Our Quest for Spaghetti with Red Sauce.....
We have been craving a "real" pasta meal for a while. Last week we went to this German restaurant--it was bavarian type decor. It was recommended to us for the pasta and pizza. They had pizza on the menu and no pasta. We ordered the pizza and it was pretty good.
A few days later we decided to try a place called the Spaghetti Bar for lunch. We ordered the Spaghetti with red sauce. They did not have meatballs, just ham. Well, it wasn't what we expected. The sauce was tomato but it was like a broth rather than a thick hearty tomato sauce. We even requested extra but it did not help.
Convinced we were not going to get the craving satisfied unless we made it ourselves, we set out to the grocery store with our translator. We found just plain tomatoes (stewed) and some tomato puree and bought all the spices and other ingredients to make everything from scratch. We even got hamburger and pork sausage to make meatballs. We made a great meal and invited our hosts and translator to join us. We even had Italian wine! Craving satified...Plus leftovers!!!
The hot water has returned and we have had hot showers for the past 3 days. Wow, what a difference. The little things can really make a big difference to our sense of well being. Five weeks away from home "roughing" it can take a toll. The weather is still holding out and we have been able to take Connor outside on walks around the orphanage. He loves going outside and looking at the birds, cats and dogs. There are strays everywhere. Atleast he is used to seeing dogs so it should help a little when he meets Zu Zu.
We are counting the days until we pick Connor up for good. It will be Friday evening or Saturday. Then we will travel back to Kiev where Connor will have his doctor appointment. The next day we will go to the embassy and get his visa. We aren't sure on what day we will be heading home. We are hoping to fly out on Wednesday the 19th (I'm not sure that is the correct date--no calendar in front of me).
Counting the days until we step foot on American soil with our Connor!!!
Christine and Darren
Monday, October 10, 2005
Friday, October 07, 2005
Murphy's Law: The hot water finally came back on last night after 15 days. This morning our translator took a nice long hot shower. I went in 5 minutes after her and it was broken again. No water coming out of the faucet except when turned to cold!!! Unbelievable!
Connor has a cold but is otherwise doing great. We are counting the days until we bring him home.
Christine and Darren
Connor has a cold but is otherwise doing great. We are counting the days until we bring him home.
Christine and Darren
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Thursday October 6th
We finally had our court date at 10:00 am on Wednesday October 5th. All went relatively smoothly except the hearing started late. We didn't get done until around 1:00pm. It was really surreal. The courtrom is very plain, bare walls, and the judge's "bench" looks like a $95 put- it- together- your-self-desk from Walmart.... Lack of funds I suppose.
We had planned on asking for a waiver of the 10 day waiting period following the judgment. We understood because of the change in the law it was unlikely to be granted. I (Darren) had asked our reps to ask for this anyway...it NEVER hurts to ask!!They said no formal petition was needed and that we could simply ask at the hearing but because of the change in the law it would not be granted because the wait was "mandatory". The reason for the 10 days is for parties to appeal. To get around that I asked the other parties, local gov't rep, orphanage lawyer, and local prosecutor to waive on the record their rights to a ten day appeal period thereby rendering moot any need for the waiting period. (two of the lawyers were only 20 years old,,,lots of training needed here!) The local gov't rep even prepared a formal petition for us even though she did not have to. We were then told before the hearing that it was too late to file the request. Our translator/rep told us that the judge said if we filed the reqest it would be considered an amended petition and would require a new hearing date at least a week later. Our rep said it didn't matter because the request would "never" be granted by any judge, let alone this one. I was not a happy camper. In any event we opted against any more delays and didn't request the waiver on the record.
The hearing went fine and we were given a conditional order of adoption which will be final after ten days, which falls on a weekend, thereby meaning its actually 12 days from the judgment. We were happy of course but it seems a little silly that you are granted an adoption but then can't go pick up your child for ten days!
We then went to the orphanage. Connor was really playful! He is such a joy. He was singing, I guess in Russian baby talk, laughing and being quite the boy. He also managed to accidently head butt me and split my lip... he got a big laugh out of that. Boys will be boys! He also ate his "cookas" as usual and looked at family pictures again. We think he even said "dada" when looking at mine! Its probably russian for idiot!! We love him so much!!!!
Later we found out from a German couple adopting that the couple from New York not only had their hearing on Monday but got the ten day waiting period waived by a different judge. They had gotten here the day before us. They are probably on their way home from Kiev by now. They apparently did ask for the waiver and were successful...hmmm...I seem to remember some non lawyer telling me something about a "mandatory" something or other that no chance would ever be granted. After that we had a little dispute with our rep about the whole situation.. we at least wanted to have asked. Then after the row she called her boss..who in turn then called the judge..who then decided we were granted a 9 day waiting period. The judge backdated the appeal time starting point to before the judgment hearing date by starting instead with when the judge received a 10/3 letter from the National Adoption Center. Bizzare!! Ned will understand. The saga continues............
We finally had our court date at 10:00 am on Wednesday October 5th. All went relatively smoothly except the hearing started late. We didn't get done until around 1:00pm. It was really surreal. The courtrom is very plain, bare walls, and the judge's "bench" looks like a $95 put- it- together- your-self-desk from Walmart.... Lack of funds I suppose.
We had planned on asking for a waiver of the 10 day waiting period following the judgment. We understood because of the change in the law it was unlikely to be granted. I (Darren) had asked our reps to ask for this anyway...it NEVER hurts to ask!!They said no formal petition was needed and that we could simply ask at the hearing but because of the change in the law it would not be granted because the wait was "mandatory". The reason for the 10 days is for parties to appeal. To get around that I asked the other parties, local gov't rep, orphanage lawyer, and local prosecutor to waive on the record their rights to a ten day appeal period thereby rendering moot any need for the waiting period. (two of the lawyers were only 20 years old,,,lots of training needed here!) The local gov't rep even prepared a formal petition for us even though she did not have to. We were then told before the hearing that it was too late to file the request. Our translator/rep told us that the judge said if we filed the reqest it would be considered an amended petition and would require a new hearing date at least a week later. Our rep said it didn't matter because the request would "never" be granted by any judge, let alone this one. I was not a happy camper. In any event we opted against any more delays and didn't request the waiver on the record.
The hearing went fine and we were given a conditional order of adoption which will be final after ten days, which falls on a weekend, thereby meaning its actually 12 days from the judgment. We were happy of course but it seems a little silly that you are granted an adoption but then can't go pick up your child for ten days!
We then went to the orphanage. Connor was really playful! He is such a joy. He was singing, I guess in Russian baby talk, laughing and being quite the boy. He also managed to accidently head butt me and split my lip... he got a big laugh out of that. Boys will be boys! He also ate his "cookas" as usual and looked at family pictures again. We think he even said "dada" when looking at mine! Its probably russian for idiot!! We love him so much!!!!
Later we found out from a German couple adopting that the couple from New York not only had their hearing on Monday but got the ten day waiting period waived by a different judge. They had gotten here the day before us. They are probably on their way home from Kiev by now. They apparently did ask for the waiver and were successful...hmmm...I seem to remember some non lawyer telling me something about a "mandatory" something or other that no chance would ever be granted. After that we had a little dispute with our rep about the whole situation.. we at least wanted to have asked. Then after the row she called her boss..who in turn then called the judge..who then decided we were granted a 9 day waiting period. The judge backdated the appeal time starting point to before the judgment hearing date by starting instead with when the judge received a 10/3 letter from the National Adoption Center. Bizzare!! Ned will understand. The saga continues............
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
It is Tuesday morning here about 10:30. We were supposed to have our court date today but the judge was sick. So hopefully we will have it tomorrow. We are very frustrated and want to scream. This will probably delay our return for 3 days because we will have to wait over the weekend to take custody of him on Monday--after the 10 day wait...STUPID LAW!!!!!!!!! We miss home. Most importantly, it would be so much better for Connor to get him home sooner. We feel so helpless, we don't know what the new law is and can't get a translated version. Darren can't make an argument in court. FRUSTRATING!!!
Christine and Darren
Christine and Darren
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Sunday October 2.
Hi Everyone. We went to mass today and expected a Russian service but it was a Polish service. It was interesting. An old guy sitting next to me gave me a prayer book and showed me the page. They were all singing before mass and he kept looking at me like he was aggrevated I wasn't participating. Maybe he understood when I shook his hand and said "peace be with you" in English. Our translator understood a little and the sermon was about 2 bishops from Ukraine who are supposed to become saints on October 20.
Our visits with Connor continue. His behavior has changed and he wants to be held all the time. I am loving it. He is such a sweet heart. It is so easy to get a smile and laugh out of him. He said ma ma to me but he doesn't quite understand yet. we feel that he is becoming more attached to us. We visited him today and his group was outside playing. He met us half way between. He is curious about everything. It us funny how he finds ways to communicate with us. Today we were sitting on a couch inside the orphanage and he starts to put all his toys back into the bag and then he grabs for his sweater. He wanted to go outside. He has been looking at the photos of everyone and we have been saying everyones name to him. We just keep talking and talking to him which will help him learn. I think it will make a big difference when we are home and the only language he hears is English.
The orphanage setting is really something. The kids are so darn cute. It has been very nice weather and they have been outside a lot. When you walk by them they kind of swarm around and smile at you. some of them even reach up to be held. It is also sad. If they fall they just pick themselves up and you don't hear a peep out of them. They have learned that when they fall crying does not help because nobody comes to pick them up.
We had our preliminary court hearing on Friday. We hope to have our main court hearing early this week. The courts are different here. The court house is run down and not nice like at home. They just changed a law to start having a 2 person jury. That is part of the reason why there has been a delay here. The 2 person jury applies to all cases--even adoptions. However, the judge still makes the final decisions.
We will keep everyone posted.
Christine and Darren
Hi Everyone. We went to mass today and expected a Russian service but it was a Polish service. It was interesting. An old guy sitting next to me gave me a prayer book and showed me the page. They were all singing before mass and he kept looking at me like he was aggrevated I wasn't participating. Maybe he understood when I shook his hand and said "peace be with you" in English. Our translator understood a little and the sermon was about 2 bishops from Ukraine who are supposed to become saints on October 20.
Our visits with Connor continue. His behavior has changed and he wants to be held all the time. I am loving it. He is such a sweet heart. It is so easy to get a smile and laugh out of him. He said ma ma to me but he doesn't quite understand yet. we feel that he is becoming more attached to us. We visited him today and his group was outside playing. He met us half way between. He is curious about everything. It us funny how he finds ways to communicate with us. Today we were sitting on a couch inside the orphanage and he starts to put all his toys back into the bag and then he grabs for his sweater. He wanted to go outside. He has been looking at the photos of everyone and we have been saying everyones name to him. We just keep talking and talking to him which will help him learn. I think it will make a big difference when we are home and the only language he hears is English.
The orphanage setting is really something. The kids are so darn cute. It has been very nice weather and they have been outside a lot. When you walk by them they kind of swarm around and smile at you. some of them even reach up to be held. It is also sad. If they fall they just pick themselves up and you don't hear a peep out of them. They have learned that when they fall crying does not help because nobody comes to pick them up.
We had our preliminary court hearing on Friday. We hope to have our main court hearing early this week. The courts are different here. The court house is run down and not nice like at home. They just changed a law to start having a 2 person jury. That is part of the reason why there has been a delay here. The 2 person jury applies to all cases--even adoptions. However, the judge still makes the final decisions.
We will keep everyone posted.
Christine and Darren
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