So Much Paperwork!

She still licks even after a shave!!


A little Ukrainian Babushka


Who is this guy and why does he keep kissing me?


She likes to hear me sing!


Look at the t-shirts...Opa has been busy!

Well we are ready just to pack her up and take her home. It just won't be the same until we are ALL together. Unfortunately there is so much paperwork and red tape. I can think of a hundred ways to make this process quicker and easier. Gone are the days when people would find a basket on their doorstep with a wrapped bundle of joy inside. Those were the days.

Our facilitator, Viktor hopes to have our paperwork submitted to the SDA tomorrow. Then we wait for our court date. We could hear the same day, or we could hear in a week. Our court date could be set for right away, or it could be set for a week later. Next we have a mandatory 10 day "appeals period" where we have the option to back out of the adoption, or the birth family has the option to reclaim their rights as legal guardians. We plan to come home during this wait, then come back for the last part....obtaining Visa and passport, etc.

So we just wait....Meanwhile we get two visits a day at the orphanage, morning and afternoon. It's funny though, because we are not allowed to be there during nap time or meal time. So we still have NO clue how this child eats, goes to sleep, what her routine is. When she had a dirty diaper earlier I wanted to change her and they wouldn't let me. So I'm her mother....but I'm not. In this culture, the children are bundled up with layers and layers, even when it's not cold. They bring her to us in coats and blankets and hats, and they scold us when we remove them. So when in Ukraine, we do like the Ukrainians, and leave the bundles on. I wish I could see her little body, but that will have to wait until she is really ours. We did sneak a peak at her belly button and she has an outie!! Seeing her little ribs was heartbreaking. When we pick her up we hear little joints squeaking and popping. She feels like a little old lady. :)

The first things that I'm going to do when I get her out of here is give her a bath and scrub her good, clean out her ears, brush her teeth. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with her hair. I think I'll shave it bald so it can grow out evenly. Any other suggestions? You might notice all the pictures we have posted are from the side thad has hair. It's obvious she favors one side, because her left side is balder and flatter, it must be the side she lays on in order to see the other children and activities out of her crib.

Valerie and her husband adopted a little boy in December from the special needs room where Ava and the other handicapped children reside (6 cribs crammed into a tiny room the size of some walk-in closets). She sent some crib mobiles for the babies to look up since they are rarely held or stimulated. You should have seen all the hands reaching up as we walked through the room. They crave stimulation so much!! By the way, Valerie, when we walked in earlier today, Nick was content staring up at his new mobile.

Will continue to post more. We found an internet cafe finally with a better connection so it is getting easier to post pictures. Thanks again everyone for your prayers and thoughts. It is so wonderful to be in contact in this way!!!