Today we submit to court!

You must forgive the sporadic updates, and lack of video. It is a sketchy connection on a good day and I spend more time logging on than I do writing. With that out of the way, I have a few minutes before my bathroom turn and wanted to update some pictures of Marina's current home and also we finally got to play on the playground out side. It had rained and was really really grey, not like a rainy grey but blended with smog or something that made it almost dark outside so I wondered that we would ever get out of playing in the lobby of the orphanage and getting onto that cool little playground. Then yesterday afternoon a warm wind blew a bit of sunshine through and suggested that outside would welcome us after all:) We were originally given the hours of 9-12 and 4-6 for visiting but they soon asked if we could come at 10:30 in the am instead since Marina has speech and snack and likes those very much:) of course we complied so we are not killing ourselves trying to get out the door in the morning now. Between visits yesterday we went to the "wally-mall", the giant megastore that makes every mall in America look crummy, and went to the famed Mcdonalds where you can indeed get raspberry pie instead of apple. Evan was delirious as their happy meals do indeed have toys. We then went to ELC, the kids store educational learning center. Marina has blown past anything I brought to entertain her. She works puzzles and threads beads with precision. The doctor at the orphanage conveyed that only Marina's speech is delayed and everything else is on a typical track. This I believe. Marina was much more warmed up to me yesterday and chose my lap and my help on the puzzle, though I have no idea what the difference was. She did fuss at Tully for trying to help her and her independence is commendable. I cannot say enough that this is the orphanage of dreams. The children are loved and well taken care of. For Marina it would have been the dream before the nightmare had someone not come for her.
Yesterday a major hurdle was cleared for us, the social worker has given us her approval. Today we all trudge to the judge and face another unknown adventure. We will be finished early Marina (facilitator) thinks but we will then go straight to the orphanage for our morning visit. We are unable to add another child to our journey at this time for various reasons so to say I am disappointed would be an understatement. It would have been so much easier to go through this jealousy thing with Evan one time and I feel that we will never have this chance again. I can say so much more but there is no point and we will focus on Marina and Evan and not those left behind.
The picture of the double doors and blue building is Marina's orphanage. I sure wish I could upload a video because her laughter is precious and she was sure generous with it on the play ground! She and Evan do really really well on the playground and they are getting more on balance with each other Evan is enjoying her more and realizes two on a see saw sure work better! Will post more when the internet is agreeable.