Was It Just A Dream?

Don't pinch me if it was...

We haven't been home a week yet, and already our trip to Kaliningrad feels like it was ages ago. Our visits with Denis feel like scenes from a really good dream - the kind of dream you don't want to wake up from, the kind that begs you to stay in bed just a little while longer with your eyes closed tight. I'm glad we have the photos and videos to prove we were really there! That sweet laughter brings it all back...

To battle our Denis withdrawal, we're focusing on the next - and hopefully final - round of paper work. Police checks, tax returns, marriage certificates, and more! It's a bit of a pain, but I think I'm grateful for the distraction. (Thanks for all the help, Mar, Tom, Monica, and Tim. We owe you!)

Still no word on our court date. It will either be December 22 or January 19. FTIA's rep in Kaliningrad, Yuri, is hoping to get us the earlier date. But it all depends on whether he receives the necessary documents from Moscow in time. These documents typically take 4-6 weeks after the first visit, so we'll be lucky if he receives them in time for a December 22 court date. If the stars align, we'll need to arrive by December 17 for an 8-doctor medical exam (!) and 3 more required visits with Denis before court. We won't hear from Yuri before December 10-15, so, we'll need to be packed and ready to go on a moment's notice. Ahh, the excitement!