We Are Zoe Yerkezhan’s Parents!

Our 15 day appeal period officially ended this weekend. This morning we picked up the official court decree. Two hours later we were holding the legal and official Certificate of Adoption of the lovely lady now known to the world as Zoe Yerkezhan Yeomans. The adoption is final. “We are family”! In case you have not been following our blog, officially, now, we are the very, very proud parents of a beautiful daughter. Mother and Father. Mum and Dad. Legally, anyway.

Unfortunately, our celebration today is slightly subdued because nothing has really changed except for the “official” piece of paper. We drove to the baby house at noon just like every other day. After playing with Zoe for a couple hours, we left the baby house without our daughter, just like every other day. The custody part still has us a tiny bit perplexed (putting it ever-so-mildly so as not to offend both sets of in-laws) as to how and why the rules are different at this baby house. So be it. This is an international adoption, after all – and in Kazakhstan (rationale, rules and regulations can always appear somewhat fluid in the process here). That being said, today was certainly another major milestone in this process. But we will save the big celebrating for the day we actually bring Zoe Yerkezhan home to live with us. Forever.

Little Miss Yeomans has a cold. She was in good spirits but did lots of sneezing, her nose did lots of running, and her breathing was a bit raspy. We are expecting a couple “down” days this week as a result. Time will tell. In spite of her cold, she took a couple more unassisted steps. And appeared happy and completely unfazed by her legal change in family status.

And on the Russian Front, today’s new phrase is: Ban-ka-mat syel ma-yu kar-tach-ku. Translated: The bankomat machine (ATM) took my card.

Apparently there is a reason foreign language phrasebooks contain some of those phrases that, at first glance, you do not see yourself ever using. Luckily we took our phrasebook this afternoon when we went to the ATM. Luckily we were right outside a bank where we could walk in and find someone to help. Luckily the phrase was written in both alphabets so I could simply point to the phrase after the teller was less than impressed with my rather liberal command of her native language. It worked! The teller smiled and I got my card back.

A little luck o’ the Irish, some might say.

While on the topic, St. Patrick’s Day is passing without a blink or notice in this part of the world (a circumstance which Julian and a good proportion of the world are apparently more than happy to live with). There may be acknowledgement at the local Irish pubs, but to the average Kazakh it is business as usual. Nevertheless, the local leprechauns have been busy trying to work some custody magic on our behalf. Time will tell whether their actions are of the mischievous nature or the lucky sort. For all we know, the rumors may be full of blarney. Stay tuned and we will keep you posted.