In Moscow safe and sound

Okay.  So we are in Moscow.. Just saw the Red Square and took some photos. Exhausted..We are at a "flat" of a friends of Tatiana's for a few hours.  We are going to get some rest before heading to the train station to head on our 9 hour overnight train rides.  Train leaves at 10 P.M. Moscow time.  Whew.. what a day.. That was a heck of a long plane ride.

the impatient mother and father to be
Tamra and Stephen

In NY

Well we made it to NY with plenty of time to spare.  Steve has not been patted down again so maybe our luck is changing.  Just waiting for the 5:00 departure time... then we are in for a 10 hour flight!  OMG - we are not looking forward to this long flight. 
Wish us luck.
The impatient mother and father to be to Olesya!
Love you all
Tamra & Stephen

Columbus Terminal

Well we made it through check in - Steve got patted down..LOL... he forgot there was change in his pocket.. I wondered where he went... there I stand with all out luggage!  oh well...Maybe the next airport at New York will be better...(although I highly doubt it!)... Fun Fun!
So now we sit here waiting... I bought us some ear plugs and they are wrapped so tight in hard plastic that Steve took 20 minutes to get them out of it!  where is a pocket knife when you need it?  Steve says when he was in the Navy - he never would have made it through check in...
Well it is 10:52 and we board at 12:06... whoo hoo!  off on our grand adventure to see our little girl.  We will try and update often. 
fyi - Teresa - headache is almost gone and stomach feels much better. (for now)  thanks for letting us stay with you for the night - love you sis!  You are the best!
Stay tuned - more excitement to come.
The impatient mother and father to be..
Tamra and Stephen

Passports and Visa here.. whew!

Okay, so the last thing we needed arrived Fed-ex this morning (WHOO HOO!).  I was worried for a little bit... but we got it all figured out.. Passport/Visa's are here and they look right.   Steve is out getting gifts today for the orphange director, the woman at the Ministry of Education (who will give us the referral) and our interpreter.

Now to get through the weekend without any mishaps...

Come on - we are ready to go now.  Travel plans are all scheduled... Can you believe it?  I can't.  It was a bunch of phone calls and e-mails... but I think we got everything scheduled.

Anticipation - I am ready to meet my little girl, Olesya.  I pray that she is healthy and will have no major medical problems.

She has such a pretty name.  No way am  I going to change it.  But, I might give her a middle name - such as:  Suzanne (my middle name)...I want to give her a family name.. but can't seem to find one that fits with her first name and our last name..  Work in Process I guess.

Now, back to waiting.....- something I am not good at even after all these months.

Impatient mother to be to Olesya
Tamra

no internet! what?

So, evidently it is really hard to find internet service in Tambov.. GREAT! now what.. I guess I will just write lots in my journal and then blog when I get back. I'll probably take the laptop just in case. No facebook... on my - what am I going to do? I will be disconnected... literally!

So what do you take to your daughter when you meet her for the first time? I bought a dress today and and shirt and some shorts.. they are really cute. I decided to go with size 18 months... since she is small. I would really like to leave her with a keepsake - until I come back for her in a month or so.. wonder what I should get her.. she's only 2.. any ideas anyone? maybe a blankee.. or a dolly...

Okay... well the doctor is "back on" in Russia... we had thought about just using our American doctor back here..because she is an expert.. but I was told today that internet is not always available and I really did need a Russian/English speaking doctor to look her over... this is the biggest decision during this whole process.... why chance it?

Well another hectic day, but it will all be worth it! I can't wait to hug her!

The impatient mother to be to Olesya

RUSH RUSH RUSH!

OMG - After waiting for almost 2 years for news.. everything is hurry up and rush to get it mailed, scheduled or bought. I went and bought a laptop today among other things. I finally convinced Steve I needed one to be able to update my blog. Although, I'm not sure he even knows what I am talking about. But we do need to be able to e-mail the doctor while in Russia. We sent our referral to the orphandoctor, Dr. Aronson. There is just so little information that we feel like we have to see her. Maybe that is why it is so vague.

Victoria Travel - Mark is handling our plane tickets - there is a problem with them now, but I have faith that he will be able to work them out. This last minute crap is for the birds!

My nerves are getting the best of me today. It's crazy today with phone calls, travel reservations, worrying about Olesya, and my left hand is itching like crazy - mom says that is because of all the money flying out of it... which is true.. but will be worth it in the end.

I just can't wait to see her and play with her. I hope she likes me... and Steve - of course. Let's not forget about him. He's been my rock through all this. He just says to just keep moving and we'll get there eventually.

I have the feeling it is going to be a fast crazy week - next week... well the travel won't be fast, but the time we get to spend with Olesya will probably fly by. I still can't believe I can't bring her back with me. Whoever thought of this 2 trip process was crazy! It just feels like they say "here you go, the little girl/boy you've always wanted.... but not yet!" ARRGGHH!

Well back to work... I plan on taking lots of pictures and post as often as I can... but from the sounds of our trip we will be traveling the majority of the time (and hopefully sleeping).

the impatient mother to be to Olesya!
Tamra

RUSSIA BOUND

Okay everyone... so after getting the referral information (very little information) and having that looked over here in the US by a doctor.. we have decided that we cannot say "NO" without seeing her... so we are leaving next week for Russia to see our LITTLE OLEYSA!

Keep her in your prayers and thought. We hope she is as healthy as she can be (after being in an orphanage since birth)...

Steve and I are hopeful for a good trip.

Be back soon!

Update - coming soon

Tatiana (our Russian cooridinator) is hoping to get the information today from Tambov (Russia). As soon as she has it translated she will send it to me....... WHOO HOO!

ANTICIPATION! It's better than Christmas morning!

Mom said the other day that I looked like I had won the lottery when I showed her a picture of Olesya. Well - I guess it felt like I did.

On another note.. I was working on my (pink) afghan this weekend... almost have it done. I'm not sure how big to make it... but I think it is almost there.

And Steve's "Uncle Gary" is going to look at the antique twin bed from my grandma's house to see if we can get it to work for her first bed. Some pieces are missing, but I think he'll be able to figure out how to make it work. I wanted her to have a family heirloom and Great grandma Polly would want her to sleep in this old bed (I think we've all slept in it at one time or another.) Just will need to buy new mattress and box springs... We haven't done anything yet to the room. Scott and Steve worked on the closet a few months ago... so it is ready to "fill up" at anytime.

Little girl shopping sure will be fun! Can't wait until I can get her size and start buying. Almost time to start to spoil her.

I just hope all the medicals come back okay... and that she is healthy. keep praying everybody!
We want to bring her home soon!

impatient mother to be to Olesya!
Tamra

Olesya

Okay - so I got another e-mail today. They still don't have her medical information yet. But I did get her name. It is Olesya. I went to the website http://www.usynovite.ru/ (it is in Russian) and have been looking at the children available.. If you search by Tambov Region. Children born April 2009, with blonde hair and blue eyes, named Oleysa - you get this picture. Now this has not been confirmed yet. But I think this is her - 99% sure - it has to be - doesn't it?.. by process of elimination?

Well IF this is my referral - whoo hoo! She is absolutely adorable. I am beyond words... She looks healthy. Moms says she looks like she was crying - OH- that breaks my heart. I hope I can make it through the next months without a mental breakdown. I am excited to see her and meet her - but dreading the day we have to say "goodbye" until our next trip to go back to get her. How awful to dangle this little sweetie in front of me and then say - no - not yet... It is going to be a long- long - long few months... until she is in my arms forever! OH I HATE THIS WAITING! But oh - the reward! Is is going to be STUPENDOUS-FABULOUS-AND EMOTIONAL! HANG IN THERE! WE ARE GOING FOR A RIDE! - the impatient mother-to-be to Oleysa! Oh my - Oleysa's mom! that is going to take some time to get used to.

IT'S A GIRL !

BORN APRIL 2009. BLONDE HAIR AND BLUE EYES

So today we got an e-mail from our agency. They can get a referral for a little girl if we would accept it. We said "YES"of course. My agency called me a little bit ago and will be sending me the information in the next day or two about our referral! I know we had said we were expecting a boy.. but I can't turn down a little girl.. if this is what is meant to be then that is what God wants us to have.

I am so excited and won't be able to get any work done for the next 2 days. I want to know more... and of course my e-mail went down here at work... It never goes down.. but now it is down...SCREAM!!!

So that is all I know for now... but soon I should have pictures and medical information. Once I get the medical information sent to a doctor to look over, then we will know for sure if she is to be ours or not.

Prayers needed for a healthy little girl to be!
Thanks everyone!
the soon to be mother of a little girl!
Tamra