Rest of Gotcha Day

We couldn’t move forward with the visa until we found out about the registry, but we did suddenly have time to take care of a bank account for Daniel, which was held at a nearby branch.
We finally reached the passport office in his hometown. He was registered to an address there, but the passport director said he didn’t have authority to remove someone - it was only done by a committee which only meets once a month. The next meeting would be March 30th. We tried many times to reach the Kharkov passport person again(who had given Sergei her number) but apparently now she was unavailable for lunch or something. When she did call back she said since we have the court decree and we are indeed his parents he would be able to do it. She called him, then us and said he would be waiting for us. So it was back to Daniel’s hometown for the third time in two days. By now it was 3 PM. It would take an hour to travel each way and then whatever time was required at the passport office. Would the Director of the orphanage and the Inspector still be available when we got back?

Back in the hometown Sergei had to get directions to the passport office. It shares a building with the Militia (police) so of course we went in the wrong entrance first. When we walked in just before 4:00 it appeared to John and I that the director was just locking up to leave, but it could be he was jut re-entering his office. He spoke with Sergei for 35 minutes before Sergei came out on his phone. He went back in and about 10 minutes later had us join him. They were drawing up documents to indicate that John and I, as his legal parents, were requesting that he be removed from this registry. Once that was finished we hustled back to the car. Sergei paced outside while begging the director and Inspector to wait. They finally did. And the passport official, now that Daniel was officially removed from “THE REGISTRY” would complete the visa and made arrangements for us to pick it up after usual hours.

Back to Kharkov. Throughout this day I was knitting away, completing striped wool hats for the kids in Daniel’s room. I had modified a free pattern from a yarn company (drastically). My goal was to complete five, I was on the fourth to begin the day and all this driving made that goal easy to achieve. I even started a sixth. On our way out of town we needed to stop for gas. Sergei had made certain yesterday already that he had enough gas to get through this arduous day, but had been able to predict this additional long jaunt. John ran inside to grab some kind of food/snacks/caffeine, but the line was too long. We did have the Cokes and Snicker’s bars John had purchased for the occasion, and my FiberOne bars. Sergei kept looking at the clock, the road (his radar detector) and asking us just how late we had been for Nick and Dennis (late, but not quite this late).

It was nearly 6 PM when we picked up the Inspector from her office, then scooted back across town to the orphanage. The director got right down to business. She had all of the necessary paperwork prepared and we were able to sign things quickly. She even forewent the umpteenth re-reading of Daniel’s background and medical history. And suddenly it was time to get him dressed to go!!! He had already been fed so we wouldn’t have to worry about him being hungry. Daniel’s favorite Natalya was the only caregiver in the room. She had just given him a “coming-out” bath and I handed over his bag of clothes. I could tell she wanted to dress him this last time. I even recorded it on video. She handed over the leg braces and made it clear which ones were for sleeping and which for “play”. The other little ones were all interested and had escaped the play area to investigate. We gave her the last two balls we weren’t going to pack, half of the new package of diapers we had just purchased, the hats and all the remaining colorful wool yarn. I had Sergei ask if perhaps someone knits and could use it. Natalya does!

As she handed him over there is no doubt she was telling him a different ‘good-bye’ than she would at the end of a routine shift, because he began to cry in a way we haven’t heard before. The tears are pouring down my face as I remember it. As we moved out the door she needed to stay with the others. I handed her a picture of her with Daniel along with a note I had written and Sergei had already translated to tell her how grateful we are for the care and love she gave Daniel, and that I knew today would be painful for Daniel and for her. There goes the next waterfall of tears . . .

We got him into his coat, two hats and warm socks out on the landing. The Inspector hadn’t left yet and I insisted we give her a ride home (Sergei had already said it was okay). The Directory had a van that would take her home. With Daniel snug in my arms and more relaxed than our previous two outings, we dropped her off and then picked up the Visa after signing a couple more forms. It was all done!!!

It was 9:21 PM and we were famished. We drove through the McDrive near the Naukova station. So what did the pediatrician feed her newly adopted son for their first ‘meal’ together? McDonald’s French fries, of course. He likes them.

Time to load up the luggage and say good-bye to our home of the last month. We used the tiny, squeaky elevator again to get the bags downstairs. We had always climbed the four flights since arrival date. Off to the train station, able to keep our word to Daniel about riding the train today as we had been trying to give him some chance to prepare. We actually had about 30 minutes to wait in the station before we were allowed to board. John and Sergei maneuvered and arranged all the luggage while Daniel and I stood cuddled together and warm.

Before we boarded I begged for a picture with the train lady in charge of our car and the also-uniformed gentleman she was talking with (conductor?). We explained we had just adopted Daniel and were headed to Kyiv. They were very agreeable (and I was glad she would have an idea what was going on if Daniel had a lot of loud difficulties). We took leave of Sergei. He has been such a tremendous help. Yes, he is paid to do much of it, but we added other things not really required of him for the process of adoption. He never gave the slightest resistance to any of our whims, only sought to help us in any way possible. And we sure enjoyed our various coffees and many pastries with him.

Settling into our compartment Daniel became upset when closing the door. He made it clear we should open it again and I wonder if he suddenly realized this “outing” wasn’t about to end with his ‘safe’ return to his familiar home and beloved caregivers. He was distressed and it took opening the doors and quite a bit of comforting to settle him down. He drank some water and ate a couple of cookies (I think, I’ll check with John later). Then I put his night braces on to signal it was time for bed. He hated it. I tried to lay down with him but the distressed cry persisted. I asked if he wanted the braces off. He said yes and I just couldn’t add any further torture to this day. Off they came. His cry was much less then, and I was surprised how quickly he settled down while I hummed “Fur Elise” and softly sang “The Ants Go Marching”. Not the most common lullaby, but familiar enough and long enough to do the job. Within 45 minutes of leaving the train station he was out (John, too). I was completely surprised, expecting the stimulation and complete lack of familiar surroundings to keep him up at least half the night. But God gave us sleeping mercies.