Today is the 10th day after the court date. Pam should be able to pick up the court decree today. As much as we respect any birth family member's desire to stay close to their children, we pray there have been no appeals.
Pam did not have Internet for most of the last week, so there is less to say.
There was a fire at the neighbor's house. Pam survived.
Adrienne and Rachel Royuk are now in Kyiv, preparing to help Pam once she brings the boys there. Or not. Probably they are strutting the streets of city center, seeing how well they can blend in with the capital fashions.
Jonathan (I'm not sure he knows that's his name yet) enjoyed his field trip to get his passport photo taken, except for one part. They wouldn't let him smile. You've seen his pictures--that's gotta be tough. Oh, well. Apparently that's not just a Soviet silliness. Adrienne needed a new passport to travel, and she likewise had to look the part of the disinterested runway model.
We had a glitch today. Apparently the new laws passed in 2008, which we are exempt from because our dossier was accepted before they were passed, are subject to the interpretation of various regional officials, who each are trying to show off by telling us how high we should jump. One has decided that the law says that Pam and I BOTH had to sign to get the care and custody of the children. A simple phone call won't do. Nor will an email or a fax of my signature.
Since I'm now in Nebraska, I crafted a roll-my-own power of attorney letter. "I, Andy, of sound mind, hereby grant Pam the power to kiss the children and pick them up." Had it notarized. Had the State of Nebraska authenticate the notary's work. Then DHLed it to Kramatorsk for a gazillion dollars. There's no such thing as overnight mail, so it could take until Tuesday. If I were running DHL, I'd have it on a non-stop plane Friday, arriving in Kyiv Saturday, catching the puddle jumper to Donetsk by late Saturday evening, then delivered by former Soviet speed skating champions to Masha's apartment by 4:00 am Sunday morning. We'll see.
Here's some leftover video footage. No matter where in the world you grow up, you learn this trick.
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