The Director of Y.'s orphanage, has given us permission to pick him up for the week-end. We were going to stay at a hotel, but our Host Family insisted we bring Y. to their home in Kramatorsk. Sasha & Tanya are really going "above & beyond" what we ever anticipated. We feel like such an imposition...but they take it all in stride. Tanya fixed lunch for us in the refridge. before she left for work, so all I have to do is warm it up when our Translator/Facilitator arrives with Y.this afternoon. We have straightened up our room and are ready for Y. to spend the week-end with us!
The reunion of Y. (the older brother) and the two little ones (E & D) was good. He was so glad to see them, and although E.& D. were very young ( 3? & 4 ?) when they were separated, E. seems to be remembering her older brother. They played together for a while and we took family photos of the 5 of us. When we arrived home, Tanya had a great dinner for us and a beautiful special cake to celebrate our arrival with Y. for the week-end.
Friday, February 20, 2009
2/19/2009 THURSDAY
Today we had our Court appointment in Ynakiieve at 11:30 a.m. to approve our petition to adopt...in other words...for the legal custody of the 3 children. After a few official questions from the Judge and statements from the 2 sets of orphanage directors, we were parents!!!!!!!!!!!! This was probably the fastest Court hearing in Ukraine history.Ten Minutes! This was such an emotional time for us both. When we arrived home to Kramatorsk, Sasha and his daughter had lunch waiting for us. When Tanya arrived home after work, she prepared a special dinner and produced a beautiful "torte" (cake) from the market to celebrate our successful day in Court.
After dinner, we made several phone calls to the U.S. to family and friends and lots of e-mail
messages.We now begin the Official 10 day waiting period. When that is over, we can begin working on birth certificates, passports, getting medical exams for the children and Visas
from the U.S.Embassy. Ellen & Chris are now Mama & Papa !
After dinner, we made several phone calls to the U.S. to family and friends and lots of e-mail
messages.We now begin the Official 10 day waiting period. When that is over, we can begin working on birth certificates, passports, getting medical exams for the children and Visas
from the U.S.Embassy. Ellen & Chris are now Mama & Papa !
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
2/18/2009 WEDNESDAY
This morning we visited E. & D. and were again shown to the "quiet" room. Just as we got comfortable, and E. & D. were actually playing quietly (using my huge quilted coat as a sleeping bag), the Social Worker came in and asked us if we could take the children outside for a walk - instead of playing inside. Soooooooooo, the children were taken upstairs and dressed in their
warm tights, coats, hats, boots, etc. ... afterall, it was -5 Degrees (Celsius, I think) anyway, COLD. After our visit, Sasha drove us to a "sports" store and we purchased some soccer balls as parting gifts for Y.'s class. Although Y. is not a huge soccer guy, he said his class would enjoy playing with the new soccer balls and that was his request. Sasha drove us home and I warmed up the delicious potato/cheese/onion casserole that Tanya had prepared for us before she left for work in the morning. We are searching for appropriate parting "Thank You" gifts for the orphanage Directors, Social Workers, Teachers and Care-givers so this afternoon we shopped
around downtown. Since we were a little late coming home and Tanya had met us at a store to
try to help us find the items we were looking for, she only had time to whip up a delicious
chicken soup for dinner. Yum Yum. Everything we have to eat here at Sasha & Tanya's house is
wonderful. It's a great experience to be able to live with a "Host Family". Although our Russian is still pitiful, we do practice here at home quite often, and the cooking lessons are priceless!
Our Court date is tomorrow in Ynakieve (the city closest to Y's orphanage). Our attorney in
Kiev called to say that we have final approval from the SDA, so we are well on our way to completing the next step of the 10-day waiting period, then getting Birth Certificates, then going to Donetsk for Passports and then on to Kiev for medical exams and then the Embassy for Visas and then arranging flights home! Still many, many more days, but we are making steady progress:)
warm tights, coats, hats, boots, etc. ... afterall, it was -5 Degrees (Celsius, I think) anyway, COLD. After our visit, Sasha drove us to a "sports" store and we purchased some soccer balls as parting gifts for Y.'s class. Although Y. is not a huge soccer guy, he said his class would enjoy playing with the new soccer balls and that was his request. Sasha drove us home and I warmed up the delicious potato/cheese/onion casserole that Tanya had prepared for us before she left for work in the morning. We are searching for appropriate parting "Thank You" gifts for the orphanage Directors, Social Workers, Teachers and Care-givers so this afternoon we shopped
around downtown. Since we were a little late coming home and Tanya had met us at a store to
try to help us find the items we were looking for, she only had time to whip up a delicious
chicken soup for dinner. Yum Yum. Everything we have to eat here at Sasha & Tanya's house is
wonderful. It's a great experience to be able to live with a "Host Family". Although our Russian is still pitiful, we do practice here at home quite often, and the cooking lessons are priceless!
Our Court date is tomorrow in Ynakieve (the city closest to Y's orphanage). Our attorney in
Kiev called to say that we have final approval from the SDA, so we are well on our way to completing the next step of the 10-day waiting period, then getting Birth Certificates, then going to Donetsk for Passports and then on to Kiev for medical exams and then the Embassy for Visas and then arranging flights home! Still many, many more days, but we are making steady progress:)
2/17/2009 TUESDAY
Early in the morning, we returned shoes that we had exchanged 3 times trying to fit E. She has a wide foot. For our morning visit to E. & D., we were shown to a new room. It is full of huge stuffed toys, two huge leather sectional sofas and a full kitchen. There are also a few exercise
machines in the back of the room. I guess this is the "quiet" room. We did play quietly, but we
also spent much of our time saying, "nee tro gai" (don't touch that) and "eta nee eegrushka"
(this is not a toy) After our visit, we stopped for lunch at the pizza cafe in Kramatorsk, before
beginning our 1 1/2 - 2 hour drive to see the older brother of E. & D. We also took some clothes for Y. to try on. He was really a good sport and did not complain...We had brought him another
car (a bright green Hummer) that he was glad to see. Y. definitely likes cars and computers...and although I'm not sure how much he has actually worked on computers, he picks it up quickly. Our Translator/Facilitator, Austop, had good news about our court date - Feb. 19.
While Chris and Austop were talking in English about the court appointment, Y was really listening and then Austop began exlaining to Sasha (in Russian) what he had just told Chris about the judge asking if Y. was ready to go to America and Y. said "Yes" in a quiet voice so as not to interrupt, and when the men kept on talking - not noticing what Y had said...he said "Yes" a little louder and then I winked at him to let him know that I had heard him and he smiled. After the discussion about court, etc. Chris and Y. began working on finding a racing game on the computer. Time to go came much too soon. We visit Y. on Tues. and Thurs. because the drive is approx. 1 1/2 - 2 hrs. and it gets dark so early...and it was snowing yesterday evening. When we arrived home, dinner was ready - Tanya is the best cook in Ukraine! After dinner, we checked our e-mail and had a message from our agency stating that all of our paperwork from our agency and the state of Alabama ( approval for us to adopt 3 children, instead of 2 ) was on its way to Ukraine and the only other paperwork needed was from the Dept. of Homeland Security - approval for a third
child's visa. Things seem to be going smoothly so far!
machines in the back of the room. I guess this is the "quiet" room. We did play quietly, but we
also spent much of our time saying, "nee tro gai" (don't touch that) and "eta nee eegrushka"
(this is not a toy) After our visit, we stopped for lunch at the pizza cafe in Kramatorsk, before
beginning our 1 1/2 - 2 hour drive to see the older brother of E. & D. We also took some clothes for Y. to try on. He was really a good sport and did not complain...We had brought him another
car (a bright green Hummer) that he was glad to see. Y. definitely likes cars and computers...and although I'm not sure how much he has actually worked on computers, he picks it up quickly. Our Translator/Facilitator, Austop, had good news about our court date - Feb. 19.
While Chris and Austop were talking in English about the court appointment, Y was really listening and then Austop began exlaining to Sasha (in Russian) what he had just told Chris about the judge asking if Y. was ready to go to America and Y. said "Yes" in a quiet voice so as not to interrupt, and when the men kept on talking - not noticing what Y had said...he said "Yes" a little louder and then I winked at him to let him know that I had heard him and he smiled. After the discussion about court, etc. Chris and Y. began working on finding a racing game on the computer. Time to go came much too soon. We visit Y. on Tues. and Thurs. because the drive is approx. 1 1/2 - 2 hrs. and it gets dark so early...and it was snowing yesterday evening. When we arrived home, dinner was ready - Tanya is the best cook in Ukraine! After dinner, we checked our e-mail and had a message from our agency stating that all of our paperwork from our agency and the state of Alabama ( approval for us to adopt 3 children, instead of 2 ) was on its way to Ukraine and the only other paperwork needed was from the Dept. of Homeland Security - approval for a third
child's visa. Things seem to be going smoothly so far!
2/16/2009 MONDAY
Monday was a busy day. In the morning, before our visit, we were looking for a musical telephone for D. and went to several toy stores. Of course there were no musical telephones, but we did find a musical, spinning light toy and a small flip phone that says a few phrases. We also found some pink shoes for E. She really likes clothes. We had the best time playing with the children - Papa held E. up so she could "dunk" some balls in the basketball nets...then she decided that she could stand on a chair and throw the balls in the basket with some success. We also made paper airplanes and played "soccer" with the beach balls...a few funny photos of D. kicking the balls while "talking" on his new toy cell phone.
We went home to Sasha & Tanya's house for lunch that I warmed up. Tanya has spoiled us. She prepares breakfast for everyone, gets the girls off to school then feeds us, fixes her lunch to take to work, then prepares lunch for me to warm up when we get home.
After lunch, Chris & Sasha went to town for a portable computer modem. That way, we can connect to the Internet whenever/wherever we need to. SUCCESS! DA! We are now connected!
Our after noon visit began with a frown as we walked in the orphanage door. There was much frowning and whispering and Sasha had to talk us out of trouble...evidently, we are not only known as the "Dirty Boots" family, we are also the "Noisy Family". We made too much noise
in the a.m. playing ball. :( We promised to play quietly and spent most of our visit saying,'tee ha'
(quiet) to the children. We also took a few more photos.
We went home to Sasha & Tanya's house for lunch that I warmed up. Tanya has spoiled us. She prepares breakfast for everyone, gets the girls off to school then feeds us, fixes her lunch to take to work, then prepares lunch for me to warm up when we get home.
After lunch, Chris & Sasha went to town for a portable computer modem. That way, we can connect to the Internet whenever/wherever we need to. SUCCESS! DA! We are now connected!
Our after noon visit began with a frown as we walked in the orphanage door. There was much frowning and whispering and Sasha had to talk us out of trouble...evidently, we are not only known as the "Dirty Boots" family, we are also the "Noisy Family". We made too much noise
in the a.m. playing ball. :( We promised to play quietly and spent most of our visit saying,'tee ha'
(quiet) to the children. We also took a few more photos.
Monday, February 16, 2009
2/15/2009 SUNDAY
Sunday morning, after breakfast, we walked to Sasha & Tanya's church about 1 mile away. I found it difficult to walk in dress boots, but Tanya set a quick pace and we made it in a few minutes. A member of the church, Alexai, offered to translate for us during the service, so he sat between us and quietly whispered the translation of the bible verses, and bible study that was
first on the program. This church is Baptist. The church is in a building that was once a movie
theater. The service began at 10:00 a.m. and was over around 12:45 .There is much singing
and reading of bible verses throughout the service.
After church, we walked approx. 1 mile to get a few things at the market. After lunch, we visited
E & D to try on some of the clothes we bought them on Saturday. Tanya went with us and was a big help. There was another family visiting the little boy they are adopting. He is 2 1/2 and likes
to play with D. The boys had quite an "issue" over a play telephone, and when we took D away from the telephone "situation" the tears really flowed. Papa held D and let him cry and cry. We promised him a telephone of his own the next day (Monday) so that set the agenda for Monday morning!
first on the program. This church is Baptist. The church is in a building that was once a movie
theater. The service began at 10:00 a.m. and was over around 12:45 .There is much singing
and reading of bible verses throughout the service.
After church, we walked approx. 1 mile to get a few things at the market. After lunch, we visited
E & D to try on some of the clothes we bought them on Saturday. Tanya went with us and was a big help. There was another family visiting the little boy they are adopting. He is 2 1/2 and likes
to play with D. The boys had quite an "issue" over a play telephone, and when we took D away from the telephone "situation" the tears really flowed. Papa held D and let him cry and cry. We promised him a telephone of his own the next day (Monday) so that set the agenda for Monday morning!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
02/14/2009 SATURDAY
We visited D & E outside. Svetlana, daughter of Sasha & Tanya, went with us when we visited
D & E. She translated a little and helped "corral" the children. We went outside,but evidently we are notorious for getting our children's boots dirty...so the children had been admonished to stay
out of the mud. After our visit, Tanya accompanied us on a shopping expedition - clothes for the
children. Since Sasha is out of town working, Ruslan - Tanya's brother- in -law is driving us to visit the children in Kramatorsk.
After returning home, Chris walked up the street to the local market to buy me some flowers and candy for St. Valentine's Day. Svetlana & Tanya presented me with a Valentine with dogs on it. I had a Valentine tucked away in my Suitcase for Chris, in case I didn't have access to a shop with Valentines. I had placed a few little gifts on the kitchen table for Tanya, Svetlana & Olga.
Instead of Tanya cooking for us - We offered to take our driver,Ruslan and Tanya, and Svet
to our favorite Pizza place in Ukraine. Later that afternoon, we visited E & D again around
4 p.m
D & E. She translated a little and helped "corral" the children. We went outside,but evidently we are notorious for getting our children's boots dirty...so the children had been admonished to stay
out of the mud. After our visit, Tanya accompanied us on a shopping expedition - clothes for the
children. Since Sasha is out of town working, Ruslan - Tanya's brother- in -law is driving us to visit the children in Kramatorsk.
After returning home, Chris walked up the street to the local market to buy me some flowers and candy for St. Valentine's Day. Svetlana & Tanya presented me with a Valentine with dogs on it. I had a Valentine tucked away in my Suitcase for Chris, in case I didn't have access to a shop with Valentines. I had placed a few little gifts on the kitchen table for Tanya, Svetlana & Olga.
Instead of Tanya cooking for us - We offered to take our driver,Ruslan and Tanya, and Svet
to our favorite Pizza place in Ukraine. Later that afternoon, we visited E & D again around
4 p.m
2/13/2009 FRIDAY
We visited D & E in the morning and also in the afternoon. E and D are precious! E likes to be the center of attention, and is quite the "Mother Hen".We have played outside with the children in their play area, but it is so muddy after all the snow and rain, it's difficult to keep the kids' boots clean ! (and ours too) We are probably known as the "dirty boots parents". There is so much mud everywhere, that it customary to remove yur boots/shoes as soon as you come in the door. When we returned home in the evening, a modem appeared - from Sasha's brother. As soon as we have time, we'll download some photos.
2/12/2009 THURSDAY
We visited D & E in the morning and returned home for a fantastic lunch . Tanya spoils us with wonderful Ukrainian and Russian traditional meals. After lunch, we traveled to Y's orphanage in
Ynakieve. Chris & Y put together a wooden helicopter and painted it. Austop met us there and had some final documents for Chris to sign. Chris found a game on the computer (with helicopters) that Y enjoyed playing while the documents were being signed. Austop hurried away to get the document package on the train to Kiev and delivered to the SDA on Friday. When it was time to leave, Y escorted us to the door and there were hugs and kisses all around. Because of the distance between orphanages and the time it takes to get there, we decided to visit Y on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We are at the far Eastern section of Ukraine - Sasha says, at times on the road, we are only approx. 60 kilometers from Russia.
Ynakieve. Chris & Y put together a wooden helicopter and painted it. Austop met us there and had some final documents for Chris to sign. Chris found a game on the computer (with helicopters) that Y enjoyed playing while the documents were being signed. Austop hurried away to get the document package on the train to Kiev and delivered to the SDA on Friday. When it was time to leave, Y escorted us to the door and there were hugs and kisses all around. Because of the distance between orphanages and the time it takes to get there, we decided to visit Y on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We are at the far Eastern section of Ukraine - Sasha says, at times on the road, we are only approx. 60 kilometers from Russia.
2/11/2009 WEDNESDAY
On Wednesday, we visited D & E and enjoyed playing with them. They are so sweet and we have hundreds of photos ... just no time to download them...we will try to get to that soon. After our visit, we returned home to a fantastic lunch, and then began our search around Kramatorsk for
Internet access. No luck. Late that evening, after a delicious dinner, we made our final decision
on names for our children. Austop is ready to turn in our final documents and the children's names will also be submitted to the SDA in Kiev.
Internet access. No luck. Late that evening, after a delicious dinner, we made our final decision
on names for our children. Austop is ready to turn in our final documents and the children's names will also be submitted to the SDA in Kiev.
2/10/2009 TUESDAY
On Tuesday, we took all papers we had received in Kramatorsk and Ynakieve to the Notary in
Donetsk. Austop, our Translator, was familiar with the Notary and things went very smoothly.
We picked up the rest of our luggage from the apartment in Donetsk and began our drive up to Ynakieve.We were not able to visit D and E, because of the time it took to complete the many trips to get official documents signed and stamped at various locations. We arrived late in the evening at the home of our Host Family, Sasha & Tanya. As we continued to go back and forth to the car for the rest of our luggage, Sasha asked us if we had plans to immigrate to Ukraine. After introductions were made, we were treated to a wonderful dinner with the family.
Our Translator, Austop, is like one of the family at Sasha & Tanya's. We discussed our plans for the week and who would be responsible for what and then Austop drove back to Donetsk. Sasha & Tanya's beautiful daughters - Svetlana (14) and Olga (8) have given up their room for us and
are "camping out" on the sofa bed in the living room - for our entire stay. Tanya is undoutedly the BEST COOK in the entire country of Ukraine. We were made to feel at home the minute we walked in the door. Sasha will be our driver and will transport us to both orphanages each day.
Donetsk. Austop, our Translator, was familiar with the Notary and things went very smoothly.
We picked up the rest of our luggage from the apartment in Donetsk and began our drive up to Ynakieve.We were not able to visit D and E, because of the time it took to complete the many trips to get official documents signed and stamped at various locations. We arrived late in the evening at the home of our Host Family, Sasha & Tanya. As we continued to go back and forth to the car for the rest of our luggage, Sasha asked us if we had plans to immigrate to Ukraine. After introductions were made, we were treated to a wonderful dinner with the family.
Our Translator, Austop, is like one of the family at Sasha & Tanya's. We discussed our plans for the week and who would be responsible for what and then Austop drove back to Donetsk. Sasha & Tanya's beautiful daughters - Svetlana (14) and Olga (8) have given up their room for us and
are "camping out" on the sofa bed in the living room - for our entire stay. Tanya is undoutedly the BEST COOK in the entire country of Ukraine. We were made to feel at home the minute we walked in the door. Sasha will be our driver and will transport us to both orphanages each day.
2/09/2009 MONDAY
At 7:30 a.m., out Translator, Austop, picked us up (in the rain) to load up one huge suitcase to take to Kramatorsk to leave with our host family...thus making it possible to fit in the car better on Tuesday when we move up to Kramatorsk. Dodging HUGE potholes in the road, we finally arrived at Ynakieve, to meet with the Inspector and the Director. Documents were exchanged
so we were able to see the children. We were able to visit with Yuri for a short while in the
Director's office. He sat quietly on the sofa with us and asked to see the small photo album we had prepared for him. He remembered what we had said about each photo and quietly went
through the entire album with one of his teachers that was also in the meeting. Yuri pointed to a
television in the corner of the office (while the Social Worker and Director and our Translator
worked on filling out the proper documents) and whispered to me the Russian word for television...VERY SLOWLY...so Mama could learn to pronounce it. It was time for us to go, so Yuri walked us to the door and gave us each a big hug.
so we were able to see the children. We were able to visit with Yuri for a short while in the
Director's office. He sat quietly on the sofa with us and asked to see the small photo album we had prepared for him. He remembered what we had said about each photo and quietly went
through the entire album with one of his teachers that was also in the meeting. Yuri pointed to a
television in the corner of the office (while the Social Worker and Director and our Translator
worked on filling out the proper documents) and whispered to me the Russian word for television...VERY SLOWLY...so Mama could learn to pronounce it. It was time for us to go, so Yuri walked us to the door and gave us each a big hug.
2-8-09 SUNDAY
We slept late and once up, we walked to the mall, called "Donetsk City", about 2 miles away.We bought toys and clothes for the kids at the mall. We "toasted" our children with champagne that we had purchased in Kiev. Later that night, we un-packed and re-packed a suitcase for our Translator to take up to Kramatorsk - to leave with our Host Family - when we go to visit the children in Kramatorsk.
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