February 09, 2005
Inside the out door
We started out our day locked inside our apartment! The lock on the old steel door was jammed. We tried to shimmy, and jiggle, and shake it. It was 9 am and we had two appointments before we were to head to the orphanage for the third straight day to visit the little girl with the blue eyes. Natasha called. She was waiting in the car downstairs. Help! We threw the key to her in a plastic bottle from the 6th floor. Maybe it will open from the outside. Natasha slipped on the snow to try to get to the bottle with the key, she got the driver to help. They both raced up the elevator to our door but couldn't open it from the outside. The landlord was called. We had to wait two hours as Alina, Natasha, Lian (the driver) on the outside and John and me on the inside dismantled the lock using scissors, a knife and whatever else we could find. "Does this happen to all of your Amercan families?'' John asked Natasha. We had a good chuckle about this all day, as we waited for the notary public to draw up documents for us. Then the inspector, then to the orphanage attorney.
We are waiting for medical tests to come back on the little girl. Her doctors tell us they feel she is fine. She is alert and playful with her friends and she is saying some words.
We missed our appointment for a visit this morning so Natasha called the orphanage and asked for permission to come at 3 pm instead. Yay!
The little girl ran toward us in the hall, then breezed by us to the potty room. They all sit on little potties at the same time, lined up against the wall. We spent some time with her in a play area and then watched her play with her friends. She is very comfortable around the other kids, even bonked a boy on the head with her stuffed bunny.
OK. Here she is.
Posted to
L & J
She is totally adorable! What a sweet little face, with those pink cheeks. I hope the med tests come back ok... In the meantime don't let John scare her with that Yeti hat. sal
HI LAURA AND JOHN --WHAT A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRL. SHE SEEMS SO HAPPY. WHAT A BLESSING TO MEET THIS CHILD.
WAITING FFOR MORE HAPPY NEWS.
LOVE, MOM
I love the locked-in-the-apartment story. Sounds like a Seinfeld episode! Wow, the little girl is a real cutey. I hope everything works out great!
Posted by: Bernie at February 9, 2005 01:43 PMSo weird. I checked my the website today and the two pictures were added, but no written update for the longest time. I thought maybe I had not gotten the photos yesterday. She is so beautiful and there is some resemblance--is that possible? I am so happy for you both! Glad you made it out of the apartment still talking to each other!!!
Posted by: sharon at February 9, 2005 01:49 PMHey Aunt Laura and Uncle John! Wow, shes adorable!! Shes the cutest little thing! Keep us all back in Michigan updated!!
Posted by: Caroline at February 9, 2005 02:02 PMShe is such a cutie pie and she looks like she is yours. I am thrilled for all of you! I anxiously await for your next entry. I can't believe the stuck lock story...Lucy and Ricky episode, too funny, but so glad you finally got out!
Posted by: Vicki at February 9, 2005 03:48 PMWow, sounds like you had to practically defeat the Dark Side to make your daily appointment with Destiny today!! It's great that you can laugh about it, how stressful! GOOD JOB!
"The little girl ran toward us in the hall, then breezed by us to the potty room."
HEE HEE HEE!! :o) Things are clicking right along. Keep it coming!
I love Dave's comment about Dorothy and the Red Shoes. Fantastic...and yes, Sally, cousin Karen is funnier than you. LOL! And so is Caroline!
Posted by: Pamela at February 9, 2005 04:45 PMHi, she's really cute. Whats her name?
I hope its her that you that you get.
Love Austin
i know celebrating is a little premature, but if you felt comfortable showing us a picture, things must be going well. yay!
thanks for taking pity on us and showing us a real picture. what a beautiful child! i liked austin's post.
Posted by: heidi at February 9, 2005 06:20 PMHi Guys....She is beautiful. Hope everything goes smooth with the medical and papers. I am glad to hear that I am not the only one sobbing as I read. My Boyz keep asking me what's wrong.
I think you NEED to ship a HUGE box of hats back home. HUGE! Cuz I want one too! I will even give you $5 extra for your trouble... and John...the hat that you purchased, the black fur one...looks JUST LIKE one of my Dad's old toupee's. Dont ya think?
P.S. Austin, you will make an EXCELLANT big brother. Finally...someone you can boss around. But remember...she might end up dating one of your best friends!
Laura, she seems to have your coloring -- brown eyes(?) and hair. I immediately thought she resembled Caroline on first glance. Precious and adorable!
I loved Austin saying he hopes she is the one you pick. How could you resist?
Love, Aunt Ellen
L&J,
What a cutie pie!
As pretty as Austin is handsome. Good combo.
What is her birthday??
All good news so far, no potting training needed, no self defense courses needed, speaks clearly, active, plays well with animals....fashionable dresser...
Good luck on medical.
PS.Take pins out of hinges MacGyver.
Hey, don't read my first note. How embarrassing! You mentioned her BLUE eyes twice!! Anyway, she still looks like Caroline -- now more than ever! I have her photos enlarged and filling my screen for decoration.
Aunt (Stupid) Ellen
AND....
the running towards you in the hallway and then PAST you to the potty chair...HAHAHAHHA!!!!!! But think about it...2 years old and POTTY TRAINED??? She is a GENIUS!!!
Big sister here: The pink bunny speaks volumes to me. (Caroline has one just like it.) We all breathlessly gathered around the 'puter to see her picture. Everybody looked at her, then we all looked at Austin. All was quiet. He was smiling from ear to ear, mesmerized.
The locked upper room is symbolic, Jesus entered and breathed the Holy Spirit...
That, and yeah, you could have removed the hinge pins. I have seen B&E boys with IQs of 50 get through doors like they were made of cardboard. Sheesh.
Posted by: Karen Wiz in Detroit at February 10, 2005 06:51 AMI love the Blog. Didn't know such things exist. Mary and me now want to adopt a child so we can have a blog too. Except we are adopting our child in Hawaii. A little too cold where you are.
The little girl is very cute. Keep the pictures coming.
AND, as soon as possible after your return, the four of you hop on a plane and bring your new daughter to visit us in Florida. She will love the warm weather I bet, and we would love to meet her.
David
Posted by: Dave L at February 10, 2005 10:17 AM Wow!!! She's adorable. Fingers crossed!
xo, mm
Dave L,
She didn't adopt so she could have a blog--she's adopting because she wants 6 weeks off!(-;
(Laura, don't hit me.)
cousin s.
LAURA AND JOHN
I AM ANXIOUS TO SEE YOUR LITTLE DARLING . SHE WILL BE BLESSED TO HAVE YOU FOR PARENTS.
AUSTIN WILL HAVE A PRETTY LITTLE SISTER.
Posted by: AUNT FRAN at February 10, 2005 11:56 AMAunt Laura and Uncle John,
Best adoption blog ever!
She looks cute.
You must have been stressed being locked in your room and missing your appointment.
How would you get out in case of fire?
Be careful.
"We tried to shimmy, and jiggle, and shake it."
Sounds like you guys had a great night out at those downtown Kiev clubs!
Posted by: Pamela at February 10, 2005 05:50 PMWe are leaving for Ukraine in 5 weeks hoping to find a little boy between 5-7 years old. Your website has been a wonderful help. Seeing pictures of your beautiful little girl and hearing about what a great experience you had has been great.
We are taking our 8 year old son with us. He is very excited to meet his new brother.
Thanks again for creating such a great blog site!
Jaime and Andy