Reunited and it feels so good!

The long anticipated wait is finally over.  The 30 day appeal period is complete and we have our go ahead to pick up the children.  Travelling during Covid is not easy, having to take several PCR tests, and having the appropriate travel documents to travel either through or into countries is the most stressful part of this journey.   Luckily we had everything in order to make this leg of our trip smooth sailing.

Ryan and I departed Winnipeg on Oct 3rd, leaving our old life behind and about to start the best time of our life.  We left the house saying to our two dogs Maya and Jack, “Get ready for your new life!”

Our flight left Winnipeg late and unfortunately we arrived in Montreal with no gate available.  We were left out on the tarmac for about 20 min causing major delays.  By the time we got off our plane, our next plane to Frankfurt had almost completed boarding.  There was one other passenger from the Winnipeg flight that ran through the airport with us praying our flight would still be there.  We literally ran from one end of the airport to the other, Gate 3 to 66, and quickly discovered we were not in shape.

Arriving in Frankfurt it took about 30 min to get to our next gate.  This time, they checked us through the gate, then we boarded a bus to board our plane on the tarmac.  Apparently they had to bring in another plane for us as there was something wrong with the original plane.  Thankful they found the problem on the ground and not in the air!

By the time we arrived in Kyiv, our plane was 1hr late, and the customs line up was another hour long wait.  With the time change it was now Oct 4th late afternoon by the time our driver Katya picked us up to take us to our apartment.

A quick sleep at our apartment and we were back on the train to Khmelnytskyi which boarded at 7am.  We arrived at 11am and Dima our driver took us to our apartment.  It was in a beautiful area of town on the 10th floor with amazing views of the city.

After a short 15 minutes at the apartment we were on our way for a quick pitstop at the orphanage before our 2hr drive to Shepetivka to change the children’s birth certificates.  This is the town nearest to the village they were born in.  Since we were on a tight deadline to make it to the Birth Certificate office, we stayed in the car while Inna ran into the orphanage to collect the documents required.  We sat in the car off to a distance searching the yard for the children playing to see if Anna and Artem were there.  It was so hard not running out of the car to go hug them, but we knew our reunion would soon come.  And meeting this deadline was extremely important to make that reunion happen.  We pulled up closer to the orphanage, while Inna jumped in the car and we waved at our 2 beautiful children blowing kisses at each other as they stood at the fence line with great excitement on their faces.  Inna explained to them that we were in a hurry, but would be back as soon as possible.

Returning that evening back to our apartment after a long day and a very bumpy 135 km/h car ride of 2 hrs there and 2hrs back, we were both exhausted.   We met Inna for dinner to review the plans ahead of us.

The next morning we woke up, unpacked our bags along with the children’s luggage containing all of their new clothes and shoes they would need.  We set up their room with a few new toys as well as birthday decorations as it was Anna’s birthday that day!  What an amazing birthday gift, to leave the orphanage with your new family.  A day she will never forget!

Later that morning, I got a call from Inna that she had the children in the car and was working on getting their passports completed with their new names.  She met us downstairs where we had a quick reunion with the children together.  Ryan went shopping for treats to give to the children at the orphanage for the birthday party / going away party for Anna and Artem.  I jumped in the car with Inna and the children as the driver took us straight to the passport office.  We had several stops to make going back and forth to two different offices, but after about 3 hours our application for new passports was finally complete.

We brought the children back to our apartment where we had 15 min to get them changed into their new clothes.  The jackets, clothes, shoes, socks, and underwear the children were wearing were placed in a bag to return to the orphanage.

Arriving at the orphanage was a surreal moment.  This was it – their final day there.  They were about to start an adventure into a brand new life.  We delivered the candy and drinks to the workers and they divided it all up onto plates for the children.  Before sitting down to eat, the children from the wing they live in gathered in a circle to perform a birthday tradition.  The children joined hands while Anna sat in a chair in the middle as they moved clockwise singing a traditional song.  Anna then selects a person and that person shares something special about her.  The singing continues, then halted again as Anna selects the next person and so on.  What a beautiful tradition if only we knew what they were saying!  The event finished with the children raising Anna 10 times as she sat in her chair signifying that she has turned 10 years old.

We sat on chairs along the edge of the room with Anna and Artem’s grandmother as we watched them eat their candy at their tables.  At this time, Ryan and I were whisked away to the directors office to complete the final paperwork to remove them from the orphanage.  The director also handed us a collection of their schoolwork and medical records.  We are very fortunate to have received this as it is not common in international adoptions to have the ability to have access to previous medical records.  The director shared with us how difficult the last couple of months have been on the children while we were separated.  It was hard to hear, but we are focused on our great future ahead.

Once finished the children came upstairs with their belongings in hand.  They hugged the director and began saying their goodbyes.  Leaving the orphanage with 2 shopping bags holding all their belongings, mostly books, toys, and clothes we had purchased previously for them plus a few items from their Ukrainian Grandmother.

Artem was excited, meeting with his friends giving them secret handshakes and saying their goodbyes.  Anna, was emotional hugging several of the workers and her friends with a few tears shed.  Grandma was also emotional seeing this final moment of the children leaving the orphanage.  We will be meeting with Grandma a couple of times yet before leaving Khmelnytskyi.

The drive back to the apartment was filled with excitement, emotion, and anticipation for what our future would hold for all of us.  Once we arrived, the children ran with excitement to the apartment door as we entered the elevator.  Opening the apartment door, Anna was thrilled to see the birthday decorations, and the presents awaiting her.

We then went for supper for burgers at a restaurant below our apartment.  After supper, we went back up to the apartment for cake, presents, and games.  Such an amazing feeling finally having the family we always desired and tucking our children into bed for the first time.  We are so blessed!