Ukraine Adoption

A new day

I have been closely following my friend's adoption in Ukraine. She is finally picking up her new 7-year-old daughter tomorrow (Tuesday) and I'm so thrilled for her. Greta has been at this international adoption process for nearly two years, ever since she met Tara and asked me for some information.

She can blame me for the craziness that ensued: the paperwork, the extra costs, the delays, more paperwork, the extra trips to Europe, the long drives to visit the little girl, the bad weather. She can blame it all on me. And I wouldn't care one bit. Because I am thrilled to see one more little girl from a Ukraine orphanage find a wonderful home here in America.

OK, so who's next?

Back in the cold

The bright sunlight woke us up this morning, I peeked out the window and saw the pool and hot tub, steam rising. The water in the canal was still. But this wasn't going to be a relaxing morning, not today. Our bags were mostly packed though we still rushed around to get everything ready for our departure. Florida is a lovely place this time of year for us snowbirds. John's brother and sister-in-law were gracious hosts for a week, but our time was up.

Tara was the last one to wake up after 11 hours of sleep. I suppose the pool, beach, park and dinner at a seafood restaurant yesterday were finally enough to do her in for a long night's sleep. She was like the Energizer Bunny for most of the trip, but even bunnies get tired sometimes.

We are home now, our house is chilly, our cat is super happy, the laundry cycles have already begun. In some ways, it's always good to be home. But Tara is keeping her capris on and I'm still wearing my flip-flops. Some things we just want to hang on to a little bit longer.

Cruising on vacation

Sun, fun, ah

The sun has been shining brightly upon us in Florida and we couldn't be more pleased. It's as though the cold winter blahs have dissipated overnight. Tara and Austin had no problem adjusting from snow to sand. The heated pool is great for the slightly chilly nights.

In this picture, Tara is is getting ready to go out to dinner after a day of swimming in the pool and running around on the beach. Now, she is sound asleep, her cheeks pink from the sun. Tomorrow we go on a boat ride. Sleep tight, little Tara.

to the beach?

Tara's pink Dora suitcase has been packed for days, with two bathing suits, shorts, tops, Barbie pajamas and striped flip-flops. What else do you need in life? We are spending a few days this week in sunny Florida at John's brother's house. We are hoping it will be very warm because we are all SO ready to take a break from winter. His pool is heated, so even if it's not scorching hot, we'll likely take a few dips.

We are all trying to get over colds, too, so this trip comes at a good time. This is a first for Tara, she has never been to Florida. We will try to bring back some sunshine and warm weather when we return.

Balentimes

Tara was so excited about Valentines Day that she was already up and tugging on her pink-heart tights when I opened her door to wake her up this morning. We have lots of snow and schools are closed, but that would not stop a four-year-old from distributing her Valentines cards to her friends at pre-school---which is always open!

She had her red velvet heart dress and pink sweater on in no time at all. And she clutched her leopard-print purse filled with cards that have chocolate kisses taped to them, each signed days ago by her little hand.

"Balentimes Day is today!" she said.
OK, Tara, try that one again. VVVValen TINESS day, I said. Say Vika, Very, Victor, Valentines.
"Vika, Very Victor Balentimes," she said.
I try again. Same thing. "Balentimes."

I tell her a Valentine is someone she loves and I ask her who is her Valentine. She says her friend "Talia." Who else? "My whole family and all my friends," she says. "I have a lot of Balentimes!" Indeed.

Tara's world

Tara's fever is gone and she is feeling better except for a cold that has taken its place. She had her first ever filling done at the dentist's office today and she was a real trooper, opening and closing on command. Of course, I'm sure the gas they gave her helped. And now, as if a trip to the dentist isn't enough, her little world may be shaken because her pre-school might be closing.

They have been looking for a new site for nearly a year because the church they are in is remodeling and no longer wants to rent to a childcare center. It's a big mistake by the church, as far we are concerned, because they will lose all the laughter, smiles and, OK, diaper smell. We really like the teachers and the program at Kidzone, but that doesn't seem to matter to the church, which will be SO boring and quiet without the center. Their loss for sure. But our loss is even bigger. We are now in the position of looking for a new school for Tara as our Plan B, which is becoming more and more like Plan A as the deadline of March 10 to get out of the church approaches. We hate to rock her little world. She loves this school. She spoke almost no English when she started there and they have taught her so much. They notice when she is wearing something new; they encourage her to be creative; they taught her how to write her name; they hug her. They are like family.

We are hoping to put Tara in a place where possibly two of her dear friends will be going. We are touring some sites this week, but always with a sense of sadness about what is appearing to be the inevitable. We know that in time, no matter what happens, she will adjust. Kids always do. But stability is the key for a little girl from Ukraine. We will do all that we can to make sure any changes in her world are as smooth as possible. But that doesn't mean it's going to be easy.

Down for the count

At 5 a.m., we heard whimpering outside our bedroom door. I jumped up and stumbled out and saw, in the glare of the hallway nightlight, little Tara crumpled on the floor, her cheeks damp from tears, her hair in her face. What's wrong? I asked, hugging her. Then I knew. She felt very warm. A fever.

Something was going around her pre-school last week, several kids missed a few days. I was only a little worried, because Tara seems to side-step colds all the time. We can all be sick in the house, and she's barely sniffling at all. But I should never have done what I did last week: I bragged to her teacher that Tara rarely gets a fever. I even knocked on wood. Some superstition that turned out to be.

So they make cold medications that work so well that they make children forget they are sick. When I was a kid, I only felt like lying in bed or on the couch all day. Tara's fever subsided quickly with Motrin, so now she is running around like any other day. But I know when it wears off, she will be down for the count, again. What's a mother to do, let her run around, or make her stay down?

It is so cold out, we are all basically stuck inside.

Tara thought it was really funny when she sneezed on her dad this morning. John is not happy. But he figures adults don't usually catch a fever from a kid, maybe a cold, though. Sure. OK, where's the Airborne??

Two years, two strangers

On Feb. 7, 2005, we met our little girl in an orphanage in Kyiv, Ukraine. Two years ago today, this tiny two-year-old walked into a small office and saw these two strangers staring at her. I'm not sure whose eyes were wider, hers or ours. She quickly broke into tears and covered her eyes with two loose-fisted hands, a gesture she still does sometimes when she is upset and it always breaks my heart. I wanted to pick her up and hold her, but I knew it would scare her even more. I reached out and touched her arm, she pulled away.

The orphanage doctor gave me a little stuffed animal and I crept closer on my knees and raised it near this little girl's face, she peeked out and looked at it, then at me, like I was crazy. Her clothes were too big on her; her shoes looked too small.

Several days passed with many visits, and little Tara Vika came to know us as family. You can revisit our first meeting; we created a post the next day: Little Girl.

What a great day that was, and how lucky we are today.

Cold day

Schools are closed today across our state because the temperatures hit below zero, particularly with the wind chill. Austin was So Excited to be able to extend his weekend. Tara's pre-school is open, and we gave her the choice to stay home if she wanted to. She said she would prefer to go to school. Imagine that!

So I dropped her off at school before heading to work. Mondays are usually a little harder for all of the children (and the parents). But Tara strutted into her classroom with a smile and got busy. I was talking to her teacher for a few minutes and had to look for Tara before I left. She was already hanging out with her friends. I guess I was the one that was most sad that we had to part ways. We have a lot of fun together on the weekends. Good-bye Tara! I shouted across the room. "Bye Mommy!" she said, as she gave me a reassuring grin and blew me a kiss. Funny how sometimes the children are the ones comforting us.

Winter in Ukraine

It was two years ago today, John and I arrived in Kyiv, Ukraine for our appointment at the adoption center the next day. We were tired, excited, scared and ...really cold! We had tried to time everything so that we would not have to go to there in the winter. But there is so much in this process that we do not control. We got our referral for a 2-year-old girl and we met her four days later. That encounter changed our lives. So much joy!

Today, my friend Greta and her husband are in Kyiv, getting some final paperwork signed to allow them to go to court and adopt a sweet little girl in a region a few hours away. They had tried to time their process to avoid going there in the winter. It has been a bumpy road for them; this seems to be the norm in international adoptions. They came home from Ukraine for a few weeks before Christmas, and there were more delays. But they knew in their hearts that they had found their daughter and no paperwork, expensive flights or, brrr, winter in Ukraine would stop them.

We are watching, and hoping, and waiting for good news. Like all of us, Tara Vika is anxious to meet her new little friend from her homeland. Godspeed, Greta!