Thursday, November 16, 2000

They asked us: "Why did you decide to adopt?" "Why from Ukraine?" "Tell us about yourselves and your lives back home." They asked me about a rumor/story about people coming to Ukraine to adopt children and taking them home and using them for organ donation - how terrible! I didn't know what to say. I can't believe that some people would do that. They also asked "what will you offer the children in the United States." I think I answered that question well. Then they videotaped us playing with the children & walking with them. Overall, I think it went very well. I'm not sure whether we will be able to see the broadcast. It will show this Saturday pm and Sunday am, or possibly next Sat/Sun. I'd love to get a copy of it, but Orest said it is in a different format. Maybe we can still get a copy and get it converted to the correct format back in the States. It would be great to get a copy.

After the interview we played with the kids more outside. After playing for a while, we had to leave and go to the notary office to sign some more official paperwork. Then to the mayor's office but we did not go inside - our staff took care of it. We are waiting for another piece of paperwork & it sounds like it will be done at 2 pm and we need to come back for it then.

Home for lunch - more fried food; french fries and fried pork cutlet. The food is good, it is all fried though & my stomach is not used to it. We ate fried potatoes for breakfast. At 2 pm we went back to the mayor's office. If the paperwork was ready Simon and Pasha might leave today to return to Kiev to turn in the paperwork. One copy of the paperwork was done. Zhenya had Sergei run it out to Simon and Pasha in the car.

We of course didn't know what all was going on but what occured was that Simon & Pasha got the paperwork they needed so they quickly bought plane tickets to Kiev and caught a 3:40 pm flight. We did not even get a chance to say "good-bye" or "thank you". We will see Pasha again in Kiev but Simon will return to the States from Kiev so we will not see him again. I really wanted to say thank you and good bye to him. He worked so hard for us. He pulled so many strings, I'm sure I don't even know about all of them. He worried from morning til night. He wouldn't even allow us to take his picture until today - he was too busy thinking, planning, and worrying. He did a wonderful job. We are going to have to write him when we return home.

So while Simon and Pasha are buying airplane tickets, we are still at the mayor's office signing more papers. Then we went to the courthouse where the judge is to find out when our court date will be. We waited outside for probably 1 1/2 hours. During part of that time, we took a walk with Gena in the downtown area. Finally, Zhenya got to speak with the judge and we found out that our court dates are next Tuesday and Wednesday (one family each day).

That is when we find out if we have to wait the 10 days or not. I guess we will have to wait 5 or 6 of the 10 days anyway because of paperwork. So if we do have to wait the whole 10 days it only adds 4 or 5 days to our trip. Hopefully though we will not have to stay those extra days. Not that it isn't nice here but I know we will be anxious to get back to the States.

Orest and I did not even have our coats with us when we stood outside for 1 1/2 hours, but we were not cold. It is unbelievably warm here. We were only wearing a turtleneck and a sweater. They said it is usually not this warm this time of year. No complaining from me!

We figured we would not be able to go to the orphanage again to see our boys because it was getting so late but Zhenya said "Get in the car & we will go to the orphanage." We were surprised. We didn't have anything with us. No diapers for the staff to put on them before we took them to play with them, no toys, no cookie biscuits or apples to use as "bribe food" to get them used to us and trust us. We didn't even have our coats. It didn't matter though, we could go and see Andre and Stefan.

It was almost dark (gets dark at 5 pm) so we just played with them inside in the coat hall/changing room that we first saw Andre in. There was another couple there in the same room playing with their son that they are adopting. They are from Germany. The woman is German, the husband is Italian. Orest really surprised them today when he spoke German to them. We had seen this couple yesterday and heard them speaking so Orest knew they spoke German. They are adopting a small 22 month old boy that is Korean. His name is Igor. I have to admit, Igor looks really out of place in the midst of all the Russian and Ukrainian children.

Stefan smiled for us for the first time. Stefan likes the grey teddy bear and carries it with him all the time. Andre does not like either bear and cries when you try to give it to him. Andre has not smiled for us yet. Stefan stacked blocks 3 high (only had 3 blocks). Andre was a little cranky and we just held him and carried him around a lot. When you hold him he likes to face outward. He won't let you hold him close while facing you.

After leaving the orphanage we ate dinner then Tatiana and Valery left to go to where they were sleeping - at Sergei's. We had the whole place to ourselves. My mom called tonight - she was on speaker phone at Helene's house - so Mom, Dad, and Helene were all there. We had spoken with Helene yesterday and told her about the 2 boys. We talked for a while. Later Ira called and Orest talked to her for a few minutes. It looks like they might not be able to get together in Kiev after all. We'll have to wait and see how long we will have to be in Simferopol.

I'm a little bit nervous tonight. Did we pick the right kids? How long before they warm up to us? Are they both healthy? Am I ready to be a mom? Our evening visit wasn't very long but it was OK with me - I was ready to leave. I need to get used to them as much as they need to get used to me. I do not feel this overwhelming love for them. I know that they will soon be my sons but I have only known them for 2 days. I love seeing them, holding them, kissing them, seeing them smile, and making them laugh. My love for them will grow every day I know. It will get harder and harder to leave. I'm going to bed. Orest is still in the kitchen talking with Jim, who is drunk. He had Ukrainian beer for the first time tonight and he has had a few too many.

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