I am in shock.... Diane Sadovnikov is dying from cervical cancer. I wrote about Diane in my How to Select a Ukrainian Adoption Facilitator - Options blog. She founded Sense Resource Center, a business based in Virginia in 1999. Later in 2003 she changed it from business to adoption agency.

I just know her via a couple of emails and her web site. I also purchased a Ukrainian dossier guide from her in 1999.

And the cancer was preventable. Her pap tests in 2003,... more

From 2001 to 2003, I had a survey that I called Angela's Expectations vs Outcome in Ukrainian Adoption. I was very fortunate and 217 families participated in this survey. The survey included families who adopted from 1998 to 2003.

85% of the families in the survey were Americans. The remaining were French, Danish, German, Israeli, Irish and Spanish.

In this survey I asked 28 questions. One question was which oblast (state) families adopted from.

80% of the children were adopted from 11 oblasts. Here is the list of... more

Sasha is an 13 year old boy who was adopted from Ukraine by Americans. The child was diagnosed with RAD. And the family tried an alternative placement before they put him into a Ukraine Psychiatric Hospital. US child welfare workers arranged for Sasha to return to the United States in December 2006. There were some additional stories.

So the update... Washington... more

I was searching for Ukranian adoption news stories.... Instead, I started my journey into Ukrainian Gypsy Punk Cabaret this evening. It started with a news article. I didn't even know such a category of music existed. So I had to google and check out the iTunes Store. (I have an iPod and I love it.)

I discovered Gogol Bordello. They are out of New York. And as you see from the picture... more

I enjoy reading Nicholas' Kiev blog. He is an American who has lived in Ukraine for 15 years now.

His blog contains gems like Ukrainians Arrested For Smuggling Pork Fat.

He also posts news stories about Ukrainian politics like Ukraine's Premier Asks Prosecutor To Block Borys Tarasyuk As Foreign Minister.

Most... more

The picture on the right has nothing to do with this blog. I just liked it. My cat, Jenks, decided to throw himself away... curled up in a trash bag.

This is the same cat who attacked me because I smelled like a Hamster.

This blog contains a list of different phrases that you will run into with Ukrainian Adoption.

. . . . . .

I have been thinking a lot about Ukrainian dissolutions recently.

NOTE: Once a Ukrainian adoption is finalized it isn't a disruption.

The case of an adoptive family returning an adopted boy (Sasha) to a Ukrainian Psychiatric Hospital... more

Hosting means...

Family pays travel expenses for child to visit the United States. The child lives in an orphanage but isn't necessary available for adoption.

They must be registered for adoption with the Ukrainian government for 14 months. They are available only for domestic adoption during this time frame.

After 14 months the child is now available for international adoption.

And many of the children in the orphanages will... more

The Conrad Family adopted 2 girls in December 2006. The girls are 4 years old and 2.5 years old. They don't mention if they are siblings or not.

While in Ukraine they ran into another family who is adopted a boy and girl; 3 years old and 2 years old.

The Conrads were in Ukraine 5.5 weeks.

And... more

The Stewart family just completed their adoption.

Here is an important tidbit. For anyone who is returning through the Amsterdam Airport with their Ukrainian adopted child. The child is a Ukrainian citizen (won't become a US citizen until they touch US soil) and needs a visa to leave the airport (which you won't be able to quickly get).

Because of the flight times (layover is long), typically you can check into a hotel and rest. But again... you have the visa... more