We're currently in Kyiv and will be headed home (all 4 of us!) on Saturday. Actually, we'll be headed to JFK on the 22nd--we haven't been able to find flights back to St Louis yet so we're still working on that. Prayers for that would be great.
As I'm sure many of you are wondering, yes, the judge waived our 10 day wait, and no, we did not pay him to do so. Apparently there are a couple of judges in the Donetsk region that prefer to waive the 10-day wait, and we got one of them. He has waived it for every other couple we know of that have adopted in the last few weeks as well. Bizarre, but we aren't complaining!
We had the long train ride to Kyiv last night after getting all of the paperwork done yesterday. We're having a lot of discipline issues but most of it stems from a lack of routine (which is awfully hard to set right now). The boys are tired and confused but are doing really well. We arrived in town about 8am, went straight for the boys' physicals, then straight to the Embassy to drop off the paperwork. They did the visa interview with me and then told me to come back in a little bit for their visas! Wow! If I'd know that I would have booked flights earlier. :)
Prayers for our transition and the plane ride are really appreciated. Oh, and I haven't told you their names! I can't post pics as I'm at an internet cafe, but the boys are Alexander Dimitri (called Dima) and Timothy Evgeniy (called Zhenya). Dima is the blond and is 13 months older, but a bit shorter and lighter than Zhenya. I've got to get back to the apartment before the boys kill Mark. ;) If anyone has any suggestions for one-way flights from JFK or LGA to STL I'd love them--I've checked all of my usual spots!
Hopefully I'll get to post again, but if not we'll see you in the USA! :) :)
Thursday, December 20, 2007
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22 comments:
YAY!
Expedia shows one-way flights on the 23rd...$361 per person - a bunch!
Cathy
Oh!!!! Congratulations, I've been following your blog since before you left. We just wired Kostya the money for a 2008 adoption. We adopted a two yr old boy from Odessa in Dec 2005, and we are going to try and get him two older brothers (14 and 11). Again Congratulations! Please continue posting when you get home so we know how the boys are doing. Cara
www.norbycjukraineangel.blogspot.com
p.s. For the flight: baby wipes-kids love to clean the back of the seats, windows, etc.
lots of snacks, keys, matchbox cars, calculator, books or catalogs, Good luck, our son was very calm on the flights home--I think he was nervous. (He is not normally calm).
Absolutely, totally amazing! You have your precious sons and you'll be home (barely and hopefully) before Christmas?! I am astounded and standing up and cheering for you! Congratulations!!
Please keep up your blog after you come home to tell us how you four are doing. And *thanks* for bringing us along on your trip of a lifetime!!
WOW!!! How awesome that you will be home for Christmas!
I am so excited for you guys...and so very thankful that things have gone relatively smoothly for you. I guess we still hold the record for Kostya's worst adoption! hahaha! Glad for you and him that you didn't break our record :-)
I'm looking forward to you posting some pics of the little guys!
We will be praying for smooth flights.
OH MY WORD! You will be the SHORTEST Ukrainian adoption I have heard of in YEARS! I thought we did good with 31 days, but you are going to be door to door under 3 weeks! That is unbelievable. What a blessing to be home for Christmas! I am so so so happy:):):).
Wow - so glad for you. Yes, it is unbelievable. Amazing that you were where you were and everything happened so quickly - including BC's and passports. So glad for you to know you'll be home with YOUR BOYS for Christmas!
AA flight 1757 leaves LGA at 12:55 on the 23rd. It is direct from LGA to STL. Get your AAA travel agent to arrange it for you.
Delta flight 5189 from JFK - STL leaves at 6:35 pm on the 22nd. I also found this on AAAKansas travel.
www.cheapflights.com does a search through a bunch of different companies. Can't wait to meet the newest additions to the Olmsteds!!!
Wow! When God works, God Works! We are so pleased for you and will continue to pray for patience and stamina throughout your transition as a family. Did I mention we are sooo happy for you???
AWESOME!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! What a great Christmas for your family!
Wow! I was wondering what happened to you...praise God! I am shocked to hear that the judge waived the 10 days, but I'm so excited that you can go home soon! I'll be praying for your flights and for God to knit you and the boys together as a family.
How awesome that the 10 days was waived! I have never heard of anyone getting that waived! SOOO HAPPY! It is amazing that you will be home soon. It is hard on the boys, you and Mark now, but everyone will be able to get on a routine when you get home. Praying for a safe trip home and flights!
CONGRATS!!
How wonderful that you had the 10 days waived! Hoping that you find the flights you need and hopefully you'll be home by Christmas.
Awesome news!
Wonderful! We'll pray we will get that judge. :) We are adopting from the same region.
Wow!!! Merry Christmas!! That is totally amazing!! Not only about you 10 days being waived, but also that you were able to wrap up all the regional paperwork so quickly.
Don't know about domestic flights, but if you haven't booked your return flight to the USA yet, we found it was MUCH cheaper to fly to Budapest, Hungary and then direct to the USA from there. It's still a 10 hour flight to JFK, but it was less than 1/3 the price.
Congratulations! What a blessing to be headed home with your new sons (eek!) so soon.
God is good.
Blessings,
Krista
P.S. Merry Christmas!
How wonderful!! What a perfect Christmas gift for everyone :-) We are so happy for you! Monica & David
What incredible news! Praise God that you guys are coming home so quickly! Discipline will be MUCH easier once you're on familiar turf and have a routine. Praying for safe travels home!
Congratulations on your two new precious miracles! It is wonderful to hear "good news" also out of Ukraine and know that God sill moves on the hearts of judges!
Hi Courtney, my mom found 4 one-way tickets on Airtran for LaGuardia to St. Louis on the 23rd.
Flight 369/792 Dep. 3:10 p.m. Arrives 9:58 p.m. one stop
or Flight 371/792 Dep. 5:10 p.m. Arrives 9:58 p.m. one stop. They are $444 per ticket I think. Could maybe rent a car if you get stuck for flights? I'm sure you have it all well in hand. Safe journey -- Lee
Congratulations- what a Merry Christmas it will be!
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