Continuation of the Story

We were in Lviv over the weekend and ran into several English speaking couples. On Saturday we were in the center square of town when a group of Ukrainian kids asked us in very proper English how they could help us out. We were able to find our way over to a very old drugstore that I had read about on the internet as a place not to miss. While in the drugstore there was a young Polish couple that spoke English. We went on the tour together and they were thankful to have found this hidden treasure that they were not aware provided tours.

On Sunday we were passing time till we were to board the train back to Kiev. I heard English speaking folks and decided we would introduce ourselves/ The couples were Ameicans living in Southern CA in the next town over from our home. Funny to find people half-way around the world that literally are your neighbors. We spend a bit of time with them and it was enjoyable to speak with other English speakers besides ourselves.

Tuesday - July 10, 2007

Today we spoke with the Deputy Director the head of the SDDA (thru our translator) and stated our case as to why we needed to have our second appointment soon. We explained how we have left our first son in America and that at some point very soon if nothing moved forward we were going to have to go home empty handed. We wanted the Deputy Director to see pictures of Jackson since we adopted him from Ukraine and that he is so happy and well adjusted. The Deputy Director befrudgingly looked at the pictures and we really feel that it impacted him since in fact we did get a referral today. We will be going out to the region (Kherson) and will see the child on Thursday. We will not be positing this until after we have seen the child and spoken with Jackson (promised that Jackson would be the first one to know all the details about his sibling).

The little boys name is Andrei ( could not be any closer to Andrew and Audrey). We will not change Andrei's name and Andy is willing to change his name and go by Drew (what I call him already) since it is likely that andrei will be called Andy at school etc. Andrew will turn five just after we get home. i guess I was not meant to have a daughter this go round.

We had dinner this evening again with Olga's nieces. It was a delightful diversion from hanging out in the one room apartment. Ira, Lena and Vaidm have made us feel very welcomed in Kiev. Someday when they have an opportunity to visit the US our house is open.

Thursday - July 12, 2007

We started out at 2:00Am to come down to Kherson 400 miles south east of Kiev. The ride itself was more of an adventure than we bargained for. Once we got into town we found out that our referral was in summer camp on the Black Sea another 100 km away (getting closer). We had the pleasure of meeting Andrei today and have decided to pursue adopting him (Andrei has two step brothers that need to be legally seperated by the board of custody befoere we can complete this process - just another pothole). Andrei was examined by a Dr. (we will save comment on this till later) who concurred that Andrei is psychologically and developmentally behind ( that is expected when a child is in an orphanage and given Andrei's particular backgruond) and he is physically fine (may also need glasses - no big deal).

Of course Andrei looks like Andy and really already adores his Papa ( no surprise here). Andrei is a soft soul and we look forward to the conclusion of this process. I was feeling sickened when lasty night we were reviewing the to-do list and timeline with our translator Lev after dinner this evening. In the best case scenario we could all be back on a plane going home in just over 3 weeks from now (we have already been away from Jackson for 3 weeks) and otherwise it could be slightly more than a month from now. The rules have changed since we adopted Jackson last time and there is a mandatory 10 day waiting period after all the paperwork is concluded (Andy is now calling this whole excursion Andy's fat camp as he has lost at least 10lbs since we walk everywhere and the food is only marginally appealing - note I have lost 1 or 2 lbs). Andy and I have been talking about me going home over this period to be with Jacksn, work, r\take care of the cats, pool duties, pay bills, and give Andy a FastPass ticket to heaven. I of course have heard of couples where one went home over the 10 day period and never in a million years could I conveive that Andy would be comfortable enough to be in Ukraine on his own and would ever consider this as a possibility I figure I would be the one to stay as I am the one who navigates all the communications etc.

We will be working out all the finer details over the next several days and will be investingating the possibility of flights home for me.

Just a note the conditions in this country are of course far worse than I remeber (thank g-d that like child birth some things are quickly forgotten). We walked into the translator's room in Kherson and all I could say to Andy was if I was even slightly high maintenance I would have gong out of the room screaming like any good self-respecting American woman would have given the sight and condition of Lev's room. American Frat Houses are luxurious compared to the accommodations in the region. When we were in Pryluky and you flushed the toilet the water came up throught the bathtub. We have a lot to be thankful for at home.