We made it to Russia!

We're here! We're here! We're actually here! In Moscow at least. A 12 hour non-stop flight is grueling physically and other than slightly swollen feet that went down, we are all well. Our passport line was about 20-30 minutes this time verses the three hour wait we had in July heat with limited air conditioning last time.

Tomorrow we go for our second "8 Doctor Medical" to make sure we don't have infectious diseases, cancer, tuberculosis and that we are sane (questionable at this point), you know stuff like that. Now, we did this same medical at the beginning of July, but it "expired" and we have to do it again, to the tune of another $1500. We took care of our blood test and chest x-rays (which are in Dave's suitcase!) at home to save money for those tests. Of course, the results came in a mere 24 hours before we left on an Friday afternoon, which was the cause of some severe nail biting on my part.

Other than accidentally tipping the bell man $2.50 (in Rubles) for 7 LARGE suitcases (they cost us too much in excess baggage fees, which we knew would happen, but we needed to bring the orphans and others we work with gifts) and then correcting that with a quick trip to the lobby, we are settling down as the minutes pass.

Here is a quote from a lady who just adopted a daughter from China this summer, (another Achondroplasia Dwarf) and it sums up what it will be like for us and Anya when we bring her home:

When Junie gets home, we'll probably take it slow in introducing her to family and friends...try to remember that she is 4 years old and has had 4 years of experiences in China; first with a birth family who made the decision, or felt forced to make the decision, that they could not keep her, abandoning her in a safe place at the age of 5 months. Since then, she has lived with other kids - some of whom she has seen leave to be adopted, some of whom have been sick, or maybe even died. It certainly seems like she has been well cared for, but her life there is not the same as living with a family. Her caregivers have almost certainly changed over time. There will be adjustments; she will be grieving the people and experiences she leaves behind; she will be introduced to all new food, new sisters, new extended family, and a new routine. She may never have been to a store, or ridden in a car much - certainly not in a car seat, or had a choice of what to eat, or when to eat. She has never slept in a room alone, or been on an airplane; she'll be learning a new language! People here sound different, smell different, look different...it will take her some time to process all of these changes. So please be patient as she gets accustomed to her new life! We can't wait for her to meet all of you!!

Thanks for coming along with us (in spirit) on this ride!!

~Monica