Adventure in Ukraine (Karissa)

Karissa "Ukrainian Princess"

Karissa (Maria) outside swinging at the orphanage in Sevastopol, Ukraine. They actually sent us outside in the early evening. It was not cold that day.

CHRISTIAN AND KARISSA JUNE 2002 MY BOY AND GIRL VIRTUAL TWINS Virtually twinned by God's special Design
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Meet the Gartner's boy and girl virtual twins!

Isn't God Amazing! This photo was taken in June 2002. They had not been home long. I never understood that there exists in reality three distinct types of twins and they are; fraternal twins, identical twins, and virtual twins. They act alike, look alike, think alike, plot alike, and are just closer than any of my children to each other. They have been together since newborn babies. Karissa (Maria) came to the orphanage at two weeks old and was put into the bed that touched rails with Artem's bed. Artem was almost 4 weeks old when Maria was placed next to him. The beds were set up with touching bed rails two by two. They ran side by side down two rows from one end of the room to the other. Christian and Karissa grew up in side by side beds all that time until we took them. Often they crawled into each other's beds and the care givers told me this was cute;-).

Gotcha Day! Karissa and her new Mama;-)

On the morning of February 2, 2002 we went to the orphanage to visit Christian. Usually the director did not come to visit with us. Today was different. She ask us to come into her office. I was very nervous as I thought maybe something was wrong and we would not be able to get our court date. The director must approve the adoption before court. Well, she was smiling and said she was now allowed to release the information regarding our daughter. I was so excited and Duane was delighted. We sat down at the table while Ira translated Karissa's medical and family history.

Her Ukrainian name was Maria (they called her Masha). We named her Karissa Ann Gartner. She and Christian are 27 days a part and have never lived without each other. They shared the same group since early infancy and had cribs side by side. After the exchange of information the director stood up and we were instructed to go to the baby room and a care giver would give her to us. She was not at all shy or afraid of us. In fact, she reached to me. Although she would not let Duane hold her, she did not cry. So each day we continued to go to the orphanage to visit the kids.

Court for Christian was set and everything became final. Christian was our son on February 8, 2002 and our fourth child. We gained custody of him late that evening and took him to our hotel room. He was so darling and looked around in trusting curiosity. Duane called home to tell everyone the good news. Our adult daughter Kisty had been staying with Casey at our home in the USA. She told us Casey was crying often and not sleeping at night. He was having many difficulties at school and seemed very depressed.

After a lengthy discussion, Duane and I decided we would return to Kiev, fly to Poland and out process Christian. Then the three of us would fly home and I could spend a week at home. I would return for Karissa and finish her paperwork. When a court date was set, Duane would fly back over and go to court. He would immediately fly back home to Christian and Casey. Karissa would be out processed by me.

It seemed like the perfect plan and it was approved by the judge, the orphanage director, and the NAC. We officially accepted her referral. Duane would need to be present for 3 more visits before her adoption could go to court. They said he could come for two visits the day before court and one visit the day Duane and I went to court.

We returned to our apartment after our visit with Karissa and began to pack for our trip to the USA. Leaving her behind was one of the most difficult things that I have done. Casey was getting so depressed and he really needed to see his Mommy. Additionally, the matter was complicated as Duane had no leave time from work left and this adoption was costing much more than we had anticipated. I felt I needed to be home for at least a week to help Christian adjust to his new environment.

So, we packed up the three of us, and on the next morning returned to Kiev, to complete more paperwork. After which we flew out to Warsaw, Poland. It took us about three days in Warsaw before we left for the USA with my plane ticket to return in five days. I cried as the plane pulled off because my little girl wasn't with us. But, for Duane to stay three and a half more weeks without any pay from his work was sure disaster for us financially. We had no savings reserves to fall back on so he had to get back to work. I also hated leaving my wonderful and exciting new baby boy once we got home.

It seemed I was just getting to know Christian and then I would be separated from him three and half weeks upon my return to Ukraine. The worst part of the deal was for Karissa. She was left behind with no one. Her crib-mate was gone, the family who had been loving her with Christian was gone and she was left with no one to sooth her loss at 14 months old. No familiar face when she woke, no familiar face next to her as she fell asleep at night.

Duane, Christian, and I landed to one happy little seven year old boy in Lubbock, Texas. Casey was eagerly waiting in the airport with our two grown kids, my sister and her husband, and my precious mom and dad. What a wonderful reunion. And our grand babies little Trish and DeeDee were there, as well. It was such a happy reunion and yet there was a very big part of our family missing.

I had five days to rest up (I did not recover before traveling), visit with Casey, plus get Christian to the doctor for his scabies. My business also needed my attention greatly. It was a whirl wind for those short five days. I also had to restock the supplies in the house, repack, buy clothes for our new daughter, and do a lot of laundry!!! The best part of that time was seeing my family and going to the Gymboree store to buy clothes for Karissa.

Before I knew it, the time had come for me to return for our little girl. This is where things get really crazy. I flew into Kiev after being very jet lagged. When I got to the passport check point the guard just looked at me very curiously. He ask me where was my visa for entry!!!! Dumb us...in all our hast to get things done on my brief week home, we did not think I would need a double entry visa, and ours was SINGLE entry. I could not believe it!!! They put me back on the first plane to Paris, France.

When I landed in Paris I had cried my eyes out and really did not know what to do. The French security met me as I got off the plane and took me to a holding area. They collected my luggage and after questioning me basically turned me out into the streets of Paris as all the airlines had closed for the night. I kept trying to get a taxi to help me find a hotel, but, none of them would take me. Finally, a very nice woman could see I was very distressed and ask me if she could help. I pointed to the big hotel across the way that I had been trying to get a taxi to take me to.

She walked over and in french called the hotel transportation to come for me. After I checked into a room I got on my knees and began to pray...for a miracle. How could I get into Ukraine before they considered her abandoned? Which we had agreed that I would return no later than the 16th of February. I left the USA with plenty of time to spare. But, this was more time than I had planned. No way would there be enough time to return to the USA and wait for the Ukrainian Consulate to send me a visa.

I had called Duane earlier and he suggested I return home. After, crying and praying half of the night, jet lagged to the maximum degree, and confused in a foreign country, it occurred to me that maybe there was a Ukrainian Consulate in Paris. Finally, I slept for a few hours and then got dressed. When I walked up to the concierge my heart was pounding. I asked him if there was a Ukrainian Consulate in Paris and these beautiful words came out..."Yes Madame...would you like to go there?" Would I like to go THERE!!!!

Hastily, I went out to the taxi and we were off on a ride to downtown Paris. The taxi driver looked into the back seat and said..."What, you are in the city of love on this day, alone?" I had not even realized it was Valentine's Day...ha ha. When we got downtown in Paris, that Ukrainian flag flying, looked so good to me. I got into line and when it came my turn I received the bad news that they only accepted Paris Bank checks!!!!

So I left the Consulate and began going from bank to bank. I could not get a bank check without an account!!!! I returned to the Consulate and with a room full of people I asked if there was anyone who would write a bank check and I would pay twice as much in cash for the check. A very nice man said he would do it. Proudly, with check in hand, I proceeded to the window. The lady took my passport and returned with a beautiful Ukrainian entry visa in place. I walked out of the consulate and realized that I needed a taxi to get back to my hotel.

Every taxi that I flagged did not stop. It was beginning to get dark and all kinds of strange people were wandering about. They were staring at me and I was really frightened. I began to pray and kept trying to remain calm. However, I was so exhausted, jet lagged, worried about Karissa, and about being killed in the streets of Paris, it was difficult to think straight. There was a narrow alleyway I had wandered blindly into. When I realized this, my heart leaped, into my throat. In a panic, I looked up and saw a street with cars. My pace picked up and I almost ran toward this street. Then I saw the most beautiful sight.....flags of every country.

It is funny to me now, as I sit safely, writing about it all. I was so in shock that I did not even realize what I had stumbled across. There was a little security gate with a guard. I said to him "Sir, I am an American citizen and I'm lost."He quickly ushered me into the gate and escorted me to the building. It was so pretty inside with white marble and a receptionist who ask me if I was alright.

I told her I had been wandering, trying to get back to my hotel, but no taxi would stop. The big problem was that I did not have a telephone card for the public phones. I know at first she thought...what a nut case!!! She said..."why, you are in the United Nations, madame." Truthfully, I had had enough and I broke down and cried. I explained why I was in downtown Paris (not a tourist). She was kind enough to call a taxi for me. Upon, returning to my hotel, the front desk seemed very worried and said my husband had called many times from the USA. I hurried to my room and called him. Next, I called Ira who was extremely worried as to why I was not on the flight the day before.

The first thing, the next morning, I got up and went to the airport in hopes of catching a flight to Kiev. I did not have a problem getting a flight out and by the afternoon I was in Kiev. Within a few hours Ira and I were on a train for Sevastopol. We walked into the inspector's office on the morning of February 16th. The first evening of my return I took Karissa outside to swing. She was so glad to see me and I can not describe how happy I was to see her.

Three weeks later, Duane flew in to Ukraine the day before court, and flew out the day after court. He was brought by car to Sevastopol. Karissa became our daughter on March the 6, 2002. It was during our court hearing, that I realized how God had given to me, what we had prayed for in 1990. Our virtual twins have been a huge blessing in our life and have fulfilled our hearts in so many ways. God has blessed us greatly!!! Karissa became our fifth child;-).