Court Day

It's a boy!!!!

Today we became Kolya’s official parents as proclaimed by the court system. We got the “best judge in the city.” Everything is the very best in the city. Our driver is the best fisherman! He is the best driver (HA!). This is the best country! You get the gist. Now there is a 10 day waiting period and when I asked Edward the reason for the 10 day wait, he did not know why and stated no one knows why. He said that 2 years ago the judges would regularly waive the wait period citing the child needed to go back to school, or there were special circumstances. They can no longer do this.

The witnesses at our hearing looked bored. The prosecutor was 5 minutes late so the judge started without him. We answered 3 basic questions; Why do we want to adopt? Why do we want to adopt this child? And with I have the energy to raise another child? That’s it (a side note: We were going to tell the judge we needed one more child to clean our toilets. We have 4 bathrooms and only 2 kids to clean them. We need more helpers. The Matthews advised us against this option; probably for the best) They walk out of the room for 1-2 minutes, come back in and declare us the new parents. It took all of 15-20 minutes total. Edward was amazed. He says he has had to spend 3-5 hours in a court room before. My feet would have died of suffocation in the high heels I was wearing! Plus it was not air-conditioned and it is hot today!

We returned to the orphanage to talk with the doctor about Kolya’s medical history. The doctor has no record of his medical history prior to him coming to the orphanage at 6 y/o. His right foot was burned before he entered the orphanage. There was a note in his medical history that said he was burned with hot tea water. This seems to happen often over here as their kitchens are very unsafe for children. Our interpreter, Edward, his one year old daughter recently pulled down an entire pot of boiling water onto her face, arm and back. She is still recovering.

I learned they have an immunization for TB, this explains why all the Ukrainian children come up positive in the US when they get the blister test. Kolya has had an encephalogram (brain scan) and an ultrasound of his heart and of his thyroid all because his thyroid is larger than normal. The doctor, of course, cannot tell us why but speculates it could be from the pollution in Mariupol or from Chernobyl. (Okay, whatever!) He is normal for his height and weight and otherwise healthy. (Yea, we’ll see when we return to the US!) He definitely has some sort of skin condition. I am guessing eczema along with zillions of bug bites from the beach. Kolya’s father was Greek (hence Katsy) and his mother was Ukrainian. He was born here in Mariupol. I got that much because I am a nurse and recognized some of the test results.

We then were called into Ludmilla’s office where she did exactly what we expected. Gave us the bank account for the orphanage and asked us to deposit $100-150 each year earmarked for something particular such as toys, medicine or clothes. (I figure we are good for the next 8-10 years, what do you think?) Then she requested that Kolya call the orphanage once a week for awhile to talk with his friends as well as Ludmilla so she can make sure he is happy. Ludmilla pointed out that Liubov has never checked in. (I kept my mouth closed like a good girl so I could get out of there in one piece.) I informed her that Jessica just had a baby girl and Liubov is very happy. I also informed her that Jen is due on the 8th with a baby boy and Albert is also very happy. She was very happy to hear these updates. Now we are all happy. Ludmilla then went on to tell us there is 120 children in this orphanage most which cannot be adopted. Either they are too sick or they have family that is hanging on, visiting or the family member is in jail. If you are in prison in Ukraine and have a child in an orphanage, you get special privileges.

Ludmilla promised us a tour of the orphanage, but to my dismay we only got to see the boys dorms and the girls dorms. I wanted to see where all the younger children stayed. I see the infants up to 2 year-olds outside and can hear them cry when we are on the playground. If I am to donate money I want to see their living conditions. When the younger kids are outside they wear shoes, ratty underwear and hats. It is a sight to see! Ludmilla informed Edward that we are to bring 3 large boxes of fruit for Kolya’s going away party (we must feed all 120 children, not just his friends). His party will be on the 13th when all of his friends will be present to say goodbye. I will video tape it for the rest of the family. We attended one for the Canadian couple so I know what to expect. This is when Ludmilla suggested handing out the toys/donations to the children.

Another note to adopting families in Denver, Edward has never seen such a going away party in all his years of doing adoptions. Of course, he has never ran into a director like Ludmilla before either! NO ONE wears t-shirts over here, which is what I brought Ksenyia and Ludmilla; pretty embroidered Colorado t-shirts. I also brought them a Starbucks gift baskets and don’t feel that was adequate either. I suggest unique necklaces, braclets (Ludmilla has a very thick wrists) or wait until you get here and buy them alcohol and chocolates. No kidding, a bottle of champagne and chocolates will do the trick. The chocolates over here are to die for and every grocery store has aisles and aisles of them. Trinkets or things you must dust are VERY popular here. Think 1960’s decorating and you’ve got it. Today I went to buy a broom and dust pan because this lady’s “vacuum cleaner” over heats every 5 minutes. It took me 2 hours to vacuum the kitchen and it still was not clean! I also bought a mop. She must get on her hands and knees to clean the apartment. I’ll spring for a $5 mop!

The kids only go to school (no kidding) for 3-4 hours then come back eat lunch at the orphanage then nap, no matter what their age is! I know it is hard to believe even though both Jessica and Jennifer told us. I can’t imagine how they get to sleep at night!

Kolya had looked tired yesterday when we were playing with him and when we asked him if he was tired, he immediately said “No!” Today we were told he had a temperature last night but not this morning. He ate lunch and went down for his nap (one of his last naps as an 11 y/o). We brought our new pirated Ukrainian DVD’s to the orphanage and watched WALL-E in the waiting room once Kolya was up. Ludmilla gave us permission to bring our children into the building just this once (what a gal!). We all laughed at the movie even though 4 of us didn’t understand what they were saying. It was just good to know Kolya is finally ours for the keeping!