INS Approval!

So, we got our INS approval - YAYYY!!! This means our American-side of the prep/approval process is complete. All we have now is to finish up our dossier, have it sent to the Ukrainian government, have it translated into Ukrainian, have the translated version sent to the UA govt, and then wait.....Right now the UA government is switching control of the adoption center from one ministry to another. Rumors say that this new center and staff will be a BIG improvement - hopefully less corrupt, more accomodating, and the new minister has pledged to double the number of adoptions processed. Our big concern is the money. We need to pay for: our plane tickets there and back, our hotel while there for 3-4 weeks, food/spending money, 3K for the translator's services, $1800-2K for the required lawyer in K-grad, orphanage donation of approx $500 which is pretty much required, US Embassy visa fee of $400 per child....plus, we will not be working those 3-4 weeks, thus no paychecks except for what vacation and sick leave we can use up. Both of us are also looking into working out some sort of teleworking agreement with our work so we can get paid for some of our time while we are there. We won't be "busy" everyday - alot of the time spent there is waiting....waiting for signatures, waiting for paperwork, waiting for a court date etc. AND while we are out of the country, our bills still need to be paid. We are going to try and work out something with our apartment complex so we don't have to pay rent the month we are gone. One of the things we were counting on as far as money fell through - our tax return. Normally we have gotten $1500 back - but due to a series of circumstances, this year we OWE $150. So, now I am considering taking on a second job ugh. I've learned in my life that you can't count on other people to help you out - you can only depend on yourself. We have a few people - family and friends - who have said they will help and loan us money. We CAN save alot of it ourselves, but it would take time and time is not something you always have control over in an international adoption - they invite you when they have an opening! not when you have enough money necessarily LOL. Plus, every month our little girl sits in that orphanage is a month she could have been in a loving home with us.