Kiev March 5th, 2009

Andre and one of K’s translators were here at 8am to pick us up and take us to the Embassy to get Marianna’s visa. We where told to go in and start the process as they went to the bus station and pickup Marianna’s passport. It was understood that Andre and the translator would be waiting on us outside when we got through.

Well, once we got into the Embassy and got started only to find out that we needed Marianna’s passport to get things going. We where able to get the forms that we needed to fill out, but we where told that nothing else could be done without the passport. We where told to go outside and wait. So, that’s what we did.

I didn’t think it would be too bad, we shouldn’t have to wait to long before our ride got back. After about 2 hrs and we where still waiting, one of the Embassy guards took pity on us and told me that Marianna and Adrienne could wait inside until our ride returned, but I would have to stay outside and wait.

I waited for another hour and a half when the guard returned and told me to write down the cars description and he would tell us when our driver had returned. He told me that I could go inside and wait with my family. The only problem was that I never looked at the car and I could not give him the right information. By the way, it was the coldest day ever and I had already started to catch Adrienne’s cold. I had to wait another half hour until they arrived.

Adrienne started to freak out as she was worried that we wouldn’t get everything done on time, and we wouldn’t be able to leave until next Tuesday. I took the passport and ran to the door to get into the Embassy. The translator took Adrienne and Marianna to the clinic to get Marianna checked out and I got things started in the Embassy. There was a nice lady that helped me finish the paperwork. Thank God!

Once Adrienne returned with the medical information on Marianna it went pretty quick after that. We where able to get an appointment at 2pm that afternoon and still have time for a quick lunch. We got back before 2 and we where the first ones in line. The interview went fast and we thought that we would have her visa that day, but NOOOO. We would have to come back in the morning to pick it up.

Everyone was nice to us at the Embassy and it really didn’t take that long. If only we didn’t have to wait outside in the cold, because we are now all sick together and I got the worst of it. My throat is sore as *^ll!

We got home and everything was better and Adrienne started to pack. We where going to be able to still make our weekend flight and all of a sudden Marianna came in with a bloody mouth and she was crying Texas tears! We thought she had fallen and hit her mouth, but no she hadn’t. It was a bad tooth and it was coming out like it, or not.

We called K and he had the translator take a taxi and picked us up so that we could take Marianna to see an all night Dentist. He said that he was the best in Kiev, but I have seen things over here that didn’t make me to trustworthy. As we got there the translator told Adrienne that we would have to wait outside the room as they took care of Marianna and she went in instead of us. We didn’t like that at all, but we did not have much of a choice. She came out in just minuets and they had pulled, or cut her tooth. We where told to take her to the States and have a Dentist look at her teeth. She didn’t seem to be in any pain at the time and she was ready to get out of there, so we went back to the flat.

We are now back at the flat and waiting for the next shoe to drop.

Gods speed, AKA Alice, the White Rabbit and the Princess

Kiev March 4th, 2009

Today was fairly busy as we got up to go and see the Ukrainian Puppet Show, but it wasn’t open until 7pm that night. Andre drove us around the city and we went to an outside market to get some souvenirs. It was great fun. Then it was back in the car and we drove around the corner to see the City Arch and the over look that had a view of the river. You don’t really know how big the city is until you see it from this view.

K called and told us that Marianna’s passport would not arrive until the next day. Marianna and I drove bumper cars in the cold and had a blast. After that it was back to the flat to wait and for us too get out of the cold. Latter that night we had a nice dinner with K so he could say bye to Marianna. He was leaving the next day to take a Dallas family to another region and help them with their adoption.

It was really nice to see him before we left to go our separate ways.

Gods speed, AKA Alice, the White Rabbit and the Princess

Kiev March 3rd, 2009

We arrived here in Kiev late last night. Our driver didn’t get to Kirovohrad until after 8pm and it was a 5 + hr. drive. After sleeping in a little late this morning it was off once again to sign more paperwork. Adrienne and Marianna slept in the Master Bedroom and I slept on a pullout, so I wasn’t in good of sprits that morning.

After all the paperwork we had some more free time, so we took Marianna to the Town Square where the underground mall is. She was in the land of awe. She was looking at everything and pointing at everything. It’s hard to believe that these kids have never been in a mall before.

We had left Kiev before her passport was ready and we where told by k that it would be bussed over to Kiev either Tuesday, or Wednesday morning. We will need it for the Embassy on Thursday. We hope to be out of this place by Saturday!

Gods speed, AKA Alice, the White Rabbit and the Princess

Kirovohrad March 2nd, 2009

We are still in a holding pattern and all three of us are ready to blow this Popsicle joint. We want to go to Kiev and see some of the views! No really, we want to go home! Richard and Marianna slept in today and I got up early because I couldn’t sleep. So, I started to get ready for the day when all of a sudden the door flies open and there was a beautiful princess that just awakened.

Lena called and informed us that she would be tutoring Marianna today, that it would be her, mot Kate. She just came back from a weekend in Kiev and we think she needed the money. It was all the same to Marianna, because she liked both girls. After that it was lunch time again. It keeps coming around every day and Marianna is there to make sure we don’t miss it.

After that it was off to the clothing store to pickup a couple of outfits for Marianna. She had been in that orphanage for nearly two years where they would wear the same thing for weeks. Early that morning she pointed out that she only had three shirts to get her through the rest of our stay. My mother would be appalled!

The day has gone on and on, yet we wait to hear form K. As soon as we go to another movie, or something of the sort, he will call and tell us that it is time to go to Kiev and that we need to drop everything. He is really good at doing that and boy we are hoping that he dose.

Shortly after writing this he did call and sure enough everything is finished here in Kirovohrad and our driver is on his way to pick us up! It was time to say good bye to Kate and Lena and everyone else we could think of. I am trying to nurse this stupid cold, so pray that I get to Kiev without croaking.

Gods speed, AKA Alice, the White Rabbit and the Princess

Kirovohrad Feb 28Th, 2009

OK, now we are officially a family and it is great! We met Kate outside the flat and we had to walk over to get some more photos of Marianna’s visa. After that it was back outside in the cold weather. For some reason this kid keeps asking for food? So, it was off to grab a bite.

After lunch we got to see some of Kirovohrad’s outdoor markets and some of its locale flavor. They even had Hare Krishna. Yes, they are here too! It was a lot of fun; you will have to try it.

Adrienne has started to feel better so she thought it wouldn’t hurt too much to stay out. That wasn’t the greatest Idea, because it hit her right in the middle of our tour. So, we went back to the flat and stayed around there for the rest of the day.

When we where out Marianna was asked to pick out some toys that she could play with at the flat and on the plane. One of the toys was a hand held Play Station and the other was a Barbie Doll with three different dresses. Witch one do you think she picked? Just put it this way she made Mama’s day and I did mind paying for a Barbie instead of that Play Station.

We had Kate come over and started tutoring Marianna in English until we get back to the States. After we had paid for all those English lessons’, you would think she would speak better English than Adrienne and I. She is a smart girl and is picking it up very well, we can’t wait until everyone gets to meet her.

Gods speed, AKA Alice, the White Rabbit and the Princess

Kirovohrad Feb 27Th, 2009

Well, today was a big day for the Beauchamp family. We had to get Marianna’s birth certificate change over to our name. Once again we had to get up early and go to the records building and of course we had to set around and wait. We waited and waited and waited to about 11am. Then it was off to pick our beautiful daughter and of course she was there waiting for us.

We did all the paper work that was required by the orphanage and Olga the head Director. After all the paper work it was into Marianna’s group to pass out the going away gifts to the caregivers and her classmates. Marianna told Adrienne and me that she was going to be able to take most of her clothes that we sent her home.

So, here came the test. We walked in to Olga’s office and asked her if it was possible to do so. She didn’t seem to have any problems with it, but when the caregivers delivered her to the door going out of here classroom, she only had the clothes on her back that we gave her when she had been in Dallas with us.

We looked into the class and the caregivers and other kids where going through her things and dividing them. When everything was done and she said her final goodbyes, there was one little girl that was very up set that Marianna was leaving. She started to cry and Marianna was very brave and told it would be OK. That didn’t seem to help much, because the little girl started cry even louder.

Then we where off., our social butterfly was saying goodbye to everyone she saw in the hallways and out the door. When we where finally in the taxi she said goodbye orphanage! Than had to get even more paperwork signed, but bye the time we arrived the CPS office was closed for lunch. So, Kate, Adrienne, Marianna and I went to grab a bit to eat.

After lunch, we where able to get the paperwork signed from the CPS office and then it was back to the flat for some more waiting around. We had to wait for the attorney to pick us up and take us to the police station to get Marianna’s photos for her passport. Only this child could look so beautiful in a passport photo, but I guess we are biases.

What is so wonderful about this whole adoption thing is that Adrienne and I love being her parents and the kid hasn’t stopped telling us that she loves being our kid.

Gods speed, AKA Alice, the White Rabbit and the Princess

Kirovohrad Feb 26Th, 2009

Today it was off to get flowers for Marianna’s caregivers, teachers. So we bought three bunches, one for each caregiver. Then once again it was off to the orphanage to pickup Marianna. We gave the flowers to one of the caregivers and she told us that not many adopting families give them flowers and that she was truly grateful. It was about 10:30am and we had her for the entire day, or at least 7pm. Trust me, every minute counts.

If you haven’t been to Kirovohrad yet, you might not have caught on, that the orphanage is on the outside of town. So there is a lot of back and fourth. Taking a Taxi is the way to go and they don’t charge much compared to American standards, so guess what? We headed back into town and picked up some lunch. After that we wanted to pick up some things for Olga.

Adrienne and I decided that since we had all day with our soon to be daughter, we would take her to the cinema and let her watch Kung Fu Panda (In Russian of course). Just before we went in to see the movie, I got a call from K. He asked me if I had our passports and if we could be ready if he was able to get the last document that they needed for our finale court date. I of course said YES!

This was a Thursday, not Friday, or even Monday as the attorney had stated earlier in the week. K said that he would call us back after three, or four. Well this was great news and we still had time to catch the movie. OK, you have to rent Kung Fu Panda in Russian, especially if you have watched it in English. It’s a blast to see it in a different light.

We nearly made it, but near the end we got the call from K. I don’t think I have ever seen Adrienne move so quickly in my life, as well as myself. We where at the apartment and changed in about 15 minuets. Kate met us outside the apartment and had a cab waiting. Then it was off to the court house to have our adoption approved, our not. Some of you might have seen Marianna’s photo on our Blog. If you have, then you probably guessed. WE HAVE A BEAUIFUL BOUNING NINE YEAR OLD GIRL!!!!!!!!

The court granted us our dreams, but we would have to take her back to the orphanage and let her stay one more night. The paperwork would not be done until tomorrow. We dropped her off at the orphanage a little later that night and let me tell you it was harder than ever before. That night I didn’t sleep and I know Adrienne couldn’t, because I kelp talking to her all night.

I was in shock most of the next morning. I was going to be a PAPA and Adrienne was a MAMA! Really we where dancing around! Marianna was a trooper. They asked her if she wanted to be with a Ukrainian family and she said No, she wanted to be with us. When they granted the adoption, Adrienne started to cry and I had tears in my eyes. You know men don’t cry.

Marianna is so happy. She spends the night at the orphanage and then we will be together always.

Gods speed, AKA Alice, the White Rabbit and the Princess