Introducing Matthew Melvin Norby



November 11, 2005

Sorry it took so long to post. I tried last night but the web site was down. We arrived in Odessa on Wednesday. We ran from place to place getting paperwork for permission to see the little boy. By the time we did he was sleeping. The director of the orphanage is really nice. She went through his file page by page. All the health issues they said he had are gone or were never there. He can hear well, is starting to say some Russian words, the birthmark is gone, and he is not cross-eyed. He does have a slightly lazy eye. The NAC had his name mixed up and had us adopting his father. Our facilitator here (the same man who went to Donetsk) said the NAC are clowns. The little guy's name is Dimitri or Dema for short. We got to see him at 4. They brought him in the room and we both knew he was perfect. He was shy but quickly warmed up to me when we took him to see the fish tanks. There really aren't men at the orphanage so it took a while for Dema to warm to Jeff and Max (our translator). The little guy is smart, and the psychologist tested him a couple of weeks ago and said he is right on track, with the exception of being a little small. We told them to start the paperwork. So yesterday we went to the lawyer/notary office and had them make several letters. Stas has been running for two days now getting things done. He hopes we will go to court next week then wait 10 day (mandatory) then head to Kiev for the immigration paperwork at the Embassy. Hopefully we will be home by Holly's birthday (Dec. 9). We get to see him twice a day. Once in the morning from 10-12 and once in the afternoon from 4-6. In the morning they make us go outside, today was cold and misting even Dema was miserable. We bring him juice, yogurt fruit babyfood, and cheerios. He loves to eat and won't play until there is nothing left to eat. Yesterday they told us we had to choose a name by noon so they could apply for his passport. Before we came to Ukraine John Melvin was at the top of our list, but for some reason Matthew fit better. So now he is Matthew Melvin and we are very happy with his name. Today he called Jeff "papa". It was very sweet. He will bring toys to me if Max say give to mama in Russian. We bought him diapers because the orphanages can't afford diapers. They had him in underwear and he got Jeff's pants all wet the first time we saw him. I think they are scolded for going in their pants because when he has to go he gets a really scared look on his face and backs away. We told them to put him in diapers all the time now. He has the cutest giggle and can throw a ball really well.

Angie -Don't worry I didn't forget. 16 days left!