Chapter 6 -- Second trip and beyond

April 20
Sky over Eastern Europe

Should land in about an hour. Didn’t sleep much, but then I doubt I would have slept much in my own bed, with my own pillow. Too excited.

Actually caught myself thinking: “Should be home in about an hour.”

April 21 -- Moscow
Almost didn’t get to the hotel. Plane took off late, strong head wind delayed us even more. We were the last off the plane because our bags were stowed at the back of the plane. Took us a long time through immigration and customs. Coordinator said all the other passengers from our flight long gone when she asked at the counter if we were onboard and agents told her we hadn’t been on the plane. She was about to leave when Mike found her.

Spoke with a woman on the plane. She and her husband traveling to adopt a 3-year-old boy. Second child, second trip. They actually got the referral more than a year ago. But there were problems with his paperwork. Agency actually asked if they wanted to release the referral and pursue a different child. I was such a basket case after nine weeks. I can’t imagine what I would have been like after more than 50 weeks.

I can’t believe the weather this time. We actually have the windows open. It’s like a crisp fall evening – blue sky, light clouds.

From my bed I can see a horizon of churches. But one – the Church of Christ the Redeemer – stands way above the crowd. It’s white stone, gold domes towers over the rest of the skyline. Subtle lights from below make it appear to glow in the night. Light extends from the corner stone to the gold gild of the onion domes. So beautiful.

As we sat in the window tonight I asked Mike if he ever imagined 20 years or so ago that one day he’d be in Russia to adopt twins.

“No.”

“Did you ever think about being a parent?”

“Not until you mentioned it on Mother’s Day.”

And here we are. Every day is one day closer. And today there is only one day left. I’m not sure I really believed this day would ever get here.

April 22 -- Arkhangel’sk
1:30 a.m. Eight hours. They pick us up in eight ours to go to the orphanage. We’ll take them with us. They’ll never go back.

There are two cribs in our room already. I keep going to them and peeking in, imagining what they’ll look like with two babies tucked in and asleep.

8:57 a.m. Meeting Anna and Luba in the lobby in half an hour. They tell us we’ll pick up the babies, go to the grocery store and then come back to the hotel. At some point they’ll pick us up to get passport photos taken.

2 p.m. Elena is napping in the next room. Nicholas is still fighting it. It’s been quite a day for them.

Actually, it’s been quite a day for us too.

We arrived at the orphanage shortly after 9 this morning. There are two other families with us, one is adopting a little girl who lives with Nicholas and Elena, the other adopting a 14-month-old boy.

Caretakers brought the other two children to the director’s office. Soon the director motioned to us to follow him. He took us to the twins’ room.

A nurse was dressing Nicholas.

But Elena wasn’t there. And no one spoke English so we couldn’t find out what was going on. In my mind we were back in February, there must be something wrong with our daughter again. And we had no idea what was going on.

Minutes later Elena toddled into the room. It was the first time we saw her walk on her own. Her first steps for us.

Nicholas also stood up and took a couple of steps. I didn’t think he’d be walking. My guess is he’s only been walking a very short time – maybe days or weeks. 21 months and just now walking. I think that should scare me. I know from my reading that on average kids take their first steps when they are 12- to 14-months-old. Most walk by the time they are 18-months-old. But I also understand that they say that for every three months a child spends in an institution they will likely be one month behind. Which means our children are developmentally 14-months-old – the exact age when most kids start walking.

We tried to put them in for their nap at 1 p.m. Lina laid right down. But Nicholas started crying.

Mike and I agreed we would give them five minutes, then we’d take turns going in every five minutes to try to settle them down.

After about four minutes I looked at Mike and said: “Are they laughing?”

We peeked in and they were both standing up pulling the drapes open, looking out and laughing. They were obviously making each other happy. It was the first time we heard Elena laugh. We knew they had to take a nap, but we couldn’t stop them. The laughs were infectious. And we just had to watch, take video.

I can tell we’re really going to enjoy watching them together, hearing them laugh at each other.

11 p.m. They’re both asleep now in their cribs.

For dinner tonight we took them to the bar here in the hotel. Our first dinner out together.

Pickings slim. I have a feeling the bar is better at serving vodka than food. Ended up ordering boiled sausages (really just hot dogs) and a cheese omlet. The kids insisted on eating everything. Basically Mike and I will live tonight on Pringles and cheese in the room.

Nicholas had his first temper tantrum tonight at the restaurant. He just wanted to keep eating, even when the food was gone and he had eaten everything there was. Makes me wonder if he got enough to eat in the orphanage. He was the smallest one in the group. Makes me wonder if survival of the fittest affected how much food the kids got.

April 24
I’m realizing I’m never going to be able to write everything I want to write. There just isn’t time.

But here are some observations from today:

Nicholas likes to sleep on his back. Arms either by his side or bent at the elbow and under his head. Elena prefers to sleep curled up on her right side.

Spent a lot of today playing in the room. Elena loves the stacking cups. If they get out of order, she knows exactly which ones to take out and put it all back together. Our little engineer.

Nicholas loves the beach ball. He’s still learning how to walk, but when it comes to the ball he seems to know exactly what to do. He may always be a little guy, but I imagine he’s going to be interested in sports.

Gave them their first bath today.

Elena tends to like adventures, so we thought she’d love the bath.

So, since I had already taken a massively disgusting diaper (Nicholas) and a first temper tantrum (Nicholas), Mike offered me Lena for the bath.

She hated it.

The whole time she sobbed pitiful sobs. I felt so awful. All that just so I thought my daughter was clean. Was it really worth it?

Of course, Nicholas loved it. Just my luck.

We had to leave them with the baby sitter while we went to the ministry of education to be briefed on tomorrow’s court appearance. Tatiana started out barking questions at us, and we kept getting the answers wrong. But in the end she basically told us what to say.

I spent the evening in the hotel business center writing both of our statements. I just hope we get it right.

Court time is 2 p.m. tomorrow. We’ve been told we need to be there by 1:45.

I know there’s n o reason for us to worry. I know that people don’t get to this point if they aren’t going to be approved in court. But I still can’t help but be nervous.

There were some other memorable moments from today:

It was a little after noon. I was thinking about lunch. I may have even said something, but I doubt Nicholas and Elena could have heard it, or understood it. But yet Elena went right over to he r stroller, dug out a bib and came to the middle of the room, holding it up as if to say “I’m ready.” Then she went and got Nicholas’ bib and he dipped his head for someone to snap it around his neck.

Then tonight we took all the kids to the hotel restaurant. Russians like to talk and drink before eating, and the restaurant served in the Russian style. So we waited more than an hour and a half for our meal. Well, it was a bit much for the kids, so we all got up and walked around with them. At one point the music started and Alena came over to Elena, they joined hands and started dancing. So sweet. And it was obvious they had done this together in the orphanage.

April 25
Positive decision!

We knew we’d get it. We knew court was really just a formality. But we were nervous none the less. But now it’s done and today will forever be Adoption Day for Nicholas Peter and Elena Marie Finneran!

Tatiana and Anna prepared us well. We both knew exactly what to say. Judge Uden. Younger man. Black robe, dark brown hair. Very Russian. Sometimes during Mike’s statement it seemed like he wasn’t paying attention. But truth is he had already read everything in our documents.

And truth is he had probably already made his decision, even written it up before we appeared in court. There’s just no way he wrote a two-page ruling in the six minutes he was out of the courtroom.

Judge Uden did ask Mike several questions. Most now a blur. But I did try to listen to what he said, to see if I could pick out any words.

I did hear a couple. “Toh-ahl-Yet.” “KAH-kant.” Toilet. Poop. All the while Judge Uden is snickering. He wanted to know how Mike would handle toilet training. He noted that in the Russian culture they don’t use diapers as long as Americans. “Maybe one year, maybe one year and a half.”

The judge just kept asking Mike questions. And I was just sitting there worrying that the longer it took, the less likely we’d get a decision today. We had been told we had to be done in an hour or we might not get our decision until Monday. I don’t think I could stand that.

And all the judge’s questions had me wondering what he was going to ask me.

My turn. I read what I had written. Then it was my turn for questions. The questions all seemed to revolve around what I could know about raising kids if I didn’t have any kids. Truth is, who knows anything, who’s really prepared? No one. But stupider people than I have been able to figure it out. But I don’t think the judge would have appreciated that answer.

Then everyone else had their moment.

Luba, the head nurse at the orphanage and our adoption coordinator, urged the judge to grant us a positive decision. She noted that the twins’ mother never visited them, that the last time she saw them was when she left the hospital after giving birth. Luba said she also spoke to the twins’ maternal grandparents, and they didn’t want the kids either. So sad.

Tatiana also spoke on our behalf, as did the lawyer representing Nicholas and Elena and the prosecutor, who represents the state. All spoke in favor of our petition. All asked the judge to give us a positive decision and to waive the 10 day waiting period usually required by law.

There were a few more formalities and then the judge took a break to consider the matter. Anna barely had time to go out for a smoke when the judge came back in and read his decisions:

Positive decision on our petition to adopt Igor and Lina and change their names to Nicholas Peter and Elena Marie.

Positive decision to waive the 10-day waiting period and profice the written adoption decree by the end of the day.

Mike cried. I think it’s the first and only time I’ve seen him cry.

I can’t believe that at just after 3:30 Moscow Standard Time I became a mom, twice.

Everyday I see a difference in Nicholas and Elena. They’re getting used to us. We’re getting used to them. They are so similar, and yet so very different.

Nicholas has his peaks and valleys. He’s the easiest to make laugh. I think he would be happy to lie on the floor and let you tickle his belly for hours. And his laugh is infectious. You just can’t help but smile when you hear it. But he’s also the quickest to have a temper tantrum.

Elena is very even keel. She laughs and smiles sometimes. But it isn’t easy, it isn’t long. She’s also a bit of a bully. She’ll take Nicholas’ cookie, push him around, even sit on him to get what she wants.

I’m also noticing a change in the way they react to us. At first they were OK with us, but they didn’t really want us touching them. But now they come over to us, arms outstretched to be picked up. Or they’ll come over just to sit in our laps or lie down next to us. And tonight Elena gave me her first kiss.

I have gotten both of them to say “mama.” Of course, they don’t yet know what that means. But they will.

Elana and Mike took a nap today. I hung out with Nicholas. He was in such a good mood. We spent the time on the floor together. I kept saying “mama” and pointing to myself. And by the end of 90 minutes he would say “mama” and look at me or come to me. Wow.

So far I think we’re doing well bonding with the twins. We’re not chasing them around trying to get them to love us. We’re just here, doing loving things for them. And we’re mostly letting them come to us when they’re ready.

Tonight after the bath Mike and I laid down on the floor and Nicholas and Elena took turns coming to us, laying on us, crawling on us, smiling and laughing. Such a change from the first night, when they really didn’t want us touching them.

We went this morning to get their new birth certificates. While we waited for the paperwork to be complete, Anna and Luba took us to see the hospital where the twins were born. So scary looking. Wonder how the building is still standing. They were there from birth (July) until September of that year.

Then they showed us the home where Nicholas and Elena’s mother was living when she was pregnant. Third floor, rundown apartment. Young girl, maybe 6 or 7, peeking out of a nearby window. She was wearing a sleeveless T-shirt, hair unbrushed, looking out a dirty window. I can’t help but imagine that could have been Elena.

April 27
We had our last meeting with Dr. Pavlov today. He said they have 85 children in need of a home right now. Finances not good in Russia, it’s less likely a Russian family will come along for most of these kids. Appealed to us to tell our friends to come back for a brother or sister.

Was disturbed today to learn that the orphanage ties kids arms to their sides like a straight jacket when they sleep. Nurses said they did that so the kids wouldn’t dig at their teeth while they slept. I imagine they think they are doing what they think is right.

April 28
Uneventful day. Anna and Luba spent the day trying to get our passports done. So we were stranded at the hotel. We’re all going crazy here.

I took Nicholas and Elena to lunch by myself today. I’m proud of myself. I managed pretty well. They split a plate of meat patty, mashed potato and a pickled and shredded Russian-style salad.

Amazing to me the change in Nicholas and Elena over the last five days. For the first four days they fought the nap. Today at nap time Elena took my hand and lead me into the bedroom to her crib. And then she laid down in her crib and handed me the blanket to cover her.

Everyone is getting stir crazy. Today all three guys spent nap time down at the hotel bar drinking Baltika. Later moms and kids joined them and we took over the place. The kids played in the corner while the adults shared some beers.

Tonight the walk along the Dvina River came alive. Seemed everyone had come out for an evening stroll. Everyone in fabulous matching coats, hats, gloves, scarves. And everyone with a Baltika in their hands.

Anna and Luba brought in champagne for us all to toast. Before leaving Luba asked if we wanted to know about their mother. Said Oksana looked like Elena. She was Luba’s height (short, maybe 5’2” or 5’4”). Luba said she didn’t smoke or drink during her pregnancy.

I don’t know whether to believe them. Part of me wonders if they said that because they think it’s what we want to hear. But it’s also all we have.

April 30 -- Moscow
What a day. Up early to catch the flight back to Moscow then ran all over town on official business. On top of that, my cold is getting worse. And now I have pink eye. Good thing is you don’t need prescriptions for lots of things here. We just went to the pharmacy and our coordinator told them what I needed.

One of the things they gave me was an eye wash. But I wasn’t sure how to make it. The white powder came in little glass bottles and we couldn’t figure out how to get it out without getting glass in it. Ah well. He also suggested an inhaler to calm my throat irritation. I couldn’t quite figure that out either.

This morning the wake up call came at 3:30 a.m. Mike and I were ready. And we preformed our mission – to get the kids changed, dressed and in their strollers without waking them up – perfectly. Too bad we had the time wrong and we were exactly one hour early. But the time we got back down to the lobby an hour later they were wide awake.

Flight uneventful. They fussed a bit at being restrained in the seats. But I thought the air pressure would really bother them. After all, it’s much worse on Aeroflot than on American-based airlines. But Lena was laughing as we landed.

Irena was 30 minutes late. Kids slept in their strollers as we waited. Then off to the photo office for visa photos.

Next to Russian doctor. Stripped Nicholas first. Said again yes, he is small. But he was born premature. And new diet will help him catch up. Still has slight heart murmer. Doctor says he’ll grow out of that. And he’s teething (which explains why he’s always drooling). Overall healthy.

Lena didn’t cry like her brother. But she had that “I don’t think I’m going to like this” look in her eye. Doctor said her cough is left over from the bronchitis (three months ago?) Give her antihistamine like Benadryl. Told him already am. May have asthema, allergies. Stay away from red colored fruits and veggies and bananas. Claimed again that’s what the red scaley cheeks are from. We didn’t tell him they they’ve improved since we started putting diaper cream on her cheeks.

Back in the room by 2. I was so tired that I napped for an hour or more while Mike played with the kids right here in the room.

Had an early dinner and put the kids to bed at 7, an hour early. They fell asleep in less than 5 minutes; a lot faster than I thought they would in the new surroundings.

The last things we need to do are to go to the consulate and embassy Monday. We spend the next four days touring Moscow. It’s a four-day holiday. May Day. All offices closed.

May 1
Today our coordinator was sick. So she sent Anna (they pronounce it “Anya”). Went to Gorky Park. Basically just strolled the babies, enjoyed the amusement park atmosphere, had some lunch and left. But after nine or so days cooped up in hotel rooms, it was great to get some fresh air, sunlight and walk.

Afterwards went to get some coffee with Anna. I’d guess she’s in her 50s. Believe she said her father-in-law was an ambassador, knew FDR! Talked about how during the revolution her family lost their land, everything they had. Said under the old system the daughter of a peasant lived close to the son of an ambassador. No one looked twice when they married. No class barriers. And everyone had access to an education.

But also under the old system she and her husband were taken in by the KGB for questioning. Apparently their family named appeared in the contact book of a woman who was distributing a banned book. Did they have the book? Yes. Rather than just asking for the book, the KGB searched their entire apartment. Told her husband, an artist, he’d be banned from the galleries. “He sold paintings. He didn’t sell paintings. It didn’t’ matter.”


Also said they were friends with some journalists from other countries. Dutch journalist came to visit one year after Peristroyka. They lived on the 16th floor. Another friend noticed two cars always sitting outside the apartment suddenly. And when the journalist went on the subway, one of the cars followed and one of the guys jumped onto the train as the doors shut and then sat behind them.

Still, it almost seemed she had to think a moment when Mike asked if it was better under old Communism or now. She said now, but with the foot note that the younger people are learning how to work the system.

Back in the room tonight Nicholas had a meltdown that will go down in the record books. Neither Mike nor I knows what started it. But nothing would stop it. And it seemed to escalate no matter what we did. Couldn’t really let him cry it out because we were afraid he would hurt himself. Mike sat with him for about 30 minutes. I fed Lena and took her for a walk. By the time we got back Mike needed a break, so Lena and I sat on the floor and let him sob it out.

Lena noticed he was upset, and that he was missing a sock. So she went and got his sock and sat across from him and tried to put it on him. Then she gave me that look that I’m starting to recognize as “Mommy do it?” So I put his sock on. And then she wanted to take off her socks and have me put them back on her.
Nick finally climbed into my lap and I asked Lena to go get me a book. So cute. Sometimes they can really get on one another. They’ll lean on one another, push one another, etc., just to annoy one another. But I guess they can also help one another.
I now understand the phrase “sleep like a baby.” Once asleep, nothing really wakes these guys up. Noises. Lights. Bumping into the crib. Moving them. They don’t even stir.

May Day.
Was here in the hotel when I heard what I thought sounded like lots of people shouting. Looked out the window. Nothing. Figured it must be construction that seems to be going on all the time here. For some reason I looked out again 10 minutes later. And this time I saw a group of people, maybe 100 or so, marching down the street and coming into view. Before it was over, thousands of people marched past our hotel, every so often punctuated with a logn banner with writing on it. Many of the marchers (I assume they were men, but I couldn’t really see from the room) carried red flags. Anna later said most of the marchers were pentioners, Old Communists. Found it ironic that under the system they were marching to support, they probably wouldn’t be allowed to march.

May 2
Every day is one day closer – to the day we get to finally go home. I am enjoying Moscow. And the babies are being quite the troopers. But I’m really looking forward to going home, introducing them to everyone, establishing a routine.

Today we took a boat ride along the Moscow River. Interesting way to see the city. Went past the first power plant in Moscow.

Anna says she’s been told that the machinery inside hasn’t been updated since it was built.

Lunch at TGI Friday’s. I’d rather not eat at an American restaurant. But everyone wanted to eat here. Had to convince our translators to eat with us. They said no families had ever invited them to share their table.

Mike and I were talking after the kids went to bed. It doesn’t really seem real that they could be ours. Instant 2-year-olds. I imagine they think the same about us. It’ll still take some getting used to. And it won’t feel normal until we’re at home.

Thinking about the President Hotel. All the sudden realized rooms probably wired. I mean, the hotel was built in the early 80s, owned by the government. It’s the place where visiting dignitaries always stay. Wonder if anyone has listened to our conversations. If so, what do they think of us?: Imagine Mike’s dry sense of humor is hard to translate, and even harder to understand if you can’t see his body language. Babies crying for seemingly no reason (did we pinch them? Bite them? We know we didn’t, but do they?). Sometime between 7:30 and 8:15 each night a woman starts talking about her “mostly naked babies.” (I know I’m getting them ready for a bath, but do they?). TV playing news in English (my choice), movies dubbed in Russian (Mike’s choice), cooking shows in Korean (Mike found it, but he claimed he found it for me). The phone rings and we arrange times to be picked up and talk about going to the U.S. Embassy, the Russian Consulate.
I can’t believe this cold is still hanging on. I am so tired of it. But I imagine my defenses are down – stress, weather, time change. Left the U.S. almost two weeks ago with a scratchy throat. By court I had to force my voice to be heard and the next day voice completely gone. And I still can’t shake it.

And today I woke up to discover it was that time of the month. It almost never comes at home, and I wasn’t prepared. So I told Mike I had to go to the store. He offered to go for me, but when I told him I needed feminine products, he let me go.
Stopped at the children’s store on my way back. I wanted to buy the kids lighter jackets. They wanted nearly $30 U.S. for a little jacket that wasn’t that cute. No way. Instead we’ll just dressed them in several layers.

It’s easy to know when Lena is happy – she pulls her arms back, sticks her chest and chin out and runs. It won’t be long before she laughs.

When she’s not sure about something, she gets a look in her eye. Sometimes she shakes her head, tucking in and leading with her chin.


May 3
Another fascinating day with Anna. Went to the flea market. Mostly tourist stuff. But we are tourists and it was fun and interesting. Mike bought a submarine clock. Heavy metal. Winds with a key. They tried to tell him they were made for the submarines and the government had too many. But I doubt that.

I bought several books of Russian folk tales, Christmas ornaments, wooden Russian toys, stone necklaces and my favorite, a rag doll angel to give to Lena in a few years.

Went to lunch at a Russian fast food place. I’ve seen them all over the place. Red awning. Windows decorated with stick-on cartoons of chickens holding knives and forks. Cannibals. I tried to eat a chicken breast (I was really hungry). But it just wasn’t appealing. Slimy. And I’m glad I didn’t eat more. I haven’t felt right ever since.

Today Anna said she thinks they are already losing their Russian language and replacing it with English. Said she’s noticing how they respond to what we say. And that they aren’t responding as much as they used to when she talks to them in Russian.

Talked more with Anna today. She’s the first person here who’s been willing to talk about what it was like in Russia then and now.

Said when she first married, she moved to Moscow to live with her husband’s family. His father a very well-known former ambassador. Durign Stalin rule was convicted of being a spy. Sentenced to 25 years. Was released when Stalin died. When Anna joined the family, her husband’s father had re-married (first wife died in WWII). In the 20-square-meter flat lived Anna, her husband, his father, wife and two kids. And then Anna had the first of three children, a girl.

As a former ambassador, her father-in-law qualified for a larger apartment without waiting in any lines. But he was too proud to ask. And he was depressed. So she wrote a letter to Breshnev. He was their representative. Got called in and asked why father-in-law didn’t fill out the paperwork, why she wrote the letter. In the end they got a larger apartment.

Of course, it makes me feel like an ugly American for complaining about the hotel.

She and her husband now share a 60-square-meter apartment.

Anna also talked about her father. Said during WWII he hid two Jewish children A boy and a girl. Believe she said they were four and six. The father lived on a farm. And the kids played outside, until they heard someone coming. Then they went and hid. At the end of the war, discovered their parents had been killed. Aunts and uncles came and took them. Her father asked her to find them years later. And Anna tried but failed. She said it wasn’t until after Peristroyka that the girl was able to find Anna’s father. She was living in San Francisco. She didn’t know what happened to her brother. He had gone to live with other family members. Anna said years later her father got a medal or something from Israel.

After the flee market and lunch we went to the N. convent. So beautiful (and peaceful). And the weather was perfect – warm in the sun, blue sky. I could’ve walked there for hour among the grave stones, churches, etc. First church there built to commemorate capture of Smolensk. Figure my mom’s family must have some ties there (too much of a coincidence with a maiden name like Smolinske).

May 4
Today raining. Everyone tired. Irena got here at 10 a.m. to do paperwork. Got everything ready for tomorrow. Mike, Lorraine and Alena came over to play for a while. Then we just hung around the room.

Met Mike and Lorraine and Alena for dinner (took a cab to their hotel. $12 there. $21 back!) Still worried about that relationship (and feel bad when we seem to be having a better time dealing with two than they’re having with their one). She’ll go up to my Mike. But if her dad says “so you want to come to papa?” she turns and runs. And I constantly hear the frustration in Lorraine’s voice. “A-lay-NA!” Most telling moment may have been tonight. As we were getting ready to leave, she went to the door, grabbed the handle with both hands and violently tried to rock the door open. Her whole body was involved. And she looked like a little girl terrified of what was inside the room, desperate to get out and not believing that what’s out there could possibly be as bad as what’s in there. Almost as though she was bring chased by wild animals about to eat her up.

Nick has his moments, but I don’t think they compare. But when he gets mad, he gets mad. And there’s no doing anything about it. Mike thinks it’s directed at a person. For example, tonight he got mad at me because after putting them to bed, I went to take a shower. I thought they were asleep, but apparently Nick wasn’t. Well, it got him up and pissed him off. He ended up throwing his stacking cups at the bathroom door. Mike thinks he was throwing them at me. But I don’t. That’s the direction he throws everything. We’ll see in the coming years. But I do agree that he’s going to be our challenge. I wouldn’t be surprised if we have some troubles along the way. Anna and Luba says their mother didn’t drink or smoke. But I wonder about that. And the doctor we consulted said it is possible for only one child in a set of twins to be affected by fetal alcohol syndrome. I guess only time will tell. We’ve only been together 12 days so far.

May 5
Last day in Russia. We were riding with our driver when I realized that today. Tears came to my eyes. I’m going to miss it.

Still, while I have enjoyed my time in Russia, I can’t wait to get home. I’ve never felt so excited to get home from a trip.

Today another lazy day. Nick, Elena and I were napping when our coordinator called and told us to meet her in the hotel lobby in 30 minutes. Off to the U.S. Embassy for visas for the twins. They opened at 2. We were back to the room and the twins were napping again by 3 p.m.

So many babies at the embassy. I think our coordinator said 22 today.
Alena, the blond who shared her room in the orphanage with the twins. She has an older brother waiting for her in Maryland.
Daniel, with the mop of golden brown hair.

Alona, the tiny beautiful girl from St. Petersburg. Eyes so big I have to wonder if she’ll grow into them. Born premature at just over 2 pounds. She’s going to live in Connecticut.
3 1/2-year-old Gregory, who had a tape measure and was measuring everything.
Katherine, probably a little over a year old. She was practicing her walking in her pink slipper socks.

The 14-month-old towhead boy being adopted by a single mom traveling with her parents. He was so big he dwarfed little Nicholas.

The little boy with the double cleft palete. Here they don’t have the money to do the surgery on orphans. My guess is he’ll see a doctor to get it fixed within days of his return home. It warms my heart.

May 7 -- Newport News, Virginia
Finally home. Got in at about 9 p.m. EDT last night. Nicholas and Elena became U.S. citizens as soon as we landed in New York.

Nicholas and Elena were up nearly all of the trip home. Maybe they slept two hours. The cross-Atlantic flight was the longest 10 hours of my life. I probably spent half of it holding a child and rocking back by the flight attendants.
They did great when we landed in Norfolk. People everywhere. Grandparents times two. Uncle. Aunt. Cousins. Friends. And their body clock thought it was 5 a.m. and they hadn’t slept at all.

They just wanted to be with us. Just about everyone else freaked them out. But I had Lena, and she kept looking at me and hugging my neck. I could never have imagined how wonderful that would be.

I talked several times to a religious man on the plane. He lives in Moscow, but was traveling to D.C. on business. Said he makes this trip often and sees lots of families bringing their adopted children home. He told me it was obvious Lena had bonded to us, the way she would put her head on my chest, the way she looked at me. He said he’s seen lots of these orphan kids. And he doesn’t always see that between the children and their new parents.

May 11
It all started one year ago today. One year ago today I walked up to Mike and said “maybe we should adopt.”
One year later – today – my dream came true. My first Mother’s Day.