Day 2 - The US Embassy in Russia

After sleeping for 9 hours thanks to my Tylenol PM

I woke up extremely thirsty. 

Remember 

they don't let you bring water on the plane

and we didn't make it to a store 

so I had no water to wake up to. 

This is a big deal to me.

We did get two bottles of "free" water a day 

with our hotel room but we had both drank those the night before. 

So I was on a hunt for some water. 

You know how some people are addicted to coffee? 

Well, I am addicted to water. 

In the lobby of the hotel there was a food counter

where they had premade sandwiches and you could order

drinks and coffee and such. 

I saw they had a liter of water and asked to purchase it. 

I had no idea what the conversion of rubles to dollars was yet

so when I paid 450 rubles it did not hit me 

that I had just paid almost $15 for a liter of water. 

For those who really know me you know that I am 

one of the cheapest people around and wasting that much 

money on water just about killed me. 

Our hotel lobby was really nice but smelled like smoke. 

This is because the restaurant allowed people to smoke in there

even though you were not allowed to smoke in the hotel. 

The problem is that the smoke escaped through the opening of the 

restaurant into the lobby where I spent most of my time

because that was the only place you got free wifi.  

At one point I asked what it would cost to get wifi

in the room and it was basically the cost of the hotel room. 

So that was not an option. 

After checking in with friends and family 

I went back up to the room to make myself some instant oatmeal

with my $15 bottle of water. 

I also ate my canned mandarin oranges that I was

harassed about during my security check at the airport. 

I knew no liquids were allowed to go in your carryon bags

but forgot that canned oranges would be considered liquid. 

Fortunately for me they allowed me to keep them 

as they were a huge staple food for breakfast. 

Our appointment with the US Embassy was not until 

3:00 p.m. so we had lots of time to just hang out. 

Around 2:00 p.m. we went to the front desk to 

see if they could help us figure out how to get to the Embassy. 

We were told it was within walking distance and 

figured an hour would be plenty of time. 

The front desk pulled out a Moscow map for us and 

showed us where we were and where we needed to get to. 

It looked simple enough. 

We just needed to go right when we existed the hotel and 

then right again then walk straight to a big main street turn left and the Embassy

would be on the right. 

It was supposed to be about 15 minutes away so we waited until

2:15 p.m. to leave so we wouldn't be too early. 

It was very cold out to this California girl but 

I had warm socks and boots and really only my face was cold. 

We got to the first main road and I asked Renee if she thought it was it. 

I am horrible at reading maps so I was sure we were there already. 

It wasn't so we continued on.

Renee's map reading strengths were much better than mine
but I had something to add to the team and that was
I had no fear of asking people questions even if I didn't speak their language.  

The next major street was 8 lanes across and as we turned left

I wondered how on earth we were supposed to cross it. 

I did not see any crosswalks and there was no way

I was playing chicken with 8 lanes of 65 miles an hour cars. 

We spotted the Embassy across the street and 

still had no idea how we were getting across to it. 

I was sure there had to be some sort of tunnel or bridge but 

did not see one. 

Finally I saw a girl and her mom coming up some stairs 

so I stopped them and gestured about how to cross the street. 

Fortunately, the young girl spoke English and asked me 

what street we were looking for. 

When I told her we just needed to cross the street I am 

sure she was thinking "stupid American" 

as she pointed to the stairs she had just come up and said 

"Just go down these stairs, turn right and then up the other stairs".

When I told this story to our very friendly English speaking airport driver he told me the young girl 

was probably excited to be able to use her English on a native speaker. 

So I am going to go with that instead of her thinking I was just plain stupid that

I didn't even see the HUGE blue signs that show the stairs. 

Now before you laugh too hard at me I want you to 

realize I have never been to any major cities other than LA 

and I take my car when I go. 

So this walking everywhere was a new experience for me and one

that actually made me lose 7 pounds while I was there. 

After we figured out how to cross the street we got to the Embassy. 

We had been told to go to the south gate entrance. 

Being we had no idea which direction we were heading we just stopped

at the entrance that said American Citizens. 

Because hey, that is what we are. 

(See that doorway. That is NOT the entrance we want but it is the first one we went to)

Now, little did we know that the guys dressed as Russian guards who 

stand outside the building do not work for the Embassy and 

they do not speak English. 

But they are more than happy to ask for your passport and take it 

away for a good 7 minutes and then come back and point to the sign 

that says appointment needed and only between 

9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

We kept saying we had an appointment with Kelly Billingsley 

at 3:00 p.m.  and they kept pointing to the sign to call. 

Finally they told us to just stand there and we waited again until they let us in. 

Renee kept saying she thought we needed to go down further to the next gate where

she had gone to get her son's visa. 

After they let us in someone scanned all our stuff and

 took our cameras and phones.

Then we went to a window where they spoke very little English only

to find out we were not in the right place. 

They pointed to where Renee said she thought we needed to go. 

Now we only had 10 minutes before our appointment. 

So we hurried and shoved everything back in our bags

and I didn't bother to bundle back up with gloves or hat. 

Bad Idea. 

We went through the whole routine again with the guards taking our passports. 

They were much faster this time and just let us in. 

But once in we found out we were again in the wrong place. 

This time we had someone who spoke English but they seemed bothered by us. 

I asked where the south entrance was and told them we had an appointment with 

Kelly Billingsley and he just pointed and said it is down there to the right back towards

the entrance we had just come from. 

It was now 3:00 p.m. 

We were supposed to arrive a few minutes early for the appointment and 

we still had no idea where it was.   

We walked to the end of the building and of course there were more Russian guards

to greet us. 

I am sure they were all getting a kick out of the two stupid Americans who 

could not figure out where they were supposed to be. 

We asked where the south entrance was and they pointed down the 

side of the building. 

But once we started walking the building turned into apartment buildings

and Renee did not think that was the right direction. 

So back we went to stand in front of the first entrance we were at 

originally as I tried to figure out how to call the number on the building. 

I tried every +7 number I could think of to get enough numbers before 

the one on the building but nothing worked. 

I called Julia, our journalist, to see if she could help and 

then an English speaking person came outside of the Embassy 

and the guards pointed to us so she asked how she could help us. 

We explained once again we had a meeting with Kelly Billingsley 

at the south entrance. 

She said go down and turn right and look for the American flag. 

I was ready to go back to the hotel. 

I was frozen as I had no gloves on and no hat and 

it was around 5 degrees outside. 

That is when the Embassy called to say we had an appointment 20 minutes ago. 

We were so grateful to them for calling us and telling us how to find them. 

We figured out the building was past the several apartment buildings but not attached
to the first building in anyway.

(This is where we were supposed to be)

I am so grateful to the Embassy for being willing to have the meeting even though we 

were so late. 

I wish I could report that they had something wonderful to share with us 

but they did not. 

They were much more friendly than the DOS though and 

seemed to have a little more compassion. 

We were told over and over again that they had all tired to speak with 

their Russian counterparts about the ban but they refused to allow the topic to be brought up. 

As far as the Russian government is concerned there is nothing to discuss and 

we all just need to go away and stop talking about it. 

They did speak to Renee more about her case but I am not posting about that here

as it is not my story to tell and I am not sure how much Renee wants in public. 

I think I look scared to death in this photo but I may be just frozen. 

Everyone in the meeting wished us well and said to let them know if they could do anything

else for us. 

I told them I was there now to help raise awareness about the children 

with disabilities and see if I could help find Natasha a family. 

Really that is the only hope she has left. 

There have been some advocates working very hard in Russia for the children

and some of them are being placed in homes now. 

We had another meeting we needed to get to by 6:00 p.m. 

I am so grateful that Renee had her interpreter from her last adoption 

come to Moscow to spend time with us as there were several times we would have been
so lost without her. She was meeting us at the hotel to take us to our next appointment.

We made it back to our hotel with no issues and 

had mastered the underground walkway. 

Renee's interpreter, Elena, and Elena's husband met us at the hotel 

and took us to our next appointment. 

We had been asked by a friend to meet with Boris Altshuler. 

He works for Rights of the Child in Russia

and had recently submitted a proposal to the Geneva Convention 

asking that a special needs amendment be added to the law. 

I am so glad we were driven there as now it was dark and even more cold. 

Plus we would have never found the place on our own. 

Boris was a little more pushy than I would like. 

We told him our stories but he definitely had his own agenda. 

He wanted to know who all our media contacts were and 

he wanted us to contact them right now. 

He basically told Renee that her little guy did not

really tear up after the DC meeting but that instead he was loving all the media attention. 

Since Renee's child is not considered special needs he didn't

really seem interested in anything she had to say. 

I still think he has a good heart and wants to help the children but these two 

tired American moms were not in the mood to be pushed around. 

So in good all American fashion I told a white lie. 

We had been there an hour and it was now 7:00 p.m. 

I had not eaten since my oatmeal and oranges and was starving. 

So I interrupted him to tell him we had another meeting. 

I was trying to escape without much fuss but then he asked who 

the meeting was with and what time it was at to which I replied "our media contacts at 7:30 p.m." 

and told him I would connect him with them after the meeting. 

I was really planning on connecting them with him but just needed to go and eat

right then. 

He still talked as we tried to get out the door but we were finally out of 

there by 7:15 p.m. 

Once we were in the car Elena asked where are next meeting was. 

When I said it was wherever we were going to eat she stared at me strangely and 

said "there is no meeting?"

I replied "No, I just needed to get out of there to go eat".

She responded

"oh my, I really believed you had another meeting"

I really believe Boris is trying to help the children and I did make sure 

my Russian journalist contacts got his information and I also 

made the Washington Post guy promise he would mention him in my article

so I don't feel too terribly bad for my escape out of there. 

He also wanted to know why we as parents had not done more to make

our government do something about the ban. No matter how hard

we tried to tell him we had done everything possible according to him

we had not done enough. 

I certainly did not feel like arguing after traveling close to 20 hours to get to 

a freezing cold country to see if there was anyway to help the little girl I love

to hear I had not done enough to make my government help me out. 

Again, I think he has a good heart for the children but 

I was done being verbally abused and beyond ready to eat. 

In case anyone would like to read the proposal here are the

 links in English and in Russian. 

And if anyone reading this has any bright ideas on how to make the American 

Government make the Russian Government accept this by all means go right ahead 

and take it on. 

Next we got back to the hotel and decided to try and walk to find something to eat. 

We found a Korean type restaurant and I had some sort of cheese quesadilla 

and noodles with chicken. 

It wasn't great but I was so hungry at that point I didn't care.

We went back to the hotel lobby for a few minutes to check in with family 

as it was 8:30 p.m. our time which meant for my family it was

8:30 a.m. PST. 

After Face timing and checking email we decided to head out in the car

and do some sight seeing. 

We were looking for sky scrapers and laughing at all the 

smoke stacks there were in Russia. 

 After spending 6 days in Moscow I have to say 

this California gal is glad to live in the Nanny State where they 

have insane amount of rules about this type of pollution. 

My lungs had a really hard time dealing with all the smoke. 

Day 1 - The Flight to Moscow

After the adoption ban 

I wasn't sure if I would ever return to Russia. 

There really would be no reason to go back 

if I would never be allowed to see Natasha again. 

But during the year long ban 

I begin to meet many Russian friends. 

People who really cared about the orphans in their country. 

I would talk to them about what was going on 

and what we could do to help. 

I met several journalist online and 

would follow their stories. 

I even had a few interview me. 

It soon became clear that the everyday Russia Citizen 

had lost interest in the adoption ban story 

 along with the Russian orphan. 

My journalist friends joked with me about coming to Moscow. 

Or at least I thought they were joking. 

Then we started to seriously discuss it. 

They needed a new spin on the story. 

Something different to report so newspapers would be willing to publish it. 

Again it was brought up that I should seriously think of going to Russia. 

Considering how much I hate to fly and travel 

this was not something I thought about lightly. 

But if my getting my fat butt on a plane was news worry and could 

help even one child find a Russian family 

I decided it was worth the cost. 

I spoke with a few other moms who were stuck in the ban 

and invited them along. 

One was crazy enough to decide to go with me. 

That was Renee. 

She had been trying to adopt the biological sibling of the little boy she had adopted

6 years ago. 

They had been in the process of trying to adopt him for almost 5 years but 

because of some corruption in the region he was in they 

had been postponed 9 times. 

So we decided to go together to see what we could accomplish. 

My husband was kind enough to take the day off and drive me to LAX on January 22nd. 

I made sure to arrive in plenty of time as LAX is not known for getting you 

through security very fast. 

So I had time to eat lunch while I waited to board my plane. 

I also had time to exchange some money for Rubles.
Or as I refer to it "funny money"
It really does look like play money.

It is a little scary to do this as you hope you are getting the right amount of  money.

I really would not have known if they ripped me off. 

When the plane arrived it was at the same gate as when Steve

 and I flew to St. Petersburg. 

It was going to be almost exactly the same flight except

I would be flying from Amsterdam to Moscow instead of St. Pete. 

It was a weird feeling to know I would be stuck next to a complete

stranger for the next 11 hours. 

Fortunately I sat next to a woman and her daughter that were traveling home 

to Holland after vacationing for a month in the states. 

They were very friendly and curious as to why I would be flying to Russia

in the dead of winter. 

It's not exactly high tourist season in Moscow right now

and strange for a California girl to be leaving 75 degree weather to 

go freeze in -2 degree weather. 

I also made a new Russian friend while standing in line to board the plane. 

She had been visiting her boyfriend and was very sad that he did not 

propose while she was in America. 

She was in tears while we were waiting to board and worried she would 

not be able to find the gate in Holland to get back to Russia. 

I told her she could wait for me when she got off the plane and I would 

help her find our gate. 

She was very thankful and proceeded to ask me all sorts of 

questions about how to get a job in America. 

I learned some interested facts during this trip. 

Well, not exactly sure they are facts but they were information 

according to my new found Holland friends. 

Apparently, people from Holland do not adopt from Russia 

and according to this particular woman they all adopt from China 

because Chinese orphanages are the worst ones out there. 

There was no way of convincing here that Russia has some horrible orphanages too. 

I landed in Holland and had about 2 hours before my next flight. 

Renee and I had arranged to fly together from Holland to Moscow so my 

new Russian friend and I headed off to find our gate and Renee. 

There is one thing I do not like about Amsterdam Airport

and that is each gate has it's own security and seating area. 

You may not sit down in the area until about 1 1/2 hours before the plane leaves

and there is no where else to sit while you wait unless you go get something to eat.

After we found our gate I decided I needed to go purchase some water. 

Another issue I have with flying is you can't bring your own water and they charge you 

a fortune to purchase it in the airport. 

Plus, in Amsterdam you are not allowed to open the water

and take it out of the sealed bag showing your flight number until 

after you board the plane. 

After purchasing my water I decided to find a place to check my email. 

In this airport you have to pay 3 Euros to get 15 minutes of internet connection. 

I wanted to check in with my family and let them know I arrived. 

I was having all sorts of issues with the very slow running internet

and my security and passwords on things like my email 

and Facebook were not working well. 

They wanted to text me a code and I could not receive text in a foreign country. 

Then FB would allow me on if I could identify 5 FB friends pictures. 

The problem was that the pictures were of random things like dogs, cats, children

and so on and so on and even if they would have been of my friends

I don't know half of what they look like. 

Anyway, I ended up finally guessing correctly and got to be 

on FB just long enough to post I had landed in Amsterdam. 

Renee also happened to walk by and notice me so we finally met each other in real life. 

Renee told me she got a coffee at Starbucks and 30 minutes of 

wifi for the cost of her coffee. 

I decided that on the way home that was the better way to go. 

Next we would make a quick stop to the potty before getting on the plane. 

While I was washing my hands a woman came up to me and starting speaking to me

in Russian. I shrugged my shoulders and said "English" 

To which she replied "Oh, English only" and shook her head. 

Little did  I know she would provide some great drama before boarding our flight. 

Next we went to our gate and through security together and checked in. 

Soon after came the bathroom lady. She was yelling and screaming at 

the TSA employees. 

Her companion finally got her settled down and placed in a quiet corner

and we figured that was the last of the drama. 

But we were wrong. 

As they started boarding our flight we could hear someone 

kicking and screaming in Russian. 

I think we were the only two people who did not speak Russian 

so we have no idea what she was saying. 

All we knew was we were really hoping she was not allowed on the flight. 

Fortunately for all involved we did not hear from her again. 

Our flight to Moscow was uneventful and we were truly 

impressed with the newly remodeled Sheremetyevo International Airport. 

It was huge, clean and super efficient. 

LAX could take some serious lessons from the SVO airport.  

Going through customs took no time at all and our luggage 

came off the same time we did. 

We grabbed our stuff and a free cart to haul all of it and were off to find out driver. 

I had brought a 3rd suitcase with me to put orphanage donations in

so it was a little harder for me to manage everything. 

Our driver was waiting for us when we stepped out of baggage claim. 

He went to get the car while we suited up for the frigid cold air outside. 

Our driver was not sure which Marriot we were staying at. 

All I could tell him was that is was the courtyard Marriot City Center

and was located at 7 V something street. 

I didn't think to bring the address because I figured there would just 

be one of them. 

Apparently I was wrong but the 7 V something street did help us get to the right place. 

If there wasn't that sign at the end of the building I would have had no idea

there was even a hotel here. 

The plan was to stay with Maria, one of the journalist. 

This was supposed to help us cut down on cost. 

But Maria was 9 months pregnant and due to have a C-section 

the day before we were schedule to leave.

We decided it would be better to get a hotel room instead of imposing
ourselves on some poor pregnant woman. 

We were fortunate to have a few Marriott rewards points

to help absorb some of the insane cost of this place. 

By the end of our trip we were very grateful for the location 

so it made it worth the cost. 

We were able to meet with Julia and Maria 

and to have dinner the first night together. 

After seeing the cost of the in hotel restaurant I decided 

my bringing Cup of Noodle soup had been a very good idea. 

Julia and Maria talked to us about what we wanted our stories to be about. 

They pretty much told us that the chances of Russia ever letting the children 

be adopted by Americans was slime to none until Putin or Obama 

were out of office. 

We had already knew that when we decided to come but we also 

knew that there was not much interest in the orphan crisis by 

Russian citizens. 

They talked to me about trying to find a Russian family for Natasha. 

I told them I thought that was a wonderful idea but was worried if the 

family would have the resources to help her out or would 

end up returning her to an orphanage. 

Contrary to popular belief that happens much more frequently 

in Russian than it even does in America. 

Right now Natasha is in the best orphanage in Russia. 

I wanted to make sure I would end up making things better for her 

and not worse. 

Of course I believe every child deserves a family

but wanted to make sure the family would have someway to take care of her 

when she turned 18. 

That she would still be allowed to attend her school and 

get the physical therapy she was getting now. 

It was hard to think about how she could have had all these at home

with me but that the only way she might receive it in Russia 

is if she stayed where she was at. 

At first everyone thought I was crazy to think an orphanage might be 

better than an ill prepared Russian family. 

Then I showed them this video and they understood that I was 

not joking when I said it had a computer lab and Olympic size swimming pool. 

That is was where they trained their special needs Olympians. 

Now I would like to preface this before you watch the video.

1. This is the only orphanage of it's kind in Russia or anywhere that I know of.
2. This is not at all typical of a Russian orphanage and there are some very bad ones out there.
3. Even though Natasha is in a very nice place her director has written a letter to the
European Human Courts for us letting them know he thinks she would be better off with our family.
4. Natasha still has institutionalized behaviors where she rocks and does not cry when hurt badly.
5. She desperately looks as though she needs glasses and I am not sure why they have not worked on that.
Maybe she just won't keep them on and it is too hard to make 20 children do what they need to.
6. There is no guarantee that she will get to stay there after she turns 18. She could be transferred
to a horrible mental institution instead.

So after my journalist friends watched this they understood why I was a little 

reluctant to find Natasha just any Russian family. 

I am by no means suggesting we are better than a Russian family. 

We would just have more resources available to us

and we had a plan for what to do when Natasha became an adult. 

So it was suggested to me that Downside Up be used as sort of a consultant 

to help families determine if they could properly care for Natasha.

Downside Up is a wonderful organization that is providing service
to families so they can keep their children instead of feeling
hopeless like they have to abandon them to orphanages.

One of the best ways to help children with DS in Russia right now is to support
this organization. You can do so by liking their FB page
and making a small donation if possible.

I am convinced the best way to stop the orphan crisis is to find a way
to help families that want to stay together do so.

That is exactly the goal of Downside Up.
To provide services and support for the families who keep their
children with DS and to encourage others to do the same.

I even suggested that maybe a family could use the orphanage as a boarding 

school since many families did that already. Not all the children who live 

there are orphans. 

I have no idea if this will work or not but it still saddens me that this bright little 

girl will never know the love of a family. 

She will spend the rest of her life growing up in a room with a row of beds

where no one comes when you cry out at night and the night people who care

for you are different than the day people. 

But the choice was made to give it a try. 

To go on Russian TV and beg someone to find value and to see 

the potential in this little girl's life.

To explain that she would be difficult to take care of
but that she had so much to offer in return.  

I went to bed by taking two Tylenol PM's at 1:00 a.m. and slept until 

10:00 a.m. the next morning. Praying I have made the right decision. 

Hello From Russia

I really wanted to blog about my trip to Russia 

but have had limited internet access and

have been extremely busy. 

So for now, 

basically all you will get is 

Hello From Russia. 

I have come to speak with journalist and reporters

to see if we can find a family to adopt Natasha. 

I have had so many positive experiences with the Russian Citizens

while I have been here. 

And

I took my first subway/metro ride today

with no Russian speakers to accompany me.

Just look at this map and be impressed that I made it to 

my destination and back. 

Especially considering I have never rode a subway before

not even in English. 

Nevermind I cannot get pictures to upload to my blog from my iPad. 

See this is why I have not wanted to blog from here. 

So I will have to wait until I get home to tell you all about my adventures in Russia. 

Of course I will be sharing all articles written about me here too. 

I have to say it has been very emotional for me to be in Russia and 

not to see Natasha. 

That would not be fair to her as she would wonder why I cannot take her home

so I did not even ask the orphanage if they would let me come. 

Plus I have heard it is illegal to visit her and I would 

not want to every get her orphanage in trouble. 

I was able to visit Downside Up today and plan on coming home and 

helping to raise funds for their organization 

so that more biological families have the opportunity 

to keep their children with Down syndrome. 

I will never be sorry for taking this trip. 

I have done my best to bring awareness that there are many 

children with disabilities caught in the ban 

and to help the concerned Russian citizens 

bring awareness to the needs of the children stuck in the orphanages. 

So stay tuned.......

The Tale of the Christmas Hats or Operation Riding Hood

This is the story of the love of a mom and lots of Russian citizens who were determined to bring Christmas gifts to a little orphan girl and her friends despite the rulings of a Russian President who signed a law to keep them apart. 

I will give you the short version of the story here but please read and look at the pictures below for the long version of the story even though it is in Russian with Google Translate to help tell it. 

Since I knew that there was no way Natasha would be home for her Birthday or Christmas again this year, I was determined to send some sort of gift to her. 

I thought long and hard about what I should send. It couldn't be too heavy because shipping is very expensive and it had to be somewhat practical because she lives in an orphanage where everything is shared. 

I found a blog where two teenage girls make silly hats to raise money for orphans and fell in love with the idea. I also wanted to send a dress for the New Year Celebration since she would not be home to wear it for Christmas.

Friends volunteered to purchase a hat because I needed to get 10 of them for the group and pay for shipping too. I am so grateful to those who helped purchase the hats. 

My next problem was I was running out of time to get them shipped. 

The girls made the hats super fast and I asked for opinions on FB for the best way to ship them. 

That is when Maria told me there was no way they would make it by Natasha's birthday as they would get stuck in customs. I was sick thinking about missing her birthday and Christmas once again. 

That is when Maria got this brilliant idea. She would put out a request on FB and ask if anyone was traveling from the US to Moscow anytime before Christmas. She said she would figure out how to get them to St. Petersburg after that and she would ask the director of the orphanage permission to do a news story on it. 

What happened next amazed me. So many Russian citizens coming forward to help but not until after Christmas. My heart was broken as I was desperate to get them there by Christmas. 

The little hats and dress went on a very exciting journey. I overnighted them from Southern California to Northern California where a man I had never met or talked to put them in his suitcase to fly with him to Warsaw Poland. There was a lady having a meeting with people from Moscow there. I am told the hats then got on a plane with another person in Poland to fly to Moscow. From there Maria picked them up and found someone to take them on the train from Moscow to St. Petersburg. 

The journalist took them to the orphanage on December 24th and the story of their time with the children is written below. 

I will never forget the kindness of strangers who helped make my Christmas one of the best I have ever had. To see the smile on the children's faces and to know they received extra attention that day is a gift that I will never forget. 

Maybe one day someone will write the tale of the Christmas Hats to remind the world there is still peace on earth and goodwill toward men. You just have to know where to look for it even in a crazy international adoption ban. 

Google translation below

http://novayagazeta.spb.ru/2013/98/1

Without mom

Exactly one year ago, on December 28, Vladimir Putin signed "antisirotsky law." Because of this law a little Lera, which could become a happy girl, still lives in an orphanage. Chance that someone will love her as an American love Katrina, no

Of course, eight-Leray elegant dress could easily buy in St. Petersburg. And then Katrina Morris would not have to look absolutely crazy opportunity - from California to Washington, from Washington to Warsaw, from Warsaw to Moscow, from Moscow to St. Petersburg - only managed to gift for Christmas. But she wanted to choose a dress blond girl, her invalid daughter. Incidentally, burgundy dress with a red belt, which flew to the orphanage just in time, sitting on the Leray as if they were together with Katrina tried on him. And American bought ten funny knitted hats - Lerin girlfriends. (Correspondents "New" became the last link in an operation codenamed "caps." We met at the Moscow station parcel and had to take her to an orphanage Leray.) 

Summer 2012. Katrina with Leroy sit on the swing and still have no idea what awaits them

The new dress with a red strap Lera could not stop looking at yourself

Operation "Riding Hood" was successful. Gifts for Lera, Christina, Myra and other kids flew from California to St. Petersburg. Photos from this festival, we sent back to California Katrina Morris

Katrina
   Katrina Read this page in facebook is impossible without tears. In November 2012 it is still fun to share with friends stories about what they tons of paper with her ​​husband had collected. "I hate flying, I do not like foreign food and unknown places. But there's my daughter "- she writes, not knowing how it would be. Leroux expected not only Katrina and Stephen, but their four children: three sons and a teenage stepdaughter.

   Couple wants to call a girl Natasha. "She has a birthday on December 19 and she looks like a Christmas baby. And its adoption would be for her as a new birth, "- writes Katrina.

   In December, everything changes. Duma has already passed a law of Dima Yakovlev third reading, but Putin has not yet signed it. December 27 Katrina meets friends who are trying to encourage her: "Miracles do happen, but this is unlikely. All we can do now is pray that we will be allowed to complete the adoption. "

   Prayers have not helped. The next day, December 28, Russian President signs "antisirotsky law." "It hurts like hell when I understand that I may never see her again and she'll never know love, family."
   But Katrina did not give up. She collects signatures, appeals to U.S. senators, asking them to pray to Obama, that though he got through to his Russian colleagues.

   It liaises with children's home in St. Petersburg, where he lives Lera, and devotes her poetry: "I do not want to be someone, who go so easily. I will not abandon you. " A year later, on the eve of Lerin birthday, she is still waiting for the little girl, although he understood that more than likely never see her again.

   "I would love Russian family that would take Natasha, but we were told - its chances of adoption are extremely small . She was lucky though because it is in a very good location "- sadly she says.

House   Lera Down syndrome, so she lives in a boarding number 1 for children with intellectual disabilities.Despite the heavy title, this is a very beautiful house.    We come during quiet hours, and while the kids are asleep, director Valery Asikritov leads us beautifully renovated building, shows a huge decorated Christmas Tree in the auditorium where caregivers rehearse matinee: in everyday clothes dancing call Santa Claus and dance in a circle. "This is what we now went over when dance led, and tomorrow there will be children in wheelchairs and everything will be different," - explains Maiden. The house smells delicious food and comfort. Everyone we meet in the hallways, smiling.    Valery, of course, proud and renovated, and the tree, and excellent food, which is prepared his team. But he is a very kind person, so admits a good family children still better. A year wanting to take Leroux among Russians was not found.    "History Lera - exception. No potential parents of these children do not. In all the years that I've been working only in the 90s, Americans adopted a boy. And a year and a half ago, the woman took the two custody "- says Valentina Popova, Deputy Director. After Lera and her friends not only Down syndrome, but the mass of comorbidities - the eight-year Natasha optic atrophy (because of poor eyesight she feels the interlocutor), in a five-year Worlds bowel problems, she was silent, smiling and occasionally grabs his tummy .    of the two hundred pupils home one hundred thirty orphans with living parents. And in turn, according to Valentina Popova, worth almost another forty children. Most often single mothers ask them to pick up in a boarding school, because I do not have time to work and care for the child. They could visit the children, taking them on vacation, but in almost all group Lera - refuseniks. To the World, for example, occasionally comes grandmother, mother and father of the girl refused.

Lera    Quiet time ends and running towards us Lera. She hugs everyone asks her to wander, leads visitors along. Seeing the dress, it immediately puts. Long walks through all caps and selects one for a photo shoot - boys with stripe «S», which means "Superman." She likes to be the center of attention, like to chat, meet people, like to be beautiful.    Lera stubborn fighting and endlessly amusing. If she wants to her circled or used on the hands, it will stand any competition from others wanting to discourage, but soar.    Nadezhda, educator, says that in March, they will put the fairy tale "The Fox, Rabbit and Rooster." Roles have been distributed. As children barely speak (only certain syllables and short words "yes" or "no"), all the characters, including the Spring and Sunny will play through movement. Fox will perform the role of a girl from another group - she says. Leray got the role of the Cockerel, which helps drive Zaika Fox.    Christina came to us she silently puts on one of the caps, sees a piece of paper, a pencil requests, sits on the carpet and begins to draw. Nadezhda says Christina calm but very touchy, "Whatever you say, immediately sponge puff up."    In Worlds very beautiful eyes and long eyelashes. The world loves it when she is being held in his arms. Adult she looks very intently. As long and calmly looks at his reflection in the large Christmas tree toys. "They need to feel that they are loved. That's all, "- says the educator.    To get from the rooms to the assembly hall, you have to climb to the second floor. Of the girls with the teacher leaves the elevator, part goes peshochkom. Christina, a tiny, with short hair, in a pink dress, lying one of the first. Girl in front of her light can not overcome the last four stage. Christine rushes to her for help. Light from helping proudly refuses, saying that myself.    Assembly hall Sasha shoe drops. Lera immediately rushes to her and starts to pull on her shoes.    dancing girls, photographed in hats, playing with white balls similar to snow. And each is trying to draw attention to themselves. They repeat the movement for you, touch you again and ask them to wander.

Finals    getting dark, we go to court.Before us is a swing on which a half years ago Leroy sat with his invalid mother and father. Then she had a huge blue bow tied. No snow, only withered grass circle. The decor is reminiscent of a children's summer camp, only sad.    "In the camp you know that two weeks back home. And here you will not get home ... never "- sighs colleague. 

So Many Stories

Remember a few post ago I told you about my new theme song

Brave?

I have been raising my voice a lot lately with the help of 

some amazing Russian journalist. 

They are the Brave ones. 

They are trying to raise awareness for the children 

left behind especially with the year anniversary of the ban. 

I have felt so honored to be interviewed by them 

and to have become good friends with two of them. 

I have lots to share but for right now I will just share the articles

I have been in recently. 

There is more to come. 

We are raising our voices together and it feels good to tell the 

Russian citizens about our amazing "EX REFERRAL" Natasha. 

You all know I mean our "daughter" Natasha but I put that in there just for my 

lovely troll who likes to make sure I know that I no longer have any legal claim to her. 

As if somehow I am just supposed to walk away and let her grow up in an institution without 

putting up some sort of fight. 

Anyway, back to the articles we have been interviewed for. 

They are all in Russian so you will need to use 

Google Translator unless of course you speak Russian. 

I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate the efforts

these women have put forth in fighting for the forgotten children. 

I don't think they ever sleep and they have to endure far worse trolls than I do. 

So from the bottom of my heart 

thank you Maria and Julia for helping the children have a voice. 

There are other journalist that have written about us but I do not know them 

personally but I thank them too. 

http://newtimes.ru/articles/detail/74937?sphrase_id=99250

http://www.aif.ru/society/people/1067747

http://www.newizv.ru/society/2013-12-24/194700-pasynki-rodiny.html

http://www.pravmir.ru/katrina-morriss-razreshite-natashe-rasti-v-seme/

and this last link is a letter we wrote to the children so they 

will know they were not forgotten.

http://www.mk.ru/social/family/article/2013/12/26/965376-nesostoyavshiesya-roditeli-v-ssha-ne-mogut-zabyit-detey-iz-rossii.html

So that is what I have been up to the past month along 

with making our video

Oh and one other thing that is still a secret and I can't share yet

but am really excited and nervous about. 

Tomorrow I hope to be able to share a Christmas Hat story with you. 

I am waiting for it to get published in a paper first 

but can't wait to share this amazing story either. 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays 

and

thanks for caring about my girl. 

Sending You A Little Christmas

Yesterday was Natasha's birthday

I spent the whole day working on a video 

that shows a lot of the children and families stuck in the Adoption Ban. 

I spent a lot of time crying yesterday looking 

at all the sweet faces that could be home enjoying Christmases and birthdays. 

A lot of the children that were originally matched with Americans have been placed in new homes. 

Some were adopted, some taken into foster care and some returned home to biological families. 

The publicity the ban has received has opened up the eyes of many in Russia 

and they are starting to open their hearts to adoption. 

This is a very good thing. 

There is no way foreigners would be able to adopt all the children in 

Russian orphanages. 

I have seen more publicity on organizations that help families keep their

children with special needs. 

That is really where the focus should be. 

While all these things are wonderful there are still children

stuck in orphanages that could be home right now. 

Natasha turned 8 years old yesterday. 

For 8 years now she has sat in an orphanage wondering where her family is. 

Then she finally finds one that wants her and her government will not

allow the adoption to continue. 

As families caught in the ban we have tried to get our President to 

negotiate on our behalf but he refuses to do so. 

Most Americans feel like the children are Russia's problem and 

they do not wish to help either. 

Some will come and comment that we have no business

adopting for Russia because of children that have been killed and abused here. 

I have no answers for all of these people. 

All I know is what is in my heart. 

And that is an 8 year old little girl that I met in July 2012. 

One that I love so much it brings me to my knees in a puddle of tears thinking of her along in an orphanage,

waiting for us to return just like the children in this video I made. 

Please watch and share this video. 

Pray for these children that they may be comforted and 

for the families that love them. 

We just want them to know they have not been forgotten. 

Natasha's Birthday

It is 8:00 a.m. in St. Petersburg, Russia.

That means it is Natasha's 8th birthday.

Last year on Natasha's birthday I made this video for her.

We were anxiously awaiting a court date and 

I was dreaming about what this years birthday would be like for her

when she would finally be home and

 have a family of her own.

Because of the adoption ban,

this year on her birthday I am finishing up a different video.

One that shows at least 30 families and

 children that are in the same position we are.

Wanting only one thing for Christmas that we know we can't have.

Happy Birthday my sweet little Natasha. 

I hope you enjoy the hats and dress we sent for you and your friends.

We love and miss you.