Well, we have gone nonstop since arriving in Moscow. This is our first chance to post, but it will be well worth it. We have several pictures of our boy for your viewing pleasure.
We were able to have the medical exam for Benjamin’s visa done Thursday morning. At this visit there were three other families who adopted as well. We shared stories of our time in Russia, and were reminded of how truly blessed we are. Two of the families have been in Russia on their second trip since we were here for our first. They have actually been in their region for six weeks due to a difficult judge and regional requirements. We are so blessed to have been able to complete the adoption process with such rapidity.
After the doctor’s visit we were informed that we would have the visa interview at the US Embassy the same day as well. This part of the process has gone so fast we aren’t sure if we’re coming or going. We arrived at the Us Embassy approximately forty five minutes prior to our appointment and began the lengthy security process. Upon entering the embassy, we made our way to the cashier, paid the visa fee, and waited for the interview to begin. We waited in an area with seventy five or so other people. After a few minutes an embassy representative addressed the crowd and administered an oath. She informed us that we would be seen by one of three agents by number on the tickets we received when we arrived at the embassy. We looked at our ticket and realized that we were #5, what a blessing. We wouldn’t have to spend several hours waiting for our turn as Benjamin grew weary. We completed the interview in a few short minutes and were done with the final step in the process. At this point we were free to leave the country and return home. All in all, we were done at the embassy by our original appointment time. What an absolutely amazing birthday present for Tara!
We decided to try to get an earlier flight home and headed to the Delta office in Moscow. We were able to get a flight home Sunday through Cincinnati. We are on waitlist for the flight to Lexington; if we can get on that flight we will be home Sunday evening at nine thirty in the evening. We are more than ready to get home and get started with our lives. Living in a hotel is becoming very tiring and we are growing weary of the food.
Enjoy the pictures and we will post again Saturday. We have lots of pictures to share and look forward to sharing Benjamin with you. He is a remarkable child and has adjusted so well, we continue to be amazed at his personality and good nature.
Until tomorrow,
Eric, Tara and Benjamin
We thought that once court was over we could relax and enjoy being parents, not so much. After three very long hours in a court room where every word spoken had to be translated for us, we began the wait for the adoption decree. At this point we began coming down from the adrenaline high we experienced during court. We waited for half an hour and then another 15 minutes for a correction to be made. During this wait our translator told us that our agency associate would be along soon to collect us. As the minutes ticked by we began to wonder what was happening. Our translator told us that our agency associate was on her way and we would be off to apply for Benjamin’s new birth certificate. After waiting an hour and a half, we were picked up and on our way to the vital statistics office.
As we drove along we sensed something was amiss, but our translator did not relay what was being said so we brushed it off. As we pulled into the parking area for the VS office we were enlightened. As chance would have it our day took a sudden turn. We were informed that a very important document was missing and needed to be located before we could proceed. As the story unfolded it was revealed that the document was Benjamin’s certificate of citizenship. This document is necessary to complete the adoption and to leave the country. The magnitude of the lost document was explained to us; if it could not be found it would take six months to issue a new one.
If this is unclear, let me sum it up. The adoption decree would be invalidated and we would return home empty handed and heartbroken. Our agency associate proceeded to rush us to our hotel and make the two hour drive to Benjamin’s city of birth. There she worked with the hospital to find the COC and bring it back to Izhevsk.
We sat in our hotel room for twenty hours knowing nothing as we waited to hear about the document. It was a long wait but we both felt a sense of calm, knowing that he was meant to be our son. We had faith that the document would be located and we could retrieve our son from the baby home.
Twenty four hours after we had been declared Benjamin’s parents we received the call. A new document had been issued and we would be picked up to resume where we left off filing paperwork and applying for documents. After twenty hours of dead calm we began a whirlwind afternoon rushing all over the city. We were so exhausted yet so invigorated knowing that all that remained was to pick up our son and his passport tomorrow and head to Moscow.
Now we await the morning and the drive to the baby home to pick up our son. We will head to Moscow Wednesday afternoon, approximately 8am Eastern Standard Time. We will post as soon as we are able, and will have pictures of us and Benjamin in Moscow. We are so excited to bring him home and to introduce all of you to our son.
Today has just been an amazing day! Well, I’m guessing the question on the minds of you who have been following along is how did everything go? Ha, ha… I know something you don’t… just kidding. Ok… Are you ready for this? Perhaps you should sit down for this one… We are coming home and we are bringing Benjamin with us! The judge has graciously agreed to waive the mandatory 10 day stay so that we can get our lives started right away.
Ok, secondly, court… Hmmm… I’m finding it very difficult to describe this part to you. A very serious room, though at one point some very relieved participants… I’m probably going to have to collect my thoughts and get back to you on this one… Suffice to say, we, and by we I mean Tara has truly perfected the art of fulfilling Russian Adoption paperwork. I know I’ve said this before, but Kudos on a job well done, honey!
Well, there is plenty more to be told of this day’s events. I won’t spoil all of the suspense right away… Ok, actually, I’m just very tired and things are just a blur right now. Well, let’s just agree that the most important thing has already been said… We are officially parents!
Thanks again for the kind thoughts and warm wishes. We miss our family and our friends very much.
Ok, one more thought, while I’m thinking of it. As I’m typing this blog from the room of our hotel I am reminded of the character of George Bailey, who dreamed of big things only to realize that his riches were not found in the wealth of this world, rather, his friends and the people whose lives he touched. *It is a wonderful life!*
We are getting ready for yet another milestone in our lives. Its funny, I’ve spent most of the past decade referring to myself as somebody’s uncle. It’s so wonderful to say and hear those words. Daddy… Now, I can’t imagine spending another day of my life without Ben. Thanks again to our families and friends for your thoughts and prayers! I can clearly see God has been mindful of our (my) needs even when I have failed to see his plan. 
I am also reminded of just how wonderful my parents have been to me. I was asked about whether or not I had ever learned anything of my biological parents. My answer was and will always that I am content knowing that my biological mother loved me enough to want to give me a better life. The life I live though has been for the ones who took care of me, who fed me, changed my diapers, gave me cloths to wear, spent time with me, who loved me. My mind is swimming with examples of their love! I can never repay them. Their love is priceless. I do make this vow though, that with Gods help I will be father to Benjamin that my father was to me. I will. I love him. He is my son.
The Orphanage:
The Okolitsa Hotel (and snow!!!)
After 36 hours of traveling we are safely in Izhevsk Russia and awaiting our court date Monday. We have been very busy traveling back and forth twice a day to the baby home where Benjamin is living. It was so wonderful to see him again after a month, an exceptionally long month for us. He behaved as if though we had just seen him the day before.
We have had four visits with him so far and they have all been great. We’ve played with toys and he’s crawled, he’s even started to try to take some steps with help. When we are sitting he will crawl to us and climb up our leg to a standing position and be very proud of himself. He is babbling more and more every visit; he says several different things repeatedly, including “dada” as clear as day. Of course Eric loves that, even though we know it is just babble it is so sweet.
We took him today to get his picture taken for his passport and visa. It was quite an adventure to say the least as the two types of pictures are different in Russia. We were accompanied by a caregiver from the baby home, our translator and driver. We had to go to three different places to find one that would take both types of pictures and do it today. The first place we stopped at only took passport pictures, so we all piled back into the car and headed to the next place. The second place was not doing pictures today as it was the “camera’s day off”. By the time we reached the third place I had asked our translator if she might go in alone to check if we could have the pictures done there. The reason for this was because at every stop we were all unloading and traipsing through at least a foot of snow. Yes, a foot of snow, and that’s just the last day and a half of accumulation. The third place was able to do the pictures and we all unloaded and went in. We unbundled Benjamin and got him ready for the pictures. His hair had so much static that it looked like the pictures of me as a kid at the Magic House in St. Louis. There you could put your hand on a static ball and your hair would stand straight out on its ends. We joked about how he would have a funny story regarding the picture that would be in his passport.
Of course we experienced what all parents do when they get their child all dressed up for a picture. He proceeded to throw up on us and himself and we scrambled to get him cleaned up for the picture. As is usually the case in situations like this, we were the ones bearing the majority of the evidence and so the pictures proceeded as planned. He was pretty cooperative for a one year old and after several shots we were able to finish. Before too long the pictures were ready and we paid for them. Much to our surprise the photo technician had edited the pictures to remove Benjamin’s “wild” hair. So we now have quite respectable pictures for his passport and visa along with a funny story. We are unable to scan his pictures here but will when we return home. Everyone absolutely must see his expression in the photos, it epitomizes the look most Russians carry on their faces, very solemn and serious. We have two more visits with him before court and if all goes well we will head to Moscow Thursday to complete the requirements to obtain a visa for him to travel to the US.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us in this journey to become parents and bring Benjamin home to Kentucky. Your support and encouragement have been invaluable and we will never be able to thank you enough.
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