Ohip for adopted children

I had a little trouble applying for ohip for my son when we got home.  Adopted children under 16 get ohip right away.  There is no waiting period of 90 days If you provide the proper information.

Going to a service Ontario location you new to complete their required form.  Also, you will need the document you receive from immigration at the airport.  The key document which will waive the 90 day waiting period is the letter of no objection.  You would've received this document a long time ago.  Well before receiving your proposal and going to Russia.

I had to educate the staff on this as they were unsure.  Be firm and come prepared.  

Link below

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/publications/ohip/international_adoptions.aspx

mush and bananas

One of the first concerns you have when you first pickup your adopted child is to have him/her eat.  The workers told us he eats anything so don't worry.  Armed with crackers, baby food and plenty of other snacks we brought from Canada we attempted to feed him.  And often we tried with moderate success.

While staying in the hotels in Russia, we found soup to work well.  Also his obsession with goldfish crackers started.  He loved carrying around his snack container filled with animal crackers.  It also become an activity for him to take out the crackers.  We found he responded to yogurt and oatmeal for breakfast, soup for dinner and whatever we can find for lunch.  Usually ended up being bread.

After bringing him home, we found any real solid food he would not eat.  It's like he wanted to eat it, but he just wouldn't.  After realizing all the food he eats is soft, we decided to put it in the food processor turning it into mush. That seemed to work.

Enter bananas.  He must've been fed them at the home because as soon as he saw them he wanted them.  Initially we would feed them to him.  We moved towards him feeding the bananas himself.  He wanted bananas so much if he saw them he would stop eating what was in front of him and point to the bananas.  

Changes in adopting from Russia

We learned some new things during visit 3 in Russia that will change things for prospective parents.

Russia will no longer accept single mothers.

Kids will now wait 12 months instead of 6 months on their database.  This will give more opportunity for Russians to adopt domestically and should push the ages higher of those adopting internationally.

The waiting period after court to bring your child home is 10 days.  This is reduced from 30 days.  I imagine most will wait the 10 days in Russia visiting their Child often.  This should help with when its time to leave the home with your child.