Day 37

We have Sarah and Kaitlyn! Our driver took us to the Slovansk vital records building and we picked up both of the birth certificates. We have a copy of their original and the one with their new names. They are in Ukrainian and we will get the English versions in Kiev. First we picked up Sarah. The whole orphanage knew and when we came up, all the other kids told us "bye-bye". We spent a while signing papers, showing documents, and talking with the director. She actually seemed happy for us and sad to see Sarah go. The kids got their bananas and juice, teachers their chocolate, and the doctor and director their champagne and chocolates. The director shared with all the adults and we toasted to the adoption. By that time, Sarah was changed but only after the director made sure that her dress was ironed. Good grief. So long to that place!

Kaitlyn's orphanage was much easier and actually had less documents to sign. Go figure. We also met with the director but we had Sarah with us this time. After a few minutes, we had Kaitlyn with us and the girls were very excited to meet each other. They hugged, they held hands, and helped with getting their shoes on. We gave the teachers their cake and chocolates. Then we shared another glass of champagne with the director. He shared his chocolates, we gave him ours. It's easy to tell that he loves the children and deeply cares for them.

I love watching them together. As of now, they are enjoying Marsha's play room and the pile of kopekas at the desk. Everything is new to them. The city, the elevator, the computer, the Game-Boys, neighbors... you say it and it's probably new to them. We just finished eating our first family dinner and we practiced etiquette. Once they knew it was chicken, they stuffed their faces. They obviously know what it is but don't get it very often.

Tomorrow, Marsha's mother will need to work with getting some of the documents notarized. She will bring them when we board the train. We are leaving tomorrow night at 8:53pm and the train arrives in Kiev around 7:30am or so. I'm so tired and yet so relieved to have the girls with us. Integrating them in to the family is still to come but at least we have started. We are almost home.