I think this is probably Meg's thought as she tries very valiantly to adjust to the crazy life that is now her's. In a world of three boys, you have to hit the ground running. Life certainly doesn't stop for the fourth child like it does for the first and even the second. She is doing pretty well, other than the fact that she was up for the day today at 3:30 AM, which means I was up too. But you have gotta love that she was in there crying and when I went to comfort her, she wasn't laying in her bed afraid, she was sitting in the floor crying because she couldn't get her white patent Mary Jane's on! :) That's my girl! :)
So, you don't care about all that, all you want is this anyway:
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Monday, July 7, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Here it is... the long awaited photo!
Sorry folks, stop chastising me on e-mail. I don't have access to our laptop here at Ron and Dinia's apartment. The ONLY inconvenience about being here. So now, not only is Dinia hostess with the mostest, cook, and tech support, but also, now, photographer and blog assistant.
Without further adieu, here is the newest Harrison family member.
Without further adieu, here is the newest Harrison family member.
Our day was a good one! We had success at the US Embassy. This means our final hurdle is registration with the Russian Consulate tomorrow morning, pick up the visa on Friday afternoon, and then have dinner with Vitaly and Marina tomorrow night. We leave to come HOME on Saturday at 12:30. Brian is just standing here saying, can you believe it was three days ago we were in court? It's hard to believe how much has happened in our life in three days.
No puke today, so we're making progres!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Moscow at last!
We're finally here! We arrived in Moscow at about 3:10. But let me back up. We picked Miss Meg up this morning at around 10 AM. She was not too happy to see us, but calmed down ever so quickly. She was fine all the way to the St. Pete airport and had a pretty good time, actually, once we got inside the airport. She ran all around and played little games with us like peek-a-boo, or her version of it anyway. Then we caught our flight to Moscow. Everything was fine. She ate an entire banana, drank a little milk, a juice box of apple juice, and some bread and rice. Things seemed to be going great.... then we started to descend on Moscow and the puking started. Bye bye Baby Lulu dress, hello outfit number 2.
We were met at the airport by... GASP.... PASHA!!! The Famous PASHA who I never dreamed we would get to have with so many families here for such a long time. I was instantly happy and knew we were in good hands. As it turned out, there was a family from Atlanta who was also really happy we had Pasha. They were here as tourists and it seems they didn't get the infamous STAMP (needed for all things Russsian) and were not allowed to leave the airport. Pasha sorted it all out for them and then we were on our way.
Bye bye outfit number two. About 20 minutes into the Moscow traffic, hello puke! So, we strip the shirt off that baby and she's walking around Moscow like a real red-neck, no shirt, pants sagging at the waist and diaper hanging out. :)
Pasha took us to the office of CSS and we did some paperwork for the Embassy. Pasha took good care of us. By the way, adoptive families, you only need the two main pages of your tax returns, not the entire thing, according to Pasha.
Then he took us to meet up with Dinia and Ron. They have graciously offered us the run of their second bedroom and we've quickly filled it with our three bags full of junk. Not only is there a King sized bed here, they have King Sized hospitality... they are from Alabama, after all, and no one puts on the hospitality like a Southerner. They had dinner in the oven when we got here, we said grace before we ate and Ron blessed it to the nourishment of our bodies, just like my Grandaddy and Pap used to! :) I can not tell you how wonderful it is to find a little bit of the South in Moscow. I love this city more and more every time I visit. Getting here was like a breath of fresh air, instantly I just felt happier when we landed.
Anyway, we went for a little walk and Meg had her first bath. She wasn't too happy about it, but overall, it could have been worse. She's actually smelling good at this point, no more institutional funk for our girl! :) Sorry I cannot post the photo because we cannot use our laptop right now, maybe tomorrow.
SO... if you have any prayer stamina left in you, please crank it up because we are hearing that the Embassy is going to TRY to get our visa done tomorrow (in one day, it usually takes two.) Because Friday is a holiday (July 4) the Embassy is closed. They generally do not process visas in one day, however, they are telling us it can be done in one day this time. If not, then we won't be home until..... gulp..... WEDNESDAY! :( I simply cannot be away from my baby boys that much longer.... no way! That's two weeks folks... I will go crazy. PLEASE PLEASE pray that the Embassy has mercy on us.
Okay, I am off to bed. I am so sleepy I could fall asleep typing this and Meg is sleeping in our room with us so I have to get her down.
Nighty Nighty everyone!
We were met at the airport by... GASP.... PASHA!!! The Famous PASHA who I never dreamed we would get to have with so many families here for such a long time. I was instantly happy and knew we were in good hands. As it turned out, there was a family from Atlanta who was also really happy we had Pasha. They were here as tourists and it seems they didn't get the infamous STAMP (needed for all things Russsian) and were not allowed to leave the airport. Pasha sorted it all out for them and then we were on our way.
Bye bye outfit number two. About 20 minutes into the Moscow traffic, hello puke! So, we strip the shirt off that baby and she's walking around Moscow like a real red-neck, no shirt, pants sagging at the waist and diaper hanging out. :)
Pasha took us to the office of CSS and we did some paperwork for the Embassy. Pasha took good care of us. By the way, adoptive families, you only need the two main pages of your tax returns, not the entire thing, according to Pasha.
Then he took us to meet up with Dinia and Ron. They have graciously offered us the run of their second bedroom and we've quickly filled it with our three bags full of junk. Not only is there a King sized bed here, they have King Sized hospitality... they are from Alabama, after all, and no one puts on the hospitality like a Southerner. They had dinner in the oven when we got here, we said grace before we ate and Ron blessed it to the nourishment of our bodies, just like my Grandaddy and Pap used to! :) I can not tell you how wonderful it is to find a little bit of the South in Moscow. I love this city more and more every time I visit. Getting here was like a breath of fresh air, instantly I just felt happier when we landed.
Anyway, we went for a little walk and Meg had her first bath. She wasn't too happy about it, but overall, it could have been worse. She's actually smelling good at this point, no more institutional funk for our girl! :) Sorry I cannot post the photo because we cannot use our laptop right now, maybe tomorrow.
SO... if you have any prayer stamina left in you, please crank it up because we are hearing that the Embassy is going to TRY to get our visa done tomorrow (in one day, it usually takes two.) Because Friday is a holiday (July 4) the Embassy is closed. They generally do not process visas in one day, however, they are telling us it can be done in one day this time. If not, then we won't be home until..... gulp..... WEDNESDAY! :( I simply cannot be away from my baby boys that much longer.... no way! That's two weeks folks... I will go crazy. PLEASE PLEASE pray that the Embassy has mercy on us.
Okay, I am off to bed. I am so sleepy I could fall asleep typing this and Meg is sleeping in our room with us so I have to get her down.
Nighty Nighty everyone!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Our real Pink letter day
Today is the day. We will be picking Meg up in a little over an hour from now. I have been awake for hours, couldn't sleep. I had to go into the bathroom to type so I wouldn't wake Brian up. I felt like a teenager with my cell phone. :)
I just wanted to send this post quickly and then I have to go get myself ready and checked out of the hotel. I am on cloud nine. I have waited my whole life for this day, as my father-in-law says on special occasions. I am just about to bounce my way down the hall here! :)
But I needed to clear something up. So many people have written to me to tell me that I have great faith and that I was inspiring or whatever. I want you all to know that the glory is not mine, but His. I do not have great faith. In fact, as I told my friend, Sonja, God, once again, had to come and find me in the dry parched land known as Me. I too often bow to the idol of Ondrea and I really have very little faith. God knew that I needed Him to show up here in a big way and He did that for me. I posted that verse yesterday from Psalm because I weep when I read that... that He came for me because He loves me. It's totally unbelievable to me that He actually does still love me after all the me-ism of the past year and the complete lack of faith I have shown at so many intervals in this process. But He is always good, we serve a God who is the same, regardless of how we are, and for that I am most grateful and blessed. So, I just wanted to clarify that because I felt that alot of people were looking at me and saying, "Look what her faith did." But I want the truth to be known, I am of little faith... "Look what God did!" And I promise you that if He did it for a pit-dweller like me, He will most certainly do it for you! I learned the true meaning of the measure of a mustard seed, that was all I had to give, but He honored it! If you are in the middle of an adoption, or if you are in the middle of any trial in your life, believe with whatever small amount of faith you have to offer. God wants you to believe in a big way and He will help you get there!
One other note I should mention is that this was not my faith alone, but rather the faith of many strong and faithful believers on my behalf. I had probably hundreds of people praying very specifically for me, some in a way that they believed to be futile, but they prayed with me none-the-less. I credit First Baptist Church in Fulton and many Catholics throughout Tennessee and every adoptive parent that reads this blog and friends of my parents, and friends of Brian's parents, and neighbors and many people I don't even know who undoubtedly lifted us. Several who woke at just the hour of our court, for no reason other than a stirring in their heart, and they too prayed! Thank you all for your prayers on my behalf and for your kindness.
With much love and excitement, because the next time I post, it will be a family photo of our sweet Meg and us! :)
I just wanted to send this post quickly and then I have to go get myself ready and checked out of the hotel. I am on cloud nine. I have waited my whole life for this day, as my father-in-law says on special occasions. I am just about to bounce my way down the hall here! :)
But I needed to clear something up. So many people have written to me to tell me that I have great faith and that I was inspiring or whatever. I want you all to know that the glory is not mine, but His. I do not have great faith. In fact, as I told my friend, Sonja, God, once again, had to come and find me in the dry parched land known as Me. I too often bow to the idol of Ondrea and I really have very little faith. God knew that I needed Him to show up here in a big way and He did that for me. I posted that verse yesterday from Psalm because I weep when I read that... that He came for me because He loves me. It's totally unbelievable to me that He actually does still love me after all the me-ism of the past year and the complete lack of faith I have shown at so many intervals in this process. But He is always good, we serve a God who is the same, regardless of how we are, and for that I am most grateful and blessed. So, I just wanted to clarify that because I felt that alot of people were looking at me and saying, "Look what her faith did." But I want the truth to be known, I am of little faith... "Look what God did!" And I promise you that if He did it for a pit-dweller like me, He will most certainly do it for you! I learned the true meaning of the measure of a mustard seed, that was all I had to give, but He honored it! If you are in the middle of an adoption, or if you are in the middle of any trial in your life, believe with whatever small amount of faith you have to offer. God wants you to believe in a big way and He will help you get there!
One other note I should mention is that this was not my faith alone, but rather the faith of many strong and faithful believers on my behalf. I had probably hundreds of people praying very specifically for me, some in a way that they believed to be futile, but they prayed with me none-the-less. I credit First Baptist Church in Fulton and many Catholics throughout Tennessee and every adoptive parent that reads this blog and friends of my parents, and friends of Brian's parents, and neighbors and many people I don't even know who undoubtedly lifted us. Several who woke at just the hour of our court, for no reason other than a stirring in their heart, and they too prayed! Thank you all for your prayers on my behalf and for your kindness.
With much love and excitement, because the next time I post, it will be a family photo of our sweet Meg and us! :)
So close now!
Okay, today was a day of waiting and waiting and waiting. It started like this, we were met at 11:30 by our translator and a new driver. They took us to the passport office to apply for Meg's Russian Passport. We were told yesterday that the passport would be ready only after 4 PM tomorrow, so we booked flights to go back to Moscow tomorrow night. Then today at 12:30, we are in the passport office and lo and behold, Nina waves her magic wand, and the passports will be ready today at 5 PM. Okay, let's do business... so, we go to Papa John's for lunch. This is the first thing that has tasted exactly like it "should". We sit around basically for three hours (George and Bill, you would have loved it) doing NOTHING waiting to pick up the passport. Then the translator takes the passport, puts it into her little plastic folder and won't give it to me. I asked, "Can I have it." She said, "No, we have to wait for Nina to get here. I will give it to her and she will give it to you. This is how it works." Okee Dokee. So, when Nina gets there, Oksana hands her the passport and Nina hands it to me. But then I have to hand it back because she still has to go make copies. I tell you what, these folks have this down to a science. For as much as it's an art in the US, it's a science here and they are very good scientists. They run these things like a clock.
There are no photos from today. This may be the first time in history I have been away from home and gone a whole day without one photo. But there was really nothing to photograph, just us sitting around. Jack would have hated this day, it's his worst nightmare. Alot of doing nothing, but big stuff happening all at the same time.
Brian and I went back to the restaurant where we ate last night, The Other Side Gastro Bar and Grill. That's really the name. Yummy mushrooms and sandwiches.
Tomorrow we will be picked up at 8:30. We will head straight to the baby home and spring Meg from the compound. Amie and Kendra, I don't know who's dress this was she's leaving in tomorrow, but it's a Baby Lulu from one of you! So cute! I'll be sure to have tons of photos of that!
Anyway, our flight leaves for Moscow at 2:00 tomorrow and we will be there by 3:30. We are to go straight to the CSS office in Moscow where we will collect our file for the Embassy. The Moscow folks are just awesome. They really have it all together. I love these ladies already and I haven't even met them!
Next post, Moscow!
Psalm18:20
"He set me free in the open; He rescued me because He loves me!"
There are no photos from today. This may be the first time in history I have been away from home and gone a whole day without one photo. But there was really nothing to photograph, just us sitting around. Jack would have hated this day, it's his worst nightmare. Alot of doing nothing, but big stuff happening all at the same time.
Brian and I went back to the restaurant where we ate last night, The Other Side Gastro Bar and Grill. That's really the name. Yummy mushrooms and sandwiches.
Tomorrow we will be picked up at 8:30. We will head straight to the baby home and spring Meg from the compound. Amie and Kendra, I don't know who's dress this was she's leaving in tomorrow, but it's a Baby Lulu from one of you! So cute! I'll be sure to have tons of photos of that!
Anyway, our flight leaves for Moscow at 2:00 tomorrow and we will be there by 3:30. We are to go straight to the CSS office in Moscow where we will collect our file for the Embassy. The Moscow folks are just awesome. They really have it all together. I love these ladies already and I haven't even met them!
Next post, Moscow!
Psalm18:20
"He set me free in the open; He rescued me because He loves me!"
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