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Alexander Matthew Davis is a small child looking forward to his fourth birthday in August.
Before then we will return to Russia and bring him to his new home in our Raven's loft.
Thank you all for your support and good wishes. Updates will be coming as I get time to put them together.
Let me just say this past week has been very difficult, and a good part of that difficulty was I was unable to get on-line and seek the advice our our community.
However, the important part is that Alexander (Sasha is his nickname) is a bright bundle of sweetness, careing and friendly, who loves music and books, though he is too young to read or play. He had a cold while we were there, but otherwise is perfect.
Posts: 11895 | Registered: Apr 2002
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A very hearty congratulations, to all Ravens, especially-since I think he's very fortunate-the newest Posts: 17164 | Registered: Jun 2001
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In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore; Every last obeisance made he; for his life he stopped or stayed here; But, with mien of lord or lady, perched within his chamber door- Perched upon a bed of feathers just inside his chamber door- Perched, and lay, and loved me dearly.
I love the name "Alexander" with the nickname of "Sasha". Perfect. Beautiful. Just like you, Alexander Matthew Davis.
Be careful, Ravens, dynamite comes in small packages! (that's what I always tell my petite co-worker Emma, which reminds me, I need to get that cookie recipe from her for Mrs. Raven. Because of the thyroid stuff. Am derailing. Sorry!)
Congratulations to all of the Ravens, old and new!
*claps*
PS--my birthday is in August, too, so Young Raven has a kindred spirit in me, already. *grin*
Posts: 1545 | Registered: May 2002
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Great, Dan! I'd love to hear how it all went.
"Sasha" is the official nickname for "Alexander", not just coincidental. So is "Shura", and both have several forms, called "tender names" or so ("Sashenka", "Shurik"). But you probably knew this already. Posts: 1045 | Registered: Jul 2002
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1) Our top boys name we were going to change his too if we needed too--Alexander. His birth name--Alexander.
2) We signed the papers requesting the government of Astrakhan to allow us to adopt him on Thursday, our 15th wedding anniversary. Our visit with him ended with a big hug for both of us. Best anniversary ever.
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quote: We signed the papers requesting the government of Astrakhan to allow us to adopt him on Thursday, our 15th wedding anniversary. Our visit with him ended with a big hug for both of us. Best anniversary ever.
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Dan, this is fantastic. I just know he'll have a wonderful life. I think about how much you want him -- to travel so far, so many times, and go through the byzantine bureacracy to make him a part of your family. It's going to be amazing.
Congratulations. How long before you hear from the adoption agency?
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Wow, what a coincidence. Marek and I had been talking about this nickname pretty recently. We liked it and were trying to figure out which name it was a nick for. I *think* I may have guessed Alexander...but I'm not sure.
Anyway, I'm really excited for you both! How is your Russian coming along?
Posts: 6367 | Registered: Aug 2003
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I'm sure that you've already dones tons of research and gotten all kinds of advice on this topic, but I have a suggestion to ease his adjustment into his new environment. Just follow the example of Hatrack and post a list of newbie FAQs. Things like "Where's the bathroom?" and "Can I have a cookie now?" Continue to refer to him as a newbie until he's said at least 500 things.
Posts: 3056 | Registered: Jun 2001
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Here is the story of our trip. It may take a few posts to put it all together. It may make you smile, or cry, or be angry. However, if it starts to fill up your e-mails, just set the options to not have all the posts sent to you, and visit the site to read it when you wish.
I considered writing just about Alexander, or Alexi or Veeka or Isadore, but all of their stories merge together so often and in so many ways that I think a more linear version of events may be better. This means the stories of themselves may be weaker, and there will be lots of chaff before the grains of our story are found, but I hope you read on.
I will begin at 5:15am, central time, when the alarm went off. It wasn't necessary. We were both laying awake, worried, excited. I spent the night tossing and dreaming of the thousands of things that could go wrong.
We quickly got dressed and double checked our packing. We had finished packing the night before, accept for those last minute things such as razors and books. I caulked our bathroom tub, since it needed to be unused for three days for the caulk to dry. When we returned it would be ready for the childproofing.
We didn't have to see to our dog Radar. We had taken him to the kennel the night before. The house seemed quiet without him.
We emptied out the icebox and took out the trash and double checked everthing. Then with all our paperwork in our hands, we left.
We were early.
The trip to the airport is a blur. We stopped for a quick bite, called our ride, and basically held our breath.
Greg met us at my work, which is but a couple miles from the airport. I parked our car there and he dropped us off at the airport. We thanked him repeatedly. We were a bit loopy I think, but then so was he. Greg isn't used to mornings much. Or Greg's driving was a bit distracting. Greg, you'd make a great Moscow Taxi Driver.
We arrived at the airport with three bags and Cindy's purse. We had been warned that inside Russia there was a 45lb weight limit per person. Any excess would result in a fine. Cindy had spent the past few months packing and we were down to well below that limit.
We still decided to check one of the bags. Using NorthWest Airlines automated check in, the hour long wait I feared was over in 10 minutes. We stuffed the bag through an x-ray machine and walked down to the gate. We passed through security easily. Cindy worried too easilly. We rushed to get there, now we waited.
As we were waiting Cindy pulled out a group of photos we had brought of family. I pulled out our translator. We started applying names to them. Babuska for the Grandma's. Unfortunatley we couldn't find Aunt or Cousin or Great Grandmother. We set them aside for later. Soon we had the two books done as much as we could.
We boarded the plane.
We were in the second to last row.
This is the first time I was ever the LAST person seved on the plane (due to the way the two flight attendants served us). Otherwise the flight was uneventful.
We landed in Detroit. Here we had another 2 hour wait for another 1.5 hour flight. Rush and wait.
The Detroit airport is new and clean and bright. I knew our children would love visiting it. Bright red trams run above your head from one end to the other. Our transfer flight was on the other end of the airport so we started walking, stopping at A&W for a quick bite.
Cindy has never been to an A&W. For a country girl like her, that had to be remedied. We got in line.
Ahead of us were a bunch of high school kids. I noted one young lady was wearing a t-shirt from her elementary school choir. It didn't quite fit, and she knew it. Another girl dropped her Cel-phone. I watched it fall but Cindy stepped in front of me and glared. What I didn't notice (I swear Cindy, I didn't notice) was that this girl, bending over, showed the world her nice little thong.
After that Cindy didn't find her A&W food to appetizing.
We ate and finished walking the entire terminal to reach our gate. Just as we sat down we heard the announcement. There was a problem at this gate. We had to shift to a new gate--back down at the other end of the terminal, next to where we had just come from.
This time we took the tram.
Rush and wait. Our plane arrived and we boarded. Back of the plane again.
JFK Airport is a different type of airport. It is old and settled and chaotic.
As the plane landed I searched for all those wonderful New York landmarks that set the city apart. All I found was the Brooklyn Bridge, and for one brief moment, perhaps a glimpse of the Empire State Building. If it was the Empire State Building, it stood apart from the other sky scrapers of New York. It somehow seemed alone.
However, we soon found ourselves in the chaos of Terminal 4 of the JFK airport. We gathered our luggage and set out in search of the Aeroflot booth.
1 Train ride, 4 elevators, 2 Escalators and a gauntlet through the parking lot later, we finally found where we needed to go. We had asked 4 different people for directions, and had 3 different people including a member of the NYPD as us for directions. Finally, a nice Airport Security Officer showed us how to walk down the car ramp to the entrance.
Most of this problem was caused by increased security since 9/11. However, better maps, and information personell who spoke English would have made us much happier.
We had spent 30 minutes and we still hadn't checked in. We spent 5 more minutes just trying to figure out which door led us into the terminal.
The terminal door was gaurded by x-ray machines and metal detectors and men in uniforms checking ID's. A group of guys in front of us dumped there stuff on the x-ray machine and tried to enter the metal detector together. Ms. Guard would have none of that. She started yelling at everyone.
Realizing she had a gun, I put my bag in the x-ray machine, grabbed my phone and keys and stuck them in the outside bag, removed my coat and shoes and put it in a box to go through the machine, then quietly walked through myself.
Safe.
I grabbed my bags, put on my coat, put on my shoes and pulled out my phone. Cindy waltzed through easily and was pushing me to the Aeroflot booth. There was little line. We checked in, got our boarding passes, and had an hour before takeoff.
Back into the maze of the airport to find our gate.
We also found Mary Beth and Isabel. Mary Beth had e-mailed us a week or so earlier. She was a single woman, a kindergarten teacher, who had no luck with men, but wanted a family. She was going to Russia to adopt. CHI, our agency, and Russia have no problems with single mothers adopting. What they are concerned about is single women traveling alone. Isabel turned to many friends and family to come with her, but most were unable to, one or two were unwilling. Isabel was her best friends mother, a retired school nurse, and long time friend. She had been to Russia 20 years ago, and knew more about child health than many pediatricians. She was coming along to help. Unfortunately, three days before they were to leave, she hurt her back. Now she needed her cane to get around. CHI also arranged our trips to coincide, as another way of insuring the safety of the single traveling woman.
It quickly became apparent that these would be great traveling companions. They were both easy to talk too--Isabel was too easy to talk to. They were both compassionate and excited and helpful. We were ready.
We also filled out a quick survey JFK was putting out about their service. Cindy greatly enjoyed detailing our Minotaurian trip in the airport.
I will end the first days adventures here, safe in the US, waiting for our plane to depart, chatting with our two new friends. Tomorrow- -Moscow and pulse pounding excitement, well, for me anyway. I don't want to give anything away, but I will give one obvious hint. When we got on the plane, guess who ended up in the very back again?
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Congratulations Dan. You and your wife deserve it, as does your new son. I know you guys will be a wonderful family.
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Also, I just joined your Yahoo group. I don't know the protocol, but I can't wait to see the pictures.
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Did you ever take any Russian classes? I remember a discussion about that long ago.
Having children is the best thing I have ever done. Right now, it is a challenge. My daughter is nine, and has been very fresh. I think she looks at me and decides: "OK, I ike that. Toss that. And that. And that. And..."
You will go up, and you will come down, but you will never know such love as these children will give you, and the kind you will give to them. It is a different kind of love; it is fiercely loyal, protective, and proud. It is a love that happens at vein level.
You chose Raven well, Dan. The raven is a very cool bird. It is one of the best parents in nature. It is one of the most intelligent animals. It is good to its mate. Hmmm. Sounds familiar.
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Then he'd be "n00b" for short instead of "Sasha." ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
