apostilling (your guess is as good as mine as to how to pronounce it).  I needed to verify or "authenticate" that notary at the County Clerk of Courts from which it was received.  Ugggghhhh???!!!!
Second glitch-Not only that but, my copies of my marriage certificate was not signed by the correct person, so I needed to get new ones.  Aaaaaahhhh!!!!!

Ok.  After researching where the Lucas County Clerk of Courts office is I discover it's in the same building I need to go to get my marriage certificate.  Yea! 
So, Monday I plan on getting both done and then Express mailing them to Columbus.  Yikes!  I know.  I said I didn't trust the post office but $17.95 is a bit cheaper than driving back to Columbus.  And things just keep adding up!

To be continued Monday.....