April 14, 2005
Power trip
So we learned that the electricity would be turned off in our apartment building today between 10 am and 3 pm for some kind of repairs, meaning we'd have to use the dark stairs for the six flights. So Tara and I packed a bag of treats and toys and the stroller and happily headed for the elevator at 9:30 am to wander around outside for a good chunk of the day. We went to a beautiful miles-long trail on a hillside with a view of Dnipro River. Quite lovely. Kicking a ball around and eating snacks among the trees isn't so bad.
Well that used up about 60 minutes. We swung by the building, very dark! So we kept going into downtown, very crowded this time of day. McDonalds for lunch worked out well because we ran into an American woman who just adopted an 11 year old girl, who was with her. The McDonald's manager gave Tara a yellow balloon on a stick that says: I heart McDonalds (in Ukrainian).
It started to get warmer outside. I carried her umbrella stroller, my bag, her balloon on a stick that was flapping in my face, and we went down two flights of stairs to the underground crossing (very busy road) and back up two flights on the other side of the road--same way, stupid balloon, to get to the plaza.
Walking briskly on the plaza, because that's how everyone walks, I took off my long black rain coat and flapped it over the stroller, which nearly tipped it. We found a large ledge to sit on. I put on my coat. By then, Tara's red coat was quite dirty from a tumble she took at the trail, my black coat had white tire marks and foot prints from being run over by the stroller and me, her teeth were blue from a lollipop she found in our bag. She kept looking in the garbage can. The balloon was trying to escape our bag. We both looked a bit of a wreck. I was holding my cup from McDonalds, smiling in the sun. It was then that I realized we looked like we were beggers!
The power is back on and we are restored as well. My fingerprints are being delivered to the state department in DC this moring (eastern time) so with ANY LUCK at all, they will ship them immediately to the FBI and then the results will be emailed to the embassy here by tomorow. But wow, that's really cutting it close. If we're not home Sunday, Tuesday would be the next likely day. Meanwhile, we're getting to know each other better each day. I'm trying to get Tara to sing, maybe we'll make some money on the ledge tomorrow.
Posted by Laura at April 14, 2005 11:00 AMPosted to
Yikes, you sound abandoned & bedraggled! Thank god for those cute pics of Tara in the sandbox. She is pure joy incarnate.
I felt super guilty when the plane landed in Detroit. Actually sick to my stomach. I shoulda stuck it out with you and gone to work Monday dead--who would notice? Problem of course is my boss would notice if I didn't show up on Monday at all. Not that any of you would understand office politics, but I would rather fight a Kiev Customs Official than my boss, bless her heart if she's reading this! Hey, she knows she's tough...that's what makes her good. She let me go on this trip on short notice already.
The whole trip home, including shower in the am, took 20 hours. Oh, by the way, 2/3 of the seats on Ukraine Int'l were empty!!!! We prob. could've come home on Saturday--I'm SURE now that there are spaces on Fri. & Sat...I would stake my inheritance check on it. I'm super worried about you guys getting thru Gatwick airport in London. It's a miles long labyrinth, (I met Uncle Fester there, Dave. The Lavra is probably nothing compared to this.) I don't know how you're going to do it w/o a stroller! As you prob. know, our flight is in the South Terminal. Maybe you can just take the stroller on board & check all your other bags. Of course I know you're Strong Independent Woman and will be fine (which is exactly what I would say about myself as well.) But I can't help worrying. Maybe I'm channeling my late & beloved Dad (King of the Land of Worry) or maybe it's that mack truck jet lag feeling that's got me so edgy...plus impending migraine...UGH!
Bits of business: please leave $$ for my share of phone bill (Ibid. I'm not stiffing Laura...she knows what I mean.)
Also, I had a dream last night that Sergei's (The Driver Dude's)car was stolen! And the police were just shrugging their shoulders & going "oh well" in Russian, as is their wont. The unflappable Sergei was flipping out in the dream. (Not like downtown Dearborn, right Karen?) I did tip him 10 bucks for the ride, Natasha thought tipping him was a good idea...so forget about tipping him on my behalf.
Natasha was so sweet to get up and go out to the airport with me, I can't believe this woman. I hope she can help with Tara on your official errands at least, but maybe those are all done now! thank god!!!
When I got home, Ben was sitting on the couch with my tv/VCR watching "Paycheck", one of Ben Affleck's movie flops from last year. That's how bad things have gotten. (He never watches tv.) I felt truly loved. BTW, he didn't get the message I was coming home early after all and greeted me as an alien from a foreign world--with wonder & awe.
Marika couldn't get on the blog for some reason! There's tons of technical expertise at her Dad's house. But she didn't tell them she was having trouble (teenage brain blip?) When I called their house, Staney (Marika's step-mom) was super-excited for you and I'm sure now that I told her about the blog she'll get Marika on it. Better late than never...Can't wait to see Marika, btw! Well, at least you guys get some bonding time w/o me interfering... I'll go take another tranquilizer now. Obviously this one isn't working. Having a great time, wish U 2 were here. sally
I hope you don't mind a stranger posting here....My husband and I are also adopting from Ukraine. I stumbled onto your website on my lunch break today. It is awesome to read some of the things that you have writeen as it is essentially what we will be experiencing in a few months. All of our paperwork (with the exception of our I71-H form) was sent over to Ukraine about a week and a hald ago. We are still waiting to hear from USCIS, but excpect to get out letter in the next few weeks. From there our agency says we should expect to travel in Sept/Oct. Anyway, just wanted to tell you how happy we are for a fellow adoptive couple to be completing this portion of the journey. And also a big "thank you" for giving us a glimpse of our future. If you would like to contact me, please feel free.
Posted by: Angie Mckeefery at April 14, 2005 03:52 PMLaura-
Adding my two cents to the trip home. By all means bring the stroller, you can load it up with all the carry-on's and Tara can walk with you or be carried.They'll put the stroller on the plane for you. We did this in Ireland and just recently in Florida as well. It's great help. Hoping the US machine can push through your fingerprints ASAP. Just keep clicking those black boots together....'there's no place like home...there's no place like home....
Amy
Laura:
Wow. I didn't read for two days and look at all I missed. I am just smiling here at your adventure and great attitude about it all. Blue teeth! This is the best-written and edited blog I've ever seen (the photos are great too!)... It's great for you to have the extra bonding time with Tara. She's having a ball with mom!
Thinking of you guys!
LAURA AND TARA; I KNOW YOUR SLEEPING WHEN WRITING THIS NOTE BECAUSE IT 5;30 PM HERE.TIME FOR YOU BOTH WILL SOON BE HERE SINCE EVERTHING ELSE IS DONE. BE SURE TO GET REST WITH ALL THESE ACTIVITIES WITH TARA, YOU BOTH NEED IT. I STILL HOPE NATASHA IS HELPING YOU SOME IN PART OF THE DAY. LOVE YOU MOM
Posted by: JEANNE at April 14, 2005 05:33 PMWell with me on this end driving the FBI crazy and you on that end prodding at the Consulate, you should get a clearance fast. Sounds like you and Tara are doing the Best Friends thing (cue music) and are having a lot of girls' nights out. We'll all be together soon, and Austin can start locking up his stuff at your house and get ready for Hurricane Tara.
Posted by: karen wiz at April 14, 2005 05:56 PMhi laura,
i know just how you feel after a day like that. tire marks on your coat--hah! that is a great description of what it is like to schlep around all day in a city with a young child in a stroller. of course, you love them to death and feel so lucky to have them, even as your arms are weakening from carrying so much, and your mouth is parched, and you have to pee. and if you bring enough snacks, and remember the water (bonus if you remember to bring some for yourself, too), they sometimes sleep peacefully on the way home.
hannah is downstairs screaming because daddy is washing her hair, and ben is sleeping peacefully after learning to climb the stairs.
is tara vika already potty trained? that is so cool!
my experience with strollers and airports is that you can take them right up to the plane, and they will check them at the door. so if they don't let you actually take it ON the plane, they will let you take it up TO the plane.
you are a good mom.
hh
Posted by: heidi at April 14, 2005 07:26 PMStroller Moms,
You made me feel a lot better til I realized she has to get the stroller onto the Ukraine Int'l plane first! When I got on the plane on the way home Wed. the flight attendant dude wouldn't let me put anything under the seat in front of me (Nyet! Nyet!), he made me put my rolling backpack (not huge) in the overhead bin. He wouldn't let anyone put anything under the seat in front of them as is customary...
Hope a stroller doesn't totally freak them out. Nothing can be taken for granted on planet Ukrainus. All the people we met there are very philosophical....Laura, good luck with this. s.