There's no place like home

And I don't have magic ruby slippers to take me there right now. Long story short...we are stuck in Rome. Basically the airline only had 2 flights to the USA today, both were full and 30 people ahead of us flying standby. The Rome airport is crazy!!! We had to go in several vehicles, three different buildings and a train just there today! I will say there that their services for individuals with disabilities are top notch! I don't think we would have survived today without them. The day started out early...4:40 am to be exact. Got Maria ready, when she would rather not have. Got to the airport in Sofia with no issues other than the airline didn't know about her disability and they weren't happy. I had written it in the information when we book...guess next time call instead. Short easy flight. She did great on here first airplane ride ever. The flight attendants were very interested in her and that she was Bulgarian and going to the USA. I explained that I adopted her and everything. I was told to take very good care of her and that it is wonderful that I wanted her. They were very nice. Then the Rome airplane fiasco occurred. She was a total trooper during it all. I did let her stay in her chair today with the exception of going to the bathroom to change her. We ended up finding a hotel near the airport and had to walk about 10 minutes to get to the shuttle and the wait about 40 minutes for the shuttle in 90+ degree weather. At this point it hit Maria....we weren't going to USA today. She started crying...I'm sure it was also due to being hungry and tired. We got her on the shuttle and I pulled out the iPad and brought up my puzzle app and made a puzzle out of a picture of her friend Alexis....this helped stop the tears. Now settled in the hotel....hoping and praying we get out on the flight tomorrow!

Friday

Finally it's Friday! We spent part of the morning down in the city center. Wanted to look around a bit and wear Maria out. She is a real trooper...walking on crazy roads with trolley tracks and even crazier drivers. We ended up seeing a man in a motorized wheelchair. He got this huge grin on his face when he saw Maria and started talking to us in Bulgarian. He didn't speak English, but you could just tell he was excited to see her out walking around and doing well. My mom ended up finding a book store and got Maria a few books in Bulgarian....actually everyone in the book store was quick to help even other customers. While she was doing this Maria and I found a cafe that has ice cream. We waited and the nice man was putting the signs in it...he didn't have the best English but was very excited when I said Maria spoke Bulgarian. He quickly started chatting with her and she decided that she wanted banana ice cream. We ended up all stopping and getting some rose oil lotions for gifts. Didn't get any on my first trip because rose lotions tend to have a strong scent that I don't like....this stuff doesn't and is amazing. Also got some that was rose oil and yogurt...it's even more amazing. After that we had lunch and hung out at the hotel waiting for someone from the agency to come with the packet of papers. Finally got that...such a relief! We will have a really early night....need to be ready around 5am for out flight. Going straight up to bed. Hopefully, this spunky little girl will comply! Next post will be from home and I promise I will get pictures up.

Thursday

Well, Maria woke up a few times over the night and seemed a little weepy, which woke me. However, she went back to sleep very quickly. We had a fairly relaxing down day. Spent most of the time at the hotel. Unfortunately there is all this road construction going on all around the hotel. Was told today that they are putting in a subway, which is why it seems they are tearing more up than fixing. So, due to this it is not easy for us to go for walks in the area with Maria. My mom decided to walk down to the KFC and get us some food for lunch. She also located an ice cream store and brought Maria back some ice cream. My mom said that the lady questioned her about the ice cream and ended up explaining that I had adopted Maria. Mom said she kept saying how lucky Maria is that she is going to the USA. Maria and I did go to the embassy today. We went through the security...no cameras or electronics allowed. I forgot I had put my cell phone back in my purse this morning...so I had to turn it over while we were there. We walked to the building to get her visa paperwork and interview done. Lots of sitting and waiting. The under consulate we talked to was excellent and very interested in our experience. I did learn that she will keep her Bulgarian citizenship (be a duel citizen). Which ends up having some cool and silly benefits....cool, she can go to college or university in Europe for the "home" rate....silly (at least to me) she has to enter Europe on her Bulgarian passport and the turn around and enter the USA on her US passport. Yup have to keep both passports up to date. After we got done there we went to the front and waited for our driver to finish up with some other things he had to do there. Then back to the hotel. Maria's favorite waitress was off tonight. I made sure to let her manager know what a great job she has done and how she has been a big help and hit with Maria. So, the hotel restaurant has been very accommodating to Maria. Tonight she told the waitress that she wanted spaghetti with Bulgarian cheese...yup a bunch of noodles with nothing but cheese in them....she was in kid heaven. Went upstairs and watched some tv and got ready for bed. She has also been talking a lot about her friend Alexis who was adopted about a year and a half ago. She knows she will get to see Alexis again and is very excited....she keeps referring to her as her Bulgarian name "Raina". I did use google translate to explain to her that Alexis no longer speaks Bulgarian, only English. When we were at the embassy waiting she said "Alexis speaks English.". She is a smart girl....I have a feeling she is going to do just fine in school! I also finally told my mom the details of gotcha day....she knew it was bad and I was very hesitant to talk about it in front of Maria. I was able to do so tonight and help her understand how traumatic it was for these kids. Getting to see more and more of Maria's personality and silliness I'm sure that the staff at the orphanage has got to be missing these two kids. She is so full of life. Teasing me all the time. She actually tries to block you in when standing near her....it like she knows you have to be careful around her and she can get away within and she is smiling and laughing the whole time. She also will be walking in front of you and just stop for no reason then turn around and laugh at you...so, we either tickle her sides or walk around her and make her follow us. She loves watching video of herself and looking at pictures of herself. She is such a silly girl!

Wednesday

Today was our free day...nothing to do. We had breakfast at the hotel again this morning. This time I made Maria go through the line with me to see what she wanted. A nice waiter from the hotel helped us. He ended up just filling up Maria's plate with tons of food. I think she was crushing on him a little bit....she has her favorite hotel workers...he appears to one and the other is a waitress in the evening who has been great with her (more on that later). After breakfast we ended up taking a taxi to Alexander Nevski Church. Mean mom made her use her crutches again. She was able to walk up the ramp just fine and was let into the church from that door. Beautiful church and very nice people...we were able to meet the priest who was the one who made sure she was allowed to enter through the door near the ramp. After that she did need a short rest. While she and my mom sat, I went across the street to look at the lace for sale. Venders were sitting out selling their goods. Both mom and I ended up buying a few things as gifts for people back home. While mom was shopping Maria and I went to the cafe and had something to drink. Then we decided to look for a taxi and ended up taking Maria past the venders....ok, had no intention of buying anything....the child made out like a bandit....several of the venders just gave her things. All I could do is shake my head and think she is getting so spoiled! Finally got away from the church had lunch and went back to the hotel. She loves the iPad...specifically the apps Cookie Doodle and Cake Doodle. Ended up watching some tv and she was being goofy, silly girl. She loves to correct my Bulgarian and just will laugh and laugh at me....so now that I know she is ticklish, I have been getting her back when she does this. We are bonding....she is initiating all kinds of physical contact...leaning into me, touching my face, lots of eye contact. It has been great. We ended up going to dinner in the hotel again today. As we came into the eating area a waitress greeted us....the waitress Maria likes was further into the eating area...Maria walks past the first waitress right up to the one she likes and starts talking to her. This waitress has been great...the first day she did some translating for me and has done so each day since. Very nice sweet woman! Maria was silly again when getting ready for bed tonight. She is not the quiet timid girl I met in December. She is full of life and ornery! Oh, best part if today...I asked Maria "Maria happy?", Maria said "Da!" I have a very happy girl...no tears today. Someone asked I put in more details on the gotcha day....I will add some more once we are home. It is still very hard to think about the trauma and emotions the kids went through on that day.

Tuesday

Today I woke up with a happy girl. We had breakfast and were able to go to the mall. She is totally into clothes! I was a mean mom....I made her use her crutches verses her wheelchair. Ok, I did have reasons for this. I need to know how much walking she can handle at one time. I can say I was surprised. She was on her crutches from about 10:30-3:30 there were some sitting and riding in the car times during that time frame. She also continued to choose using her crutches the rest of the night. We had the doctor's appointment today which went well. Only two times where she teared up. She was very happy, silly, goofy girl tonight at bed.

Viviane and I are trying to find Maria's friend Z on the waiting child list. He is a very sweet boy who really wants to be adopted. We want to help find him a family. So, if you are interested in a smart 11 year old, who has some medical needs let one of us know. I have pictures and a video of him that I will share privately. I can't tell you how much it would mean to both of these kids for him to also have a family.

Gotcha day

Today was very hard, very emotional, not the experience I had wanted. So got to the orphanage around 10:30 this morning....found out that Maria's friend Z was being transferred to a different orphanage around 11. These two are very much like siblings....they did everything together. It was hard, emotionally daring experience. She is mourning the losses she is experiencing. There is little that I can do right now to make it better in any way....the only thing that has seemed to help is going on FB and looking at pics of other kids adopted from Bulgaria....especially Alexis who was a friend of hers from Stara Zagora. I'm so tired...it has been such a long day.

Officially in Sofia

We arrived in Sofia today around 12:40pm. After fixing the hotel arrangements (long story, you really don't want to know), we are settled in a very small hotel room. I seriously should have kept the hotel I booked and told the BG agency to deal with it. Don't have wireless in the room, so I'm not going to promise daily posts....it just might not happen. So ready to be done dealing with unprofessional people. Would not ever recommend this BG agency to anyone after what I have had to deal with this past year. Will write when I can...

Final day in Rome

Ok, I must say I'm not a good international traveler. I have no idea how you are suppose to beat jet lag...nothing is working for me at all. I woke up at 2am and was unable to fall back to sleep. So, going on little sleep right now. Due to that and the crazy heat here...we didn't do much today. We walked down to the Trevi Fountain...took lots of pictures. It was amazing to see. Too bad there were so many people there. I think we might try to go back so I can get some night pictures of it too. I'm completely loving my new camera and the pictures it is taking are beautiful!

On a more serious note, I have been thinking a lot of my friends back in Chicago. On Sunday I learned that a college friend lost his wife to cancer...I went to college with both of these amazing people. I can't imagine how Mike is dealing with this loss right now. I know he has lots of friends and family supporting him. He posted today that he and his wife had their last flight today to O'Hare....she will be laid to rest near where she grew up. I know the next few days are going to be hard for my friend's and they are very close to my heart and thoughts right now. I keep thinking about the song "Live like you are dying". How we all need to really embrace life....I can say Ruth had a very full life where she embraced others and new experiences as often as possible. She will be greatly missed.

Rome day 3

Well, we discovered yesterday that after lunch that all the crazy lines seemed to go away. So, we decided to wait till lunch time to go to the Vatican, specifically to see the Sistine chapel. Ok, what they don't tell you....if you just want to see the Sistine chapel, don't go to the Vatican...it is a good 10 minute walk from St. Peter's square. Also they need more signs that say where things are. Took us asking at least 3 different security guards before we figured out how to get to the Sistine chapel and the a tour guide was the one who really pointed us in the right direction. Ok, so once you get to where you want to be then you enter the maze that has no end. You are taken up stairs, down stairs, through hallways....look at naked statutes here and there (although they aren't quite naked, they thave modestly been covered with tiny fig leaves)....then you finally get to the chapel....it is small, really small....dark, security guards tell everyone packed in there to be quiet and no pictures or video. I think it took us about 90 minutes to get to the actual chapel and we stayed for less than 5 minutes. I will be honest I have some major issues with Catholism...and yes, I know enough about it and my own Christian beliefs to defend my stance. Although we saw many beautiful things today, it just reinforced what Chistianity isn't suppose to be about.

Rome day. 2

So, after sleeping in we decided to go to the Colosseum today. We took a bus down to the area. It was neat to see the Arch of Titus and the Arch of Constantine. There was also some archeologist who were excavating an area. It was interesting that many historical and tourist areas are sectioned off so that people cannot touch or get close to the actual site. This was the case with much of the Colosseum and the Arch of Costantine...as well as other sites we have seen while riding on the buses. Also, if you pay for a guided tour of the Colosseum you don't have to wait over an hour and a half just to get through the line o get in. We decided that waiting in line was not for us at all. The tour guide was very good and told many interesting facts about the colosseum. So glad we did the tour. It was rather hot and humid out today...so neither of us wanted to wait too long in the sun. Riding the buses was interesting too...obviously you are suppose to pay, but no one even tries and the coin machines on the buses weren't working. Got some great pictures today, will post hem when I can. Hope everyone going o he reunion this weekend has lots of fun. I will miss seeing everyone.

Rome....day 1

Well, my mom and I had quite the experience getting this far. We got to travel first class from Detroit to Rome on Delta. I must say, I don't know that I will ever be able to fly coach without being sad. Honestly, it was amazing..3 course meal and dessert...real silverware. Great flight attendants who were quick to help with everything...and amazing seats the reclined completely and had leg room to spare! We ended up coming to the hotel and sleep for a while then went out to see some of the sites in the area. Since the hotel is close to the center of the city there were several sites close by to see. I had fun taking tons of pictures....not sure why but posting them from the iPad to the blogger post isn't wanting to work...will try it figure it out so you can see. We stopped and had some gelato which was VERY yummy. We are both still very tired so, we aren't planning on doing anything else tonight. More site seeing tomorrow!

Wanted to try writing a post from my iPad before the "BIG" trip. I know a few friends follow this blog who aren't on FB and want updates while I'm in Bulgaria getting Maria. So, you might be wondering when the "big" trip is....well, we leave on Tuesday. Yup. In just a few days. We (my mom and I) are going to be in Rome for a few days to take in the sites. We are planning on hitting the main tourist attractions there and I do plan on taking lots of pictures. We will then leave on Sunday for Bulgaria and will hopefully be home before the end of the month. So, right now I'm cleaning and getting things ready. Still have a few things I need to get at the store, but everything should be ready by Tuesday. Hoping and praying that flying standby works out well and doesn't frustrate me...I will probably be reminding myself how much money we are saving by flying this way. I'm sad I will miss everyone at the Bulgarian adoptees reunion this year, but I know I will be meeting up with some of he families at different places over the next year.

Fun with kids

Had a great time hanging out with my nephews and niece.  We went to Legoland Discovery Center in the Chicago area, Madagascar 3 and to Fisher Nut Outlet store.  There was a little testing by the youngest, but we all had fun.  Some pics from Legoland....if you get a chance highly recommend it.

Miniland

The 4 kids together

The safari area was really neat

Some of the creations even were motorized

There were lego people on the beams as we walked upstairs

Totally loved this lego creation!

Star Wars and other fun characters

Even Santa

3 of the kids waiting for one of the rides

These were really cool...the tops are see through legos and there are lights inside that flickered like fire

Harry Potter

And Hagrid!

Waiting....

Waiting for news that the court decree has been released....yeah I know it has been more than 3 weeks since court.  Finally heard yesterday that the decree would be released today...still haven't heard that it has been released.  However, we are planning the pickup trip.  A family friend is being amazing and giving us his "buddy passes".  This is awesome, because instead of paying over $1700 per ticket we will be paying around $700 per ticket.  Yes, I know I'm really lucky that I'm getting these tickets.  It also means that we will be spending some extra time in Europe.  We are talking about spending a few days sight seeing in Rome and then a few extra days in Bulgaria.  Thought it would be nice for Maria to see some more of her country before leaving.  Oh, and we will most likely get to fly first class....this could be a lot of fun.

The only thing that makes me sad it that it will be just over 6 months between trips...that is just too long.  Especially for an older child who understands the process and time.  Hopefully the extra waiting won't be an issue for Maria.  I will still have about a month and a half of summer vacation left for bonding time and to help with learning English.  I'm also disappointed I won't get to see everyone at the Bulgarian Adoptee's reunion this year.  I know I had such a great time last year and really wanted Maria to meet everyone this year.  Oh well, next year will have to do and it will be here before I know it.

I'm also going to run to Chicago for a few days next week....completely last minute.  I get to take care of my honorary niece and nephews for a few days while their mom finishes up working at the Montessori school that the kids went to this past year.  So, I get to hang out with an 11 year old, 9 year old, 7 year old and 4 year old....this could be a lot of fun, although I'm wondering if I'm slightly nuts for taking care of them a week prior to the pick up trip.  Oh well, at least it will keep me busy and they are AMAZING kids. 

Well, that is the only news for now...nothing is completely 100% on travel until the Bulgarian agency has the decree.  Hopefully will know that by the end of the day.  Until then here is a picture of one of my newest projects that little miss Emilia will be sporting next year :)

Knitted bodice attached to cotton material skirt