August 13 Update

HEY! Sorry we haven't been able to get to email. We are staying at the camp and of course there is no email there. We had court on Tuesday but the camp director would not allow us to bring the girls into town and thus no email. Today we didn't ask, so we will probably get chewed out when we return, but who cares at this point.

We are fine, but the judge is giving us fits. The "10 minute" hearing on Tuesday lasted for 2.5 hours, and then he set the next date for Today, not yesterday as we expected. Today was 6 hours-he is driving us nuts. Even the court translator said he is "not right" in the head. He kept us until 6:00 and then said he would announce his decision tomorrow am. So we will find out tomorrow, but we think we are ok. He told Edward flat out that he would not approve our case without a bribe, which we decided to pay. It is cheaper than coming back later for an appeal. The system here is very, very corrupt and we hate to feed it, but feel like we have no choice.

By the way, we are getting both girls. Vika never said anything about not coming and has been a really good sport. Irra is concerned about her boyfriend and not seeing him again but I think she will be ok. They came both days and were really, really great. It was very long and boring for them and also I think difficult to hear over and over that they had no family, no one here wants them, they have "mental delay" etc.

I told them that Greg is leaving in the morning to go back to Kiev and then the US and that they would have to take care of me at the camp and they both said "of course!" They are having fun teaching me Russian. Also, our bags got lost and finally showed up here about 2 hours ago. I am very excited to have fresh clothes and my other things. Greg is excited about having to haul all of his stuff back to the US tomorrow!

Please pass this on to the family. We will try to get through the rest of our email tonight, but we have the driver and the girls waiting on us so not much time. Just mainly wanted to give you an update. Greg will try to email tomorrow from Kiev if he can, but I will be out of touch by email until the 25-27th. My new phone number is 380-99-688-7028. You can try me tomorrow (Friday) around 8:00 your time and I will have the final court decision by then too.

Gotta run. Please make sure to get word to the boys and mom and dad for us. Tell them we are fine and love and miss them. Ask Joshie if he likes practicing in his pads. I can't wait to see them all again!! And Daddy will be home soon.

Thanks again. Love you !!

Sheri & Greg