The Judge says "Da"

Yeah!!! The judge ruled in our favor and the 10 day waiting period begins!!!!

We sat in the hot seat again today, only this time with the younger daughter in tow. We didn't expect to have any children there and were surprised when we needed to squeeze her in the car (four in the backseat!)when we met Galya at the orphanage. All the appropriate folks were in the court room and everyone spoke in our favor as the judge questioned us all again. The judge asked us if we had changed our mind or had any second thoughts about this adoption. She also asked if perhaps two children were too many to handle! We clearly said, "nyet"!!!

She interviewed the younger daughter with many questions including did she realise in her new country she would never hear Russian spoken again. Our darling countered that she would hear Russian again because there were two girls she knew who lived in Cincinnati who spoke Russian, who had come from Sevastopol!! We liked her spunk:) At one time instead of answering with "da" she answered a clear and loud "yes!" and the adults burst our in polite laughter. From then on she went back to "da" as it appeared she thought better of being too American too soon!! When asked how she can communicate with us, since we don't know Russian, she said it was no problem as her sister translates everything for her:) We were glad to have her in our corner!!

The judge went several times around to all the adults including us, to make sure our answers were still in the positive for adopting these girls. She also went through our dossier (which is now as thick as the phone book from a large city) a second time and read many official papers out loud. Finally she and several of her advisers ceremoniously left the room so that she could make her decision. Such drama!! Luckily I had brought my "Mom" carry-all bag (complete with Dr. Suess graphics) into the court with me through the metal detectors and had some diversions to keep our daughter occupied as we waited for judge's return. When she did return, she read quite a bit of Ukrainian law regarding adoption, and then FINALLY she pronounced the adoption (pending the 10 day waiting period) legal!! I wanted to shout and dance, but that kind of thing is just not allowed in Ukraine. Galya said if I had, perhaps the judge would have been nervous about her previous decision:) So, we had a family group hug and exited the court into a gorgeous, sunny, beautiful afternoon!

We squeezed everyone into the car and went back to the orphanage to get our second daughter and out to pizza we went for a REAL celebration!!!

Photo note: The top photo is a park near the courthouse, the middle is the courthouse and the third is a glimpse of part of the Black Sea Fleet.