Five Days Rolled into one Post/ Friday- Tuesday Day 34,35,36,37 & 38

FRIDAY we were met at the train station by our Kiev facilitator Alexi.  He had a van waiting for us since our family has grown considerably since he put us on the train 30 or so days ago.  We loaded up the bags and kids and were off to the American Embassy for the 1st of 2 appointments.  (On arrival to the embassy we run into our good friend Melissa Macy.  She has her VISA for her son and is done.)  We delivered required documents that we had filled out on the train as well as our Court Decree and the children's birth certificates (both with translations by our facilitator) and the children's Passports.  These were well received and we were instructed to return Tuesday at 2 pm for our 2nd appointment.  The whole point of these appointments is to get the children's VISAs on their passport so they can travel with us into the US.  Before our 2nd appt. we have to have the children checked out at an embassy approved hospital.  So off we go to the Hospital for Oil Refining something or another.  They examine the medical documents from the orphanage, shot records, order a chest x-ray for Kristina, and do a simple examination of each child and we get a clean bill of health.  They give us a sealed envelope with the documents for the embassy that we will hold on to until Tuesday.  Now that we are done with the important stuff, Alexi takes us to the building he has arranged for us to stay in.  It is much cheaper for us to rent an apartment rather than a hotel and more comfortable, since you have different rooms for sleeping, watching TV, kitchen for eating, etc.  But apparently finding one large enough for our group was a challenge, so they found two apartments that are across the hall from each other.  So we have our homes for the next few days and we are quite comfortable.   Alexi shares information about the surrounding area and we are on our own once again.  Melissa joins us for dinner and tells us about other families she has met that are here adopting, maybe we will get to meet some of them.

SATURDAY  is movie day.  We head to the nearby Ukrainian Mall.  Melissa and Dennis will meet us and she has invited another family to join us as well.  The Sanner family has adopted a 14 year old girl named Lena from an area south of Kiev.  They are in the finishing stages of their adoption also.  We all go to see the Disney movie Tangled.  We got to see what is like to watch a movie and not be able to understand a word that is said.  It was good, but I'm sure we missed a lot, being in Russian.  Afterwards the children played video games outside the theater while the adults visited and swapped stories.

SUNDAY Steve walks with Kristina to Kiev's Wadzog Train Station.  (I'm spelling it the way it sounds.  I'm sure it's not correct)  Kristina found out the Ukrainian children that have been hosted for the Christmas hosting program are returning today from the U.S.  One of her caregivers from Severodonetsk orphanage is coming by train to meet the children and bring them back to the orphanage.  Before she has to meet them at the airport she has a few hours to kill at the train station before she is picked up and taken to the airport.  Kristina would like to go see her and visit with her.  There IS one more reason though.
STORY:  While the children were here this past summer for the hosting program, one thing we wanted them to have was a Bible to take back with them.   My granddad wanted to do this for the children as a gift.  So a few days before they left Mississippi each one was presented a Russian translation of the Bible that we inscribed a personal message in for each of them.  They treasured these and apparently the caregivers wanted to make sure they were well cared for so they kept them put away in safe keeping.  I don't know whether the children ever asked for them in the meantime but when we asked about them, the children went and got them from the caregivers.  Then they would take them back to be put away.

 Anyway,  all the children remembered to pack their Bibles, but Kristina had forgotten to get her's from her caregiver before she left with us.  Now this reunion makes for the perfect opportunity to collect the Bible.  Dad and Kristina enjoy their visit with Irena and in the meantime we are getting everyone ready so that we can also walk that direction and meet up with them.  We make it just in time for the younger children to give hugs and say good-bye to Irena.  Yes,  there was some thought put into walking to the train station in freezing temperatures for just a short good-bye visit.  There is a McDonalds across the street from the station and we had planned to eat lunch here.  This is our first American food in over 30 days and it tasted so good.  We even had an ice cream cone to finish off lunch.  Then we grab two cabs (Their are seven of us if you havn't counted) and head to Independence Square to meet our friends for ice skating.

MONDAY is an off day.  We have nothing pressing to get done (since it is an embassy holiday), so we plan another trip to the ice skating rink.  The children really enjoyed it (And I did too, I can't believe how much better I have gotten, can't wait to go in the states) yesterday and they wanted to get in some more time on the ice and get better.  It keeps them busy and time moves a little faster.  Today is a happy/sad day for us and our friend Melissa and her son Dennis.  They head back to the states to their family, but on the bright side it's Dennis's birthday! Happy Birthday Dennis!  We know their family reunion will be a happy one, but we are sad to see them go.

Lera.

Luba.

Vladik.

Kristina and the Sanner's.

Group picture.

The tree in Independence square.

Dennis.

TUESDAY morning, we get ready for the embassy appointment at 2 o'clock.  Our driver will arrive at 1:45, so everyone has to be ready.  This is a good time to practice for future engagements of getting everyone ready on time.  Yes, we did it.  (I know you're surprised, but we did.)  We arrive at 2, to find several families already there.  Apparently everyone who has an appointment is told their appointment is at 2 pm.  The three other families arrived before two and filled the waiting room that actually had a sign saying the maximum capacity of the room was 13, and we were over that.  The kids were smart though.  Luba brought UNO cards, Vladik brought a drawing pad and pencils, all of which was screened and made is through security with a few chuckles, but life was easy with them occupied and content.  I never would have thought to bring that stuff.
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We are called back to window 17 where we sign documents before a notary.  She even makes Mom and Dad raise their hands and state as she states ....  .  Everything is complete.  We have the children's VISAs.  THEY CAN COME TO AMERICA WITH US!  WOOOOHOOOO.

Our evenings here in Kiev, back at the apartment, have been filled with time spent on the phone and computer.  The children like to call their caregivers and Kristina has enjoyed Skyping with friends and caregivers.  We have added cellphone numbers to our Skype address list of friends that we are leaving behind, and only one more day................