Whirwind Week - Whew (Part I)

I've just spent the better part of two straight days chasing after documents and getting Apostilles done.  Apostilles are documents that the Secretary of State issues to guarantee the validity of a document, as compliant with the Hague Convention on Adoption.  We had over 30 documents needing Apostilles.  The agency, ECAS, had taken care of at least a dozen.  Nellie and I had to get our employment letters and Health letters into ECAS by Thursday.  We had other letters we had asked from our real estate agent, our accountant, and our doctors.  I was begging for sign offs in time to get our documents shipped to our attorney in Ukraine.  Our attorney, Victor, wants to file with SDA on March 1st, and as I've stated before, we are trying to get to Ukraine to get Anya and Artium, who could be adopted by anyone.  So deadlines are very important.  My doctor, a really great guy, Dr. R from Northwest Family Physicians, filled out his form for a 2nd time for us today, because SDA does not like overstrikes in their adoption letters.  Someone had written 2001 in one spot on the first handwritten draft of Dr R's health document for me, discovered the error, and tried to overstrike the zero with a 1.  We needed a do over.  This involved many phone calls today, and much pleading to get through to a very, very busy doctor (and his nurse assistant) who was going to not be in the office all next week.  Our timing was acute.  I got word at 4:36 pm that the document was ready.  It will have to be apostilled on Tuesday, and hence our delay in sending the packet until then.  Matthias and I were running all over town, from Crystal, to Plymouth, to St. Paul (twice) to Crystal, to Plymouth.  We also had to call our accountant, John S, back today and plead for a copy of our 1040 from 2010, and our schedule C, after Victor told Zina we would need it.  Keep in mind, again, the John S. is seeing clients back to back.  If necessary, we'll send the packet over Tuesday, and send the 2010 returns in a follow up packet.  But it is crucial we get these documents very soon, because delay at SDA would not be good.

Yesterday, we discovered an error on Nellie's health form, and she called in pleading for a do-over.  Her doctor bent over backwards for us.  Northwest Family Physicians was incredibly gracious to me.  Our Real Estate Agent, Dana Arrigo, who in my opinion is the best in the business, drafted a real estate letter for us twice.  It shows we are the homeowners.  After we asked for a 2nd draft, Judy at ECAS said she thought something might be wrong on the form.  The living space and total space were the same number.  It never dawned on me this could be an error.  I explained to Judy that 3/4 of our basement is fully used as living space, and the remaining quarter is used as a laundry room, furnace room, storage, and a pantry.  Nellie thought that is why it is listed as all living space.  Who am I to argue with our realtor?  I couldn't ask her for any do-overs again.  Dana Arrigo is a highly successful, much in demand real estate agent for Edina Realty.  Her time is very valuable.  Judy said not to worry about it.  Whew #2!

Nellie is self employed, so we also had some trouble drafting a letter that would explain this to Ukraine officials.  Our CPA, John S., was incredibly helpful to us.  He is super, super busy right now (tax season), and yet, he took time out of his schedule to draft an income verification letter for us, with two final drafts, and he got them notarized for us. 

Finally, my boss at 311, takes time out of his day to drive with me to my bank, and then his to get my two employment letters notarized.  My employer, 311, and the City of Minneapolis, has been incredibly supportive of our adoption efforts.  All of our daycare parents have also offered huge support.  Getting all these approvals, and pressing to get them by a firm deadline was incredibly humbling and exhausting.  Nellie and I owe so many thanks to all these mentioned people who helped us meet a very difficult deadline.

Finally, Judy and Zina at ECAS continue over and over to go the extra mile.  I'm amazed at these ladies, their faith and their stamina, to help so many families with such an enormous load of paperwork.  And they are so patient.  I would ask you to please consider a donation to ECAS.  You can find out more info at www.ecasus.org.  Nellie and I are not seeking or asking for any donations for our adoption.  We are asking you to prayerfully consider giving to this organization, that is so helpful, and yet is so stretched.  We plan to give to them, as the Lord provides funds for us to do so. 

Please pray for our accountant, who is very stretched, to find some time to get those forms on our tax return completed.  I truly feel bad for asking such a favor from him, when he has done so much for us already.  But those 2010 forms are essential to our SDA submittal.