Wednesday, July 15, 2009

The SDA Appointment and Train Ride

Our coordinator picked us up around 10:00 o’clock this morning for our SDA appointment. Before our actual appointment, we went out for coffee where we met up with our other coordinator. It was nice to be around familiar faces, and both of them were very happy to see Dennis after one year.

Right before 11:00, we headed over to the SDA building where we waited in the all too familiar stairwell for our name to be called.

While we waited, we saw at least three different other facilitators going over paperwork with the SDA that needed to be corrected by other adoptive families. Ugh, that was our paperwork only a few short weeks ago.

THE APPOINTMENT

We were finally called in shortly after 11:00. Two very nice women enjoyed seeing Dennis and looking at all the pictures we brought. They were incredibly nice and friendly, making the whole appointment very simple and laid back. One of the women told us about Alexsey--- most of which we already knew. However, they did share with us that he had a younger sister that was previously adopted by an Israeli couple, which was new information. They also had the most adorable baby picture of him---- which we can have after court as long as we give them one to replace it. John and I figured it doesn’t hurt to ask so we are going to look into getting contact info for the Israeli couple so that we can see about exchanging photos.

The best news is that we are getting the referral today and our coordinator is buying our train tickets for the overnight ride to Donetsk! We should arrive in region around 7:00 in the morning which means that we will finally get to see Alexsey tomorrow!

Before heading tonight, we met up with our friend Inna for lunch!
We went to an Espresso house where we had breakfast for lunch.
Around 4:30 p.m. we said goodbye to our Kiev apartment and went and picked up our referral. Off to the train station!
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We got to the train station in plenty of time. Since I know that the bathrooms on the train are the worst toilets I have ever smelled, I decided to use the bathroom in the train station. Nothing like paying to squat over a hole-- but definitely better than the train toilet.
We stocked up on meat, potato, and jam filled pirogi----- each one costing around less than fifty cents!
Julia cut the bottom of her foot on a plug when we were still in our apartment. All the running around made it worse and we insisted that she rest for the 12 hour train ride to Kramatorsk.
One of my favorite pictures-- that's for sure! Dennis has been the best 2 year old traveler we have ever seen!
We ate dinner so that Dennis could go to sleep, and then stayed up late playing Racko!
Early in the morning, we waited with anticipation for the train to roll into Kramatorsk.
At 6:30 this morning we arrived in Kramatorsk!
If you would like to read more about our trip, go visit Julia's blog for her perspective. I am sure, she would love some comments!
Stay tuned-------- we met Alexsey!

23 comments:

Chelley said...

Sending all my prayers!!!!

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad, you all almost did it! I can't wait to see a new pic of Alexey!

Chiara - Milan

Missy said...

Ack!! You're gonna make us wait for Alexey-news!!! ;op

Seriously, those are great pictures and tell a detailed story! Of course, I'm loving it as we'll be traveling those same steps in a few weeks!

LOVE the picture of John and Dennis at the window - how sweet is that?! So glad Dennis is doing so well. It'll be interesting to hear how the orphanage workers react to seeing him again! And to how he reacts to them! lol

God bless, and keep us posted!

Milena said...

Praying for you! Thank you so much for sharing your journey!!

Michelle said...

finally some news, i've been going crazy! it's hard to remember that even if you had a laptop with you (i have no idea if you do) hotels there aren't like here - you can't just get wireless any time. even in England & France back in 2004, we had to buy tokens from the front desk & use their computer in their lobby for internet - a very old computer with very slow internet, and in paris the computer was literally in a coat closet and, of course, all in french, which we don't speak. :-P

can't wait to hear about your first visit with alexsey!

i'm going to see my neurosurgeon this afternoon for a shunt adjustment & possibly schedule a repeat brain surgery for the next few days, but i'll check back as soon as i'm able. :-)

- michelle

Conethia and Jim Bob said...

This is wonderful news! I am praying you are able to follow up on Alexsey's sister. Our kids have a half brother that we were able to keep in touch with throught the orphanage.

Nataliya said...

Great news! Can't wait to hear about meeting Alyosha!

Julie said...

Sounds like you are having a wonderful trip! I can't wait to hear about meeting Alexsey!!! I'm sure it was wonderful!

Leah Spring said...

Oh, this is like a commercial on a tv show, where right when the get to the climax of the show they break for commercial! LOL I can't wait to hear about your meeting with Alexsey, and weather or not he and Dennis remember eachother, and the caregivers reaction to seeing Dennis again, and and and.....

Laurel said...

Yeah!!! Looking forward to the pictures. :-)

Kelly said...

Woo Hoo!! Can't wait to see the photos.

Holly said...

oohhhh the suspense!
Hurry!
pictures? stories?
How IS Alexsey??
So excited for you!

Terri-Anne said...

I'm on the edge of my seat!!!! Please hurry and share the story of meeting with Alexsey!!!!
This is so exciting!

Blessed Mom of Four AND More said...

I love reading the details of your trip....so different from our China adoptions.

And, what a cliff hanger...stay tuned...you've met Alexsey...how many times will we all be checking in.

Blessings,
Robbie

MyLinda said...

I am so excited for you! Can't wait to hear about meeting Alexsey!

RACHEL said...

What are you all eading? That lookes really good .We all miss you . love RACHEL

Mellimaus said...

YEY that you met Alexsey! Now HOW can you keep us hanging here without information?!?!

:)

Milena said...

Guess how many times I've checked since my last comment :-) Come on :-)

I do find it strange that Alexsey was separated from his sister. Isn't Ukraine really hard on keeping siblings together?

Praying for your day!!

Kelly said...

HOORAY! It all sounds so wonderful! I am so happy for you and can not wait to "meet" Alexsey! :)

I will continue to pray for you on this journey and that Alexsey will soon be home with you for good! Blessings!

Julie said...

Yippee, you made it. Can't wait to hear about your meeting with Alexsy.

God Bless,
Julie

Unknown said...

Israel! :-)

Let me know if there is any way I can help you with finding Alosha's Israeli sister!

Martha said...

These stories always make me cry. I can't imagine how it must be to be living it!

Kelli said...

love all the news