Hopeful... We are standing point-blank over the moving target of paperwork and requirements and hope to have our "stuff" completed sometime this week, translated and submitted to Russia over the next few weeks.

Why is this important? "The system" in Russia takes a break through much of the summer. Apparently it's not an official recess, it's just that the civil servants simply stop showing up for work. If we can get in quickly, we might get a court date quickly and return to finalize the adoption before summer fever grips Ekaterinburg. Otherwise, it's looking like the Fall.

It's all speculation to know what's going on in the minds of a foreign government 5,000 miles away and thinking we might be among a handful given a court date out of hundreds of waiting American families. But we remain hopeful. Stay tuned.  ¶ 8:31 AM