What's happening in Kherson

Kherson Day 1 we were picked up from the train station at 10 am and taken directly to the inspectors office to meet with them for permission to proceed to orphanage.  We looked a bit rough after traveling all night on the train, but we were just really happy that we were getting right to business after all the waiting around we did in Kiev.  After that we went right to the orphanage and sat in an office for nearly 2 hours waiting to meet with the director.  You must meet with the director before you can see the child.  So we waited and waited.  Finally it was our turn to go meet with him.  It was a bit stressful to say the least, and after much questioning we were given permission to see Anya, but nothing was mentioned about the papers that he must sign before requesting a court date.  We didn't expect him to sign on the first day though, so we were okay with that.  Our plan was to spend time with Anya, then approach Director on Friday morning, and ask him to sign so that I could travel home with Todd.

Spending time with Anya was actually a bit painful.  We were there with the Jacobson's who are also there getting their son and to see them interacting was so sweet, and their boy was so obviously overjoyed that they were there.  They were playing games and having a great time.   Todd and Anya and I just sort of sat on the couch and stared at each other.  It was a reminder to me how painful our first few days with her was when we hosted her last summer when she didn't eat, drink or speak for 24 hours.  I tried talking to her with my few russian words I knew and some charades, but she acted as if she had no clue what I was saying.  It was so frustrating, because when you act out eating, everyone knows what you mean!!  She would just shrug her shoulders at everything I said.  Thankfully I had Leo to break the ice and I just played with him and kept trying to break down her wall of shyness.  I was so relieved it was a short visit and we got to go back to our apartment for the evening.

Kherson Day 2 we were hoping to meet with the director again and ask for him to sign documents needed in order for me to go home this weekend.  He was unavailable to meet with us.  So we were dissapointed, but it was somewhat expected, so not a total surprise.  However we had a VERY good day with Anya.  I came prepared today!  I had my russian translator book in hand, bags full of candy, gum, toys, games, iPad loaded with games, and laptop (in hopes of internet access that would allow use of google translate).  Anya was all smiles, showed Todd and I her room, and was very talkative and interactive with us and with Leo.  What a relief!  This was more like the Anya we said goodbye to last August.  I got to meet her boyfriend who happens to be a very nice young boy.  He is quite athletic and showed us some of his talent on the playground.  You can see video's of it on my Facebook page.  Under normal circumstances Todd and I would not be excited about our 14 year old daughter having a 18 year old boyfriend, but watching them interact all day they seem to be just young kids enjoying each others company, and with her moving to the USA in a few weeks, we see no reason to rock any boats on the issue.  But just to be on the safe side, Todd was sure to let him know that he has lots of guns and knives.  He was joking of course and we all had a good laugh about it, even the boyfriend.

Todd was able to postpone his trip for one more day, so instead of taking a 7 hour taxi tonight into Kiev, he is here in Kherson for one more day!  I am so glad for this experience of being in Kherson, it is life changing and it is heartbreaking to see all these kids that are starved for attention and love.  They flock around us the moment we arrive at the orphanage and they remember our names and they try to speak to us in English when they say hello.  I am sad that Todd is leaving and I have to stay behind by myself (with Leo), but I am looking forward to spending more time with Anya and the kids at the orphanage and praying for some good things to happen early next week so that I can come home!

PS, Leo is being a really good baby!  He travels well.  At 5 months all you really need is attention, food and sleep, and he gets all of those things at the moment he demands it.  The only time he is not being held is when he is sleeping, and often times he's held then too.  So he really has no excuse to NOT be a good baby!

PSS, We were told today when we were at the Notary office signing some documents (since Todd is leaving early) that we needed to tell them what Anya's legal name would be in America.  Since we hadn't really discussed it, we were very much at a loss.  We had already agreed way back that we would keep her first name Anna (Anya is just a nickname), but the middle name had not been decided or even discussed.  I liked the names Juliet and Gabriella, but Todd was not keen on either of them.  I asked him for his suggestion and he said Marie.  So we decided to call Anya and let her pick.  She picked Juliet, (my first choice), but when she was still on the phone with the translator, Todd asked her to please let it be Marie, so she said, Okay, Anna Marie.  (poor girl was probably like, why did you even ask me if you weren't going to give me a choice).  So Anna Marie it is.

Update on Us!

Yesterday was our SDA appointment with the Ukraine adoption officials.  Basically we met with them, told them we are interested in adopting Anya, they pulled the file (with an attached adorable photo of Anya at age 12 when she entered the orphanage).  We reviewed it, they then asked why we want to adopt her, and to tell them a little bit about our family.  That was done in about 4-5 sentences, and then they asked if we still want to proceed, we said yes, they say "are you interested in seeing any other files on other children?",  I say no, and Todd shrugs his shoulders as if to say, "maybe".  (He later told me he thought he was supposed to do that, because Ukraine does not allow preselection of children, only blind adoptions.)  And that was it!  We left and had the rest of the day to explore Kiev.  We waited for the Jacobson's to have their SDA appt, and then we all went to eat lunch at Mafia Pizza!  (with english subtitles on the menu).

FOOD  So far I have not had any trouble finding things to eat. Before we got out of the car, our facilitator Alex taught me how to say vegetarian in Russian, but to my surprise, both restaurants we ate at had English subtitles, however I stuck with safe, and ordered a margarita pizza both times.  They have very unusual things on the menu, Lard and Pig Ears for appetizers.  The gas stations here are pretty cool, they have nice pastries and fresh made espresso available.  (Not like the cappuccino vending machines and hostess cupcakes I'm used to seeing in American gas stations.)

TOURISM We shopped and wandered around Kiev yesterday.  Fashion in Europe is very different from home.  Now I understand why Anya was so picky about the clothes when I took her shopping last summer.  I think before we head home on our final trip, I will take her shopping here in Kiev and get her some clothes that she likes.  My sister Rachael's son Nick, who has been home just a couple months is still wearing the 1 pair of jeans she bought him in Ukraine before coming home.  He wears them almost every day.  I have been asked to buy him a new pair while here, so yesterday I was shopping for him and taking pictures to send back to Rachael to get Nick's approval.  I was surprised to see quite a bit of English words and English speaking retail shop workers.  I don't think we will be that lucky once we venture on to Kherson.  Some guy with birds put a bird on my shoulder and insisted he take a picture on my phone for me.  Then he asked for 100 grevna ($12.50), We were annoyed, but Todd handed him a 200 grevna bill and asked for change, then the guy changed his mind, he wanted 200 grevna ($25) because there were 2 birds, 100 each he said!  I was really annoyed, asked Todd if he didn't have any smaller bills, he pulled out 70 grevna, and I took the 200 back from the guy and handed him the 70 and walked away!  I was mad, he was mad, and Todd was mad.  (lesson learned for all of us that day!  ha ha)  Today Nastya (our facilitator) has arranged a tour guide of the city.  Then at 4pm we pick up our papers from the SDA office and head to Kherson via overnight train ride.  10-12 hours, I've heard.  But we are booking first class and getting the whole cabin, which we were told is not that expensive and well worth it!

SLEEP Not really getting much of that.  We brought Ambien, but I can't really take it because of Leo.  Which is why I am up at 4am blogging.  Leo has been so good, slept off and on all day yesterday, but come night time, he was wide awake!  Finally got him down around 2am (and now at 4 I am awake.)  UGH!!!

PICTURES  I didn't bring my camera.  (one less thing to lug around).  Using my iPhone.  Will upload later.  Leo is waking as I type, so logging off.  Will add pics later.

Bye for now.

Guess What?

We've been keeping a little bit of a secret.  Not from everyone, but from most people.  We will be adding to our family very soon.  Anya, the girl from Ukraine who visited us last summer through an orphan hosting program, is going to very soon become a member of our family.

Todd and I leave for Ukraine on Sunday for trip #1.  I'm a little bit (okay a lot) anxious.  Todd and I are both leaving behind two of our most valuable treasures in our life.  Tony and Bella.  I am super sad to leave them, but I know they are going to be well taken care of by their grandma and grandpa. When they are at grandma's I never have to worry!  It helps that they are so excited for us to leave that they ask me several times a day when we are leaving to go get Anya because they can't wait to stay overnight at Grandma's.
We will be taking Leo with us.  I know it will be hard traveling with a baby, but having him with me will make it easier to leave the other 2 behind, because at least I have one baby to snuggle with and kiss whenever I want.

Want to know how this all came about?  It's kinda crazy for us to be adopting a 14 almost 15 year old girl when we have 3 kids ages 4, 3 and 4 months.  Even I can admit that.  I was 20 years old when Anya was born, Todd was 18.  Both of us were still in college.  Anya was not an orphan all her life. Anya moved into an orphanage on May 25, 2010 (my birthday) when she was 13 years old because her mother was sick and unable to care for her.  4 months later her mother died.  10 months later she came to America to stay with us for 5 weeks.  We were NOT planning on adopting, just hosting.  Just giving her a summer to remember!  In fact we had selected a different child to host (that was not eligible for adoption, just so there would be no temptation to adopt), however after the plans were made and the money was paid, we got a call that the girl we selected was no longer available for hosting, and we would have to select another child.  Just 4 weeks away from hosting, there were no more "host only" kids.  So we picked Anya, because her bio said she likes pickles, and we grow pickles.  But I promised myself and Todd that we were just hosting.  God obviously had other plans, because here we are 9 months later getting on a plane and heading to Ukraine...   We leave in 2 days.  

If you want to read about our hosting experience, just scroll back, there hasn't been a whole lot a blogging since she left last summer.  I've been kinda busy, I had a baby since then, and my life just doesn't leave much room for blogging like it used to.  However, when I'm in Ukraine, I'm guessing there will be some downtime.... so maybe, I can keep it up!