Getting closer...

Very important news: today Ana got her first tooth! We know she has been teething (this based on copious amounts of slobbering & chewing on her hands and anything else she could find for the past 2 weeks). This morning we felt and then saw the top her first tooth, on the bottom left side. So when she chews on things now it will sometimes sooth her and other times give her a shot of pain from this or maybe other teeth that are close. Just makes us want to get her home all the faster. We were imagining today that when we finally get her home she’ll probably have even more (unless she is as slow at teething as her brothers were). But it was neat to be here for her first one anyway.

So now we are busy getting everything ready for our last visits…gifts for the caregivers, translators, drivers; court documents, etc. It’s actually good to have these things to keep us busy in these last few days.

Somewhat disappointed we missed the 4th of July at home, this is always such a great holiday in our neighborhood. But we told the boys we’d have our own little 4th of July celebration the day we get Ana home, again this is making the assumption that this adoption stays on track & all goes well.

So here’s where we are in terms of process: After court (Wed, July 9) the “appeal period” starts. This lasts, we think, for 16 calendar days. Then on July 25, if no one has objected during the appeal period (her biological parents, grandparents, etc.), then the deal is really done. As of July 26, no one can undo this thing, from there on out it is just cleaning up paperwork and getting her back to the States. So on July 26 we’ll breath easier and start the real party! Again – this is all on the assumption that the court hearing goes well on July 9, which we expect will be the case.

Boys continue to do well, although the trip is starting to wear thin on them. Meltdowns are become somewhat more frequent. But who can blame them! We are so happy we brought them along – sometimes on a tough evening here it has been only the boys who could put a smile back on our face. I don’t think the combination of this process and being away from the boys for a month would have been easy to swallow. Will try and finally get the boys to the zoo this afternoon, also we hear there is a Mexican restaurant over there with potentially good Fajitas and Margueritas, so we'll give it a try.

Well, we have only three more full days here in Ust, almost can’t believe it. We have encountered so many good people along the way that have made this tough process easier for us. And we have received great support from our friends and family at home. We are so blessed, and so thankful to everyone.

Few more pictures below, one is of the boys on a playground here, this is a typical playground that we see here, usually positioned in the middle of several multifamily housing units kind of like a courtyard.

All the best –

The Byrne Family