Jet Lag

Let me just say that the jet lag has been tremendous for both of us. We basically did not sleep from Thursday through Saturday. But what make matters worse is that it does not get dark here until 11pm and then the sun comes up at 4pm. Saundra remember when Adrian first came home and he'd wake us all up by saying "Sun's up!"? ha! Ok, to the good stuff, we've seen Andrey twice for about an hour each time. He has been taken to what is called a Summer House about an hour out of the city. It is not the nicest place in the world but there are trees and it is cooler there. Andrey was a little shy the first day and a little quieter. He had just gotten up from naptime. But, it was great to see him. He has a dark tooth in the front, maybe from a fever or something. He also has some bumps look like skin tags that concern me a little. He'll, of course, see a dr that first week after we arrive home to make sure he does not have anything contagious. We won't be able to see our friends for about three weeks after we come home as we will be doing the cocooning thing. At first, you should only let him be around our family only, for the bonding thing. We want him to recognize us as his family. This can take a while as he has different caregivers on any particular day of his whole life and needs to understand that this is his forever family and that he can depend on us for all his needs. We aren't quite sure what we'll be dealing with emotional wise with him, but we are going to do our best to help make a smooth transition. We had a translator read him the book "the Noisy Airplane" and gave him an airplane so as to prepare him for the flight. I took taffy and passed it out to all the children. The started sworming around me. Some of them obviously extremely delayed, but others so precious. Some darling little girls. Oh they were so appreciative of the arts and crafts we brought for the children, like those litte foam kits from Michaels enough for 60 kids I brought and bright chanille stems, and those pom poms, google eyes, etc. Ok, well someone else needs to use this computer so I have to go. We will go to court tomorrow, will be there all day so you probably won't hear from us till Wednsday and hopefully we'll have Andrey in tow. Thanks for all the comments, each one meant so much to me. I LOVE YOU ALL.

Snags

We're in Novokuznetsk! However, we've hit several snags. The first being that our court hearing was suppose to be here, now we find out it is three hours from here. That's six hours on the road court hearing day. Then on Thursday, Mark has to go back and do the six hour thing again for passports. Not sure why no one knew this as we could have stayed in Kemerovo for the first nights instead of here. Oh, and they're visa machine is down and so we cannot pay the room with visa. It's been down now for a week or so. Can't tell you how much money we brought in cash $$$$$ but it won't be enough. Our facilitator had to take second job, so she will only be available for some of the time. Found out also that we leave Novo a day early so we must make plans in Moscow. No, this won't bring us home earlier. No air!!!!!!!!!!!! Tired!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It'll be alright though, God knows about all this. Just know that they have no internet cafe in this city and this business center is expensive, so we will not be posting as much as we thought. But, we'll send the basics as we can. Love, Cherie

touchdown!

We are here and safe. Already had dr appt, went well. Very exhausted!! On our way now to airport to fly to Siberia. More when I can. Cherie

Here we go!

This is it! I cannot believe it is finally happening. We leave tomorrow! I am printing our whole dossier out now to take with us and had to gather some other last minute docs for Embassy. My sweet girlfriends from my Bible Study prayed with me today. It makes you feel so much better to know you are riding on prayer. Just know that I will try and post here as we have something to say and this will be the spot to view first pics of our new son. I just love you all! Cherie

Today is his Birthday

Today was a little hard because it our new son's 5th birthday, and we're not with him. However, I plan on making it up to him. I feel like I have almost everything I need, I just have to put it all in the suitcase. I like to put the same amount of stuff for each of us in each of our bags so if one was to be lost we'd still have enough to at least get by. Adrian is flying to Atlanta with us and staying there with my brother (Thanks Sam & Shiela). He's so excited because he get's to stay a week with his cousin, Cole. Then he'll go to my sister, Saundra's house (Thanks Saunj & Joe). He's totally happy about that too because he'll have is older cousins, Joseph & Ryan, to keep him busy. Snickers, our dog, is staying with mom & Don; so everything is in place. We are taking our laptop so I'll try and post. Please pray about the dr review and the Court date. We leave a week from today!! Oh, I am so nervous and excited at the same time, I'm probably gonna have a stroke before I get there, haaaaaaaaaaa! Cherie

Our agenda

Ok, we have our tickets and visas have been applied for. We leave on June 26th and return July 11. Got the Frazzled Females started this past Thursday, and I hope everyone was blessed; I was. VBS starts tomorrow, I'm preschool crafts with my good friend Catharine. I have stuff out on the bed for packing but have not started yet. We'll get to Moscow at 10:30am. We see the eight panel dr. that same day, then fly out that night at 10:30pm for Novokuznetsk. We'll be there for a week, then back to Moscow for a week. THEN HOME!!!!!! I don't know how I'm gonna get everything in the suitcase. I bought our facilitator in Moscow one of those things that you put in cold water and then you where it around your neck to keep you cool. I also got him some tea and salt water taffy from Savannah. Then I got the ladies make-up, bath & body stuff and some costume jewelery. It seems like a lot and, oh, I got the children some arts and crafts things. I hope everyone likes everything that we have for them. Next thing I need to get done is start packing for my son who is going to Florida with a friend. Snickers my dog is staying with my mom on Hilton Head. I hope I remember everything. Oh, got a booster seat for him for the car. In between all this, I'm trying to listen to some Russian. Ok, I'll post more soon. Cherie

YaWhoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!

We got our court date today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! July 1st. It's Friday and Anya was out of office so I really don't know anything. We'll have to wait till Monday to get travel plans, but my guess is we'll leave around 26th of June. Yawhooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!! Mama's comin sweetie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Release Letter Lost

As I have explained, our Release Letter for A from the Federal Databank was lost. It has been rerequested and has now been sent again from Moscow to to Kemerovo. We are praying that it will be received promptly and that we will be issued a court date very quickly. Cherie