Three more days...

"We're going to Russia to pick up my little brother!"  I realized that no matter how busy Evan is enjoying his summer, he seems to always have this little detail in the back of his mind...  he tells everyone what we're up to.  And I mean everyone, including any server in any restaurant, the lady at the dry cleaner, the instructor at his summer camp, and any cashier at any grocery store.  He's ready to go get his little brother.

We, well, we're almost ready.  We're preparing ourselves for the very long journey to bring home our little guy.  I am happy to be seeing the light at the end of this tunnel. I'm ready to not be waiting anymore.  While the adoption has moved relatively quickly, (we signed with our adoption agency in August) the waiting for news of referrals and travel dates has been incredibly difficult.

So the last loads of laundry are being done, dog sitter supplies have been purchased, dogs have been bathed, refrigerator is being emptied of perishables, luggage is out and LONG lists have been made of what we need to fit into said luggage.  After all the preparations we've done, I only realized this week that I need to go shopping for jeans for Evan.  I checked the weather forecast for Vladivostok and Moscow...  Highs in the low 70's and lows in the mid 50's.  Florida's summer season began in March and I haven't thought about purchasing long pants for my little guy since last fall.  Shorts are the standard here.  I just realized he only has one pair of jeans that he hasn't outgrown. 

I think the most difficult thing is trying to prepare for an attempt at keeping everyone's sanity during three weeks in a small hotel room with a seven-year-old and possibly little M, the four-year-old.  We'll arrive on a Sunday, go for our medical exams early in the week and are scheduled for the big day (Court) on Friday the 24th.  If all goes well during the hearing and the judge grants us parental rights for little M, we'll have a ten-day waiting period.  We're told that it's up to the director of the orphanage whether or not we'll get little M during the waiting period.  

Getting out of the hotel is easy, but within walking distance is a small beach on the Sea of Japan, which, we've been told, is not recommended for swimming.  Vladivostok has a pollution issue.  It is most famous as a port town, home to the Russian Federation's Pacific Fleet and very industrial.   One out of every three workers is employed in the auto import industry.  Vladivostok is geographically close to Japan, although I'm guessing the import industry has taken a huge hit in recent months.  There is a train station within walking distance, so I imagine we'll get brave and attempt to purchase tickets and work our way around town during our waiting time.  Otherwise, we'll be getting creative with entertaining ourselves in the hotel.  

Luckily, the Vlad Motor Inn seems to be the hotel of choice for adoptive couples coming to Vladivostok.  On our first visit during February, I believe there were between six and nine American adoptive couples staying in this hotel.  It's a comforting thing to hear your native language and be around people who are walking the same path. 

Regardless, we are anxious to return to Children's Home #2 to see how much little M has grown, and if he remembers us.  And to introduce M and Evan.  I can't wait to see them together.

Here are photos of the front entrance to Children's Home #2.  We're told there are about 120 children between the ages of 4 and 17 living here.