1 week home - update

Okay, so I finally got the list of documents that is needed for the court day.  2 apostilled copies of everything we've already done, plus additional papers from accountants, doctors and letters of employment.  The FBI fingerprinting says it may take 8-10 weeks!  WTF (excuse my language)but my little girl is waiting and now I have to wait for the FBI - this is our government hard at work.  Does anyone know an FBI agent in Clarksburg we can get on this?  So I am waiting on the fingerprint cards from Happy Families and then we are to take them somewhere (?) and be printed - 3 copies! - then we have to send 2 away and keep the 3rd incase they get lost or are unreadable.  I have already be fingerprinted 4 times!  2 times in Marietta and 2 times in Columbus - they were electronic scans.  Why do they need cards and ink?  I will look like a convict walking around with ink on my fingers!  I just keep repeating to myself - "IT IS ALL FOR OLESYA"!

So I guess the report from the FBI is only good for 90 days.. and the medical reports (blood tests and whatever else) are only good for 90 days.. so everything has to be timed just right so that we have as much time as possible in case the courts are backed up.  Well you never know and we are talking about a foreign country. 

I hope she doesn't think we aren't coming back.  Because by golly we are.  Paperwork... oh well... I do paperwork all day everyday.  No big deal... It's the waiting that is the craziest thing!  Knowing she is waiting on us to come back.  She doesn't really have a clue what she is in for. 

I've been getting presents for her since the moment we stepped off the plane in Columbus.  Michelle (a great friend and co-worker) met us and had bags of toys and clothes... and then I went to the office on Monday and there were clothes and books and shoes for her as well.

We are filling up her closet in anticipation of her arrival.  In a couple weeks I will begin painting her room and putting in new carpet.  Uncle Gary is working on her bed (he is the best uncle!)

The Doctor we brought with us said she would send us a medical report on Olesya by Sunday - I thought she meant last Sunday - but I still haven't heard back from her.  I have e-mailed her twice with no response.  Maybe she is just busy.  It doesn't really matter what it says.  We will deal with whatever happens whenever it happens.  No child is perfect!

well I guess we just wait and start on the pile of paperwork. 
I'm doing the best I can my dear Olesya - hang in there!  We are coming!
The impatient mother to be to Olesya

Tamra

Okay Cassie - this one is for you!

Some more great photos

Home Sweet Home

Well we made it back home safe and sound, but without our little sweetie.   We hated leaving her, but the sooner I get started on the paperwork, the sooner we can make our next trip.  I guess it is a 3 trip region.  It is a 10 day waiting period after our next trip and before our final trip to get her!  We are so excited.  She is such a sweetheart and we are not sure how we are going to get through the next few months without her.  She already has Steve wrapped around her little finger.  Definitely daddy's girl.  They played peek-a-boo and we played on the swings. 

She is so very sweet!

2nd day - 1st trip

It is 1:10 p.m on Thursday - Russian time.  Just got back from trip to see Olesya and signing papers to adopt.

How could anyone say no to this face?  Not us!
She recognized us right away and the other children came running to see us as well.  She is adorable, very independent and very bright.  Steve blew her a kiss and she blew one back!  It was great!
We are both very excited to come back and show all the photos and videos we have taken. 
We should be back home on Saturday.
Love to all
Tamra and Steve

1st day in Tambov (pronunciation is Allisa)

We arrived this morning in Tambov around 7:30.  We got to hotel.  We got paperwork and visited orphanage.  Olesya came running to me as soon as she entered the room.  I don't know if they told her to do that or not.  But it was all of the sudden and she was there.  She played with all the toys.  She would follow directions when spoken in Russian and this afternoon even repeated an easy Russian word. 

We are very excited... and we will be going again to see her tomorrow.  We will try and update blog again tomorrow if battery doesn't run dead on computer.  We are missing an item to get it to all plug in and work.

Steve is exhausted - he has only been to sleep for a few hours since Monday morning.  We are hoping to sleep in a little tomorrow before going to visit with Olesya.  She seems to like Steve.. see picture I posted. 

The driving in Russia - is intense to say the least.  People drive like maniacs and they seem to have very little patience for waiting in line.  Pedestrians do not have the right away.. you will be honked at!  U turns are made with disregard to oncoming traffic.  It is crazy to say the least.

Here is our first family photo.

OLESYA