Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Gotcha Day - November 11, 2009

This is the day ... it's finally here ... the day we will become a family of four and be together FOREVER!!!

In the adoption world the day you actually "get" your child is known as "Gotcha Day" and a day that we will celebrate going forward as the day we became a family!!! Some people don't really like the term "Gotcha" but my friend Laura has it on her blog as "God Ordanined This Child Happy Adoption Day" ... and I think that is fitting so we will keep it!!!

We don't have alot to do this morning except pack and be ready for Svetlana to pick us up at 2:30pm. Tuesday was the paperwork day ... we went to one family office to get the boys adoption certificates that list us as their parents and then we drove across the city to another office to get their new birth certificates with their new names and listing us as their parents!!! The family offices were very interesting ... there is no line system so people just come in the door and look at the people and say "who is last in line" ... people kept looking at me so I would point out the last person who had come in!! The other interesting thing is that ALL offices and place close from 1pm - 2pm for lunch so at 1pm the woman behind the closed door comes out and tells everyone to leave EXCEPT for the americans!!! It was a little nuts at this point because some people were upset they had been waiting and now needed to come back!!! We got everything done and then Svetlana went to get requests their passports ... we pick those up at 3pm today!!

Once we have the passports at 3pm we then head to the baby home and get Roman and Max and then it's off to the Yekaterinburg airport and our flight tonight at 10:10pm to Moscow!!!

I'm sure today will have many highs for us but also a few lows for the boys as we take them from the only home and staff they have known ... I'm sure there will also be a few lows for the staff as they say good-bye to the children they have cared for ... we can't thank them enough for all the love and attention they've given our boys!!!

It's going to be a whirlwind of a day!!!

11 comments:

Laura said...

Happy GOTCHA Day!!!!!

You have awaited this day for so long and finally...Max and Roman will be in your arms for good.

Good bye, Ekat...and hello, Moscow! (You're on the same flight as us!)

Can't wait to see pics of the boys with you...outside of #6.

Hugs of congratulations,
Laura, JD and Kristina :)

Laura said...

BTW: I meant to say that you're on the same flight that we took back in May...geez, almost felt like we were there flying with ya, eh? ;)

Our Family said...

GOOD LUCK, GOOD LUCK!!!!
I know that this day will be filled with lots of love, happiness and some stress! Hang in there! You are finally with you boys!
Congratulations, Christine!
How very exciting!
Adrian

Beth said...

Hip Hip Horray!!!!!!! It is GOTCHA DAY!!!!!! Can't wait to see pictures of you and the boys in Moscow. You are almost home.

Troy and Rachel said...

Good luck!!! Happy Gotcha day - love the term for Gotcha!!

Melissa said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Melissa said...

Congrats and Happy Gotcha Day! Ours was full of emotions, both good and bad. It certainly was a whirlwind of a day. And like Laura, we took the 10:10 flight out too. It must be the typical flight. Can't wait for the photos of the Pupek family of 4!
Melissa

3menanddelaney said...

Conrats Stephen and Christine. Your boys are beautiful and I can't imagine a more loving set of parent than you two. What a fantastic Thanksgiving you are going to have. So much to give thanks for.

Tanya

Anonymous said...

You and Stephen are wonderful people. God Bless you.

Kathleen Davis

Sharon and Patrick said...

Congrats on your Happy Family Day! You are almost home with your boys!
Safe trip.

Sharon:)

monique and walter said...

Dear Steven,Christine,Max and Roman.
Congratulations and best wishes for a wonderful family life.
Welcome home Max and Roman. Welcome home.
Monique and Walter Fethke