Part 10 The Adventure

Well usually I post these at the coffee shop in the morning but I now have Internet in the apartment. Iliah has 4 siblings and we thought we only needed permission from two of them since the other two are older and have guardians but not true.
Yesterday Victor found out that the Other Inspector would require all 4 siblings to sign off on the adoption. So Victor Spent a lot of tie trying to locate the other two siblings. Well as resourceful as he is he found them in a town about 50km from Berdyansk about 4 hours from us.
The bad news is an Inspector has to visit all 4 children in order to witness them signing off on the adoption. The good news is we can use the same inspector. Well I thought we would have no more progress till Monday but Victor worked his magic and got the Inspector from Zaporishia to travel the 4 to 6 hours on a Sat. to witness these statements. I don't know how he does it all I know is I give him money and he takes care of things. We are constantly amazed at how hard Victor works and the grueling schedule he keeps. Friday was a 12 hour day and he turned around and made the trip with the inspector @ 9 this morning. We were delighted to hear from him around 8pm that he was able to get all 4 statements and that we are ready to move forward. Victor's capabilities has made a world of difference on our nerves, he instills a level of confidence that help lower the stress level in a very unstable process.

As far as our day, it was the second day in a row we were able to relax. I feel bad that Victor is working so hard and I am just waiting, plus if you know me waiting is not my speciality. This Morning we went back to the Coffee shop, its a cute chain coffee shop here in Ukraine called Coffee Life. They have great coffee and wonderful pastries. After the Coffee shop we went back to the Apartment so that Heidi could rest. A side note: it is sweet how people cater towards Heidi because she is visibly pregnant. I asked Victor if Ukraine people liked Americans and he said only the thin and good looking ones, and they love pregnant women. He said as a whole they are a superficial society, Unfortunately.

While Heidi took a rest(that is what Victor says when he wants us to relax) Jackie and I went to this open market for the second day in a row. This time I was determined to get a few things. This market probably has 200 individual booths with everything ranging from Toiletries to Fresh fruit and fish to plumbing supplies, Power tool and TV's. It is like an old school Wal Mart. Although our apartment is nicer then Keiv it still has major issues. The bathroom desperately needed cleaned so I found some cleaner, a scrub brush and a new shower liner at the Market. Also Some Plastic Plates and Cups because the dishes in the apartment are well... not exactly up to health code, some dirt just can't be cleaned. Plus I have seen a couple of cockroaches when I get up in the middle of the night and turn on the Kitchen light. Fat little suckers scurrying off into the closest crack or crevice. They are certainly not under fed. I am surprised that we haven't seen more bugs considering the condition of the buildings and the overall filth. We just keep reminding our selves its like camping.

Today we just started going in every building around our apartment to see what it was. We really found everything we need with in a short walking distance, although trying to buy things is the stores or at the market is a challenge because so few people speak English. Whoever said English was the universal language never told Ukraine Ha! Ha!
We actually enjoy the challenge of communicating and figuring out things without a translator. We are really getting a feel for the culture and the people of Ukraine.
Oh and Heidi found a Maternity store the highlight of the day. No. She did not purchase anything but I am sure its just a matter of time.
Some things are more expensive here like gas, and designer clothes but things like food and household products are much cheaper. Like a half gallon of pomegranate juice here is $3 where it would be 4 times that is the states. Their selection of fresh fruit and fruit juices is wonderful.
Tonight for dinner we went to an Irish Pub in Ukraine. It was nice and the Menu had English alongside the Ukraine.
Warning! There are loads of small booths or carts where you can get beer on the street(its ok to drink and walk down the street here) the beer is cheaper than water but... There is a beverage that looks like an amber beer that is not. I got some today thinking it was beer and it was Bread Water Gross! It looks like beer and is carbonated like beer. If you were to take a loaf of honey wheat bread and squish it down into a juice, strain it and carbonate it you would have something close to Bread Water.

As we were walking around today we saw several bridal parties getting their pictures takes near the fountains and flowers very much like an American Saturday. Now comes the Ukraine twist. while wedding photos were being taken there were children playing in the fountains in their underwear. you would think that the wedding couple would want the children to move out of the Pic. Nope. Nothing says a Happy Wedding photo like the plumbers crack of a 4 year old LOL!

We were suppose to go back to see Iliah today but due to the twist with the siblings we have business to take care of in Zaporishia on Monday so we will be here for a few more days. We wanted to see Iliah but I also am trying to keep the traveling down to a min for Heidi and baby Berlin!
I should find out by the end of this next week how long I will need to be here although I do worry about the safety of Heidi and Jackie. Tonight after dark both of them wanted to leave the apartment and go for a walk. WHAT Are you Thinking. I said I don;t think exploring after dark is really the best decision we could make at this juncture.

Well we miss everyone back home and are eager to come home with our son. We are offering him two names to choose from.
Iliah Jay Berlin
or
Issac James Berlin
We wanted to give him the choice to keep his name or chose and American one.

Oh by the way I can not post photos. My laptop does not take the SD card in my camera. Maybe when I get to Berdyansk the Steen's or Dipiazzo's will have a laptop that will work.