The Day After...

Crazy baby!!! Who, me?

Well, I'm knocking on wood right now, but I think we have a good baby! She slept this morning until 9 am when I woke her up! I know, never wake a sleeping baby, but we thought it would be best to wake her up instead of her waking up in a strange place, crying! She isn't one of those babies, (or adults, like myself) who are still sleepy and cuddly in the morning. She was ready to go! That girl has more energy than anyone of our boys ever had! It's fun though seeing her explore new things and get so excited. She is such a happy girl. There is a smile on her face pretty much all the time, or that cute little flirty grin where she scrunches up her nose. I know, it's only been 2 days, give it some time! But we really have been lucky so far.
This morning, she ate a jar of peaches and some glue-like porridge (nasty). She's a goood eater, that's for sure. I don't think they exposed her to "real" food in the orphanage because everything we've tried to give her with texture she takes a while to warm up to. She does love the Gerber puffs (who doesn't)! Poor child has acid reflux, just like ALL of my boys so evertime she burps, she spits up! And that nasty porridge and other foods don't smell so nice coming back up. Good think I brought water proof bibs!
After lunch we put her down for a nap and she is still sleeping, despite the jack hammering going on upstairs. We layed her down and left the room and came in the kitchen. She sang for about 10 minutes and put herself to sleep! Have I mentioned how blessed we are yet? Really! I know, I know, it's only the 2nd day!
I'm attaching a few pictures of her last night when we sat her on the potty (they say she is potty trained...W.H.A.T.E.V.E.R!!!! Some other cute pics I took of her around the apartment this morning are pretty cute too. I'm having trouble with the hair, though. I put velcro on all the bows and even tried the baby rubber bands too. Her hair is so baby fine and her long bangs are trying to grow out on top of her short bangs. They really butchered her hair. Can't wait to take her to Tracey!!!
We leave Kranoyarsk tomorrow at 8 pm to fly to Moscow for a few days where we have to take her to Embassy. We're a little worried because basically, we'll be flying during her bedtime and when we get there it will be 9 pm, because of the time change...should be interesting!
Pray for us again tonight. I know we can't get this lucky the 2nd night in a row. Those prayers are really working. God has been so good! Oh, happy day!!!!

Reading People magazine, of course! Outside the orphanage, Baby home #5
Her main caretaker! Poor baby's dressed for a storm. We were told to bring her clothes like this!

Gotcha Day!

We are just getting settled in...and it's almost 10 pm! We ended up getting Sophie later than we anticipatd. Yelena said the judge was really busy today and she finally got the OK for us to go get her around 5. Luckily, I think she remembered us. There were no tears and she walked into my arms, until her careworker turned around to give her a bye hug and kiss. Cue the tears! Fortunatley they lasted about 10 seconds and she really hasn't cried since.

We were told that the care ride usually causes the kids to either cry or vomit! She did neither! She actually laughed at every bump we went over and if you've ever been on the roads in Russia, you know that she laughed a lot! She has such personality! She flirted with me the whole way back. I even taught her her first American word-flower! Really, ask Serge! When Scott and Yelena went into the grocery store to get food for her, she kept pointing at the flowers on her shoes. So I saw this as a lesson and sure enough, she says, "flower"!!!

We've fed and bathed her and she's exploring like any 19 month old does! I forgot how active they are at this age. She's everywhere! We have got to get out of here soon!!! Only 1 1/2 more days, then on to Moscow.

I'll post more pics tomorrow. Need to get some sleep. Hopefully she sleeps. Start praying!

Here she is:

Sophie Marina Boyd
DOB-March 8, 2010

Back in Kras...Again

Well, after 2 days of traveling, we finally arrived in Krasnoyarsk this morning (Sunday). We had a 12 hour layover in Moscow, so we were booked in a hotel near the airport where we got about 6 hours of sleep. I HIGHLY recommend it to other families who might be traveling to Kras. I had read on some blogs about how families chose to stay in the airport the entire time. I honestly don't know how they did it! All that smoke can kill a man!! Even though, there are "designated smoking areas" in the airport, it lingers EVERYWHERE and all of our clothes and bags stink! Anyways, the hotel was a little like the hallway in The Shining! A little creepy, but I'm a little spoiled when it comes to hotels. Just ask Scott! It did serve it's purpose though...

Amazingly, we feel so much more comfortable traveling here now. I guess since this is our 3rd time, it should feel more comfortable. We know where to go and what lines to get into. We haven't gotten lost on this trip! That's huge!

We also haven't smelled B.O. yet! Yippee! I think it's due to the fact that it is freezing temperatures here right now. To top that off, Scott doesn't have a coat. He might have to make a purchase at the Kras mall...hmmmm, a black leather coat, perhaps, since that's ALL the people wear here. Unless you're a woman, and then it's lined with a fur hood! Yes, we are standing out a little more now than the last time we were here. Oh well, I'm just thankfull we aren't here in winter. PTL!!!

Our flight to Kras started off a little frightening. About 10 minutes after take- off, a woman towards the back started screaming and there was a lot of commotion. People started turning around. We couldn't get a good view because we were in front of a divider. I about threw up! I thought there was a terrorist and I was going to die. Really! I did! Here we are, obeying what God has called us to do, and we were about to go out on a plane! I'm so dramatic. But really, something happened because after the flight attendants ran back there, they came back with a large man (I'm not talking about fat, either) up to the front of the plane with an enormous welt on his face and he was bleeding. Then, another elderly woman came and sat down in the front, obviously upset. We never found out what really happened, but when we got off the plane, there were 2 police cars at the bottom of the stairs. When we exited the plane, one of the policemen came onto the plane and the other stayed at the bottom of the stairs. Oddly enough, we never saw the large man! Scary! Nice welcome back!!

We slept for about 7 hours today, went to the "grocery store" and bought some pasta (go figure), water and bread. Thankfully our peanut butter and jelly is still here from last time. Yay, lunch! We are going to aske Yelena to go to the store tomorrow with us to pick out some things that Sophie would eat, since we can't read Russian! I don't want to give her our "American food" cold turkey. I'm hoping to ease her into that transition.

So, tomorrow is the day! We pick up Sophie at 3 pm. Yelena said after we leave, we will go to a passport photo place in Sosnovoborsk afterwards and wait for her picture to develop before leaving. I asked why we don't just do it in Kras and get it the next day and she said that most times the babies are crying by the time they get back to Kras, or they've "thrown out" (funny) from the car ride. Yikes! Makes sense, I guess!

I keep thinking of what Sophie will be feeling tomorrow. It's so strange to me to think that a baby will be leaving her home of the last 7 months of her life with NOTHING! She has no personal items. She will be leaving with the clothes we bring for her and nothing else. So sad. I also am sad for her. She's leaving all of her "family" that she has probably grown so attached to. I wish I could make her understand that we are going to give her a life that the orphanage could not! That she is a child of God and He has a HUGE plan for her life. I wish I could tell her and make her understand how much we love her and have loved her for the first time we saw her picture. Sadly enough, I know it is going to be so hard on her tomorrow, and the next few weeks to come. I know there are going to be many tears. I know there are going to be sleepless nights and hard days to come. It's not going to be all sunshine and butterflies! A girl can dream though, can't she! We love this little girl so much and she will never know how much she has changed our lives...for the better! I think she has already drawn us closer to each other, our family and God!

We covet your prayers and have been so thankful and blessed by all the encouragement from our family and friends. This is going to be a long journey and although it seems like the end, tomorrow is just the beginning! Please pray for little Sophie that her day tomorrow will be as peaceful and it can and all the days to come. Please pray that Scott and I will be able to give her what she needs and comfort her and understand that she is coming from a hard place.

Good night and sweet dreams! I know what I'm going to be dreaming about...if I can even sleep at all! Tomorrow we will have her!!!!!!!!!!!!

In 2 weeks Sophie Will Be Home!

I'm so excited that in just less than a week Scott and I will be flying to Russia and in two weeks from today, Sophie will finally be home! This has been a long time coming and it can't get here fast enough. I can't wait for all of our family and friends to meet her! I know I am a little biased, but she is so stinkin' adorable! I'm afraid she might get away with a lot because of that little dimple and the way her eyes smile!

We are getting the last few things organized around the house this weekend. All of her clothes are washed and put away, just waiting to be packed. Baby gates are getting put back up at the top of the stairs and the bottom of the stairs. I need to purchase diapers, wipes and the other basic essentials that you need for an 18 month old girl! I almost forgot what they need. It's been a few years and a lot of things have changed! I'm blown away at Bye Bye Baby. That place is on steroids! I can't believe some strollers are $500! Crazy!

So our itinerary for the next few weeks is a little crazy. We leave Austin on Friday, the
14th and arrive in Moscow on Saturday morning. We have a 12 hour layover in Moscow so we will get some sleep at a nearby hotel before our dreaded over-night flight to Kras that evening! Why does that flight have to be so terrible? I guess I should be happy it's our last trip there! We arrive in Kras early Sunday morning and have the rest of the day to sleep. The next morning, on Monday, we go to the orphanage and pick her up! I'm so nervous about how that is going to play out! I'm sure having not seen us for a week might cause a few tears. That is my only concern about not staying for the 10 day waiting period to bond with her. I keep telling myself that most countries don't have that waiting period and they pick up their children at the orphanage and are somewhat "strangers" to their child too. Please pray that she will remember us and her departure will be painless for her. It has been her home for half of her life. She will be missing it, I'm sure.

We will be staying in the apartment in Kras through the 19th to wait for her passport to be ready and for all the remaining documents to get signed and ready for us to take with us to Moscow for our Embassy appointment. We leave Kras early that evening and arrive in Moscow I think that same night because of the time difference between the two. We will be staying at the Marriot Tverskaya, which we were told is family friendly, has an "adoption rate" and is only a few short blocks from The Red Square and the Kremlin. A doctor will come to the hotel to look her over and sign some papers that she needs to take to Embassy which is on the 20th. We hopefully pic up her visa on the 21st. Then we will take the lllloooonnnggg flight from Moscow to D.C. Oh, I'm so worried about that flight! Not just for ourselves, but for the people around us! Pray she sleeps most of the trip and doesn't get to ansy!! If I hate that flight, I can't imagine what a 1 1/2 year old will feel. Pray, pray, pray!!!

Once she enters the US in D.C. she automatically becomes a US citizen! Woohoo! When I saw the "Welcome to U.S.A" sign in D.C. my heart leaped! I can't imagine what my reaction will be when we cross that line with our baby girl! So excited for that moment!! She has no idea what is in store for her in America!!! I am so excited we get to give her this opportunity!

On Saturday evening, 9:30, we will land in Austin, TX as the proudest parents in the world! We have been on such a long, hard journey and I can't believe it's finally coming to a close. Actually, it's just the beginning!!!

We more than welcome those of you who want to meet her at the airport that evening! I know it is a late flight and if you aren't able to make it, we completely understand. It was either take that flight, or spend the night in D.C. and fly home the next day. We are so ready to get home! I, in no way, want to spend another night away from home if i don't have to! We are flying United so if you wanted to check with the airlines to make sure our flight will not be delayed, we are coming from Washington D.C.

I'm so happy I have been able to share our journey and document it, so I can one day show this to her! We have been so blessed with family and great friends, encouragement, and tears! God has been good to us!!!

Here is our itinerary:


10/14 Leave US for Russia
10/15 Arrive in Moscow and take overnight flight to Krasnoyarsk
10/16 Arrive in Krasnoyarsk and rest
10/17 “Gotcha” Day!
10/19 Leave Krasnoyarsk AFTER 6PM (they don’t expect to have the passport until about 4PM that day)
10/20 Embassy Appt
10/21 Pick up docs from Embassy
10/22 Leave Moscow for US

The Judge Said, "Dah"!

Us with the rep from the orphanage, the doctor, Yelena and Elena, our interpreter.





So we are now legally a family of 6! Yep, that's right, we are now the proud parents of a baby girl!

Court today went very well! Our time was scheduled for 11:00 am but we sat for over an hour waiting for the case before us to finish. Talk about a nervous wreck! Yikes! My stomach was in knots the whole time. I really had no idea what to expect. So, a little before noon, Scott went outside to listen to the cannon go off (it goes off every day at noon and if you weren't aware of what it was, you'd think you were being bombed!), and as he was gone, of course, our turn was up! So Yelena went out and got him. We weaved all throughout the court building (I still don't think I could find it if you paid me ) and entered a large room with yellow walls and above the judges seat was the Krasnoyarsk seal. The prosecuter, who looked no older than 21 was dressed in a blue suit that looked like a flight attendant, the other side had the orphanage doctor, and the representative of the orphanage, and Scott and I sat next to our interpreter, Elena. The judge came in, we stood up and sat down a bunch of times before it actually started.

So Scott got most of the questions asked to him and he did amazing! We were told that the judge didn't really ask questions but statements so our interpreter had to make what she said into a question so we would just elaborate on it. He was grilled for about an hour and a half and then the judge asked me to stand. The only "tough" question she had for me was why I wanted more children. Seriously, do they ever get someone who says, "I have no idea, i don't like kids". Really, that question makes no sense, but I guess it's something they have to ask.

After our questioning, we went out of the room so the judge can make her ruling. We were in the hall maybe 2 minutes before she called us back in and formally announced us legal parents of....Sophie Marina Boyd! Yep, her name is Sophie! Marina is her given name so we are keeping it as her middle name. I got a little teary eyed when she read her ruling. She gave a good laugh afterwards and wished us luck. Not sure why that's funny, should I be worried!?!? J/K! Bring it!

After pictures, we went to a "business lunch" with Yelena and Serge. It was...interesting! It was supposed to be "American" food. Hmmm....O.K! It was good to visit with them and learn a little about the orphan population in Russia and different facts about it. There was also a little nudge to come back and adopt Sophie's cousin, who is 6 in Kras. Let's not get ahead of ourselves!!! I'll pray she gets placed into a loving home, though!

We were fortunate enough to get to go see Sophie one more time. This time we were allowed to see where she slept, ate, and played. Oh, it was so sad seeing all those kids grab at our legs. They really liked Scott and kept calling him, Dada. I don't know what I was picturing, but not that. The space they live their little lives is so small. The bathroom where they each have lockers, their changing room, is so small. We got to see her crib. The 3rd one in a row of about 5 cribs. No fluff about it. Just a white fitted sheet. There were about 10 cribs in that room. There are 3 other areas just like that one.

We were also able to go outside and take pictures of the grounds and other children. They saw Scott coming and all ran up to him. It broke my heart and you can just see in their sad little eyes they want you to take them away. It's so hard leaving there with just one. I can't get those little faces out of my head. There are so many children who need good homes and a loving family to just hold them. I'm so glad God gave us little Sophie. She is such a blessing to or family already. The process we have gone through to get her (and we don't have her yet) has really made us re-think our priorities in life.

So we are headed back home tomorrow, without her, because she judge puts a 10 day waiting period before you can take her. We just can't be gone that long from our boys and Scott's work. I am going to hate leaving her here after it has already taken 3 days to get her used to us and recognize us. We'll have to start all over again when we come back.

We will return here in Kras on the 16th and gotcha day is the 17th! Then after we go back to Moscow for Embassy, we will bring Sophie home for good on the 22nd! Not soon enough, if you ask me!

Thank you for your prayers so far! We are almost home!


Scott and me in front of the courthouse.


Scott with Yelena and Elena


Her locker


The everyday playroom

Beds

Her playgroup on one of the 4 play areas

Day 5

PTL that M was in a good mood today! She was happy and wild and playful and interactive, just what we needed. Not that we need reassurance or anything that this is what we are supposed to do, we ARE doing it! But her being so darn adorable doesn't hurt!

Serge and Yelena, and Elena (our translator) all drove to the orphanage this afternoon. The plan was to meet with the doctor first so we could ask some questions and she could give us the latest updates, medically, on M. However, she was with another family so we were able to get into the playroom and wait for them to bring us M. I was so nervous because of her crying yesterday when we took her. That didn't happen today. You could tell she remembered us! She lit up! Especially when she saw Scott! I think this girl likes her daddy...a lot!
She has a bit of a cold so her nose was a little goopy and you could hear the congestion when she breathed! I wanted to grab her away, give he some saline nose spray, some benadryl and a humidifier! In due time, though!

During our two hours with her we were allowed to feed her snack again. Well, us feeding her isn't how that went down. This girl is so self sufficient it's almost sad. Scott went to break the cookie in half (it was a big cookie) and they told us no, she could eat it by herself...and she did!! Durng that time she also figured out how to flirt, with food inside her mouth and spray it all over my jeans! Cute, real cute, Scott! The translator in the room was correcting her, which I thought was amusing, seeing as how we were the ones encouraging it! It really was too cute! Now when she gets home, that might not fly! Then she decides to "play" with her teacup full of milk! Once again, all over my jeans. It's ok though, she was having a great time! So our translator thought it'd be best to take the last cookie away since she wasn't "behaving properly". Funny, again!

I brought some 12 month clothes and 18 month clothes to try on her to see what sizes of clothes I should bring back. I wasn't sure if that was allowed, but our translator acted like, she was OUR property and we could look her over head to toe if we wanted. Well, ok then! Take off the clothes and OH. MY. Pinkness...she is so cute!!! Soft white pinkish skin,like a baby's bottom! She thought it was "getting dressed" time and helped me. This is when i found out that she basically dresses and undresses herself. We were told they take their own clothes off every night and place them on a chair. I sort of let her take the reins a little bit and low and behold, she dresses herself better than my boys do! She stuck each leg into the leggings, helped pull the shirt over her head and helped pull up her pants. For a moment I thought it was so cute, and then it hit me that she has missed out on so much of her "babyhood" that I began to feel so sad for her. All those rockings, and diaper changing songs, sippy cups and babyforks-she never had! It's almost like she had to grow up at age 1.

Thankfully, we can baby her all we want in just a few short weeks. I know many doctors will frown upon this, but i fully intend to put back on the diaper, give her sippy cups, a pacifier, lovie, sing diaper changing songs to her, feed her myself and probably much more! I don't care she can do all these things for herself! I am a mother, and it's my JOB to do for her what she can't do...or shouldn't be able to do, right? There, I'm off my soap box.

So tomorrow is court! Our appointment is at 11:00 am (that's 10:00pm Austin time). So if you are awake during that time, please say an extra prayer for us, especially Scott since he will be doing most of the talking. Next time I make and entry, we will officially be a family of 6 (assuming the judge says, dah! )!!

Night, night!

Kras-Day 4

I had forgotten how much I LOVED driving on the roads in Krasnoyarsk! Seriously, I think they win the award for worst roads in the world. To top off the condition of the road, they speed and dodge cars like it's a video game. I'll never understand it, but it's something that goes along with this process, so I'll take it in stride...and take my Dramamine!

We got to the orphanage this morning and it was like a ghost town. It seemed like no one was there. We saw a few caretakers pushing a stroller but there were no other signs of life anywhere...and they have supposedly 180 children there! Amazing, and so very sad!

They brought Sophie out to us and for the first time, we heard her cry. It was the saddest thing-like a puppy whimpering for her mamma. She had no idea we were there to love on her, she really looked like she had no idea where she was either! We were in the big open room that the front door leads into. We've never seen anyone in there but it has toys EVERYWHERE! I took her from Scott thinking it would calm her down, it didn't, so Yelena suggested we go upstairs to the playroom to distract her. It was like a sauna! I'd cry to if someone made me go in there! J/K, well, kinda!

She warmed up quickly once we got in the "Gymboree-like" room, (who wouldn't), and we got right back into the comfortable swing of things: sliding, rolling balls, peek a boo, and her favorite-wrestling! She's one tough cookie! And yet she can still melt your heart with her smile, crinkled up nose and dimple! Oh, she's got Scott wrapped around her finger all ready! Watch out boys!

We were also able to feed her lunch and boy, the girl can eat! They brought in a tray with a large soup bowl with what we figured was rice and chicken put in a blender, but it was soupy, a plate full of processed meatballs and cabbage. N.A.S.T.Y. I can't wait to find out what that smells like in the diaper!!!! She gobbled it down in minutes and then was given a teacup with some sort of boiled fruits mixed with water. I said, "Oh, apple juice." "NO. NOT JUICE." was the answer I was quickly given! O.K.! Anyways, I picked up the cup and held it to her mouth and Yelena said that she could do it herself! Ha! I didn't really believe it so I grabbed a cloth and held it under her while she CHUGGED the cup without a single drop spilling on her clothes! She drinks out of a cup better than our 7 year old! Sorry, Snaggers, but it's true! It was down the hatch in seconds....and oh. so. cute!

The rest of the day was uneventful. We ate our peanut butter and jelly sandwhiches (which I brought from home...good call), watched part of season 1 of The Big Bang Theory, ventured out to the market to buy some more water, played cards, ate dinner (pasta, of course) skyped with the boys and are headed to bed.

Tomorrow we are headed back to Sosnovoborsk to visit M and talk with the orphanage doc, get some questions answered and prepare for court on Tuesday! Ah, just get us to Tuesday already, say dah, and let us have her so we can start lovin' on her already!!!

Night, Night!

Back in Kras-Day3

Our plane ride from Moscow to Krasnoyarsk landed at about 9:00 am (however, we lost 5 more hours so we had been up for about 25 hours before we caught some sleep in the apartment! So tired. How can just sitting make you that sleepy?

So we were told no visiting the orphanage on the weekend...bummer! However, Yelena and Serge came and told us that they will allow us to go see her tomorrow!!!! Yay! Can't wait to see her again. When I get so frustrated at this whole process and the pushy people and the smells, I just think of her smiling face and ALL of this is for her! We have lots of stories to tell her when she gets older. Particularly the one about Scott at the doctors office. Sorry, had to laugh about that again!!

Thanks for the prayers, we felt them on the plane ride. I don't know if there are some sort of funky air pockets between here and Kras but the plane ride was very bumpy. However, neither Scott nor I felt sick. Actually a funny peace came over me. I did, however, have to listen to a lot of Jeremy Camp!! Praise music usually calms me down. Quick story about how God speaks to us: It was during one of the bumpy times and I was getting a little nervous (Scott was sound asleep, thanks to his new drugs:)),and I was listening to a song about asking God to "speak to me" and no lie, I saw 2 HUGE shooting stars out the airplane window. I actually started laughing to myself! He does speak to us, we just need to be willing to listen. I am a nervous flyer for those of you who don't know me well, and well, let's just say, I get a little crazy when I realize I'm thousands of feet in the air, able to touch the clouds. All my limbs go numb and I feel nauseous! Yuck, actually! However, I was able to hear God "speak to me" through something as brilliant as a shooting star! I know I might be stretching a little here but knowing I'm in the "darkness" and able to see a little "light" brings me back to place where faith takes control over me, rather than fear.

It's a lot like this whole adoption journey. We are going into this whole heartedly by faith alone! We know we are not alone in this journey and when the paperwork and the smelly b.o. and the language barrier get in the way, it's easy to forgot you are not alone. God is paving this way for us to become closer to Him-I really believe that! I don't know how people get through life without the help and love of God, really! God is MY refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble!!! I just foret sometimes...which I hate!

We just finished our dinner of pasta and about to go back to sleep again!

Can't wait to share stories of little M tomorrow!