Headin' Back

Today is January 8 and life is great - LSU won the National Championship and Maury is on his way back to pickup Kol.

This trip home lasted much longer than we expected. The US Embassy did not open until today. Going back after our 10 day wait would have caused Maury to stay in Sumy through Christmas and the New Year. With all tragic events in our family the past year, the thought of him not being here was too much. Thank goodness we were able to call Elizabeth and let Kol know that we were delayed. Elizabeth told us that they had several events planned for the kids and Kol would be able to participate. Everything worked out.

Maury's flight is in a few hours. After 16 hours in the air and a 4 - 5 hour car ride, he should arrive in Sumy. When he arrives in Sumy, after he falls out, I am sure he will stop by and see Kol and the rest of the kids in the orphanage. Maury has a bag full of toys, clothes and gifts for all the children, Vera, Elizabeth and several other people associated with Kol's life. I hope they enjoy them.

After the visit, Maury and the translator will travel 5 hours to the town where Kol was born. They will visit with the local agency and change his birth certificate to our names as his parents (that makes me smile just visualizing that entire process). Then he will go back to Sumy and apply for the passport and visa. The application has to go to Kiev and then back to Sumy after it has been completed. When they receive all of the paperwork, they will travel to Kiev for two days at the US Embassy. Then....... a 16 hour flight home to LOUISIANA!!!!!

Okay, so that is the plan - if the plan works, Maury and Kol should be on their way home on the 18th.

I explained how to update the blog and upload images. Hopefully Maury will remember (although everything is in Ukrainian and it is really up to remembering where the buttons are what should be entered). If he can not post, I will do it for him.

We are all so excited for Maury to leave (sounded funny huh)... We are excited for the reason he is leaving. I can not wait until they both get home. While they are gone, I have a lot of work cut out for me. Karmon has a Mardi Gra bal (she is a Princess) and I have to clean out Kyle's old room, paint (with help from friends), purchase furniture, decorate and prepare for a trip to Little Rock next week. Good thing I have decided to start smoking crack! (just kidding Mom).

So many people told us they read the blog during our last trip. It was nice that so many of you cared enough to see what was going on.

Take care, Maury will update you in a few days
Kim