a 7 day blitz for kirill. and now the 4 day blitz for archie.

Update 4/8/11: You guys have met our goal for Kirill in just four days ... eek! The 7 day blitz for Kirill is transitioning into the 4 day blitz for Archie ... click here to read more on the who/why/when/where. Rock it, you guys!

On March 17, 2011, the Davis family sat in a Russian courtroom and listened as the judge rejected their plea to adopt Kirill, an orphan with Down syndrome. "The judge said, “Your application to adopt is rejected.” The basis given was that Kirill was “not socially adaptable” due to his “medical condition” and he was better off in an institution than in a home with a family. As the judge read her ruling, she stated several times that we were a good family, that we met all the criteria to adopt a child, but that she would not approve our adoption because Kirill has Down syndrome. She told us that we could adopt another child, because legally our application had no problems according to Russian adoption law. She said she would approve our adoption for a “typical” child, but not this child. Why? The only reason? Because he has Down syndrome."

Being an adoptive mother to a Russian orphan with Down syndrome, I could expand on the million-and-one reasons Tesney and Greg's rejected application to adopt has deeply affected me. But that is not what is important.  

What is important is that they are appealing the judge's ruling to the Supreme Court of Moscow and they need our help.

The Davis family has been through so much already... and now they have been slammed with astronomical unforeseen financial hurdles in bringing Kirill home. In order to just begin the process of filing their appeal, they had to pay $2,500. They have been told that they should plan to attend the Supreme Court hearing, which is a trip to Russia they never planned to have to make... add $3,000 - $4,000. If the Supreme Court overturns the ruling, they will have to return home and wait for a date to travel to Kirill's region to reappear before the original judge in their case... add $4,000 - $5,000. Assuming everything goes as planned, they will remain in country for the 10 day waiting period and finalization of their adoption... add $3,000 - $3,500.

So how can you help? A few of us adoptive mommy bloggers have put our heads together to create a 7 day blitz for Kirill.

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Our first prize...

Canon EOS Rebel XS Digital SLR camera

donated by Lisa, Charissa, McKenna, Renee and yours truly

or

$500 gift certificate to B&H Photo

Read all about the camera here.

And... a lifetime membership to ClickinMoms. An online haven of all things photography... tips and tutorials on everything from how to use your camera to editing your images to starting a photography business.

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Our second prize...

Cirque

by Lisa Tarkett Reed

 

approximate gallery value: $3,400+

• recently juried into the FMH Crestwood Gallery for the Celebration exhibition
• completed in 2010
  
• oil on canvas
• measures 3 feet by 4 feet

Oil paintings by regional artist, Lisa Tarkett Reed, celebrate and explore the relationships and patterns in nature. Reed’s paintings are inspired by her growing collection of natural objects. Flowers, crystals, rocks, leaves, shells and bones, collected by Reed over decades, provide points of departure in her work. As Reed layers line, shape and color, she discovers and plays with the geometry, relationships, and patterns inherent in organic forms.
 
In October 2011, Reed will have a solo exhibition at The Artists’ Gallery in Frederick, MD. Currently, Reed has a solo exhibition at Les Idees Gallery, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Reed has had solo exhibitions at the Sweetwater Center for the Arts, Gallery Lascaux, Gallery 937 and View from Zenith Gallery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as well as at Shenandoah University, Leesburg, Virginia, Figure Five Gallery, San Francisco, California and the Walker Fine Arts Center Gallery at Patrick Henry Community College, Roanoke, Virginia. Reed has shown her work in group exhibitions at the Cheltenham Center for the Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mary Condon Hodgson Gallery at Frederick Community College, Frederick, Maryland, The Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center, Frederick, Maryland, Kentler International Drawing Space, Brooklyn, New York, the Carnegie Museum of Art and the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and the Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts, New Castle, Pennsylvania.

Reed has taught drawing and painting for over fifteen years in regional art centers in Maryland, Pittsburgh and Virginia and at private schools in Brooklyn and Virginia.
 
Reed earned a BFA in painting from Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and studied painting in Rome, Italy as part of the Temple University Abroad Program. Reed earned an MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, California.

In 2009, Reed founded Sister MamaCita, a Mothers’ Cooperative in the Arts and sister group to the Philadelphia based MamaCita, a Mothers’ Cooperative in the Arts founded by Melissa Tevere in 2005.

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Our third prize...

Custom blog makeover (by yours truly).

You will get...

• custom header
• custom background
• custom signature and sidebar headers
• installation of pages
• installation of facebook/twitter/rss feed widgets
• and more!

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Our fourth prize...

UltraHD Flip video camera.
donated by Joanne Charland, momma to Vinnie (a T21 friend)

Read all about the video camera here.

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Our fifth prize...

Organic Bloom Frame

by Lindsey Smith Photography

 

• measures 16" x 20"
• choose from a variety of styles and color combinations

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Our sixth prize...

Schmetterlingszauber

autographed by Conny Wenk

"Schmetterlingszauber is a book about the wonderful friendship of three beautiful little girls. Although they are colorful and unique like little butterflies, they have many more things in common that they don't.

They love spending lots of time together, whether they hang out at home or on the playground having fun galore. Sometimes they even have picnics on a beautiful meadow. They love dressing up like little princesses, polishing their nails, having little "imitation" tattoos, singing and dancing, telling bedtime stories to each other and of course, jumping on the bed.

They can be really wild ... but to me they are just three little butterflies."

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Our seventh prize...

(3) handmade hats.

donated by Heather Randlett, momma to Bridget (a T21 friend)

1. Newborn/Baby Beanie-Style Hat... This crocheted baby beanie is crafted with a soft cotton/bamboo blend yarn, adorned with a shabby chic crocheted flower. Perfect for cute newborn baby pictures.

2. Women's Beanie-Style Hat... This crocheted beanie-style hat is crafted with a super soft alpaca/acrylic blend yarn, with 3 beautiful colors - celery green, mocha, and cream.

3. Women's Ski-Style Hat... This knitted snug-fitting ski-style hat is crafted with a soft acrylic/wool blend yarn in a rich cranberry color.

**All are hand wash only, lay flat to dry.

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Our eighth prize...

$50 gift certificate to Uppercase Living

donated by Kristen, momma to Ethan (a T21 friend)

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Our ninth prize...

Hand crafted jewelry.

• Woman's 7 inch bracelet, crafted with sterling silver and Swarovski crystal beads. Adorned with a Baltimore Ravens head charm (may be removed for non-Ravens fans) and sterling silver toggle clasp. Donated by Melissa.

• Down syndrome awareness and other hand crafted jewelry... (5) bracelets, (5) earrings, (3) necklaces. Donated by Lorie.

*All jewelry in this post will be split up among several winners.

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Our tenth prize...

Signing Time full collection

autographed and donated by Rachel Coleman

valued over $1,000

Includes 34 DVDs, 6 Board Books, 8 Flash Card Sets, and 12 Music CDs!

The best-loved Signing Time products are now available in a big bundle of savings! Used by countless educators, pediatricians, home-schoolers, speech therapists, public schools, daycare centers, libraries and families across the globe, the Signing Time Full Collection gives you everything you need to bring the magic and fun of sign language to the children in your life.

This collection includes every Signing Time DVD, CD, Flash Card and Board Book currently available: 
 
* 4 Baby Signing Time DVDs created especially for infants and toddlers under 3 years old. Features delightful animation and songs that teach all the basic signs you need.
* 26 Signing Time DVDs with special features, music, and songs. 30 - 45 minutes each. Includes all 13 Series One and all 13 Series Two DVDs.
* 1 Story Time DVD. Listen, watch, read, and sign along with Rachel to six fun stories.
* Sing & Sign DVD: Rachel sings and teaches signs for favorite songs from Signing Time Volumes 1-6.
* 10 Signing Time Music CDs featuring all the original songs from the Signing Time and Baby Signing Time series.
* 6 Signing Time Board Books for reading time, quick reference, or additional practice.
* 4 sets of Signing Time Flash Cards for families on the go! Also includes an instruction card with flash card game ideas.
* 4 sets of Baby Signing Time Flash Cards that reinforce all the ASL signs taught in Baby Signing Time DVD Volumes 1-4.
* 2 Practice Time DVDs that teach and practice the alphabet and numbers 1-20 through randomized practice quizzes to test your skills.
* Good Night Baby Lullaby CD - beautiful lullabies sung by Rachel Coleman (co-creator and star of Signing Time) with gentle piano accompaniment by her father, Golden Globe Nominee and Composer Lex de Azevedo.
* Shine CD - A collection of favorites from the Signing Time Series - just for grown-ups.

Over 600 specific signs are taught in the full collection of Signing Time videos, books, and flash cards. With songs and other bonus features, you'll be introduced to over 1000 signs overall. This is the largest available library of entertaining sign language products of its kind. You and your child can start learning today!

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Rules...

1) Every $10 donation using the ChipIn below or in my sidebar will earn you an entry into the drawing for one of the prizes.
2) All prizes (except the painting) can be shipped overseas, thanks to Crystal who would like to cover the shipping fees if the need arises. Thanks, Crystal!
3) Donations will be accepted through Monday, April 11th.
4) Winners will be announced Tuesday, April 12th.



Please blog it. Please facebook it. Please tweet it. Please share.

We have a lot of love to give and $15,000 is nothing when compared to the army standing behind the Davis family. Update: let's take it $6,000 higher for Archie!

*If things do not go as planned for the Davis family, any leftover funds will be properly allocated in support of international adoption of children with Down syndrome.