ourstory

We left for Ukraine on March 25th using Northwest airlines. I had never flown International, so this was an experience for me. I didn't realize they served wine with the meals and offer not only a meal but 2 snacks and two movies as well. When we arrived in Kiev, the post someone in our group did on "what to do at the airport" was a big help. We knew exactly where to go and what to do. We didn't buy a cart. My husband didn't need one he said. After standing in line for customs for 30 minutes, we finally had our turn. A man in front of us was searched and had to pay fees for something, so we were getting nervous. They didn't search us or ask to see the money. She just waved us on through. That was a relief. J had been waiting on us for an hour. She said everyone coming out of customs that day seemed to fit our description. She was asking everyone "Jeff". We were taken to the tourist hotel, where J registered us and we unloaded our bags, then headed straight for the McDonalds on the corner. When we returned to our room, J helped us divide out our gifts for the visit to the AC at 8 am the next morning. J went to the AC early, and asked her friend "L" to pick us up. We were the first in line. J spoke to the director about prior families who have registered and showed her photos of adopted kids. She liked those. The director never asked us anything really. J just confirmed the age range we were looking for and they told her Simferopol was our best bet. The lady who shows photos, gave us 4 to look at and we said Simferopol would be fine. We would go to the older children?s orphanage. We gave out gifts to various people who worked at the AC. Next we bought plane tickets. We didn't want to take the train. They cost us 77.00 each and we arrived in Simferopol about 8:30pm that evening.

J called the orphanage director immediately and made arrangements for us to arrive at 9am in the morning. We had a very nice apartment in the same building as J. The next morning; we were able to look around for the first time. Things weren't as bad as I had imagined. Certainly not great, old, rundown, but not that bad. Every house had a fence of some kind, all locked. We were surprised at the driving in Ukraine. I know Cathy had warned us, but it was still a surprise. To us there didn't seem to be any rules to it, but I'm sure there were. The orphanage wasn't in the city, so we drove for maybe 20 minutes out side of town. Road conditions were rough. There were a lot of potholes and gravel. One manhole had a tree growing out from it. Along the way we saw several cows along side the road-no fence. That was definitely different.

The orphanage was fenced as well. There was playground equipment in the yard. The director lived in a house on the grounds. There was an odor of some kind when we walked in, but the place was spotless, very clean. The director was really nice. She asked what our priority was in a daughter-age, looks, or health. We said health. She explained that on Monday the day before, an outbreak of chickenpox had occurred. Some kids were in quarantine, but we could see the kids privately. She explained the health of all 4 girls ranging in ages from 5-8. The two healthiest were 8 and 5.5. We ask to see them. The oldest, it turns out was in town at the hospital having her adenoids taken out. So, we saw Leanna. She was diagnosed with mental delay, cross-eyed, slow growth, tonsillitis and heart murmur. At the moment she also had chicken pox. She had blue dots all over her from the medicine. She smiled, but stayed close to the caregiver when we walked in. They ask her to count, state her name and recite this really long poem she knew. We were all crying by then, even my husband had tears in his eyes. She seemed shy and quiet, but had asked if she could sing for us as well. My heart just swelled, I was so choked up. I had thought she might have a facial characteristic of a FAS child-a larger space between her eyes, sort of flat. But, she seemed really quiet, smart and sharp. At that point it really didn't seem to matter. I already adored her. When we went back to the office, they were discussing our coming back that afternoon to see the 8-year-old after she returned from surgery. Jeff & I looked at each other and said, "no, we want her". I told Jeff later, that she actually did remind me of myself as a child. I was small for my age, had eye problems as well and had hair color just like hers. I think that was part of the attraction for me.

We didn't get to see her again until Friday (two days) because of the chickenpox and running around getting paperwork done. They told her we wanted to be her parents and she seemed fine with it. We spend an hour playing with her. She seemed to have very good concentration in playing, but she didn't feel well either so it was quiet play for all of us. Leanna had been in the orphanage since birth, so I wondered if she really knew what momma and pappa meant. We discussed this with J, and decided she probably didn't. In talking with other kids, they may know "momma's" come and take kids away to a new place but that?s really all. During that two days, we had documents translated, inspector visits and made arrangements to go to Kerch to get Leanna's birth certificate. J arranged for the clerks office personnel to be there on Saturday so we could go and pick the birth certificate up and not loose any time. Of course we were most grateful for her doing this and bought her a gift. Kerch is one of the oldest cities in the world and quite beautiful. One of J's friends had met us in Kerch to translate for us while she stayed behind and worked on documents. We all rode back to Simferopol together and had our first experience with squat toilets (the floor was clean) on the return when this friend had to stop along the way in a market area. Maybe I just have a good stomach or something, but I would rather use a squat toilet than a nasty basin toilet and worry about not touching it. We were a little intimidated by the market and the language problem when first arriving in Simferopol. After a couple of days, we were out walking to the market and 8 blocks to McDonalds for dinner. I found the market to be a humbling experience at first. It was difficult but by the time we left, I didn't mind shopping there. I couldn't believe the raw fish and poultry just lying on the stands for sale, most not even covered up and very little of it on ice. We always ate lunch downtown by ourselves in restaurants that had English menus, while J worked on our documents. On Sunday, we went back to the orphanage. Leanna had liked Jeff immediately, but I could tell she wasn't very fond of me from the beginning. Today, she showed it. She would let Jeff hold her and play, but would only take my hand if ask to by J. I had expected it from reading everyone's stories, but I still felt bad. She told J not to worry, she wouldn't be afraid on the plane. I ask her what she wanted to wear home "jeans or dress". She immediately said "jeanna's". I knew then that I had a tomboy. I had really worried during the past few days about the possibility of FAS, but with each visit she seemed well adjusted and very smart- and definitely not hyper.