We are Theirs!

Day 45. Major events of the day: End of Waiting Period! (Wahooooo!), Paperwork, Lunch with the Director, Plane Tickets, and Dinner with Friends

Morning weather report: 0, feels like -9. Projected high: 19 (What happened to the forecast? Didn’t they adjust projections up yesterday? Maybe they don’t want to scare away the tourists?)
Meanwhile back in Memphis: Overnight low of 50, and heading back to a high of 68 (that’s more like it!)

Today was a very hectic day! Many things to accomplish, and we haven’t even gotten to dinner time yet! On top of our tasks, Gary from Spain arrived yesterday to pick up his daughter, Anastasia, and departed today. It was enough to keep my head spinning, so Masha and Sasha really had their work cut out today!

I was up at 7 and tried to be as quiet as possible to let Gary and Anastasia sleep a little longer. They were both worn out from all of yesterday’s adventures. Gary joined me for a cup of coffee at 7:30 and wondered why I was up so early since it was still pitch dark outside (he thought it must have been 5am at the latest). Masha rang the doorbell at 9 and they were on their way to the airport.

Next, there were release papers to pick up from the court, take to the Dept of Ed for a little more processing then over to the Dept of Vital Statistics to have their new birth certificates issued and to submit passport applications. While Sasha carted passengers to the airport, Masha was busily doing the legwork for our family’s paperwork.

The doorbell rang at 12:30, and this time I was greeted by Masha who was wearing a grin that would rival the Cheshire Cat. She had our new birth certificates in hand! When she was told that there was a new procedure and that it would take 4 days to process the birth certificates, she applied some serious charm and pleaded since my visa will be expiring very soon (and that’s something else we need to work on!). She must have applied just the right charm, because she has them in hand!

We had a couple minutes to see the kids before our 1 pm lunch with the Director. They had been prepared to wait one more day and were speechless when I announced that they get to leave the RBS today (unless they wanted to wait until morning)! There was much scurrying and scrambling while I headed off to meet the Director and staff for lunch (they decided not to stay another day).

Lunch was a small affair, but it was a very nice touch to cap off our adventure. In attendance were Masha, Bill (me), the Director, Dinara (Asst Director), Ludmilla (our favorite teacher), Tatiana (the Social Worker), and Larissa (Asst Director). Although the Director did bring out a bottle of cognac and there were several toasts, I was fortunate that we went to lunch instead of late tea since there would have been more than just a few toasts. Along with the toasts were several questions regarding our need for assistant caregivers at home. Were it not for their commitment to the school, I think several would have volunteered to help us on the trip home.

Now that new birth certificates, showing our names as their parents, have been issued we could work on flights. Air Astana's online schedule didn’t look good, nor did the information at the travel agent’s office, so we decided to take the last three seats on Monday’s flight. We’ll do as much as we can, but we’ll still be waiting on passports before we can finish the process.

Officially released and about to hop into the car!

After a brief stop at the apartment for showers and a change of clothes, we’re heading to dinner at the Italian restaurant to celebrate with Ann & Miguel (from Belgium) and Suzanne and Hilton (from Richmond). Fortunately, we all (except the children) have eaten at this restaurant, so keep your fingers crossed since it will be my first un-assisted dining adventure with the kids. We’re now officially their parents, so there’s no turning back! Here they are showing off their new documents!


P.S. Cathe: Slug-bug Silver! (so there are at least two: this one and a yellow one)