Lots of Running Around and By That I Mean Sitting In a Car

I didn't even write about yesterday's adventures because I had no energy when we got back.  Mike and I left Brynn and Viktor in our apt. in Odessa while we took a taxi with Olga, our translator, to Kotovsk to start the paperwork process.  If you remember, Maria is away at a summer camp for the summer.  The camp is 3 hours from her orphanage and all paperwork is done in the town of the orphanage.  Once there, we drove around the town so Olga could conduct business relating to the adoption.  At most stops, Olga didn't need us to go with her.  We would just sit and wait for her.  We made 4 stops and each one averaged about an hour.  Mike and I haven't spent so much time alone together in a long time!!  The only reason we had to go at all was to get one paper notarized.  We left the apt. at 7 a.m. and didn't return until 8 p.m.  Though it was a grueling and boring day, Olga accomplished a lot.  We are hoping for a court date next Friday, August 15.  

Now here's the part that really upset us about yesterday.  We had no idea we would be away the whole day.  It was impossible for us to visit Maria.  We tried to arrange for Brynn and Viktor to go and see her but the director of the camp would not let them there without us.  If we had known that, we wouldn't have promised her we would be back yesterday.  What must she have thought when we didn't show up?  We will see her today and hopefully she'll be told why we didn't come.  Our translator is no longer with us, so communication will be much more difficult.  

Viktor and Brynn were able to relax in the apt. yesterday.  I think they both needed it.  Viktor has been a real trooper.  There hasn't been much fun for him yet on this trip and he has been stellar.  We will be able to settle in and relax for the next week.  He will be able to swim in the Black Sea and run around more.  His only concern about Maria is that she might be as tall as or a bit taller than him.  Poor guy!!

Thanks to those of you who leave comments.  We so look forward to reading them.  We crave touching base with family and friends from home.