Bringing Elona Home

Okay, I have to tell you - right now Elona is pretending to have an office and is pretending to stamp documents with a deodorant container. She is listening to music on a disc player and organizing and re-organizing papers and objects on her ‘desk’. This is so funny to Roger and me. All three of us have seen a lot of documents stamped over the last two months. Elona was amazed that the Notary had five stamps, and each was bigger than the last.

Anyway. We have Elona’s Visa. George picked up us at the apartment and we hurried to the ‘Metro’. Kiev’s subway must be 10 stories underground, is very crowded and very noisy, which makes it seem like it is going really fast. A short Metro ride, a short bus ride, (practically running in between) we arrived at the U.S. Consulate 20 minutes early. I have to make a correction; our meeting yesterday was also at the Consulate, not the Embassy. We are the only people in the waiting room, which is very clean and new, not at all like any other waiting room we have been in since arriving in Ukraine.

Right at 2:00 we are called up to the window. The very nice American Consulate asked Elona a few questions; we raise our right hands and swore that all the document information is true. Sign the forms. We are finished. 20 minutes later the Visa is ready and we are out the door. I cannot describe how happy this makes us.

Now we are just killing time until the flight tomorrow morning.
For dinner we went to ‘Papa John’s’ (not the same, here Papa John is black). Elona ate 4 large pieces of pizza and a salad. Roger and I are thinking we will not be able to afford to feed her.

That is all from the Ukraine. Tomorrow we will return to our wonderful country and our friends and family. Thank you for joining us on our amazing journey. We will write again when we are home for few days to let you know how Elona’s first days in America go.

Roger, Kelley and Elona.

Photos are the view from our apartment.

We Are In Kiev

Galya picked us up in a cab and we went to the deski dome (orphanage) to say a quick good-bye to Mama Irena. You can tell she really cares about her girls and is so happy when they find loving homes. She gave Elona a box of chocolates and us a bottle of Champaign to share a toast with Pam and Len when we return home.

We got to the airport in Simferopol on Sunday, no problem and said our good-byes to Galya. We hope that she and her family will visit us in the US someday.

Elona was a little nervous about getting on the airplane as we walked towards it, but after we boarded she was fine. She had a little trouble with her ears and a lot of trouble with boredom. She is a typical 11 year old, complains when you are running all over that she is tired, and then complains that she is bored you have to sit and wait for more than 5 minutes. We explained later that the flight to US was a lot longer and that she was going to have to entertain herself better. Roger and I did our best imitations of Elona, sighing and flopping, she got the idea.

We arrived in Kiev about 2:00 and George was there to pick us up. Igor, Sveta’s husband, drove. He and George bicker like an old married couple, and then George turns and smiles at us. We are staying only a few blocks from where we were before. This is the center of the city, shopping, business, restaurants. The apartment is comfortable, but not quit as newly remodeled. We are having trouble getting the internet to work, but are picking up the coffee shop’s wireless from the first floor if we stand at the window. We had dinner at ‘Friday’s’. Roger had steak and was happy. The food was good, but a lot more expensive that eating out in Sevastopol, but about the same as home.

This morning we got up and out the door with George and Igor at 8:15AM. The first stop was the Medical Center where George went and registered and then we waited for about an hour for the doctor. The Doctor was very nice and the exam was over and all the papers signed and stamped by 10:30. We are out the door and on to the U.S. Embassy.

At the Embassy, we walked right past the line of 30 or so Ukrainians waiting outside, finally it pays to be an American. There is special office just for adoptions and we go right up to the window with our documents, most which George has organized, and more which I had spent about 2 hours the night before filling out. Everything is good, I signed a couple of papers and we are told to come back tomorrow to meet with the Consulate and we will receive our visa then. I cannot tell you how relieved were to hear those words. George is amazed; we were only there about 30 minutes.

We are so close now that we can taste it.
Kelley, Roger and Elona.

Leaving Sevastopol

We have the Passport. Yesterday at 4:00 Galya called and said we should meet at the passport office just in case it comes in. So the three of us walked over, it was about a 10 minute walk (we made a wrong turn, so it took us 20) and a beautiful day. There are about 15 other people waiting, all standing around the door. That is how they wait here. There are places to sit, but they all stand around the door. We were only there about 15 minutes when they start calling people in one at a time. Roger and I are not hopeful, we have had so many delays, no way will it be here. But, we are called in, Galya give me this look of ‘I can’t believe it’.

Ten minutes later we are out the door with Elona’s passport and running to the travel agency to buy our airline tickets to Kiev. I think Galya is more relieved than we are, she is all smiles. She called Sveta with the good news. We found out late last week that Sveta is very sick and will not be able to make the arrangements for us in Kiev. Instead George will be taking care of us. He is the guy that helped Pam and Len when they were here, so we are in good hands, but sorry we will not get to see Sveta. We will be leaving Sunday morning for Kiev, it doesn’t seem possible. Then we leave for Cincinnati on Wednesday morning. Can’t wait to be home.

Last night we got together with Jaimee and Andy, their friends Amanda and Jarred, and Galya. Elona was very existed to see Jamiee and Andy, and another friend Tanya that she knew from the orphan summer camp. We also ran into the Canadian, Jason, that we had meet weeks before. It was Friday night and every place was busy and smoky. We finally crowded into a corner at a small pizza place, Fiesta Pizza (wish we had tried it sooner, we liked the pizza better that Potato House, but let atmosphere).

Kevin joined us later with a friend, he was busy keeping track of the US sailors in port, but stopped in for a slice. It gave us a chance to thank him again. While we were there several more sailors stopped in for pizza. Jamiee and Andy had meet Joe the day before and he was making arrangement to donate clothes to their Operation Lazarus.
It was a nice time, and we happy to get to see everyone before we leave. As much as we miss Ben, home and family, we are going to miss Sevastopol and the wonderful people that we have met here.

Kelley and Roger

Oh What A Night

Three nights together and everything is going great. Elona has slept well on the living room sofa, and is waking up hungry and eats all day. The first night she took a long bubble bath and washed her hair. She is a little bored, but is otherwise fine. I would imagine she is used to having other children around all the time so this is a little strange. We gave her the first ‘Harry Potter’ book in Russian and she is enjoying that. Today she helped cook breakfast and now she is dusting the apartment, even though I told her she did not need to.

Our routine has been about the same. Late mornings, we eat breakfast, go to the market, and then Skype Ben before he goes to school. Then depending on the weather, we hang out and play on computer or go for a walk. Wednesday night we played some UNO and watched an American movie (in Russian) that Pam had lent us (thank you Pam, those movies have been a life saver). Today we are going to start packing – yeah.

Just a funny note. Roger had commented to me several times, that there is no place in the city where there has been concrete sidewalk or road repair that does not have a shoe or paw print in it. So last night coming up from meeting Kevin, he came across a patch of wet concrete in the sidewalk. Roger has made his mark in Sevastopol, leaving his hand print.

Yesterday we walked down to the public dock area where a US Navy ship is docked. The USS Klakring is on a diplomatic visit to the Ukraine. It is a ‘small’ ship. Last night we went to a reception there. Kevin invited us, this is a real privilege. The party was under a tent on the helicopter pad. The US Ambassador was there, and Ukrainian Admirals, what the military folks would call “big brass”, and of course the officers and some of crew of the ship. There were about 80 people all together. We really didn’t have the right clothes to wear. We had to go out and buy skirts for Elona and I, and shoes for Elona. Good thing we have our ‘court clothes’, or we would have had to decline. Kevin said it didn’t matter, it is our Navy. Kevin and his boss (an Army Coronel) were there of course. Kevin’s friend Kostya, whom we had meet before at Kevin’s, was working as the interpreter for the Ambassador. Roger had met several of the officers the night before, so they were all coming up and introducing themselves to Elona and me.

When we first arrived Elona was particularly interested in the swan ice sculpture and sterno cans heating the serving dishes. The cheese and veggie tray was also a hit. Later when they started serving food (all very American) she had her first chicken fingers and BBQ meatballs, and then ate two large dinner rolls. She decided the roast beef which Roger was thrilled with.

Many of the American officers spoke Russian and Elona got plenty of attention. In fact, the Army Coronal, who spoke Russian, was very nice spoke with Elona frequently. He arranged for Elona to have a private tour (Roger and I got to tag along) of the bridge and the deck with a Russian speaking US officer. One of Executive Officers had a traveling koala bear (like our Flat Stanley) from his 8 year old daughter’s school project and posed for photos with Elona. As it turns out Elona stepped on her first piece of US soil last night when she went aboard the ship. So as a special gesture, the commander of the ship ordered the Elona be entered into the ships log.

We left after about 2 hours with a cold and tired little girl. It was an exciting night, one I don’t think she will forget for a long time. Roger and I would like to express our appreciation to the US Military for a special night and for their great work around the world. Just another reason we are proud to be Americans.

No More Orphanage

Boy, a lot has happened since Sunday. First, we did not get to take Elona home from the orphanage on Monday like we were supposed to. After going to several offices with Galya and Kostya, we went to the orphanage to pick up and Elona. The representative from the government was there also. They whisk Galya away and ask (tell) us to wait in the library. About 20 minutes later Galya comes in with a very sober look. “It is not happening today.” What??? She repeats the statement and we are shocked. The director will not release Elona without the birth certificate- that we cannot get until tomorrow. Even the government representative is surprised.

But that was yesterday. Today we have Elona with us. She is working on an art project and listening to music as I am writing this.

The day started at 8:30 this morning and we went none stop until 4:30 today when Galya and Kostya dropped us off at the apartment. I will not bore you with all the details, but we went to eleven locations during that time. It was after we got the birth certificate that we picked up the Director at her home (she wasn’t feeling well) and went to the Orphanage for the official transfer. Galya handed over documents and we signed some papers. They gave Elona a nice book of Ukrainian Folk Tales and the Director gave her phone number. Later our little angel says to Galya in Russian “Why the hell did she give me her number, I’m not going to call her”. One neat thing, they brought out a wooden US puzzle with pictures of adopted children glued to it and we placed a mark where Elona would be living in America. Elona’s mark is right next to Angella’s. The Neeley’s from California and the Webb’s from Tennessee were also represented.

The government representative was 40 minutes late…..so after he arrived and signed the papers, it was official; we got our papers, said good-bye. In the hall Galya says….lets run. Roger and I are a little surprised, but we don’t ask question. All four of us take off as fast as we can through the orphanage and out to Kostya waiting in the car. Roger and I are thinking….did we get away with something, are they going to come running after us and take Elona back????? Turns out we are just running behind and Galya is just trying to get us to our next stop before the lunch break at 1:00 starts. We get there in time to get things turned in, but still have to wait for the lunch break. So we had lunch and had a really nice talk with Elona.

Long story short, it took all day but we have applied for Elona’s passport, which should be here in time for us to leave for Kiev on Saturday evening (thanks you Galya and Kostya). We will apply for the U.S. visa on Monday, get it on Tuesday and leave for home on Wednesday. Hallelujah.

Tonight, finally, is our first night together. I have a feeling our adventure is just beginning.

Kelley, Roger and Elona
(The photos are of Elona with some dorm mates, and Kostya and Galya on the day of our outing.)

The Home Stretch

Tomorrow is the first of many ‘big’ days to come in the next week. Galya will pick us up in the morning and we will head out to get the adoption decree. The next step is getting the passport. We will try to get some other things done, but we need Elona’s new birth certificate and of course that office is closed on Monday.

Next we will go to the orphanage and pick up Elona. We will bring her her own clothes, shoes and coat. She will change out of her shared orphanage clothes for the last time. I really mean ‘shared’ clothes. Not only did we see Elona wear the same clothes for many days in a row, but we would also see the other girls in the dorms wearing them also. She will gather up the very few belonging that she has and we will leave for the apartment.

We will not be saying good-by to the orphanage for good yet. We will be returning about 3:30 for a ‘going away party’ and for the official hand off with the director and a government representative. Roger and I will be very thankful to be walking up that hill for the last time (it is steeper that it looks in the photo). Elona picked out small gifts at the market for her dorm mates; she did a great job, very thoughtful and stayed on budget. Did I tell you Elona is a list maker, and she has beautiful penmanship. She made a list of the girls she was buying for and crossed them off as she went.
Elona was also very specific with what we should bring for the party, she made me make a list. We are bringing juice, fruit, chocolate and a cake. She would have invited the whole orphanage if we would have let her.

Before I forget, wanted to ask those of you that have adopted, was your child eating everything in site? Since we have been spending more time at the apartment with Elona and offering her things like popcorn, chips and salsa and even trail mix, as soon as she gets to the apartment, she starts indicating casually that she is hungry. And, she will eat about anything we put in front of her, today it was strawberry yogurt and left over macaroni and cheese. It cracks me up.

Anyway……After the party and the official hand off…. We will, all three, be leaving the orphanage for the last time. Before heading home, we are going to the Potato House for Pizza. Then to the apartment for Elona’s first sleep over. Elona is about jumping out of her skin. She is so excited she can’t contain herself. Today on the way to the bus she was singing “Tomorrow, Tomorrow”. The feeling is mutual.

Almost forgot. Friday night our good friend Kevin hosted a party at his apartment . Roger and I, Galya and Kostya, Jaimee and Andy, and Amanda and Jarred attended. Katie, a past co-worker of Kevin's, also joined us. Kevin is a great host. Sangria, cold cuts, bruschetta, shrimp cocktail, and salad. There were also chips and salsa, potato chip with French onion dip and M & M’s that the Americans went crazy for. It was a really fun night with good conversation, a night that will away bring fond memories. Thank you Kevin.

Kelley and Roger

P.S. 2nd photo is the view of a statue of Lenin as we walk to our apartment everyday.

Thank You

Since not a lot is happening here except for waiting, we will put in a few new pictures of the city and take some time to thanks some people.

Pam and Len: Without the two of you having the courage to do this on your own, Roger and I would not be bringing this wonderful child into our family. It is so hard to imagine how difficult your adoption experience must have been without someone there to hold your hand, the way that Roger and I had the two of you. And a thank you to Angella , who is celebrating one year in America this week, this has all happened because of you.

Next of course would be our family. Without their support we would not have been able to make this journey. Ben was on board with the adoption idea from day one and still is. We all knew that the process could last this long, but we were sure it wouldn’t (we were wrong). The first 5 weeks away from Mom and Dad, wasn’t so bad, but we are all ready to get our lives back to normal and Ben is no exception. So we thank him for being patient and we can’t wait to see him.

Cathy has left her home for what will be 8 weeks by the time it is all over. She came to Cincinnati to take care of Ben, a young teenage boy (need we say more), the dog, the cat, the fish and the toad. She has run errands, paid bills, gone to dentist appointments and gone to martial arts more times than we can count. Having one person commit that much time and take on all that responsibility is uncommon and we will be forever thankful. And let’s not forget Steve. While Cathy is in Cincinnati for these 8 weeks, Steve has been home alone. A couple weeks is one thing, we married folk might even consider that a good thing, but both Cathy and Steve have disrupted their lives so that we could be here.

We can’t say enough about Robbin. She too was on board from the very beginning and we don’t know what we would do without her. She helps in too many ways to mention, but has been especially supportive with Ben since we have been gone. She has been there to give Cathy well deserved breaks, she has helped Ben with school projects and been there when he needed her. We Skype with Robbin almost every work day and that bit of normalcy does wonders for our morale. We should also mention that Bill has also been very supportive, he and Ben are close and I am sure that having Bill at the black belt testing really helped.

Thank you to all the friends that have taken Ben for a day of play or for sleepovers. This has really helped the time pass for him and we really appreciate it.

There are people back in Iowa that I would like to thanks. Aunt Trula and Aunt Mildred are nursing my mother after a minor surgery. And Bev and Dick take a lot of time out of their busy lives to help with her medical care. Hi Mom, hope you are feeling better.

Finally, thanks to all of you out there who are following the blog, writing comments and sending emails. You have helped Roger and I get through the each day and put smiles on our faces.

Hope to see you all soon.
Kelley and Roger