• Booked plane tickets today. Picked a departure date that will get me to Kiev a day and a half early (in case anything goes awry), and picked an arbitrary date a month later for the return.
• I'll have to plan on ponying up the $150 change fee for adjusting the date of the return flight, but it's cheaper to pay the change fee than to pay full fare and avoid the fee.
• Just for kicks, and because the fare was 100% refundable, I went ahead and booked two one-way returns for my potential kids. I'll probably have to exchange or return the tickets, but in case I can use them, I've locked in the price.
• I believe I've now notified everyone who cares to know that I have my appointment date. If I left you off the list and you discover this page a month from now—sorry.
• Had contractors stop by today to estimate costs for adding a door to the family room. The family room will become a large children's playroom and bedroom. The contractors will have the work done before I leave for Ukraine.

Sun, 30 May 2004

• Faxed letter to Vlad saying I accept the offered appointment date. As far as I know, after he translates and delivers the letter, I won't have any more contact with the NAC until my appointment.

Fri, 04 June 2004

• Things to do, things to do...
• Inform banks I'll be in EE, so they don't freeze my accounts if they see a charge: Done.
• Double-check all items in my copy of dossier: Done.
• Buy dress clothes for NAC and court: Done.
• Verify US Embassy in Kiev has received the info originally sent to the US Embassy in Warsaw: Done.
• Immunizations: Done.

Fri, 25 June 2004

• This entry is for all of you who've asked what I've been doing for the past weeks.
• PACKING!
• Going through checklists of stuff, making sure I'm taking everything I need to take, and trying to eliminate the things I don't need to take.
• I could bore you with the details, but, well, that would be boring. So instead, I'll just say that preparations are well in hand, and I'm mostly ready to go.
• The painters are working in the kids' room today, and I'm going to take pictures when they're finished to add to the portfolio of stuff to show the NAC and judge.
• The rest of my time lately has been occupied with cleaning up the house, making arrangements for a housesitter and dogsitter, finishing up some business stuff, rexplaining everything about adopting from Ukraine to those who haven't been paying attention until now, and wondering if I'll ever get to sleep normally again.
• Look for the first entry in the travel journal tomorrow!

Mon, 28 June 2004

• News from Vlad the Younger, appointment time at the NAC scheduled for 2:30pm on Tuesday.