Update

"The head of the American delegation Michael Kirby, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for consular affairs, said the meeting had been "fruitful". "We agree we want to do the best for the children…," he said. But the main document is still not ready. Russia’s children’s ombudsman Pavel Astakhov said that the document will be finished and handed to the US side shortly. Russia plans to include 8 new amendments to the agreement. According to Astakhov, the US delegation will stay in Moscow for another couple of days and continue to form a working group. Both Russians and Americans are ready for this, Astakhov said: "The US party has shown their readiness to continue negotiations and sign the bilateral agreement on adoption. Now it is important to work out this document as soon as possible. The US side understands the delay and Michael Kirby said we are on one side. "
Earlier Astakhov said the Russian side presented all the document’s provisions to the US . They are based on the Hague Adoption Convention which was not ratified by Russia.The main talks on adoption are due on May 12. All the needed documents will be ready by that time.
Report from Dmitry Borisov

Our status

As of Monday 4/19/10 all paperwork has been completed and sent to the adoption agency. Carol, at the agency, was scheduled to make a trip to Moscow Wednesday 4/21/10 to hand deliver our documents, but with all the flight cancellations because of volcanic ash I am not sure if she went or not. I am trying not to bother her with a lot of questions because I know she has many other families worrying about bringing their babies home. We are now waiting on our log in date from Russia and our official CIS approval saying that we can adopt. I am not sure how long this will take. Hopefully, just a month or two. Once we get a log in date and approval we will then begin the long awaited referral of our son. This will be the most exciting, but stressful part of the process. We are keeping our faith strong and we know that this adoption is God's plan for us. We feel sure the US and Russia will agree on something to clear up the mess created by one stupid decision. Please continue to pray for peace in our hearts as we continue our journey. Pray that I don't pull my hair out during the wait! :) God Bless, Mel

Latest news on the adoption freeze

A meeting between U.S. and Russian officials over the newly charged issue of American adoptions of Russian children, scheduled for Monday, will likely be delayed, officials in both countries signaled Saturday.

The U.S. delegation is delayed in getting to Moscow because of flight disruptions due to an ash cloud from an Icelandic volcano. The ash has triggered the cancellation of thousands of international flights in recent days.

"The party is holding in Toronto (Canada) due to flight disruptions," State Department spokesman Darby Holladay told CNN on Saturday. "Like many, they await resumption of air travel."

Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak told CNN earlier Saturday that "technical problems seem to be standing in the way from (U.S. officials) coming to Moscow tomorrow or the day after tomorrow."

The State Department had announced the meeting on Friday.

Moscow has sent mixed signals on adoptions recently, following the uproar over a Tennessee woman sending home a 7-year-old Russian boy she had adopted.

Kislyak said that U.S. and Russian officials are continuing talks on the matter and sounded upbeat about progress. "We are getting signals from our American colleagues that they understand the issue needs to be dealt with," he said.

A Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman announced Thursday that Moscow had put an end to the adoption of children by American families until rules covering them can be hashed out with U.S. officials.

"Further adoptions of Russian children by the American citizens, which at present has been suspended, will only be possible in case such an agreement is reached," said the spokesman, Andrei Nesterenko.

But Kislyak appeared to soften that line on Saturday. Asked whether adoptions by Americans are currently frozen, he said that "adoption is a process by each and every kid and it takes time. So we'll see how things will develop."

"We're insisting on freezing this unless we have a legal framework negotiated with the United States that provides protection for the people," Kislyak said.

On Friday, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley seemed unsure about the state of adoptions from Russia.

"I don't think the system has stopped," Crowley said. "It is very possible the system is slowing down as we work through these issues."

Crowley had said that a U.S. delegation from State and the Department of Homeland Security would travel to Moscow this weekend to meet Russian officials on Monday.

Officials at private U.S. adoption agencies say families trying to adopt Russian children are deeply concerned by the current uncertainty. Janice Goldwater, who runs a Silver Spring, Maryland, agency called Adoptions Together, said she is working with two dozen families trying to finalize Russian adoptions.

"I know families that were about to get on an airplane, have court dates scheduled, and they don't know if they should be crying, or dancing with relief," Goldwater told CNN in a telephone interview. "What should I do, should I be finishing the nursery, getting the toddler toys or should I be keeping myself safe and protected by doing nothing?

"So it is a very difficult time for families," Goldwater said.

On Friday, the United States said some U.S. adoptions were still being acted on in Russia.

"There are cases that are still moving forward. There are cases that have been postponed. Does this represent a blanket suspension - the answer is 'no,'" Crowley said at his Friday afternoon briefing.

"Does this mean there could be some instances where cases are held up for a period of time as we try to clarify what's happening and see if we can strengthen the processes that are in place - yes, there well may be delays," Crowley said.

"The Russians have mentioned to us they want to reach a bilateral agreement, Crowley said. "We share the same objective to find improved ways to process these adoptions while making sure these adoptions move forward so we will see what this meeting produces next week."

– CNN's Jeff Simon and Charley Keyes contributed to this report.

Update

Took all our dossier forms to Catholic Charities today so that they can be certified and sent to the adoption agency. Our home study has been officially approved, and as of next week, will be on its way to immigration and to the adoption agency. Hopefully, we will have our official approval and log in date within a month or so. Once we get our log in date from Russia the wait for our baby boy's referral begins. This is so exciting. I wondered today what I will do and how I will react when that day arrives. I'm sure I will cry, that's kind of a given. Will I scream at the top of my lungs? Will I be in such shock that I stare at his picture for hours? Who knows! One thing is for sure it will be the most emotional day of our lives.

Fingerprinting

Filling out the forms for our immigration fingerprints.

Scott just realized there was a no cameras allowed sign and cut my head off...oops!

Home Study Complete!

Our home study is complete. Here are a few pictures with Hallie from Catholic Charities. She will be writing up our home study to send to the adoption agency. Our 1st process is done. Now we move on to the dossier portion for Catholic Social Services which is our adoption agency. This is the heavy paperwork part that goes to Russia.

Bradyn's Nursery

Bradyn's bookshelf already complete with tons of books. Also his rocking chair from Blake and Misty.


In the corner is my great Grandfather's old rocking chair that Scott's dad (PAPA) restored. Just a little piece of history.


This is Bradyn's lifetime crib. We decided to use it for company until he gets here.


Old baseball pictures of Scott that we framed for the room. The drawing was done by Scott's uncle Dan from the picture below it. We will be hanging all 3 in his room.


Closet full of clothes already!


Bradyn's baseball ceiling fan.

Scott's pens for sale

Scott started a new hobby before Christmas last year, making pens. He is very good and they are very nice. They are made from various woods, acrylics, deer racks and buffalo horns. All proceeds go to Bradyn's adoption fund. The deer and buffalo ones are $35 and the wood and acrylics are $25. They are re-fillable with cross inserts. Pick your favorite color and buy one today. Email us at heavener24@comcast.net with your selection and contact information.

A poem for Bradyn

This is a poem I wrote for my unborn son when we started the domestic process.

A poem for Bradyn

It’s hard to imagine how much love I have for a child whose face I’ve never seen.
I’ve never heard his cry or kissed his cheek.
I do not know the color of his eyes or the color of his hair.

It’s hard to imagine the ache in my heart to be apart from him for one day, when I haven’t spent one second with him in my life.
It’s hard to imagine the joy a mother feels when she first counts 10 fingers and 10 toes.
It’s hard to imagine one mother’s sacrifice to give another mother hope.

I do imagine kissing his cheek and soothing his cry.
I do imagine seeing his dad hold him for the very first time.
As each day passes, I do imagine God’s plan to bring these moments into my life.

As of today we have had our 1st of 3 home study meetings, completed all paperwork up to date, and mailed our immigration papers. We are well on our way to completing the initial process. Hopefully it will only take 3 months at the most to get it all taken care of. Then comes the wait. We are ready and excited.

Ready to start this new journey!

As of today we have picked a new agency for our adoption process. We have requested the application which should come tomorrow or Saturday. Once that is turned in we will be ready to start the process. We have our 1st homestudy meeting Monday and I have already scheduled our doctor's appointments for our medical exams. According to the agency and the families I have spoke with this process should only take a year, maybe even less. This is very exciting. We have been waiting so long for a child and to know he may be here this year is overwhelming. I am trying not to stress, but if you know me then you know that's just not possible. I am a worrier. Even though I know in my heart this is God's plan and He has the control I still carry it all on my shoulders. We are so blessed that throughout the past 5 years we have stood by one another through all the disappointments and tears. We have spent all of our married life trying to have a baby and I am so honored to say it has only made our marriage stronger. We have been tested so many times and somehow, by the grace of God, we manage to pull through. This is just another exciting adventure we get to take together and once the journey is over we will be holding our baby boy, Bradyn.
God Bless, Mel