Back In Kiev

We are back in Kiev with "R" "T" and their children "O" and "E" after taking the overnight train from Donetsk. They have been so gracious and Jim and I are thankful for their hospitality.

Military families helping military families - it's a wonderful thing!

Ella will remain in Donetsk at the Antoshka Child House for the mandatory

10 day waiting period.

September 9, 2008

Yes, it was difficult to leave her...yes, I cried - did you have to ask?

Monetary Donation...

After court, we went directly back to the orphanage where we were able to have sometime with the director. He is a wonderfully nice gentleman who loves and cares for the children. He provided us with health records on Ella and promised to purge photos to see if there are any of Ella while she lived at the Antoshka Child House; he will make them available when I return to pick her up.

We asked him how he manages the care, nutrition, education, repairs, and needs of the orphanage. The needs are met by the funding which is set aside by the government - but it is not nearly enough and is supplemented by donations from major corporations; but mostly from the donations provided by the families who adopt the children.

With that being said, Jim and I presented the director the $1000.00 collected via donations from so many of our family and friends. He was very thankful and said the monies will be used to make impovements at the Antoshka Child House. We also donated various other items: socks, panties, underware, bibs, toys, and clothes. With winter approaching the children will be in need of long underware and thick tights with feet. Before I return to pick Ella up on September 9th, we will continue to receive donations and seek those items they need the most.

Thank you again for your kind donation and for opening your heart to help the children at the Antoshka Child House.

Here are some pictures of the day...

Handing over the donation

Pinpointing where Ella will live

Proud new Papa and Mama

30 Minute Delivery!

After 14 months of intense labor, our delivery was 30 minutes and painless!

Both Papa and Mama are recovering from the emotions of the day and rejoicing in the official adoption of their new daughter

Ella Grace Ana Payne

Tomorrow is Court...

Tomorrow we have court...

We will ask the judge to award us parental rights

of

Ella Grace Ana Payne.

Tomorrow we hope to be Ella's forever Papa and Mama.

Day 8....

We have been visiting with Ella for 8 days now. It is amazing to look back on the videos and pictures we took from day 1 and see the changes in her. We are truly thankful for this beautiful blessing.

Today, we did serious laundry and house cleaning - apparently, this apartment didn't come with maid service! After laundry and cleaning, I ironed - yeah, I know a bunch of first today; but Ella needed her blue dress and bunny back; she only has 2 dresses so we alternate between them. We brought several articles of clothing with us for her; but only 2 of the dresses we brought fit her...the others we donated to the orphanage. Her pink bunny was looking like it had been living in the woods. Yesterday, we managed to pry it away from her so we could wash it.

Ella seems to be understanding a bit more of what we say to her and we can tell her bond with us is getting stronger. She squeals with delight at the sight of us and drops whatever she is doing to come running. She listens when we tell her to come sit with us or not to go over there...but most heartbreaking is when she asks to leave in the car again today and we have to tell her not today. She loves to play hide-n-seek and for us to spin her around. She loves to have Papa chase her and to sit in Mama's lap and to have her hair fixed. She is afraid of heights, dogs, and cats. She cries when it is time to go back to her groupa.

Here are some more pictures from our visit today...

Missing You...

Patrick, Christian, & Carson,

We miss you terribly and cannot wait to see you. Thank you for being helpful to Grandma, doing your studies, and toughing out the separation. We know it is difficult for you - it is for us. We love you and miss you to the moon and back!

Love,
Daddy & Mommy

Tee ochen kraiseevaya!

Today, we played beautician

(thanks MP for the suggestion)

...first I did Ella's hair

And then she did mine...

A quiet moment with Mama

Sharing juice with Mama

Ella kept asking to leave in the masheena (car)...it was heartbreaking to tell her not today solnishka (sunshine).

She Amazes Us...

Everyday we have gone to visit with Ella has been wonderful: we play, we chat, we practice our English and we snack. Her behavior is typical and she doesn't stick with doing one thing for a long periods of time. First she will color and the she will play with her dolls and then she will want to play 1,2,3...and then she remembers we have a snack and juice. Mostly we bring her crackers or a banana and she will hold her juice in her hand until it is finished to the LAST drop. We learned quickly the banana and crackers must be rationed or she will put as much as she can into her mouth at once. Again, she consumes it quickly and at no time does she relinquish any portion of the food or drink to us once it has been handed to her. I am convinced she would eat the peeling of the banana if we would let her.

Today, she amazed us. It was as if the light went on...this Papa and Mama keep coming back; they keep playing with me; they keep giving me hugs and kisses and love. Today, she actually offered and SHARED her juice and apple with us; she even let us hold it while she colored or drank her juice. I know this may not seem like much; but for her and us it was a BIG step - she is beginning to trust us. Another trusting step and indication she is feeling secure... she laid in Jim's arms and allowed him to cuddle her and as I sat facing them and stroked her hair as she just looked so at peace.

A New Dress...

Today, we gave Ella a new dress. She squealed in delight!

A few more pictures & a video...

I love this picture

So pretty in my new dress!

A kiss for Papa

A tearful good-night

** to hear the video scroll to the bottom of the blog and turn off the playlist by clicking on the button in the upper left corner.

Coloring

Day 4...

Images from our 4th day with Ella; Jim's great Parm Chicken & Pasta dinner; our apartment & workers on the roof at the orphanage....do you see a safety issue here?

Your Words...

We cannot thank you enough for your prayers, support, words of encouragement, and love you have left on this blog. They are important to us and each night, our routine is to grab a glass of water and sit together in front of the computer to read the post you have left us; they are wonderful, moving, uplifting and so very appreciated. We are greatful we have family and friends like you who are out there supporting us through this journey. Please, continue to post, you are an important part of our day!

Thank you to each of you from both of us and from our family back home.

Love,

The Payne Family

Court Date Set...

Friday, August 29, 2008

Pappa and Me!

Mama and Me!

Learning to color with chalk

I'm listening and learning...

...I can say Patrick

...I can say Christian

...I can say Carson

...I can say please

...I can say thank-you

...I can count to 3

...I can say I love you

...I can say more please

We visited Ella in the afternoon and she squealed with delight when we came through the door. We took her outside to play and she ate the banana and drank the apple juice we brought for her.

Before we leave we tell her we will be leaving soon but we will see her tomorrow. The first day, she did great..she went back to her groupa with no issues. Today, she cried BIG tears.

Yes, I cried. Come on you know I am emotional.

Arrival...

We arrived by trian this morning and hit the ground running. We drove about 80 miles outside of Donetsk to the orphanage. We spoke to the director of the orphanage with our facilitator (N) beside us.

After reviewing the files with the director, they brought her in. She immediatley hugged us both. She was asked if she would like us to be her Papa and Mama and she said, "Yes!" "Everybody wants a Mama and Papa."

They asked her if she knows about adoption and that she will leave with us and she said yes, her friends left with a Mama and Papa.

We played with her this morning and she is absoutley adorable. She is loving and so bubbly. We asked her if she would like brothers and she said yes. She likes to be a good girl and she likes to have brothers.

So without futher delay, this is

Ella Grace-Ana Payne

Chugga-Chugga Choo Choo...

We have left by train to Donetsk where we have asked to see the 4 year old little girl whose file we reviewed on Monday. We will be offline until Wednesday afternoon.

SDA Interview

This is the news you have all been waiting for...

We met "V" at a local coffee shop about 1015 a.m. this morning. After a bit of socializing and coffee we headed down the street about 200 meters to the SDA. We waited outside for our appointment which was scheduled for 11:00. At about 11:08 "V" motioned for us to come in. We entered the SDA and proceeded to the second floor for with "V" for our interview. Once inside the office, we were shown 2 files: one of a 4 year old little girl and one of a 7 year old little girl. We have asked to visit with the 4 year old child and will leave tomorrow out to the region.

Please continue to pray for us and for this little girl.

Interview

We have our interview with the SDA in a few hours and we will post again when we return from the interview with details.

We Have Arrived....

We have arrived in Kyiv!

It was a long 36 hours of traveling with only 1 lost bag...mine! We will contact our facilitator later today for our appointment time tomorrow. Check back later for updates!

Later.....2030 hours

Our appointment is in the morning tomorrow!

My bag has still not made it and there appears no sense of urgency on behalf of the airlines to find it. Luckily, we are staying with Rob & Teri and I was able to wash my travling outfit for rewear tomorrow.

Our phone number:

From USA 011-38-098-327-3256

Within Ukraine: 80-98-327-3256

Enroute...

We have departed for Ukraine. Look for us to post updates on our journey here. Please keep us in your prayers.

Love
Jim & Lisa

Packed...

We are officially packed and ready. Just a few errands to run tomorrow here and there; not much left 'to do' except figure out how to make the v-phone work with Windows Vista.

One request. Please pray to your God to place his hand on our family while we are separated; to protect and comfort our boys and for them to remain strong during this separation; for Elizabeth who will nurture, provide, and guide our children while we are away; for us to have the wisdom to know the child(ren) the Lord has chosen for us; and for those children who will remain in the orphanages across the world waiting for their forever families. Please ask HIM to guide us as we make this incredible journey to bring our daughter(s) home.

Love,

Jim & Lisa

Patrick, Christian & Carson