FINALLY!!!!!

Forget that this is the sixth time we've been to court, or that we first came to Kaz one year ago (March 8th officially marked our one year anniversary of this journey in country), BECAUSE today we were announced the legal parents of Ava Darina Letterneau!!!!!!!!!!!   I will save the really emotional, drawn out, post for the day we actually pick her up from the orphanage but we are thrilled beyond belief today!  Now for the details on part 3 of our court hearing.  Today the weather was pretty warm which meant pretty slushy conditions on the road to Cashiri.  I was worried the whole way that everyone would not make it b/c of the bad roads...but, everyone showed up right on time, and by on time I mean within an hour of our scheduled 9:00 hearing. :-) The prosecutor assigned to the case began by expressing his support of our adoption and confirmed that this was in the best interest of the child.  Next, the judge asked for any final comments from James and me before he announced his verdict (formally).  James stood and confirmed our intentions of adopting Ava and I was pretty much a ball of mush...all I could express was that we love her and that I was thankful that she is a part of our life.  The judge then announced that by the Republic of Kazakhstan, Darina _________(have no clue how to spell or pronounce her birth last name) is now Ava Darina Letterneau and that Kari and James Letterneau will appear as the legal parents on her birth certificate and all legal documents from here forward.  Since Sveta was translating and was standing between James and me, my first hug was for our lawyer, who was sitting in front of me, then to Sveta, and then to my wonderful husband!  WE DID IT!!!      
Here are some pictures of our day today and of the last few visits with the little sweetie!

TODAY - March 9th:

Our Team (from left the right) Svetlana (Orphanage Representative), Jana (Lawyer), Saule (Child Welfare Union Rep.), Kari (Ava's Mama), James (Ava's Dada), Sveta (Our wonderful, amazing, patient, coordinator and certified translator)

We would not have initiated this picture ourselves but Sveta asked us to pose in the judges chair and the secretary seat so, we did :-)

Our happy Ava D.
 

Women's Day - Monday March 8th:

Although today was incredibly exciting, it has been a rather rough week for James and I health wise.  I came down with a violent stomach flu on Friday night and didn't get out of bed until Monday (Don't worry, I made sure I was fully recovered before I saw Ava).  After I got well, James came down with a fever and is still on the mend.  So, on Women's Day it was just us women at the visit while Daddy stayed home to rest. 

Ava and I had a pretty relaxing visit.  We watched Beauty and the Beast and also played patty cake.  Since Ava can't speak yet I am trying to teach her how to do hand motions to songs I sing since she loves music, singing, and dancing so much.  This day was very special for me b/c one of Ava's caretakers gave me a Women's Day card which she translated from Russian to English.  Since she doesn't speak a lick of English I know this was a big task for her!

Thursday - March 4th - The last day we saw Ava before our sicknesses began!

YES!!  We made it through court.  Now, the 15 day count down begins!