I posted information from a family who is adopting a 13-year old boy from Ukraine. Here is a link to this older post.


Here is the update.

3/6/06


We are scheduled for court tomorrow. [Our translator] is confident that everything will go well despite the fact that this is the first international adoption they've done in this town.


I am slightly concerned because we ran into a woman in the park on Saturday who knows [our boy]. He was polite to her and said she was a "friend". She told me (in Russia) that "she has known him since he was so high (about 4?) and he has always been a good boy.


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[Our boy] continues to delight and surprise us with his warmth, manner, and good spirits. He is all boy and I love it. Six months from now when he's chasing one of the girls with a Super Soaker, I may feel differently.


Wish us luck tomorrow.

3/7/06


Our court hearing came off without a hitch: no problems. It did last two hours, though. The witnesses were a sharp looking lady in her mid forties and a rather old woman who looked slightly mad, as in crazy. But, at the end of the session, both ladies came over to offer congratulations. The older woman was effusive, wishing us much luck. You can't judge a book...


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When we brought our son back to the internat he was a little down, but ok. I of course was crying, but I think it was important for him to see that someone cares and how much. Yup, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

The waiting period wasn't waived. So they are going home and coming back in 10 days. Or that was the plan... Looks like they stayed for a few more days.

3/11/06


As you know, we had court on Tuesday and it was ok. We went to meet [our translator's family], then went shopping for a sewing machine for the orphanage. Found a great store that I could have spent all day in.


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We had to bring [our son] back to the internat that evening and I was pretty upset. We were sitting in the back of the taxi, and he kept looking in my face with a slightly worried expression, saying "Mom, ok?". He must think I'm cracked.


We had booked a flight out [of the region] for Wednesday at 9:40. Got up at 5, got ready and [our translator] accompanied us to the airport (2 hour ride). We find our gate, send [our translator] home with our thanks, and proceed to wait. And wait. The flight was delayed til 11, then 1, then 8, then what the heck, we're not flying at all, ok?


We were confused to say the least - flights to Moscow were going out, but not Kiev. After 8 hours in the airport with no heat, we cut our losses and took a taxi to the train station. Luckily our driver spoke some English, offered to help [my husband] get tickets and then we waited. At least it was heated. The sad part was the children begging, and watching their Fagin circling throughout the lobby. Most of the kids looked Rom, and we were counting our blessings because this could have been Kola's fate.


After 2 1/2 hours in the station, we got into a lovely compartment on the train, they gave us tea, and we were happy. The next morning (Thursday) at 7 we arrived in Kiev. Dirty, but at least we were there. Taxi to Borispol (120 greevna (sp?) and wait for the booking offices to open at 11.


I staked out my spot directly, and I mean directly, in front of the KLM window.


At 11:30 they said that we could fly through Amsterdam, but would have to stay overnight there. Went to British Air, they wanted $1700 USD each, so we moved on to Air France. Lovely people, they booked us for that afternoon to Paris and on to JFK ($672 each). The flight to Paris was not completely sold out, we had an empty seat between us!


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Arrived JFK at 8:30, through Customs and baggage, ................... were home at midnight. You know, sometimes it's best to not look in a mirror. I made the mistake of looking after we got off the plane, and I had to laugh out loud. My hair was doing things I've never seen before. No wonder the people on the flight were moving out of my way so fast. Erma Bombeck once said, "When you start to look like your passport picture you know it's time to go home." Words to live by.


We leave on the 18th to spring [our son] on the 20th. Then paperwork for Uncle Sam, then leave for home on the 24th.