Back in Almaty

Joe and Kathy (his mom) arrived OK in Almaty late Saturday night around 11:45pm their time. I didn't hear from him until just this morning (5:15pm Sunday over there) as they had some trouble dialing with the calling card.
When they arrived, Brogan was waiting in their hotel room with our translator who escorted him earlier in the day from Aktau. He was asleep and Joe said he did not wake up and actually slept throughout the remainder of the night. I'm glad they were able to get some sleep. I remember how tired I was that first night we arrived after that LONG trip!
They did not do much today. Kathy went out with our translator and the Canadian couple (they are back in Almaty also and staying at the same hotel). Joe was waiting at the room with Brogan when he called. Now they have to just pass the time the next 2 days until his medical exam Wednesday. I just hope all goes as planned and that this week goes by fast. I have plenty to keep me busy here with work and Bryson, so it should fly by.
Bryson and I had a nice low-key weekend. We went to dinner at a friend's and after church today went to my parent's house and swam in the pool. Bryson is like a little fish this year and just loves it! I hope Brogan likes the water as much as we all do.
I'll post again once I hear from Joe in the next few days.

Joe's return to Almaty

We just received word that Brogan is ready to go. Joe will be leaving on Friday (4/27) to meet him with our translator in Almaty. He will arrive there late Saturday evening. His mom is going also to help with Brogan and we are so thankful to her for this!
Apparently the medical clinic is closed Monday and Tuesday, but they have booked an appointment for Brogan for Wednesday, then his exit interview at the US embassy will be on Friday. They will then return home on Saturday, 5/5.
They are staying at the Hotel Berkana again and the Canadian family will also be there with their son. That will be nice as they can hang out together to pass the time.
I will post again with any updates from them once they arrive. Last word is that Brogan has been doing well. We are anxious to get him home!

More photos - Almaty

More photos

Entrance to the Baby Home in Aktau
View from our apartment in Aktau
Playroom at the Baby Home
Camels in Aktau
Hotel Berkana in Almaty - was nice and reasonably priced (includes breakfast)

End of the Appeal Period

Today was the end of the appeal period - so here he is!

Back home

We arrived back home late Saturday night. It is so good to be back! I have slept like a rock the last 2 nights. It really makes you appreciate your own comfortable bed.
To back track a little- on Wednesday, the day after court and our last day in Aktau, the baby home director and pediatrician hosted a lunch for us at the baby home. Our coordinator and translator were there also. We had bread, cheese, meat, fruit, pastries and chocolates. It was a very beautiful table! We also drink tea and cognac. The baby home director gave us a little Kazakh doll and our coordinator gave us a small rug.
On Thursday we stopped by the baby home on the way to the airport to see Brogan one last time. We had a nice flight back to Almaty and went souvenir shopping on Friday. We left for the airport at midnight Friday evening.
The only glitch on the way home was missing our flight from Chicago to Tampa (the last leg of that LONG trip home) by only 5 minutes! The plane was still at the gate, but they had JUST closed the door! We had to wait 4 1/2 hours for the next flight to Tampa. Our connection was too tight. The Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt arrived on time, but by the time we went through immigration, got our luggage and went through customs, rechecked our bags, changed terminals and went through security again, we just missed it. Keep that in mind for anyone traveling soon - make sure you have enough time if you have to make a connecting domestic flight back home in the US.
Bryson was asleep by the time we got home. I tried to wake him up - I just wanted to see him so bad - but he was zonked out! But he was so excited to see us that next morning.
We had a nice Easter afternoon with family and both returned to work yesterday.
Now Joe will return in about 3-4 weeks, probably with my mother-in-law, to get Brogan. The Canadian family is still there and I have been in contact with them by email since we got back home. They said Brogan is doing fine - smiling an seems active and happy. It's nice to have someone there to keep an eye on him and keep us posted.
I will post a picture of him once our appeal period is up on the 18th - then its official and I won't be breaking any rules I guess.
We miss Brogan, but I can't express how great it is to be home!

Brogan is ours!

Court went very smoothly this afternoon. It truly was "quick and painless" as I had prayed for!
We are officially Brogan's parents - well, the true FINAL court decision comes at the end of the 2 week appeal period, but they granted our adoption. The entire proceeding was only an hour. The prosecuter did not even ask us any questions and the judge only deliberated for maybe 15-20 minutes before returning with her decision.
We missed our afternoon visit today due to court, but will see Brogan again tomorrow for the last time before we head home. That will be hard! The baby home is going to have lunch for us to celebrate. Everyone here has been so helpful and wonderful. They really are happy to see the babies find families.
We return to Almaty Thursday, and then leave for home on Saturday morning.
Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers!
I will post more once we get home (unless something exciting happens here before we leave - then I'll post sooner). It will be 3-4 weeks before one of us can return to get him. We are going to have him escorted to Almaty, so the return trip should be only a week or less.

Court is tomorrow

We are going to court tomorrow (Tuesday, 4/3) at 5pm. The Canadian family that is here are going before us at 2pm.
They have told us not to worry and that everything should be fine. It still makes us nervous though!
We hope to go out for a celebration drink tomorrow evening after we are done. That will be a big relief.
We will return to Almaty on Thursday, 4/5 and then fly home on Saturday 4/7.
Brogan has been doing well. We have been able to take him outside each afternoon this week and he seems to really enjoy the fresh air. Today he fell asleep in my lap outside as we sat in the shade in a gazebo on the playground.
A couple of days ago, they took us on a drive about 30-45 minutes southeast of town to a small canyon. It really made us realize how vast this country is. Not so much the canyon size, but from looking down and across the horizon it just seems to go on forever. It was a nice trip. We saw several more herds of camels and some horses along the way also. The road was very rough though!
Please say a prayer that court is quick and painless! I will post again afterwards to let everyone know how it went.