We left to pick up Zarina at 8:00 a.m.  We then hurrired to get visa pictures taken for the babies and later that day, their passports.  We left Ekaterinburg at 6:40 p.m. on a flight back to Moscow.

On Thursday, April 9th the babies had their medical exams in Moscow.  We arrived there at 9:30 a.m.  Dr. Sergei was very nice and said both babies were healthy.   We then went to the U.S. Embassy.  It was very hot inside and crowded, but the babies were very good.  We needed to have some documents re-translated so our translator, Olga, went off to get them re-done.  We were finished at the Embassy at 12:00 p.m. We then went to the Delta ticket office to get our flights changed and headed back to our host family for the rest of the day.

Friday, April 10th (Good Friday) we headed for home.  Before we left Moscow, we went to see Red Square, the Kremlin, St. Basil's Cathedral, and Downtown Moscow.   Then we headed for the airport.  Little did we know that Zarina's visa had a typo (it said it expired 4/9/98- the day it was issued).  We almost missed the flight, but the Delta people were very helpful in contacting the Embassy. 

Marlena's tip:  I had doctor's appointments scheduled for all of us for the first Monday after we arrived home, anticipating all of us being sick.  It was a good thing as we all had bronchitis, sinus infections, and, ear infections.

April 12 was Easter Sunday.  My children are my two Easter Blessings-- true gifts from God.  Maks and Zarina have grown by leaps and bounds.  They are finally on the growth charts.  Heads turn where ever we go.  One of the things that really warms my heart is to see strangers looking at my children with big smiles on their faces.   If they only knew of our long journey.....

I have decided to publish our story as a result of the many e-mails I have received about pursuing adoption.  I hope our story reaches as many people as possible, so that they will know how wonderful of an experience adoption can be.  Thanks for the inspiration from my many friends, those that have followed in our steps and have their children home, and those mommies and daddies with children yet to be.  A special thanks to my dear friend Carol in sunny California, "your Internet Guardian Angel" is watching over you always...