 | I awoke at sunrise on Monday morning (4 AM ). I was much to excited to go back to sleep. This was the day I had been waiting for. I was also scared. My facilitator had said only the night before that he didn't think that there were any small girls available. I heard my translator leave at 0630 to go the the Adoption center and put my name on the list. This was especially important since the Adoption Center had been closed for 4 days and there were a number of families backlogged. The plan was to have the two families at the Hotel share a ride to the Adoption Center at about 1030. The plans changed when the other family discovered that they had to go to the Notary before they went to the Adoption Center. We left at about 0830.
We arrived at the small park near the Adoption Center and Notary around 0930. I just sat in the car and waited since the Adotion Center wasn't open yet. Ed, one of the facilitators in Kiev, came by around 1000 and ask what kind of child I wanted. I explained that I wanted a young girl under 2. He replied that there were no girls under two. I said, in that case, I would accept a boy but I really wanted a girl and would accept a child with a cleft or repairable limb deformaties. He went back into the AC and, again, I waited. The other family returned from the notary and we waited together, no one saying much. Ed returned to say that there might be a girl with a cleft I could see, a young girl. I was ready to go. We went in to the AC at 1030. 
Street view of Adoption Center
The building wasn't much to look at as we approached it from the street. It's in a small side street, kind of like an alley and I really didn't notice much else because of the butterflies in my stomach. I had seen pictures of the building but I guess I still expected it to be very important looking, considering how important it was to so many of us and to the children! Inside the Adoption Center
When the time came to go inside the Adoption Center, I can't say how I felt. Scared was part of it, and excited, and even unbelieving. It was hard to believe that I was finally there, finally about to see the child I waited for, finally about to find my long hoped for daughter. As I climbed the steps (lots of steps) I think I was mostly scared that something would go wrong at the last minute. When I finally caught my breath at the top ot the stairs (did I mention that there were LOTS of stairs?) I turned the corner and saw a completely filled hall. Forget finding a seat the day I was there, I was lucky to find a piece of wall to lean on! (I later learned that there were 69 families at the Adoption Center that day) 
This is my main facilitator during my stay. He was the wizard that defeated the dragons of the system to bring my little one safely home to me. I can't express how much I owe to him, his persistance and his kind heart. Yes, he is that big. I was shooting up to get the picture! I was surprised when the facilitators and office workers just walked in and out of Mrs.kunko's office and all other offices without knocking or any apparent concern. I found that strange by American standards, but I guess it was normal there. 
When I was called into Mrs. Kunko's office, I went in with my translator, Christie and Todd Moody, their translator, and Ed, a facilitator in Kiev. I sat across the desk from Mrs. Kunko. She began to talk fast and loud to Ed. My translator said that she couldn't find my name on the register. Knowing how rule bound some Eastern European officials can be, I PANICED! It must have shown in my face even though I said nothing, because Mrs. Kunko began to make soothing gestures and sounds (like you make to a wild animal in the forest when you want to approach). Then she got 2 phone calls unrelated to our adoptions. Mrs. Kunko apologized and called Irena and we were on our way to her office. Irena's office is at the opposite end of the hall from Mrs. Kunko, which is near the fire escape.
In Irena's office, I was shown only one picture, that of a small, beautiful infant girl with a cleft lip. I was told her diagnosis (which my translator was listening to, not I.) All I could see was the baby, sweet and just what I was looking for. Imagine my surprise when I learned that she was in an orphanage only one hour from Kiev!! Christie and Todd were shown the boys they wanted and we were all off by 1130. The paperwork was ready by 1230. |
