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 

Leaving on a jet plane....

Tomorrow afternoon my best friend Katie and I will be boarding a plane to start our journey to bring Berkeley home. Jared will be staying home and working and we hired a girl we have known for years to come be their nanny during the day while he's at work. Not only does Jared not have any paid days off work right now but we felt the kids especially Pasha and Callen needed at least one of us here. So Katie is going to with me for 2 weeks to help keep me calm:)

I am having such mixed emotions about this trip, I feel as if I'm losing my mind at times. I am excited to meet Berkeley, I am excited to be adopting her, I'm excited to be back in a country I love. 

However I'm worried about leaving the kids, I wish Jared was going with me and I'm sad I won't be going to Crimea this year. That last reason is the hardest part of all of this.....I miss the girl that's stuck there so much and I ache for the wonderful city of Simferopol I love. 

I'll try to be a better blogger this year than I was last year, so much I will not be able to share publicly until after I have court and legally adopt Berkeley. 

Thank you so much to everyone who has donated, prayed and helped us. It's been a crazy process to get here but the best part is coming soon. 

Here's my fellow traveler!!!