It's a GIRL!!!

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ”  John 14:18

I am proud to announce lil’ V is an orphan no more!!  At 11:48 this morning (Russ*an time), Viktoria Grace Beck was granted permission to be adopted as my beloved daughter!  What a great day of thanksgiving…on Thanksgiving Day!!!!!  

Court took 48 minutes (much quicker than I predicted) with my speech and questioning only lasting 30 minutes.   I am beyond thrilled!  The judge, social worker, orphanage director and prosecutor were all very fair and kind. The judge asked quite a few questions but thanks to some amazing friends, I was well prepared. The judge’s (a woman) main issue was my age and singleness, which I expected, to be the big hurdles.   But after listening to the orphanage director, social worker, prosecutor, and myself, the judge ruled in my favor…but not without questioning repeatedly if I was sure I was ready to “give up my life” and adopt “this child”.  I wanted to scream, “yes, that CHILD you are referring to is my DAUGHTER!!!!”  Amazingly, I didn’t, and remained calm addressing her as ‘Your Honor’. 

after court with the translator, orphanage director and social worker

Cindy and I after court!!!

It feels so good to finally be done with this part of the adoption process.  There is a 10-day waiting period before the judge’s ruling comes into affect forever and I can return to pick her up from the orphanage (in case anyone wants to appeal the court’s decision).  So the court decree goes into effect on Dec. 6th. 

I will be coming home tomorrow and will be returning on December 11th. On the 12th, lil’ V will be taken off the registry and on the 13^th I will apply for her passport.  Then on December 14th, I will go pick up my daughter, for forever!!  Then we will remain in St. P*te until we leave for Moscow on the 17th.  There we will stay and wait until the remaining paperwork is completed.  Then we will start the 15+ hour journey home on the 22^nd…placing us home, in time for Christmas.

Thanks to all of you for your love and support!  For everyone that prayed for lil’ V and me throughout the last nine months, your prayers have been heard and felt, even all the way here.  History was made today…

There is a lot more to this precious lil’ girl’s story that started years before I ever met her…so much that I will probably never know.  But what I do know is that God has protected her, and has blessed me with a beautiful daughter.  Thanks for being a part of my nine month journey to motherhood.

With love,

Rach

Visit with Lil' V

REUNION AT LAST!!!!

Sitting with mommy

Look...it's a Kansas Bear from her Aunt Stephie

Trying on new shoes from Grandma!!!  I'm a size eight!!! 

 Time to show my artistic abilities to mommy

Time to SHINE!!

Loving my bear!!

 Play time...

...and loving mom...

...and tickle time

Playing with the camera

Say, "CHEESE!!"

Had a great time with mom...tight squeeze!

Loads of smiles with mom!

Great visit with lil' V.  Can't wait to finally bring her home.  If you are awake at 2 am, please pray for me...I'll be in court, fighting for lil' V!  
Much love!  
Rach

Medical Appointment

Today was my medical appointment for court.  I got picked up at my hotel at 7:15 this morning and arrived at the "hospital" at 7:45.  After nearly three hours, I was finally cleared, as a healthy individual, suitable to parent lil' V.  Woot woot!!  In the end...that's all that mattered. 

 

Anyhow, a lil' bit about the medical exams...I saw every possible doctor under the sun…SERIOUSLY!!  I saw the oncologist, pulmonologist, dermatologist, cardiologist, neurologist, psychologist, and infectious disease specialist, all this morning.  

When we arrived we met with the Director of the Clinic (which I swore she said she was the Director of the Cleaners--I was soooooo confused!) and waited there to be "examined".  First, I met with the infectious disease specialist (ie, he asked if I had any infectious diseases and that was about it), followed by the pulmonologist (who reviewed my chest x-rays I brought with me from the states and asked about some family history).  Then I waited for Cindy to have some lab work, EKG and chest x-rays.  

Now...let me  back up for a moment...Cindy had been complaining of gas pains all morning long and tried blaming it on the pepperoni pizza from last night.  But I wasn't having any of that, because I ate the pizza and wasn't having gas pains.  Anyhow, when the pulmonologist got Cindy's chest x-rays back and were showing us, guess what they showed...THREE LARGE sockets of air!  Yup, her gas pains were legit.  Needless to say...long story short, Cindy and I just about died laughing in the hallway when that was pointed out to us.  Best story all day!

Anyhow...I brought my chest X-ray on a CD, EKG results, and blood work, which included, complete blood count, complete metabolic profile, fasting cholesterol panel, hepatitis virus panel, HIV testing, RPR for syphilis and TB skin testing, so I didn't have to have any of that done here.  And given the amount of money you can save, I recommend everyone does it!

The psychologist was good practice for court.  He drilled me on my age, martial status and motive for wanting to adopt given both of those factors.  But in the end, he was satisfied and signed off on his portion of my exam :)

Then I met with the remaining doctors.  The most  awkward part was my last and final doctor:  the oncologist.  Yes, the oncologist, who proceeded to do full breast exam, in front of my adoption coordinator, as well as two other doctors.  Talk about uncomfortable!!  :-(

Then I was done...finally I was deemed HEALTHY after three hours of examination.  Overall, not as bad as I anticipated, but definitely thankful it is done and checked off my list!

After our exams, we spent the next two hours driving/sitting in traffic and waiting in the car while E got our paperwork from the drs notarized and dropped off at the court for the judge to review prior to court on Thursday.

Tomorrow I will go see my daughter!!  I tried to talk E into letting me go visit her this afternoon, but no such luck.  My afternoon will consist of a trip down to McD for lunch and either KFC or Pizza Hut for dinner later.   Exciting I know...

The weather here isn't too bad...a few flurries, but not windy so it doesn't make it seem as cold.  But it's overcast with NO sign of the sun.  In fact, it's dark until 10 am and again by 5 pm this time of year.  It makes for "short" days. 

I can't wait to see lil' V in the morning!!  I hope she remembers her mommy!!!  Thanks so much for the prayers.

much love and appreciation...

Rach

I have arrived!!

Hello everyone!  

I have arrived in St. P*te and have checked into my hotel after 13 hours in the sky and five hours of airport sitting!  Now, if you can imagine an eight hour flight followed by another flight possibly being pleasant let me tell you how blessed I was.  Not only was I seated "next" to very nice individuals, but I wasn't really NEXT to ANYONE!!!  I had TWO, yes TWO seats from the US all the way to St. P*te.  It permitted me to steal a few much needed hours of sleep and I don't have kankles (although the additional seats didn't help keep my fingers from swelling)!!  And when you're not feeling well and trying to sleep, the additional seats are priceless!

Since NasHotel was all booked by the time Cindy and I received our court dates, we had to book our room at another hotel.  That being said, this trip we are staying at the Marco Polo Hotel.  I was spoiled on the last trip and although this place is good by Russian standards, I find myself wishing I was back at the Nas.  O well, it's better than other places I've stayed.  

 

I am exhausted and can’t wait for bed time to be here...but not until Cindy and I find a Pizza Hut!  Yes, Pizza Hut in St. P*te.  After the bad terribly, horrific, spoiled tasting food on the last trip, we agreed to stick to Pizza Hut, KFC, and McD (remind any of you of my b-day meals in China)?  Yes, we're sticking to the American chain restaurants this time around.

Tomorrow morning we will have our physicals.  I brought all of my lab results and am very curious to see if they will use any/all of it.  I have received mixed messages as to whether they would accept it...I hope they will!  It would save me nearly 400$ USD on my medical exam, not to mention the time.

I can’t wait to see my little girl on Wednesday!! It's been the longest three months in the entire process!  But it's almost over!!!  

Thanks so much for the continued prayers.  I will let you know how the medical exams go...ughhhhh.  You know I'm excited about those, given my LOVE for doctors!  NOT!!!!!!

Trip #2 Flight Details

 Flight Itinerary

Nov 20

Wichita, KS to Chicago, IL     10:20 AM      12:08 PM          1:48 Duration

Chicago, IL to Frankfurt          3:45 PM        7:10 AM           8:25 Duration

Nov 21

Frankfurt to R*ssia                   8:55 AM        2:40 PM           2:45 Duration

Return Itinerary

Nov 25

R*ssia to Frankfurt                 7:25 AM        7:40 AM          3:15 Duration 
Frankfurt to Denver, CO       12:05 AM         2:15 PM         10:10 Duration 

Denver, CO to Wichita, KS      4:15 PM         6:35 PM        1:20 Duration 

Birthday Girl

Today, Lil' V celebrates turns four years old!

Court Date!!!!

I feel like doing the SNOOPY DANCE...
NO, NO, NO
I AM DOING THE SNOOPY DANCE!!!

Today I received my court date to finalize my daughter's adoption - And I never would have guessed that God's timing would have me going to court on November 24th--Thanksgiving Day!!!   What a day of thanksgiving it will be! 

What is God's perfect timing??  Well...lil' V will be "celebrating" her fourth birthday in nine days (sadly I will not be with her).  However, in just 12 days (Nov. 20), I will depart from ICT at 10:20 am, and begin my journey across the world.  Two layovers later and several hours in the air, I will find myself back in St. Pet* at 2:40 pm, on Monday, Nov. 21st.  Tuesday, I will have the ever dreaded medical exam, and Wednesday, just six days after my daughter's fourth birthday, I will be able to love on her!  Then, Thursday at 11am, I will go before the judge to plead my case.

After court I have a ten-day waiting period,  where I will return to the states, before the judge’s ruling comes into effect.   Then I will return, for about two weeks, to EE to get lil' V's passport and paperwork necessary, to finally bring her home.  Excited doesn't even begin to describe my emotions!  I can’t wait to finally bring my daughter home, just days before Christmas!!!!!  God's timing...is perfect timing!  

Thanksgiving will NEVER be just another holiday.  It will forever be the day the Lord blessed me with my daughter, even if her "gotcha day" isn't for another ten business days. 

Please keep me and my precious daughter in your prayers.  I miss her so much and pray daily she is being loved and well taken care of.  Please pray that the judge will give a favorable verdict on the 24th, and grants lil' V the opportunity to be adopted as my beloved daughter.  May nothing prohibit her from coming home in December.  

Thanks so much for all your love and support!  I look forward to the day when you all meet her.

Much love...

Court Appointed...Almost!

Today I found out that my dossier is with the judge. My coordinator E, will be meeting with the judge's assistant and the judge tomorrow. If they do not have any significant requirements for additional documents I should have my court date appointed. I can hardly believe it is finally happening!  A court date this month, means lil' V should be home by Christmas!!!!  I will let you know tomorrow about the progress.

finally...an UPDATE from Russ*a

Praise the Lord!!!! E submitted my court dossier yesterday!!!!!! Please keep praying I get a date for this month!!!!  AHHHHhhhhhh, if I have a court date by Thanksgiving I should have lil' V home by Christmas!!!!!  The perfect gift from the Lord, in time for the holidays.