It's a GIRL!

Sorry for the late post. BIG DAY! We had to go to court TWICE - 10:00 a.m. & 3 p.m. We may have had the most fastidious judge in the entire country of Kazakhstan. We really did not get put through the ringer - it was everyone else. Scott made his speech (BRAVO - his own kind of labor) and he was asked a few questions (when did we decide to adopt? why not adopt from the U.S.? when did we arrive in Kokshetau? when did we start visiting Alia? were we there every day?). I cried like a baby while I croaked out my few sentences.

Then the judge grilled the MOE representative (social worker?) and the doctor. The prosecutor couldn't have been more disinterested in all of this. He didn't ask us one question. The doctor did not have some paper the judge wanted. Our interpreter needed to present her actual English/interpreter diploma, not a copy. After all this, the judge said get the stuff and come back at 3. There was much rushing around the courthouse to try to figure out exactly what he wanted from the doctor. We waited in the cold, cold lobby wondering what the heck was happening. There was also some hope that we would not have to come back and could go straight to the hospital to pick up Alia as planned. No such luck.

We had to go back to the cottage without Alia. It was hard and I was really worried. I went upstairs and curled up in bed. We froze our tails off at the courthouse - the heat hasn't been turned on here yet. I could not get warm. I actually managed to sleep a bit. I felt numb inside and out.

We went back at 3. Everyone provided what the judge requested. He asked us about 3 times if there was anything else we wanted to add. I thought of flinging myself on the ground and begging him to grant our petition. But, that was probably not such a good idea. There was a new prosecutor this time and he was more disinterested than the morning one. People were visibly annoyed with the judge and his probing. Everyone said they supported the adoption and then the judge said he would be back in 10 minutes. 40 minutes later he returned. Thank goodness for our interpreter and the supremely nice court secretary. I was about to jump out of my skin. Apparently, he was drafting the 4 page decision in his office. When he returned, he read the entire statement.

He named us Alia's parents at the very end. Hooray!

We were rushed off to the hospital to pick her up (in Kokshetau, parents may take custody of the child during the 15 day appeal period). Everything happened so quickly because it was so late that we barely got pictures.

It still feels unreal to me after all the flights and our literal day in court. But, she is laying in a crib upstairs snoozing away. Alia is 15 days away from officially being our daughter. And, for that I am grateful.