"THE" Case...plus Pics

"Yes, your honor." Was it really one year ago today when we were uttering these words...over and over to Judge S???? We had only dreamt of our court date and then bit our nails just prepping for it as if she really would say "Well, you may make good parents, and thank you for coming 1/2 way across the world...but no." Things like that don't happen...or do they?

So many friends, co-workers, relatives, and casual aquaintances who know we have adopted from Russia have asked us about the Torey Hansen case and what we think. I've been silent on this issue not because I don't have an opinion, and a very strong one at that, but only because I have been completely swamped with life to actually think straight enough before putting words into print.

Any "mother" who puts a 7-year old child onto a plane alone with no regard for his safety by hiring an unknown "driver" via the internet to pick him up at Moscow airport and return him to the Ministry of Education (overseer of adoptions) is negligent. The potential danger she put this child in should be a crime she should be held liable for. I'm sure she has "her" side of what happened ~ but even if this child, who she had adopted from Russia only 7 months earlier, was emotionally or psychologically challenged and was putting her family in danger, she should have gotten help HERE in the USA.

Going through the Russian adoption process is not for the faint of heart and all of you out there who have been through it or are going through it will agree with me. We had to either attend courses or complete them online for parenting an internationally adopted child, dealing with attachment and attachment disorders, etc. There are so many resources for help ~ especially the agency who we all pay a ton of money to to facilitate the process and paperwork! What was she thinking? Oh, that's it ~~~ she wasn't thinking.

I am in contact with families who are waiting for a court date. The rumor that adoptions have been put on hold is just that ~ a rumor. Things are moving along but this case has certainly been a blow to the Russian Adoption program. I pray nightly for families awaiting a referral and for those who are in that agonizing waiting period for a court date staring daily at pictures of their children wondering when will they be bringing them home.

Today, on the one year anniversary of our court date, a delegation of US and Russian "peeps" are supposed to be meeting to discuss the future of international adoption. Hopefully soon there will be a resolution or treaty agreed upon so Russian children can continue to find love in the arms of parents from the USA.

On that note, here's some "never before seen" pics of a little girl who entertained us daily last year leading up to our court date on April 29, 2009.

Kristina keeping a watchful eye on Papa while eating Animal Crackers.

Our very first time venturing outside of the Orphanage building together, April 19, 2009!

Kristina loved the see-saw...and still does!

Grammy's favorite picture, taken April 25, 2009.

JD got the greatest belly laughs from Kristina in the laundry basket.

Last picture of the 3 of us before becoming a family of 3 at court the next day. Photo taken April 28, 2009.

Happy Anniversary!!

Dearest Kristina:

It was 16 years ago on April 16th when daddy and I shared vows at a California Spanish Mission (San Fernando Mission) to love one another forever, for better or for worse. We had so many dreams ahead of us and one of them was to be parents.

Little did we realize that 15 years later, we would be sitting in an Irish Pub in Ekaterinburg, Russia, gleeming over our digital photos in the camera of the little girl who was soon going to be our daughter. What an anniversary gift we had last year when it was our first time seeing you again after waiting a long 7 months!

Together at last ~ first moment! (Right before the caretaker opened the door, we heard Kristina say "Mama???" Yep, we were in love ~ hook, line and sinker!)

Our first picture together after 7 months on April 16, 2009!

Playing with a familiar toy we had brought for Kristina on our first visit 7 months earlier.

Mommy and Kristina

Kristina and Daddy

We never got used to the moment when your caretaker would come to the playroom to take you back to your grupa.

You are the answer to our prayers and the realization of our dreams. We love you, Kristina DeAnn!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy xoxoxo

P.S. You started calling Papa "daddy" last week and I do believe that it melts daddy's heart each time you call out to him!

NOTE: When I was looking at video and pictures of this special reunion last week, Kristina was sitting on my lap. This was our conversation as we looked at the pics:

Kristina: Look, Tina sick.

Mommy: Were you sick? How do you know?

Kristina: Look, Tina's eyes....

I sat there just in awe that a 3 year old can have so much insight. She wasn't necessarily "sick" except for the usual runny nose ~ she only needed a heavy dose of love and TLC.

Apartment Living Revisited

(I have elected to give information on our apartment for several reasons: 1) we never really showed family/friends pictures of the place we stayed, 2) it might give some insight to other Prospective Adoptive Parents who will be travelling to Ekat about apartment living, and 3) I really wanted it documented before I lose my mind!)

We spent last year on this day pretty much catching up on much needed sleep. We had checked into our Four Seasons apartment around 630am and stayed up until breakfast was delivered at 9am.

Inconspicuous sign for the Four Seasons Hotel and Apartments

We decided on apartment living because we knew we'd be there for 4 weeks and it was much more economical than a hotel. Plus, as they say, when in Rome live as the Romans....or as in our case, live as the Ekaterinburgers!

We lived in an Apartment Building with the locals ~ with 4 apartments on the top 16th floor allocated to the Four Seasons.

Our in-country coordinator arranged everything so when I heard "Four Seasons", my mind was beginning to think "hmmm, I wonder if it's affiliated with the Four Season Hotel down the street here in Beverly Hills?" Ugh, no. We could tell in the dark early hours of the morning as we traveled up the rickety elevator to the 16th floor that this was not a 5 star hotel. When exiting the elevator, the dark hallway was illuminated with a naked lightbulb dangling from a wire. I swore we were really entering the Twilight Zone.

After exiting the clunking elevator, we had to be "escorted" through another door (always greeted by the Apartment Manager)

Entrance to the Autumn Apartment (the Spring Apartment is behind me to the left)

We had to go through some large bolted doors (which we had to buzz each time to enter) and greeted by our Apartment Manager, Luba. Upon opening our apartment door, it was like entering another world. It was bright, sparse but with all the necessities. We had the "Autumn" suite so everything was orange, yellow, and green --- with leaves as part of the decor.

Video of our apartment CLEAN (before being "lived in")

We quickly learned that everyone in Russia takes off their shoes as soon as they enter indoors...and with the slushy muddy snow in Ekat, it was a necessity. Note to self: take slippers on the next trip to Russia (whenever that is). Our apartment was a one bedroom, kitchen, water closet (toilet/sink only), shower/sink room, and sitting area.

Breakfast was served every morning either at 8am, 9am or 10am and we informed our manager the night beforehand at which time we'd like breakfast. I soon became proficient in "8" or "9" or "10"am in Russian. Jon used finger-counting... Jon was initially bummed that we wouldn't be able to indulge daily in the Park Inn breakfast buffet but we have to say, the breakfast served was quite substantial: bread/toast with butter/cheese/jelly, Kasha (oatmeal), bangers, yogurt, eggs, instant coffee, teabags, and juice.

YUM ~ enjoying our first of many breakfasts delivered to our table daily. :)

Typical continental breakfast.

The apartment had 2 of everything -- plates, silverware, mugs, glasses -- plus one pot and one pan. There was only a flat-top stove and no oven so our cooking was limited. This was one reason we felt like we were on Ekat Island -- provided with just enough to survive and outlast living in Ekaterinburg among the natives. Out of necessity, we became quite creative:

* made toast by sticking it on the flat-top stove
* made ice cubes for sodas out of used yogurt cups and plastic egg crates

In Russia, they don't serve ice with soda...so we made our own out of yogurt cups!

Cooking up our first of many meals in our wee kitchen!

Mystery tomato sauce with mystery meat...

...made for a delicious pasta dinner!

We had a TV in the bedroom with only two understandable channels: BBC and some modeling Catwalk channel. We were there during the outbreak of the Swine Flu so the BBC grew tiring real quick so we opted for watching DVDs and I spent as much time on the computer/internet as allowed by connections. We used MagicJack to call home to our families and that was incredible (and FREE!).

This chair got the most use...atleast when we had internet connection, that is...

Our Apartment Managers, Luba and Olga, were like our mothers for the month. We had to hand in our key to them everytime we left the apartment and we had to buzz them at nighttime to be let back in. We got home late one evening (a little after 11pm) and we felt bad as it appeared that we woke Luba up.

With Luba who spoke more English than she lead us to believe...

...and with Olga who couldn't speak a word of English. This picture was taken the moment we were leaving our apartment and leaving for the airport to go to Moscow.

The one thing I did miss was a washer and dryer (could that be possible?). Washing all our clothes in a sink and then laying them out to "dry" on a closed balcony in 25 degree weather wasn't the most effiicient manner but it worked.

Our grocery store was located on the corner of our apartment building and we soon became "regulars" shopping there every other day. Once we learned they took VISA, it took the pressure off of counting rubles on a daily basis. I swear our apartment managers must've thought we were crazy carrying in groceries every other day. But at times, we'd bring them a sweet roll or pastry and they would be so appreciative.

Very typical for stores to occupy the first level of apartment buildings, just like the grocery store where we spent a lot of time!

If we weren't visiting Kristina or venturing out into the city streets, I loved to just stand on the outside porch and watch the residents below playing on the playground or gathering to socialize. Many a days I stood there just watching it snow and loving every second.

On May 1st, 2009, we had about 6" of snow. I elected to catching snow flakes on my tongue vs. making a snow angel as Jon refused to go out in the cold again...

I had hoped to have time to play on the playground with Kristina at our apartment complex but timing didn't allow for it.

Wondering what the cost was? It was about $102 per day plus about $10 per day for internet. We saved a few thousand dollars by staying at the apartment vs. going to the hotel but hey, I truly feel we got the best bang for our buck at the Four Seasons Apartment and I'd stay there again if Luba and Olga would have us!

I would stare out to Ekaterinburg lights nightly and say a prayer for our Russian Angel, Kristina.

Journey of a Lifetime...1 year later

I'm quite sentimental today. Nothing new...I've always been the sentimental type never forgetting a date in time which drives JD batty at times! But today is a little different as last year on April 13th, we boarded a flight to Russia to begin the trip of a lifetime ~ to bring our little girl home.

I still remember the excitement inside. No work (outside the home) for 4 months -- just focusing on us becoming a family. Getting ready to live a different culture/lifestyle for 5 weeks in which we didn't speak the language except for a few words. The encouragement of family, friends, co-workers, and "virtual" friends via blogging put us on a natural high. Just thinking about it stirs up so many emotions inside.

I remember another adoptive parent telling me "I'm actually jealous because I wish we could do it again" and I really took it to heart. I was determined to live in every moment, cherish it, and not wish away a second because I knew what the reward was at the end of this "brief" international journey.

As I sit here tonight, I can honestly say, I would do it again in a heartbeat. I would do all the paperwork again (yes -- even in Ekaterinburg!), stay up 'til 3am so I could get the FedEx out and get up at 5am for work. Bring it on.

For now, we are a family of three. Chances are, we'll always be a family of three unless the Lotto or Powerball shines some specific numbers our way. But that's ok ~ whatever God has planned for us, we'll gladly take.

He took care of us last year as we journeyed across the world to become a family. Stay tuned this next month as I'll include pictures that I couldn't post during our first 4 weeks in Russia.

And if I haven't thanked you personally for following our journey this past year, please accept this as my heartfelt thank you. I am in awe that over 31,000 hits have been made on Kristina's blog. (Granted, mom might say that 90% of those are hers but still.....31,000!) I never imagined more than just my family checking in periodically when I started it up back in July 2008 but I learned that reaching out to love a child touches everyone's heart.

Ya vom ochen blogadarna.

(Thank you from the bottom of my heart.)

First leg of our journey ~ Los Angeles to Moscow. Exhausted having not slept in over 36 hours but ready to snooze on the long 12 hour flight (yep...it only took 2 minutes and JD was already passed out!)

Easter Blessings

Last year, we spent Easter Sunday packing and prepping for Trip #2 to Russia the following day. We were tired and never even slept again until we got onto the plane (yep, pulled an "all nighter").

This year, I'm tired and once again, almost pulled an all-nighter simply because I wanted to make sure that our little one's first Easter home was memorable. I wanted to get the house ready for the Easter Bunny's arrival and then start cooking and cleaning before hosting Easter dinner here at our home. JD's mom (or my mom...depending on which Coast we were in) has been the hostess for almost every holiday for years and years. This year, everyone suggested we go out but something down deep made me want to host it here ~ kinda like a right of passage way overdue. Now that we have our own family, it's time to grow up...

While our angel sleeps soundly buried into her pillows...

...the Easter Bunny arrived leaving a trail of chocolate eggs leading to Kristina's Easter Basket.

Kristina woke us up early at 7:30am (usually she sleeps in until 9:30am!!) and we dragged ourselves out of bed so we could be there when she found her Easter basket. When she exited our room, she found a trail of little chocolate eggs that lead her all the way to the living room where her Easter basket was. Ahhh, the excitement in children! You'd think she found a million dollars with the joy she showed in finding chocolate.

"Oh, Mommy and Papa ---- look! Kahklet!!!"

"Oh my godsh."

"Look, a rabbit!" Note to the Thomas family....does the Easter basket look familiar? This Longaberger Basket was a special welcome home gift from dear (former) Ohio friends. Thank you!!!

Kristina opening a special Easter gift: replica Faberge Egg pendant that opens. Very Russian.

I got this pendant (and a few others for future holidays) from The Russian Shop.

We decided to go to the 11am Mass and we made it to church by 10:45 --- I think we got the last 3 seats available in the back of the church! Kristina was an angel for the first 30 minutes but after that, she began to get antsy. She watched other children walking around, climbing up and down chairs, etc. so it must be ok...she thought. Wrong! It was challenging keeping her at bay but by the end of Mass, she was ready to go.

Ha...how angelic she can look!

We had to stop by the Our Lady of Guadalupe area -- where I sat for years praying to be blessed with a child. Our Lady of Guadalupe is my patron saint!

Kristina and Papa..and, of course, "baby" who is also dressed up in her Easter dress!

As I prepared dinner, JD began to hide Easter Eggs in the front yard for the 4pm Easter Egg Hunt. Kristina's friends Kira, Gaby, and Andrea came over and it was GREAT seeing the girls scatter all over looking for eggs. As if 40 eggs weren't enough, when all of those were found, the girls went across the street to Kira's yard to find more. Nothing like a little bit of sugar to motivate kids to find something. Now if only her shoes and socks were made of sugar....

And they're off!!

All 4 girls found the spot where many eggs were hidden.

Now on to venue #2 across the street!

Note the orange egg in the tree that Kristina is about to find...

Yes, this is Kristina sharing the egg and giving it to Kira who's desperately searching for another.

Hey, look what I scored!

All done and taking a well-deserved break. Whew!

Look who was caught red-handed eating the goods she found on the Easter Egg hunt!!

Dinner was almost ready when the Easter Egg Hunt finished. The dinner menu comprised of:

* Spinach and strawberries salad
* Apricot glazed carrots
* Roasted asparagus
* Baked Macaroni and Cheese
* Creamy potatoes
* Honey glazed ham (ok, turned out to be ham jerky...sorry guests!)
* Fresh fruit
* Red Velvet Cake
* Cookies
* Bunny Cake

Our guests today were Nana & Grampa, and neighbors Marc & Rose. It was such an enjoyable evening. Incredible how it takes hours/days to prepare and in a matter of minutes, the food is consumed and then it's ready to clean up!

Digging in to the meal we are thankful to have.

Kristina loving the attention from Grampa and Nana and enjoying the frosting on the bunny cake Nana made. YUM!

Kristina did well but definitely had too much sweets. By 8pm, we started turning all the lights down, warmed up some milk, and quietly watched "The Amazing Race" together. Before the last team reached the Pit Stop, our little angel and I fell asleep in each others arms on the couch. A wonderful way to end the Easter holiday.

Kristina sleeping after spending her first Easter home...looks like our angel is praying!

Easter blessings to all!