Trip Agenda

Things have really been moving along and we are just about 36 hours away from take off for Moscow. We just got packed and I am already wiped out and need to get some rest.

There have been a lot of "clerical errors" made over the last couple week to various paperwork items we need. It's really increased our stress levels as a result. These issues have been, or are close to being resolved, but each takes time and effort to push through various bureaucratic systems. In some cases I have had to be a lot more jerky than I like to be to get things moving. Getting ready for this trip seems far more stressful than any of Jason's trips. As time has passed, perhaps the memory of that part of the trips has faded. With that said, we are relieved to getting away from here and on to the next step.

Here's a schedule for our trip. If you followed the first adoption, this will be very similar once we get to Moscow.

Friday: Drive from Huntsville to Knoxville. Jason Alexei will spend the week with his grandparents, aunt and uncle, and cousins.

Saturday: Leave for Moscow. Fly from Knoxville to Atlanta - Moscow.

Sunday: Arrive in Moscow. Possibly have some office time. There are several couples in Moscow this week from our agency. Some have expressed interest in getting together, so we should have some company while we are there.

Monday: Meeting at the Ministry of Education. Receive referral in the morning. Travel to orphanage to meet the child in the afternoon. If we get the referral later in the day Monday, we won't meet the child until Tuesday.

Tuesday - Thursday: Orphanage visits?

Friday: Experience the Eight Doctor Medical. Remember this post from last time? This was a CRAZY day and something that seems unique to a Russian adoption. Lucky us! This was such a crazy day, I posted about it twice! There will be a few things different this time. We won't be going to President Putin's clinic, instead we'll be going to the American Clinic, which is staffed by Russian doctors so I don't know how they can call it the American Clinic. In addition to the new venue, there may be less pocking and prodding. We'll see. I am bummed Lori and Antoine won't be there to experience it with us.

If you don't know Lori and Antoine, they are our Houston friends we met in Moscow during our first adoption. They saved our bacon on trip two! We have managed to stay friends with them since our time together in Russia.

Saturday: Flight back to Atlanta & Knoxville.

Sunday: Drive back to Huntsville.

The flight from Atlanta to Moscow is 5380 miles (8658 km). Expected flight duration is 10.5 hours. Another factoid...Jason RARELY sleeps on planes. However, last adoption I learned the joy of sleeping pills. They really helped us adjust to the time differences.

That's all for tonight. Thanks for following along!