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The last 24 hours have been incredible!! Sorry I haven’t posted in the last couple of days. Yesterday, the first day of spring in Ukraine started at 6:45 am. We left the hotel to go meet with the Inspector. At 9:30 am. we were leaving the Inspectors Office headed for court. I couldn’t believe it! When we got to the Court House, the Judge decided we would hold court in his office. We were in there for about 10 minutes and we were done. We had to wait for the decree to be drawn up and we went back in so he could read it to us. Afterwards he took about 5 minutes to congratulate us, and wish us the best. And of course, I was told again in Russian to stop crying. He was a very nice man, as was the Inspector. She told us how special to adopt on the first day of spring, symbolizing a new beginning. After court, the real fun started. We had to go to the notary first, and then we stopped and got flowers for the orphanage Director. We went to the orphanage to do the paperwork there and to get the birth certificate so we could get a new certificate issued. The Director gave us both a big hug. She is such a nice lady. We left there with documents in hand to go to City Hall to have a new birth certificate issued. That took about 2 hours. In Ukraine, most people do not get married in the church, but at City Hall, so they had to show us the room where the ceremony is held. They had it all directed with flowers etc. Much nicer than any City Hall ceremony in the US! We left there and had to go back to the notary and then to get Jacob’s passport. It seemed like that took forever. Paperwork….you gotta love it!! Just when we thought we were done, we had to go to the train station to get tickets for Kiev for that night, and then back to the orphanage to pick up Jacob. There were only a few caretakers left, but it seemed like everyone that was left in the building came to see him off. You could see how hard it was for some of them to see him leave. It was so sad. Finally we were on our way back to the hotel, but we needed to exchange some money to pay for our hotel bill. There aren’t very many exchange places open after 6:00, so it took us forever to find one. I think it was about 8:00 pm. when we finally got back. Most of that 12 hours was spent in the car. For as uncomfortable as that was, our Translator Max was great!! He did a wonderful job and we wouldn’t be sitting here in Kiev tonight with Jacob if it weren’t for him. So, once back at the hotel, it was eat, (we didn’t stop for lunch and we were starving!), pack and be ready to leave at 9:30 pm. Our train left at 10:55 pm. When we were on the first train coming to Kharkov, we thought that the unbearable heat that Burke talked about wasn’t so bad. Well, we started sweating as soon as we got in our berth. It was unbearable. The one time that I looked at our alarm clock, it said it was 85 degrees and that was when the heat wasn’t even blasting. The train itself rode much better, but at about 3:30 am. we were all awakened as the car was rocking to the point we all thought it was going to tip over. Poor Jacob’s eyes were as wide as saucers!! In the morning we were all about 10 lbs lighter from sweating, and still tired from only getting about 3 hours sleep. We were met at the station in Kiev by Nastya and Alexi. We said Good-bye to Max and were on our way to the apartment in Kiev. Jacob has done really well, I thought that the adjustment would be hard for him, but so far there are no signs. He smiles when he sees David or I, and acts just like he did when we were visiting him at the orphanage. I sure in his heart he is feeling the loss, but we’re trying to keep him entertained enough so he doesn’t think about it. Today the only thing we had to do was get his Polish Visa, which Nastya and Alexi took care of, and go to the American Medical Center for a quick check up for Jacob. We were in and out in about 20 minutes if that tells you how quick the check up was. Tomorrow morning we leave at 7:30 am. for an 8:00 appointment at the American Embassy, then to pick up our tickets to fly to Warsaw, and then off to the airport. I’m sure that as you are reading this we will already be in Warsaw. I don’t know right now what time our appointment is at the Embassy on Thursday, but if it is early enough we hope to fly home on Thursday night. That would be 12 days door to door. Pretty quick!! It feels like we’ve been gone a month!! We’ve been very lucky during the whole process with everything falling into place just right. We were ready for the worst and ended up the best. Well, it’s 8:00 pm. here on Tuesday. Jacob is asleep for the night in bed, and David, well, he’s on the couch sleeping, probably for the rest of the night. It’s going to be an early day tomorrow, so I guess I better get everything packed and ready to go! More from Warsaw hopefully!!
March 3, 2004
4:40 pm. Warsaw time. We left Kiev at 12:00 pm. and flew to Warsaw. Our appointment is at 9:30 am. at the Us Embassy tomorrow morning and our flight leaves for home at 7:30 am on Friday. Less than 2 weeks door to door, I can't believe it. I have a more detailed journal entry that is of course saved on my laptop instead of the disk I brought, so I will try and load that later. Jacob is doing wonderful......right now he is in the room with Daddy, just full of himself after a long nap. He did great on the plane, and has been eating like there is no tomorrow. I went a bought a few outfits for him here in Warsaw. He looks so handsome. Wish my digital camera worked so I could post them!! Anyway, just wanted to update everyone. I'll post more later!!
March 4, 2004
We got up and went to the Embassy this morning. It was a pretty easy process. We had completed all of our paperwork ahead of time, and just handed everything over. They review it with you and you go back at 3:00 pm to pick up the packet of info for Immigration and Jacob’s visa. Then we’re done!! Now all we have to do is fly home. I’m sure many of those who know me (I hate mornings!) are finding humor in that we have to be at the airport about 4:30 am for a 6:35 am. flight out of Warsaw. Later today, I’m going shopping with another American mother for baby stuff, try and find a few souvenirs since we didn’t buy any in Ukraine, and maybe even some Kentucky Fried Chicken for dinner! Haven’t seen the McDonalds yet to get David the McKielbasa that Burke talked about. That’s all for now. If I get a chance, I’ll post after we go back to the Embassy, if not, then after we get home.
March 7, 2004
Well we made it home. What a trip! The flight didn't bother Jacob at all. He did really well traveling. The poor guy had diaper issues though. I'm glad I didn't listen to the suggestions of not to buy too much for him, becuase when we landed in Philadelphia he was on his 5th and final outfit. I don't even remember how many times we visited the rest room on the airplane and it wasn't pretty when we did. A couple of times he came out with only a diaper on! I thought the transition for him would be alot harder, but he seems to be adjusting well. I'm sure we're still in the "honeymoon" phase, but he has really been great. He got to meet Pop-pop and Grandma, Aunt Kim, Aunt Greta, Marc and cousin Rory. It was a little overwhelming at first, but by the end of yesterday he was pretty comfortable with everyone. He hasn't decided yet whether or not he likes Max and Maggie (our dogs). He tries to touch them, and he ends up getting licked and he doesn't like that! Thank you everyone for signing the Guest Book and all your thoughts, prayers and good wishes. We are very lucky and look forward to posting more pictures in the near future for everyone.