Katie and I: The first 2 weeks

These are from the first part of the trip before I could publicly post where I was. My best friend Katie aka my sister since we've been BFF's since we were 15 came for the first 2 weeks. 

She was such a great help to me, we had some good times trying to fit in here and just enjoying getting to talk without the interruption of our kids yelling in the background! Lol this process is very stressful especially coming here after everything that happened in Crimea and coming without my husband. Katie helped to keep me focused and calm, there are moments when you are here and something stressful happens that makes you want to just curl into a ball and cry but she didn't let me:) she encouraged me to keep going and fighting for Katya. 

Miss you Katie can't wait to be home again we'll need to schedule some coffee and shopping dates :) 

Another daughter....kinda sorta

So you all know we had wanted to adopt 2 girls this trip, Katya and Masha who we hosted 2 years ago. Unfortunately Crimea was invaded by Russia and is now a part of them so Americans cannot adopt from there:( we will never give up hope that someday somehow we will be reunited with Masha again. That summer she spent with us seems so far away now but we have kept in contact with her. I waffled back and forth on if we wanted to try to adopt another girl in addition to Katya but Jared was firm in his decision for our family that unless it was Masha we were only bringing home one. 

Right before I got travel dates for this trip I learned of a foreign exchange student program that was still looking for families for 2 girls from Ukraine for this school year. These kids have families in their home countries they just come to America for the school year. Anyway I asked Jared about it not really thinking he'd agree but surprise surprise he said "sure why not?!" 

There were 2 girls available and I thought either could fit in with our family so I left it up to the organizations coordinator to choose which student we would host, she chose Lesia a 16 year old who lives in Kyiv. It has worked out great because I'm only about an hour from Kyiv so I have visited her and her family while I'm here. So while she's not technically our kid we will have 7 children living with us this year soooo should be interesting having kids from the ages of 16 down to 2! 

This is Lesia and I in Kyiv at a festival 

And here we are in Bila Tservka when she came to visit Katya and I 

A new daughter :)

I had court yesterday and the judge found in favor of our petition to adopt "Berkeley", she had to attend court and testify that this was her choice and she did great! 

So without further ado.....this is our newest daughter Katya Suzanne! 

We have about 2.5-3 weeks left here to do more paperwork then we'll be headed home to the USA!!! 

This was during the court recess yesterday 

And this was last night at the orphanage 

Thank you to everyone who prayed and supported us and a HUGE thank you to whoever donated that money to us anonymously.....I'd love to know who you are so I can thank you in person someday!

Court tomorrow:)

I have court tomorrow at noon here for Berkeley's adoption! Please pray everything goes well, she does have to consent to be adopted by me:) 

Another hospital stay

When I last posted I was telling you about Berkeley being in the hospital well this past Wednesday morning I woke up with horrible pain in my back that just kept getting worse, so bad it was making me throw up from the pain. After suffering several hours and nothing relieving it I had to call for help. I was taken by ambulance to the local hospital here for kidney stones. Luckily I was only there one night and 2 days before they released me. It was a very scary and eye opening experience to say the least. 

I am trying to catch up on lost rest and drink lots and lots of water so hopefully I won't have anymore problems while I'm here.

Court was supposed to have been Friday for the adoption but they did not have enough jurors so it has been rescheduled for Tuesday at noon. Please pray it happens that day and everything goes smoothly and fast from here on out. I'm ready to get this girl outta here and get home to the rest of my family. 

This is the gurney I was brought in on

My bed next to the wall in the hospital here

Still here :)

I'm still here and visiting Berkeley everyday while waiting on a court date, she has been in the hospital for a week with a kidney infection though. Please pray for her health and for a fast court date and smooth paper process. I miss my family at home terribly and can't wait to be back with them. 

The elevators in the hospital 

Stairwell 

Berkeley

I'm here in the town where Berkeley is and have been visiting her since Thursday morning! She's absolutely gorgeous, photos did not do her justice. 

I'm enjoying visiting her everyday and learning her personality and likes and dislikes. I can't post photos of her until after I have court in a few weeks and the adoption is legal though:) 

I'll write more later, I'm exhausted now:) 

I did buy her new shoes today and she loves them, hers were FUNKY:( 

Before

After

I'm here!!!

I arrived in Berkeley's country on Sunday and had my appt today with the adoption authority here. I will pick up her official referral tomorrow afternoon and get to meet her Thursday morning!!! Mt facilitator told me that everytime Berkeley sees her she looks up hopefully and longingly because a year ago she told her that mama was on the way. I can't wait until I can post photos of her after court in a few weeks!!!

The plane in Houston 

Yummy juice 

Lunch yesterday 

Breakfast this morning

Water at lunch today