We had our appointment at the Adoption Center

Between car alarms going off, garbage trucks, dogs barking, cats fighting, and completely psychotic dreams about our upcoming appointment, we didn't get much sleep last night. It could have been the distractions or maybe it was just that everything has built up to this appointment at the adoption center. We submitted lots of new paperwork to update our dossier a few weeks ago that we didn't know whether it had been approved or not. We were not completely positive that Katya's paperwork was fully in order and the adoption center is shutting down soon to move under a different ministry. And with the way Ukraine goes, you can look at someone the wrong way during your appointment and be on the wrong side of basic decisions.

We woke up and put on our good clothes. I realized as I put on my clothes that I had brought my blue shirt and yellow tie, which are the colors of the Ukrainian flag. So I really couldn't be denied today since I was a walking patriot. It was a little chilly outside as it had rained much of the night. We will take the chill rather than freezing temperatures and snow. It is trying hard to switch to Spring here. We met our translators husband on the corner outside our apartment. We hailed a taxi and took it to the Adoption Center. Once inside, we met up with our substitute translator that was arranged yesterday since our normal translator is in the hospital. We briefed her (Sveta) on our situation. She looked through our pictures and we chatted for a few minutes before we started up the stairs for our appointment. The adoption center had 15 couples on the list for appointments today. We were quickly inside the center and ushered into a room with the director. Three American couples were asked to come in. The director started talking about recent changes in the law and that they wanted us to sign statements that we had been warned that the adoption could stop at any time because of the switch to the new Ministry. They would try to accomodate us in April as our adoption progressed, but there were no guarantees we could complete it in April. The Director made a comment to everyone in the room that she recognized us (returning every year for three years in a row can make you a regular) and that she was glad we were back. We smiled and from that moment all was good. As soon as the short meeting was over, the director shook my hand, took our packet of papers and hand walked them around the office to different people and then finally to the deputy director, who does not normally handle appointments, those are done by psychologists, said a few words to her and then left the room. Our translator said that this was not normally the procedure, but that the Director wanted our case handled by the Deputy director. We showed her our picture album. She was smiling from ear to ear the whole time. We talked about Katya and then she left the room for about 30 seconds. When she came back she put Katya's paperwork folder in front of us and asked us if this was her. As we looked at the folder and her picture from when she was 8-9 years old, we both welled up and nodded. She then walked everything over to the lady that does the referrals and asked her to get it ready immediately and that we could pick it up today.

Our smoothest and easiest appointment yet. I don't know if it was the yellow tie and blue shirt, but we got the VIP treatment today. We were the last couple up the stairs and the first back down. We got all handshakes and smiles from the Director and Deputy.

Most of our fears melted as we walked out the door and realized that there were no more paperwork updates to worry about. No more waiting for Katya, as long as we can quickly get the paperwork done in the region, we can possibly get her out of here before the big changes shut things down. We are not out of the woods yet, but it was such a good feeling to have them hand us her paperwork file as a child eligible for adoption. Our despair from a year ago is behind us. Brighter days are ahead. Katya is eligible for adoption and we are going to bring her home. It is now a race against the clock to get her out before they shut down adoptions to change Ministries.

We called Katya and told her we are taking the train to Kharkov tonight and that we would arrive in the morning. She was very excited.

So fairly good news all around. Much better than expected at this point.

More to come...