FINAL CHAPTER

As promised, we wanted to do a final follow-up and chapter in our adoption story.

The last week was a wild one. On Monday, the 2nd, we traveled with Sherri and Justin to the birth city of Kyle and Katrina (conveniently, they were both born in the same city) to get new birth certificates. That turned out to be an almost all-day process as the roads were difficult because of 5 inches of snow falling the previous night. Dejectedly, we came back to Artemovsk Monday evening to spend another night.

On Tuesday, we swung by the orphanage, picked up Katrina, said our good-byes, headed to Donets'k to get passports, and then made a very long 11-hour drive to Kiev. Katrina was a real trooper, but threw up once and had a couple of massive blowout diapers. All told, we drove for about 16 hours that day, arriving in Kiev at 1am Wednesday morning.

Wednesday, we did the necessary medical stuff and got Katrina's visa at the embassy.

Thursday, we flew home. We left Kiev at 12:30pm, stopped over in Kennedy in New York, and were home in Denver about 10:30pm. Because of the time change, the travels that day were about 19 hours. Katrina was the only child on the plane who never cried or threw a fit.

Now, life begins anew, after a fashion, for Katrina and all of us. She already sleeps 12 hours per night, takes a nap in the afternoon, and eats like a horse. Alexis (our first daughter) and Katrina are getting used to sharing the role of "Princess" in the home. Our boys Darian and Trevor are huge a help with the girls.

Medically, Katrina is just fine. All tests have come back negative; she's just small and needs a lot of Stephen's good cooking. When not pressed, she can repeat about 8 to 10 words in English. But she understands so much more. We'll definitely have her ready for kindergarten in 18 months.

We just want to say thanks to everyone who supported us throughout our adoption travels. We started the whole thing 4 years ago. We got Alexis in summer of 2007 and Katrina just last month. God bless all of you who care about the children of the world and believe what we do... Every child deserves a childhood.





Katrina asleep in the van on the long journey to Kiev.




Katrina's first meal outside the orphanage at McDonald's no less!



Getting ready for the plane ride to the U.S.



Alexis and Katrina enjoying a snack.


We made it home in time for Pam's birthday.



Alexis and Katrina as sisters.



Peace, love, and happiness to you!!!!