The Third Time’s a Charm!

Well here’s the news you’ve all been waiting for- and no one more than us. While you peeps were eating your Thanksgiving turkey on Monday, we were being thankful for something very special too…. we are thrilled to report that it’s now officially a girl! This afternoon we’ve started the adoption proceedings on our little Mena. Sorry we kept this one under the table, everybody- but it went like this:

Last Thursday we found out that our 3rd appt would be Monday Oct 11th sometime in the afternoon. At this point, we were feeling so pessimistic about things, that we decided not to say a word to anyone until we had the appt, and knew if we would be booking flights home that evening. We just didn’t think we could take anymore messages of good luck and “think positive” etc, even though we know it’s all true and came with the happiest wishes. It’s just that when you live on a rollercoaster for so long, you don’t think you can stomach another up or down and it’s easier to retreat to lick your wounds for awhile.

Anyhow, Monday arrived after a weekend spent with the 2 other couples here in Kiev, having a pity party and fearing the worst. But it also felt pretty peaceful too, because whatever happened was going to happen- and the end was in sight. No more living in limbo. The chips were completely down. We arrived at the Dept office and waited in the hallway, while Xenia was like a cat on a hot tin roof- scooting in and out, speaking to a well dressed young man, going outside with him, coming back in. Finally it was our turn to go into the psychologist’s office, and Xenia whispered directions to follow Natasha’s lead. We sat down for the last time on the small beige couch and looked at all the binders on the bookshelf, wondering what was going to happen. I could see our dossier on Masha’s desk, while she & Natasha chattered away. Cell phones rang and were answered. Masha kept leaving the room and then coming back while we sat there, not quite sure about what was going on, though we knew something major was definitely going on. There was lots of talk about a fax they were waiting to come in. Masha began going through a different binder, and she stopped, and removed a page. I could see it was a boy who was about 5 years old and G-d forgive me, but both of us felt our stomachs sink to the floor; we chose Ukraine partially because of the blind referral system, and we really wanted a little girl . Natasha caught on immediately and remembered this- she asked Masha to wait- wasn’t there a little girl? A flurry of more phone calls and waiting. After about 15 long minutes she came back with a big smile, and showed Natasha a photograph. Natasha also smiled. Then she explained that Masha “officially” couldn’t show us the picture until she had received this fax, but she said, “She’s very cute.” At hearing the word “she”, both Ois and I were elated! The fax finally arrived and we were shown the very first photograph of a cute little girl with sandy hair and deep blue eyes- the girl who would be our daughter. It was an amazing feeling, to finally arrive at this moment after so much time and emotional energy- FINALLY we had seen the little face we had thought about and talked about so often!

We learned about her background, her family life, and where she was located in Ukraine- a beautiful town named Mukachevo, in eastern Ukraine, very near the Hungarian, Romanian and Slovakian borders.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mukachevo

We immediately accepted the referral on the spot, and bought the train tickets for a 14+hr journey from Kiev, which we would leave for on Wednesday (yesterday). Later that night we went out for a cheapie celebratory supper at the little Ukrainian restaurant around the corner with our friends to mark the occasion; they were thrilled for us.

It has been a very long day today, but one we’ll never forget. I’m going to keep you all in suspense until tomorrow, where I’ll tell you about meeting Mena for the first time, and all the great stuff that happened today. It was magic! Until then…

Congratulations to our parents, the new grandparents! And congratulations to my Grandma, who is now a great-grandma! And to my sisters, Michelle, Victoria & Janelle who are all Aunties, and to Dara & Ronan, the new Uncles!

Presenting Mena Devorah Grehan…

Daddy and Mena did *not* phone each other to colour-coordinate outfits, believe it or not…

Our first picture as 3!

And hey Mich, V and J… guess what?

SHE HAS THE PTASHNICK EYEBROW! ~screams~

LOLOLOL!