Small change in plans, the children will be dropped off around 9:30 and picked up around 11:30.
We will not see them on Sunday.
We hope to see them on Monday afternoon, depending on how the Monday morning court proceedings go for the other couples. If all goes well, we can have the driver and translator on Monday afternoon, for another visit.
At this point, we don't know when our first "real" day will be, but we know we will have one, so that is enough.
If you are visting an orphanage in Khab in the near future, carry industrial strength mosquito repellent. It is not enough to merely apply liberally in the morning, you want to be able to reapply it often, say, maybe every ten minutes.
9.01.2006
8.31.2006
When do we get the children?
Posting from: Khabarvosk
Local Time: 3:05 pm on Friday September 1, 2006
Weather: warm and sunny, swarming mosquitos
Today we will visit the children from 4 to 6 and then come back to the flat for a potluck with the other families; I made borsht. C&N&K and C&A&A are all leaving in the morning and we shall certainly miss them, but not so much that we won’t have fun at their garage sale this evening.
Tomorrow, we get to pick up the children and take them with us for the day. Yippeee! We are still discussing what we want to do with our time, but I’m sure we will want to show them their city. It is beautiful right now. Not too hot, clear and lovely. Perhaps we’ll go walk alongside the river and visit a museum.
On Monday we will pick them up and keep them. For how long? Until they go off to college. Monday will be our first “real” day.
I forgot to tell you yesterday, that we were so worked up the morning of court, that we misread the clocks and arrived at our rendezvous an hour early. We were getting quite anxious that our ride was late before we figured it out.
The court process was very serious and proper. The judge determined who would respond to his questions and started with me. When he was finished with me, he turned me over to the prosecutor. When she was done with me, the judge had questions for Jamie and then the prosecutor had a few for him too. I had one more go to clarify one point. Then the child protection lady described the children’s situation and her recommendation. The orphanage deputy director did the same. Then our facilitator gave her recommendation. It all went by so quickly I was a bit dazzled, so I don’t remember so much, but I do remember the deputy director saying that children intuitively know who cares about them, and that after our visit last spring, Andy and Juliana have been asking for us daily. Some of you have seen a pic of a lady with the two children on her lap; this was the deputy director.
After court we came back to the flat, changed our clothes and headed out again. We walked over to the DetskyMat (Children’s Market) which carries a lot a clothes and some toys, but no puzzles, of course it is puzzles that we wanted. We did by a few toys to keep the children busy when they move in. I got some Audubon birdies, just like what we get at the toy store in Lynden, Mom. We also found a cute little doctor’s kit, so the Jamie can continue his training in correct bear-care under Andy’s close supervision. Bear, by the way, has a name: Meshotka.
After the children’s store caught this trolley car uptown, back to the area we lived in last time we were here. We finished our gift shopping and then went back to our old hotel, the Amethyst and had cabbage rolls, as theirs are the best ever.
Local Time: 3:05 pm on Friday September 1, 2006
Weather: warm and sunny, swarming mosquitos
Today we will visit the children from 4 to 6 and then come back to the flat for a potluck with the other families; I made borsht. C&N&K and C&A&A are all leaving in the morning and we shall certainly miss them, but not so much that we won’t have fun at their garage sale this evening.
Tomorrow, we get to pick up the children and take them with us for the day. Yippeee! We are still discussing what we want to do with our time, but I’m sure we will want to show them their city. It is beautiful right now. Not too hot, clear and lovely. Perhaps we’ll go walk alongside the river and visit a museum.
On Monday we will pick them up and keep them. For how long? Until they go off to college. Monday will be our first “real” day.
I forgot to tell you yesterday, that we were so worked up the morning of court, that we misread the clocks and arrived at our rendezvous an hour early. We were getting quite anxious that our ride was late before we figured it out.
The court process was very serious and proper. The judge determined who would respond to his questions and started with me. When he was finished with me, he turned me over to the prosecutor. When she was done with me, the judge had questions for Jamie and then the prosecutor had a few for him too. I had one more go to clarify one point. Then the child protection lady described the children’s situation and her recommendation. The orphanage deputy director did the same. Then our facilitator gave her recommendation. It all went by so quickly I was a bit dazzled, so I don’t remember so much, but I do remember the deputy director saying that children intuitively know who cares about them, and that after our visit last spring, Andy and Juliana have been asking for us daily. Some of you have seen a pic of a lady with the two children on her lap; this was the deputy director.
After court we came back to the flat, changed our clothes and headed out again. We walked over to the DetskyMat (Children’s Market) which carries a lot a clothes and some toys, but no puzzles, of course it is puzzles that we wanted. We did by a few toys to keep the children busy when they move in. I got some Audubon birdies, just like what we get at the toy store in Lynden, Mom. We also found a cute little doctor’s kit, so the Jamie can continue his training in correct bear-care under Andy’s close supervision. Bear, by the way, has a name: Meshotka.
After the children’s store caught this trolley car uptown, back to the area we lived in last time we were here. We finished our gift shopping and then went back to our old hotel, the Amethyst and had cabbage rolls, as theirs are the best ever.
8.30.2006
Yes! Yes!
Here we are in our court finery. It was really really hot and I about fainted, but it all went okay and the judge said yes and then he said yes again. We start counting the ten day wait tomorrow and will get our final decree on September 11th.
We still don't know when we will get to bring the children to live with us in the apartment, we expect to learn more this evening.
We are praising and thanking the Lord and are so grateful for your prayers.
8.29.2006
another great visit
Posting from: MarKuel Hotel, Khabarovsk, Russia
Local time: 3:28 pm Wednesday August 30, 2006
Weather: Clear and pleasant
We had two lovely hours with the children this morning. Andy greeted us with a very carefully enunciated "Good Afternoon". They think that having Papa toss them in the air is the best thing ever; Papa is sacked out on the couch now.
Court is at 11:30 tomorrow, an hour and a half later than my guesstimate for the countdown clock. We expect it to last until 12:30. We learned that this is the first international adoption from this orphanage ever. The assistant director will be testifying at court for us. Having court right before lunch is good, as everyone will want to work efficiently. Though the judge will make his decision tomorrow, it does not become binding until the 11th day.
Irena spent some time with us after the visit, going over what court typically entails. We got many of our questions answered and feel much better about it all.
We are happy to be here, and enjoying the rest, but I am already homesick. I am a home-body and it is hard to be away from our furbabies. We just want to pick up the children and come home. I suppose this is one more lesson in patience.
Local time: 3:28 pm Wednesday August 30, 2006
Weather: Clear and pleasant
We had two lovely hours with the children this morning. Andy greeted us with a very carefully enunciated "Good Afternoon". They think that having Papa toss them in the air is the best thing ever; Papa is sacked out on the couch now.
Court is at 11:30 tomorrow, an hour and a half later than my guesstimate for the countdown clock. We expect it to last until 12:30. We learned that this is the first international adoption from this orphanage ever. The assistant director will be testifying at court for us. Having court right before lunch is good, as everyone will want to work efficiently. Though the judge will make his decision tomorrow, it does not become binding until the 11th day.
Irena spent some time with us after the visit, going over what court typically entails. We got many of our questions answered and feel much better about it all.
We are happy to be here, and enjoying the rest, but I am already homesick. I am a home-body and it is hard to be away from our furbabies. We just want to pick up the children and come home. I suppose this is one more lesson in patience.
Happy Birthday Dear Brother
Posting from MarKuel Hotel, Khabarovsk, Russia
Local time: 7:00 am, Wednesday, August 30
Weather: clear skies, breezy, quite pleasant
Happy birthday dear Tim!
When I was a little girl, I wished for a brother. Three days after my fourth birthday, I got one. The best birthday present I ever got; though I think he may get upstaged this year.
Margaret - Dandy is 6 and Chickadee just turned 5. We expect to have the children with us for most of the ten days. We hope to get them on Friday, otherwise we have to wait until Monday.
Hey J - welcome to blogland! :)
SoFlaMom - per your request.
Dandy's bed on the left, Chickadee's on the right; this is how I found the kitty-lovie after the maid's visit.
Just wanted to add a few more things from yesterday's visit. Dandy treated us to a lovely recitation of "good morning to you, good morning to you . . ."
Jamie was trained by Dr. Dandy in the proper way to listen to a bear's breathing.
Local time: 7:00 am, Wednesday, August 30
Weather: clear skies, breezy, quite pleasant
When I was a little girl, I wished for a brother. Three days after my fourth birthday, I got one. The best birthday present I ever got; though I think he may get upstaged this year.
Margaret - Dandy is 6 and Chickadee just turned 5. We expect to have the children with us for most of the ten days. We hope to get them on Friday, otherwise we have to wait until Monday.
Hey J - welcome to blogland! :)
SoFlaMom - per your request.
Dandy's bed on the left, Chickadee's on the right; this is how I found the kitty-lovie after the maid's visit.
Just wanted to add a few more things from yesterday's visit. Dandy treated us to a lovely recitation of "good morning to you, good morning to you . . ."
Jamie was trained by Dr. Dandy in the proper way to listen to a bear's breathing.
hugs and kisses and giggles
Posting from: MarKuel Hotel, Khabarovsk, Russia.
Local time: 6:30 pm, Tuesday August 29
Weather: Clear, warm, light wind, very pleasant
We had a wonderful marvelous visit. When we arrived they were just getting up from their naps. Andy was up and Juliana was still asleep. He spied us and ran back into the sleeping room to wake her up. We got to watch their waking-up routine (toilet, wash hands and face, get dressed, have crackers and juice) and then we got to play play play. Even though we had our eight-doctor medical exams yesterday, the children gave us each a thorough going over with their little hospital kit.
We learned that they did receive the letters we had sent, and the pictures. They greeted us by name (mama and papa of course) and hugged and cuddled and showed us all their special treasures. At one point, Andy gave me something and I said thank you. Thank you Spaseeba he said. For the rest of the day it was thank you for him. By the time we left, Juliana had a nice version of FlankYou going too. She is up to 33 pounds now. Yippee. Her hair has grown and is curly on the ends and she was dressed ina fluffy pink dress that left glitter all over us. She spent most of the afternoon in my lap. We both got kisses from her when we left. We are leaving the glitter on.
We get to go back tomorrow from 10 to 12. We will spend the afternoon with our facilitator preparing for court and the evening with our friends welcoming the two families that arrive on the Wed flight.
Local time: 6:30 pm, Tuesday August 29
Weather: Clear, warm, light wind, very pleasant
We had a wonderful marvelous visit. When we arrived they were just getting up from their naps. Andy was up and Juliana was still asleep. He spied us and ran back into the sleeping room to wake her up. We got to watch their waking-up routine (toilet, wash hands and face, get dressed, have crackers and juice) and then we got to play play play. Even though we had our eight-doctor medical exams yesterday, the children gave us each a thorough going over with their little hospital kit.
We learned that they did receive the letters we had sent, and the pictures. They greeted us by name (mama and papa of course) and hugged and cuddled and showed us all their special treasures. At one point, Andy gave me something and I said thank you. Thank you Spaseeba he said. For the rest of the day it was thank you for him. By the time we left, Juliana had a nice version of FlankYou going too. She is up to 33 pounds now. Yippee. Her hair has grown and is curly on the ends and she was dressed ina fluffy pink dress that left glitter all over us. She spent most of the afternoon in my lap. We both got kisses from her when we left. We are leaving the glitter on.
We get to go back tomorrow from 10 to 12. We will spend the afternoon with our facilitator preparing for court and the evening with our friends welcoming the two families that arrive on the Wed flight.
8.28.2006
Apartment
Posting from MarKuel Hotel, Khabarovsk, Russia
Local time: 11;01 am, Tuesday August 28
Weather: overcast, hot, muggy, mosquitoes
We get to see the children from 4 to 6 today. Very exciting. Here are a few pics to tide you over.
The MarKuel entrance.
The cute and well-lit kitchen. It is easily six times bigger than what Kirstin and I had in Germany. 
The loo in a closet unto itself. It really does make sense to separate this from the cleaning and bathing room. Many countries do.
We were super happy to find in a box on the deck this perky red potty seat, which I am posting a pic of just for you Papa, as you so appreciated the last potty seat post.
Local time: 11;01 am, Tuesday August 28
Weather: overcast, hot, muggy, mosquitoes
We get to see the children from 4 to 6 today. Very exciting. Here are a few pics to tide you over.
The MarKuel entrance.
The cute and well-lit kitchen. It is easily six times bigger than what Kirstin and I had in Germany. 
The loo in a closet unto itself. It really does make sense to separate this from the cleaning and bathing room. Many countries do.
We were super happy to find in a box on the deck this perky red potty seat, which I am posting a pic of just for you Papa, as you so appreciated the last potty seat post.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)