We finally get to see Dima!

We finally are able to download pictures because we bought a modem in Krivoy Rog.  It wasn't that expensive and I can use it when I come back to pick Dima up on my second trip.  It is so much faster! I could write a book about the last few days so I will try to keep it somewhat short. Below is a picture from our sleeper car from the overnight train ride from Kiev to Krivoy Rog.  It was an experience, but kind of fun.  We just paid for the regular sleeper cars as we heard another family paid double for 1st class.  I kind of felt guilty knowing that our poor guy is sleeping in the same room with about 20 other boys so I didn't feel right sleeping in luxury. It was not bad and you aren't there long.

When we arrived to Krivoy Rog, our driver picked us up so we could go to the apartment which is bigger than our last apartment, but still very small compared to where we live back home. Not very many homes from what we've seen.  Mostly big block apartment buildings.  Under Communist rule, they wanted everyone to live the same so these were built all to look alike.  That's why it's hard to find your way around because everything looks the same.

After dropping our things at the apartment, we met the inspector that would meet with us and the orphanage director later.  We first were told that we would meet Dima after he was done with school, but received a phone call while grocery shopping that Dima would be left out of school early so we could have our meeting.  We were so excited and couldn't believe that it was finally our time to see him again.  We left to go the orphanage and it felt like our hearts were popping out of our chest.  Seeing where Dima has spent a lot of his life was hard to describe as it is a very drab building. Once inside, we sat and waited as you have no control over the situation so all you coming after us, be patient as they work at their own pace here. You just do as Syvette says and things will be fine.  The atmosphere was friendly as the Orphanage Director seemed very caring of the children and was open to us being there. We were able to meet with an administrator to go over Dima's past. We were shocked to find out he was in an orphanage since about 6 or 7 months old.

It was so wonderful when we were finally able to see Dima when we met with the doctor, inspector, and other people from the orphanage.  We didn't know what they were saying but they seemed to be joking around and took pictures. That made us relax.  They asked us a few questions to why we wanted to adopt Dima and an older child since we told them we didn't have any biological children. Dima did such a great job when they asked him questions.  It was so good to see him again and all I kept thinking about was "When can we finally take him home and get him out of here!".  After the brief meeting, they allowed Dima to sit between us to get pictures. Below is the picture from the meeting.

After the meeting we were able to spend time with Dima while Syvette had to do paperwork, she is amazing and works very hard for us!! Dima took us up to the boys section to show us around. The building inside is very drab and depressing. The workers here seem very nice though. We first saw where all the shelves where they share the clothes.  He then showed us his bed in the room which he seemed very proud to show us.

He then showed us the room the where they boys get to hang out.  Again, there was hardly anything in there but books, a tv where they can only watch DVD's (which they hardly had any) and some desks.  That room is also where the one bathroom/wash room is. There were clothes hung on the vents to dry as they wash the clothes from wearing them all week.  Since the other kids were in school we got to spend some alone time with Dima. Eventually some other boys came in and wanted to watch a movie.  They picked our Babe.  Watching it broke my heart when the movie talked about missing their mommy. Sitting there I was looking at the boys and their clothes.  I was freezing as they didn't have rugs on the cement floor. Some boys had socks on with holes and some didn't even has socks on, but they were so used to the cold floor. As we were sitting there, some of the boys from the hosting program came in and it was so good to see their smiling faces again!  

Today Lori and Russ will have their meeting and then finally get to see Elena and Eddick(spell?). I can't wait to hear how their meeting goes.  Dusty and I will have to do some more paperwork later today and then get to spend time with Dima and his group. We can't wait to see them again! We will be able to spend a few hours with Dima each day until the paperwork Syvette does is done and then we will receive a court date.  We are hoping it will be the end of next week, but nothing can be predicted and we just enjoy the time we have with Dima and the other boys.  They don't get many visitors so we want to have fun with them while we are here.