Kiev Bound

Brian called me at 0700 this morning to give the latest update. Nastiya's party was on Friday, which is sad as Brian would have liked to have been there. However, that just made the process go quickly today in Mariupol. First of all Brian had to ride on the train sharing the compartment with a man who wanted Brian to feel the Ukranian Hospitality! This meant that he talked Brian's ear off when he was so jet lagged and just wanted to sleep. It also meant that he wanted to share his alcohol and Brian couldn't get out without at least one drink Sunday night, and another one this morning. Nothing like picking you child up from the Orphanage smelling like alcohol.

Nadya had been in Mariupol on Friday to get Nastiya's birth certificate ahead of time, and she was leaving the Orphanage by cab. Apparently, as they were driving off, the driver told her that a child was running down the road behind the car. Yes, it was Nastiya wanting to know if her Mama and Papa were back yet. That breaks my heart! When Brian arrived at the Orphanage on Monday, the Grandparents were both there and they had a nice visit and got to say goodbye. They were emotional, and Brian said that Nastiya clung to him most of the time. We gave the Grandparents a gift of money, which they did not want to accept. However, Brian asked them to let us make their life a little easier for a little while. The Grandmother asked for a copy of the group picture that we took when we met the first time. We will definitely be sending care packages, pictures, and letters to them.

Also, Nastiya had a bank account with $5000 US dollars in it, so Brian had to agree to sign it over to the Orphanage as a donation. If you know my husband, he just couldn't do this without messing with them a little. He asked Nadya if all of our paperwork was complete, and made sure they couldn't stop us from taking her. Then he acted like he didn't want to sign it over, tried to make the office staff come out and ask him for it directly, and finally agreed to sign it if the Grandparents were to be given half of it. Of course, that will never happen, but it made him feel a little better!! When I spoke to him this morning all of the paperwork in Mariupol and Donetsk was complete and they were waiting for the train ride back to Kiev. I got to talk to Nastiya on the phone and she spoke quite a bit of English and did great with the conversation. I told her how much I missed and loved her, and Brian said she did a little dance when she got off the phone. She keeps asking Nadya when they are going to get on the airplane. She is ready to come home!! Thank God it is all going well and they will probably be ready to leave by Wednesday afternoon. However, we allowed a little cush time with the airlines, so they will have Thursday to sight see or whatever before boarding the plane on Friday.

Brian and Nastiya will arrive on Saturday morning at around 0730, so I will totally understand if any of you can't be there to greet them that early. I will give flight numbers and exact times when I am sure that they are on the flight for anyone who wants to brave the early hour.