She's OURS!

I don't have much time to post...we have to head out in a few minutes and we have to turn our modem back into the hotel this evening.....BUT I did want to share the news:

The judge of the Kaluga regional court ruled this morning (about 11:45 Kaluga time) that baby K is OURS!

Happy dancing here---it would be serious happy dancing but we're both just REALLY tired! We went to see her after court, and we're headed back for about an hour visit this evening. Then we leave for home early in the morning, and should be back in the states tomorrow night.

Thanks, all of you, for the words of encouragement and prayers! They have meant so very, very much to us!

What a difference a day makes....

This was the view out of our hotel window in Kaluga on Sunday morning: And today, we woke up to a bit of a different view:

It has been snowing lightly ALL day today. They said that this is the first real snow that Kaluga has had so far---and we were here to see it. It has been a bit cold, but not terrible, and just enough snow to make it feel like Christmas is coming! The driving has been a bit crazy (a few accidents that we've driven past), but not too much worse than normal.

We had a good day today---two visits with baby K, dinner at "the Pub" and now we're crashed---court is tomorrow morning at 10 am. I'll keep you posted on what happens!

Kaluga Rocks!

We got to see baby K today!!! She's grown so much in the last couple of months, and she can walk all around the music room in the baby home if you hold her hands. Steve swears that she recognized us, and that's proof that she's a sharp little cookie. I'm not so sure she knew exactly who we were, but she was very glad to see us. We played, walked, sang, and just enjoyed being with her again, even if it was for a short time. We'll be back to see her tomorrow, I have to get my picture taken (for her passport), and then who knows---probably getting ready for court on Tuesday.

A blessed Sunday to all of you.

We're HERE!

Just wanted to let you all know that we made it safely to Kaluga this afternoon after a LONG journey yesterday (3 hour drive to the airport, 2 hour flight to NYC, a LONG wait in NYC and then a long wait on the tarmac in the plane, and then finally to Moscow about 1:00 this afternoon).

Joyously, NO problems other than the length of trip and that we were both tired to start with. Our luggage made it safely, and we did too. Now crashed in our hotel in Kaluga and trying to unpack and VERY HAPPY to have internet access this time. We're headed out tomorrow to see Karina (about 1 in the afternoon) and then court on Tuesday morning.

Seriously, SO MANY thanks to all of you for your words of support and your prayers. I am just going to try to relax now and enjoy the journey. Love you all!

From Kaluga, with much love,
Carolynn (and Stevie, too!)

Four More Days...

In four days we leave for Russia (Friday, that is--I think that's four days. My brain is sadly in "what the?... Squirrel!" mode at the moment. )

I think the important stuff is done. We have tickets, we have visas, we have pictures for court and clothes for court. All that is really left to do is figure out what to pack and then pack it. I'd really like to tak a bunch of the stuff that we'll need for trip 3 and leave it there, so I'm trying to think of that stuff.

There is, however, all of the stuff of life here that still needs to get done. Two lectures to still finish up, a few papers (about 14 to grade) and all of that to make sure I finish before I can leave. I'd really like to come home and have my final exams ready to give on the next Monday....

I'm making lists. Anything that should be on them???

Oh, and I AM reading people's blogs---I'm just too darned scatterbrained to leave interesting or coherent comments!

....and the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon....

I realize that the Harry Chapin reference will date me, but I just couldn't resist.....Hope you all have a great weekend!

Just when you think it's safe to be excited...EDITED

I JUST found out that our homestudy agency is back on the new MOE blacklist. This may be an issue. It may not. Please, please pray that it is not.

Thanks. I'm a bit numb right now....

***Edited**** I just got off the phone with Carol at the agency. She said "don't worry" and that Kaluga has not been a region that has paid much if any attention to the blacklist. I'm going to try to "not worry" but I'm afraid that I won't be very good at it!

Update....

Plane tickets have been reserved, and visa applications went in the mail (Overnight) this morning. We leave on Friday the 4th and come home on Wednesday the 9th, if all works out as it should. We're going to be flying Aeroflot part of the way, which should be interesting (I flew on Aeroflot when I went to Russia for the very first time in 1996, and it was an experience---not bad, just really interesting!) We also had to pay for expedited visas, since Thanksgiving holidays are in the midst of our visa processing time. BUT: we're GOING! I've been so preoccupied with everything that has to get done between now and then, that I haven't had time to let this all sink in! Perhaps when school stuff gets a bit more finalized (I'm going to have to miss the last week of classes) and I have time to breathe???

Anything else I should be doing? I have an outfit for court, and the photo album is done. Is there something I'm forgetting????

We now return you to our regularly-scheduled program. Perhaps it's "Pigs in Space???"

We Have a COURT DATE!

Carol emailed us this morning to let us know that we have a court date: Tuesday, December 8. We may have her home the day after Christmas, if all works out for the best!

Christmas in Moscow, baby! Thanks to all of you for the prayers!!!!!!

Under Construction: Nursery in the Works.

Ok, so there was no news this week---apparently our judge is in the hospital (!!!) and they've passed our case on to a different judge in Kaluga. We "might" hear something this week. Might.

So, we take you from the regularly-scheduled program of ................nothing................ to something that might be of actual interest: the progress on the nursery. It's not done yet (I'm a bit OCD about these things, and there's still stuff to do, like hang the quilt on the wall, pick up the pictures I had framed at Michael's and hang them, get organizer baskets, etc.,) but the state of the nursery is much more interesting than just "no news"!

I have to give a huge shout out here to my beloved and talented sister, the Princess Susan. She not only painted the tree on the wall (and I HAVE to tell you that she's not done or she'll kill me!) but she also designed and created the window treatments. Another HUGE thank you to her boyfriend Brad, who donated a whole afternoon of work and his tools to the project of putting together the furniture. They have both been rocks for us during this process, and we wouldn't be anywhere as close to done as we are without them.

Note that I also totally stole ideas from you guys--we have the same crib as Shelley, and the rosy-cheeked doll was part of Kristine's nursery!

Hope that you all have a great week---I'll be back soon!