Day 23

Wow.  I'd say that I am at a loss for words, but we all know that is next to impossible.

First- Bryan and I cannot believe the outpouring of love, support, prayers, and well wishes that we've received from all of you.  Additionally, some of you are gathering research for us!  This is not normal, my friends.  To go above and beyond for a family that you don't even know...this is the stuff that miracles are made of, and we thank you for all of it.  I want to be able to personally thank every single one of you, but I just can't...there are too many, and we have such sketchy internet! But please know that we read every single one of your messages, and are uplifted by each one.

To put it mildly, we were pretty crushed yesterday.  We were in a dark place in this journey...wondering WHY...if everything had been cleared for us to follow this path for the last year...why were we sent here if it was simply to be told no?

But as I was reminded today, God doesn't send us out just to turn back again.  And as another friend said today, the road may not be smooth, but we're not in a ditch!  We're up against a roadblock, but we will get through it.

I'll admit to sampling some good vodka last night, as well as some great European chocolate, and perhaps an ice cream bar...and a good cry.  But this is all part of parenthood, right?  I've had to be an advocate for my children before, and even though Danya is not legally our child yet, he is in our hearts, and now is the time that he needs us to advocate for him.  And we will.  (Bryan doesn't want me to say that we're putting our Big Girl Panties on and are ready to fight.)

Secondly- We've had some questions about our plans from here on out.  Right now, we're just sitting tight until Tatyana submits our appeal on Wednesday, and then we are praying that we find out our court date by the end of this week.  Depending on what that timeline ends up being, we'll either wait it out or we may have to go home and come back.  Bryan's mom has been watching the kids with on and off again help for the last 3+ weeks, and is feeling the stress of taking care of 3 boys under age 6.  She's done an awesome job, but goodness knows, this isn't what she is used to!  Not to mention that even with the best care ever, our boys need their mom and dad back.  So, it may end up that we both come home, or I fly home and Bryan stays with Danya...we just don't know right now.

As far as finances go, we're good right now.  Again, we just have to wait and see.  So far, there will be no extra fees for our appellate court appointment.  Where we could possibly run into trouble is if we have to buy extra tickets for the trip home and back, or if we need to keep the apartment here for longer than we had anticipated.  But all of that is TBD.

On to the good stuff:

We visited Danya this morning, like normal.  I was afraid that they judge's decision would affect our ability to see him, but either it doesn't, or the orphanage director doesn't care.  Either way, I'll take it.

Danya must have that crazy 6th sense that Chase does, because when we got to the orphanage today, Bryan and I got the biggest, squeeziest hugs EVER from him.  I love when his pudgy cheeks mush up against mine when he gives those kind of hugs.

We needed that, bad.

And just because I have a great internet connection right now, here are some videos of Danya singing (this child constantly has a song in his head.  Valentin called him Michael Jackson today- ha!):

Onwards and upwards :)