Stahlke Adoption

Masha the Juggler (Late-Breaking News on 9/22!)

I haven't written much lately about the document side of Kola's adoption (the paperwork since we've been in Ukraine). Here's a rundown of Masha's work for us, sometimes done seemingly simultaneously, especially on Wednesday, September 10!

Monday, September 8
-Arranged for our pickup at the Kyiv airport and a car ride to our rented apartment

Tuesday, September 9
-Met us before our appointment with the SDA to prepare us for the meeting
-Translated for us at the SDA appointment
-Picked up the documents that ask the Kirovohrad authorities to allow us to see Kola

Wednesday, September 10
-Picked us up at 6:15 am with a pre-arranged taxi
-Drove to Kirovohrad, the capital of Kirovohrad Oblast (state), which is about four hours from Kyiv
-Went directly to the DCFS office for the oblast, submitted the SDA request for a letter of permission to the orphanage that allows us to visit Kola
-Drove directly to the orphanage, met Kola, and interviewed with the director and orphanage doctor about Kola's history
-Checked into our hotel and grabbed a quick bite to eat
-Visited the notary's office to sign our official intent to adopt Kola
-Delivered this document to the DCFS office to get their paperwork rolling
-Went back to the orphanage for our afternoon visit with Kola, carrying a letter to the director requesting certain documents from the orphanage for the DCFS office

Thursday, September 11
-Telephoned Masha in the morning with Kola's official name: Peter Mikola Stahlke
-Visited with Kola in the morning
-Traveled with Masha and the orphanage head of housekeeping to cash some traveler's checks and then buy towels and fabric for the orphanage
-Moved our luggage from the hotel to our apartment, where we will stay for the rest of our time in Kirovohrad
-Got a signed receipt from the orphanage for our gift of towels and fabric
-Masha picked up some documents from the orphanage to give to the DCFS office
-Visited Kola in the afternoon
-Ate our first home-prepared meal--German Abendbrot

Friday, September 12 through Sunday, September 14
-Masha returned to her home in eastern Ukraine (she has a baby, and the next stage of her work for us could be done by telephone)
-Visited Kola in the morning and afternoon (which continues every day for several weeks)

Monday, September 15
-A committee of social workers at the DCFS, who meet only on Mondays, looked at Kola's case and gave their approval for our adoption
-Our lawyer picked up the DCFS documents and sent them by bus to Kyiv

Wednesday, September 17
-The SDA accepts documents (at this stage of the adoption process) at 10:00 am on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Masha's representative in Kyiv turned in our documents at 10:00 am.
-Masha told us that our court date would probably be on Monday, September 22.

Thursday or Friday, September 18 or 19 (I can't remember all the details!)
-When Masha telephoned about our case, the SDA told her that they have a great deal of paperwork right now, and that our documents would be ready on Monday. Officially, they have five working days to process the documents, although they often finish them sooner. The SDA stressed that there weren't any particular problems with our case. This turn of events meant that court could not be on Monday.

Monday, September 22
-The SDA signed off on our documents around 11:00 am. Masha's representative put them on the bus for Kirovohrad, where our lawyer picked them up. She also scheduled our court time, which is Tuesday, September 23, at 4:00 pm.
-We telephoned our travel agent in Florida, who is an adoption specialist, and changed my flight from Tuesday afternoon to Thursday morning.
-Masha also told us that her baby is seriously ill and in the hospital. She cannot come to Kirovohrad, understandably, and is arranging through our lawyer for a translator to be with us during our court appointment.

Tuesday, September 23
-Masha will telephone us in the morning to arrange when our lawyer will meet us.
-We will go to the notary's office for me to sign papers to apply for Kola's Ukrainian passport (a step in the adoption that takes place about ten days from now).
-We will attend our court appointment at 4:00 pm. If all goes well, Kola will officially join our family at the end of this appointment.
-CELEBRATE!!

Wednesday, September 24
-I will say goodbye to Jonathan, and a taxi will take me on the four-hour drive to Kyiv.
-My only appointment is at the U.S. embassy, where I will sign over power of attorney to Jonathan. That way he can do all the U.S. paperwork without me (about two weeks from now).
-I will spend an evening alone in Kyiv and get to bed early at my apartment or hotel room.

Thursday, September 25
-Take a taxi to the airport very early, since the flight for Munich leaves at 6:45 am.
-Change flights in Munich and enjoy being able to read all the signs.
-Fly from Munich to Chicago, arriving at O'Hare around noon.
-Meet my sister Anne and sister-in-law Lois, who are caring for the children.
-See five of my six kids again after more than two week's absence!!

posted by Stahlkes @ 10:30 AM