I am writing this is a bit of a fog. The past several days have been a challenge. The trip back to Kiev (12 hours on tuesday night and then last night another 12 hours... whew brutal. I need not explain that riding the night train in Ukraine is a wild experience (it is NOT possible to sleep on these trains, Snoring mixed with the swaying and rattling and there you have it). This AM we stumbled off the train at 0700 hrs and were met by fantastic Sasha and driven 120km from Donetsck to Enakievo to file our paper work, notaries and Adoption ministry inspector interview and record review. Finally we were taken to the orphange to do yet more paperwork all in order to adopt Rada. She is worth every bit of this. We cannot wait for you all to meet her. She is a great little gal. Today, getting to see her face when she was offered adoption into our family was beyond words. She just lit up. She then had to write in her own handwriting a statement officially accepting adoption and stating that she wants to go to America. The whole experience has been surreal. Ira, was fantastic today helping us with translation to really communicated deepley with both Rada and Inna. I cannot put into words how reassuring her very presence is and the ease of communication with her help. Even though we only had 3 hours together today, the time with Ira's help was priceless. Throughout today's orphanage visit (Rada's first official one) Rada was just beaming. So were we. But now we need to get rest... big time.
Getting Inna and Rada has been quite the process, but we could not do this without the help of our families, friends, and my coworkers. Wiley and Carolyn Smith who are my second Mom and Dad have been watching over Garrett and Jake and you could not ask for better people to hold down the homefront. A huge thanks to my coworkers at Urology of Virgina who have been outstanding. The timing of this adoption was not good for our practice as this is literally the first month out of Sentara and back into independence. Mike Fabrizio, Dana Adams, and Lynn Walls have been fantastic. Nikki Reyes, who is one of the best physician assistants in the world called me on my cell phone as the team was getting nervous about my return. Little did she know that when she called we were walking into the orphanage. Kim Bradley-Redman and Courtney Cain have been AWESOME. Kim is my nurse and one of the brightest and most organized people. Courtney is my secretary and soon to deliver her baby. Thanks to everyone. Many people tell us repeatedly that we are heroes to adopt these girls, but it is not just us doing this. It has been many people making this happen. God Bless all of you in helping these soon to be Ex-Orphans.
Hopefully, we will get a court date and get back on track next week. I need to get home to my practice and the boys, but not until our girls are secured.
God Bless,
Ray and Cari
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