Today was the day of our meeting with the Serbian Ministry Adoption Unit. For those new to the Serbian process, this is the first step of your in-country process. If your child is located in, or close to Belgrade, then as soon a this meeting is done you will go to meet your child. For us, Audrey is located in Kragujevac, which is a little over an hour away.
The purpose of this meeting is to have the opportunity to talk to the social workers other social center (county level) staff responsible for the child. They will go over both social and medical history. Don't worry about trying to "prove" yourself at this meeting. You have already been determined to be suitable adoptive parents by this stage. When you have your meeting, please know you are free to ask any questions you may have.
So.. onto our meeting!
In attendance from the social center were the social worker, Audrey's legal guardian, the foster mother, and the head psychologist. In addition were the Ministry staff which includes the English contact so many of you have been in contact with, the ministry psychologist, and the jurist (attorney). In the case of our family, these are all people who are familiar to us and have watched our family grow for 3 1/2 years now so the meeting was a bit more relaxed than is usually the case.
I had thought that Audrey was from the Stamnica institution, but learned I was mistaken. She comes from the institution in Subotica which is in Northern Serbia. She was not in very good condition when she moved to foster care last June. Since then she has gained 6-7 kg. She is very cuddly and friendly, going to anyone. She is a good sleeper, but still sleeps in a crib. She has made a lot of improvements in her development since moving to foster care and we were given many examples. I know that there is feeding therapy in our future, and lots of occupational therapy. When the meeting ended the foster mother returned to make a point of telling us that Audrey likes to lick her hands and sometimes her clothes. Of course, this trip I somehow managed to leave all my oral motor stimulating stuff at home!
I did specifically ask if, when I am given custody (which should be sometime around Thursday) if I could return to Belgrade with her, as the last few families have been able to do. I was told this would not be possible so I expect I'll be staying in Krag. until the adoption ceremony. I didn't really budget for that so we'll see how that goes!
Tomorrow is the day I will finally get to meet her. I'm so excited! Tonight I'll be cleaning up the apartment a bit, doing some laundry and getting ready to leave our home-away-from-home for the next 7-10 days. I do not expect to be home in the US until around the 21st.
The purpose of this meeting is to have the opportunity to talk to the social workers other social center (county level) staff responsible for the child. They will go over both social and medical history. Don't worry about trying to "prove" yourself at this meeting. You have already been determined to be suitable adoptive parents by this stage. When you have your meeting, please know you are free to ask any questions you may have.
So.. onto our meeting!
In attendance from the social center were the social worker, Audrey's legal guardian, the foster mother, and the head psychologist. In addition were the Ministry staff which includes the English contact so many of you have been in contact with, the ministry psychologist, and the jurist (attorney). In the case of our family, these are all people who are familiar to us and have watched our family grow for 3 1/2 years now so the meeting was a bit more relaxed than is usually the case.
I had thought that Audrey was from the Stamnica institution, but learned I was mistaken. She comes from the institution in Subotica which is in Northern Serbia. She was not in very good condition when she moved to foster care last June. Since then she has gained 6-7 kg. She is very cuddly and friendly, going to anyone. She is a good sleeper, but still sleeps in a crib. She has made a lot of improvements in her development since moving to foster care and we were given many examples. I know that there is feeding therapy in our future, and lots of occupational therapy. When the meeting ended the foster mother returned to make a point of telling us that Audrey likes to lick her hands and sometimes her clothes. Of course, this trip I somehow managed to leave all my oral motor stimulating stuff at home!
I did specifically ask if, when I am given custody (which should be sometime around Thursday) if I could return to Belgrade with her, as the last few families have been able to do. I was told this would not be possible so I expect I'll be staying in Krag. until the adoption ceremony. I didn't really budget for that so we'll see how that goes!
Tomorrow is the day I will finally get to meet her. I'm so excited! Tonight I'll be cleaning up the apartment a bit, doing some laundry and getting ready to leave our home-away-from-home for the next 7-10 days. I do not expect to be home in the US until around the 21st.
Oooh, can't wait! How is Axel handling the "official stuff"? And how are they responding to him?
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