| Moms and dads across the country are now looking | | | | "homestudy" process and were approved as |
| for ways to tell the world that they are thrilled with | | | | adoptive parents, we were immediately e-mailed |
| the children they adopted from the former Soviet | | | | photos of the two little baby boys that are now our |
| Union. They're banding together to ask Russia to | | | | sons. The process was quick and scary... we signed |
| stop punishing the thousands of childless couples in | | | | contracts, mailed checks and, after extensive |
| line, just waiting to bring their new son or daughter | | | | paperwork, were off on our first trip to Siberia, |
| home, and lift the ban on U.S.- Russian adoptions. | | | | Russia. |
| Adoptive parents are coming together from all parts | | | | Although the trip was an emotional roller coaster, we |
| of the U.S. to tell their stories to anyone who will | | | | met and welcomed these two emaciated and |
| listen. Radio and television media, social networking | | | | frightened babies as our sons. We wanted to take |
| websites, and print mediums are all abuzz with the | | | | them home with us immediately, so knowing we had |
| Russian adoption success stories of ordinary people | | | | to leave them in that sad, desolate place and return |
| who did not once think of packing their bundles of | | | | to the U.S. to complete more paperwork was the |
| joy onto an international flight with a note pinned to | | | | worst feeling in the world. Fortunately, within two |
| their jackets saying effectively, "return to sender." | | | | months, we were back on our second trip to Russia |
| My husband and I are one such couple - happy, | | | | and we met with the judge who awarded us |
| ecstatic and thrilled with the children of our Russian | | | | custody of our children. Two more weeks in Moscow |
| adoption - and we want to help others achieve such | | | | to finish more paperwork was exhausting and |
| an uplifting, life-changing experience. Considering the | | | | stressful, but most of all it was a bonding experience |
| recent controversy regarding Russian adoption we, | | | | because our two beautiful baby boys were with us all |
| like so many other couples, are offering our journey | | | | the time. Finally, touching ground at JFK airport in |
| as an example of success and hope. | | | | NYC was the happiest moment of our lives. Just |
| We are the proud parents of two of the most | | | | knowing that our boys were not only officially ours |
| perfect boys adopted from Russia. Although our | | | | but also US citizens gave us immeasurable |
| Russian adoption success story started with tragedy, | | | | satisfaction. |
| it found its way toward a fairytale ending. After | | | | After an adjustment period, our boys Dylan and |
| losing twin boys from an in-vitro pregnancy at 19 | | | | Hunter began thriving. These beautiful blonde-haired, |
| weeks, and then undergoing two more failed IVF | | | | blue-eyed boys are not only intelligent and athletic, |
| procedures after that, we needed time to recover | | | | but most of all happy. They are our pride and joy. |
| emotionally. It was during this time of healing that we | | | | We are extremely fortunate to have been eligible for |
| decided that adoption was our calling as parents. | | | | a Russian adoption. We plan to give our sons the gift |
| We initially received conflicting information regarding | | | | of having every opportunity to grow into wonderful |
| various aspects of foreign adoption, including Russian | | | | young men. But the gift these boys have given us is |
| adoption. But we found that each agency has its | | | | the most priceless of all, the gift of being a family. |
| own guidelines and specifications. After much | | | | We urge you to come forward with your Russian |
| determined research (mostly on the internet) we | | | | adoption success story - tell it to the U.S. media and |
| fortunately found an excellent adoption agency 3000 | | | | tell them to tell it to the Russian government. By |
| miles away from our home. The agency, based in | | | | sharing our journeys, we can help others achieve |
| California, had Russian babies available for adoption. | | | | their dream of having a Russian adoption success |
| Since we had already completed our state-required | | | | story to share for a lifetime. |