Monday, February 28, 2011

Day 18 (3 days down 7 to go)

7 more days!!!! 1 Week!!!

Had a good visit with the girls today. We played hard! And when I say we I mean WE! With Andrew here we were able to divide our attention and now it is just me, so they both are fighting and again when I say fighting I mean fighting lol for my attention. Little Ms. Johannah (as you can tell from the pictures) can be pretty sassy, and she likes to walk up and take stuff from Ellee or another little boy who is being adopted and she will take off running and when you go to take it back from her she just laughs. And she's so darn cute, you try not to laugh, but sometimes it hard not to because she just thinks it's so funny. Johannah will take something from Ellee or someone else and Ellee, being the mother hen that she is, feels she needs to discipline her. They are totally sisters. Again like I said they need to get outside they are ready, and they are getting so tired of that little room. Plus they are testing their boundaries, what is Mommy going to let me get away with lol   The girls were able to talk to their daddy again today. While Johannah was on the phone she kept saying papa papa papa, and Ellee kissed the phone! Aww :) They miss their daddy and so do I!!!

After our visit with the kiddos Christina and I came home and ate some lunch and then decided to get out and go to the outdoor market, because I still needed to find the girls some essential stuff for when I bust them out (hehe) and then their coming home outfits and stuff. Plus I had to go buy some groceries because Christina will be leaving in a few days to head back to Kiev and then head home shortly after that. Well just about everyone in the outdoor market (something like a flea market) was closing up so I didn't find anything there, but there was a little second hard store next to the market (grocery store) so we went in there and I was able to find a couple of little things I needed for them. After shopping at the second hand store and then grocery store we decided to head home but we took a different direction to see if there were any children stores or second hand stores on that side, and there were none. So we took the groceries back to the apartment and dropped them off and we decided to hop on the bus and head over to the indoor market (supermarket, and flea market combined) and see what all they had and a few things we knew that had that I wanted to pick up. And it was COMPLETE success. We got there and I was able to finish up the things that I needed to buy, and we were able to get on and off the bus where we needed to. We felt like complete champs being able to navigate around and find things we needed. After that we came home, and that is where we have stayed because even though it was a gorgeous afternoon nights get cold!!!

Please pray for Andrew his flight leaves at 6:45 am Kiev time. Anyone on CST that will 11:00 p.m. tonight for you. Please pray for smooth flights and get home safely! He is ready to be home, but misses me and the girls terribly. He can't wait for us to get home and be a family and I can't wait either!!!

I wasn't able to get a lot of pictures today because the girls were very busy which makes mommy very busy so here is what I got! Enjoy :)



Sunday, February 27, 2011

Day 17 (2 days down 8 to go)

We have made it through 2 days of the 10 day wait only 8 more to go...

Today was another great visit. The only difference was today was the first visit with just momma. Andrew did make it to Kiev and he called me while I was waiting at the bus stop. Niko gave him a phone which was great. So I told him to call me in about 30 minutes and I would let him talk to the girls. Once I got to the orphanage I got Johannah first and she was so excited to see me, but she was looking behind me for her daddy. She kept saying papa papa, and I explained to her he wasn't there. I then went and got Ellee, and the first thing she said was papa. We went to the playroom and they were looking for him. After about 10 or so minutes Andrew called and I put the phone up to their ear and they just brightened up. I kept switching between the two of them so they could talk to their daddy and everytime I would put the phone up to Ellee's ear Johannah kept pointing at her ear and saying papa. We ALL miss him so much!!!!
In the next couple of days we are going to try to get outside. They are stir crazy and so am I. I have heard other adopting parents say this and now I know what they mean. It is seriously like you are caught in the movie "Groundhog Day" You do the same thing everyday, and there is only so many times you can play with the same toys. They are ready to get out and do something different. So we are hoping it warms up in the next couple of days, because it is like -20 everyday and WINDY!!! The wind is horrible!!! So please pray for warm weather.

So now on to the good stuff....





Saturday, February 26, 2011

Day 16 (1 day down 9 to go)

Day 1 down only 9 more to go. Today we had a great visit with the girls. It was Andrew's last day with them until we come home.:( The girls knew something was up because they were clingy and then they were testing waters today. It is so funny to see them doing it. Andrew was really sad to go, and I was really sad to see him go, not only for me but def for the girls. Ellee asks for him everyday when I go in to get her. We switch up one of us goes and gets Ellee while the other one goes and get Johannah. They are both full fledged daddies girls.They are going to miss him terribly. We had a great surprise today. A few college kids came to the orphanage and put on a puppet show. It was super cute. It was in Russian but we knew that it was the story of "Little Red Riding Hood" The kids really enjoyed it and so did we. I tried to add pics but they wouldn't load correctly so just take my word for it was cute. ;)

Andrew got on the train about 4:50 this evening and won't arrive in Kiev until 8:50 in the morning. He will stay there tomorrow and Monday. Monday he has an appointment at the Embassy, and would have loved to fly out Monday but they don't have flights in the afternoon, so he wasn't able to get a flight until Tuesday, but he will be home Tuesday evening because he gains 8 hours back. Please pray for safe travels for him over the course of the next few days.

Now onto the good stuff right... It's pretty much all about daddy and the girls today...




Day 15 (Part II)

Yes I know i'm late lol...

We had court and it went great. We got there around 8:45 our time was supposed to be at 9:10 but the judge didn't make it until 9:30 and we didn't get started until 10. Violetta told us this was the norm, and it really wasn't bad waiting. Was able to chat with Violetta and get to know her better, learn more about the court system in U. Once we got started, the judge asked us to tell about ourselves, and then asked us why we wanted to adopt these girls, and if we understood their diagnosis etc. There were some witnesses from the orphanage, social services, and the orphanage, and they all testified on our behalf. After they were don't testifying the judge read our documents and then with a ginormous smile on her face announced us their parents. Oh my gosh what a great feeling it was to hear her say those words, and to announce their names, oh my goodness!!! Of course after she done that the waterworks began.
After leaving the courts we went to the orphanage to pick up some docs, and then to the notary to have Andrew signs a POA over to me so I can do things without him. Then we went to the train station to pick up Andrew's ticket to head to Kiev on Saturday. After all that running around it was time to come back to the apartment where we were staying to pack up and head to Christina's apartment, where I will be staying until I get the girls. She is great, she is another adopting mom, and her hubby left last week, so we are going to stay together until she actually leaves this coming up week, and then I will totally be on my own. I called her to let her know that we were on our way and she told me that when she had went to the orphange earlier to see her little guy, that Johannah had saw her and started looking for us, and when she realized we weren't there she just cried and cried, and when she went back 2 hours later her eyes were really red :( Then Luba (adopting Sophie through RR) went to get Sophie and Ellee saw her and got really upset that we weren't there too. :( It breaks my heart knowing that my girls wanted me and I wasn't there, but (please no hate mail) makes me know that they want me too. They have bonded with us, and know that we are mama and papa.
After getting settled into the apartment, we had some lunch, and then headed to the orphanage. When we got there we went to Johannah's groupa first and they were still sleeping so they wouldn't let us get her, and so we went to Ellee's groupa and she was laying in her bed but not asleep, she sat straight up in her bed, but waited until the caretakers said she could get up and when they did she took off running, and was squealing and so excited. She latched onto her daddy and would not let go. We went to the playroom and started playing, and about 10 or so minutes later I heard the pitter patter of little feet and Johannah came through the door. At first she was having nothing to do with us, she was giving us this look, as how dare you not come see me this morning and then all of a sudden she squealed really loud and that was it. She latched a hold of me and then her daddy, and we went back and forth with both girls, like this for the next 2 hours. At the end of our visit we had to take them back to their groupas and they would NOT let go of us and the caretakers had to basically pry them off of us. Bless their hearts!!!

All in all a great day, and the 10 day wait starts. But they are ours!!! Now presenting....
                                                                      Ellee Elizaveta Lane
                                                                     Johannah Dasha Lane




Friday, February 25, 2011

Day 15 (Part I)

Proudly announcing Ellee Elizaveta Lane and Johannah Dasha Lane!!!!

Longer post later... :)

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Day 14

Today was another great day! It was snowing this morning when we left to head for the orphanage, which makes for a very cold walk, but we were able to get on the bus and warm up a bit. (especially when you are packed in there like sardines lol) I love when we walked into the girls groupa's to get them, because they are so excited to see us. You see their faces, and their smiles and you forget about how cold it was or how cramped you was on the bus, or anything you had to endure that morning. I have to say I have learned a lot about myself on this trip, things I would have thought I would have never been able to do. That will come at a later post... I know I know big meany :) After our visit, a group of us went out to eat at a little pizza place, that has the best pizza in the world. They are so nice there too. They even gave us this free type of bread, and oh it was so GOOD! After lunch Christina took us to the photo place to get pictures developed to prove that Andrew was here and visited with the girls. The Embassy wants it because he is leaving. While we waited for the pictures to develop we went to the outdoor market and walked around, and then went to the market to pick up a few items. We then went back and picked up the pictures and headed home, where we have stayed. I am trying to fight some sinus junk. It's making me feel like poo, but it won't stop me ;) Tomorrow we have court 9 a.m. our time, and for the folks back home on CST that is 1 a.m. so please before you head to bed tonight say a prayer for us. I know it is going to go great, but you know God would still like to hear from ya ;)
So now onto the stuff you have probably all been waiting for and going won't she just be quiet already, and who knows you have probably scrolled right on past this and to the pictures ;)








Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Day 13

A week ago today we stepped off of a train in Ellee and Johannah's region, knowing that in a few short hours we would be meeting our daughters for the first time. We had to make a few stops before we went to the orphanage, and then we were there. Couldn't believe that we were actually there. As we sat and listened to what the director was telling us about Ellee and Johannah, I couldn't help for my mind to wander knowing that we were minutes away from meeting our daughters for the first time. Then it was time, the director asked us if we were ready to meet our daughters. They went and got Ellee and Johannah and brought them into us, and oh my heart just melts thinking about those first few minutes. They went by so fast, but they will forever be in my heart. Now a week later, we are 2 days from going to court, and hearing the judge announce them our daughters. Oh I can't wait. The last week has been amazing! The girls have blossomed so much in the last week, they are so smart, so loving, and yes again I am in love! Hope you all have a great week, and thank you to everyone who has prayed for us, who has helped us financially, and who have been right along in the journey with us. We love you all!!!

Now what you all have been waiting for...


Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Day 12

Who needs words??? :)














Monday, February 21, 2011

Day 11

Can you believe that it is day 11 already? I can't and I am here living it. You live for the next day to happen. I go to bed every night praying that God makes the next day come faster.
Today we tried the bus again and let me just tell you SUCCESS!!! Yippie! We got on in the right spot, got off in the right spot, we are very proud of ourselves. I did take a nose dive this afternoon after we left the orphanage. I slipped on some ice, and went down. It hurt like crazy, but as I was telling my friend Jen tonight my ego hurt worse. But oh well you get up, you dust yourself off, and you keep going. :)
Today's visit was great. Andrew went and picked Johannah up from her groupa, and at first the workers wasn't going to let her go with him because they thought he was our friend Christiana's husband, and Johannah began to cry and he finally was able to get them to understand that he was there for her. She knew he was her papa and wanted to go with him. Bless her heart. I went and picked up Ellee today, and she was so excited to see me. While they were getting her dressed though she kept asking for papa, and the caretakers were telling her heres momma, but she continued to ask for her daddy. I think we have a couple of daddy's girls. :) I am going to sound a little selfish and coincided but that's ok (lol) but I love seeing the love my girls have for me and I know I have that same kind of love for them. They are amazing, and I am beyond blessed to be able to call them my daughters and be their mommy.
Thank you to everyone who prayed for us to have a quick court date, we got news today our court is Friday at 9 a.m. Yippie!!! :) Andrew will be leaving this weekend to head back to Kiev and then on Tuesday be headed home. I already miss him, we haven't been away from each other for more than a couple of days at a time. So please pray for traveling mercies for him, and that flights aren't delayed and he has smooth flights home.
Now on to what you have all been waiting for...