I can only imagine the joy parents feel the first time they see the ultrasound of their baby-to-be or were handed their baby right after birth. Oh, the tears, the relief, the OMG...this is real! Our first time laying eyes on our little bundle of love was quite different. We were sitting in baby home #6 located in a remote area of Sverdlovsk Oblast near Yekaterinburg, Russia. On that couch with us was a translator and a Russian Pediatrician who we arranged to fly in so she could tell us if there was anything we should be concerned about regarding this little girl who already stole our heart via a photo.
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| The referral photo we received. |
It was 10 years ago today on September 24, 2008, that our love was signed, sealed and delivered. I can remember the cold, dreary day and the long 45-min drive out into the country where Kristina's home was. It was baby home #6, Department 2.
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Passing one of the many Dachas, or seasonal homes found out in the suburbs.
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| I remember the excitement as we walked up the driveway leading to #6 with Lydia our translator and Dr. Victoria Khouloudis. This is where Kristina lived from 3 mos of age until she came home at the age of 28 months old. |
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The name of the baby home:
"Child House No. 6
Department No. 2"
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When we first laid eyes on Kristina, she was 20 months old - walking - climbing stairs - and extremely inquisitive. Not much talking and only an occasional grin but she followed commands, and gave good hugs. There was no going back and we prayed every day that nothing would stand in the way of our dream. Not a day passes that I don't realize how fortunate we are (yes, even when she drives me CRAZY)!!
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| The expectant parents - just moments before a caregiver brought Kristina through the door. |
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The moment Kristina was brought in. I wish the pic was more clear -
but that moment was a blurr anyways!
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| My chance to interact with Kristina - under the watchful eye of an interpreter, a pediatrician, the orphanage MD, and a caregiver. No pressure for this first time mom-to-be! |
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| She was already the apple of Jon's eye! |
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| Dr. Khouloudis doing her examination of Kristina. |
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| Finally got a smile out of this little one! |
That first meeting went so very fast. We only go to interact with Kristina for a little bit because the doctor had to catch a flight back to Moscow and she needed time to do her examination. All results of the examination came back as we had hoped. Except for some deficiencies you expect to find growing up in a baby home with limited stimulation, care, touch, love....she was pleased to tell us that Kristina would thrive in a family. No matter what that doctor would have told us that day...it really didn't matter. We were starting out battle to complete the boat-load of paperwork and do whatever we needed to get Kristina home.
We met Kristina on a Wednesday and returned for 3 more days to play and love on her as much as we could before heading home to the states on Sunday, September 28. Prior to seeing her on that Saturday, we sat down with our in-country coordinator, Olga, and signed the paperwork that we commit to pursue the adoption of Kristina. We did not change her first name as we were told it was given to her by her birthmom in the hospital. We did elect to change her her middle name from Sergeevna to DeAnn. Our Russian Angel ~ Kristina DeAnn.
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| Making it official.... |
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| ...we intend to become Kristina's parents! |
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| Kristina's very own crib in a grupa of many children. |
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| Ahhh, some foreshadowing of the love this girl would have for an iPhone someday.... |
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| The moment the caregiver came in for the last time to take Kristina from us. Kristina knew. We all cried. It would be a long 7 months before we would be asked to return for court and become a forever family. |
And fast forward, our little girl is not so much a little girl. She is 11 years old, turning 12 in less than 4 months. I would not change a thing in regards to the process we went through. Everything brought us to where we are right now....10 years later.
Happy Metcha Day, Sweetheart!
We love you, baby girl, more than you will ever know!
XOXOXO
