During the meeting, we were able to hear a few things about each child. What were their interests? Dispositions? Etc. What they said about Sasha was that he likes music, is persistent, and that he listens to adults. Nastia is well balanced and likes drawing, but is very shy and likes things quiet.
The parents rights had been terminated two years ago and they were placed in orphanage. How absolutely sad. And their faces in the small passport photos of each we were shown were indeed sad. At first, this was of concern to us, but we realize that it is perfectly natural. Put some smiles on their faces and some hair on her head (it’s very short) and they would be like any normal children of their age. In the day or so that has passed since we saw their pictures, we have bonded with them.
I (Michael) can’t get them out of my mind. And last night I dreamed I was talking with Sasha (in English) and asking about his sister. He was happy.
One final note on the meeting. When it was over, I asked if I could have a photograph. Not only did the psychologist agree, she insisted on taking one of her own to mount on the wall! We took a couple of pictures and she took a couple of pictures and the whole time she made us pose, pretending we were reviewing the pictures in front us and all the while she repeated, in Ukrainian, “I’m talking, you’re translating, you’re translating, I’m talking …” It was pretty funny stuff. I reminded Lauren how we had returned to the Alexander Hotel a year after our wedding and found a huge picture of our wedding party on the wall there! It seems that someone always wants to document our important moments together. And this one is certainly one for the history books!
One of the things we brought along (for the child – now the children) was a DVD player and some cartoons and other kid stuff to entertain him or her with. At the last moment, Lauren had the brainstorm to throw our collection of Seinfeld DVD’s in the luggage (Thanks Carolyn!). We’ve been watching them each night to relax before bed. It’s been great!
Last night about 5 in the morning, we woke up and the room was very cold. Also, the wind outside was howling and whistling. Must be a winter storm! I got up to look out the window, opened the curtains and discovered that our window had blown wide open! Quite a draft.
This morning, we had breakfast in the hotel and then Svieta, our translator, picked us up for a tour of the city. We went to a couple of museums together, bought a birthday present for Nastia (a little stuffed dog that looks just like Ernie) and had him wrapped in a big pink ribbon and bow, had coffee and dinner, and then came back to the hotel.
We’re having major issues with the internet that I won’t go into (Lauren says “thank god”) and this has made it difficult to keep in touch with the office. But we get the e-mails and see that things are under control there, which sets us at ease. Also, Bev is going in daily to supervise and manage the finances. All in all, things couldn’t be better.
On Sunday we will travel with Svieta to the town where the orphanages are (Radamoschle). Monday morning we will meet with the area director who will give us permission to visit both the orphanages. Then we’ll meet the heads of each orphanage and speak with them about the children’s histories, habits etc. We’ll also meet the doctors who are familiar with their health issues. God willing we’ll be blessed with two healthy kids. If so, we’ll meet the kids probably Tuesday and begin a ten day period of waiting for a court date.
If all goes well, we’ll receive their birth certificates and other papers, and then take them with us back to kiev. Here we’ll have to have doctor’s appointments and meet with US Embassy personnel for final clearances to travel!
Amazing stuff…