Our Adoption - 7 weeks to go 6/3/2005
Week 43
Our travel to Ukraine is NEXT month, so I’m starting to panic a bit as far as readiness for travel. Much to my own surprise I’m not too panicky regarding readiness to parent, though I have my panic moments in that area as well - it might just be I’m stoking a good friendship with denial. I look at it this way - I’ve learned to laugh enough at myself that so long as I can remember to do that, the parenting thing can’t be all bad, right? It’s when I start to take it all too seriously that I get worry lines. Down with worry lines!!
But there is still so much to be done, and I am just realizing that 7 weeks is not much time at all to do it all. I was feeling a bit under the weather - both physically and emotionally - over the past couple of weeks, and that definitely took its toll on what I have been able to accomplish. Hopefully this weekend will be more productive than average and I can get back on track.
Paperwork-wise all we did this week is mail off some redone documents to Ukraine. It’s funny because that used to make me incredibly excited, but now we’ve done it so many times it is very routine. It just doesn’t have the same thrill it did at the beginning. I guess I need a stronger dose of “adoption thrill” to satisfy my appetites. The thrill of the homestudy, the USCIS approval, NAC registration, and that travel date - each step progressively more intense and sweet in its reward. But let me warn you, if you’re considering “trying a little”. It’s goooood stuff, but it doesn’t come cheap! 
Jodi,
Congrats on your upcoming travel!
I have a phone number for you just in case you go to Dnipropetrovsk. When we were there, the same father/son taxi drivers took us everywhere, from morning til late at night. (They each have their own taxi.) They were so nice! They delivered official papers for us, always asked about our daughter, helped us with our luggage, etc. The dad’s name is Nicolai, and the son’s name is Tole. Tole’s cell phone (as of last summer) is 38- 050-514-44-08. (We used an international cell phone, so dialed the 38. From other phones, it’s just the 8)They don’t speak English, but you can manage to communicate. Their neighbor Sherri is the college student we used as a translator and as someone to visit our daughter in our absence.
We stayed at the Hotel Ukraine whenever we were in Kiev. It’s on Independence Square. It is nice, very safe, and cost between 70 and 100 dollars per night, depending on the room. (We figured out how to ask for the cheaper rooms.) If you stay there, I would advise telling them that you do not want their breakfast. It costs about 15 dollars per person and is totally not worth it. (They charge you for it unless you tell them not to.) The coffee was so disgusting I couldn’t drink it. Eating in your room, or in a nearby restaurant is a much better deal, and the food is better.
Even if you do not stay in this hotel, you can use their money exhange window and the ATM machine in their lobby. It’s a safe place to do such business. It’s also a good place to catch a taxi. They tend to congregate in the parking lot.
Wow!! I cannot believe you guys are so close! Can’t wait!!!
Gina
That is great. I am so excited to meet LT. I am sure you are more so. I remember those days. You are not kidding it is not a cheap habit but, it is the best habit to have an addiction to!