We've finally applied for the Passport!!!

Thankfully, we went yesterday morning to get K's photo & application for her new passport with her new name.  We hope we will receive her passport on Monday afternoon, but it is more likely to be on Tuesday.  Either way, we won't be home now until Thursday or Friday.  R left Kg yesterday to head back to Kiev.  He had to go to the US Embassy & sign a couple of documents before heading home today.  He should be in the air now somewhere over Europe heading to Amsterdam & then on to Houston.  I feel horrible that he will be alone for his birthday on Saturday, but very jealous he will be spending it in America.  As for me & K, we'll just be visiting the orphanage every day this weekend, up until we get her passport.  We will try to see her brother (he lives with his biological father here) before we depart.

R went to the orphanage by himself on Wednesday evening to say 'Good Bye' to all the children.  According to both he & the director, it was just awful.  All of the children were very upset & crying because he was leaving & they stayed awake until 2:00am crying even still & talking about us and how much they are going to miss us. Several of the children gave R presents for his upcoming birthday.  I cannot even imagine how hard it will be for me & K to say good bye to them, but especially for her because these children have been her family for so long.  Last night, one of the girls, whom I've become extremely fond of, asked me to spend the night there with them before we leave.  Maybe....

Anyway...back to yesterday.  After completeing our passport application, our attorney's asst (who helped us there) drove me & K to the orphanage.  When we arrived, there were several inspectors there from the Kg. Prosecutor's Office. This was the first time that they have ever showed up there, but they were asking lots of questions about our adoption proceeding, along with the adoption proceeding of one of the other children.  Hopefully, they will not throw a monkey-wrench into anything.  The director must go to their office on Tuesday to give them a written explanation for both adoption proceedings.  (Hopefully, we'll be outta here by then & heading to Kiev.)   This was the first time since we have been here that there was tension in the air at the orphanage.  It was quite un-nerving.  K & I, along with several other girls (& one boy) heading to her room to sort through her things to decide what she will bring back to America.  It was amazing to watch how this...it was like being at an Auction, but the price wasn't money, but 'need' (which one needs this more).

After the ladies from the PO left, it was back to normal.  All of the children had arrived home from school by this time and went directly to the kitchen and started cooking.  We had some mini-pancakes, scrambled eggs with wieners in it (they call that 'sausage' here), mashed potatoes, and salad.  I know...weird combination, but trust me; you eat whatever you've got access to here.

After getting back to the apartment last night, K & I spent the evening at the computer, talking (via online translator).  Of course, we called dad first to make sure he was ok...we won't be able to talk to him again until Saturday afternoon...we're missing him so much already.  Today, back to the orphanage for another long day of waiting.