Now A Family of 3

As of 12:29 PM Eastern Europe Standard Time (EEST), I am officially a new Daddy.  As most of you were still cozy in your beds, 5:29am EST, LA and I were eagerly listening to the judge read the final decision on our case.  As our translator said the magic word..."Approved"...my eyes began to swell with tears in absolute and overwhelming relief.  Nastya was finally ours.

The day started out well and only got better.  Surprising, I slept straight through the night without any tossing and turning.  So many times during this process, the uncertainty of each step created many sleepless and restless nights.  Over the past 10 months, I remember many a night waking up in the middle of the night from a bad dream about the process or my mind was going 100 mph and I couldn't shut things down and rest.  But last night, I had a peaceful sleep and woke up this morning knowing that all of you back home were praying for us and were thinking about us.

When I initially woke up around 6am, I felt an undeniable calmness and had no level of anxiety for the day ahead.   Per our normal protocol, I woke up a little earlier than LA and casually went about our morning.  We ate a light breakfast of oatmeal and a banana, our main morning staples on this trip.  With no Rachel Ray or Good Morning America to watch and keep us occupied, we continued our routines of showering and getting ready for the day.

Our wardrobes reflected the powerful presence that court day had in store for us as I donned a long sleeve shirt and tie; with LA dressed in a neatly pressed pants suit for the occasion.  I haven't worn a tie in quite some time...my Grandma's funeral to be exact.  I was quite impressed with myself that I got it tied correctly on the first try!  Knot perfectly situated under the button down collar and the bottom of the tie neatly hanging just above the rim of my belt as gentlemanly fashion suggests.  It wasn't until I looked in the mirror to make sure I was presentable that I started to feel the emotions of the day.

Butterflies started swirling in my stomach.  I started tappping my fingernails on the table as LA politely put her hand over mine as to say without saying that I was irritating her with this action.  My mind was racing with the four items we had to memorize to petition the court with during our trial.  I was worrying if we would make it on time...would everyone else be there on time...were we prepared to take this final step...mulling over all the responses we had practiced if asked certain questions.  If you have ever watched Disney's Alladin, my brain was moving in all different directions, kind of the like the genie pionting out all the exits on the flying carpet when he was magically transformed into the steward for Alladin, Jasmine, and his sidekick monkey....here there and everywhere.

We left the apartment promptly at 10:28 to go downstairs and meet our driver and coordinator at 10:30 to head to the courthouse, for an 11am court time.  At 10:45 they show up and this 15 minute wait has only made those butterflies fly around like they had just finished a couple expressos.  We finally arrive at the courthouse, on time may I add, and proceeded into the waiting room.  Only to find out that the prosecutor was running a little behind.  More expresso for those butterflies.

As we wait for all parties to arrive, our coordinator leads us into the waiting room and there sits Nastya with the orphanage representative and other parties involved in the process.  It was a delight to see her and just her smile towards me calmed my nerves a little.  LA and I quietly sat and waited in what I thought was the actual courtroom, but ended up just being a holding area.  It reminded me alot of the small courthouse in historic Williamsburg.  Small, bare, and very non-LA Law and Matlockish.   There was a holding cell in the corner which I sat right next to, imagining the unlucky few that have spent time waiting behind those bars.

About ten minutes past eleven, we were called into the judge's chambers, which is where the hearing took place.  Not at all what I had mentally pictured in my head.  I guess too many Good Wife and People's Court episodes had clouded my judgement as to what to expect. 

The process was very formal and completely in the Ukrainian language, with our translator sharing bits and pieces that we needed to hear.  After an hour or so, we were told to wait outside and to return in 30 minutes for the decision.  Five minutes into our wait, we are summoned back in for the ruling. 

With everyone standing at attention in their previously occupied spaces, the judge stood up and started to read the decision.  We didn't get every word translated but got the gist of it.  But when our translator said "It is approved" I started to cry and tears started streaming down my cheek.  I quickly wiped them away as to not look vulnerable, but as I was doing such, I noticed that everyone else in the courtroom, except the judge, was doing the same thing!  Nastya was officially our daughter.

After everyone exited the judge's chambers you could see the relief in everyone's eyes and faces as we shared hugs and kisses, congratulatory comments, and big sighs of relief.  We proceeded outside to take a few quick pictures...the first of us officially being a new family.  Just as the sun was shining high above, my heart was beaming and I was grinning ear to ear as we took our first official family photo, standing on the sidewalk outside the courthouse.

Celebrations were on tap and we headed to lunch to rejoice and enjoy the moment.  It is such a special day for Nastya especially.  She now has a forever family.  Like we had heard from other families before us, we headed out for a grand lunch celebration.  Our coordinator, the orphanage representive, Nastya, LA and I enjoyed a rather delicious Italian meal and enjoyed spending time together celebrating what had just happened.

After lunch, Nastya tried on some clothes that we had brought with us.  The goal was to find the perfect fit as we needed to prepare to purchase some clothes for when LA comes back and takes custody of her.  Some stuff was a little too small...some stuff a little big...and some stuff just right.  I think we got it figured out and the shopping can now begin.

With full bellies, happy hearts, and the emotional burden of the process lifted, we took Nastya back to the orphanage and arranged for our visits for the next couple of days. 

Today...I officially became a Daddy.  Not a Daddy in theory.  Or one just in my mind and heart.  But a true Daddy in the eyes of those that make the decisions.  Two separate countries now are witness to me being Nastya's father.   My close male friends that have kids have always said that the feeling of being a new Daddy is undescribeable.  They were exactly right.  After nearly five years of trying to have our own biological children, numerous fertility treatments and procedures, and the sadness and disappointment of the not having any children...they have all been magically erased and Nastya is now a Puskar.

This all wouldn't be possible without the love, support, and prayers of all of our family and friends.  Today is a day to celebrate.  May 11, 2011 at 12:29 EEST.  Daddy...Mommy...Nastya...one big happy family.  God is good.  Prayers have been answered and my heart is finally content.

Tonight I go to bed not just as a son, brother, and husband...

But as a proud PaPa...

Nastya's PaPa!