SDA is processing domestic adoptions now. They will be sticking appointment letters into the mail for international adoptive families starting in August.

If you are one of the 1,200 approved families you are probably going crazy waiting for your appointment to travel to Ukraine... to receive your referral... to met your child.... to adopt.... to expand your family.

The appointments will start September 2006 for:

• 390 America


• 350 Spain


• 119 Italy


• 108 France


• 1 Belgium


• 1 Mexico


• 1 Portugal


• 1 Slovenia


• 1 Croatia

The SDA won't take new dossiers (except for approved families) until Jan 2007.

While you are waiting for the appointment letter, there are are few things to think about and do.

1. Your translator won't be with you during the referral process. I don't know how this will change things. But I HIGHLY recommend you watch what you say. I know a couple of adoptive families developed signals. Squeeze the hand once means yes and twice means no for a referral. And I know one family who lost a referral thanks to the father's big mouth. He pissed off the NAC staff. He was being very ugly and yelled at them for not providing a good referral.



2. Photo album of your family, car, home, work, etc.. Take this to Ukraine with you and show it to everyone. I did and it was very useful in communicating with adults and children.



3. Start on a lifebook for your child. If you plan out the various pages, maybe it will help you remember to get a photo of the SDA, orphanage, etc.. Many adoptive parents find the adoption trip so emotional that they forget to take photos. Here is some very good information on what should go into a LifeBook.
   


4. Take your packing out for a test drive. Walk your bags around the block. Go up and down stairs. Take a child with you and see how you manage everything. Almost everyone over packs. There just isn't a lot of room in the cars and trains for luggage. You don't want the stress of dragging too much luggage around Ukraine.


5. Try to keep your stress under control. And develop a stress plan for Ukraine. Maybe you walk every day? Maybe you have a code word like "Orange"... Meaning back off and let me breath. I may just start screaming and never stop. The stress can be intense. I know one woman who was so tense that she couldn't stop crying for days.


6. Try to relax. I know this isn't really possible. Maybe read humor... Read about the "energy vampires"... Urban Legends... Darwin Awards