Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Update at last!!

Hi Folks,
Yes we are all o.k.!! We are in a little village with not many amenities, but as you see we have found an internet cafe so at least we can update you all with our news. Katrina is just wonderful, and learning lots of things every day. We go to a play room at the orphanage and last week she wouldn't play on any thing, and would cry at any noise or new person. Now we have a job to keep her off the play area. She loves the swing, building bricks, going through a rubber tunnel which last week she screamed at now goes in and out all the time with big smiles. She knows Mummy, Daddy and Grandma, and will take a ball to who ever we tell her to go to. Blows kisses to us when we leave and is pleased to see us twice a day. We have an apartment about 20 minutes walk away and pass two supermarkets, but there is little else around. We have to walk 40 minutes to get to this internet cafe and the temperature is always in the 30's. Apart from seeing Katrina it is very boring. The paper work is never ending, we go to court on Friday, and all being well 10 days later she will be ours. Then we have to get her birth certificate changed from Valintyna Sergeigevna Kalynina to Katrina Elisabeth Andrews. Then we face the 12 hour train trip back to Kiev. Then it's getting her Visa from the Canadian Consulate...... then we can come home. It is very hard to ask questions withthe lanquage problems, as it is mostly Russian and some Ukrainian and no ones speaks English here. A couple from Germany are adopting a little girl and we share the play room with them and they speak very good English and told us about this place which has been a big help. Hope to send some photo's soon, Pat Paul, Elisabeth and Katrina.

2 comments:

Tanis said...

This is Shona and Darren's sister-in-law. I have been checking your blog regularly with the hope that things are moving along for you. I am thrilled that Katrina is doing well and getting more and more adventurous with you three.

What a gruelling journey it is to adopt from Ukraine. As Darren and Sho have said 'it is not for the faint of heart.' May your hearts be encouraged. You are nearing the end.

We are so thankful for our niece, Ivanna. She's quite the little monkey (lets say she has come out of her shell!). What a gift she is to our family. We look forward to seeing pictures of your Katrina and hearing more about her.

Tanis

Sam and Evelyn said...

This is Shona's mom writing here.
What wonderful news! That Katrina is getting to feel more comfortable with all of you. We are also happy that you have found an internet cafe, and are able to communicate with your friends and supporters more easily. We are looking forward to seeing pictures of your little darling, and are hoping that all goes smoothly with the documents.

Evelyn