Time Goes By

Here I sit in my office after a long day of teaching Reading. I'm looking at a picture of the most adorable little boy ever. Ok, I admit, as his mom I am truly biased. But what a grin he has. I'm ready to go home and see what my "boys" have been up to and to get ready for a busy weekend.  Boy how my life has changed.

Three years ago on 2/4/09 my life was changed forever. A judge questioned us and listened to us, probably not understanding a word of what we said until it was translated. Then after some laughs about the "basement cat" and a question about why I have dolls in our family room (they are china dolls, decorations)  that judge declared us the parents of one Colby Michael, then aged 22 months. Oh my gosh. I thought I was going to lose it right there and I know I had a few tears in my eyes. We would still have to wait about 2 weeks to pick him up but Colby was ours and we became a family of three, no longer just a couple. Totally amazing.

I'm not sure where the time has gone. Now our little baby has grown into a big boy of almost 5. Very energetic, he has a laugh that is contagious. And a smile that melts my heart everyday. It's like Colby was meant to be ours. I count my lucky stars to be chosen to be his Mommy forever and ever. And to be loved all the way to the "back moon" is the best thing ever. It was a long road but we made it through. So here's to Court Day!

Feb 4, 2009

This date last year a judge in Ekaterinburg, Russia, pronounced us the parents of Colby Michael. Wow! A whole year. Our stay in the gingerbread house in Kamensk was over but now we had to wait out the 10 day stay. We wouldn't pick Colby up for good until Feb 17th. But hearing that decree let me breathe a huge sigh of relief. Our dream had finally come true!

We Did It!

Well, it has been a few days since we left. And boy, have they been full of action. Mike and I were staying in a small house in Kamensk right near the baby home. The judge had requested that we see Colby everyday before court. Since Kamensk is about 2 hours from Ekat, we stayed there. The small house was nice but cold. I think it is more of a summer cottage that they rent for camping. Not sure. More to come in another blog I think. But we didn't have internet access so this is the first time I am on the computer. About a week away is really tough. I have so much to get caught up on. But for the good news.

Today we went to court. We were there for court at 11:00 but started at 11:30. It wasn't too bad I guess. Mike had to do most of the talking. A lot of translating later and we had the decision. Colby is ours! Finally after over a year of paperwork and traveling, he's ours. I was so nervous in court, I think my emotions took over. I was ready to cry. But we got through and now we just wait. I think we will visit Colby 2-3 times while we wait out the 10 day court stay. We are told that we will pick Colby up on Tues 2/17 and get all the paperwork set for his Visa and passport so we can fly to Moscow.

So, the journey continues. I will fill in the details of the last 5 days soon. Right now we need to just relax. I even found ESPN on the TV so I will go watch Purdue vs Ohio State men's basketball. Too bad it isn't UCONN or the girls.

So, Colby is ours! YEAH! Photos to come, I promise.