Day 12 (Fri Feb 18th) - Dnepro - Another Relaxing Day

Today we took the day off again.  It was nice.  Little One woke up much earlier today, thereby waking Husband and me up as well.  Masha woke up for a bit too, but then went back to sleep.  We finally got up around 10am. LOL

Most of the day we just hung out at the apartment.  We did venture out and go to a museum up the street.  On the way we stopped at a paper/art store.  It was pretty cool. :^)  I liked it in there.  In the museum there were a lot of little things made with beads, which the kids at the orphanage would have loved to see!  It was pretty good.  There were also a bunch of handmade things you could guess what they were, but we had no idea so we didn't even try.  There were also a few super old video cameras and still cameras.  That part was kinda neat.  I hate how they charge to take pictures.  It hasn't been worth it to me yet.  There have been a couple of things but nothing I've just really been dying to take a picture of.  Except for the miniature things there at Lavra, but you couldn't have photographed them well anyway.  Not with my camera. LOL

We watched Ever After last night and we might watch something again tonight.  Masha is going to a concert tonight, but we're in for the day.  We did call Sis. Nielsen and she and Pres. Nielsen are going to pick us up for church on Sunday.  We live super close to them and we're only maybe a 5-10 minute walk from where the branch meets.  They're going to drive us though.  I'm excited to finally meet them.  Tomorrow we head back over to the orphanage for a couple of hours.

Here are a few pictures I took as we walked to the museum today.

This isn't the best picture, but the street we live by is actually quite pretty.

A pretty building

The museum

Masha by the museum

Of course, Little One wanted to be in one with her too. :^)

I love these sidewalks!

A pretty apartment building

Day 11 (Thurs Feb 17th) - Dnepro - A rest day

Wow!  Three posts in one day!  That's a record. :^)  Not too much to report today.  It was SO nice to sleep in this morning until 10:30 and then Little One even had a nap 2 or 3 hours later on top of that. LOL

We got the apartment cleaned up a bit (the floor gets dirty pretty fast with our yucky shoes from outside.)  I also finally got unpacked!  We still haven't found our USB splitter.  We must have left it in Kiev.  Maybe we can ask Natasha to call that landlady there to ask if she ever saw it.  I also got caught up on computer stuff.

We called Ira today around 4:30 or so and she was in English classes.  We called back awhile later and she was eating.  She was good by the time we called the third time.  She sounded happy and excited.  She even asked us questions about America of her own accord.  She wanted to know if she would be a dual citizen and if, when she grows up, she can go visit Ukraine.  She said when she grows up maybe she will go get some kids out of the orphanage. :^)  She was taking a shower earlier and the water got cold so she ran out. LOL

We went down to the store and got a few things.  Exciting stuff, I know.

Now it's time for me to shower and then we're going to watch a movie together.  It's been a good day. :^)

Day 10 (Wed Feb 16th)- Dnepro - Court Date Received

We were up at 5 yesterday morning and on our way to the village to turn in our documents to the court.  Lana needed some extra copies of things so we went to the orphanage while she did that as well as went to the court. We visited again for a little bit and then I got out our drawing book I got in Disney World and Karissa and Ira drew pictures for a little while.

We brought our computer with us so we checked out our English program with Masha and then decided to watch a movie on it together while we waited for Lana.  We tried to watch Princess and the Frog but it didn't rip right so we did Mulan instead.  One of Masha's very favorites. :^)

The director was very sweet and had worried about us not eating anything yesterday so she fed us lunch.  We had to eat by ourselves, but still.  It was very nice of her.  The drink was apricot juice and the bread was the best tasting I've had here.  Super yummy.

Once the movie was done a few of the girls came in and played UNO again with Husband and Little One while Masha and I watched.

All our waiting paid off because we did get a court date today.  It's a bit later than we'd hoped, but not too bad.  We might be able to get it moved up as well depending on when we get our paper from the SDA.  Husband just really needs to get home and get back to work or we don't have anything to pay our bills for March with! LOL

We told Ira when our date is and she started crying again.  It seemed different this time though.  More sad and having it feel more real now, but not "I don't know...I will miss my friends, etc...."  Hopefully it continues to go okay because until then we'd had a great day with her with no tears up until that point.  Part of what's bothering her too is that she's getting a lot of attention from all the kids now because she's going to America and she's not liking being in the middle of things. :^)  What is this girl going to do the first time she's asked to give a talk?!?! LOL

And, I finally have a second to get you pictures of our first apartment here in Dnepro.  I haven't taken any yet of the one we're in now.  Soon, now that can actually unpack. :^)

The entry way

Bathroom

Shower/washer in the bathroom

Kitchen

Kitchen 

Living Room

Computer desk in the living room

Bedroom - view 1

Bedroom 2, you can see our room for drying clothes there behind the drapes

A room for drying clothes...this was really nice!

Day 9 (Tues Feb 15th) - Dnepro - Letter Written

Tuesday we were up very early and in the village by 8:30am to do some stuff at the inspector's office.  Ira was at the hospital getting her medical conclusion done.  We figured that was a good sign.  We went to a different cafe (this one seemed better than the last one...although that doesn't take much) to get something to drink while we waited.  At 10:30 we went to the orphanage and met in the director's office.  Lana, the director and the inspectors all talked about paperwork.

Once Ira got back we went into our room and visited.  It was actually a nice visit.  We talked about things she likes (dancing, drawing, singing, history, PE, etc...) and what we will do when we get to America.

Lana came in and told Ira it was time to write her letter.  She went back (I had been hoping to take a picture of her doing so, but it was good I wasn't there I think) and after a long time the inspectors came in to say she had just sat there crying.  She kept saying she wanted to go, but she was afraid and would miss her friends.  They didn't want to pressure her so they told her she could write it anytime in the next two days and they would continue to move forward with the paperwork.  She said she would write it, but wanted to do it later.

She came back in and we visited for a bit again (she was making little beaded things) and then Lana came in.  She told Ira she really needed those letters (she had to write two copies) today.  Ira kept saying later.  Lana left and it wasn't long before Ira said she wanted to talk to the director.  It was a LONG time before she came back.  When she did though, she'd been crying but had written her letters.  She decided on a name as well, which I'm not going to put on here right now. :^)  Lana was pretty frantically getting paperwork done and even tried to get the documents turned into the court, but missed them by 10 minutes.  While we waited for her some of the other kids wondered in and we played UNO and some game where you guess who has a ring.

We finally left the orphanage at about 6:30 and got back to Dnepro at about 8:30.  By the time we got dinner, lost our power and got it fixed, got ready for bed and talked to family, it was after midnight!  What a long day!

Slight Update

I'm so sorry!  I know everyone is wanting an update but the last two days have been SOOOO long.  We are headed to bed right now and finally planning on sleeping to our hearts content.  Just know that things are a bit shaky as usual, but going well.  I will give more details tomorrow, but Ira did write her letter yesterday and today we got a court date.  Again, I will give more details tomorrow.  Goodnight, everyone!

XOXO

Day 8 (Mon Feb 14th) - Dnepro - Moving Day

First of all, I have no comments from either of my posts from yesterday.  If no one has commented, that would explain it, but if people have then they didn't come through for some reason.  If you don't see your comment appear within 24 hours, I probably didn't get it so please send it again!

Today has been quite an interesting day.  We got word in the morning that we could move to our new apartment right away!  We liked the other one, but the trouble we were having with the internet card was just not good.  That is how we communicate with our family and such and we couldn't even voice Skype without it cutting off every couple of minutes.  It was very annoying and and didn't work well at all.

We started packing up and then got a call from Lana.  She said that Ira was saying she didn't want to go again and we needed to get over to the orphanage right away.  We figured we could get our stuff over to the new place and still get over to the orphanage with some time before we needed to head back.  By the time we got to the new apartment though, we'd heard that director wanted us to not come today so that Ira could think about it and then she would keep her out of school tomorrow for us to come visit.

It was nice not to have to drive over there, but we missed seeing Ira.  Lana and the director talked to her and again, it was just that she didn't want to leave the people she loves here.  Yes she likes us though.  The director was trying to have her make a wise decision and on that would be best for her.  In the end, she said yes she will go with us again, but we are still on pins and needles, so to speak.  The director wants her to sleep on it and tomorrow we will come to visit early in the morning, at which time she will write her letter and we can get going on the paperwork.

Holy cow.  Talk about a rollercoaster of a day!  Somehow I don't think the ride is over.  Not until we are done with the court at least.  Maybe not even then.  Who knows?  We just pray, as we've been doing for a couple of months now, that if it is the Lord's will that she be a part of our family that she will have the courage to go all the way through with this.

Day 7 (Sun Feb 13th) - Dnepro - Visit Orphanage/Learn Rules

Look at this!  I will be all caught up after this!  Don't plan on it staying that way though! LOL  By the way, I went back on whatever day our SDA appointment was (the post with only pictures) and added some information about it and all.  Go back and check if you'd like.  I know at least Steph had asked for that. :^)

Okay, on to today.  With the bus schedules the way they are, we couldn't go to church AND visit Ira.  At least for this week, we felt it was more important we visit with her instead.  We caught a 10:30 bus to the village this morning.  We got there about 12:30pm and then walked to the orphanage.  It was quite cold!  It only took us 15 or 20 minutes to walk there, but still!  It's not too bad without wind, but man, that wind is a killer!  Luckily it was only a gust here and there instead of all the time.

We were taken up to our usual room when we got there.  The kids were eating lunch so it took Ira a minute to get up there.  We had the psychologist with us and were told some interesting rules while Ira went to go get Little Masha to come play too.  We aren't to communicate with the other children at all.  No pictures.  No wandering around the orphanage at all.  And, we have to have the psychologist (or someone from the orphanage) with us in the room at all times.   I don't mind someone being there with us all the time, but it's so hard to think about not being able to see the other kids or take pictures!  Please pray for hearts to be softened as we visit so that the restrictions might be lifted.

We did have a nice time though before we headed back on the bus.  The bus was quite cold as well so by the time we got home, some hot chocolate hit the spot. :^)

We're trying to move to a different apartment, hopefully tomorrow, so we don't know if we will be able to go visit again or not.  It will be a place with unlimited internet as well as two hide-a-beds which will fit us better for when Lana is here with us.  Our paperwork starts tomorrow as well, but I guess we don't need to do anything for that yet.  It's all stuff Lana will take care of.  Again, sorry I can't post the pictures yet!  It was hard not to take any today!  :^(