Marathon Monday

We were able to take Katya out on an excursion again on Sunday. We walked around town. Katya wanted pizza so we found a pizza place. We also received a call from our kids in Colorado early Sunday morning. It was late Saturday night in Colorado when they called. They are all doing great. We are missing our kids back home. We really want this to happen quickly and get home with Katya. So far we are on track.

Monday was a big day for our timetable. It was actually an easy day for Julia and I as we really didn't have to do much, but our translator had to get up early and run around all day. She had to get Katya from school and have her write up a letter stating her desire to be adopted. This had to be done in front of the Orphanage Director and Orphanage Lawyer. Our translator had to have the Director then sign some documents and get them to the Local Inspector, who had to then get the Mayor to sign them. The big problem was the Mayor was only available from 2-4pm, but the Orphanage Director would not sign the documents until 3:30pm, for some strange reason. Our translator was able to pull off all the signatures same day and get tickets for the morning express train tomorrow. She will be going back to Kiev to take the court request to the Adoption Center so they can sign it. She also managed to meet with the judge today to schedule court for next Monday, April 10th. We had estimated court would be on the 13th or 14th, so because of our marathon day and everything coming together, and the judge agreeing to a quick court date, we should be 3-4 days ahead of our estimated return date.

We are also contemplating me heading home the Wednesday after court, to be able to return to work. We can sign powers of attorney for Julia so she can complete the adoption and bring Katya home about 12 days after the court.

So today worked out well. The drama from a year ago is much different. It wasn't a tough day for Julia and I as we slept in and then walked around town for several hours before taking a taxi to the orphanage to see Katya. Our translator met us there. She was exhausted. We are back at our apartment now, and we feel like a huge weight is off our shoulders because of how things went today. Our translator said that it looks as though the Adoption Center will not be closing to couples in process. We keep waiting for something bad to happen, but as critical days and events pass without problems, we feel more and more confident that things will go well.

Wade and Julia