07 September 2009

itinerary

**edited to reflect what happened and what the new plan is
New plan, is, subject to change, nach.
tomorrow:
leave for school 7:30
teach second grade until 3:00
leave for airport 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday:
visit with sw in attendance (i think)
other stuff?

dinner with Drew and Twylla--friends and what my class calls the BIG boss of the whole school
write court speech

Thursday:
court at 10:30 a.m.!
stuff
dinner with other AAS colleagues

Friday:
no idea
stuff. paperwork. more stuff. maybe
a visit.
fly home


(This is the countdown I made for Sasha to keep track of days until I'm back to take her home. The director says a caretaker will cross off the days with her at each night at bedtime. I hope so!)

next Monday-Thursday
teach second grade
check daily for package from Julie
maybe do a staff briefing on pi children
i'm already packed...so no packing...
oh--turn 40

next Friday
"settling-in" conferences (ironic for my last day, no?)

next Saturday and Sunday
last minute whatevers

next Sunday Monday
teach second grade
leave immediately from school and fly to Moscow

the following Monday Tuesday, 22 September
pick-up day!

(**Gotcha sounds kind of snatchy to me, but I've been warming to the term since someone on FRUA created the acronym God Ordained This Child's Happy Adoption. And, I might be feeling a little snatchy by then anyway.)
doctor visits
pick up birth certificate, adoption certificate, and drop off Russian passport application

the following Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday
get Russian passport--Tuesday we drop off and Thursday someone picks up
doctor visits on one of these days (either Wednesday or Thursday afternoon if the passport will be ready in the morning)--since she's older we have more doctoring to do, including blood tests and x-rays

the following Thursday- Friday
someone drops off our visa stuff at the US Embassy
the following Saturday Friday-Sunday
oy, vey--who knows?

the Monday after that

visa interview at the US Embassy

the Monday-Tuesday after that
pay for expedited registration (If not, we have to do a hand-off of her Russian passport and all the paperwork when we are flying back and changing planes and airports to make the flight from Moscow to St. P. That sounds like great fun, doesn't it? And THEN we'd have to find a way to get them back. DHL won't ship passports. I wonder if Fed Ex will... And then we fly to the US and start do all the US paperwork in less than a week...

31 comments:

nsessions said...

I'm wishing you the best and hoping all goes well this next week. Can you really believe this long awaited time in your life might actually become a reality? :-) Gosh, I'm really hoping these last moments are smooth. What a way to leave one decade and enter the next! (Nola)

Jim said...

Kate - you're finally in the home stretch on this long track. I'm so excited for you! We'll continue to pray that you have a successful court appointment and a safe trip.

Tami said...

Isn't it amazing...all the time that it took to find d2b and the time has FINALLY arrived. I'm so incredibly happy for you Kate...SO incredibly happy! We'll be praying for you this week.

Lindsay said...

Happy dancing in Slovakia :)

Fingers, toes and all points in between crossed that you have no hold-ups.

And Happy Birthday - life's beginning!

Barb said...

Ahhh - how sweet it is to know the day is almost here! I'm so VERY excited for you. I'll be praying for you on court day (at the very hour, in fact) that everything goes smoothly. Hugs,
Barb

A Room to Grow said...

Kate - You will really really enjoy this time. It was completely magical for us and I look back with many fond memories. At the time, I felt exhausted, spent and so ready to go home!

Melissa said...

What a WONDERFUL itinerary! I'll be praying for you as you finish up this last bit of the process and begin the next chapter in your life as a MOM. Safe travels to you!!

votemom said...

it sounds so overwhelming and daunting when you write it all out like that.

it's probably a good thing i never wrote it out. i might have chickened out at the last second!

i love to rest in the TRUTH that He has gone before you and now will go (again) beside you.

much love to you and yours!!!!!

Maura said...

The time has come, at last! And the best birthday gift ever. I became a mom just before my 40th, too. It's all good.

Prayers and good wishes for smooth sailing with all the final details. :-)

espe said...

Well GK I will be praying that all goes WONDERFULLY smooth for both you and your little miracle!

OF

Conethia and Jim Bob said...

Yeah!!! So much excitement! Happy Birthday as well.

annmarie said...

I have to continue with what I've been posting the past few months: HOLY CRAP!

Rachael said...

Ugh. Comment got eaten. Let's try again...

Will be thinking of you often during the upcoming days. Hope all goes smoothly, that you have safe travels and a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

P.S. While you're package checking...did mine get there yet? I worry about it losing it's way. And those big bucks I spent on priority shipping were a waste (a joke?) I think. I was hoping you'd have it before your last trip.

june said...

Ok, it's Wednesday now where you are. You are there, and court is TOMORROW! I'm so excited for you!

Unknown said...

I am just so looking for the great posts of her in her new home...revelling in the love! Revelling? Is that a word? Whatever. Blessings, Fabulous Kate!

Matt and Carla Morgan said...

I am so so so excited for you, k8. Can't wait to hear about pick-up day! (I never really warmed to 'gotcha' either and I was feeling REALLY snatchy when we went back for Nicholas!).

Happy 40th next week! What an incredible gift Sasha is giving you - parenthood!

cm

Holly said...

Safe, successful, and happy travels to you!

Heidi said...

Blessings to you and your daughter, safe travels and warm homecomings!!! <3

ko said...

Good luck and I can't wait to see pictures in Moscow together! Have a good time and enjoy the moments that you have been waiting so long for!

Lauri said...

Happy Birthday

Safe travels

Can't wait to hear all about it

Pinkie said...

Only hours to go!! Thinking of you and praying for you. When I wake up in the morning you will be in COURT!!!!! Pinkie in the United Kingdom.

Annie said...

Your happy time is in the back of my mind....I am thinking of you.

"Gotcha" never grabbed me. We just name the day for the child. "Sergei Day", etc. A day when nothing else of equal importance could have happened in the world.

votemom said...

it's around 4 a.m. *i think* in moscow on 9/10. wondering if you are sleeping or fitfully tossing and turning or pacing your hotel room....

praying.

Amy...who wanted 4. said...

It is getting close now!!!!
Best of luck!

Susan said...

Holy crap, it's almost time! (Thanks to Ann Marie for making me take into account the time difference!) Thinking positive for ya...best of luck!!!!!

A Room to Grow said...

waiting to hear how things went!

Capocat said...

Wishing you the best today (and Happy Birthday too!). So happy for the two of you and the best is yet to be!

Barb said...

It's 10:30 in Moscow now . . . I'm sending good thoughts your way:-)

Lindsay said...

So happy - love the count down you made for Sasha. Not long left now - I'm sure it will feel like forever, but fingers crossed these last days fly in for you both.

votemom said...

GREAT idea making the countdown chart!!!!

Mrs. W said...

Kate!
Motherhood is wonderful and amazing and draining and you will be so happy! You'll be a great mom! Good luck - bon voyage and love from A to Z
Faye