The rest of Sunday and Monday were a blur. Sunday was rainy and we mostly stayed in the apartment. We ate at the Hotel Berdyansk which took forever (remember that Gary and Bev?) so we were late getting Cody back to the orphanage. I stayed at the hotel to meet Dima because we forgot our electrical adapters at the apartment. Dima gave me a ride back to the new place.
Monday we got up bright and early and went to the orphanage to get Cody. We have to go to Huliaipole (about 2 and a half hour drive) to get Cody's sister (Katia) to sign a separation agreement. First we had to go to the admin office and get some papers prepared and then take them to the courthouse so we didn't get on the road until about 12:30. Then we drove on some of the worst roads (it seams) in Ukraine. When we got to Huliaipole (Goo-Ley Pool-ley; sounds like the song Wooley Bulley with a Russian accent) we had trouble finding the orphanage – we had to ask directions about 10 times. It is outside the other side of the city in the country. It is a nice setting but very old buildings from the outside. The inside was very very nice – almost looked new. This orphanage is for kids that have mental issues. Most of them appeared to be “normal” to me.
We discovered that Katia was in town on a field trip. After about 45 minutes, the director sent a group by taxi to get her. The director gave us a tour of the facilities and showed us the work they had done. They are not allowed to use child labor to fix stuff up so the director got around this by using it as a training program for the kids. They would teach them how to tile and then have them tile the bathrooms as training. They did an awesome job.
The next two hours were the roughest we have had to endure so far. Katia showed up and hugged Cody and Kathie and I and we had a tearful trip to the director's office Then the talking started. Kathie and I were clueless (found out later I was clueless – Kathie was tracking pretty good). Oles and the director talked a lot – Cody spoke very little. As the discussion heated up, after an hour, Kathie got upset and walked out and I followed. I asked her what the problem was and she told me what was going on. Katia was going back and forth. She wanted to be adopted also. They explained to her that we could not take her because we were only approved for Cody. Our house cannot accommodate a girl – no separate bedroom. So we were stuck. Cody alone or no adoption!
Cody and his sister were placed in the orphanage in Berdyansk in 2000 and she was transferred to Huliaipole in 2002. Since then they had seen each other once. I can understand that she was concerned about never seeing or hearing from her brother again. She finally relented and signed the papers. We agreed to get them together twice before we leave Ukraine and promised to keep in touch after we get to the USA. We explained that both Elliott and Nicky have sisters (although older) and we had kept in touch with them.
About 7 PM we headed back to Berdyansk. Elliott's sister and her daughter were supposed to arrive in Berdyansk and we wanted to meet her. We got to the compound at 10:00 and every one was still up. We met Ruslana and Deeanna – Deeanna is the cutest little 4 year old I have ever seen!! She looks amazingly similar to Lilly Ponder, whose family donated a suitcase full of clothes for Deeanna. We showed Deeanna Lilly's picture. Deeanna then proceeded to model all the clothes
and stuffed animals!
Elliott's sister is absolutely beautiful. She is tiny, tiny (like Elliott) and is just a doll. They both will be staying with us for a few days.
Tuesday we had to go to Zaporizhzhya to get the separation agreement approved. We spent the morning getting paperwork done in Berdyansk and headed out about 11 AM. We got to Zap about 1 PM. We found the office eventually and found that we have to attend a committee meeting on Wednesday at 4 PM where our case will be discussed. We just got our case registered before they closed. Oles said that at least one of us (Kath or I ) need to attend. So we went to lunch. As we ate, Oles and I decided to spend the night in Zap and send Kathie back to the kids in Berdyansk. Kath and I argued about who had to go back to the kids and I won because Oles and I could share a room!!!
We found a decent hotel about two miles down the main drag from the Intourist. The rooms were nice, breakfast was included and they had Wi-Fi (1 MB download for 12 rph). We went past the Coffee Life (Coffee as Lifestyle) made famous by Kim and Kevin McCormack. Unfortunately it was too far a walk for me to get there the next morning.
Wednesday I woke up and went for breakfast – It was two crepes filled with shredded chicken with melted butter and bread and cheese – was very tasty. I had an American coffee which was actually a double cappuccino - I normally have decaf – so about 10 minutes later I was bouncing off the walls.
I walked around a bit and then Oles and I went to lunch. We ate at a nice cafe with huge roman pillars that was outside just off the main drag across from a large park. The food was great – small portions though – must have been gourmet food! Then we took a cab to the committee meeting. We were last on the docket and were called in at about ten after four PM. They asked who I was and what did I want. They seemed to approve the request right off the bat, which was a miracle according to Oles, but then they started to discuss it. We were told to leave and then called back in twice and you could hear them arguing loudly (but that is the Ukrainian culture). They finally approved and said we could pick up the decree on Friday.
By now it was storming fiercely outside. I thought we were gonna spend another night and wait on the decree but the next thing I know we are at the bus station and on the bus to Berdyansk. The bus is about a 21 passenger bus and seemed to hold up well on the rough roads but I could not blog on it as my fingers would always hit the wrong keys so I just tried to enjoy the scenery. We got back about 8 PM and I was very happy to see Kath and the kids.
Found out that Nicky's brother found the apartment and brought his mother there. I'll let Kathie blog about that.
Monday we got up bright and early and went to the orphanage to get Cody. We have to go to Huliaipole (about 2 and a half hour drive) to get Cody's sister (Katia) to sign a separation agreement. First we had to go to the admin office and get some papers prepared and then take them to the courthouse so we didn't get on the road until about 12:30. Then we drove on some of the worst roads (it seams) in Ukraine. When we got to Huliaipole (Goo-Ley Pool-ley; sounds like the song Wooley Bulley with a Russian accent) we had trouble finding the orphanage – we had to ask directions about 10 times. It is outside the other side of the city in the country. It is a nice setting but very old buildings from the outside. The inside was very very nice – almost looked new. This orphanage is for kids that have mental issues. Most of them appeared to be “normal” to me.
We discovered that Katia was in town on a field trip. After about 45 minutes, the director sent a group by taxi to get her. The director gave us a tour of the facilities and showed us the work they had done. They are not allowed to use child labor to fix stuff up so the director got around this by using it as a training program for the kids. They would teach them how to tile and then have them tile the bathrooms as training. They did an awesome job.
The next two hours were the roughest we have had to endure so far. Katia showed up and hugged Cody and Kathie and I and we had a tearful trip to the director's office Then the talking started. Kathie and I were clueless (found out later I was clueless – Kathie was tracking pretty good). Oles and the director talked a lot – Cody spoke very little. As the discussion heated up, after an hour, Kathie got upset and walked out and I followed. I asked her what the problem was and she told me what was going on. Katia was going back and forth. She wanted to be adopted also. They explained to her that we could not take her because we were only approved for Cody. Our house cannot accommodate a girl – no separate bedroom. So we were stuck. Cody alone or no adoption!
Cody and his sister were placed in the orphanage in Berdyansk in 2000 and she was transferred to Huliaipole in 2002. Since then they had seen each other once. I can understand that she was concerned about never seeing or hearing from her brother again. She finally relented and signed the papers. We agreed to get them together twice before we leave Ukraine and promised to keep in touch after we get to the USA. We explained that both Elliott and Nicky have sisters (although older) and we had kept in touch with them.
About 7 PM we headed back to Berdyansk. Elliott's sister and her daughter were supposed to arrive in Berdyansk and we wanted to meet her. We got to the compound at 10:00 and every one was still up. We met Ruslana and Deeanna – Deeanna is the cutest little 4 year old I have ever seen!! She looks amazingly similar to Lilly Ponder, whose family donated a suitcase full of clothes for Deeanna. We showed Deeanna Lilly's picture. Deeanna then proceeded to model all the clothes
and stuffed animals!Elliott's sister is absolutely beautiful. She is tiny, tiny (like Elliott) and is just a doll. They both will be staying with us for a few days.
Tuesday we had to go to Zaporizhzhya to get the separation agreement approved. We spent the morning getting paperwork done in Berdyansk and headed out about 11 AM. We got to Zap about 1 PM. We found the office eventually and found that we have to attend a committee meeting on Wednesday at 4 PM where our case will be discussed. We just got our case registered before they closed. Oles said that at least one of us (Kath or I ) need to attend. So we went to lunch. As we ate, Oles and I decided to spend the night in Zap and send Kathie back to the kids in Berdyansk. Kath and I argued about who had to go back to the kids and I won because Oles and I could share a room!!!
We found a decent hotel about two miles down the main drag from the Intourist. The rooms were nice, breakfast was included and they had Wi-Fi (1 MB download for 12 rph). We went past the Coffee Life (Coffee as Lifestyle) made famous by Kim and Kevin McCormack. Unfortunately it was too far a walk for me to get there the next morning.
Wednesday I woke up and went for breakfast – It was two crepes filled with shredded chicken with melted butter and bread and cheese – was very tasty. I had an American coffee which was actually a double cappuccino - I normally have decaf – so about 10 minutes later I was bouncing off the walls.
I walked around a bit and then Oles and I went to lunch. We ate at a nice cafe with huge roman pillars that was outside just off the main drag across from a large park. The food was great – small portions though – must have been gourmet food! Then we took a cab to the committee meeting. We were last on the docket and were called in at about ten after four PM. They asked who I was and what did I want. They seemed to approve the request right off the bat, which was a miracle according to Oles, but then they started to discuss it. We were told to leave and then called back in twice and you could hear them arguing loudly (but that is the Ukrainian culture). They finally approved and said we could pick up the decree on Friday.
By now it was storming fiercely outside. I thought we were gonna spend another night and wait on the decree but the next thing I know we are at the bus station and on the bus to Berdyansk. The bus is about a 21 passenger bus and seemed to hold up well on the rough roads but I could not blog on it as my fingers would always hit the wrong keys so I just tried to enjoy the scenery. We got back about 8 PM and I was very happy to see Kath and the kids.
Found out that Nicky's brother found the apartment and brought his mother there. I'll let Kathie blog about that.
4 comments:
Omgosh, Dave. What a ride! Keep up the great work on blogging. Every detail is important. I like for you to say how you're feeling about all these events as they happen, too. I can't wait for the next posting!
Well Kath... Don't leave us hanging! We want to hear "The rest of the story"
Had bkfst. with Kimmie today, she picked me up at Toyota dealership (had to take it in for that recall mess on the Prius) We had a great visit, talking about you...
Yesterday Jim & I had a fun day with Miss Avery! She just gets more personality every time we see her. She definitely is the highlight of our week. Krissy's daughter Tory, lives several blocks from Travis & we got together with Micah who's 3 now. Avery had a ball. She's very social. It was good to be with Krissy, hadn't been with her since the funeral.
Momma seems to be doing well (whatever that means) It's a beautiful day here in the Burg. after several chilly & wet days. Missing you!
Heavenly Hugs, Cooka :)
We are praying for your family and the trip. We look forward to Elliott's return to Lafayette.
In Him,
Diana Delgado
Hey Dave & Kath -- enjoying hearing about everything that's going on....by the sounds of all the food, Dave, you might have some weight gain b4 you get back? lol! Thanks for the pics .. did you win the arm wrestling? Prayers are still going out from here :) xoxoxo Janet
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