Back In Siberia

Moscow, Feb 17, 7:25 PM: In an effort to release some tension and anxiety, Nancy announced that her ‘water broke – it’s time to go’ this afternoon, February 16, at about 1:30 Eastern Time. Of course the announcement was metaphorical but our panic of this morning could not have been more real. International adoptions require lots of things to be ‘just right’ – not ‘just close.’ There have been a few close calls along this journey and a big one nearly struck us this morning. Kevin was out making a ‘picture run’ so that the Russian court could see visual evidence that we had met and interacted with the former Peter, Paul and Mary – now Carson, Parker and Delaney (CPD). The camera kiosk at 5 CVS’s failed to read the card and in marginally controlled panic Kevin called back home to Nancy to retake the pictures of the newly decorated kids’ rooms and dump data from a USB drive so a new media could be re-tried at a 6th CVS kiosk.

To cut to the chase, triple backups of a CD, USB drive and camera card were all reloaded with the picture data and with about 25 minutes to spare Kevin was back with the required photos. Last minute shuffling of packed bags, hasty goodbyes to Kevin’s parents who are house sitting and we were off. Of course, we double checked our passport locations and a few other key documents while in motion and made one fast stop to unpack a bag to verify that the US Customs and Immigration Service’s documentation was with us. Convinced that we had all that we could think of; we sped off – at the maximum legal limit - and met Nancy’s parents near the airport to be dropped off at the main door.

Now we are sitting, and have been for 5 ½ hours, in the Moscow domestic terminal (only 3 more hrs to go). Kevin’s nearly fallen asleep and off his stool several times while Nancy, who slept a bit more on the flights, added to her growing Russian vocabulary. We’ve taken the time to add the sacred photos to an album to be used in court Tuesday and our fatigue seemed to fade away (at last for a moment) as we smiled at the photos of CPD and are reminded of why we’re heading back to Siberia in the depth of winter.

Well, our gate was just posted so we will soon go through final security and bag check, more waiting and boarding our second consecutive overnight flight. We’re guessing how much over-weight our bags will be and how pricey that will be. It’s hard packing for 5 people for at least 10 day trip in 80 lbs or less- including 3 full snow suits and boots…

Kemerovo, Feb 18, 7:25 PM: Exhausted. Happy. In two words that sums up our last 24 hours. We got to see the kids (CPD) today and there were just as we remembered them. More on that later as we ready ourselves for the first sleep in 42 hours. Suffice it to say our flights and bags were on time. Nancy nailed our luggage weight by being just 2.9 kilos over the limit for which we were not charged. Siberia is not disappointing in the cold department. Our court time has been moved back an hour to 11:00 on Tuesday (tomorrow) so we’re hoping the time in the morning will work for developing Kevin’s speech a s well as sleeping in a bit.

Keep us all in your thoughts and prayers!

Love, Kevin and Nancy