Tuesday & Wednesday 23rd & 24th

Sorry no blogging - crazy busy and no interet most of time and may lose connection now so writing short and fast! Thanks to everyone for emailing - I'm getting those just can't always respond.

Tues pm picked up referral papers to travel to Ira's region - YES!!!

Got up Wed. am at 4:30 to leave by car for Balta. We left at 5:45am - drove 4 hrs to Balta - went to Inspectors Office to present dossier and referral - had to then go back at 2pm to pick up papers to go to orphanage. Used that time to check into apt. - it is fine - limited but clean - 2 br w/ bath and kitchenette - 1 pot - 1 small frying pan - have to get creative!!! Went to see Ira @ about 3:30 - met w/ director and social worker - informal meeting - asked me question about hosting - what kind of child Ira was etc. How I liked UA. I answered all as best I could - Erica said I "nailed it"!! Then Ira came in - I was so excited and nervous. She stepped thru the door and ran to me - just about knocked me down - we grabbed onto each other and both of us were lauging, crying, shaking - we could not let go. Finally the director said - "well that answers all my questions". Then we say - she quizzed Ira - Ira said all she wanted was to go with mamma and have her family!! She is quite outspoken and adamant - that's our Ira!!! Then we stayed w/ her until about 7pm - Dima and director worked on paperwork for court - director has to write a report and approval - it was no problem.

We hope to have court next week - Thursday preliminary hearing and Fri. final court hearing.

PS - forgive typos - gotta do this quickly - no time for proof reading!! Will clean it all up later.