tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42628908178883597962009-11-08T14:58:35.162-07:00...........The journey to find our little girl.Tamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381915866366125201sixsunflowerseeds@gmail.comBlogger269125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262890817888359796.post-42677714216795544902008-02-16T05:28:00.002-07:002008-02-16T05:30:27.678-07:00

Now that the journey to find Maddie is complete, please join us at our new digs...SUNFLOWER SEEDS

Tamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381915866366125201sixsunflowerseeds@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262890817888359796.post-86213221883113273542008-02-02T22:53:00.000-07:002008-02-06T05:16:41.391-07:00

Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, feels better than walking off the plane and into the arms of your family.I cried.Out loud.I didn't care.We were finally home.Maddie wasn't quite sure what to make of everything at first. She had a death grip on my hand and stuck pretty close to me, which is so unlike her. The kids were estatic. Each armed with a stuffed animal, they gathered around her and

Tamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381915866366125201sixsunflowerseeds@gmail.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262890817888359796.post-88035575821304247502008-02-02T04:21:00.000-07:002008-02-05T14:04:14.214-07:00

Alright already! Jiminy but you guys are an impatient lot! ;>) I guess I deserve all of the razzing for keeping you waiting for so long. Yes. We're home!!! Now, sit back and let me finish my story. I've got to get it all written down before my swiss cheese of a brain forgets it all! :)-----------------------I remembered to set my alarm last night. But I didn't needed it. I couldn't have slept

Tamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381915866366125201sixsunflowerseeds@gmail.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262890817888359796.post-24545952563908792962008-02-01T22:30:00.000-07:002008-02-04T18:14:24.493-07:00

I overslept.How could I oversleep today of all days?!The cab was supposed to get there at 7:30 a.m...it was 7:15!Aaaaaaach!I jumped out of bed, yanked some clothes out of the suitcase, ran a brush through my hair and put on some foundation.Then I got Maddie up.She wasn't too happy with me...until I showed her a banana.The kid is nuts about bananas.She got dressed and we ran out the door.Nikolai,

Tamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381915866366125201sixsunflowerseeds@gmail.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262890817888359796.post-19741558548354695702008-01-31T22:30:00.000-07:002008-02-04T05:03:14.125-07:00

Kiril arrived at 9:05 a.m., ready and willing to do whatever it took to get us to Kiev.He was a great kid. And by kid...I mean kid. He was barely 21.But he spoke great English and he talked to me.A big improvement, I must say.Turns out, Kiril had spent a year in the U.S. as an exchange student, and he had such a great experience and grew to love the country so much he wants to immigrate here

Tamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381915866366125201sixsunflowerseeds@gmail.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262890817888359796.post-18633043621628339872008-01-31T20:17:00.000-07:002008-01-31T20:34:52.516-07:00

Hello!! Meshack(I), will try to fill you all in since Tami won't be able to for a while. Tami said the passport was finally in her possession in the afternoon Odessa time, and Maddie and her were going to Kiev as soon as transportation was available. Tami was catiously optimistic, but it looks like a trip to AMC and the US embassy on Friday. If all goes well then Mom and Maddie will be

Tamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381915866366125201sixsunflowerseeds@gmail.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262890817888359796.post-63032447232977175072008-01-30T10:54:00.000-07:002008-01-30T12:14:08.484-07:00

I have decided to follow my mother's sage advice to start thanking God for all of this. While I don't know if I'm quite ready to thank Him for not delivering on the passport, there are several things for which I should be incredibly thankful. I'm hoping it will help my attitude to share them with you. So here they are...David Letterman style.Tami's Top Ten Things to be Thankful For...10. It's

Tamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381915866366125201sixsunflowerseeds@gmail.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262890817888359796.post-61872296463207432722008-01-29T11:33:00.000-07:002008-01-29T13:43:47.624-07:00

Warning: Rant Ahead - Please feel free to skip today's post. It's all part of that honesty bit I gave you yesterday. Unfortunately I honestly feel pretty cruddy right now and I'm having a hard time processing all the junk I went through today. The following post is real. The names have not been changed to protect the innocent (except for Maddie) and I'm starting to understand why Russians and

Tamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381915866366125201sixsunflowerseeds@gmail.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262890817888359796.post-39125834405211893272008-01-28T14:55:00.000-07:002008-01-30T04:31:04.346-07:00

I promised myself three things when I started this blog. I vowed I would try to blog every day, write actively and with a strong voice...and I swore I would always be honest. Honesty is the only defense pre-adoptive parents have in the crazy world of international adoption. It is the only thing that really prepares them for what they're about to go through. I knew if I sugar coated the process I

Tamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381915866366125201sixsunflowerseeds@gmail.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262890817888359796.post-68729209006958687252008-01-27T22:46:00.000-07:002008-01-28T13:55:50.358-07:00

Another quiet day in Maddie's Odessa home.We spent the day playing, watching more videos and doing pretty much whatever Maddie wanted to do.Not that I'm spoiling her! ;)There's not much to tell about today. We're pretty much just waiting for tomorrow. (A terrible attitude to have, but one that I've resigned myself to, in this process.) We're always waiting for tomorrow. On this particular

Tamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381915866366125201sixsunflowerseeds@gmail.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262890817888359796.post-75980957507743137172008-01-26T06:52:00.000-07:002008-01-27T14:45:35.283-07:00

It was another day of firsts for Maddie.The first time talking on a phone.The first time using a washing machine.And the first time eating at the golden arches...Mikky D's.Let's start off with the phone.Maddie got to talk to Q-ball, Punky, JacJac and of course Daddy today.She loved it.She giggled, babbled and stared at the Skype phone while listening to each one of them. It was amazing to watch.

Tamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381915866366125201sixsunflowerseeds@gmail.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262890817888359796.post-41708511198066865452008-01-25T22:59:00.000-07:002008-01-27T06:51:32.452-07:00

What a great and marvelous day.It couldn't have been more perfect.I don't think it gets any better than this.I have our little girl.The little girl we have waited forever to find is finally ours.Sigh.And so far, the honeymoon is great.She's doing incredibly well with all of the changes. Especially since Lev said he doesn't think anyone explained to her what was going on.Jiminy.The only true

Tamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381915866366125201sixsunflowerseeds@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262890817888359796.post-9681375529305294832008-01-25T22:35:00.000-07:002008-01-26T11:51:30.270-07:00

Aren't they cute?!Meshack decided to surprise me.It made me cry...in a good way.They are now the background on my computer screen...I see them every time I turn this thing on.And hopefully in just a week, I'll be able to see them in person.I can't wait!

Tamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381915866366125201sixsunflowerseeds@gmail.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262890817888359796.post-25489196962906996842008-01-24T22:52:00.000-07:002008-01-26T11:18:56.594-07:00

I woke up bright and early this morning...ready to head to the orphanage.Lev didn't. He slept in.Okay...he didn't really sleep in. He left at 5 a.m. to meet the first train to pick up some paperwork Meshack sent over. I guess I can't complain too much, but he didn't get back up and around until 10 a.m...and by that time I was about ready to drag him out the door by the collar of his black leather

Tamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381915866366125201sixsunflowerseeds@gmail.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262890817888359796.post-53376408747944711342008-01-24T22:14:00.000-07:002008-01-25T11:17:05.790-07:00

Sorry for the delay in posting. Everything is great...I've got Maddie!!! I just haven't posted because (a) there's tons to say and (b) living with a 3 yr old means I don't have a lot of time to type up.I'm working (as we speak) on posting an update. When it's finished I'll take this little note down and put up the details. You want a sneak peak? Suffice it to say - there's never a dull moment in

Tamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381915866366125201sixsunflowerseeds@gmail.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262890817888359796.post-38715566200000998262008-01-23T22:59:00.000-07:002008-01-24T13:57:18.901-07:00

We have the Tax ID number. Boy...that was easy. I hate to even mention how easy it was because it has caused so many other people such headaches. Lev was in and out in a couple of hours.While he was doing official stuff...I was doing fun stuff.I took our cab over to the orphanage and visited Maddie.It was the first time I had seen her in two days...and she was THRILLED!As soon as she saw me she

Tamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381915866366125201sixsunflowerseeds@gmail.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262890817888359796.post-53994196750606691912008-01-22T22:02:00.000-07:002008-01-23T23:34:53.979-07:00

Today I did something I have never done in any of our adoptions. I went back to the beginning.We are at the part of the paperchase where it's time to get Maddie's birth certificate changed to reflect Meshack and I as her parents. It's a big step - in more ways than one.Lev and I hired a driver to take us to the small village where Maddie was born. It is located an hour outside of Odessa...I'm not

Tamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381915866366125201sixsunflowerseeds@gmail.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262890817888359796.post-12062588315722610962008-01-21T21:12:00.000-07:002008-01-24T00:01:14.637-07:00

Sorta...Today is the day the court decree goes into effect. The 10 days of waiting are behind us and now we get to start the next round of paper chasing. So, while I'm technically a mom of four beautiful kids now, I don't actually get custody of her until sometime later this week. I'll let you know when 'gotcha day' will be.In the meantime, I'm chasing the all elusive paper.Lev arrived around 9

Tamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381915866366125201sixsunflowerseeds@gmail.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262890817888359796.post-15445626499809630292008-01-20T22:59:00.000-07:002008-01-21T00:36:17.872-07:00

Today's visit was similar to yesterdays, minus the church goers, so I've decided to forgo a real post today (besides, I gave you enough to read yesterday to last all weekend! :)Instead I'm giving you some new video of Maddie.She's gotten bored with the toys I bring with me, so I pulled out a comb, hand lotion and lip gloss.We had a great time. She especially loved the hand lotion.So here you go..

Tamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381915866366125201sixsunflowerseeds@gmail.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262890817888359796.post-23925464819308196132008-01-19T22:52:00.000-07:002008-01-20T23:39:13.050-07:00

Before I even arrived at the Detsky Dom this morning I knew something was up. About four blocks from the orphanage we hit a traffic jam, like none I had seen in this part of town.Usually it is incredibly quiet. Stray dogs roam the streets, peasant women walk down the middle of the road on their way to the bus stop, and solemn seminary students carry their Bibles on their way to class at the

Tamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381915866366125201sixsunflowerseeds@gmail.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262890817888359796.post-31466345356375040382008-01-18T22:21:00.000-07:002008-01-19T14:28:39.251-07:00

The visit with Maddie was typical today. That's the way it gets with this process...each day is the same as the day before.Today we went outside. Due to taxi troubles, I didn't get there until after she was already dressed to go outside, so I decided to give it another try.It didn't work. There's too many distractions...and no opportunity to really get to know each other. She goes from one toy

Tamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381915866366125201sixsunflowerseeds@gmail.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262890817888359796.post-67271351598915084702008-01-17T22:26:00.000-07:002008-01-18T06:55:43.035-07:00

Seven days down...three to go.Not too bad.It's gone pretty quickly.In Ukraine, you have to wait 10 days for the court decree to take affect. It gives you time to bond with your child...and a chance for anyone who wants to, to contest the decision.But once that wait is over...they're yours.Only three more days until I'm officially a mommy of four.Wow.We've been pretty lucky with this part of the

Tamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381915866366125201sixsunflowerseeds@gmail.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262890817888359796.post-3992415513963975792008-01-16T22:17:00.000-07:002008-01-17T12:16:58.471-07:00

Okay...don't freak out. I don't want you freaking out.Do you promise not to freak out?Okay...I was in a car accident this morning.Really...it wasn't that big of a deal. And no...I wasn't driving! ;)It was one of my crazy taxicab drivers...but the funny thing is...he wasn't a crazy taxicab driver. I was actually thinking at the time how nice it was not to have to worry about his driving. He was

Tamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381915866366125201sixsunflowerseeds@gmail.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262890817888359796.post-9221873833805980192008-01-15T15:13:00.000-07:002008-01-15T15:31:19.303-07:00

I didn't get to visit Maddie today.Not because I missed my cab or because anyone was sick, but because today is a religious holiday.Unfortunately, no one told me.I walked into the orphanage doctor's office at 10 this morning to check in and was greeted with confused looks. I tried asking (in my general pantamime way) for permission to go visit Maddie and they replied with way more than their

Tamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381915866366125201sixsunflowerseeds@gmail.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262890817888359796.post-36871582691032532012008-01-14T22:48:00.000-07:002008-01-15T13:13:01.291-07:00

I've reached the point where I'm having a hard time keeping track of what day it is.It's kind of scary to admit...but I'm choosing to blame it on the fact that I went so long without any measureable amount of sleep...the time difference...and not going to church last Sunday.It's certainly not because I'm losing my mind or anything.I've resorted to checking the computer calendar to make sure of

Tamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381915866366125201sixsunflowerseeds@gmail.com6