Monday...Last Day!

Last night Angelina didn't sleep that well until after 4:30. So when the alarm went off we didn't get up. Alex was coming for us at 7:45, and we didn't wake up until 7:15!! We hurried! First to a Dr's office for a medical exam to make sure she's healthy enough for the embassy to approve her visa. When Alex talked to the Dr earlier he said she wouln't need any extra bloodwork, which would make us stay an extra day. Well, when we got there this morning, he said she needed bloodwork done. We were absolutely sick. To change our tickets would cost lots extra, plus we were so ready to leave! We got the blood drawn which was an awful experience. Then Alex called the embassy, and they said they would let us submit the paperwork, even without the results of the bloodwork. So we drove speedy quick to the hospital to get the results. Then we sat and waited for about 2 hrs. for the paperwork. We were ready to try anything to get that visa. Well, we got the paper, and headed for the embassy. There we soon had a regular baby central. There were about 8 other couples there also. We all had a great time comparing stories and kids. (Of course Angelina was the cutest;-) ) It was absolutely GREAT to be in an American embassy and to see English signs and be able to talk to everyone. When we got that visa packet we felt like we'd won the lottery!! One couple from Kentucky is on our flight tomorrow. We walked to McD's for supper. We leave for the airport at 8, and our flight leaves at 12:25. We are 8 hrs. ahead of you. We feel like God answered prayers again, by allowing us to leave tomorrow. Alex said he has never been able to do this before. Can't wait to see some of you tomorrow night, and the rest of you sometime soon, we hope!

Sat. and Sun. in Moscow

Hi! We arrived here at 8:20 am very tired. Angelina took 2 naps, and did great, considering that we hauled her partway across Russia. We went to a grocery store and bought some food for the apt. Then Alex took us to his 5th floor flat. It is fine, liv/bed., kitchen, and bathroom. He left us there after lunch, and came back the next morning. So we had plenty of time to relax. Angelina relaxed in the apt. and played. She is so tough...so many strange places day after day, and 2 people she is just learning to trust. She woke up early, about 4:30 Moscow time. We are 3 hrs. earlier than Novo. So we had a long morning! And it doesn't get light until maybe 8, so we started to wonder if it would be dark forever. We signed paperwork this morning and then went sightseeing. We saw the Red Square, Kremlin, watched the changing of the guards at the tomb of the unknown soldier, and went into a beautiful cathedral. We ate lunch at McDonald's. It is the largest in the world. The fries and cheeseburgers tasted delicious!! Yes, we are lonesome.:-) Angelina loved the fries, ketchup, and cheeseburger. Tonight we will walk to a nearby rest. for supper, and then spend the eve. here. This restaurant has Russian pancakes, so we will get some of those. Even McDonald's sells them for breakfast. We also had them on the plane. Tomorrow morning we have to be at the Dr's office at 8, so we won't sleep in, ha, ha. Only one more day!!!!!

Friday News

Good evening! Except for walking to the metro station to get Angelina's visa picture, we have been home all day. We got her passport today, so we will leave for Moscow in the morning at 7:00. Probably up at 4:00.:-( We gave her a bath today, which she did not enjoy at all. She still does not like her clothes or diaper changed. Something about it makes her feel threatened. She has not been feeling the best, and took two naps today. But tonight she has been acting very wild. I was tickling her, and she started belly laughing. That is the first time she has laughed that hard. Olga said, "and you thought she didn't have emotion!" After getting her pic taken, we went to a grocery store and bought a cherry cake. Arkady, his wife Vica, and Aleksey's ate it with us to celebrate. Of course we had tea, too. It is much colder...we are leaving just in time. Sun. it is supposed to be around 0. We want to sightsee in Moscow, but I don't know if weather will permit. If we don't have internet access there, we will not blog again. Hopefully we do. America will be the most wonderful sight! We're ready to get on that plane for Atlanta...wish we could come on home tommorrow. Three more days!!! Adam, did you have fun at the sale barn...we can't wait to see you! You have a sweet little sister.

Getting our daughter

This morning we got ready to go to the orphanage to get Angelina. We waited and waited on Arkady...we were ready to go! We gave a cake to the Dr. and then when Angelina was finished with her lunch, they brought her to us. She was all dressed up in a frilly white dress...like a bride, they said. I started to change her into our clothes and she began to cry. She doesn't like her diaper changed either. We got the outfit from the orphanage that we saw her in the first time. After collecting everything and saying goodby and thankyou, we took her. She looked so scared. It was her naptime, so she fell asleep in the car, and slept all the way back to the flat. We fed her, played with her for a while, and then she started to suck on her fingers...she was tired again. So I rocked her for a while, and then Kevin did. She fell asleep for Kevin. He thought that was great! After she woke up, she has been very happy. It is so much fun to play with her. We are falling more in love every minute. She is wearing the pink outfit you gave, Pam. She is so cute!;-) Got to brag a bit. She has a cough and runny nose. Hopefully it doesn't get any worse. We brought antibiotic along, so I will put her on that.

Angelina Claire is Ours!!

All of our prayers were answered! The judge said yes! Aleksey took us to the court house this morning and the chief Dr. from the orphanage, Xana, (the interpreter),and the social worker were all there also. Aleksey could not come into the courtroom. Kevin was the only man in there. We waited nervously for the judge to arrive, and all at once she came rushing in and court began. Kevin had to talk first, and he didn't understand that he was supposed to give his speech then. So all his worry for nothing. I had to talk also, and each of us got asked a lot of questions. First by the judge, and then by prosecuter. We were veru nervous, and it seemed like we didn't give good answers. But in the end the judge granted us the adoption, and waived the 10 days. All the things we worried about didn't even come up as questions. Answer to prayers.... This afternoon we will stay here, maybe go shopping, I hope. Tommorrow morning we will take cakes to the Dr. and caregivers in the orphanage, and take Angelina with us. I can't believe she is actually our daughter! Now we will wait for her passport. If we get it Friday, we will fly to Moscow on Sat. morn.

Tuesday News

Hello everyone! Maybe I'll be able to post a little more tonight. I was wrong about her taking the pacifier...today she would put it in her mouth for a bit, and then through it down. Of course that was a game because then we would pidk it up again for her. She sucks on her 2 middle fingers when she gets hurt or wants to cuddle. We went sightseeing into the country today. We saw a typical village that makes Grifton look posh, a grain elevater, a JOHN DEER dealership, and a new development in Novo where the rich are building new homes. We ate at an Italian restaurant for lunch again. We had delicious pizza. It is baked in a huge brick oven. Very gourmet. This pm back to the orphanage again. It was the last time we will visit her, until we go back to get her. Tomorrow at 10:00 is our court hearing. That will be 9pm in NC. Kevin has to make speech telling all about us and why we are adopting and he is stressing about it. I can't believe that the day we have dreaded and looked forward to is almost here. Please PRAY that it will be successful!! I know you all are. We will try to post the news, but it may not be until you all are sleeping. Thanks for all the emails. Yes, Kevin says that is his deerstand.;-)

We are back in Russia!

Hello everyone!
Sorry we have not blogged until today. When we got here, we found out Aleksey's daughter Sonya was in the hospital with pneumonia. He is staying there with her,and has the computer with him. So we are writing this from an int. cafe. Everything went fine with our flights. We got to Novo early Sun. morn. and came back to the flat and crashed until noon. After lunch, Arkady took us to the orphanage. Guess what?! Angelina remembered us! She came right to Kevin, and held out her arms to be picked up. She just cuddled up to us, and let us love up on her for awhile. then she was ready to play. Hi Adam! Rhonda, she likes a pacifier. :-) More later.

Court Date!!!!!

Our court date is Nov. 15. We are leaving tomorrow Nov. 10 and arriving in Novosibirsk Sunday Nov. 12. Just a brief update. I'll let Lynette write the details.
Kevin