Court!

It has taken me a full day to blog about court because I just don't know what to say. The emotions yesterday were overwhelming. We have been through a stressful year to get to this point and it was such a relief to hear Kostyia translate that the court was granting the petition to adopt.

When we got the courthouse, we waited in the hallway for quite a while. Our hearing was delayed while Michale tried to get back in to see the judge after Friday's unsuccessful round. Happy to say that she was successful on Monday and now has a son, Evon. While we waited, Ana and I played games on my iphone (how did I function without that until 3 weeks ago?). When we first went in it was just all of the people for the court, Jim, Kostyia and I. Ana waited outside. It took place in the judge's chambers so it was very laid back, we all sat around a table - but it was still unsettling. The judge asked us some basic questions, Where do you work? What do you make? Tell us about your house. They were all surprised that we had all of the kids here with us and were very interested in what our kids thought about the experience (our 4 were still at the apartment sleeping). Some of the women (it was all women including the judge) asked us some other questions - are we from a religious sect since we have such a big family - I loved that one expecially since I finished reading the book, Stolen Innocence about Warren Jeffs and the FLDS in Utah. They asked we why wanted more children, how we were going to care for them all and if we thought there would be any jealousy (I answered no because that is what I knew they wanted to hear but - really? Have any of them ever been part of a family?)

Then, the judge read through some of the submitted paperwork and asked the representives to give their opinions - the social worker, the orphanage representative and the SDA rep. During this time there was major construction going on right outside the door, everyone was kind of laughing and judge went out and yelled something in Russian. Next, the judge's cell phone rang and she went out to the hall to take the call - the reps just kept talking - it was rather amusing! They called Ana in and she gave her memorized speech from the director. The words were obviously not her own but what the director wanted her to say (remember that there is an issue here about those who support hosting programs and those who do not).

We were asked to step out into the hall again and wait. In about 10 minutes we called back in and told the adoption was approved and on the 11th day we could take Ana from the Center.

It was a surreal moment. Tears, smiles, laughter. Ana was on cloud nine. We picked up the kids at the apartment and went back to the Center. The director was all smiles and extremely friendly today. She took us upstairs to show us around (Ana already did that but we just pretended that we hadn't seen it) and then allowed Ana to go with us for pizza. This was a big deal for Ana she jumped up and down and hugged the director saying thank you thank you.

It was a nice walk to the restaurant with all of us. I can't wait until we are free to do that whenever we want! We let Ana pick the pizza that she wanted from the menu and we ordered a couple other pizzas. Kostyia ordered French Fries - I don't think any of us have been so happy to eat fries as we were yesterday. It has been 3 weeks! I think Ana ate about 5 pieces of pizza! Then we walked to get her picture taken for the Embassy and back to the Center for the party.

The kids preformed at the party with dancing and singing - it was very good. Ana sang a solo that she dedicated to me - priceless. Check the vidoes out on youtube (tyronesoccer). Ana's group all wished her something - good luck, a happy life, etc. Ana is very well liked at the Center and you could tell by the tears and hugs that were given. Everyone seemed honestly excited for her even though I am sure they are wishing it was them. A couple of the younger girls were teary during most of the program.

We took a couple more pics and came back to the apartment after a long, exciting and exhausting day!

Today's agenda - visiting with Ana afterschool and shopping for some things to take home.