Meeting Vitaly!!

Mary says...

This morning we visited with Alina and played with some of the kids from her group. It's nice to play with them, they love the attention and kind words and hugs from grown ups.

Our friend Ray with his little boy and two girls from the group.

Alina swinging high and loving it!

Two little sweeties in Alina's group.

Then we rode the buses, had lunch and went to our interview (this was the same interview we wrote about two weeks ago where you have to get a positive result before going to court, they wanted to ask us why we want Vitaly), was handed our positive result paper, handed it over to people that will get it to the right office, and then set off for the hospital. 


Our translator took us to the hospital where we showed our pass, from the orphanage director-YAY, to visit Vitaly. There is a nanny from the orphanage that stays with him, so we met her first. We recognized her immediately and she was surprised to see us. She asked how Alina was doing. Our fabulous translator "A" explained that we are going to be Vitaly's parents too. Then we walked into his room where he was in his greenish metal crib. He started laughing and was surprised to see us too. Tom picked him up and "A" told him that we are his Mama and Papa. He flung himself backward and was being silly for about ten minutes. The nanny said he was excited. Then he calmed down and even called us Mama and Papa and gave us many smiles. I think he likes us. :) 

We only stayed for about 20 minutes. We will start going back every day for two hours tomorrow. He didn't like it when it was time for us to go. He started crying for Mama and Papa and didn't want to go back into the crib. I don't blame him. It's not like a children's hospital ward back home. Not that hospital wards are all that nice, but I've seen some that are kid friendly. His room is not. It has his crib and five twin size metal beds lining the walls. There is no air conditioning, but the windows open.  Okay, enough talking. I get it.




We have court on 4 July! Alina and Vitaly will become the children of Americans (and orphans no more) on Independence Day! How cool is that!
 
Without further ado....Vitaly

Vitaly's hospital bed.

Happy Papa and Tolly!

"Papa, Mama? Great, when do we leave?"

Papa, Mama & Tolly

"Let me get my things and I'm ready to leave." :)

Hospital hair, what are you gonna do.

Look Ethan, another member of the boys club!

He likes to be thrown up in the air too, who knew. He kept asking for more. :)

"I have how many sisters AND a big brother? Alright!!"