GOTCHA!

This post is somewhat delayed, as my internet situation has been spotty.

But now I finally have internet! And there is so much to tell. 

I wrote this on Thursday, January 12, 2012...

The best news is we picked up Ryan today and he is with us!!

 

To back it up, Somehow Sergei never got the message that I was not

coming on the tenth. Our judge had asked him to bring some documents

from Karkev that he needed on the tenth, so Sergei had been here for a 

day-plus when I arrived. He had begged the judge for the court decree

w/o my signature, got documents from the orphanage, gone to the vital

records office to start things started and reserved the same apartment 

we'd had the last time we were here.

 

He met us at the train at 6:45am with Kyle Stefanowitz and Pastor John, 

who has a church and ministry here. We were on the same train as the 

hosted kids and said hello to Anatoly, one of Ryan's' classmates, Vera, 

Masha and the others, drank some coffee and hot chocolate from a little 

machine (yum-o) and chatted for a few minutes. Then we drove with 

Sergei to Visalivka to the vital records office for Ryan's new birth certificate. 

It only took about 20 minutes instead of the often 2-3 hours since he'd been 

there yesterday. The girls slept in the car (slept all night on the train! Had 

great temperature, they loved it!!) as we drove to Vilnyansk, and while Sergei 

got Ryan's tax identification number, then picked up the McAndrew's court 

decree.

 

So we were at the school at 11am to get Ryan. Today! A whole day earlier 

than I had planned! We had to pick up the inspector so we could all sign our 

names for his release. When we got to the school the director wasn't there. 

So since we had to leave by 1pm for a 2pm passport application appointment, 

I got out my suitcase of gifts and separated things. The kids helped me parcel 

things out to the various intended recipients. We gave a pile to Nataliya for 

Irina, to Valentina for kids at the school (socks, mittens, a few toys, coat and 

gloves). Ryan gave gifts to his teachers and caregivers that I'd brought for them 

and had so much fun doing it.    

 

We found Nadia and gave the pollypockets to her, found Sergei, Oleg, Anatoly

 and gave them matchbox cars, barbies to give to the girls, and a few balls.

 I wish I'd had more time to be with them. I have grown to love them all! 

They missed Adam and wanted to talk. They were so thankful and understood

 to share. Sergei said, "Kristina, me America, you, please?" I said, "You'd like

 to go to America?" "Yes, please." Tear jerker and heart squeezer! He is a 

sweet boy with a mom that I saw visit once while here so I don't think he wil

l have the opportunity to visit America. I gave a football to Arthur, one of the

tough older boys. I've been working on connecting with him while we've 

been here. He softened up so much, saying thank you and offering to carry my 

bag. God bless him.

 

And then guess who was there to spend the day since her brother was leaving 

tomorrow? OKSANA! So we took pictures, chatted (kinda) then she went to see 

friends while we did our thing. She was happy to see us and so happy for Ryan. 

We went back to the office and the director was available to sign our release 

documents. Then we all signed our names, as well and Sergei took the inspector 

back to her office. We waited while the doctor was working on getting the 

medical documents. Then it was 1:10 and time to high-tail it to Zap for the 

passport. 

As we loaded into the car, Sergei said, "Oh, and by the way, Oksana and her 

friend,Lilia are riding with us so she can see where our apartment is so she 

can see you while you are here." Yay! And the doctor needed a ride to town. 

So Sergei and the doctor were in the front and in back, Emma on Oksana's lap 

(two peas in a pod now, loving eachother!), Lilia (Oksana's school mate), me, 

Bethany and Ryan. Yes, we took pics! They were all laughing hysterically. 

After we dropped off the doctor I moved to the front. Then out came the ipad 

and photoshop and crazy giggles. Good times. :)

 

Sergei was heavy-footing it to Zap, took a short cut, got lost, called to say 

we'd be late, used his gps to get us back on track and we got there at 2:15.

It took about 30 minutes to wait, take Ryan's picture, sign documents for 

approval of the name/dob and pay an additional new fee that has just been

instated.

 

Then we drove past our apartment so Oksana could see it, drove to her dorm

and took a tour, then took her to the grocery where we dropped her off. I 

have her phone and address and she is planning on seeing us, but we did not 

make a set plan. We will be here for a week so hopefully we can connect.

 

We had eaten nothing all day and I was surprised that the girls were fine...so 

we went to McDonalds for "CHEESEburgers". We all chowed down then unpacked

at the apartment, went thru Ryan's suitcase and started laundry. He had 

everything we'd sent back with him still folded in a suitcase! At least those 

clothes don't smell so bad but the rest are in the laundry; I'm on load three! 

He is a trip. So happy and he and the girls are soo funny, sweet, cooperative 

together. They all three spent the evening in relative calm. I gave Ryan a 

drawingpad & pencils and he drew for a while, copying the pic of oranges 

on a juice box. He's quite good. Emma colored, took pics of the other two,

her drawing, the NewYear's tree in the square.

 

Then Bethany played on the touch and Ryan played a math game on the ipad. 

They were sitting together on the green leather chair, each doing their thing 

with him periodically asking her a question. Sergei has two computers and is

letting me use his big laptop since he only uses it for drawing translation for 

the big screen. Too bad I gave my modem to Rachael!

 

All 3 kids ate granola bars and fruit snacks, brushed teeth and are in bed - have

been for 30 minutes. Ryan said he was tired and the girls obviously are. He has

his watch alarm set for 9am. We prayed together before bed and I tucked Ryan 

in on the couch, Bethany in on the green leather chair laying sideways and 

Emma in the bed with me. 

 

On another interesting note, Rachael will need to apply for Nick's passport from 

theoffice here in Zap. The vital records office in Bernyansk is slow so they only 

got court decree and birth certificate today. The will go to tax ID office in the

moning there then drive to Zap forpassport application and STAY here in Zap 

while waiting. How fun that will be!

 

Sergei thinks if the electronic record update got done today by the tax ID 

office lady,who said she would do it today, then we could have Ryan's passport

Monday, Tuesdayif it gets updated tomorrow. Fast. :) It was great to have so 

much done already before I got here.

 

So, whirlwind of a day and I am so tired. The girls traveled great, both loving 

the trainride so much. Bethany slept up top and loved it. They are so glad to be 

here and it was so precious when Ryan came into the school building lobby and 

saw us all. He gave me a massive hug then hugged Bethany, twirling her around

then picked Emma up in a hug and twirled her around. Wish I had pictures of

that!   

Kris