A Special Thank-You

It's actually Sunday morning here in Yekaterinburg (around 8:45am) and we're getting ready to head down to the hotel's breakfast buffet. Gotta stock up before airline food!

Anyways, I primarilly wanted to post to thank all our friends and family (including all blogger friends!) for posting and sending us e-mails this week. You have been our lifeline back to home and the sincerity in your typed-written words really touched our hearts.

We are leaving a bit of home and a big chunk of our hearts here in Yekaterinburg but we plan to get back in the states, do everything we can to move the process along as efficiently as possible, and return to Yekaterinburg to complete our family.

Yah vom ochin blogadarna. (Thank you from the heart.)

This is us leaving Orphanage #6 after a tearful dos veedanya.

Day 4 with K...our last one for a while...

Dearest K:

Today, you made Papa and me the happiest people in the world. You recognized us when you walked into the room and it didn't take long before we were putting a puzzle together, throwing balls all over the place and riding in a basket while Papa pushed you around.

You found my lap to be a safe haven when playing but also ran around and gathered up all the balls to throw to Papa.

You were so vocal today! Your vocabulary mostly consists of "bah" which of course we translated to "ball" but whatever you meant, it was such a joy to hear your voice.

We took over 300 pictures/videos today just trying to get a few smiles on record but you are a quick one always looking down or away with the flash of the camera! Alas, we have several to treasure and we just can't wait until we get the chance to see that smile of yours again.

After over 2 hours of playing, laughing, and running around, your caregiver came in at 6:00pm and immediately you started crying so hard. This just broke our hearts, K, and it was the hardest moment -- the one we dreaded. We just didn't want to let go of you.

Please know that if we had our choice, we would take you home with us tomorrow. We left some toys with you and gave your caregiver our family photo album as well as some disposable cameras which they said they would use. We will be missing you so much over the next several months and will think of you daily. We're praying to God to make the wait swift and speedy.

Be a good girl, know that we love you and miss you so much, and God Bless You, our sweet Russian Angel.

Love,
Mama and Papa xoxoxo

Day 3 with K

Before heading out to the orphanage in the afternoon, JD and I ventured out into the streets to go shopping looking for Q-Tips (requested by the Orphanage Doctor), hand cream, purse-size tissues (K has a cold right now) and toys --- we needed something "exciting" to bring out the smile in our little girl!

Finding stores in Yekaterinburg when you don't read the language is next to impossible unless they have window displays...and many don't -- they have posters that do us no good! But when walking down a side street with the locals, we came across what looked like a pharmacy. Oh, the sense of accomplishment felt after conveying our needs in my little Russian and pointing, as well as using Rubles was incredible!

After shopping, we were scheduled to meet with our coordinator and translator at 2:45 to sign papers and then head over to see K. They finally showed up at 3:15...but they were late for a good reason: a fellow PAP (prospective adoptive parent) who had dinner with us Wednesday (Lori) was at court and was granted parental rights to her twin girls! Congrats, Lori!

Olga and Lydia provided us with papers that we officially signed stating our formal intention to adopt K.

So, it is now official and K is on record to become our daughter...of course, after the mountain of paperwork is completed/reviewed/revised/reviewed/revised/etc. and the Court Date set (which can be 3-8 months...or longer). We're not out of the woods yet...but we're closer to becoming a family than before!

FINALLY, we got to the orphanage around 5pm and since it was raining, we knew it would be an indoor-day. Let me tell you, we are so glad we went toy shopping! K was wearing the cutest outfit -- a lightblue courderoy dress, white long sleeve T-shirt, blue ribbed stockings and her bright yellow sandals. This time, JD greeted her first when she was brought into the music/playroom by her caregiver (good job, JD, with your new Russian!). She went to his arms but then started to bawl. I quickly passed off the video camera to JD, picked her up and life was back to good. (We knew it would take time since the children never see men unless they are the maintenance person, the guard or the grounds keeper ~ someone they don't interact with.)

We had such a great visit. She sat with both of us and played with her toys...we even got a few cherished grins. We gave her a Fisher Price PDA which made noise and had lights --- huge hit. She kept putting it to her ear and we'd pretend she was on the phone. JD struck it big with her giving her a few Animal Crackers! (It was right before dinner time and we were afraid to be caught by the caregivers...) She has a mouthful of teeth which can only be seen when laughing and crying so we haven't seen much of them ~ yet.

At 6pm, the caregiver came in to take K away --- just when we were in the midst of having so much fun. K started to cry...she didn't want to leave! That was a great feeling. We took some last minute pictures and she was whisked away. JD and I had grins on our faces...we really felt connected...all of us.

Below is a "teaser" photo of K with JD when she was looking at our photo album:

Good News: We thought we had Saturday off to see the city, get souveniers, etc. but instead, we get to go back to see K again! Four days this week...what a blessing!

But what lurks in the background of my mind is that after Saturday's visit, JD and I won't get to see her for months and months.

Will K forget us? She is only 20 months...

What will she think? Anything? Probably return to her daily routine and not realize what's going on behind the scenes...

Will the caregivers follow through and show her our pictures daily? We can only hope so.

I sign off now, in great anticipation of seeing K today. We will try to get enough hugs to last us the duration of our separation until our next trip ~ when we can bombard her with more love and attention that she is so desperately lacking of but willing to receive and learn to give back.

Day 2 with K

What? No post yesterday? Boy...this worried my mom back in FL! Let's just say we were exhausted and I fell asleep early (11:30pm) --- sorry!

Unlike yesterday when we first met K in the morning, our meeting time was not scheduled until the afternoon. We awaited for our driver at 3:15 as instructed but didn't show up until 3:45 -- which we knew was just eating into valuable play time. Let's just say the traffic is HORRENDOUS here in Yekaterinburg!

We arrived at the orphanage around 5:00pm (usually a 40-min ride). K walked into the music/playroom and immediately gave hugs but she was a tough egg to crack today. JD and I did everything just shy of standing on our heads to make her laugh and giggle but all we got were a few treasured grins. But the more we thought about it, the more we began to understand: Here is a little girl who just met us, she doesn't know what to do with a doll or a palmer-grasp crayon. Hugs and kisses...what are those? Plus, she can't understand what we are saying to her except for the few Russian words I know! I mean, JD and I feel like fish out of water when we're out in the streets, at the airport, in a restaurant --- so why not her feel the same way?

I felt tremendous "success" communicating when I brought out a little plastic children's photo album which I had filled with pictures of JD and me. Since I can say "Where's Mama? and "Where's Papa?" in Russian, K responded and pointed correctly to the pics. She spent 10 minutes just flipping through the pages and pointing and then graduating to figuring out how to open up the plastic sleeves and trying to take the pictures out!

We're hoping that when we see her today (once again in the afternoon), that she'll start to open up just a little. Honestly, I'm not expecting it until we actually officially adopt her months down the road and we're with her consistently, when she can build trust and comfort. And that's ok.

So before heading out to the orphanange this afternoon, JD and I are going to hit the Yekaterinburg streets and try and find more small toys -- ones that make sounds are the biggest hits. We will drag out every ounce of creativity but most of all, we'll just keep showering her with love. She doesn't understand the concept yet but she will!

We are blessed!

Words cannot begin to express the joy we feel. Today, 12 years after trying to have a family, we met the beautiful little girl who will make this dream come true.

As we stood in the music/playroom, I experienced so many emotions: excited (this is what we've been waiting for!), nervous (will all eyes be on US sizing up our ability to be parents?), anxious (what happens if she takes one look at us and wants to cry or run in the other direction?), etc. (In fact, the picture above was taken just one moment before K was brought in when I was feeling all these emotions.) But overall, it was great. The staff at the orphanage (#6) are wonderful -- so friendly and supportive, as well was our translator/coordinator from the agency, Lydia.

They brought K in and immediately I was on her level as she handed me plastic balls. I took her on the slide and rocking horse and then hit it big when I brought out the stacking cups with a rattle ball. Both JD and I took turns playing with her -- and we took lots of pictures. Oh, how I wish we could post them here but perhaps over the next few days, we'll get some pics that are post-able (showing her off but not giving away her identity...).

We flew in a doctor from Moscow who specializes in international adoption and pediatrics. She was thorough yet so gentle and playful with K. All reports are good -- nothing that would make us even think twice about our decision to move forward.

Everything about her is precious -- her soft fair skin, her blonde short hair, and her medium blue eyes. She's a serious child who can be stingy with her smiles but when she does smile, oh how she just warms the heart!

We thank God for blessing us with this little girl and we look forward to seeing her again tomorrow for 2 hours in the afternoon. We just can't wait!!!

Greetings from Yekaterinburg!

It took just shy of 26 hours door to door but we made it to Yekaterinburg this morning around 2:45am. We were greeted outside Customs by a nice young man named Denis who was our driver to the hotel. The hotel was about a 20-minute drive from the airport. We settled in and got hooked up on internet access (priorities!!) and were asleep by 4:30am or so. After 5 hours of sleep, we had to get up as the hotel provides a really nice breakfast buffet and no lack of sleep can keep JD and me from a buffet, right?!! So, after we got our main meal of the day out of the way, back to sleep for 4 more hours. We are exhausted.

After exchanging some dollars for Rubles (rate = 24.71 rubles to the dollar), we walked the city. Miles and miles... It is really incredible when one can't understand the people, the signs, the alphabet, etc. We are just going with the flow and following the motto "when in Rome"... The weather is cool --- feels like it's in the low 50's.

Now I'm off to study my Russian so I can say a few words to K tomorrow. Looking forward to posting next after meeting our daughter!

K: Here we come!

The chauffeurs should be here any second (hey, mom and dad D!) so I'm signing off. Next time you'll hear from us, we'll be alot closer to K...and she doesn't even know it yet! Love to all! xoxo

So what's up, you ask???

OK - the e-mails are coming in....."are you alright?" Well, yes...and no. Last Thursday night, as I was getting ready for bed, I had pain in my shoulder. Twenty minutes later, and I couldn't move my arm. I hadn't done anything out of the ordinary except decide to save $12 and wash my own car earlier in the evening! I coddled my arm at work, iced it over and over, and figured "It'll go away...this can't be happening...we're leaving in a week!"

By Sunday morning, I was crying from the excrutiating pain from not being able to sleep on or move my right shoulder. I went to Urgent Care and they did x-rays saying it appeared to be Bursitis. Long story short -- I'm now under the care of an Orthopedist (wait....another SPECIALIST?? An "Orthopedist" was NOT on the long list we have to see!!). Tomorrow I will be going in for a cortisone injection and I am now on lifting restrictions for 4 weeks (nothing over 10 lbs.). This means I can't work as my job at the hospital requires pushing/pulling/lifting 100 lbs.

Speaking of my job, I know everyone knows I love my job. Well, today I had to go in to tie up some loose ends and --- everyone made me cry. They have been so supportive and at one point I was pulled to the side (hey, A!) and presented with a book to read on the plane as well as a special, home-made card (Tina...I think you're a closet OT!). The card was filled with the most touching sentiments and generousity that words cannot begin to express both Jon's and my appreciation. When I came home and read the card, I became a blubbering mess all over again! Jon laughed (at me) but was in awe. We are so thankful! Spasiba to you all.

Special Delivery!

It was a little after noon today when the FedEx truck pulled up. I was surprised because JD said he wouldn't be able to make it home for lunch today. (I'm off of work right now...long story...a separate post...) When I went to the door, it was a different FedEx man....and he had in his hands our Russian VISAs and Passports!! I was so thrilled that as he got back in his truck, I grabbed my camera and snapped a shot as he drove away. Little did he know how important that package was to us. I think we're really on our way...time to pack!!

20 months old today

Twenty months ago today on January 10, 2007, a life was born into this world. While my dad was in the hospital that very day with severe kidney stones, a woman halfway across the world was giving birth to a little girl who was chosen to be our daughter. (Mom jokes that dad was having empathy labor pains!) Another tidbit of information -- I was out sick from work the 9th and 10th of January, 2007, but mustered up enough strength the night of the 9th to attend our very first "Adoption 101" seminar. Little did we know that the blessing that we would receive from this journey was just being born (it was already the 10th in Russia)...and we hadn't even decided to adopt yet!

In our wildest dreams, we could only wish that she'd be home by Christmas which would mean she'd be here for her 2nd birthday in January. But we're realists. We understand that this process will probably take the 3-8 months we've been told by our Agency from the time we see her...and possibly longer. I eagerly anticipate meeting her but I dread the day we get on the plane in Ekat to come home...leaving K behind. There's something to the saying "what you don't know doesn't hurt you".

This past Monday, both JD and I met with a Pulmonary Specialist and an Oncologist taking home prescriptions for chest x-rays, complete blood counts and an order for a mammogram. Great. Two down, 7 more to go (which includes the Psychological Eval). The picture above was taken as we were driving home from San Diego. It just appeared that the heavens were shining down upon us...and I believe it to be true!

Moving along with the paperwork...

Some days, I really begin to feel overwhelmed with the enormous amount of paperwork that is required. I have a binder (somewhat put together) with tabs for travel, dossier, orphanage info (lists of questions to ask), medical info, payment receipts (ok - this section will need it's own binder, methinks!), travel docs, and on and on. I've also put together a spreadsheet with all the doctors' info and appointments to help keep us up to date on who we have to see, when and how we have to pay them.

Tomorrow, 9/8, JD and I will be going down to San Diego (SD) for a really quick turnaround trip. We will be meeting with an Oncologist and then a Pulmonary Specialist. We have 3 more appointments scheduled in SD on 9/30 (yes, right after we arrive home from Russia) with an Infectious Disease Specialist, Psychologist, and Dermatologist. Two weeks later, we will meet with the Psychiatrist/Addiction Specialist in SD and hopefully get a Neurologist and Internist squeezed in around that date, too. Whew....then we're done with being poked, prodded, and evaluated at least for a little while!

I just contacted the Chatsworth City Council hoping to get them to write a letter for us stating we are the only ones residing here in our home. How can they say "no" to writing a letter for us? I'm not too humble to get down on my knees to beg so I'm not too worried. Next on the list are FBI fingerprinting, a certification of how much we own and how much we owe (putting this off...do we really want to know???), getting a copy of the deed of our home, bank letters for every account we have, etc. The list goes on and on.

My desk here at home looks like it has exploded with paper, highlighters, calculator, and a calendar with lots of scribbles on it. But also sits a picture of K. She sits afar from us right now unknowing of the amount of hoopla taking place in the hopes that she will soon find comfort in our little home. Little does she know that she's already found a home in our hearts!