Hello everyone. Lee and I had a free afternoon so I thought I would come to the internet cafe to try to catch up on this blog. I want to tell about what we've been through since we left the U.S.A. Some of the things I tell will be for people who are going to come to Ukraine to adopt.
Well, we left Huntsville on July 9th. We flew NWA to Detroit, then to Amsterdam, then to Kiev, Ukraine. It took 20 hours! We both slept at different times so it didn't seem as long. Our flights were all on time and nothing out of the ordinary happened. When we arrived in Kiev, we had a contact (thank you Bill Hamilton) who helped us through customs. We were never asked to show any money and they never checked our bags. We made it through as fast as some Ukraine citizens. Our driver (Serga) and translator (Sasha) were waiting right outside customs for us. They took us to Sasha's mother-in-law's apartment in Kiev. It looked like the old soviet apartments. All of the buildings were identical on the outside. It was very depressing. We stayed in this small apartment with one room, kitchen and bathroom. The sofa folded out to make a bed. There was not any air conditioning, but we were on the 8th floor so there was a constant breeze. We were pretty comfortable.
On Monday morning we got up early and left the apartment about 7:30 a.m. to go to the National Adoption Center. We did not have a time for an appointment so we got there early enough to sign in and wait. Fortunately, our translator (Tanya) went up and had an appointment for us at 9:30. We went up to the third floor. We saw the big sunflower with the baby in the middle that is posted on the NAC website. That is when I really got nervous! We waited about 10 minutes outside the main NAC office, then headed down the long hall with all of the doors. We went in the last door on the left. We were the first there, I think.
We sat at a desk with the most pleasant lady. She was shifting through files and talking to our translator. She said, "tell me about yourselves." I told that I was a teacher and Lee built apartment complexes, we have two sweet boys who are 10 and 8. She then said, "I guess you are here for a daughter?" We said yes, of course.
She pulled out two red binders and a few loose files for us to look at. She was very nice. She asked us to look through the binders of 0 - 4year olds for a few minutes. We did. Our translator told us what was on their files. If their were sticky notes, it usually meant that their was a recent diagnosis that they hadn't added to the file yet. There were many sick children. After only five minutes she showed us the loose files. (We expected to have to look at the sick ones for a long time.) There were about 10 loose files. Most of these were young boys. I think there were two or three girls. Our translator said, "This is a very nice girl." She picked up her phone and called the director of the orphanage. She told Tanya that she is very healthy, happy and a very good child. She is HIGHLY recommended. So we agreed to see this child. Her name was Anastasia. She was 2 years old in March.
So then we had to wait for the NAC to give us permission to visit her. This took about three days because the director had some questions about family members. On Thursday evening, we went back to the NAC to get our permission to visit the orphanage. Then we left immediately for Odessa. Odessa is about 5 1/2 hours from Kiev. It is on the Black Sea and is a huge port city.
Friday morning we got up early and waited for Sasha to take us to the city courthouse to get local permission to visit the orphanage. We went straight to the Odessa Orphanage #1. We met with the director first. She told us some legalinformation, then we met with the doctor. She told us most of her health information. We were completely happy with everything we heard. She is very healthy. While talking to the doctor, a door opened and this little girl was brought in. She took one look at us and started crying. I was shocked. I didn't expect to see her. Looking back, I think one of the reasons she cried is because she thought she might have to get a shot or something. We took her outside and played with her. She cried most of the time. When we left, I was a little upset because I wanted her to be happy with us. It was a little frustrating. But...she was adorable! (Please see the pictures!) She had on a dress that was too little. She sticks out her bottom lip when she cries, or when something doesn't please her. This first day, she stuck her head in a corner, or she would put her ear on her shoulder as if to tell us to go away. Every day gets a little better and better. Yesterday when we arrived at the orphanage the other children started calling her to tell her her mama and papa were here. She walked over to Lee to pick her up. She kissed him yesterday.

Today when we arrived at the orphanage, she looked like she was looking for us. When she saw us, she started running to us! She is acting better everyday. She kissed me today! (But Lee still is her favorite!)

The first thing she wants every time we see her is her photo album. She looks at pictures of Jordan and Chase and makes faces like Wow! She looks at Alex (Sabaka)(dog) and makes little barking sounds. I don't think she will be afraid of Alex because there are wild dogs all over the orphanage grounds. Big dogs. The director told us they kind of guard the orphanage. Whenever she starts to have a fit or cry a little, Lee will pick her up and whisper, "Sabaka" and she starts looking for them. It is alot of hard work trying to play with her, keep her happy and entertained constantly. She has made a game out of running from us, and giggles when we catch her. Needless to say, we have fallen for her big time.

Jordan and Chase, you are going to love your little sister, and she is going to love you! She isn't a girly girl. She doesn't like dolls. She will be rough and tough! Dad and I can't wait to get home to see you with her.

All of our paperwork is in Kiev as of this morning. We now wait on the Director of the NAC to give us permission to adopt her. Then we can set up a court date. I think it will take at least this week to get permission. THen we have to go to court, get birth certificate and passports in her hometown. Then we go back to Kiev to visit the American embassy. She will see a doctor there before they issue a visa. The embassy only does this on Mondays and Thursdays, so it is all a matter of timing before we find out when we can bring Sophie home.

Please keep checking our site and we love getting messages. Keep us in your prayers. We love you all! Especially you, boys!
Shannan