Our Grand Russian Adventure:
The Story of Laura's Adoption

Laura on the plane coming HOME!

We left on Sunday, September 14th, for JFK. Aeroflot was very nice, altho the flight was full and we squeezed into 2 coach seats. We didn't sleep much, since the couple behind us talked nonstop, loud Russian the whole time!! There were 2 other couples on our flight adopting but unfortunately we did not meet them until the baggage claim in Moscow. We were met in Moscow by Masha and Dmitri from Allways--they were GREAT! Stuffed 4 people, 7 suitcases and a stroller into one tiny car, and spent 2 hours in a VERY interesting traffic jam. Had lunch at McDonalds, our first ever Big Mac! We only had a little time for sightseeing, so we walked into Red Square and saw the outsides of GUM, the Kremilin, and St. Basils. We were thrilled to find Pepsi Light, which was a fair approximation of the Diet Pepsi I live on at home! We then headed to the domestic airport for our flight to Rostov. What an experience!! The fold down seats looked like heaven tho, we were so tired. The flight was only about 1/3 full, and we slept most of the way there. We were met at the Rostov airport by Andrei, our host, and taken to the house which was basically across the street from the airport. Had a great dinner of borscht, pasta and stirfry, and managed to stay awake until 8:45 before collapsing into bed.


The Big Days! First, Tuesday, September 16, the day we finally meet our new daughter!!! We headed for Orphanage #4 in Rostov, which was simple, but nicer than alot of the buildings we saw. We were taken inside to meet the doctor and the chief nurse, and gave them small gifts (thank heavens I thought to pack some extra little things!!) We sat in a waiting area, and they brought Laura out to us. We both cried--she is so tiny and so beautiful and sweet!! She came right to me, and I held her and kissed her. Bob squeaked her nose, and she laughed her funny little laugh. We had a chance to ask questions of the doctor, and they gave us some pictures of her when she was a little younger. We spent about 1 1/2 hours with her, playing, reading to her. She was afraid of her little doll we brought. She is so tiny, and so soft! She seemed happy to have us hold her and play with her. We hated to leave her.
Next, our day in court, Wednesday, September 17. It was very interesting. I kept feeling like I was watching a movie! We were so nervous, and we waited a long time. The prosecutor was 1/2 hour late, but finally we were taken in to the judges chambers, a simple office--not the formal courtroom we had expected! It was quick and easy from there: had we seen Laura, did we still want to adopt her (OF COURSE WE DO!!!!!), how did we feel? No one smiled, except the translator. We were asked to step outside for a minute, and then when we came in they said OK, you can adopt her after the 10 days are up. So at last it was official--we were parents!!

Bringing Laura "Home" in Rostov: Monday, September 29, "Gotchya Day!!!" Laura had been sick all week with a cold, so we hadn't been able to play outside like the first week. But we had gotten to know each other and she was obviously attaching to me like velcro! I had hoped to be able to take her on Saturday, day 10. But apparently the director doesn't work on Saturday, so i had to wait until Monday. I DID get to see her Sunday though, when we dropped off medicine for her cold. I watched her eat lunch, and got to put her to bed for her nap. I also had a chance to ask ALOT of questions of the caregivers, which was very helpful. So finally, today she would be mine!! We went to the orphanage at 3, and went into her room with the video camera rolling. She must have just gotten up from her nap. They handed her to me stark naked! I put on a diaper, and the clothes I had brought. Her caregivers were crying and kissing her. I promised to send lots of pictures and to take really good care of her. I thanked them for taking such good care of her for the last 2 years. We took her picture with the caregivers and with the director, and then we walked out into the world for real!!! She was fine in the car, and wide eyed at Andrei's house. She played with all the adults, ate a snack, played some more, and ate a great dinner. She eats so well!! She went to bed without a fuss, after prayers and a story. Slept all night, except once she woke with a messy diaper, and she is a noisy sleeper!!!! But I am finally a mommy for real. God is good!! The next day we played and had a bath ( she didn't like having her hair washed). Diarrhea again, I hope it's nothing serious! We got her passport and all her other documents, and I finally learned a little bit about her birth parents. Meanwhile, she happily stacked her cups and blows kisses to Mommy. I love it!!

Moscow. The flight up was full. Laura screamed on takeoff, but was OK with her bottle, and slept most of the trip. (Thank God for the Benadryl and Tylenol) She was fascinated by the plane! We went to our hotel, the Savoy. Nice, old, with beds that were like hammocks, about a foot and a half off the ground. An ancient crib for Laura that would fail about 99% of the safety standards here. Had dinner in an Italian restaurant across the street--very nice. Laura has had diarrhea since Monday, so I called the pedi at home for advice. Thursday we went to the Filatov for her exam. I had hoped they would waive the shots, since she had had a cold for 10 days, but her temp was only 100, and they only waive at 104! We had 2 American nurses, both wonderful, and a Russian doctor, who was pretty decent too. She screamed bloody murder through the exam, even the weighing and measuring. 9kg, 76 cm. Off the charts for 24 months, the little peanut! The doctor checked her ears, nose and throat, all are ok, but he thinks she has bronchitis. The second nurse gave her 3 shots (MMR, DPT, Hep B), all in her legs. I mentioned about shots in the back, and she was horrified! She used new syringes, and gave me the empty bottles of the vaccines to show my dr at home what they gave!! We met another couple there who had adopted--nice to see Americans!! Went across the street to Dietsky Mir (Children's World), and with my pre-elementary Russian, managed to buy juice and baby food for Laura! Dinner at the same italian restaurant, then Friday to the embassy. it was rainy and raw, and we had to stand outside for about 15 minutes until they opened the doors. i wanted to shout "I'm and American, damn it, let me in!" I guess I expected a much nicer, more formal building. It was kind of dingy and dumpy. We met alot of other couples there. We were interviewed at 2 different windows, and then told we did not have to return at 5--our Allways Travel rep could come. So we went off to a great place to get Matrioshka dolls, pins, laquer boxes, etc, for gifts and souveniers, and then got our luggage from the Savoy and headed for the Novotel by the airport. The room there was 1000% better--comfy, hard beds, a safe crib. Had lunch for $50, and dinner at Don Pepe's for $100!! WOW! Finally, Saturday am, we left at 7:30 for the airport (we were early, but anxious to go home). We flew business class, and they gave Laura her own seat!! She and I had the bulkhead. No basinett, but I made her a bed on the floor and she slept the first 3 1/2 hours. Then she played, ate, walked, and was great until landing when she screamed and I couldn't console her. I was so happy to land, I wanted to kiss the ground at JFK!! We breezed right through customs (the US Passport line) and immigration, got our bags and went to find Daddy! I passed a water fountain and took a drink--because I could! I never knew New York water tasted so good!! The car seat was not a big hit, but she fell asleep for most of the trip. Once home, we were greeted by Grandma and Grandpa. She was wide eyed as we came into the house! She sat on Grandpa's lap for a long time, very happily, and let Grandma read her a book, ate a good dinner, and collapsed into bed at 7pm. Mommy followed shortly thereafter, and slept like death all night. It is SO good to be back home in the good old USA!!! Now we are adjusting nicely . Laura loves to go for walks, accepts her carseat without a peep, and happily goes into the high chair now that she knows it means she gets to eat! She has gained a pound since the Moscow clinic visit, and when I look at the photos we took the first week at the orphanage, the little girl in those pictures bears very little resemblance to the little girl playing with her toys in our living room! God is good. We are truly blessed!