Got our Court Date

We received our court date today and will be traveling in the next several weeks on our second trip. Excited? You bet your boots we are ... to say the very least! We also met with the I/A pediatrician today to review all of the medicals that have been compiled from the baby house and Dr. Victoria. It was again reassuring to be advised that he is a healthy boy and actually on a reasonably good growth and development path as far as the growth charts go for his age group. The crib is up, changing table assembled, stuff to put on the walls and, well you can imagine what else. The little blondie in the house is not so excited about us going again, but she knows and understands why. She is such a trooper and still so very excited to have a brother coming home soon.

Our princess played an excerpt from "America" on the piano in chapel service a few days ago and did a great job. Many complements from friends and teachers alike. This was her second time to play publicly, but this was her first solo performance. We'll catch up more later.

Home From Trip One

We're home! Our first trip was bitter sweet, meeting our future prince, then having to leave him behind. What a wonderful, handsome, yes, cute boy he is. He had a cold and congestion, so please remember this in your prayers. Our coordinator, Olga was a God-send. Such a talented, perservering and lovely lady to be privileged to work with.

We had intended to post updates but had many technical difficulties. Lesson learned - if your power adapter requires fuses, take spares. Fortunately Olga had one we could borrow once back to Moscow. The internet cafe in Yaroslovl does not allow for the sending and receiving of emails and our hotel did not have internet access. We finally made it to visit the more modern hotel in Yaro and purchased an internet access card there, but we were glad we stayed where we did as there was much more privacy, a great restaurant and walking distance to other places as well.

The baby house director and staff were very caring and concerned for the welfare of the children. They were very helpful to us, and seemed to have had a bond with our prince. That was very reassuring. We got to visit and play with him there several times.

A note for next trip - if you want a washcloth, take it with you. Apparantly these are in short supply if available at all. Neither hotel, Yaro or Moscow, provided these. The cuisine was good as we had no bad meal.

Where are we in the process now you ask? We accomplished so much but also have more paperwork to do, file for court date and update the prince's room to be a bit younger than we had expected. That needs to be done prior to making our second trip for court. Please pray for the health of judge that will preside. As we understand it, he has not been feeling well of late. Besides wanting our court date to be assigned, hopefully before the end of May and the proceedings be favorable for us, he simply needs to get well.

Thank you all for praying for us and our princess while we were away. She celebrated her birthday for nearly the full week among friends and family that took good care of her.