A TRUE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE..........

December 24, 2010  9:00am Ekaterinburg time we walked into the brand new court house and into our court room.  I looked around the room and saw Irina, the wonderful Social Worker that we had met several times and the Psychologist from the Orphanage, what a lovely woman as well.  The judge sat on her throne in her robe and to be honest, she did not look as daunting and scary as I had anticipated.  The prosecutor sat at a desk to her right in a uniform that reminded me of the communist era; I giggled as I thought of our prosecutors in the states having to wear this get up ! 

At the desk to the right the social worker and Psychologist and we sat to the left with our translator Olga. 

Two nights prior Olga had prepared us for court, and I have to say that she did a fantastic job !
She layed out the entire scenario piece by piece and then gave us the daunting list of questions that we worked on for two days and took less than 2 hours to detail back to the judge.

 

THE COURT STRUCTURE:
1) Introductions
2) Our Story - includes questions by Prosecutor and Judge
3) Social Worker Speech and Psychologist Speech
4) Prosecutor Speech
5) Judge's Resolution
6) Forms Signing

Our Court lasted from about 9:15 am when we began until about 12:30pm. It took a little longer than normal because we had two children's information to review.   Joe went first, as we had planned, and he did great.  He was calm and to the point and didn't bable on like he does in real life ! (lol).  The judge on several occasions told him to speed it up because she had another case waiting in the hallway; this really worked to our advantage because I think it could have been alot worse if she had a lot of time on her hands !
Joe was thinking, "NO, you wanted all this information B and now you're gonna listen to it !", but of course he didn't say that. He just complied and spoke faster.  Joe spoke for about 52 minutes about our interactions with the boys and about the medicals, then the judge asked him to sit and me to get up.

To all of you that worried that my big mouth would get the better of me, you would have been proud. She DID NOT shake me for even a second ! I spoke for about 45 minutes and I answered all of her questions quickly and to the point and didn't even need to look at my paperwork, I did it all on the fly. (I work much better that way.)  BUT, the answer of the day was :
Judge Says (thru translator) "So, you have 2 children, they are sick, they are crying, you are trying to read, you can't go out for a walk, the kids want to eat, you must cook for them and then you and your husband, you have not slept, Joseph is working, the home is messy, blah blah blah blah.....Do you really think this is easy and you can handle this, what will you do when this happens?"   ........the translator looked at me, I posied  myself and looked right into the judge's eyes and said  " I cannot wait." ----------SHE REMAINED SILENT.  It was at that point that I believe she had no further questions for me.  

The prosecutor asked a few questions about punishment and discipline, which we answered with no problems.  Then we spoke about Theoretical and practical knowledge of raising children.  - I always loved this questions because one would think that all parents are naturally given the complete ability to understand, discipline, associate, and handle children when they are born....HA !  What makes a bio child easier than an adopted child; why because you already know and understand the messed up genes they come from ?!

The Social Worker and the Psychologist spoke and said wonderful things about us and our interactions with the kids. They said things about our visits with the boys that I could not believe they remembered or that they were even paying attention.  Goes to show you, you have to be careful who's watching !  They remembered a time on trip one in March 2010, when Pavel's skin was dry and I was rubbing lotion on it and she said that I had acted at that time as if this was already my child.  (she was right).

The Psychologist also confirmed that we interacted with the kids and played with them and that she watched Joe lie down and place the children on his stomach on several occasions.  She also watched us rub the children's backs and massage their shoulders and legs and she confirmed how important this contact is with the children to facilitate bonding.  She also noted that Pavel and Alexander have truly bonded as brothers since our two weeks of visits with them and they all saw the change in them as siblings.

These comments made us feel really great  and even more so that we could not wait to take them home ! Don't make us wait 10 more days !!! AHHHHHHHH. 

But it was a great day and tonight we will celebrate with Don and Julie Palazini from Rhode Island, they became Anton's Parents on Dec 22, 2010 !  Anton is in the same class and Pasha and Sasha as well.  They will be losing 3 children from their class, but all going to great homes.

The SW and Psychologist were also happy that when we were asked why we are adopting 2 children, Joseph said "because we don't want any child to be an only child. We want them to have a sibling and to always have someone that they can count on. ".  They were very happy with this answer because many people have answered "because we don't want to do the paperwork all over again for a second.". 

We wanted one or two, and we were lucky enough to get twin brothers !  We are the Lucky ones !
and in just a 2 weeks they will be home FOREVER !!!!

I will post pics when I finish my wine !!  Thank you for all your support ! and Thank you Lord for giving us the greatest Christmas Miracle anyone could ever want !

CELEBRATING WITH OUR RUSSIAN FRIENDS ANATOLY AND MARIA !



DON AND JULIA FROM RI - ADOPTED ANTHONY ON 12/22/10 !!  AN AMERICAN CELEBRATION !



Another fabulous Day!

Yesterday was Monday and we were beginning to feel semi human again.  We met with the Doctor from the orphanage in the morning and went over the boys medicals. Not much has changed, except the testing on some stuff has been cleared and negative.  It's funny because as Julie and Don were having medicals on their son Anton, it is almost the exact same diagnosis' in all the kids.  Hmmm, coincidence?!

Yuri took us to the Russia Mall in the afternoon, wow what a great place. We could have spent the entire day there ! it was huge and we only saw a little of it.  We bought toys for the boys' birthday and Christmas so we can give them something.  We got a bilingual computer (for kids), now if we can actually learn how it works then maybe we can teach the boys.

Today, Tuesday we went to see the boys again and when the door opened they were sitting in chairs, they turned saw us and their faces it up ! They came running to us with arms open ! I will NEVER get tired of that !
It seems that our boys are the favorites of #5.  This morning 3 woman practicing a play were talking to us about court friday and said Dec 24, You be Mama and Papa. !! YES !!  They were excited. they played with Pasha and Sasha and said they will miss them so much !
I don't think they have twins that often and these two get along like real brothers. It is adorable !
They especially love Pasha, but mostly because he doesn't run around as much. To me, they are both my beautiful babies !
We played with some bubbles we bought them and for Anton too, and colored.  The ladies decorated a beautiful Christmas tree and the boys played and ran around cheerfully.  Noah (sasha) seems a little tired. He layed on my lap sucking his thumb and looked like he wanted to nap there.  It was precious.

The doctor told us about their schedules for eating and sleeping and what they ate and such.  Some things will remain the same, but some things will naturally change.  For one, They said no cold drinks......Ahhhhhh, don't think so. We have refridgerators in America and we use them ! Now I would not give them ice cold stuff but everything they drink doesn't need to be hot ! 
I like that they don't give them soda (which I understand and agree with) but yet they give them tea.  I said what about the caffeine in the tea...oh, that was ok.... DUH????
They said porridge for breakfast---I'm like, yeah well we ain't the 3 little bears so they will get oatmeal, eggs, pancakes and such.....(mind you, this conversation is all in my head and they don't need to know)
I like that they only BOIL or STEAM all the food.  Well, maybe that's how you do it but here is the US we like flavor, so we bake and saute` too !  My boys will get to love garlic, we are italian !!

Grandma, or Babushka, will come over and help me make some soups to freeze.  I make a lot of stuff, but soup isn't one of them.  I'm a progresso girl, but I don't want the boys to eat anything with high sodium.
We are learning some great phrases, like sleep, lie down, pee pee, eat, etc.  Just the basics. I haven't heard of any of you having big issues and I don't anticipate huge issues. We communicate pretty well now.

We are three days away from court, 3 days away from us being official Mama and Papa ! We are excited and nervous and also sad because we will have to leave for 2 weeks. That is the worst part ever !!

Observations of an Accidental Tourist..............

We have been here in Ekaterinburg a week now.  The weather has been brutally cold, much colder than when we were here in March.  Today is a balmy -27 degrees.....Really, I think my freezer is warmer.
We rested last night and tried to recuperate from our nasty head colds and today we will see the kids again and meet with the Social Worker.  We should have some updated information on the boys' birth family and hopefully some passports photos as well.  We hope to hold this stuff and if someday the boys want more information about their birth family, they have it available.

We have made a few observations about Russia and Russians while here for this week.  This is by no means to demonize the Russian culture, they are just mere observations.  One thing we noticed is that civility and general kindness does not exist on the streets as it would in the USA.  If you see anyone holding a door open for a lady for an elderly person, it's probably an American.  The workers in stores are somewhat helpful with language and such, but smiles are rare unless there is a specific reason to issue you one.  Americans might walk down the street and glance at a stranger and say Good Morning; but you won't find a word spoken to each other by strangers on the street here, unless its to yell something at someone. 
We were driving to the orphanage the other day and while in the car we noticed an older woman in her fabulous fur coat, bite it on the ice; Down she went bag and all.  There were several people waiting at a bus stop not more than 10 feet from where she fell and no one even shrugged.  Joe and I were taken back by this as we had an overwhelming desire to get out of the car and assist the woman, and Americans would have surely run over and assisted the fallen woman in the USA.  But here, it was more of a nuisance that someone could even fall too close from them and one woman simply brushed snow off of her pants and avoided eye contact with the woman on the ground.   Pushing and Shoving in stores and lines and doorways are the norm, not the exception.  In America, we usually reserve that behavior for Black Friday Sales and Concerts !

However, dressing to the nines and making sure you are wearing the lastest fur, the newest highest boots, the best leather bag.....this is the Russia we have seen.  They are very much concerned with appearances and superficial vanity.  Yes, the Americans stand out; I admit that I was even guilty of pointing out a couple one night as we sat having a drink.  The woman came in the hotel lobby with her Hello Kitty Bag, Bright Turquise Puffy Jacket and sneakers and her husband, wearing a baseball cap, carried a backpack so overloaded that he tipped backward if he didn't hold onto the check in counter.  I turned to Joe and said "They have to be American".   Wow, I was becoming superficial.......no !!!   But it was comical anyway to observe the differences in people while travelling.

Americans do stand out in Europe, no doubt, but Europeans also stand out in America.  The difference is that we Americans are not concerned with how someone is dressed in line at the pharmacy, or if they aren't carrying the newest lastest bag.  If we see someone walking in 6 inch heeled boots and a fur coat and there is 1 foot of snow outside, we say to ourselves "They must have a wedding to go to".   But rest assured that if that woman fell while walking in America, anyone near her would come over to assist.  We get stares as we walk over snow piles to access street corners and my husband puts out his hand to help me over.  We even get stared at when we walk arm in arm down the street; but we don't care.  We are dressed properly, we have our designer bags, we wear nice boots and coats - but honestly, I miss my sweatpants and sweatshirts!

So, it isn't that Americans are bullish or slobs, it's jsut that I have noticed that we care about people more than we do superficial appearances. That isn't saying there aren't any snobs in America hidden amongst the slobs; but we put civility above vanity.    I will take my walks in the USA and nod good morning to a stranger on the street, hold a door open for an elderly man or woman, and certainly assist a fallen fur clad lady.  I will take wear my sweatpants and sweatshirts proudly, I will watch football on tv on Sundays and not stumble down the street with a half empty bottle of Jamesons. I will sit in our civil traffic jams and not pass ambulances because my emergency is more important.

Russia and most of Europe adheres to a strict etiquette; what is proper and what is not. How to dress, how to act, what and who to wear; But they fail to reserve civilty and human kindness in their daily lives.
I enjoy my time visiting other cultures, but I will stick to the brutal normalcy of America over any country. 
We are just Nice !

We survived our first week back..............

Today is Friday Dec 17 and we survived our first week back in Ekat.  Spending everyday 2x a day with our boys is such a treat; but the ideas of how and what to play with in one room grow exhausted.  We have not been able to go for a walk outside because Noah is fighting a really bad case on Bronchitis, so outdoors is off limits.
We do our best to find new things to play with.  Noah and Jack have discovered our water bottles and they love them !  They drink water they have walked 30 miles in the desert.  I know they limit their drink in the orphanage, but fluids are so important when kids are sick.  I know if we got caught we would get yelled at, but until then, I am giving my boys all the water they want !  They drink from the water bottles and hold them like old pros !
Yesterday Yuri had all the paperwork signed off by the family members, so it looks like everything is a go for us. No one disputed the adoption from the family. Monday at 10am we meet with the orphange doctor to go over the medicals from the past year.  I have to remember to write everything down to bring to our US docs when we get back !
Wednesday we will meet with Olga to get ready for court.  It seems all of our docs were accepted by the judge (the redo ones we brought with us). 
We did visit the little Pub that we saw on trip one but never ventured to; it was really neat and interesting inside.  Very German !   Last night the Park Inn had a holiday party for all their clients and guests and Anatoly invited us.  We mingled and met Maria, Anatoly's girldfriend. Olga was there too and Anatoly introduced us to a nice gentleman Mr. Lawson that is here from Britian. He lives in the hotel all but 6 weeks of the year !   Several Americans from NC and CA were here on business and they heard us at the party buffet line and we chatted for a few moments.  Americans are always happpy to see other Americans in a world of Russian language.
We tried Glu, which is the russian version of Sangria but served hot and I opted to have it with a shot of amaretto, YUM !  It was just what my sore throat and cold needed ! A Russian hot tottie !
We walked around a little the day before yesterday and we went to the new mall across the street from the Park Inn.  Not too much in the way of our kind of shopping but a nice grocery store where we were able to get some stuff for our room, hand sanitizer (important !) and some wine.  They offered us a discount card !  Yes, we now have a Russian Market Discount Card, just in case we need it again.

Jack and Noah are becoming a little more verbal, making more and more sounds. They respond to Mama and Papa and know who we are, that is the best feeling in the world.  We are using both their names when we address them, to help with the transition.  We watched the staff practice for a play they are performing the kids later and we were their music room audience. It was funny, even if we didn't understand what they were saying.

Noah does his breathing treatments everyday for his bronchitis and he sits like a little man on Papa's lap and holds the mask and does the treatment. What a good boy !  If only we can get my mother to do her treatments ! 

Hopefully the weathe will cooperate and we can venture about this weekend. Next week is supposed to be in the negatives, so I don't think we'll be doing much walking around.  We hope to get to the Mall this weekend.  I just keep counting the days to get outta here and get home with my boys !

Aunt Kath and Mom and Dad are gonna go crazy when they meet them at the airport! 
Here are a few photos and I will post more in coming days !

WE ARE HERE !!!!!

We arrived in Moscow on Sunday Dec 12 at around noon.  The representative that was supposed to meet us there in order to get us to the connection to Ekaterinburg was no where to be found.  Our flight landed at 12:30pm and by the time we received our luggage, it was 2:10pm.  This is the usual Russian efficiency that we see with the court system, but now the airport too?! Maybe our liason left?  Well, although we were not happy about it, we figured many have travelled this road before us and we didn't think we would have a hard time getting to to domestic connection. Having to go to customs, immigration and then get your bags and walk them to the other side of the airport, go back upstairs and check through security again to get to our Ekat flight......Oh, yeah, this all makes sense now. No wonder the courts are just as redundant !

We did not like Aeroflot at all.  Lufthansa was much better and much more comfortable.  To begin, everyone that worked on the airline seemed bothered that they had to take care of us and it was more their duty to laugh and joke with each other instead.   Ok., I get it, us Americans do that too sometimes.
The seats were about as comfortable as a rock in a park and the HEAT !!! Oh God, need I tell you that we have never been on any airplane without individual air controls over heard.  Well, guess what....none !!!
We were dying ! They must have had the heat on 78 degrees, no air, no room - chatty cathy sitting behind us the entire flight and the bang the knee seat recliner in front of us !!
 We were never happier to get on any plane.  Honestly, I am flying out of PHL next time and I don't care about any layover or price.  I cannot endure 9 more hours of that !  It is bad enough we have to do it on the way home !  UGH !!

The connection from Moscow to Ekaterimburg was without incident and much more comfortable.  The terminal attendants were about as enthusiastic as a guy about to get a prostrate exam and they let everyone know they could not be bothered with anything more than adjusting their scarves or jackets to look perfect while standing there doing nothing.  Wow, more high heeled inefficiency...go figure.  A few Russians even had some harsh words with Ms. Pok Mark Meanie when she snapped at them nastily after they asked if this was the right terminal for Ekaterinburg.  While I did not understand Russian, I understood that the over heard display had the wrong flight information on it, so you can't help but wonder---where the passengers just supposed to read your mind Primadonna?  Boy we were glad to get outta there, loaded onto a bus and then carted up 5 flights of stairs to a waiting airplane.  I don't think anyone here ever heard of ADA compliant.

Anyway, we got here without indicent and Lydia and Yuri were faithfully waiting for us at the Ekat airport.
No problems with all our extra baggage of donations either, one plus !
We checked into our Business Room at the Park Inn, which cost a little more, but well worth it ! We have a little more room and a couch which is more comfort for 2 weeks. We were in our temporary home for the next 15 days.

Monday morning Lydia picked us up at 10a and off we went.  The boys were now in Room # 4, they upgraded to the bigger class !  When we got there we put on our usual booties (which we now had to buy ourselves at the pharmacy along with some diapers) and went up to their room.
When we went in they were all sitting in chairs wathcing a cartoon.  Pasha(Jack) sitting in the reclinder type chair (that's my boy) and when they told him Mama and Papa were there he turned and studied me up and down. You could see he was trying to remember and thinking "why are you interrupting my cartoon ?"
Sasha (Noah) was getting changed and they later brought him into the playroom.

What followed was a memory that I will never forget. The first of many to come. We had the GREATEST time. We laughed and played like there was no tomorrow. They grew up so much ! Not as much in weight in height but more in intelligence, play, understanding and cognitive growth.
Noah made a huge jump.  He never focused much before, but he was certainly following direction and engaging in interactive play fantastically and Jack was a riot !!  The way he would chase the ball and laugh and throw it back.  He is called the Professor by the staff because he is so serious, but boy, when you get him going--you laugh just listening to that belly laugh he has.  Apparently Jack is adored by alot of the caretakers as their favorite one....of course - he loves to sit, play and he listens.  Who wouldn't love that !   Noah is just differnt, he has his own drummer and he likes to not listen.  They won't be the first boys to be that different !

When the caretakers came in at noon and told the boys it was time for lunch, you have never seen a kid get up and run as fast as Jack did.  he loves his food, God Bless him.  My little pudge pudge ! Grandma is gonna have a great time feeding you, I'm gonna have to control you both.
Noah could care less, he was playing.

We went back to the hotel and tried to catch an hour of a nap. We were jet lag dragging.  Lydia picked us up at 4pm and we went through the same routine, but this time feeling again like pros.  We went into the room and when we called their names they both came running to us with open arms !  OMG, what a rush.
There could not have been a better, happier moment in my life than to experience that.  They rushed us and they wanted to be with Mama and Papa. 

We commenced playing some more. This time I took out the trampoline and mat in the playroom, and brought out some more books.  Jack is the organizer. He pulls toys out, lays them out, gives them to you and carefuly puts them all back. Noah takes all the neatly stacked toys that Jack put away and bull dozes right thru them again and throws them all over the floor.  Oh well, at least one of them is a neat freak !
Jack lifts the little red chairs that we all have seen and love from that Ekat Playroom and lines them up neatly as if there is a show about to commence.  Noah laughs and laughs and loves the ipod music, that is always a hit.

Do they remember us from March 2010?  We don't think so but they might, who knows and frankly it doesn't matter. We had the best first day of many firsts to come ! They are our boys and no matter what lies ahead, we will be there and do it together. I know development is always huge, and language and getting them to understand; but you know - this will happen in due time.  I don't want to make the next 12 months so much of a chore that I forget to just enjoy them and have fun.  I think sometimes through this process, everything becomes so clinical, financial and official - but right now, we are at the play stage and honestly I just want to stay there !

Will keep you all posted on the next 2 weeks !! We are here until Dec 27 and there will be Christmas celebrations and a Birthday party on the 26th as well !

LEAVIN......ON A JET PLANE......

I am letting myself get more and more excited everyday, but I am cautious about what will happen while in country.  I know, I have to be positive and believe me that I am when it comes to my boys, but I am very cautious and negative when it comes to the B judge !

We leave Saturday from JFK and it seems we have everything. Nothing new was asked for (yet).  Our visas and the LAST document come today via UPS and off we go tomorrow.

I honestly still cannot understand why we have to be there 2 weeks before court and frankly I am still kind of peeved about that.  If we didn't have to be there 2 weeks before court then we would have stayed the 10 day waiting period; but Joe cannot take 4-5 weeks off of work. (Frankly, who can !).  What I cannot understand is that families that use FRANK ADOPTION seem to have to stay this 2 weeks, but other families do not.

Julie, another Adoptive parent I talk to online, is leaving 16 Dec to arrive 17 Dec and her court is 22 Dec.
When I questioned FRANK ADOPTION about this [not mentioning the families name of course] , I got the standard, we don't set the dates; its what the courts dictate to us and that's what we have to do.  I don't think the courts dictate WHEN we go to Russia??? I never heard of this.  I just think its another way to boost their economy and make me pay for driver/translator for 15 days and hotel for 15 days. 
I don't care about spending the extra money, but I would have rather spent it on the 10 day and spent that time with my boys and NOT leave them after being with them for 2 solid weeks and have them wonder why MaMa and PaPa left again?!!!
This is so CRUEL on Russia's part and I just cannot forgive them for this behavior.  I try so hard to understand it, but I just can't.  Well I guess that's why I'm the Mommy and not Judge !

So, we are just gonna go and make the best of a trip 3.  I pray we don't get caught up in the Holiday shutdown in January, although FRANK ADOPTION tells me that we won't.....but I have heard those stories before. We shall see. We have lots of folks waiting to meet Jack and Noah and mostly, we are waiting to be parents.  It's just been too long. 

Maybe with time my bitterness towards this region will diminish, I only hope it does.  I know I would never tell my boys anything bad but I certainly would try to steer away families waiting if I could. The expense and the time is not fair to the children or the parents.  I would never trade a day of it, because without it I would not have my boys; but I will advocate for more transparency and for the agencies to be responsible, step up to the plate and REALLY tells PAPs what is going on.  Let them know BEFORE they enter a region what it will be like.  My original experience and questions about Ekat were severely sugarcoated. 
I thank the families I spoke to; you guys are the only ones that tell it like it is !

ADOPTIVE FAMILIES are the most invaluable and precious resource through this entire process !!!

Love all of you, Have a very Merry Christmas and I will speak to you from the other side soon !!

Sandy's Quote of the Day:
Hope, deceitful as it is, serves at least to lead us to the end of our lives by an agreeable route.

The Documents never end...............

Yesterday I took a road trip.....to University of Pennsylvania.  Kathlyn, my best friend and one of the boy's future Godmother, came with me; We got the document we needed from the School of Social Policy; even though we walked around the campus back and forth for about 30 minutes until someone heard what building we were looking for and directed us.  We only walked past it 4 times !

We got the SEAL AND THE SIGNATURE for her heiness in Ekat that sits on her royal throne and is a miserable B.   Boy I can't wait until I put this blog public !! 
Then the phone rings as we are sitting in the car getting ready to leave the parking lot.  It was Michalina with yet another request from the judge.
NOW, the judge wants a letter from the licensing authority stating the day the Golden Cradle License was issued and the day it expires.  Forget that they already have the Verification Letter and the actual License itself.  I told Michalina " but the issue and expiration date are ON THE DAMN LICENSE".  She agreed and didn't understand.  She called Olga again and asked what was up???
The Judge just wants it....no ifs, ands, or buts. 
Right about now I am forming the words that I am going to say to this judge when I get there.  Of course, after I actually get my kids.
Michalina and Monica are trying to get a hold of the licensing authority in Trenton to see what they can do. Jared Rolsky, the Director is in Barbados until Saturday.

I told Michalina; I am getting on a plane Saturday the 11 Dec and leaving for Russia. I am NOT changing my ticket, I am not cancelling anything, I am NOT getting another document.  Between you and Monica, GET THE DOCUMENT and send it to Russia when you have it.  I will be there for 2 weeks and I ain't going no place !! 

I was done............then we went to the Olive Garden, filled up on cheesy, gooey, fattening lunch, dessert and of course---several glasses of wine !

“The world makes you into a bitch, no matter how quietly you go, so you may as well go kicking and screaming.”

OK...Now I can get a little more excited !

I am always cautiously optimistic when the agencies call and tell you that you are going, or something exciting is happening.  My experience is that it was soon followed with "oh wait, never mind."  But this time it is really  real !  We have our tickets for 11 Dec our of JFK on AEROFLOT and we arrive Ekat on 12 Dec.

Our tentative court date is still 24 Dec, which better not change or I will camp on the judge's front step like a crazy American !   We also used Ludmilla from the NY visa agency and we should have our visas by Wed at the latest.  Very easy, so far.

I am going to University of Pennsylvania tomorrow to get a document stamped for the the Director of the Home Study agency.  They want an original signature, so I told him that I will go myself and get it !!
Good thing he didn't go to University of Hawaii !!  That should be the LAST document.  I pray !

I asked Micahlina if there is any hope of the judge waiving the 2 weeks.  She laughed and gave a definitive "NO".  I said " Wow ! In 2 years, that's the FIRST definite answer we got from anyone !!"   She said, "Yeah, given Ekaterinburg, that is the ONLY definite answer we can give. !"

Oh well, at least I will have my boys soon.   We haven't flown Aeroflot yet, but all of you experts tell me its great, so I am sure we will enjoy it.  We were on Lufthansa last time, but this time given the holiday the $ was crazy ! 

We have one bag each, but another 2nd piece each with donations for the orphanage.  Luckily Aeroflot is running a special until 15 DEC that allows you to bring 2 pieces of checked  luggage for free.  We had it all in one case, but it was 55 lbs, so it looks like we have to break it into two !
Oh well, the return will be MUCH lighter !!   I don't think anyone in Europe packs like Americans do ! We actually change clothes alot more often than they do !

But it looks like it is real and I will keep you all posted on any new news and changes and I will email from Russia as well.

PASHA AND SASHA, MAMA AND PAPA ARE ON THEIR WAY !!!!!!!

Merry Christmas and God Bless Us all in the New Year !!

The Call we have all been waiting for.............

After a very desperate Thanksgiving weekend, I again sent an email to Olga and Michalina on Monday morning, wondering if there was any news. I already new that Michalina was on "vacation" and would not respond until maybe Tuesday afternoon, but I hoped that Olga would hear the desperation in my words and give me something to grasp.  She did.  Monday afternoon I get an email from AMY PERRY, another SW at Frank Adoption that said the following:
Good Morning Joe and Sandra,


I hope you had a great Thanksgiving! I just received information from Olga that you have tentative trip one dates! She is expecting your court date to be on December 24th, although court is not officially scheduled until you complete your mandatory days of visitation with your child before court. In order for you to complete the required visitation, you will need to arrive in Ekaterinburg at any time on December 13th. The most important thing for you to work on today is getting a business visa. I believe it takes at least 10 days to get a business visa so please work on this today! The two agencies I recommend contacting to get this visa are:
1. VIP Passports and Visa Services in Houston, TX http://www.vippassports.com/ This agency seems to be the easiest and fastest
2. Russian American Consulting in NY http://www.russianconsulting.com/ Ludmilla is the contact person at this agency.

We are also in the process of getting a confirmed list of documents that you will need to bring with you on this trip and Michalina will be in touch with you about this tomorrow. Michalina will also check on the date that you will be free to leave Ekaterinburg you can possibly fly home on Christmas Eve but she will find out and let you know.

Take Care,
Amy

I read the email as we are having lunch in Rio Grande at the diner and I am trying not to cry in the restaurant.
When I got home, which was at Mach 10 speed, I called Frank Adoption and was dismayed and disappointed to hear a recording that said they were closed from Wednesday Nov 24 until Tuesday Nov 30.
REALLY !! Closed for 6 days for Thanksgiving.  I get an email with imporatnt news like that and then I cannot speak to anyone.  It is both aggravating and does not instill confidence.

So I did what Amy said and called to get info about the VISA for travel.  Of course it's $1200 because we have to get it in under 10 days.  More Hurry up and Wait from Russia.  I cannot complete the application without more info from Frank Adoption. So Monday night I pace and pace and get very little sleep.  We field phone calls from everyone looking for answers that we cannot provide; and by 900pm we are mentally and physically exhausted.

Tuesday morning we wait until 10am and then call Frank Adoption.  Michalina won't be in until 10:30am.
More of the same, can't get anyone when you need them.  Now I am a pretty patient person and understanding when it comes to this, but you woud think that someone would be available with news this big.
I know if I ever left a client hanging in my job, it would be the end of that client.  Oh, but that's right, famliles have NO RECOURSE with Adoption Agencies in the US.  This is something I will mount a crusade about with my congressman's office when all this is over.

At 100pm we finally get a hold of Michalina at Frank Adoption and she recaps what she knows.  Of course everything is prefaced with the usual  "Well Hopefully" or "Maybe".  The usual excuse of "We can't control what Russia tells us to do". 

We are told we need to be in Ekat on the 13th of Dec but our Court is not until 24 Dec.  2 Weeks in a hotel in sub zero temps. Oh Joy.  The ONLY good part is that we will be with the boys for Christmas and their birthday.  The ONLY good part......

So we have a list of a few more docs we need, two from Golden Cradle, the homestudy agency, and I cannot believe that these docs were not anticipated by the "experts".  This is my first time doing this and I would suspect that these are documents EVERYONE needs and you could have told me 3 weeks ago when we redid the other ones.  Nothing changed !  But do we expect any less?  OF course not.

So we leave 11 Dec and arrive in Ekat on 12 Dec. We are flying AEROFLOT this time and going through Moscow.  Not what we want, but its a $2000 savings on airfare. Duh, no brainer there.
We return 27 Dec into JFK.

Well off for right now-- I will write more later with more updates !!