1/2 way through paperwork

Well, we've been home for 3 weeks and you wouldn't believe what we have gotten done! We are about 1/2 through the paperwork trail ... so far it's going "relatively smooth" but we have hit a snag or two along the way but we've managed to keep going!

We have seen 5 of the 8 specialists and the last appointment is on May 7th and then we can make the final request for state verifications on the doctors and that should be it!

Tomorrow we meet with a psychologist to make sure we are sane (no wisecracks :-)) and then we are going to the police station to do our finger prints for the FBI ... if you remember we've done this once for the dossier ... this is for THIS round of paperwork.

So we are holding strong ... doing what we can and moving this as quickly as possible so the boys will be with us one day soon!

Chasing the Paperwork.... Part II

Well as one other Yekaterinburgh family has said .... "THE FUN BEGINS!!" We got our list of 2nd round documents needed for the judge last week and after a conference call with Vica on Friday we are now working to complete the 2nd list of paperwork!!!

This list includes 23 items which range from letters from our CPA, description of our home, to letters from our bank with balances of our checking and saving account to eight ... that's right 8 medical doctor appointments with specialists!!! I have been busy calling neuroligsts, pulmonary specialists, infections disease doctors to get appointments for me and Stephen in the next few weeks. We have been doing okay, BUT it is difficult to convince the appointment scheduler that you aren't really sick just need to complete a form for internation adoption! OH and we are also looking for a psychologist and psychiatrist to see us!!! It's crazy but it is what it is and we are trying to be organzied and get it all done as quick as possible.

Keep you fingers crossed for us!

All our bags are packed and we're ready to go

As the song says ... we hate to leave you... but we know that this was just the first step in bringing Roman and Max home. The trip has been filled with so many emotional highs... all our hardwork from that last year has FINALLY paid off... we met our sons ... learned they are healthy.... signed our intent to adopt them and now the hard part comes ... going home and leaving them behind. It's good to know that they are both so well cared for by their care givers at the baby homes and since we've met some of the care givers we know that they boys are "loved" and that they care givers will watch over them until we can return.

Our next step after catching up on some much needed sleep at home and spending quality time with Lucy and Tyson (we know grandparents are great but we know they missed us and will need some xtra special attention when we get home), will be to begin the next round of paperwork needed for our court date.

So for now we leave Russia but we will be doing everything we can in the next few months to return quickly and bring our boys home!!!

Back at the baby home

We started today off by leaving our hotel to venture back out to the hospital for one final visit with Roman. The hospital is about 40 minutes from our hotel ... it's in a small suburb town outside of Ekaterinburg. When we got to the hospital the dr. told us that Roman had gone back to the baby home and wondered why no one had told Svetlana!!! So back in the car we went to drive 40 minutes in another direction to the baby home.

We got there just about noon which is time for the children's lunch and then a nap. We lucked out and we got to spend about 25 minutes with Roman before we had to say good-bye. He seemed to remember us ... or at least he remembered the beach ball we had with us!!! We spent time playing with him and then we traced his feet so we know what size shoes to bring for our next trip. I will post pictures later ... but he is a GREAT waver so we have some shots of him waving at us and calling us mama and papa!!! It looks like he is feeling better ... the green spots are still there but he has such a sunny personality it's hard to see that he is sick!!!

The end of our visit came quickly but with a few blown kisses from Roman and a wave goodbye from him we left and promised to return as quick as possible!!!

We spent the rest of the afternoon with Svetlana, seeing some sites... the Euro/Asia border and then we went to a Russian cuisine restaraunt for a late lunch early dinner. At this point all we have left to do is pack, catch a few hours of sleep and then meet the driver at 3am to head to the airport for our 5am flight.


I can't believe how fast this week as gone... it will be strange to leave in just a few hours.... leaving as parents but leaving our boys behind..... next step... more paperwork ... fingers crossed we are able to move things quickly and return in the next 6months or so to bring the boys home!!!

Thanks for all the well wishes ans support as we have completed this latest step in our journey to Max and Roman and to complete our family.

Christine & Steve

A day with the Michellin man!!!

Dressed like the Michellin man .... or would it be the kid from A Chritmas Story...

You have to understand that it's like 52 degrees today and when we got to the baby home they had 4 families who were visiting children. Sooooo, 2 families outside and 2families inside, we were one of the families who was outside.... :( It would have been nice to have more time with Max inside but we made the best out of it and had fun with him anyway!!! He is such a good little boy and a good sport.

They bundle these kids up like they are going into a blizzard... it's nuts, we tried to bring his snowsuit down a little and we were told "Russian children are used to being covered head to toe".... okay but he's sweating his A$$ off. We spent some time playing with the beach ball and blowing bubbles... even though Max could barely move we got a giggle or two out of him... always a good sign!!!! Our time with him went quickly today... we can't wait til we can come back and take him home for good... he's a content little boy and rolls with the punches.... such a Mama's boy... gotta love that and he loves Mama's kisses :-)

Here are a few picuters of Stephen and me signing our intent to adopt petition... it's official or will be on Thursday... we have 2 boys and Roman and Max have parents or will in a few short months.!!!

Our Martian Child

I mentioned in an earlier post that Roman had the chicken pox... they have a unique way of treating skin disorders over here ... they put "green stuff" on everything ... sort of like iodine or neosporin except it's green ... a little weird but it doesn't detract from the cuteness of this little guy!!!

We weren't sure that the hospital was going to let us in to see Roman or spend time playing with him.... we were prepared to just see him through the glass of his room and then hear his medical reports since he went into the baby home.... SURPRISE... we got to the hospital and went to the building for infectious disease ... Svetlana went in and came out to say no problem. The gave us a little room to spend some time with Roman in ... they even got him dressed up for our visit. He came in very happy .... saw 2 strangers and stopped in his TRACKS!!! It took a few minutes but we came prepared with toys and Stephen's watch and in no time he was laughing and having fun with us!!!

The hospital staff asked if we'd like to feed him lunch... couldn't pass that up .. it was more then we could have hoped for!!! This little guy sure can eat... he feeds himself and even wanted to share his bread with his new Papa... very cute!! I am not kidding ... this kid has an appetite and he is going to give Stephen a run for his money!!! He even drinks out of a little cup ... tea cup sort of thing... and the liquid in side was warm tea!!!

The hospital staff said we can come back Thursday for another visit!!! YES!!! We will get to spend 2 days with each boy!! They are great!!! We got Roman's medical information from the baby home after our visit at the hospital... looks like he is totally healthy .... 2 healthy boys... well one looks like a little Martian but we'll love him no matter what!!!

We can't show the photo of him so trust us ... spots or no spots he's a cutie!!!

Our morning with Maxim

This is us ... waiting to meet Maxim. We got to spend our first day going to the Ministry of Social Work to hear the actual referral for the 2 boys. We also heard a little about their older brother Ivan, he's 4 and with a foster family but they did ask if he became available at any time if we would take him as well... the answer was of course YES!!!

The attorney of the baby home, Helen, brought Maxim in and handed him to ME!!! I couldn't belive it... for the first time I was holding MY child... he just sort of looked at me ... like who are you but he was fine with it. We got him all to ourselves for about an hour. Svetlana and Helen were nearby on the couch talking and every so often Maxim would look over and then Helen left and Max was fine. Stephen and I took turns playing with him.... this little boy is a man of few words but that's okay ... we know another little boy that used to be like that and NOW he talks our ear off!

After about 20 minutes or so.... Max's personality just bloomed, he started giggling and chewing on the catepillar toy we brought him, he's teething. We also brought a beach ball so after awhile this became a big hit!!! We got some great pictures and some video of Max laughing .. what a giggle he has!!!! I promise to post the pictures once we get home and we have accepted the referral. They will probably only be up a short time so keep checking!

After spending time with Max we then met with the docotor and got his history, both personal (why he's in the orphanage) and his medical since birth! Since his mother's parental rights were terminated we learned alot! Max is a very health one year old ... if you need proof you just have to look at his chubby thighs and his fred flinstone feet.... I think he's going to have big feet!!!! He is very healthy -we didn't see any red flags medically so going with our gut ... he's ours ... we will still send Dr. Skurkovich the medical information to review just to follow up!

We will see Roman tomorrow.... under different circumstances, Roman has the chicken pox so he's in the hosptial! We don't know how much we will get to interact with him and tomorrow may be the only day we get to see him since he's in the hospital but we will also get his medical information tomorrow and can have Dr.S do that review and then we should be set!

Not bad for our 1st full day in Russia!

Christine & Steve