Saturday, June 28, 2008

First of all HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO WRIGLEY...he was 3 years old yesterday! He'll get some vanilla ice cream when we get back. I know they are very spoiled and we sure do miss them a lot.

Logan is doing great. He has started not wanting to go back to the caretakers. And on Friday we heard him crying when they put him in the room. We hated to leave but Friday was the last time we ever have to give him up! We can't see him Sat/Sun and on Monday he's ours forever! We are picking him up around 10 am and then we are leaving to Moscow at 1 p.m. It will be very interesting to see how he does with us for all day/night. One good thing is that we are meeting up with a couple I've been talking to at home who are traveling to Moscow this week. It will be nice to see Americans again.

The weather is actually very hot here. It has only rained one day, last Sunday, and it was like an instant monsoon! All of a sudden it started pouring rain and the streets all backed up with water. We saw a tree split in half right in front of us and block the street. Then, in the middle of the city it all meets together and there was probably about 4 ft of water gathered there. So, there was this guy in this tiny car and he became the hero of the town b/c he made it thru. Everyone was laughing and cheering him on. We got stuck under a small stand and then rain was pelting us. Then we jumped out and ran for it again. It was really a funny site. Other then that it has been sunny and hot. Today is almost unbearable outside. But I'd rather have this weather then their cold :)

We are still scheduled to come in on July 3rd at 11:55 p.m. I will keep you updated on if anything changes but that should be it.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

We are still getting 3 hrs a day with him b/c of his schedule. It is enough for him b/c he seems to get tired faster everyday. We play with him alot and he's not used to so much attn. He actually fell asleep with us today for about an hour. We let him sleep and then when it was getting time to go he woke up and we were there. He gave us a huge smile when he saw us. This was the first time we've ever been there when he woke up. Usually he's going to nap when we leave.

We bought the plane tickets to Moscow today...YEAH, almost time to leave with him. Also, Brian signed for his birth certificate today. We also got his schedule and all the documents from the orphanage, but Larissa has to translate it out for us and is giving it to us on Thursday.

Not going to lie, we are both a little homesick...which is very weird for us. It's not like we aren't enjoying ourselves, but it is very different from home. Mainly we just can't wait to show Logan off to everyone! Our translator and driver were laughing at us today b/c they couldn't believe how much stuff we've done in the city...all by foot. They kept pointing things out that we could do and we'd laugh stating that we'd already done it. They said we were very good walkers. We are definitely glad we are staying the wait period here because now we get to see him everyday and also we can tell him about where he was from one day.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

HELLO!! Time is going VERY slowly for us...especially this weekend because we can't go to the orphanage on sat/sun b/c they are closed to the public. We have been spending 3 hours a day with him an he is really opening up to us more and more everyday. He is absolutely adorable! His laugh is the sweetest thing on earth. And I had my first gross mom moment....while he was sitting on my leg he started farting and then pooped :) Very weird but hilarious...and he thought so too.

On Monday we are getting his schedule of eating, sleeping, etc. As of right now, we are just playing with him alot. We get him at noon after he eats and then at 3 we give him back. It is so hard to leave him everyday. We just feel like he is ours and we want to take him with us...the court already said he's ours! Only 8 more days til we take him and head to Moscow.

To pass the time we are reading a lot and walking around for hours everyday. We are in the best shape of our lives. Yesterday we went on a boat tour that lasted about an hour. It was really nice. Still not doing to well with the food situation though. We've only found little things here and there that we can eat...mostly McDonalds. We are actually going there for lunch today. It is very hard b/c if we don't see a picture or the actual food, then we cannot tell what it is. 99% of the restaurants do not have english menus so we are very limited on where we can eat. But, we are making the best of it. We went to the grocery and got bread, packaged cheese, and mustard...it may not sound great, but it is actually delicious. We brought snack foods from home that are holding us over too. We can't wait to get back to Moscow b/c there is more english menus and english speaking people...no one here speaks english in rostov.

One thing that is really cool is that the Russian Soccer team is doing extremely well in the Euro2008 tournament. They won again last night and people were in the streets yelling, fireworks were going off...it's a huge deal around here. They are now going to play Italy or Spain in the semi-finals. Vladimir, our driver, was explaining some of it to us because he is a huge soccer fan...used to play himself.

June 18, 2008

We are officially parents today! We went to court this morning at 10 am and it was very nerve-wracking. On our side there was the orphanage doctor, translator, and social worker. They all stated that they backed us up as being parents of Alexsey. The judge asked many questions and Brian was the main speaker for us. The prosecutor was also there and asked us several questions but nothing too difficult. The judge then left to decide and came back in about 15 minutes and told us that she & the court decided that they accepted our petition to adopt Alexsey Sergevitch Bigichev. They also waived the paperwork part of 4 days. This was a blessing because we found out when we got here that if they did not waive that part we could not leave for home until July 9th. We did alot of praying about this and as always GOD IS GOOD! Tomorrow the paperwork from the court should come through and we will sign them. But as it looks, we will be on schedule to arrive home on July 3rd.

As for the other days we have been here, it has been a good trip. We arrived in Moscow on Sunday and then went to the medical center on Monday. After we got there and got started it wasn't as scary as it sounded. We saw 8 different doctors and pretty much added up to going to the doctor for a regular check-up. They were all very nice and we ended up going thru it with 2 other couples from America that were on their first trip. We did get into trouble by an old russian "babushka" because we were all being too loud. She walked by scolding us in Russian...but this just made us laugh louder :)

We got to tour Moscow the 2 nights we were there and we really enjoyed the city. Our hotel room was very nice...THANKS BARRETT !! Best part was we found a Sbarro Pizza place and I fnally got to eat something besides french fries :)

We arrived in Rostov on Tuesday. We were met at the airport by Larissa and Vladimir and they gave us a wonderful suprise...from there we were going straight to the orphanage to see Logan. We went straight there and of course he didn't remember us at all and started to cry a little when he was handed to me. But, after awhile of playing he warmed up to us again and gave us that beautiful smile of his. He is also walking now. Actually pretty good...looks like he is a little athlete. Also it looks like he is left handed...I know, now he's even more of a freak like Brian :) But, as Brian likes to say: Future Left-Handed Pitcher for the CUBS.

Today after court we got to go back to the orphanage again to see him. He is really opening up to us more and more. Today he even blabbered a little and laughed even more. It was so amazing to be with him knowing that he is now our son. What a great feeling!

We hope all is well with everyone at home! Take care and we will be posting again soon.

June 13, 2008

Well, tomorrow we are off to Russia. Our schedule is to leave Indy at 10 am and arrive in Moscow Sunday around noon. We will be eight hours ahead with the time change. We will try to post as often as possible, but here is our tentative schedule:

~Leave Indy Sat June 14
~Arrive in Moscow Sun June 15 (staying at Courtyard Marriott City Center)
~Go to medical on Mon June 16
~Fly to Rostov on Tues June 17 (staying at Hotel Rostov unless it is changed when we get there)
~Go to Orphanage and then Court on Wed June 18
~Spend 10-day waiting period in Rostov
~Leave for Moscow with our boy on June 30th (staying at Courtyard Marriott City Center)
~Go to Embassy for boys medical and paperwork on July 1 -2
~Leave Moscow for Indy on July 3
~Arrive in Indy July 3 at Midnight

Well, I'm going to bed. We finally got all our stuff packed and are ready to go. Thanks again to everyone for all the love and support. We can't wait to bring the little guy back to meet you!

June 10, 2008

We are so very excited, WE GOT THE CALL!!! We leave this Saturday the 14th for Moscow and then onto Rostov for our courtdate, which is on June 18th. It seems so unreal...except for the fact that we have so much to do. Mainly we just cannot wait to see him again!

May 16, 2008

Well, we're in Frankfurt Germany for the night. We were upgraded to the Junior Executive Suite and it is very modern, which we love, and the bed is so comfortable. Best part is that we couldn't figure out how to turn the lights on...Brian had to call the front desk and they told us to use the key. Well, guess we're still not that modern :) Tomorrow we'll be back in Indy and all we can do is wait to get back to our boy in Rostov.

May 15, 2008

Today is a sad yet happy day. Unfortunately we have to leave for home today without our boy. But, on a good note we get to spend 3 hours with him before we leave.

We got to take him outside when we got there...just the three of us again. He was much more alert outside today and actually played with us pretty much the whole time. We had him walking, playing on the teeter-totter, and playing with toys. One thing he like to do was put his forehead up to mine...in this moment I don't think it is possible to love anything more. Plus, his smile is so sweet and when he looks at you with those big brown eyes you just melt. He ended up falling asleep in Brian's arms...what a wonderful sight. Another first..."dad & son" moment that we will never forget.

When it came time to leave it was very hard because he was still asleep and I had this aching to take him home. But, now we know he's there and will be waiting for us to come back for him.

May 14, 2008

Well, today is the big day...we finally get to meet our little boy. We were picked up at the hotel by our driver, translator, and independent doctor that was accompanying us to the orphanage. We were a little more alert today after a good nights sleep and really got to take in the city. It was very busy and they drive much different then in the states. We were very glad to have a driver taking us around.

We got to the orphanage and it was very nice. We first met with the director of the orphanage and she gave information to our translator and doctor. There was no way we could keep up with how fast they were talking so we just sat by and waited until we were told where to go. We were sent into a medical room and then they brought him. I couldn't believe my eyes...he was so adorable. Of course he was scared to death of us. But, after awhile he warmed up to us and eventually smiled a few times.

This was our time to decide if he was the child for us...either we accept him or pass and meet another child. After the pictures can you tell immediately what our answer was! Of course we knew he was ours. This was the first time we put all our Faith into God and didn't try to be in control at all. Well, it proved that God is good and knows what he's doing. Logan was ours and a perfect fit.

We got to go back to the orphanage that afternoon and spend another hour with him. This time were able to take him outside...just the three of us. He was definitely more quiet and reserved but we found out that this was the first time he had been outside. It was kind of neat to have a "first" with him. Other children were outside playing while the caretakers were planting flowers. It was a wonderful day!