I wanted to wish everyone a happy and healthy new year....I hope everyone has a great 2008!!
Well - I originally was going to end the blog today, but I may post here and there, just not as regularly as I have been...but people have been so interested, I hate to stop all together...
So - as 2007 comes to an end...thank you again to all our family and friends who supported us and helped us and cheered us on during this crazy year - from putting together our dossier, to waiting, to going to Kazakhstan for a month, to finally bringing Drew home....it's been a heck of a year!! :)
Drew continues to do great and every day does something that amazes us...his walking is outstanding - he's toddling around everywhere - not holding on and just doing great. He's babbling tons and making lots of different sounds now so I know the words are going to come in the next days or weeks - they are almost right there. He's eating everything we give him and loving it all - he's definitely not a picky eater like his mother!
Sleep is stil an issue, though we finally decided to say "screw it" and we are letting him cry a bit before going in to get him - it's working I think...last night he woke up around midnight, cried for a few minutes and fell back to sleep...I know the adoption books say not to do that, but hey, we all need to sleep better!!!
Drew is also being a typical 18-month old with always wanting his way and falling down on the floor, crying if he doesn't get it...so we are working through that as well...
All in all - Drew is doing great, adjusting well and enjoying life - he loves his dog Peyton, bathtime, throwing his toys around his room, holding the tube of bacetracin for me while I change his diapers, being carried down the stairs, playing with all of his toys - especially his blocks, all of his cell phones, his puzzles and all of his musical stuff, he loves being tickled by his mommy and daddy...really - he's a pretty happy kid - we are very lucky he is ours!!!
So - that's where we are at the end of 2007..can't wait to see what 2008 brings!!!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Lab work...
Today we went to Children's Hospital to do all of Drew's lab work. They have to check to make sure he's had all the vaccines Kazakhstan says he's had and check for a few other things too - in all they took 7-8 vials of blood - he was not happy...I felt so awful, and even worse cause I couldn't look as I get sick from the sight of blood.
As with all medical stuff, they had to fill out some forms on him, one of which asked a lot of questions about when he was born. Mind you, I told these people from the begining that he had to get all the blood work because he had only recently come home from Kazakhstan. Still, these people asked me the name of the hospital he was born in and what time he was born!!!! I actually laughed at that one and said, "I don't know, does it really matter? I can make up a time if you want." So stupid!!! Even if I did know the time of his birth, why does it matter to test if he's had certain vaccines??????? I was born at 12:13 p.m. - I don't really think that has ever affected any blood work I've had! Yes, that question really bugged me! :)
But the good news is we got our new insurance cards today with Drew's name included - so he's official! Now we need to get him a Social Security number and a tax number and a bunch of other stuff I told myself I would not think about until Jan. 2.
So, other than the blood stuff Drew had a good day - though he's starting to get rough with the dog so we need to put an end to that...I also caught him trying to eat cheerios like Peyton does, wth his mouth off the couch, which was really funny actually, but not something to encourage!
As with all medical stuff, they had to fill out some forms on him, one of which asked a lot of questions about when he was born. Mind you, I told these people from the begining that he had to get all the blood work because he had only recently come home from Kazakhstan. Still, these people asked me the name of the hospital he was born in and what time he was born!!!! I actually laughed at that one and said, "I don't know, does it really matter? I can make up a time if you want." So stupid!!! Even if I did know the time of his birth, why does it matter to test if he's had certain vaccines??????? I was born at 12:13 p.m. - I don't really think that has ever affected any blood work I've had! Yes, that question really bugged me! :)
But the good news is we got our new insurance cards today with Drew's name included - so he's official! Now we need to get him a Social Security number and a tax number and a bunch of other stuff I told myself I would not think about until Jan. 2.
So, other than the blood stuff Drew had a good day - though he's starting to get rough with the dog so we need to put an end to that...I also caught him trying to eat cheerios like Peyton does, wth his mouth off the couch, which was really funny actually, but not something to encourage!
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Visitors!!
Drew had visitors today - Carolyn, Dave and Nicholas Bailey! Carolyn is my oldest friend -we go back to middle school...
So, they came to visit and we had a really good time - they actually have Peyton's brother Eli (who used to be our dog for a few months, and now he's their dog) - so it was a "Manning puppy" reunion!! The dogs had a great time, and the people had a great time too. Nicholas even gave Drew a special gift that he picked out on his own of cookies with a cookie monster on the box because he knows that Drew loves cookies!!!
Pictures are posted on the side of the blog....
Nothing much else new here...Drew is pretty tired though...Nicholas wore him out!!!
So, they came to visit and we had a really good time - they actually have Peyton's brother Eli (who used to be our dog for a few months, and now he's their dog) - so it was a "Manning puppy" reunion!! The dogs had a great time, and the people had a great time too. Nicholas even gave Drew a special gift that he picked out on his own of cookies with a cookie monster on the box because he knows that Drew loves cookies!!!
Pictures are posted on the side of the blog....
Nothing much else new here...Drew is pretty tired though...Nicholas wore him out!!!
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Happy Half Birthday Drew!!
Drew is 18 months old today!!!
And he's discovered how much fun it is to feed the dog cheerios right from his hand...as if Peyton needs to eat any more!!
It's been a quiet day here - I went to see Charlie Wilsons War (great movie!!) and Drew took a nap while I was gone - now Patrick is napping and Drew and I are typing on the computer and playing...Drew, right now, is thinking it's fun to walk around with his Elmo thermometer in his mouth taking his temperature - I think he's been doing that for about an hour now!
Well- time to go and play with my budding doctor...I hope everyone who celebrates is having Merry Christmas!!
And he's discovered how much fun it is to feed the dog cheerios right from his hand...as if Peyton needs to eat any more!!
It's been a quiet day here - I went to see Charlie Wilsons War (great movie!!) and Drew took a nap while I was gone - now Patrick is napping and Drew and I are typing on the computer and playing...Drew, right now, is thinking it's fun to walk around with his Elmo thermometer in his mouth taking his temperature - I think he's been doing that for about an hour now!
Well- time to go and play with my budding doctor...I hope everyone who celebrates is having Merry Christmas!!
Monday, December 24, 2007
Drew's Night Out...
Patrick and I took Drew out for dinner tonight - it was our first restaurant experience as a family...
While we were there, a nice older couple came up to us to tell us how cute Drew was and how well behaved he was (all true of course!!) and then the man said, "You can definitely tell who his father is!" Patrick and I just laughed and said, "Thank you." It was so funny. It will be interesting to see how often we hear that comment...we've already heard it a few times, even from people in Kazakhstan!
There's a new picture on the side of the blog of Drew enjoying his french fries and ketchup at Applebees...he dipped them in just like Grama taught him last week...
So - that was our excitement for the day...
Merry Christmas to everyone who celebrates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Special Merry Christmas to Chris, Ben, Grandmother, Grandad, Great Grandmother, Uncle Phil, Aunt Stephie and Uncle Bryan...we hope you all have a wonderful holiday and Santa brings you lots of great toys!!!
While we were there, a nice older couple came up to us to tell us how cute Drew was and how well behaved he was (all true of course!!) and then the man said, "You can definitely tell who his father is!" Patrick and I just laughed and said, "Thank you." It was so funny. It will be interesting to see how often we hear that comment...we've already heard it a few times, even from people in Kazakhstan!
There's a new picture on the side of the blog of Drew enjoying his french fries and ketchup at Applebees...he dipped them in just like Grama taught him last week...
So - that was our excitement for the day...
Merry Christmas to everyone who celebrates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Special Merry Christmas to Chris, Ben, Grandmother, Grandad, Great Grandmother, Uncle Phil, Aunt Stephie and Uncle Bryan...we hope you all have a wonderful holiday and Santa brings you lots of great toys!!!
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Wonderful NJ Weekend!!
We had such a great weekend in NJ with Drew - he met soooo many people and he did sooo great!!! He really warmed up to the family, but he still knew to come to me or Patrick for support, love, food, etc...so I think he's bonding really welll with us...
So - first we went to Grama's house on Saturday and celebrated Hanukkah with Uncle Steve, Aunt Lizzie, David, Aunt Lysee, Uncle Shawn and Aunt Sheri. Drew got soooo many great gifts...he is definitely excited and tonight played with his vaccum and 100 wooden blocks! He had so much fun playing under the table with Uncle Steve and playing the piano with Aunt Lysee and staring at Aunt Sheri's very ugly slippers!! He and David got into it a big over a toy, and I won't say who won, but Go Drew!!! LOL...sorry Steven - couldn't resist!! :)
This morning some very special people came to meet Drew: Judy and Ruth who are Gramas' oldest friends, Randy and Steve and Debbie and Rabbi - all of whom have known me forever and my special friend Suzanne and her duaghter Brie!! Drew again got great toys and books and a specially painted chair...it was so wonderful for everyone to come over to meet Drew...he's so lucky to have you all in his life...as am I!!!
Then this afternoon we went to Bubbie's and met Opa, Uncle Lenny, Angie, Josh, Marc, Gina and Samie...and had soo much fun with them!! Drew, again, got great gifts - many musical ones and a plane like the one he flew home in!! We had a great time and loved Angie's latkes - Drew had 2-3 of them himself!! Well, OK, I ate some too!! :)
And then Drew slept most of the way home...
So - it was a great and tiring weekend....
But we came home feeling very special and loved and with enough toys to last a lifetime...
I posted some pictures on the side of the blog...
So - first we went to Grama's house on Saturday and celebrated Hanukkah with Uncle Steve, Aunt Lizzie, David, Aunt Lysee, Uncle Shawn and Aunt Sheri. Drew got soooo many great gifts...he is definitely excited and tonight played with his vaccum and 100 wooden blocks! He had so much fun playing under the table with Uncle Steve and playing the piano with Aunt Lysee and staring at Aunt Sheri's very ugly slippers!! He and David got into it a big over a toy, and I won't say who won, but Go Drew!!! LOL...sorry Steven - couldn't resist!! :)
This morning some very special people came to meet Drew: Judy and Ruth who are Gramas' oldest friends, Randy and Steve and Debbie and Rabbi - all of whom have known me forever and my special friend Suzanne and her duaghter Brie!! Drew again got great toys and books and a specially painted chair...it was so wonderful for everyone to come over to meet Drew...he's so lucky to have you all in his life...as am I!!!
Then this afternoon we went to Bubbie's and met Opa, Uncle Lenny, Angie, Josh, Marc, Gina and Samie...and had soo much fun with them!! Drew, again, got great gifts - many musical ones and a plane like the one he flew home in!! We had a great time and loved Angie's latkes - Drew had 2-3 of them himself!! Well, OK, I ate some too!! :)
And then Drew slept most of the way home...
So - it was a great and tiring weekend....
But we came home feeling very special and loved and with enough toys to last a lifetime...
I posted some pictures on the side of the blog...
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Drew and Peyton...
Well, Drew finally decided he likes Peyton...today he pet him and tonight he laid down on him - LOL...so we are definitely making some progress there...
We also had our first post-placement meeting with our social worker from the agency. She's putting together the first report to send to Kazakhstan about Drew...We had to promise to send reports every year for 18 years in order to be able to adopt him.
That's about all I got..still adjusting to motherhood - it's hard!!! :) I have no time to get anything done during the day and that gets frustrating. but, Drew is wonderful and we are learning this whole mother-son thing together...so far, I think we're doing pretty well...I love when he reaches his arms out for me and lays his head against me - that is the most amazing feeling in the world!!!
...and I'm sure every mother out there is laughing at me saying I get nothing doen during the day, right??? :)
We also had our first post-placement meeting with our social worker from the agency. She's putting together the first report to send to Kazakhstan about Drew...We had to promise to send reports every year for 18 years in order to be able to adopt him.
That's about all I got..still adjusting to motherhood - it's hard!!! :) I have no time to get anything done during the day and that gets frustrating. but, Drew is wonderful and we are learning this whole mother-son thing together...so far, I think we're doing pretty well...I love when he reaches his arms out for me and lays his head against me - that is the most amazing feeling in the world!!!
...and I'm sure every mother out there is laughing at me saying I get nothing doen during the day, right??? :)
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Great day with Grama...
Drew had his first visitor today - Grama came to visit!!!! He had a great time!!
We went to Friendly's for lunch and Drew had his first grilled cheese sandwhich, french fries and ice cream sundae - all were a big hit!! Then we went to Stride Rite to buy Drew his first big boy sneakers and shoes...they are both adorable!!!
Drew also got lots and lots of great welcome home and Hanukkah presents today...he did good!!
Now, if Drew sleeps for more than 2 hours at a time tonight, mommy and daddy will be very happy people!!!
Drew also had his first dcotor's appointment today and he's a healthy little boy....
Tomorrow, our social worker Jodi is coming for our first post-placement visit...wow - I never thought we'd be "post placement!!!"
We went to Friendly's for lunch and Drew had his first grilled cheese sandwhich, french fries and ice cream sundae - all were a big hit!! Then we went to Stride Rite to buy Drew his first big boy sneakers and shoes...they are both adorable!!!
Drew also got lots and lots of great welcome home and Hanukkah presents today...he did good!!
Now, if Drew sleeps for more than 2 hours at a time tonight, mommy and daddy will be very happy people!!!
Drew also had his first dcotor's appointment today and he's a healthy little boy....
Tomorrow, our social worker Jodi is coming for our first post-placement visit...wow - I never thought we'd be "post placement!!!"
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Drew is sleeping..
Well - today is my first day alone with Drew...
We were doing great until about 11 a.m. when fatigue hit him. He cried for a while and then I decided maybe a light lunch would be good - so we did that - Cheerioes and strawberry yougart - yum!! Then we played some more, cried some more and finaly around 2 p.m. he fell asleep and I did a big dance of joy!! LOL...it's amazing how huge an accomplishment this feels like!!
So I'm taking advantage of the time to do some cleaning (Grama is coming up tomorrow and the house can't be a total disaster - but she'll understand if it's not spotless - right Grama????) and thank you notes and organizing, etc...I know I should be napping right now, that is the cardinal rule of motherhood right - nap when they nap!! I'm sure I will regret not napping at around 8 p.m. tonight! :) Check back with me...
Not much else going on here - Peyton has already started to "play" with Drew's toys, Drew is not too impressed with that...I don't blame him one bit...
Tomorrow is Drew's first doctor's appointment - I have a whole list of questions to ask!
That's about it from here...time to get some rest before I get Drew up...
Happy (almost) Birthday Jodi!!!!!!!!!!!
We were doing great until about 11 a.m. when fatigue hit him. He cried for a while and then I decided maybe a light lunch would be good - so we did that - Cheerioes and strawberry yougart - yum!! Then we played some more, cried some more and finaly around 2 p.m. he fell asleep and I did a big dance of joy!! LOL...it's amazing how huge an accomplishment this feels like!!
So I'm taking advantage of the time to do some cleaning (Grama is coming up tomorrow and the house can't be a total disaster - but she'll understand if it's not spotless - right Grama????) and thank you notes and organizing, etc...I know I should be napping right now, that is the cardinal rule of motherhood right - nap when they nap!! I'm sure I will regret not napping at around 8 p.m. tonight! :) Check back with me...
Not much else going on here - Peyton has already started to "play" with Drew's toys, Drew is not too impressed with that...I don't blame him one bit...
Tomorrow is Drew's first doctor's appointment - I have a whole list of questions to ask!
That's about it from here...time to get some rest before I get Drew up...
Happy (almost) Birthday Jodi!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, December 17, 2007
Our first day together...
Today was a wonderful, wonderful day....it was so overwhelming and so fantastic and so many other adjectives that I don't even know where to begin...
I am amazed at how well Drew is doing...except for a brief period after dinner where he was crying for Patrick, he was fine all day - a happy little boy. I was shocked at how well he responded to me, but we were fine together - we played, he splashed in the bath and thought it was funny to get me all wet, he let me rock and sing him to sleep for his nap and again tonight.
He ate lots of first foods today: Cheeroies, maple and brown sugar oatmeal with milk, pretzels and Grandma Molly's Macaroni and Cheese (a family recipe!) were all huge hits!!! Bologna - not so much. Oh well...maybe we'll try turkey tomorrow and see how that goes.
He's not too thrilled with our beagle Peyton, though Peyton is very interested in Drew! Drew got a little better as the day wore on, but if Peyton got too close, Drew got scared. I'm sure by next week they will be the best of friends...
I still can't believe he's here and he's ours forever. I can't wait for all our families and friends to meet this great little boy who has already brought so much joy into our lives...
I'm gong to post some pictures from his plane ride home and his first day!!
I am amazed at how well Drew is doing...except for a brief period after dinner where he was crying for Patrick, he was fine all day - a happy little boy. I was shocked at how well he responded to me, but we were fine together - we played, he splashed in the bath and thought it was funny to get me all wet, he let me rock and sing him to sleep for his nap and again tonight.
He ate lots of first foods today: Cheeroies, maple and brown sugar oatmeal with milk, pretzels and Grandma Molly's Macaroni and Cheese (a family recipe!) were all huge hits!!! Bologna - not so much. Oh well...maybe we'll try turkey tomorrow and see how that goes.
He's not too thrilled with our beagle Peyton, though Peyton is very interested in Drew! Drew got a little better as the day wore on, but if Peyton got too close, Drew got scared. I'm sure by next week they will be the best of friends...
I still can't believe he's here and he's ours forever. I can't wait for all our families and friends to meet this great little boy who has already brought so much joy into our lives...
I'm gong to post some pictures from his plane ride home and his first day!!
Drew is home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Drew and Patrick got home at 1:45 a.m.!!!!!!!!!!
Our baby is here...it's completely wonderful and crazy and overwelming....
I'll post more later - it's lunch time!!!!
Our baby is here...it's completely wonderful and crazy and overwelming....
I'll post more later - it's lunch time!!!!
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Delays, delays....
UPDATE (11:18 p.m. EST)
Patrick and Drew's plane finally took off from Detroit - they are due to land at 12:26 a.m. The roads are all iced over again so they are taking a cab home as getting in a car accident would not be a great way to end this day...
So - now Drew's Gottcha Day (or whatever we'll call it) is December 17 - good thing I held off on ordering those announcements - LOL.. :)
The funny thing is I spent so long thinking of the fantasy reunion at the airport with our families all around...oh well..as long as they get home safe and sound, that's all that matters....
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UPDATE (6:32 p.m. EST)
Patrick and Drew have landed in Detroit - my baby is officially an American citizen!!!!!!!!!! Their plane landed at 6:11 p.m. so they are still deplaning and all that..hopefully I will hear from Patrick in the next hour.
I still don't if they will make it here tonight. The flight that was due in from Detroit to Hartford at 7:15 p.m. was cancelled, and there's no news yet about their flight...
It's snowing/icing again here now...I can't believe all this...
But at least they are in the U.S.A....that is the good news...
_______________________________________________________________
UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well - this is quite a story....
Patrick and Drew were all set to leave Almaty on time, but the plane they were taking clipped its wing against another plane upon landing in Almaty, so it had to be fixed before they could leave - that was a three-hour delay. Then the airline tried to give Patrick and Drew seats apart from each other - very smart, huh?? So, they got stuck in middle seats while every other person with a child on the plane got a bulkhead seat...ridiculous!! Aparently Drew was not too impressed with the whole plane experience - I don't know details though...
So - Patrick called this morning from Amsterdam - because their plane was late leaving Almaty, they took him off the flight to Hartford and put him on a flight to Detroit! Turns out, he could have made the flight to Hartford, but they wouldn't let him fly standby. So he's flying into Detroit and then getting into Hartford around 11:30 p.m.
In the meantime, we are having a terrible ice storm in central Connecticut - everything is covered in 3 inches of ice and it's not supposed to stop until this afternoon. I have no idea how I'm going to get out of my driveway, not to mention make it to the airport...
Of couse, since Patrick's first U.S. landing is in Detroit it means he has to go through customs there, which involves going through passport control, getting his luggage, going through customs, rechecking his luggage and getting back on a plane. Not good...
I feel sooooo awful for Patrick and Drew!!! They both must be completely miserable. It's going to be a long day for all of us...
Patrick did plan to introduce Drew to McDonald's today in the Amsterdam airport and then take him to a play area to hopefully get rid of some energy so he'll be OK for the plane ride to the U.S.
So - that's it for now..we'll see what happens...
Patrick and Drew's plane finally took off from Detroit - they are due to land at 12:26 a.m. The roads are all iced over again so they are taking a cab home as getting in a car accident would not be a great way to end this day...
So - now Drew's Gottcha Day (or whatever we'll call it) is December 17 - good thing I held off on ordering those announcements - LOL.. :)
The funny thing is I spent so long thinking of the fantasy reunion at the airport with our families all around...oh well..as long as they get home safe and sound, that's all that matters....
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UPDATE (6:32 p.m. EST)
Patrick and Drew have landed in Detroit - my baby is officially an American citizen!!!!!!!!!! Their plane landed at 6:11 p.m. so they are still deplaning and all that..hopefully I will hear from Patrick in the next hour.
I still don't if they will make it here tonight. The flight that was due in from Detroit to Hartford at 7:15 p.m. was cancelled, and there's no news yet about their flight...
It's snowing/icing again here now...I can't believe all this...
But at least they are in the U.S.A....that is the good news...
_______________________________________________________________
UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well - this is quite a story....
Patrick and Drew were all set to leave Almaty on time, but the plane they were taking clipped its wing against another plane upon landing in Almaty, so it had to be fixed before they could leave - that was a three-hour delay. Then the airline tried to give Patrick and Drew seats apart from each other - very smart, huh?? So, they got stuck in middle seats while every other person with a child on the plane got a bulkhead seat...ridiculous!! Aparently Drew was not too impressed with the whole plane experience - I don't know details though...
So - Patrick called this morning from Amsterdam - because their plane was late leaving Almaty, they took him off the flight to Hartford and put him on a flight to Detroit! Turns out, he could have made the flight to Hartford, but they wouldn't let him fly standby. So he's flying into Detroit and then getting into Hartford around 11:30 p.m.
In the meantime, we are having a terrible ice storm in central Connecticut - everything is covered in 3 inches of ice and it's not supposed to stop until this afternoon. I have no idea how I'm going to get out of my driveway, not to mention make it to the airport...
Of couse, since Patrick's first U.S. landing is in Detroit it means he has to go through customs there, which involves going through passport control, getting his luggage, going through customs, rechecking his luggage and getting back on a plane. Not good...
I feel sooooo awful for Patrick and Drew!!! They both must be completely miserable. It's going to be a long day for all of us...
Patrick did plan to introduce Drew to McDonald's today in the Amsterdam airport and then take him to a play area to hopefully get rid of some energy so he'll be OK for the plane ride to the U.S.
So - that's it for now..we'll see what happens...
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Last night without Drew....
Well, this is it...my last night alone - it's such a wierd feeling knowing that Drew will be here tomorrow and forever!!! I was downstairs watching TV and having a snack of pretzels and it hit me that from now on I won't be just hanging out at night doing whatever I feel like - there will be this little person here who will need me and demand my attention and probably won't want to watch Law and Order SVU!! It just feels so surreal right now and sort of incomprehensable...
Did lots of shoppng today - most of my Hanukah shopping and food shopping for Drew. I bought so much good food for him - I hope he likes it all! Then I cleaned the house and wrapped my presents. I'm so antsy and it's hard to sit still...
I got one last e-mial from Patrick from Kazakhstan - he said he and Drew are both sick of the hotel and irritable and ready to come home. It's 8 a.m. in Almaty right now so they are probably boarding the plane - I hope they get good seats! Drew's first plane ride - and what a ride it is!!
So - this big storm is still supposed to hit here early this morning and last through the afternoon. I hope they will be able to land and I hope I'll be able to drive to the airport to get them!! I get very nervous driving in sleet, snow and freezing rain...and it stinks that no one will most likely be able to come up to welcome Drew home...oh well - what can ya do? I guess that's what happens when your "Adoption (Gottcha) Day" is in December...thankfully Drew has a June birthday!!
Well, Peyton is laying next to me curled up on the blanket...he is in a for a rude awakening tomorrow when he's displaced by a 17-month old little boy!! LOL...
I've decided to keep the blog going through the end of the year - that seems like a good time to end this "book." Thank you again to all my friends, family, friends of family and everyone else who's been reading this blog and been so interested in our story. I can't wait to show this to Drew someday so he can see how many people were so excited for him to come into our lives. I hope he always knows how loved and wanted he is...
Good night...more tomorrow when Drew is HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Did lots of shoppng today - most of my Hanukah shopping and food shopping for Drew. I bought so much good food for him - I hope he likes it all! Then I cleaned the house and wrapped my presents. I'm so antsy and it's hard to sit still...
I got one last e-mial from Patrick from Kazakhstan - he said he and Drew are both sick of the hotel and irritable and ready to come home. It's 8 a.m. in Almaty right now so they are probably boarding the plane - I hope they get good seats! Drew's first plane ride - and what a ride it is!!
So - this big storm is still supposed to hit here early this morning and last through the afternoon. I hope they will be able to land and I hope I'll be able to drive to the airport to get them!! I get very nervous driving in sleet, snow and freezing rain...and it stinks that no one will most likely be able to come up to welcome Drew home...oh well - what can ya do? I guess that's what happens when your "Adoption (Gottcha) Day" is in December...thankfully Drew has a June birthday!!
Well, Peyton is laying next to me curled up on the blanket...he is in a for a rude awakening tomorrow when he's displaced by a 17-month old little boy!! LOL...
I've decided to keep the blog going through the end of the year - that seems like a good time to end this "book." Thank you again to all my friends, family, friends of family and everyone else who's been reading this blog and been so interested in our story. I can't wait to show this to Drew someday so he can see how many people were so excited for him to come into our lives. I hope he always knows how loved and wanted he is...
Good night...more tomorrow when Drew is HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, December 14, 2007
Patrick and Drew are coming home!!!!!
Drew’s new passport arrived this morning (Friday) from Astana at 11 a.m., just as we had hoped, and Drew and I visited the US Embassy in Almaty at 2 p.m. Less than an hour later, we walked out with Drew’s US visa and all the paperwork we need to show the immigration officer in Connecticut when our flight lands on Sunday. We’re done! We’re coming home!
The embassy staff was incredibly nice and helpful. Thanks to our local coordinators arranged through Wide Horizons, all our paperwork was in order before we arrived, and all I had to do was sign two documents while the consul witnessed my signature. There were four other families meeting with the consul at the same time, so you can imagine it was a pretty happy and festive room. I’m sure that I’m very impartial when I say Drew was the cutest baby there – he spent the hour playing on my lap, giggling at our games and cooing at Galina. He also watched and smiled at the people around us and the other kids in the room. Of course, the consul remarked how cute he was, too!
Drew will be an American citizen when our plane touches down in Hartford on Sunday, assuming the weather allows us to get there. Hartford got about 10 inches of snow today and a winter storm blowing up the East Coast is expected to make things awful both Saturday and Sunday. Drew and I are flying to Amsterdam where we’re scheduled to have a 2-hour layover before flying to Hartford. If conditions are as bad on the East Coast as predicted, it’s possible that we’ll be in Amsterdam for a day or so, but I’d rather stranded in Europe than Asia. It’s closer to home!
Drew seemed to be in a good mood on the way back to the hotel. He liked the music our driver played on his car radio and bobbed and swayed back and forth in time to the tune – we call it butt-dancing. He also made us laugh by waving both his hands in the air as he danced. I’d never seen him use hand motions when he danced before!
He’s been hearing a lot of my music this week as well. I can only take so much of “Voice of America” TV and it’s the only English station on our room, so I’ve been playing my iTiunes library on my computer a lot. Drew seems like he particularly likes Guns n Roses, Rush and Bruce Springsteen, because he dances to those pretty frequently.
As good as today was, last night was pretty awful for this segment of the Sanders family. Drew crashed about 8:30 when he couldn’t keep his eyes open any more. But for some reason, he was up and rarin’ to go at 1:30 a.m. and I couldn’t get him back to sleep, or to even think about sleep, until about 4:30. We slept another 4 hours after that, but it wasn’t enough for either of us.
Breakfast was surprisingly nice, however, because we ran into two other American families who are adopting. Both adopted from the region closest to Siberia and are looking forward to going home soon. Hopefully we’ll see them again before we leave on Sunday. Drew was very good as we talked for a long time, sitting patiently on my lap and playing a bit with a 3-year-old girl.
Well, I guess the paperwork part of this affair is over! Now all we have to do is get back to Connecticut. I’m going to start hoping for a surprise warm front to strike on Saturday!
The embassy staff was incredibly nice and helpful. Thanks to our local coordinators arranged through Wide Horizons, all our paperwork was in order before we arrived, and all I had to do was sign two documents while the consul witnessed my signature. There were four other families meeting with the consul at the same time, so you can imagine it was a pretty happy and festive room. I’m sure that I’m very impartial when I say Drew was the cutest baby there – he spent the hour playing on my lap, giggling at our games and cooing at Galina. He also watched and smiled at the people around us and the other kids in the room. Of course, the consul remarked how cute he was, too!
Drew will be an American citizen when our plane touches down in Hartford on Sunday, assuming the weather allows us to get there. Hartford got about 10 inches of snow today and a winter storm blowing up the East Coast is expected to make things awful both Saturday and Sunday. Drew and I are flying to Amsterdam where we’re scheduled to have a 2-hour layover before flying to Hartford. If conditions are as bad on the East Coast as predicted, it’s possible that we’ll be in Amsterdam for a day or so, but I’d rather stranded in Europe than Asia. It’s closer to home!
Drew seemed to be in a good mood on the way back to the hotel. He liked the music our driver played on his car radio and bobbed and swayed back and forth in time to the tune – we call it butt-dancing. He also made us laugh by waving both his hands in the air as he danced. I’d never seen him use hand motions when he danced before!
He’s been hearing a lot of my music this week as well. I can only take so much of “Voice of America” TV and it’s the only English station on our room, so I’ve been playing my iTiunes library on my computer a lot. Drew seems like he particularly likes Guns n Roses, Rush and Bruce Springsteen, because he dances to those pretty frequently.
As good as today was, last night was pretty awful for this segment of the Sanders family. Drew crashed about 8:30 when he couldn’t keep his eyes open any more. But for some reason, he was up and rarin’ to go at 1:30 a.m. and I couldn’t get him back to sleep, or to even think about sleep, until about 4:30. We slept another 4 hours after that, but it wasn’t enough for either of us.
Breakfast was surprisingly nice, however, because we ran into two other American families who are adopting. Both adopted from the region closest to Siberia and are looking forward to going home soon. Hopefully we’ll see them again before we leave on Sunday. Drew was very good as we talked for a long time, sitting patiently on my lap and playing a bit with a 3-year-old girl.
Well, I guess the paperwork part of this affair is over! Now all we have to do is get back to Connecticut. I’m going to start hoping for a surprise warm front to strike on Saturday!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Cutting it close....
Hello from Almaty. The next 18 hours or so are going to be very interesting, so we need your best thoughts over here!
Galina reports that our paperwork was approved in Astana, the Kazakhstan capitol, at 4 p.m. today (Thursday). All that remains is that the papers make it back to Almaty tomorrow morning. And that’s not so easy. The plane with our papers is supposed to arrive at 11 a.m. tomorrow in Almaty. Galina then has until noon to get it to the US Embassy so they may review it for Drew’s 2 p.m. appointment. No papers, no appointment.
And if we miss Friday’s appointment, we won’t get to the Embassy until Monday, which means we won’t get home until Tuesday. Ugh! I hate uncertainties! Galina says we should have no problems IF the plane is on time. That’s a big if, so that’s why we need some good thoughts.
That’s all the adoption news today – Drew and I pretty much spent the day playing and staying warm. Remember I told you that the heat wasn’t working in our room and they brought in a space heater? Well, the side benefit to that is that our room is the warmest place in the hotel. Great for little boys to play and sleep, but it’s a little claustrophobic to be in the same room all day, every day. Drew and I went out to the lounge area on our hotel’s floor today just for a change of pace, but it was a little cold to stay for long.
One kind of sad thing is that Drew could hear a baby crying in the distance and he started calling for it (he makes loud, purposeful grunts when he wants something or your attention, the rest of the time he babbles). I don’t know if he was calling the baby, or calling what he thought were his caregivers from the orphanage. I hope it wasn’t the latter, but I’ll never know and can never imagine what he’s gone though this week.
Our only other outing today was to the pharmacy about a block away, which is the best place around here to buy baby supplies. We got a new stack of diapers that should get us through our trip on Sunday, and I stopped at the bank to change enough dollars into the local currency to pay for our hotel stay.
Drew’s being very independent today – refusing to drink out of the sippy cup unless I take off the lid so he can drink like a big kid, and trying to walk around the entire room rather than doing his crawl. Of course, he fell a couple of times on the hardwood floor, and I think he’s got a fresh bump on his head. Poor little boy!
I hope that the weather back home isn’t too bad today and tomorrow – Beth says New Britain is expected to get up to 6 inches of snow, and then a storm over the weekend. Shoveling the snow is my job at the house and I hope Beth doesn’t have too bad a time of it. I’ll worry more about the Sunday weather after I find out if we make our embassy appointment.
That’s all for now – Drew and I are having supper downstairs, and then I’m going to try to keep him up until 9, hoping that he sleeps longer tomorrow. :)
Galina reports that our paperwork was approved in Astana, the Kazakhstan capitol, at 4 p.m. today (Thursday). All that remains is that the papers make it back to Almaty tomorrow morning. And that’s not so easy. The plane with our papers is supposed to arrive at 11 a.m. tomorrow in Almaty. Galina then has until noon to get it to the US Embassy so they may review it for Drew’s 2 p.m. appointment. No papers, no appointment.
And if we miss Friday’s appointment, we won’t get to the Embassy until Monday, which means we won’t get home until Tuesday. Ugh! I hate uncertainties! Galina says we should have no problems IF the plane is on time. That’s a big if, so that’s why we need some good thoughts.
That’s all the adoption news today – Drew and I pretty much spent the day playing and staying warm. Remember I told you that the heat wasn’t working in our room and they brought in a space heater? Well, the side benefit to that is that our room is the warmest place in the hotel. Great for little boys to play and sleep, but it’s a little claustrophobic to be in the same room all day, every day. Drew and I went out to the lounge area on our hotel’s floor today just for a change of pace, but it was a little cold to stay for long.
One kind of sad thing is that Drew could hear a baby crying in the distance and he started calling for it (he makes loud, purposeful grunts when he wants something or your attention, the rest of the time he babbles). I don’t know if he was calling the baby, or calling what he thought were his caregivers from the orphanage. I hope it wasn’t the latter, but I’ll never know and can never imagine what he’s gone though this week.
Our only other outing today was to the pharmacy about a block away, which is the best place around here to buy baby supplies. We got a new stack of diapers that should get us through our trip on Sunday, and I stopped at the bank to change enough dollars into the local currency to pay for our hotel stay.
Drew’s being very independent today – refusing to drink out of the sippy cup unless I take off the lid so he can drink like a big kid, and trying to walk around the entire room rather than doing his crawl. Of course, he fell a couple of times on the hardwood floor, and I think he’s got a fresh bump on his head. Poor little boy!
I hope that the weather back home isn’t too bad today and tomorrow – Beth says New Britain is expected to get up to 6 inches of snow, and then a storm over the weekend. Shoveling the snow is my job at the house and I hope Beth doesn’t have too bad a time of it. I’ll worry more about the Sunday weather after I find out if we make our embassy appointment.
That’s all for now – Drew and I are having supper downstairs, and then I’m going to try to keep him up until 9, hoping that he sleeps longer tomorrow. :)
Thursday AM in Kazakhstan....
Good morning. It’s Thursday in Kazakhstan and today we should find out if our paperwork comes back in time to make our Friday appointment at the US Embassy. We’re very, very hopeful – if the paper comes we’ll be able to make our flight on Sunday. If it doesn’t come, we’re here until Tuesday, more than likely. It’s a big day, and there’s nothing we can do but sit and wait!
Drew had a rough day yesterday because he was off schedule – or at least what I think is schedule is – all day. But it was all worthwhile when he rewarded me with a kiss. It was sloppy and drooly, but his first one to me and one that I’ll always remember.
Here’s how it happened – after sending our e-mail Wednesday night, we went back to our room for play. Drew and I decided we were tired of watching Voice of America television, so we plugged in my computer so we could listen to the music from my iTunes library. That seemed to put Drew in a good mood because he likes to dance to some of the music by sitting down and wiggling his butt on the floor. Very cute!
As we listened, we started playing with the wooden number puzzle I bought for him here. Drew gave me the pieces and I gave them big kisses while making a loud “mm-wah” noise. Drew thought that was funny and did the same thing. About 30 minutes later, while I was laying on the floor, Drew suddenly crawled over to me and gave me a “mm-wah” right on the mouth, and then he rested his head on my chest. It was an incredible feeling, and cemented any concerns that this little boy won’t accept us as his parents. Beth, I can’t wait to share all this with you. Our little boy is full of love and fun and we’re going to have great lives by bringing him into our family!
Drew got very tired by 7, so I decided there was no better time than a bath. I figured he hated sponge baths so much, I may as well let him throw a big fit with a full-scale bath while he’s cranky. Much to my surprise, though, it went pretty well! He didn’t like sitting in the warm water at first and started crying, but as soon as I showed him that he could smack the top of the water to make a splash his cries turned to giggles. I got a couple great photos of him in the tub, but I won’t e-mail them. The last thing I need is being arrested for international distribution of naked baby photos!
Once it was bedtime, Drew was exhausted. We read “Tails” and then I tried to put him in his crib, but this time he wanted to be held and rocked in the chair until he fell asleep. It was a good way to spend a half-hour, and when I finally put him down he stayed in his crib until about 4 a.m. today. Much better than yesterday!
Drew and I slept until 6, and he’s already had a diaper change and an early breakfast of a cracker, a half-jar of fruit and apple juice. He’ll play in his crib with some toys while I take a shower, and then at 8:30 or so we’ll go to the hotel restaurant for a better breakfast of eggs, bread, cucumbers and milk. At 9 we’ll send this message and hopefully Mommy will be on IM so we can chat.
____________________________________________________________________
Patrick and I were able to IM for a little while, untuil Drew decided he'd had enough!! LOL...
Kristi - I agree with you on the sleeping - if this is the one thing that he has the hardest time adjusting to from the orphanage, that's pretty good!!
Drew had a rough day yesterday because he was off schedule – or at least what I think is schedule is – all day. But it was all worthwhile when he rewarded me with a kiss. It was sloppy and drooly, but his first one to me and one that I’ll always remember.
Here’s how it happened – after sending our e-mail Wednesday night, we went back to our room for play. Drew and I decided we were tired of watching Voice of America television, so we plugged in my computer so we could listen to the music from my iTunes library. That seemed to put Drew in a good mood because he likes to dance to some of the music by sitting down and wiggling his butt on the floor. Very cute!
As we listened, we started playing with the wooden number puzzle I bought for him here. Drew gave me the pieces and I gave them big kisses while making a loud “mm-wah” noise. Drew thought that was funny and did the same thing. About 30 minutes later, while I was laying on the floor, Drew suddenly crawled over to me and gave me a “mm-wah” right on the mouth, and then he rested his head on my chest. It was an incredible feeling, and cemented any concerns that this little boy won’t accept us as his parents. Beth, I can’t wait to share all this with you. Our little boy is full of love and fun and we’re going to have great lives by bringing him into our family!
Drew got very tired by 7, so I decided there was no better time than a bath. I figured he hated sponge baths so much, I may as well let him throw a big fit with a full-scale bath while he’s cranky. Much to my surprise, though, it went pretty well! He didn’t like sitting in the warm water at first and started crying, but as soon as I showed him that he could smack the top of the water to make a splash his cries turned to giggles. I got a couple great photos of him in the tub, but I won’t e-mail them. The last thing I need is being arrested for international distribution of naked baby photos!
Once it was bedtime, Drew was exhausted. We read “Tails” and then I tried to put him in his crib, but this time he wanted to be held and rocked in the chair until he fell asleep. It was a good way to spend a half-hour, and when I finally put him down he stayed in his crib until about 4 a.m. today. Much better than yesterday!
Drew and I slept until 6, and he’s already had a diaper change and an early breakfast of a cracker, a half-jar of fruit and apple juice. He’ll play in his crib with some toys while I take a shower, and then at 8:30 or so we’ll go to the hotel restaurant for a better breakfast of eggs, bread, cucumbers and milk. At 9 we’ll send this message and hopefully Mommy will be on IM so we can chat.
____________________________________________________________________
Patrick and I were able to IM for a little while, untuil Drew decided he'd had enough!! LOL...
Kristi - I agree with you on the sleeping - if this is the one thing that he has the hardest time adjusting to from the orphanage, that's pretty good!!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Drew called from Almaty, Update from Patrick!!
I just got off the phone with Patrick and Drew!!! Well, more Patrick than Drew, but still - it was so great to hear from them.
They are doing well and staying warm - there's lots of paperwork to do every day, but Patrick is doing OK with it. Still no word on if he can have his Embassy exit interview Friday...but we're still crossing our fingers it will work out.
Drew is doing great!!! He's eating everything and having fun playing and enjoying his "Tails" book! Apparently though he doesn't want to sleep in his crib and needs to sleep with Patrick - I guess he's scared, which is understandable. Thankfully all his clothes are fittng him well, as is his winter jacket.
Patrick put Drew on the phone so I could talk to him - Patrick said he was listening to me, until he saw some animals on TV and that was more interesting - LOL...oh my god - I just can't wait to hug and kiss that child and never let him go!!!
Patrick said people have come up to him in the hotel to tell him how cute Drew is!! I'm such a proud mom :)
Patrick also was able to see Drew's revised birth certificate and passport - both have his name that we gave him and we are listed as his parents on the birth certificate - so it's official...I can't wait to see it all myself...
We were only able to talk about 20 minutes - I can't imagine how much it cost, but it was worth it to hear Patrick's and Drew's voices...
Update from Patrick....
Hello! Drew has decided to get an early start to the day today, waking up for good at 6:30 a.m. I think sleep issues are going to be the biggest obstacle to hurdle, at least in the first few days.
We started the beginnings of a bedtime routine last night. Drew will be very good about letting us know when he’s tired – he doesn’t cry or fuss about it, but he starts rubbing his eyes nearly constantly. So shortly after 8 last night when he started making the signs, I gave him a quick sponge bath (which he hated!). Then we changed into his very warm and comfy blue and white PJs, and I lowered the lights a bit and we played quietly for another 20 minutes or so. Finally, at 8:30, we cleaned up the toys and I took him to the chair for his bedtime story – “Tails” by acclaimed author Matthew van Fleet, of course!
Then it was bedtime. Even though he was completely exhausted, he fought hard going to sleep. He didn’t want to be held or rocked, but he didn’t want to be in the crib, either – unless I was standing next to him, stroking his forehead or holding his hand. I really think bedtime is when he misses his old routines the most and when he’s most scared of all the changes that are happening in his life.
After about 30 minutes, Drew finally settled down, but still got upset if I went even as far as the bathroom. My only choice was to lay down on my own bed, about 3 feet from his, and we both fell asleep at the same time.
That lasted until about midnight, however, when Drew woke up in a complete thermonuclear meltdown fit. Maybe this wasn’t the best thing to do, but I brought him over to my bed, and he continued sleeping over there until about 6 or so. I tried, once, to put him back in his crib, about 5 a.m. or so, but he would have nothing of it.
We’ve been told this may happen – Drew not wanting to sleep by himself. And I’m sure we’re going to have the same problems when we get home and he finds himself in a crib in a bedroom all by himself. Suggestions?
Otherwise, Drew’s doing great. I’ve gotten him several toys that he can have on the plane as well – a wooden block set shaped as numbers, a set of rings, Lego-style toys, stacking cups and a set of toy cars. Drew likes to sit in the middle of the foor completely surrounded by all of his toys, and he’ll run the cars on the ground or knock the wood toys together while babbling contentedly. His favorite word is “a-ba” which he’ll repeat in various pitches and volumes until he’s nearly squealing. Sometimes I sit with him and play, but other times it’s more fun to sit back and watch.
He also seemed to rediscover his “Tails” book today after two days of ignoring it completely. I think there’s a good chance that the pig tail will take serious damage today – he’s got a very good grip on it right now in fact as he watches me type.
Drew had a rough day on Wednesday – he didn’t sleep well last night and woke up too early. So he was nodding off by 10:30 a.m., just when we were supposed to be getting ready to see Galina with more paperwork. Drew just wasn’t going to make it, so I put him down in his crib and he fought sleep until 11, when he finally dropped off. Galina and I just worked quietly outside the room.
The paperwork was pretty funny on the face of it. … it was Drew’s application for a visa from the US government, in which he had to attest that he was not a war criminal, had not committed human atrocities or acts of moral turpitude and he was not affiliated with any terrorism groups or planning any acts of terror against the USA. I hope our government screens adults better than 17-month-olds!
Galina says our revised paperwork, now that it’s been corrected by Taraz, made it to Astana safely. She’s hoping that it gets turned around today so it can be here in time for our appointment Friday at the Embassy. It makes me sick to think that after all our planning, and Beth’s dedication to the paperwork, that we now have to wait for some government official to rush our stuff because of mistakes that were made in Taraz and not caught until now. Cross your fingers that we get good news tomorrow! I’m not expected to see or hear from Galina until she knows the status of our paperwork, so all we can do is wait.
Galina left and Drew woke at 11:30 screaming, so I put him down with me in my bed and we slept until about 2. His schedule was completely thrown off but there’s really nothing I can do about it now. He was still tired and cranky when I decided it was time for an outing and we hit the Stetson – an American-themed restaurant about 2 blocks from the hotel. Drew was kind of fussy at first, but he likes watching people and there was a lot to see. Finally the food came – apple juice, pizza and French fries (really, I was just going for something he would like on his first restaurant visit, but now that I see it on the computer screen I look like a horrible father!). Drew liked the fries better than the pizza; I think it was too cheesy for him. And he completely refused his apple juice until I gave him some of my tea. Old Kazakh habits die hard!
I guess that’s all for now. I’m hoping for a quiet night, and Drew and I can settle in and relax a bit. Hello to everyone in the USA. Chris and Ben, are you reading? I can’t wait to talk to you on Sunday!
They are doing well and staying warm - there's lots of paperwork to do every day, but Patrick is doing OK with it. Still no word on if he can have his Embassy exit interview Friday...but we're still crossing our fingers it will work out.
Drew is doing great!!! He's eating everything and having fun playing and enjoying his "Tails" book! Apparently though he doesn't want to sleep in his crib and needs to sleep with Patrick - I guess he's scared, which is understandable. Thankfully all his clothes are fittng him well, as is his winter jacket.
Patrick put Drew on the phone so I could talk to him - Patrick said he was listening to me, until he saw some animals on TV and that was more interesting - LOL...oh my god - I just can't wait to hug and kiss that child and never let him go!!!
Patrick said people have come up to him in the hotel to tell him how cute Drew is!! I'm such a proud mom :)
Patrick also was able to see Drew's revised birth certificate and passport - both have his name that we gave him and we are listed as his parents on the birth certificate - so it's official...I can't wait to see it all myself...
We were only able to talk about 20 minutes - I can't imagine how much it cost, but it was worth it to hear Patrick's and Drew's voices...
Update from Patrick....
Hello! Drew has decided to get an early start to the day today, waking up for good at 6:30 a.m. I think sleep issues are going to be the biggest obstacle to hurdle, at least in the first few days.
We started the beginnings of a bedtime routine last night. Drew will be very good about letting us know when he’s tired – he doesn’t cry or fuss about it, but he starts rubbing his eyes nearly constantly. So shortly after 8 last night when he started making the signs, I gave him a quick sponge bath (which he hated!). Then we changed into his very warm and comfy blue and white PJs, and I lowered the lights a bit and we played quietly for another 20 minutes or so. Finally, at 8:30, we cleaned up the toys and I took him to the chair for his bedtime story – “Tails” by acclaimed author Matthew van Fleet, of course!
Then it was bedtime. Even though he was completely exhausted, he fought hard going to sleep. He didn’t want to be held or rocked, but he didn’t want to be in the crib, either – unless I was standing next to him, stroking his forehead or holding his hand. I really think bedtime is when he misses his old routines the most and when he’s most scared of all the changes that are happening in his life.
After about 30 minutes, Drew finally settled down, but still got upset if I went even as far as the bathroom. My only choice was to lay down on my own bed, about 3 feet from his, and we both fell asleep at the same time.
That lasted until about midnight, however, when Drew woke up in a complete thermonuclear meltdown fit. Maybe this wasn’t the best thing to do, but I brought him over to my bed, and he continued sleeping over there until about 6 or so. I tried, once, to put him back in his crib, about 5 a.m. or so, but he would have nothing of it.
We’ve been told this may happen – Drew not wanting to sleep by himself. And I’m sure we’re going to have the same problems when we get home and he finds himself in a crib in a bedroom all by himself. Suggestions?
Otherwise, Drew’s doing great. I’ve gotten him several toys that he can have on the plane as well – a wooden block set shaped as numbers, a set of rings, Lego-style toys, stacking cups and a set of toy cars. Drew likes to sit in the middle of the foor completely surrounded by all of his toys, and he’ll run the cars on the ground or knock the wood toys together while babbling contentedly. His favorite word is “a-ba” which he’ll repeat in various pitches and volumes until he’s nearly squealing. Sometimes I sit with him and play, but other times it’s more fun to sit back and watch.
He also seemed to rediscover his “Tails” book today after two days of ignoring it completely. I think there’s a good chance that the pig tail will take serious damage today – he’s got a very good grip on it right now in fact as he watches me type.
Drew had a rough day on Wednesday – he didn’t sleep well last night and woke up too early. So he was nodding off by 10:30 a.m., just when we were supposed to be getting ready to see Galina with more paperwork. Drew just wasn’t going to make it, so I put him down in his crib and he fought sleep until 11, when he finally dropped off. Galina and I just worked quietly outside the room.
The paperwork was pretty funny on the face of it. … it was Drew’s application for a visa from the US government, in which he had to attest that he was not a war criminal, had not committed human atrocities or acts of moral turpitude and he was not affiliated with any terrorism groups or planning any acts of terror against the USA. I hope our government screens adults better than 17-month-olds!
Galina says our revised paperwork, now that it’s been corrected by Taraz, made it to Astana safely. She’s hoping that it gets turned around today so it can be here in time for our appointment Friday at the Embassy. It makes me sick to think that after all our planning, and Beth’s dedication to the paperwork, that we now have to wait for some government official to rush our stuff because of mistakes that were made in Taraz and not caught until now. Cross your fingers that we get good news tomorrow! I’m not expected to see or hear from Galina until she knows the status of our paperwork, so all we can do is wait.
Galina left and Drew woke at 11:30 screaming, so I put him down with me in my bed and we slept until about 2. His schedule was completely thrown off but there’s really nothing I can do about it now. He was still tired and cranky when I decided it was time for an outing and we hit the Stetson – an American-themed restaurant about 2 blocks from the hotel. Drew was kind of fussy at first, but he likes watching people and there was a lot to see. Finally the food came – apple juice, pizza and French fries (really, I was just going for something he would like on his first restaurant visit, but now that I see it on the computer screen I look like a horrible father!). Drew liked the fries better than the pizza; I think it was too cheesy for him. And he completely refused his apple juice until I gave him some of my tea. Old Kazakh habits die hard!
I guess that’s all for now. I’m hoping for a quiet night, and Drew and I can settle in and relax a bit. Hello to everyone in the USA. Chris and Ben, are you reading? I can’t wait to talk to you on Sunday!
In Almaty...Update from Patrick...
Hi. We’ve had a full 24 hours here in Kazakhstan!
Picking our son up at the orphanage will be one of the best moments of my life. I had already seen him in the morning, and our translator (Tonya) and I spent the rest of the day shopping for him and for the orphanage. I decided not to purchase the television; Tonya’s mom (the assistant director of the orphanage) had suggested it, saying while all groups of children had TVs, there was no television for new orphanage arrivals who are awaiting their permanent placement into one of the orphanages many groups of children. Well, even Mira thought the request was ridiculous, so I settled on buying cleaning supplies and diapers. Tonya and I left the gift on the floor outside the orphanage director’s office, who didn’t even come out to tell us goodbye. It was unacknowledged and, for all I know, unappreciated. But at least I know it will be used for children or to make children’s lives a little better, and not be slipped into the trunk of someone’s car.
Then we went upstairs to get Drew. I walked into his playgroup’s room and found him on the floor, with four or five other children. They all froze as I walked in, as I think they normally do when a visitor appears. Drew suddenly crawled toward me at top speed and I swept him up in my arms, telling him he was our little boy. Drew turned around and, without prompting, waved goodbye to his friends and caregivers! Of course he thought we were just going into the next room for one-on-one play, but it melted my heart just the same.
Then I dressed Drew in one of the many outfits that you sent over – he left wearing a snuggly brown sweatsuit decorated with a happy raccoon. He looked great, of course – the 12-month clothes fit him perfectly. But Tonya immediately started questioning if he was wearing enough clothes, or had enough layers. I looked at her and said, “Tonya, don’t start now.” That solved the issue, at least for a while.
We went back to Tonya’s flat and were met by Tonya’s mother and Daniel (Tonya's son). After settling in, I gave them their gifts – Tonya and Daniel were especially excited; she loved all the books and called them “perfect,” while Daniel held and kissed his new shirts.
Then we spent the afternoon relaxing. Taraz was having one of its many days without lights, so we watched the children play by candlelight and Drew had supper of a beef and potato stew. And Daniel was enraptured by our son and kept following Drew around, trying to kiss him because he thought that he was a girl!
Happily, the lights came back on just before the party began. Constantine’s (Tonay's husband) brother and his wife arrived, followed shortly by Daniel’s godfather and his wife. Drew alternated between sitting with me and Tonya’s mother, who seemed to enjoy her last night with out little boy and didn’t want to let him go. The only problem with dinner was that it included many toasts of vodka; and as almost every toast was to wish Drew a happy and healthy life, and as Tonya’s mom kept insisting that she keep my glass filled, I was forced to go along with drinking four or five shots the same day I was taking custody of our son. It’s the Kazakh way, I suppose!
Tonya made the first toast and it was really touching, which is why I’m spending so much time on the subject, I suppose. She wished us a safe, easy journey and our family many happy days ahead, and that Drew grow up healthy and happy and that one day he would come back to Taraz to visit. As the guest, I had to make the second toast, so I thanked them for giving Drew a good start to his life, and I toasted their family’s many recent achievements – Tonya’s university degree, Constantine’s promotion to commander of his base, her mother’s planned retirement in February, and Daniel’s successful recovery from illness (I don’t think I’ve told you this, but Daniel was hospitalized for five days shortly after we left for some sort of stomach poisoning. Fortunately he’s fully recovered!).
I took the chance to give Constantine his present of present of a U.S. Army jacket and shirt, along with the Ranger ribbons we found for him. He was very pleased, and wore the T-shirt for the rest of the dinner. He also asked, jokingly I think, where his matching pants and cap were to go with the Army jacket. I told him we would bring those the next time we adopted from Taraz, and everyone laughed.
At 9 p.m., our driver came to take us to the train. I gave him his gift as well, and he was shocked that we gave him something – I hope he likes his Red Sox gear! Mira did not see us off, claiming some sort of illness, so Tonya promised to deliver her gift from us.
Drew did very well on the train. I had changed him into his PJs before we left Tonya’s flat and I gave him his Benadril when we arrived on our car. We shared the sleeping car with a woman and her 3-month-old daughter. I have to assume that the train people purposely booked both the babies in the same car so we wouldn’t keep anyone else awake! The woman spoke only Kazakh, but we were able to communicate enough to trade names, and the ages of our children. I told her we were going to America, and she asked if Esatai (I couldn’t get her to understand that his name was Drew, I suppose it doesn’t *sound* like a name here) was born in Taraz. I said he was, and she smiled and made many comments in the next 8 hours about how Esatai was saying bye-bye to Taraz and that he was going to be an American. She sounded very happy, which made me happy, too!
Drew fought sleep the best he could on the train – he was nervous, of course, and I’m sure he would have been much happier back at the orphanage. But he never cried, just fought to stay awake, before finally dropping off. Once he slept, though, he was a problem because he insisted on taking up our entire narrow bunk. I finally was able to find a comfortable way to lay and we slept most of the trip before he woke up about 6 a.m.
Our train arrived in Almaty at 7 a.m., which was white with new snow. It’s cold here! In fact, the heater in our hotel room doesn’t work, so the employees brought in a large space heater, which I’m keeping next to Drew’s crib, so he stays warm. I complained to the hotel front desk to no avail, and now I’m just forcing him to wear a couple of layers. I guess old orphanage habits die hard, but I’m not happy with the conditions in the hotel and was quite rude with the desk about it. I’m sure they chalked it up to American attitude, but I can’t care about that.
At 11 a.m., Galina arrived to take us to the clinic for a checkup and blood work. Drew cried as the doctor gave him a brief examination (she declared he had a cold and charged $100). Then he got his blood work and I was stunned that Drew didn’t even whimper or flinch when his finger was pricked. He watched very studiously as the lab doctor pinched his finger long enough to fill up a test tube with his blood. He was brave!
Our only problem, besides the lack of heat, is that Drew has a mild case of loose BMs which has caused us to ruin one outfit and a set of bedding. He’s eating well but I had a horrible time getting him to take a nap this afternoon despite how tired he was. I think his sleep times will be the worst for a while because it’s the one time that he craves the routine and familiar surroundings of the orphanage. He seemed so sad today when he woke up from his nap because I think he really misses his caregivers. In fact, he makes it a point to grunt loudly at all of the hotel maids here, I think because he associates them with his orphanage caregivers.
Galina gave me more paperwork to fill out, so I’m doing that this afternoon, and I’m told we’ll have the paperwork from his medical tests at the end of the day tomorrow. So hopefully we’re getting back on track!
Until tomorrow,
Patrick
Picking our son up at the orphanage will be one of the best moments of my life. I had already seen him in the morning, and our translator (Tonya) and I spent the rest of the day shopping for him and for the orphanage. I decided not to purchase the television; Tonya’s mom (the assistant director of the orphanage) had suggested it, saying while all groups of children had TVs, there was no television for new orphanage arrivals who are awaiting their permanent placement into one of the orphanages many groups of children. Well, even Mira thought the request was ridiculous, so I settled on buying cleaning supplies and diapers. Tonya and I left the gift on the floor outside the orphanage director’s office, who didn’t even come out to tell us goodbye. It was unacknowledged and, for all I know, unappreciated. But at least I know it will be used for children or to make children’s lives a little better, and not be slipped into the trunk of someone’s car.
Then we went upstairs to get Drew. I walked into his playgroup’s room and found him on the floor, with four or five other children. They all froze as I walked in, as I think they normally do when a visitor appears. Drew suddenly crawled toward me at top speed and I swept him up in my arms, telling him he was our little boy. Drew turned around and, without prompting, waved goodbye to his friends and caregivers! Of course he thought we were just going into the next room for one-on-one play, but it melted my heart just the same.
Then I dressed Drew in one of the many outfits that you sent over – he left wearing a snuggly brown sweatsuit decorated with a happy raccoon. He looked great, of course – the 12-month clothes fit him perfectly. But Tonya immediately started questioning if he was wearing enough clothes, or had enough layers. I looked at her and said, “Tonya, don’t start now.” That solved the issue, at least for a while.
We went back to Tonya’s flat and were met by Tonya’s mother and Daniel (Tonya's son). After settling in, I gave them their gifts – Tonya and Daniel were especially excited; she loved all the books and called them “perfect,” while Daniel held and kissed his new shirts.
Then we spent the afternoon relaxing. Taraz was having one of its many days without lights, so we watched the children play by candlelight and Drew had supper of a beef and potato stew. And Daniel was enraptured by our son and kept following Drew around, trying to kiss him because he thought that he was a girl!
Happily, the lights came back on just before the party began. Constantine’s (Tonay's husband) brother and his wife arrived, followed shortly by Daniel’s godfather and his wife. Drew alternated between sitting with me and Tonya’s mother, who seemed to enjoy her last night with out little boy and didn’t want to let him go. The only problem with dinner was that it included many toasts of vodka; and as almost every toast was to wish Drew a happy and healthy life, and as Tonya’s mom kept insisting that she keep my glass filled, I was forced to go along with drinking four or five shots the same day I was taking custody of our son. It’s the Kazakh way, I suppose!
Tonya made the first toast and it was really touching, which is why I’m spending so much time on the subject, I suppose. She wished us a safe, easy journey and our family many happy days ahead, and that Drew grow up healthy and happy and that one day he would come back to Taraz to visit. As the guest, I had to make the second toast, so I thanked them for giving Drew a good start to his life, and I toasted their family’s many recent achievements – Tonya’s university degree, Constantine’s promotion to commander of his base, her mother’s planned retirement in February, and Daniel’s successful recovery from illness (I don’t think I’ve told you this, but Daniel was hospitalized for five days shortly after we left for some sort of stomach poisoning. Fortunately he’s fully recovered!).
I took the chance to give Constantine his present of present of a U.S. Army jacket and shirt, along with the Ranger ribbons we found for him. He was very pleased, and wore the T-shirt for the rest of the dinner. He also asked, jokingly I think, where his matching pants and cap were to go with the Army jacket. I told him we would bring those the next time we adopted from Taraz, and everyone laughed.
At 9 p.m., our driver came to take us to the train. I gave him his gift as well, and he was shocked that we gave him something – I hope he likes his Red Sox gear! Mira did not see us off, claiming some sort of illness, so Tonya promised to deliver her gift from us.
Drew did very well on the train. I had changed him into his PJs before we left Tonya’s flat and I gave him his Benadril when we arrived on our car. We shared the sleeping car with a woman and her 3-month-old daughter. I have to assume that the train people purposely booked both the babies in the same car so we wouldn’t keep anyone else awake! The woman spoke only Kazakh, but we were able to communicate enough to trade names, and the ages of our children. I told her we were going to America, and she asked if Esatai (I couldn’t get her to understand that his name was Drew, I suppose it doesn’t *sound* like a name here) was born in Taraz. I said he was, and she smiled and made many comments in the next 8 hours about how Esatai was saying bye-bye to Taraz and that he was going to be an American. She sounded very happy, which made me happy, too!
Drew fought sleep the best he could on the train – he was nervous, of course, and I’m sure he would have been much happier back at the orphanage. But he never cried, just fought to stay awake, before finally dropping off. Once he slept, though, he was a problem because he insisted on taking up our entire narrow bunk. I finally was able to find a comfortable way to lay and we slept most of the trip before he woke up about 6 a.m.
Our train arrived in Almaty at 7 a.m., which was white with new snow. It’s cold here! In fact, the heater in our hotel room doesn’t work, so the employees brought in a large space heater, which I’m keeping next to Drew’s crib, so he stays warm. I complained to the hotel front desk to no avail, and now I’m just forcing him to wear a couple of layers. I guess old orphanage habits die hard, but I’m not happy with the conditions in the hotel and was quite rude with the desk about it. I’m sure they chalked it up to American attitude, but I can’t care about that.
At 11 a.m., Galina arrived to take us to the clinic for a checkup and blood work. Drew cried as the doctor gave him a brief examination (she declared he had a cold and charged $100). Then he got his blood work and I was stunned that Drew didn’t even whimper or flinch when his finger was pricked. He watched very studiously as the lab doctor pinched his finger long enough to fill up a test tube with his blood. He was brave!
Our only problem, besides the lack of heat, is that Drew has a mild case of loose BMs which has caused us to ruin one outfit and a set of bedding. He’s eating well but I had a horrible time getting him to take a nap this afternoon despite how tired he was. I think his sleep times will be the worst for a while because it’s the one time that he craves the routine and familiar surroundings of the orphanage. He seemed so sad today when he woke up from his nap because I think he really misses his caregivers. In fact, he makes it a point to grunt loudly at all of the hotel maids here, I think because he associates them with his orphanage caregivers.
Galina gave me more paperwork to fill out, so I’m doing that this afternoon, and I’m told we’ll have the paperwork from his medical tests at the end of the day tomorrow. So hopefully we’re getting back on track!
Until tomorrow,
Patrick
Monday, December 10, 2007
Snags with paperwork!!!
I heard from Patrick at around 4:30 a.m EST....he saw Drew earlier in the day and said he immediately recognized Patrick and crawled over to him!!!!! He got laughs and smiles almost immediately...so exciting!! He said Drew looks bigger, has some more teeth and had his hair cut again by the orphanage - I don't know why they keep cuttng his hair...oh well...
When I talked to Patrick, he was on his way to the baby house to pick up Drew FOREVER!!!!!!!
This is from Patrick - writing from Taraz...
"Hi. It’s 9 a.m. Monday morning and I’m in Taraz, writing this from the guest room of Tonya’s apartment.
I’ve got so much to tell you. So I’m not burying the lede, let me say that I’m fine, and I’m told that Drew is fine – I’ll be seeing him this morning and am told I’ll be taking him for good sometime this afternoon. However, there’ve been some snags that I’m working through.
Obviously, e-mail access has been less than perfect and I’ve not been near a live computer since leaving Amsterdam. In addition, problems with our paperwork are making it questionable that we’re going to catch our flight on the 16th. These issues won’t be resolved until Thursday at the earliest, and until then both we and our families should consider Drew’s arrival at 3:25 p.m. in Connecticut tentative.
Let me take this chronologically – I think that makes the most sense.
After my 12-hour layover in Amsterdam, the 6-hour flight to Almaty was completely full. I was unable to get an exit row, but at least had an aisle seat. I believe the plane was roomier than the Luftansa jet, however, and the entertainment system was far superior – each seat had its own entertainment system, where we could choose from dozens of movies, TV shows or video games. I watched two episodes of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” two episodes of “Friends” and a classic episode of “Cheers” and felt very much at home.
I sat across the aisle from a very nice couple from Rhode Island, Chris and Allison. They are adopting from Almaty and were making their first trip and were very excited. I told them what I could about Kazakhstan and how to get through customs – to me that was the most nerve-wracking part of this process, because we had absolutely no preparation for what to do. They seemed very nice and I hope that we stay in touch. I gave them our blog address so if you’re reading, hello!
Problems began when I arrived in Almaty and was met by Galina. She informed me that three pieces of our adoption paperwork contained errors that must be fixed before we could proceed to the U.S. Embassy. First, our court papers from Taraz indicated that we began visiting Drew on Oct. 1 – more than three weeks before our actual first day with him. That document must be retyped (in Russian) and resigned by court officials in Taraz. Second, an adoption certificate handwritten in Russian was incorrectly dated. And third, a petition that Beth and I had signed to the Kazakh government incorrectly indicated the court ruling was made final in October, not November. Galina had me redo the last document on Sunday, but Taraz court officials must create new papers to replace the first two documents. Galina gave me copies of the incorrect files to hand-deliver to our Taraz coordinator, Mira, when I arrive in Taraz Monday morning.
Galina is hopeful that Taraz will have these papers redone before Drew and I catch the train for Almaty Monday night. Then Almaty officials will have 48 hours to rush the paperwork through their system so that Drew and I can have our official interview at the Embassy on Friday. She is concerned that the papers won’t be completed on time; the best thing that I can do is “go with the flow,” as they say.
The second problem – my lack of e-mail access – was caused in part by my fatigue. Galina checked me in to the Alma Ata hotel and left me about 8 a.m. Monday. My plan was to sleep for 2-3 hours, then use the business center to send you an e-mail. However, I slept straight through, until 6 p.m. that day, and the business center was closed before I woke up. I suppose I needed the sleep, but I kicked myself for missing that opportunity.
I’m told Drew and I will be back in that same room when we get back to Almaty. I suppose it’s fine – it has comfortable twin bed, room for a crib and lots of storage space to put our clothes and baby supplies. The shower is awful, however.
On Sunday night, I took the Spanish train from Almaty to Taraz. However, Galina told me that a sleeping compartment was not available, so I ended up in an Amtrak-style car with about 30 other people. It was comfortable enough – more legroom than on the plane, and we were treated to the film “Spider-Man 3” dubbed in Russian before lights dimmed about midnight. Each seat had an individual light, so I read for a couple hours as well, and our train reached Taraz at 6 a.m.
It’s snowing in Taraz! I can’t believe how pretty it looks. Mira and her brother met me at the train station and, to my surprise, took me to Constantine and Tonya’s apartment. We arrived there about 6:30 a.m. and after giving Mira the papers from Galina, the driver took me upstairs, where Tonya led me to a guest room which she said would be mine for the day.
She said we would walk to the orphanage about 10 a.m. today to visit Drew, and then shop and have dinner about 1 p.m. We’ll go back to the orphanage about 3 p.m. to get Drew and will bring him back to Tonya’s apartment, where I’ll stay with him until we catch the train at 10 p.m. tonight. Also, Tonya said her brother-in-law and father-in-law were coming over tonight and we would have “a little party” to celebrate that Tonya received her university diploma last week.
Tonya also said her mother suggested that we purchase a television for the orphanage, instead of clothes and toys. I’ve been thinking about that for several hours and I’m not pleased with the idea – I so wish you were here to discuss this with! I want to get something that’s going to be for children, not the adults who work there.
And I don’t want to give a gift that’s going to end up in someone’s car within the week and be taken home. I’ve decided to ask Tonya to show me where in the orphanage our gift of a TV would be placed, and whether it would be used for staff entertainment or for the older 3-4 year-old children. If I’m not comfortable after asking some questions, I’m going to tell them, politely but firmly, that we will instead purchase gifts for the children. I mean, it’s OUR decision, right?
You wouldn’t believe how crazy it is here with the decorations and lights. You and I thought that Kazakhstan loved neon lights when we were here in November, but that was nothing. I’ve been amazed by the number of neon Christmas tree-style lights I’ve seen on public land, surrounded by references to the New Year. I’ve seen dozens of restaurants, hotels and homes in both Almaty and Taraz with “2008” decorations. This place must go crazy for Jan. 1. I wish I was going to be here to see it, but am also glad that I’ll be leaving before the craziness happens, if that makes sense.
I still have every intention of finding a phone and calling you this afternoon when we get Drew – probably sometime between 4-6 p.m. Taraz time, which is 3-5 a.m. on the East Coast. I hope that I have a chance to send this note before then. And I hope that I can send daily e-mails after today!
I miss you and love you. I can’t wait for us to get home, and I can’t wait to see you again."
So - it's 3 a.m. and I'm trying to stay calm!!! I should have known our smooth process was too good to be true...UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When I talked to Patrick, he was on his way to the baby house to pick up Drew FOREVER!!!!!!!
This is from Patrick - writing from Taraz...
"Hi. It’s 9 a.m. Monday morning and I’m in Taraz, writing this from the guest room of Tonya’s apartment.
I’ve got so much to tell you. So I’m not burying the lede, let me say that I’m fine, and I’m told that Drew is fine – I’ll be seeing him this morning and am told I’ll be taking him for good sometime this afternoon. However, there’ve been some snags that I’m working through.
Obviously, e-mail access has been less than perfect and I’ve not been near a live computer since leaving Amsterdam. In addition, problems with our paperwork are making it questionable that we’re going to catch our flight on the 16th. These issues won’t be resolved until Thursday at the earliest, and until then both we and our families should consider Drew’s arrival at 3:25 p.m. in Connecticut tentative.
Let me take this chronologically – I think that makes the most sense.
After my 12-hour layover in Amsterdam, the 6-hour flight to Almaty was completely full. I was unable to get an exit row, but at least had an aisle seat. I believe the plane was roomier than the Luftansa jet, however, and the entertainment system was far superior – each seat had its own entertainment system, where we could choose from dozens of movies, TV shows or video games. I watched two episodes of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” two episodes of “Friends” and a classic episode of “Cheers” and felt very much at home.
I sat across the aisle from a very nice couple from Rhode Island, Chris and Allison. They are adopting from Almaty and were making their first trip and were very excited. I told them what I could about Kazakhstan and how to get through customs – to me that was the most nerve-wracking part of this process, because we had absolutely no preparation for what to do. They seemed very nice and I hope that we stay in touch. I gave them our blog address so if you’re reading, hello!
Problems began when I arrived in Almaty and was met by Galina. She informed me that three pieces of our adoption paperwork contained errors that must be fixed before we could proceed to the U.S. Embassy. First, our court papers from Taraz indicated that we began visiting Drew on Oct. 1 – more than three weeks before our actual first day with him. That document must be retyped (in Russian) and resigned by court officials in Taraz. Second, an adoption certificate handwritten in Russian was incorrectly dated. And third, a petition that Beth and I had signed to the Kazakh government incorrectly indicated the court ruling was made final in October, not November. Galina had me redo the last document on Sunday, but Taraz court officials must create new papers to replace the first two documents. Galina gave me copies of the incorrect files to hand-deliver to our Taraz coordinator, Mira, when I arrive in Taraz Monday morning.
Galina is hopeful that Taraz will have these papers redone before Drew and I catch the train for Almaty Monday night. Then Almaty officials will have 48 hours to rush the paperwork through their system so that Drew and I can have our official interview at the Embassy on Friday. She is concerned that the papers won’t be completed on time; the best thing that I can do is “go with the flow,” as they say.
The second problem – my lack of e-mail access – was caused in part by my fatigue. Galina checked me in to the Alma Ata hotel and left me about 8 a.m. Monday. My plan was to sleep for 2-3 hours, then use the business center to send you an e-mail. However, I slept straight through, until 6 p.m. that day, and the business center was closed before I woke up. I suppose I needed the sleep, but I kicked myself for missing that opportunity.
I’m told Drew and I will be back in that same room when we get back to Almaty. I suppose it’s fine – it has comfortable twin bed, room for a crib and lots of storage space to put our clothes and baby supplies. The shower is awful, however.
On Sunday night, I took the Spanish train from Almaty to Taraz. However, Galina told me that a sleeping compartment was not available, so I ended up in an Amtrak-style car with about 30 other people. It was comfortable enough – more legroom than on the plane, and we were treated to the film “Spider-Man 3” dubbed in Russian before lights dimmed about midnight. Each seat had an individual light, so I read for a couple hours as well, and our train reached Taraz at 6 a.m.
It’s snowing in Taraz! I can’t believe how pretty it looks. Mira and her brother met me at the train station and, to my surprise, took me to Constantine and Tonya’s apartment. We arrived there about 6:30 a.m. and after giving Mira the papers from Galina, the driver took me upstairs, where Tonya led me to a guest room which she said would be mine for the day.
She said we would walk to the orphanage about 10 a.m. today to visit Drew, and then shop and have dinner about 1 p.m. We’ll go back to the orphanage about 3 p.m. to get Drew and will bring him back to Tonya’s apartment, where I’ll stay with him until we catch the train at 10 p.m. tonight. Also, Tonya said her brother-in-law and father-in-law were coming over tonight and we would have “a little party” to celebrate that Tonya received her university diploma last week.
Tonya also said her mother suggested that we purchase a television for the orphanage, instead of clothes and toys. I’ve been thinking about that for several hours and I’m not pleased with the idea – I so wish you were here to discuss this with! I want to get something that’s going to be for children, not the adults who work there.
And I don’t want to give a gift that’s going to end up in someone’s car within the week and be taken home. I’ve decided to ask Tonya to show me where in the orphanage our gift of a TV would be placed, and whether it would be used for staff entertainment or for the older 3-4 year-old children. If I’m not comfortable after asking some questions, I’m going to tell them, politely but firmly, that we will instead purchase gifts for the children. I mean, it’s OUR decision, right?
You wouldn’t believe how crazy it is here with the decorations and lights. You and I thought that Kazakhstan loved neon lights when we were here in November, but that was nothing. I’ve been amazed by the number of neon Christmas tree-style lights I’ve seen on public land, surrounded by references to the New Year. I’ve seen dozens of restaurants, hotels and homes in both Almaty and Taraz with “2008” decorations. This place must go crazy for Jan. 1. I wish I was going to be here to see it, but am also glad that I’ll be leaving before the craziness happens, if that makes sense.
I still have every intention of finding a phone and calling you this afternoon when we get Drew – probably sometime between 4-6 p.m. Taraz time, which is 3-5 a.m. on the East Coast. I hope that I have a chance to send this note before then. And I hope that I can send daily e-mails after today!
I miss you and love you. I can’t wait for us to get home, and I can’t wait to see you again."
So - it's 3 a.m. and I'm trying to stay calm!!! I should have known our smooth process was too good to be true...UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Amsterdam to Almaty....
Well, Patrick made it to Amsterdam safe and sound, and if my time zone calculations are correct, he is on his way to Almaty right now. He said the flight to Amsterdam was good - more comfortable on Northwest than the Lufthansa flight was - and he had an exit row. He was able to sleep for six hours in the Amsterdam airport, which he said was the nicest airport he's ever been in. So, apparently he didn't make it to the Red Light district! :) And of course, he bought us a "Holland" magnet!!
So - no more news for now...Peyton decided he's going to be sleeping with me while Patrick is away. Lucky me - woo hoo...
So - no more news for now...Peyton decided he's going to be sleeping with me while Patrick is away. Lucky me - woo hoo...
Friday, December 7, 2007
Buh-Bye....
Well - Patrick is three hours into his flight to Amsterdam...crazy!!!! Drew will be with his daddy so soon....I can't wait to hear that they are together.
It's going to be such a wierd week for both of us - hard for each of us in completely different ways. I know that Drew will be great with Patrick, but I know he's nervous. I don't blame him - I would be completely freaking out if I were going over by myself too. Hopefully all our paperwork is OK - today our agency sent over our homestudy update to say we would like to adopt a child up to 17 months old. Our original document says a child up to 16 months old. Without that change, we could have had some major problems at the Embassy..but - it will all be fine - I know it will.
Peyton and I will keep ourselves busy this weekend - we can't wait to see Kelly and Cole on Sunday!!! Work should be busy next week too - it's deadline week!!! I can't believe I have one more week of work and then that's it for 10 weeks - Drew and I are going to have so much fun!!!
Well - I will keep you all posted on Patrick's travels...he keeps joking about visiting a cafe in Amsterdam or the Red Light district - I've told him it's not that funny!!!! :)
It's going to be such a wierd week for both of us - hard for each of us in completely different ways. I know that Drew will be great with Patrick, but I know he's nervous. I don't blame him - I would be completely freaking out if I were going over by myself too. Hopefully all our paperwork is OK - today our agency sent over our homestudy update to say we would like to adopt a child up to 17 months old. Our original document says a child up to 16 months old. Without that change, we could have had some major problems at the Embassy..but - it will all be fine - I know it will.
Peyton and I will keep ourselves busy this weekend - we can't wait to see Kelly and Cole on Sunday!!! Work should be busy next week too - it's deadline week!!! I can't believe I have one more week of work and then that's it for 10 weeks - Drew and I are going to have so much fun!!!
Well - I will keep you all posted on Patrick's travels...he keeps joking about visiting a cafe in Amsterdam or the Red Light district - I've told him it's not that funny!!!! :)
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Drew's good mail day...
So - Drew is not even here yet and he had a great mail day. In fact, he got more mail than I did today. Here's what he got today:
Drew S. E. Sanders got his United frequent flier mileage card...along with a credit card offer!!!! He's not even 18 months old, or a US citizen, and he's getting credit offers - do we live in a great country or what??!!
He also got some gifts from Aunt Stephanie and Uncle Bryan...including a gorgeous blanket with his name on it that looks so cute on his rocking chair. It's Drew's first personalized gift - he'll be so excited once he learns his name! He also got my favorite children's book ever, "I'll love you forever" (that may not be the exact title) - I cry every time I read it. Just looking at the cover makes me cry...
Now we're just getting everything ready for Patrick to go. He's doing laundry, I sorted out all the gifts for everyone (including some great reading books from cousin Marcy for Tanya - thank you again!!!). And you'll all be impressed to know that I wrote on the cards "Thank you very much. All the best" - in Russian! I am a whiz with the Cyrillic alphabet...I hope everyone likes their presents - I think they will...
I can't believe Patrick leaves tomorrow - we're soooo close now.
Thank you again to all our family and friends who have been so wonderful and interested in our story...we're almost there. Soon this chapter will end and our lives with Drew will begin.
Drew S. E. Sanders got his United frequent flier mileage card...along with a credit card offer!!!! He's not even 18 months old, or a US citizen, and he's getting credit offers - do we live in a great country or what??!!
He also got some gifts from Aunt Stephanie and Uncle Bryan...including a gorgeous blanket with his name on it that looks so cute on his rocking chair. It's Drew's first personalized gift - he'll be so excited once he learns his name! He also got my favorite children's book ever, "I'll love you forever" (that may not be the exact title) - I cry every time I read it. Just looking at the cover makes me cry...
Now we're just getting everything ready for Patrick to go. He's doing laundry, I sorted out all the gifts for everyone (including some great reading books from cousin Marcy for Tanya - thank you again!!!). And you'll all be impressed to know that I wrote on the cards "Thank you very much. All the best" - in Russian! I am a whiz with the Cyrillic alphabet...I hope everyone likes their presents - I think they will...
I can't believe Patrick leaves tomorrow - we're soooo close now.
Thank you again to all our family and friends who have been so wonderful and interested in our story...we're almost there. Soon this chapter will end and our lives with Drew will begin.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Heat is important....
So - under the category of "whatever can go wrong will," we woke up this morning to no heat on the main floor of our house!! I don't understand all the technical stuff, but it turns out that our hot water heater should never have passed inspection cause it's missing some part - good to know more than two years after we bought the house...
Anyway - the very nice man named Steve fixed it temporarily and said it should be fine through the winter. We'll take care of the rest of it in the spring...when we take care of the huge tree limb in the middle of our yard from this week's ice storm!!
It's always something!!
Our paperwork will all be notorized today. There's a still a lot of mumbo-jumbo on those forms that makes no sense, but if they are notorized they can always be filled in later - so we're all set there...
Now if i could just make myself finish my stories for work....
And we found out that it will cost Patrick $70 to extend his visa in Kazakhstan for one day!! That's insane - considering a two-month visa was $90.
Two days until Patrick leaves for Kazakhstan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway - the very nice man named Steve fixed it temporarily and said it should be fine through the winter. We'll take care of the rest of it in the spring...when we take care of the huge tree limb in the middle of our yard from this week's ice storm!!
It's always something!!
Our paperwork will all be notorized today. There's a still a lot of mumbo-jumbo on those forms that makes no sense, but if they are notorized they can always be filled in later - so we're all set there...
Now if i could just make myself finish my stories for work....
And we found out that it will cost Patrick $70 to extend his visa in Kazakhstan for one day!! That's insane - considering a two-month visa was $90.
Two days until Patrick leaves for Kazakhstan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Happy Hanukkah!!
Hanukkah starts tonight - so happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate - including me!! :) Patrick and I will be having latkes for dinner (yes, the store bought ones) and maybe some donuts (sufganiot!) for dessert if I feel like splurging!! :)
I think we have all the questions answered for the paperwork, so we should be all set to get that stuff done by Friday when Patrick gets on the plane...
...and that's all I got from here...
Oh - Drew's changing table/dresser arrives today!!!
...and now that's really all I got from here...
ADDED: I have added more pictures of Drew's room - it looks so adorable - all it needs are more toys, a rug, his lamp, the valances and of course DREW!!!!!!
PS - Kristi - I love your comments - they always make me smile!!!! Sara too!!!!
I think we have all the questions answered for the paperwork, so we should be all set to get that stuff done by Friday when Patrick gets on the plane...
...and that's all I got from here...
Oh - Drew's changing table/dresser arrives today!!!
...and now that's really all I got from here...
ADDED: I have added more pictures of Drew's room - it looks so adorable - all it needs are more toys, a rug, his lamp, the valances and of course DREW!!!!!!
PS - Kristi - I love your comments - they always make me smile!!!! Sara too!!!!
Monday, December 3, 2007
Procrastination....
I've been so bad! Patrick leaves Friday for Kazakhstan and I still have paperwork to get done - that is so not like me! It's important paperwork, it needs to be done, and I just can't make myself do it...tonight I have to - I have no choice. Thankfully it only needs to be notorized, not apostilized too...
I think now that Drew is real (with a very cute room to prove it!! LOL) - it's harder to deal with the paperwork side of all this, if that makes sense. It's like - he's my baby now - what do you mean I have to fill out 10 more forms!! Come on....
And even once he's home the paperwork doesn't stop - we need to get him a Connecticut birth certificate, possibly do a readoption, do post-placement reports to Kazakhstan, etc...
I honestly don't know how people adopt internationally more than once...I really don't.
Well - back to work...
On another note...the Browns got robbed yesterday!! Winslow was forced out!
I think now that Drew is real (with a very cute room to prove it!! LOL) - it's harder to deal with the paperwork side of all this, if that makes sense. It's like - he's my baby now - what do you mean I have to fill out 10 more forms!! Come on....
And even once he's home the paperwork doesn't stop - we need to get him a Connecticut birth certificate, possibly do a readoption, do post-placement reports to Kazakhstan, etc...
I honestly don't know how people adopt internationally more than once...I really don't.
Well - back to work...
On another note...the Browns got robbed yesterday!! Winslow was forced out!
Saturday, December 1, 2007
More Shopping...
Well - I spent much of the day stimulating the local economy!! Started at USA Baby, then to Target, on to JC Penneys and finally Macys. Oh, and the book store too...it's amazing how much fun I had shopping for other people - particularly Drew! His room is really coming along...when it's all done I'll post another picture. His other piece of furniture will be delivered Tuesday and after that we're just waiting for his valances and a lamp...
I found great gifts for everyone in Kazakhstan - I'm so excited.
For Mira and Galina (our two coordinators who are doing all the paperwork and legwork) I got each of them a different sterling silver heart necklace and on the box one says "Until we meet again" and the other says "Many hearts, one family" - they are perfect and exactly what I was looking for.
Tomorrow I'll start packing for Drew....
Patrick and I went out for dinner tonight and spent most of it talking about what Drew would be doing if he were here. Somtimes I miss him so much it actually hurts - he'll be home in 15 days!!! It's not soon enough...
Other than that - I got all our laundry done! :)
Kristi - Thanks for the great idea of checking out other places that offer free classes - I think I found a few!!
And that's about it from Connecticut - it's supposed to snow tomorrow - ugh! I hate winter. About this time every year I want to move to Florida!
I found great gifts for everyone in Kazakhstan - I'm so excited.
For Mira and Galina (our two coordinators who are doing all the paperwork and legwork) I got each of them a different sterling silver heart necklace and on the box one says "Until we meet again" and the other says "Many hearts, one family" - they are perfect and exactly what I was looking for.
Tomorrow I'll start packing for Drew....
Patrick and I went out for dinner tonight and spent most of it talking about what Drew would be doing if he were here. Somtimes I miss him so much it actually hurts - he'll be home in 15 days!!! It's not soon enough...
Other than that - I got all our laundry done! :)
Kristi - Thanks for the great idea of checking out other places that offer free classes - I think I found a few!!
And that's about it from Connecticut - it's supposed to snow tomorrow - ugh! I hate winter. About this time every year I want to move to Florida!
Friday, November 30, 2007
Gymboree...
I signed Drew up for his first Gymboree class today!!! Gymboree gives you a free, preview class to see if your child will like it. We're going at the end of January - I'm very excited and hopefully Drew will be too...
I think that's all my Drew news for today...it's hard when he's not here!!
16 more days....
I think that's all my Drew news for today...it's hard when he's not here!!
16 more days....
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Drew's room...
Most of Drew's furniture was delivered today - it looks gorgeous!!! Of course one of his pieces never made it here - they say it will be here soon. But it looks so good with his room and the bedding and everything...I will post pictures!!
Today I made my first doctor's appointment for Drew - three days after he gets home at 10 a.m. for anyone keeping score at home. When they asked his name I almost started crying - I can't believe I got so emotional over making a doctor's appointment!!! I'm a mess!!!
Sooo much to do this weekend - I can't believe Patrick leaves for Kazakhstan a week from tomorrow - that's crazy.
Today I made my first doctor's appointment for Drew - three days after he gets home at 10 a.m. for anyone keeping score at home. When they asked his name I almost started crying - I can't believe I got so emotional over making a doctor's appointment!!! I'm a mess!!!
Sooo much to do this weekend - I can't believe Patrick leaves for Kazakhstan a week from tomorrow - that's crazy.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Drew is ours!!!!!!
The 15-day period for anyone to appeal Drew's adoption ended quietly yesterday - Drew is now ours according to Kazakh law!!!!!! Our little boy will be home with us before we know it and the next chapter of our lives - as a family of FIVE (six if you include Peyton!) - can FINALLY begin.
It seems appropriate for all this to happen during National Adoption Month - a month where special attention is called to the joy of adoption. There are still so many people who don't understand adoption and make silly comments about who a child's "real" parents are and stuff like that. We expect that will happen at some point and hope to answer those questions with humor and grace (yeah, we probably won't!!). But it's great that there's a month set aside to educate people about adoption.
We also met today with our international adoption pediatrician who is wonderful - her name is Dr. Chandawakar and she specializes in helping parents evaluate their children and deciding whether to accept a referal. We were in contact with her while in Kazakhstan and today showed her tons of pictures and video of Drew. She's very happy with where he is right now and said he is on target for most things for a child who's been in an orphanage. She thinks he will catch up quickly in the other areas too...go Drew!! :)
Well - each day is a day closer to bringing Drew home - we can't wait to have you here baby!!!
It seems appropriate for all this to happen during National Adoption Month - a month where special attention is called to the joy of adoption. There are still so many people who don't understand adoption and make silly comments about who a child's "real" parents are and stuff like that. We expect that will happen at some point and hope to answer those questions with humor and grace (yeah, we probably won't!!). But it's great that there's a month set aside to educate people about adoption.
We also met today with our international adoption pediatrician who is wonderful - her name is Dr. Chandawakar and she specializes in helping parents evaluate their children and deciding whether to accept a referal. We were in contact with her while in Kazakhstan and today showed her tons of pictures and video of Drew. She's very happy with where he is right now and said he is on target for most things for a child who's been in an orphanage. She thinks he will catch up quickly in the other areas too...go Drew!! :)
Well - each day is a day closer to bringing Drew home - we can't wait to have you here baby!!!
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Plane tickets....
We got the plane tickets today for Patrick and Drew...it was so cool to see Drew's name on his own ticket - Drew Sebastian Esatai Sanders!! A big mouthful for a little boy!! Poor Patrick has a 12-hour layover in Amsterdam on the way there. Thankfully it's only about 2 hours on the way home with Drew.
We also heard from our agency today that if there was a quarantine at the baby house it won't affect us bringing Drew home, which is good news. But, our in-country coordinator, Galina, hadn't heard there was a quarantine so who knows what the real story is there? It's so hard to know what is the truth and what is heresay sometimes. Did I spell heresay right???
Every day is one day closer to Drew - 19 more days until my baby is home forever!!!!
Well - I should probably do some work - I've spent the last hour looking for adoption announcements!
We also heard from our agency today that if there was a quarantine at the baby house it won't affect us bringing Drew home, which is good news. But, our in-country coordinator, Galina, hadn't heard there was a quarantine so who knows what the real story is there? It's so hard to know what is the truth and what is heresay sometimes. Did I spell heresay right???
Every day is one day closer to Drew - 19 more days until my baby is home forever!!!!
Well - I should probably do some work - I've spent the last hour looking for adoption announcements!
Monday, November 26, 2007
Great article on homecoming....
Someone sent me this great article and I don't know who....whoever sent it - thank you!!! It has great tips to helping Drew get through his adjustment period of being with us. As excited as we are to have him home, it is important to remember that for him it will probably be traumatic as everything familiar is gone, which makes me so sad for him. Hopefully he will be OK after a few days. We are lucky we had that month-long bonding period with him though, so at least we aren't complete strangers to him - that's one thing Kazakhstan does right!!
Here's the article for anyone interested and thank again to whomever sent it!!!
Welcome Home
Helping your adopted child adjust to their new life
When a newly-adopted baby/toddler joins the family, both parents and child face a period of adjustment, as new parents get used to the new role of parenting, and the baby adjusts to his or her new home and family. Both parents and children have different experiences than families formed through birth. Pregnant moms get months to slowly prepare for parenthood, and lots of social support. It is harder for adoptive parents, because the wait can be long, and the arrival of the child quite abrupt. Society does not have the same expectations of the new parents, or the new child, as they do for a mom coming home from the hospital with her new child, and others do not make the same allowances, or offer the same support.
Helping your new baby adjust to home and family
It is important to understand that the process of adoption and the removal from an orphanage or foster home to an entirely different home in another country is a huge change for a baby, and it can be quite traumatic. Try to see the world from your baby's point of view, and be sensitive to her or his personality and preferences, and his or her cues, signs of distress, overstimulation, anxiety, exhaustion etc.
Be aware that your baby may be still grieving. Babies do grieve the loss of those who cared for them, sometimes for weeks and months. Some babies withdraw emotionally, or cry inconsolably for the first few days. This grief often emerges once they are more settled in their new home.
The baby has not only been separated from those to whom she had formed an attachment, but from a familiar and predictable environment. Babies are very sensitive to the sights, sounds, smells and feel of an environment: the smell of their care-giver, the smell and texture of her clothing, the type of bottle and formula, and how they receive their food, the feel of a diaper and their clothing, the hardness of their crib mattress, the weight of their covering, the amount of light in the room, the language and background noise they hear.
The very limited world orphanage or foster home was familiar, predictable and stable. Suddenly, they are trust into the arms of strangers who are totally different from their familiar caregivers, and whisked through an alarming series of new and strange environments, from the hotel room, the busy streets, the official buildings to the plane ride home. Babies are often overwhelmed and exhausted by this barrage of new and often scary experiences. Your home is just the last of these scary new environments, where he or she is placed in yet another new crib, in yet another strange room, in a place that smells, sounds, and feels different from anything he or she has ever experienced. Babies have jet lag: their days and nights are mixed up. Many babies fall apart when they are safely home, as the cumulative stresses overwhelm them. Many parents report that their babies' sleep patterns are disrupted, that they wake and cry at night, and that they fuss and cry a great deal. Parents can become exhausted, frustrated and discouraged.
Here are some hints on helping your baby to adjust to his or her new home and family.
1. Ease the trauma of transition as far as possible . In some countries, you can visit your baby in the orphanage several times before taking him or her away, but in others, the baby is abruptly taken and handed over to the parent's care. The total sensory impact of this sudden removal from familiar sights, smells, sounds and textures is often traumatic. Anything you can do to provide continuity can help. Ask about your new baby's routines, likes and dislikes. Some parents have been able to send a receiving blanket or soft toy beforehand to the orphanage with their own body scent on it (sleep with it under your nightwear) so their baby recognizes them by smell. Even if washed on return, it will then have the familiar smell of the orphanage to comfort the baby. Before you meet your baby, eat in an ethnic restaurant, so your breath and clothing may smell more familiar to him or her. (Though the nurses in the orphanage may smell mostly of disinfectant!) When you receive your new baby, leave the original clothing on for the first few hours if possible, keep at least one piece of clothing if permitted (take new clothes to exchange) and keep it, unwashed, in the crib for a few days. Keep your baby on the formula and foods given in the orphanage for at least a few days, and make the transition to new formula gradual. Take tapes of local music home to play at home, to ease the transition there.
2. Minimize your child's exposure to anyone outside the family for the first few weeks . Let no one else hold the baby except the parents, even at the airport on your triumphant arrival home!! Isolate yourselves with your new child at home for the first week, with as few visitors as possible. Do not let visitors hold your baby. If family members want to help, ask them to bring meals, do shopping and errands, or clean the house. If challenged, say the social worker or doctor advised this early isolation.
3. Recreate the baby's routine . An unvarying and predictable daily routine will help your baby feel more safe and secure. Staying at home with the baby helps create this routine. Keep everything quiet and low-key for a few weeks - no welcome home parties, or other excitement.
4. Focus on building attachment in these early weeks at home.
Mom should do as much of the baby care as possible, to establish the primary bond.
She should hold and interact with the baby when feeding him or her. Do not allow your baby to bottle-feed by holding the bottle alone. This is a key bonding activity, where the mother should be offering the food and maintaining eye contact. When the baby is eating solids, the mother should always feed him or her herself. Do not encourage early independence in self-feeding. Hold your baby on your lap if possible, with eye contact. If the baby must be in a high chair, keep him or her very close to you, between parents if possible, and touch your baby often, use lots of eye contact and conversation. If your child insists on self-feeding, play interactive, reciprocal feeding games - you put a Cheerio in her mouth, she puts one in your mouth.
Lots of physical contact is very important. Mom should hold and carry the baby as much as possible. Cuddle, caress, stroke and rock. Gentle wrestling and tickling are fine if not over-stimulating. Cuddling your baby with eye contact while rocking her or him in a rocking chair is very beneficial. Use a baby sling or cloth carrier (Snuggly, Baby Bjorn etc) to carry her or him facing inwards against your body, wear your baby all day while you go about household tasks, or out shopping or walking.
Engage in frequent playful interaction with your baby. Do not leave your baby to entertain herself or himself for long periods. All of the traditional baby games' are great: pat-a-cake, blowing raspberries, peek-a-boo, counting rhymes with fingers and toes (this little piggie) riding the parent's leg, rolling a ball back and forth, imitating the baby's sounds, etc. Play together with baby toys.
Newly-adopted babies should be responded to when they cry in the night. Leaving a baby to cry is not appropriate for newly-adopted children. Mom should stay with the baby as she or he falls asleep, rocking, singing, caressing, etc. Parents should comfort the baby whenever he or she cries in the night. Many babies adjust better when they sleep in the parents' room, either in their own crib near the parents' bed, or with the parents in the Family Bed (if you choose this option, be sure to follow all safety recommendations to ensure the baby does not suffocate on or under soft bedding, get lodged between the bed and the wall, or adjacent furniture, or get suffocated accidentally by parents) Others, including your pediatrician, may advise you to teach the older baby to sleep by herself or himself, by letting him or her cry it out. Only when a child seems securely attached, should parents begin to encourage their baby to learn to sleep through the night alone. Be sure to eliminate medical causes if your baby's sleep is restless and frequently interrupted by waking and crying: intestinal parasites, ear infections and lactose intolerance are possible causes of poor sleeping.
Adjusting to parenting the adopted child
1. Prepare as much as you can beforehand, so you know that you can anticipate when your baby comes home. Find out what behaviors are typical for babies in this period of adjustment, and what expectations are realistic. Read books about adoption, attend any seminars on adoptive parenting, talk to other parents about their experiences at support group meetings. Be sure to learn about how adoption will change family life, especially about post-adoption depression, and the ways you can help to minimize or prevent it.
2. You will have jet lag if you travel to get your child, and you can expect to feel exhausted if your baby does not sleep through the night, and has her days and nights mixed up. Get your support system in place before you return; arrange with family, friends or commercial services to come home to a house that is clean and tidy, and well-stocked with food, so you can recover from jet lag. Enlist help with laundry, meals, errands, babysitting older children, or taking them on outings, etc.
3. Take time for yourself, your spouse, and your other children. You need to take care of yourself. Make sure you eat nutritious food, get some exercise, and some recreation. Don't neglect your marriage. Arrange for a babysitter and go out with your spouse for an evening. Your other children are having to adjust to the new child too. Give them some one-on-one time, and take your older child out for an outing, just the two of you.
4. Get help from your support network when you feel stressed. If you feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and depressed, or are feeling frustrated or worried about your child's behavior, talk it over with another adoptive parent you know and trust. Those who have not adopted may not be as sympathetic as parents who have been through it. Don't hesitate to call your social worker about problems, and don't pretend everything is fine when there are problems. She will be able to reassure you that your experiences and feelings are normal, and give you helpful advice.
Here's the article for anyone interested and thank again to whomever sent it!!!
Welcome Home
Helping your adopted child adjust to their new life
When a newly-adopted baby/toddler joins the family, both parents and child face a period of adjustment, as new parents get used to the new role of parenting, and the baby adjusts to his or her new home and family. Both parents and children have different experiences than families formed through birth. Pregnant moms get months to slowly prepare for parenthood, and lots of social support. It is harder for adoptive parents, because the wait can be long, and the arrival of the child quite abrupt. Society does not have the same expectations of the new parents, or the new child, as they do for a mom coming home from the hospital with her new child, and others do not make the same allowances, or offer the same support.
Helping your new baby adjust to home and family
It is important to understand that the process of adoption and the removal from an orphanage or foster home to an entirely different home in another country is a huge change for a baby, and it can be quite traumatic. Try to see the world from your baby's point of view, and be sensitive to her or his personality and preferences, and his or her cues, signs of distress, overstimulation, anxiety, exhaustion etc.
Be aware that your baby may be still grieving. Babies do grieve the loss of those who cared for them, sometimes for weeks and months. Some babies withdraw emotionally, or cry inconsolably for the first few days. This grief often emerges once they are more settled in their new home.
The baby has not only been separated from those to whom she had formed an attachment, but from a familiar and predictable environment. Babies are very sensitive to the sights, sounds, smells and feel of an environment: the smell of their care-giver, the smell and texture of her clothing, the type of bottle and formula, and how they receive their food, the feel of a diaper and their clothing, the hardness of their crib mattress, the weight of their covering, the amount of light in the room, the language and background noise they hear.
The very limited world orphanage or foster home was familiar, predictable and stable. Suddenly, they are trust into the arms of strangers who are totally different from their familiar caregivers, and whisked through an alarming series of new and strange environments, from the hotel room, the busy streets, the official buildings to the plane ride home. Babies are often overwhelmed and exhausted by this barrage of new and often scary experiences. Your home is just the last of these scary new environments, where he or she is placed in yet another new crib, in yet another strange room, in a place that smells, sounds, and feels different from anything he or she has ever experienced. Babies have jet lag: their days and nights are mixed up. Many babies fall apart when they are safely home, as the cumulative stresses overwhelm them. Many parents report that their babies' sleep patterns are disrupted, that they wake and cry at night, and that they fuss and cry a great deal. Parents can become exhausted, frustrated and discouraged.
Here are some hints on helping your baby to adjust to his or her new home and family.
1. Ease the trauma of transition as far as possible . In some countries, you can visit your baby in the orphanage several times before taking him or her away, but in others, the baby is abruptly taken and handed over to the parent's care. The total sensory impact of this sudden removal from familiar sights, smells, sounds and textures is often traumatic. Anything you can do to provide continuity can help. Ask about your new baby's routines, likes and dislikes. Some parents have been able to send a receiving blanket or soft toy beforehand to the orphanage with their own body scent on it (sleep with it under your nightwear) so their baby recognizes them by smell. Even if washed on return, it will then have the familiar smell of the orphanage to comfort the baby. Before you meet your baby, eat in an ethnic restaurant, so your breath and clothing may smell more familiar to him or her. (Though the nurses in the orphanage may smell mostly of disinfectant!) When you receive your new baby, leave the original clothing on for the first few hours if possible, keep at least one piece of clothing if permitted (take new clothes to exchange) and keep it, unwashed, in the crib for a few days. Keep your baby on the formula and foods given in the orphanage for at least a few days, and make the transition to new formula gradual. Take tapes of local music home to play at home, to ease the transition there.
2. Minimize your child's exposure to anyone outside the family for the first few weeks . Let no one else hold the baby except the parents, even at the airport on your triumphant arrival home!! Isolate yourselves with your new child at home for the first week, with as few visitors as possible. Do not let visitors hold your baby. If family members want to help, ask them to bring meals, do shopping and errands, or clean the house. If challenged, say the social worker or doctor advised this early isolation.
3. Recreate the baby's routine . An unvarying and predictable daily routine will help your baby feel more safe and secure. Staying at home with the baby helps create this routine. Keep everything quiet and low-key for a few weeks - no welcome home parties, or other excitement.
4. Focus on building attachment in these early weeks at home.
Mom should do as much of the baby care as possible, to establish the primary bond.
She should hold and interact with the baby when feeding him or her. Do not allow your baby to bottle-feed by holding the bottle alone. This is a key bonding activity, where the mother should be offering the food and maintaining eye contact. When the baby is eating solids, the mother should always feed him or her herself. Do not encourage early independence in self-feeding. Hold your baby on your lap if possible, with eye contact. If the baby must be in a high chair, keep him or her very close to you, between parents if possible, and touch your baby often, use lots of eye contact and conversation. If your child insists on self-feeding, play interactive, reciprocal feeding games - you put a Cheerio in her mouth, she puts one in your mouth.
Lots of physical contact is very important. Mom should hold and carry the baby as much as possible. Cuddle, caress, stroke and rock. Gentle wrestling and tickling are fine if not over-stimulating. Cuddling your baby with eye contact while rocking her or him in a rocking chair is very beneficial. Use a baby sling or cloth carrier (Snuggly, Baby Bjorn etc) to carry her or him facing inwards against your body, wear your baby all day while you go about household tasks, or out shopping or walking.
Engage in frequent playful interaction with your baby. Do not leave your baby to entertain herself or himself for long periods. All of the traditional baby games' are great: pat-a-cake, blowing raspberries, peek-a-boo, counting rhymes with fingers and toes (this little piggie) riding the parent's leg, rolling a ball back and forth, imitating the baby's sounds, etc. Play together with baby toys.
Newly-adopted babies should be responded to when they cry in the night. Leaving a baby to cry is not appropriate for newly-adopted children. Mom should stay with the baby as she or he falls asleep, rocking, singing, caressing, etc. Parents should comfort the baby whenever he or she cries in the night. Many babies adjust better when they sleep in the parents' room, either in their own crib near the parents' bed, or with the parents in the Family Bed (if you choose this option, be sure to follow all safety recommendations to ensure the baby does not suffocate on or under soft bedding, get lodged between the bed and the wall, or adjacent furniture, or get suffocated accidentally by parents) Others, including your pediatrician, may advise you to teach the older baby to sleep by herself or himself, by letting him or her cry it out. Only when a child seems securely attached, should parents begin to encourage their baby to learn to sleep through the night alone. Be sure to eliminate medical causes if your baby's sleep is restless and frequently interrupted by waking and crying: intestinal parasites, ear infections and lactose intolerance are possible causes of poor sleeping.
Adjusting to parenting the adopted child
1. Prepare as much as you can beforehand, so you know that you can anticipate when your baby comes home. Find out what behaviors are typical for babies in this period of adjustment, and what expectations are realistic. Read books about adoption, attend any seminars on adoptive parenting, talk to other parents about their experiences at support group meetings. Be sure to learn about how adoption will change family life, especially about post-adoption depression, and the ways you can help to minimize or prevent it.
2. You will have jet lag if you travel to get your child, and you can expect to feel exhausted if your baby does not sleep through the night, and has her days and nights mixed up. Get your support system in place before you return; arrange with family, friends or commercial services to come home to a house that is clean and tidy, and well-stocked with food, so you can recover from jet lag. Enlist help with laundry, meals, errands, babysitting older children, or taking them on outings, etc.
3. Take time for yourself, your spouse, and your other children. You need to take care of yourself. Make sure you eat nutritious food, get some exercise, and some recreation. Don't neglect your marriage. Arrange for a babysitter and go out with your spouse for an evening. Your other children are having to adjust to the new child too. Give them some one-on-one time, and take your older child out for an outing, just the two of you.
4. Get help from your support network when you feel stressed. If you feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and depressed, or are feeling frustrated or worried about your child's behavior, talk it over with another adoptive parent you know and trust. Those who have not adopted may not be as sympathetic as parents who have been through it. Don't hesitate to call your social worker about problems, and don't pretend everything is fine when there are problems. She will be able to reassure you that your experiences and feelings are normal, and give you helpful advice.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
17 months and counting....
Drew turns 17 months old today!!! I wish he was with us to celebrate...it's nice to know that he will be here by the time he turns 18 month old!!!
I got 79 pictures developed today from our trip to Kazakhstan - some are for Drew's Lifebook (like a baby book, but without the pregnancy stuff), some are for our house and some are for Drew when he gets older - like the orphanage pictures, etc...
I put a few pictures up of Drew around the house, but it's hard to fit him in with all the other pictures - LOL. I'm a huge picture freak and like to document everything - just ask Chris and Ben! So the trick is to fit Drew in, without removing the other pictures - I think I've done a good job so far....
The room painting is coming along well - Drew's room is 3/4 blue now...it looks really nice!!
Now my challenge is getting together all the paperwork that Patrick has to take to the US Embassy in Almaty so we can bring Drew home - it's very confusing as to who has to sign what and what documents they need and what needs notorization and what needs apostilization...I am sooo tired of all this paperwork. I can't wait for it to end. And every US document has a number - I-600, I-600A, 684 form, etc...ugh!!! It makes my head spin. Oh well - it's almost over - the light is at the end of the tunnel. I completely admire people who adopt internationally more than once!! The thought of ever doing all this paperwork again would make me cry I think - LOL... :)
Let's see - it was a good day today as the Browns won!!!!!!!!! Can you say 7-4!!!! As my father always said, "The road to the Super Bowl goes through Cleveland!!!!"
Sorry about the Giants Uncle Teevie :(
I got 79 pictures developed today from our trip to Kazakhstan - some are for Drew's Lifebook (like a baby book, but without the pregnancy stuff), some are for our house and some are for Drew when he gets older - like the orphanage pictures, etc...
I put a few pictures up of Drew around the house, but it's hard to fit him in with all the other pictures - LOL. I'm a huge picture freak and like to document everything - just ask Chris and Ben! So the trick is to fit Drew in, without removing the other pictures - I think I've done a good job so far....
The room painting is coming along well - Drew's room is 3/4 blue now...it looks really nice!!
Now my challenge is getting together all the paperwork that Patrick has to take to the US Embassy in Almaty so we can bring Drew home - it's very confusing as to who has to sign what and what documents they need and what needs notorization and what needs apostilization...I am sooo tired of all this paperwork. I can't wait for it to end. And every US document has a number - I-600, I-600A, 684 form, etc...ugh!!! It makes my head spin. Oh well - it's almost over - the light is at the end of the tunnel. I completely admire people who adopt internationally more than once!! The thought of ever doing all this paperwork again would make me cry I think - LOL... :)
Let's see - it was a good day today as the Browns won!!!!!!!!! Can you say 7-4!!!! As my father always said, "The road to the Super Bowl goes through Cleveland!!!!"
Sorry about the Giants Uncle Teevie :(
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Shopping and more shopping...
Did lots of shopping yesterday and today for Drew...tons of clothes, some cute sneakers, socks, bibs, toys and a new "Tails" book!!! I couldn't resist - this way he has another book to rip up on the long trip home...something tells me this won't be the last copy of "Tails" that we buy for Drew...
Based on what I'm read on the message boards about the baby house in Taraz, it seems like the quarantine due to flu is more of a precaution than anything and not anything major to worry about. I still haven't heard from either our agency or our coordinator in Kazakhstan, so until I do I'm trying not to worry too much. I just hope Drew isn't too sick...
The painting of the room has begun!!!! Patrick is working hard (well, right now he's watching TV, but he has been working hard!!) and it's starting to come together and look good - I will post pictures when it's done and the furniture is in there. That room has been a guest room for so long it's hard to imagine that three weeks from tomorrow someone will be living there!!!
We saw Carolyn, Dave and Nicholas today...Nicholas gave Drew his old clothes, an old car seat and some other stuff...thank you Nicholas!!!! I know Drew can't wait to meet you....
Well - that's it for now...
Based on what I'm read on the message boards about the baby house in Taraz, it seems like the quarantine due to flu is more of a precaution than anything and not anything major to worry about. I still haven't heard from either our agency or our coordinator in Kazakhstan, so until I do I'm trying not to worry too much. I just hope Drew isn't too sick...
The painting of the room has begun!!!! Patrick is working hard (well, right now he's watching TV, but he has been working hard!!) and it's starting to come together and look good - I will post pictures when it's done and the furniture is in there. That room has been a guest room for so long it's hard to imagine that three weeks from tomorrow someone will be living there!!!
We saw Carolyn, Dave and Nicholas today...Nicholas gave Drew his old clothes, an old car seat and some other stuff...thank you Nicholas!!!! I know Drew can't wait to meet you....
Well - that's it for now...
Friday, November 23, 2007
Flu outbreak at orphanage!!
We heard yesterday that there was an outbreak of flu at the baby house and no visitors are being allowed in until next week!! Apparently not all of the groups are affected, but we have no idea if Drew's little group has the flu or not. We have e-mails into our coordinator and our agency, so hopefully we will hear soon!!!
I'm worried about my little boy... :(
Thanks so much to Katja for letting us know abut this situation so hopefully we can find out more. Katja and her husband are one of the seven Belgian couples adopting from Taraz right now. I always thought it was so great that even though they all went through lots of rough patches (and are continuing to) that they all had each other there. We were the only American family at the baby house at the time we were there. We didn't even meet any other Americans during our month-long stay...
Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving - we had a great time! I messed up the mashed potatoes though. Because we keep kosher we have to use non-dairy creamer instead of milk and I mistakenly bought Amaretta (sp??) flavored non-dairy creamer!!! Of course I had no idea until my brother told me later that night...So the potatoes sucked, but I gave everyone something to talk about for the next 20 or so Thanskgivings!!!
I'm at work now - there's hardly anyone here...I'm hitting the outlets at lunch to do some major shopping for Drew!!!
I'm worried about my little boy... :(
Thanks so much to Katja for letting us know abut this situation so hopefully we can find out more. Katja and her husband are one of the seven Belgian couples adopting from Taraz right now. I always thought it was so great that even though they all went through lots of rough patches (and are continuing to) that they all had each other there. We were the only American family at the baby house at the time we were there. We didn't even meet any other Americans during our month-long stay...
Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving - we had a great time! I messed up the mashed potatoes though. Because we keep kosher we have to use non-dairy creamer instead of milk and I mistakenly bought Amaretta (sp??) flavored non-dairy creamer!!! Of course I had no idea until my brother told me later that night...So the potatoes sucked, but I gave everyone something to talk about for the next 20 or so Thanskgivings!!!
I'm at work now - there's hardly anyone here...I'm hitting the outlets at lunch to do some major shopping for Drew!!!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Tomorrow is Thanskgiving...I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and takes time to reflect on what they are thankful for. And don't eat too much turkey or you won't be able to keep up with all the shopping this weekend!
I saw a commercial for Kohl's that they are opening at 4 a.m. - that's insane!! Is it really necessary to start shopping at 4 a.m.??
If anyone does it, let me know :)
Nothing much to report here - we've been getting ready to host Thanskgiving - cleaning, shopping, etc...But Drew's room should be painted this weekend and his furniture comes next week. Very exciting!!
Random thoughts:
1. Happy Birthday Alyse!!!!!!!!!!! It seems like just yesterday you were "tappy dancing" around the house :)
2. Hello to Judy P. who I heard is loving the blog!!!!! :)
3. I'm using my wedding china for Thanksgiving dinner and I gotta say - I still think it's as gorgeous as I did when we registered for it and I don't use it nearly enough.
4. Congrats to Chris who did great this marking period in school!!!! I'm sure Ben did well too, but I didn't get to talk to him last night...so he will get a shout out in a future blog!
5. I think the Friday after Thanskgiving should be a federal holiday - hardly anyone works that day anyway and those of us who do are bored because all the people we need to talk to are out of the office.
I saw a commercial for Kohl's that they are opening at 4 a.m. - that's insane!! Is it really necessary to start shopping at 4 a.m.??
If anyone does it, let me know :)
Nothing much to report here - we've been getting ready to host Thanskgiving - cleaning, shopping, etc...But Drew's room should be painted this weekend and his furniture comes next week. Very exciting!!
Random thoughts:
1. Happy Birthday Alyse!!!!!!!!!!! It seems like just yesterday you were "tappy dancing" around the house :)
2. Hello to Judy P. who I heard is loving the blog!!!!! :)
3. I'm using my wedding china for Thanksgiving dinner and I gotta say - I still think it's as gorgeous as I did when we registered for it and I don't use it nearly enough.
4. Congrats to Chris who did great this marking period in school!!!! I'm sure Ben did well too, but I didn't get to talk to him last night...so he will get a shout out in a future blog!
5. I think the Friday after Thanskgiving should be a federal holiday - hardly anyone works that day anyway and those of us who do are bored because all the people we need to talk to are out of the office.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Homecoming!!
Patrick finalized his flight plans and Drew will be home on December 16 - barring any last minute changes or complications in Almaty with the Embassy - which there won't be, of course, because all the paperwork will be in perfect order!!!
Many people who grow their families through adoption celebrate the day the child becomes part of their family forever, as well as the child's birthday. So Drew will have two special days all his own - his birthday on June 25 and his other special day on December 16. Some people call this "Gottcha Day" or "Adoption Day" or "Forever Day." I'm leaning toward "Gottcha Day," but we're not sure yet. I don't know exactly what we'll do each year to celebrate, but we'll figure it out together.
I never thought this day would come, but it will be here soon. There's so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving...I hope you all have much to be thankful for too....
Oh - and I decided to go with the tried and true mashed potatoes!!!! :)
Many people who grow their families through adoption celebrate the day the child becomes part of their family forever, as well as the child's birthday. So Drew will have two special days all his own - his birthday on June 25 and his other special day on December 16. Some people call this "Gottcha Day" or "Adoption Day" or "Forever Day." I'm leaning toward "Gottcha Day," but we're not sure yet. I don't know exactly what we'll do each year to celebrate, but we'll figure it out together.
I never thought this day would come, but it will be here soon. There's so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving...I hope you all have much to be thankful for too....
Oh - and I decided to go with the tried and true mashed potatoes!!!! :)
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Registering....
We registered today at Babies R Us!!!! It was the first time in years I didn't completely dread walking into that store...it's a completely different feeling to walk in there now. We registered for all the usual stuff - car seat (thanks Aunt Lois!), high chair, booster seats, stroller, bath stuff, sippy cups, toys, books, etc...Gotta love the zapper!!
We also bought a diaper bag, umbrella stroller for Patrick to use in the airport with Drew, a cute UConn outfit for Drew's homecoming, a cute Pooh outfit and a winter jacket! Oh, and the classic "Goodnight Moon!" So, Drew isn't even home yet and his stuff is all over the house and his room is a mess! Guess we should get used to it...
Drew will be home four weeks from today...I hope it goes by fast...I hope he's OK - I hate not knowing how he is or what he's doing - he should be home with me...
Not much new other than that...Randy and Michelle are gtting married tomorrow (Congrats!!) ,so I will be going to that with my dates Ron and Katie, and Patrick will stay home to do work on Drew's room.
That's all from here...tonight I'm finishing all the laundry from our trip and making my shopping list for Thanksgiving dinner!! Anyone have a good potatoe recipe??? Still not sure how I want to cook those...
Congrats to RU, which beat Pitt today!!!
We also bought a diaper bag, umbrella stroller for Patrick to use in the airport with Drew, a cute UConn outfit for Drew's homecoming, a cute Pooh outfit and a winter jacket! Oh, and the classic "Goodnight Moon!" So, Drew isn't even home yet and his stuff is all over the house and his room is a mess! Guess we should get used to it...
Drew will be home four weeks from today...I hope it goes by fast...I hope he's OK - I hate not knowing how he is or what he's doing - he should be home with me...
Not much new other than that...Randy and Michelle are gtting married tomorrow (Congrats!!) ,so I will be going to that with my dates Ron and Katie, and Patrick will stay home to do work on Drew's room.
That's all from here...tonight I'm finishing all the laundry from our trip and making my shopping list for Thanksgiving dinner!! Anyone have a good potatoe recipe??? Still not sure how I want to cook those...
Congrats to RU, which beat Pitt today!!!
Thursday, November 15, 2007
HOME!!!!!
Hello everyone - or anyone still reading the blog...
So - you thought the blog was over did you?? No Way!! Drew's not home yet and until he is, damn it - the blog continues!!!
As much as I miss Drew and wish more than anything he was here...it is freaking nice to be home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Or course looking around there's so much to do to get ready for him...the next few weeks should fly by...
I just read all the comments from the last couple of days! I am so lucky to have the friends and family that I have...so much to be thankful for this Thanksgivng - including all of you...
Keep checking back to see if Drew's room ever gets ready for him and if I decide to relinquish one of the two closets in his room for HIS things!!
So - you thought the blog was over did you?? No Way!! Drew's not home yet and until he is, damn it - the blog continues!!!
As much as I miss Drew and wish more than anything he was here...it is freaking nice to be home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Or course looking around there's so much to do to get ready for him...the next few weeks should fly by...
I just read all the comments from the last couple of days! I am so lucky to have the friends and family that I have...so much to be thankful for this Thanksgivng - including all of you...
Keep checking back to see if Drew's room ever gets ready for him and if I decide to relinquish one of the two closets in his room for HIS things!!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Hello from Almaty....
We arrived in Almaty around 9:30 this morning and we're here for another 10 hours or so before we head to the airport.
We were met at the train station by our coordinator Galina and spent some time signing our paperwork for the embassy and the papers we need to get Drew his passport, US citizenship, etc...so it looks like all is good!!!!!! The 15-day appeal period starts today, and once it's up, it's another 2 weeks to get all of his papers in order, as they have to go from Taraz to Almaty to the capital Astana and back and forth all over the country.
Right now, it looks like Patrick will return to Kaz. on Dec. 9 or so and Drew will come home the 15 or 16!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He'll be missing Hanukkah and Tree Trimming, but I just want to have him home!!!!!
So...I think that's it from Kazakhstan for me...looking forward to gettting home and getting everything ready for our little guy...
Talk to you all from US soil!!!!!
We were met at the train station by our coordinator Galina and spent some time signing our paperwork for the embassy and the papers we need to get Drew his passport, US citizenship, etc...so it looks like all is good!!!!!! The 15-day appeal period starts today, and once it's up, it's another 2 weeks to get all of his papers in order, as they have to go from Taraz to Almaty to the capital Astana and back and forth all over the country.
Right now, it looks like Patrick will return to Kaz. on Dec. 9 or so and Drew will come home the 15 or 16!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He'll be missing Hanukkah and Tree Trimming, but I just want to have him home!!!!!
So...I think that's it from Kazakhstan for me...looking forward to gettting home and getting everything ready for our little guy...
Talk to you all from US soil!!!!!
Monday, November 12, 2007
Court...
Well, we went to court!!!
We had to sign a piece of paper saying that we would not talk about the proceedings, so I can't say much, but all looks good!!!!! Everyone there recommended us for adoption and tomorrow we get the judge's official ruling...it's nerve wracking having to wait, though I can't imagine we won't be approved. Still, until it's official, it's hard to wait....
We also had to say goodbye to Drew today, which was awful :( He was pretty subdued this morning when we visited him - he wanted to sit on our laps a lot and just play quietly. It's almost like he knew. We were allowed to take a picture of him with his group, which was geat! It will be a wonderful thing to be able to show him when we tell him his adoption story (probably over and over and over again - every kid likes to hear their story, right?? I remember mine - it was a hot June day, Uncle Lenny was graduating from Penn State, my father didn't have his car with the air conditioning cause my granparents had it so they could drive to Penn, etc...I won't bore you all with the rest!!)
When we had to hand Drew back to his caregivers, he kept wanting to come to Patrick and me and was holding out his hands for us - it killed me to have to let him go for the final time. I, of course, cried like a baby. I already told him he's never going to sleep away camp!!! I just want him home...
So - that's it from Taraz...we leave here in a few hours...
We will be in Almaty for about 14 hours before we catch our plane, so I'm not sure if I will have Internet access or not. If not, I'll try and do a blog update once we get to Germany - gotta kill that 6 hours layover somehow, right? Of course the blog will have to wait until after I hit McDonald's - after my 95 percent carb diet for the past month, I gotta get some food. Though you'll all be happy to know my skirt fit fine today, so I guess the carb diet isn't all bad :)
It's been so much fun keeping in touch with everyone through my blog and introducing you all to Drew - I can't wait until you can all meet him in person!!!
Dasvidanya...
We had to sign a piece of paper saying that we would not talk about the proceedings, so I can't say much, but all looks good!!!!! Everyone there recommended us for adoption and tomorrow we get the judge's official ruling...it's nerve wracking having to wait, though I can't imagine we won't be approved. Still, until it's official, it's hard to wait....
We also had to say goodbye to Drew today, which was awful :( He was pretty subdued this morning when we visited him - he wanted to sit on our laps a lot and just play quietly. It's almost like he knew. We were allowed to take a picture of him with his group, which was geat! It will be a wonderful thing to be able to show him when we tell him his adoption story (probably over and over and over again - every kid likes to hear their story, right?? I remember mine - it was a hot June day, Uncle Lenny was graduating from Penn State, my father didn't have his car with the air conditioning cause my granparents had it so they could drive to Penn, etc...I won't bore you all with the rest!!)
When we had to hand Drew back to his caregivers, he kept wanting to come to Patrick and me and was holding out his hands for us - it killed me to have to let him go for the final time. I, of course, cried like a baby. I already told him he's never going to sleep away camp!!! I just want him home...
So - that's it from Taraz...we leave here in a few hours...
We will be in Almaty for about 14 hours before we catch our plane, so I'm not sure if I will have Internet access or not. If not, I'll try and do a blog update once we get to Germany - gotta kill that 6 hours layover somehow, right? Of course the blog will have to wait until after I hit McDonald's - after my 95 percent carb diet for the past month, I gotta get some food. Though you'll all be happy to know my skirt fit fine today, so I guess the carb diet isn't all bad :)
It's been so much fun keeping in touch with everyone through my blog and introducing you all to Drew - I can't wait until you can all meet him in person!!!
Dasvidanya...
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Today...and tomorrow...
Had another good day with Drew today- there was lots of looking in the mirror and waving at the other baby in there, waving of little flags (Hey Suzanne - tell Brie to watch out - Drew's pretty good with flags!!), going down the slide, eating cookies...and then came the shot!
About halfway through our visit the doctor came in to give him a shot. He was so scared as soon as he saw her and tried to cover up his little butt so she couldn't get him...I couldn't even watch! It was over quickly and I got to comfort him and he was OK...with the help of Dad, juice and a cookie too. The shots must be helping though - he's sooo much better than he has been!
Drew was also talkative today. In addition to saying "bap, bap, bap" (which Patick says is really "pap, pap, pap...") he said "ma, ma, ma," which, while I'd like to believe he was saying mama, it was his way of imitating Patrick saying "meow" while playing with a toy cat.
I can't believe tomorrow is our last day with him. I can't imagine kissing his little face and saying good bye. It will break my heart... :(
Of course tomorrow is also one of the most important days of our lives as we go to court and try to explain how much we want this little boy and how much he has captured out hearts in the last three weeks. I don't think there are words to explain how much we want him and how much we need him.
I've never been in front of a judge in my life - except my father of course! I'm sure I will think of him as I go into the court room tomorrow - I hope he will be looking down and guiding the judge somehow. I know that probably sounds silly, huh? Oh well, it's my blog and I can sound silly!! :)
When we started telling people we were adopting, some people told us how wonderful it was that we were saving a little child who otherwise would grow up in an orphanage. It's really the opposite though. We are the lucky ones to be given the honor of raising him and being his parents. It's an honor that we will never take for granted - it took us too long and we went through too much to get to this point to take it for granted. And if I ever forget that, you all better remind me!!
So...I hope you all will cross your fingers or say some prayers for us tomorrow. I will let you know as soon as I can how it went...Your support over the last days, weeks, months and years has meant more than you will know. I could not have made it this far without you all.
Amy - So glad to see you and Jared on here!!!! Welcome to my blog! :)
Cole (and Kelly) - Drew would love to accept the invitiation to lunch!!! Look at Cole being such a big boy eating cereal!!! Wow!!! Maybe he'll be on fruits by the time Drew comes home and they can really have a feast together!!! We can't wait to see you all...
Aunt Lo - Hope the sleepover went well and the boys let you get some sleep...
Auntie - Have fun talking about Drew!!! I could talk about him forever!!!
Jodi - As always, your comments are perfect :)
So - good night from Taraz...I'll update you all tomorrow...have a good day...
And, of course...Go Browns!!!! :)
About halfway through our visit the doctor came in to give him a shot. He was so scared as soon as he saw her and tried to cover up his little butt so she couldn't get him...I couldn't even watch! It was over quickly and I got to comfort him and he was OK...with the help of Dad, juice and a cookie too. The shots must be helping though - he's sooo much better than he has been!
Drew was also talkative today. In addition to saying "bap, bap, bap" (which Patick says is really "pap, pap, pap...") he said "ma, ma, ma," which, while I'd like to believe he was saying mama, it was his way of imitating Patrick saying "meow" while playing with a toy cat.
I can't believe tomorrow is our last day with him. I can't imagine kissing his little face and saying good bye. It will break my heart... :(
Of course tomorrow is also one of the most important days of our lives as we go to court and try to explain how much we want this little boy and how much he has captured out hearts in the last three weeks. I don't think there are words to explain how much we want him and how much we need him.
I've never been in front of a judge in my life - except my father of course! I'm sure I will think of him as I go into the court room tomorrow - I hope he will be looking down and guiding the judge somehow. I know that probably sounds silly, huh? Oh well, it's my blog and I can sound silly!! :)
When we started telling people we were adopting, some people told us how wonderful it was that we were saving a little child who otherwise would grow up in an orphanage. It's really the opposite though. We are the lucky ones to be given the honor of raising him and being his parents. It's an honor that we will never take for granted - it took us too long and we went through too much to get to this point to take it for granted. And if I ever forget that, you all better remind me!!
So...I hope you all will cross your fingers or say some prayers for us tomorrow. I will let you know as soon as I can how it went...Your support over the last days, weeks, months and years has meant more than you will know. I could not have made it this far without you all.
Amy - So glad to see you and Jared on here!!!! Welcome to my blog! :)
Cole (and Kelly) - Drew would love to accept the invitiation to lunch!!! Look at Cole being such a big boy eating cereal!!! Wow!!! Maybe he'll be on fruits by the time Drew comes home and they can really have a feast together!!! We can't wait to see you all...
Aunt Lo - Hope the sleepover went well and the boys let you get some sleep...
Auntie - Have fun talking about Drew!!! I could talk about him forever!!!
Jodi - As always, your comments are perfect :)
So - good night from Taraz...I'll update you all tomorrow...have a good day...
And, of course...Go Browns!!!! :)
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Walking, walking, walking...
Drew felt better today, though still not great, but we got to spend time with him. We were up in the play/gym area that the older kids use and he loved it in there. It's right across the hall from his room, but he had never been in there before. His whole life consists of two rooms basically - a sleeping area and a play/eating area - his life is about to change dramatically.
Anyway...he was quiet at first today, but then we discovered bowling and that was fun. Then Drew notriced the slide and had a great time on that. He then decided he wanted to walk - and he walked and walked and walked..First he walked holding on to both my hands, then he did it with just one hand and he was great. If I let go, he even walked a few steps on his own!!! He can definitely do it, he just needs practice and confidence. We have great pictures and video of him walking, which I will try and post...He was also babbling a lot today - he's a completely different child than the one we met on Oct. 17. It's amazng how much difference just two hours a day for three weeks can make. I can't imagine what he'll be like after he's been home for a month or 3 or 6 or a year....
Drew also loved playing ball today - he loves throwing balls and trying to catch them. Patrick, of course, is alreading planning his major league career. I just think he's gonna have a great time this summer playing ball in the backyard with his big brothers and his puppy!
He did not want to go back to his caregivers today - and this time I was holding him! I hated giving him back. I don't know how we're going to leave him in two days...it's going to be awful!!! Hopefully the time will fly by quick until Patrick comes back to bring him home forever.
And that's it from Drew's world today...
Taraz is still Taraz...we're bored, we've seen every Seinfeld episode we have at least 4 times, and tonight we'll be watching the season one finale of Sopranos for the second time. We had our usual bread and mystery meat sandwiches for dinner in the room...ho hum...
We were so bored that after leaving Drew we walked in the cold to the department store to just look around at things we had no intention of buying. Of course we almost got killed several times by the drivers who speed up as if they want to hit you. Also, the "parking lot" of the department store has no lines for parking - it's a free-for all that makes every day like Christmas Eve at the mall! It's a wonder more people aren't killed here.
Christine - So glad to see you here!! Hope baby James is doing well....
Hi to all my other boggers!! :)
Anyway...he was quiet at first today, but then we discovered bowling and that was fun. Then Drew notriced the slide and had a great time on that. He then decided he wanted to walk - and he walked and walked and walked..First he walked holding on to both my hands, then he did it with just one hand and he was great. If I let go, he even walked a few steps on his own!!! He can definitely do it, he just needs practice and confidence. We have great pictures and video of him walking, which I will try and post...He was also babbling a lot today - he's a completely different child than the one we met on Oct. 17. It's amazng how much difference just two hours a day for three weeks can make. I can't imagine what he'll be like after he's been home for a month or 3 or 6 or a year....
Drew also loved playing ball today - he loves throwing balls and trying to catch them. Patrick, of course, is alreading planning his major league career. I just think he's gonna have a great time this summer playing ball in the backyard with his big brothers and his puppy!
He did not want to go back to his caregivers today - and this time I was holding him! I hated giving him back. I don't know how we're going to leave him in two days...it's going to be awful!!! Hopefully the time will fly by quick until Patrick comes back to bring him home forever.
And that's it from Drew's world today...
Taraz is still Taraz...we're bored, we've seen every Seinfeld episode we have at least 4 times, and tonight we'll be watching the season one finale of Sopranos for the second time. We had our usual bread and mystery meat sandwiches for dinner in the room...ho hum...
We were so bored that after leaving Drew we walked in the cold to the department store to just look around at things we had no intention of buying. Of course we almost got killed several times by the drivers who speed up as if they want to hit you. Also, the "parking lot" of the department store has no lines for parking - it's a free-for all that makes every day like Christmas Eve at the mall! It's a wonder more people aren't killed here.
Christine - So glad to see you here!! Hope baby James is doing well....
Hi to all my other boggers!! :)
Friday, November 9, 2007
Sick little boy....
We only got to see Drew for a minute today because he was sick :( He's had a pretty bad cold on and off since we met him, but today he had a fever too and was sleeping on and off most of the day. We got to see him for a minute and he just looked sad and sick - it broke my heart to leave him, but he was in good hands snuggled under a big blanket and waiting for his fever to break.
I did get to take some pictures of the upstairs are of the orphanage for him...so it was a short, but good trip.
Hopefully he will feel better tomorrow.
Today we also saw our first snowfall of the season - it snowed about 3-4 inches between last night and this morning. Taraz actually looks very pretty with the snow-covered trees. By tomorrow it should all be a big, sludgy mess!!
Not much else new here...hopefully I'll have a more exciting report tomorrow...
I hope we have a good dinner tonight - it's always a crapshoot with what you'll get. Today I bought what I thought was potato-filled bread for lunch, and when I bit into it I found out it was onion-filled bread - yuck!!
Patrick and I are already planning our 6-hour layover in Frankfurt on Wednesday. After getting off the plane we will go to the area with the reclining chairs, where one of us will save them and the other will go to McDonald's to buy McChicken sandwiches! Yes, it is sad that we have talked about this - and more than once I'm sort of ashamed to admit.
Jodi and Kelly - Your comments made me smile today - thank you!! I miss you both.....
Chris and Ben - Miss you guys very much!! Hope you have a good weekend - can't wait to actually talk to you...
I did get to take some pictures of the upstairs are of the orphanage for him...so it was a short, but good trip.
Hopefully he will feel better tomorrow.
Today we also saw our first snowfall of the season - it snowed about 3-4 inches between last night and this morning. Taraz actually looks very pretty with the snow-covered trees. By tomorrow it should all be a big, sludgy mess!!
Not much else new here...hopefully I'll have a more exciting report tomorrow...
I hope we have a good dinner tonight - it's always a crapshoot with what you'll get. Today I bought what I thought was potato-filled bread for lunch, and when I bit into it I found out it was onion-filled bread - yuck!!
Patrick and I are already planning our 6-hour layover in Frankfurt on Wednesday. After getting off the plane we will go to the area with the reclining chairs, where one of us will save them and the other will go to McDonald's to buy McChicken sandwiches! Yes, it is sad that we have talked about this - and more than once I'm sort of ashamed to admit.
Jodi and Kelly - Your comments made me smile today - thank you!! I miss you both.....
Chris and Ben - Miss you guys very much!! Hope you have a good weekend - can't wait to actually talk to you...
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Before I forget...
...I have a favor to ask all the educators out there...
By now you all know our translator Tonya, right?? Well, when she's not dragging us around Taraz or helping us buy things in stores, she gives private English lessons to children. Today she told us she can't get a job in a school because she's Russian and those jobs go to Kazakhs. It's a very sad situation here - Russians are often treated like second-class citizens and they have no recourse. Kazakhstan is as much her home as anyone else's as she was born here, but she will always be seen as Russian.
Anyway - she's asked us to bring her books/workbooks to help children learn English when Patrick returns to pick up Drew. So, I'm asking all educators who may have old books/workbooks laying (lying?? I always mess up that word!!) around to help us out it this. I'm guessing books geared for grades K-2 would work best, but you all know better than me. Any help you can give us would be great and I know Tonya would be sooo appreciative - thank you in advance....
On to Drew...
Today was WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rather than hanging out in the bug-infested room, we were able to go to the second-floor of the orphanage and hang out where Drew lives!! He was so much more lively today and he "talked" sooo much.....it was amazing...
After a mid-afternoon snack of apples and peaches while sitting on mom's lap, it was all smiles and giggles. Auntie - the bubbles were a HUGE hit today!!! He sat on the foor and reched as high as he could for them - grunting and laughing and hitting them when they landed on the blanket. He was loving it!!!
Of course we also read some "Tails," and Drew said "bab, bab, bab..." over and over again, which I think was his version of "wag, wag, wag..." Way too cute!!!!
And like any other little boy, he thinks loud burps are the funniest thing around. Yeah, that should be a riot for the next 20 years or so!!! :)
Today, for the first time, he also reached out for us (OK - really Patrick, I admit!!) after his caregivers took him back...It was very cool....he's such an amazing little boy and his smile and laugh will just melt all of you - I can't wait for you all to meet him.
So - that was Kazakhstan today.
We also bought our train tickets for our return trip to Almaty. We leave Taraz at 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday and arrive at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Our flight home leaves at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday and we land in Newark, NJ at 4:25 p.m. Wednesday. It still amazes me that we get home the same day we leave, when it took us a day and a half to get here. I know it shouldn't, as I do understand the concept of time zones, but hey...what can I say???
Aunt Lois - Thanks for the suggestion! I would love to write a book, but I've never known what I could write about. Maybe this is it???
Elissa, Kelly and Jodi...So - do you think Drew will make a good Sigma Nu someday???? :)
Until tomorrow....
By now you all know our translator Tonya, right?? Well, when she's not dragging us around Taraz or helping us buy things in stores, she gives private English lessons to children. Today she told us she can't get a job in a school because she's Russian and those jobs go to Kazakhs. It's a very sad situation here - Russians are often treated like second-class citizens and they have no recourse. Kazakhstan is as much her home as anyone else's as she was born here, but she will always be seen as Russian.
Anyway - she's asked us to bring her books/workbooks to help children learn English when Patrick returns to pick up Drew. So, I'm asking all educators who may have old books/workbooks laying (lying?? I always mess up that word!!) around to help us out it this. I'm guessing books geared for grades K-2 would work best, but you all know better than me. Any help you can give us would be great and I know Tonya would be sooo appreciative - thank you in advance....
On to Drew...
Today was WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rather than hanging out in the bug-infested room, we were able to go to the second-floor of the orphanage and hang out where Drew lives!! He was so much more lively today and he "talked" sooo much.....it was amazing...
After a mid-afternoon snack of apples and peaches while sitting on mom's lap, it was all smiles and giggles. Auntie - the bubbles were a HUGE hit today!!! He sat on the foor and reched as high as he could for them - grunting and laughing and hitting them when they landed on the blanket. He was loving it!!!
Of course we also read some "Tails," and Drew said "bab, bab, bab..." over and over again, which I think was his version of "wag, wag, wag..." Way too cute!!!!
And like any other little boy, he thinks loud burps are the funniest thing around. Yeah, that should be a riot for the next 20 years or so!!! :)
Today, for the first time, he also reached out for us (OK - really Patrick, I admit!!) after his caregivers took him back...It was very cool....he's such an amazing little boy and his smile and laugh will just melt all of you - I can't wait for you all to meet him.
So - that was Kazakhstan today.
We also bought our train tickets for our return trip to Almaty. We leave Taraz at 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday and arrive at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Our flight home leaves at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday and we land in Newark, NJ at 4:25 p.m. Wednesday. It still amazes me that we get home the same day we leave, when it took us a day and a half to get here. I know it shouldn't, as I do understand the concept of time zones, but hey...what can I say???
Aunt Lois - Thanks for the suggestion! I would love to write a book, but I've never known what I could write about. Maybe this is it???
Elissa, Kelly and Jodi...So - do you think Drew will make a good Sigma Nu someday???? :)
Until tomorrow....
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Merry-Go-Round....
Hi all...
Before I forget - I'm so glad to hear there are baby ipods - thank you!! Target here I come!!!
Today Patrick and I were rebel parents once again. We were all really bored in the tiny room and after seeing my 10th little bug crawling around I had to get the hell out of there!!! Plus, I thought maybe sunshine and fresh air would help Drew's congestion and cough. I'll preface the rest of this by saying it was about 65 degrees today and sunny.
Drew was wearing his usual two shirts, two pants (one with feet), socks and slippers - more than enough clothes for a sunny, 65-degree day. So, we put on his little hat and got ready to leave the room and Tonya said, "You need a coat for him."
Patrick just looked at her and said, "No, he's fine. We're not putting a coat on him."
"But the orphanage workers will get angry," Tonya said.
"Well, he'll be fine," Patrick said...and out Drew went...
He had a great time with dad pushing him on the Merry-Go-Round (which had no seatbelt in it - you'd think they would be more concerned about that!!). He also liked just being outside and seeing the sun.
When we went back inside, we learned that Drew likes to stick out his tongue at us, and lunge at us with his arms out for us to catch him - he was soo funny!!!
After our visit, Patrick and I went back to the restaurant in the nearby hotel where they didn't want to wait on us a few days ago (if you remember from my previous blog entry). This time there were other people there, so it went well. Of course the people at the next table, who were from somewhere in Europe, were talking loudly about how most Americans can't find their own country on a map and how most of us don't know that there's a country called Georgia, as well as a state.
So, after glaring at them, I sort of loudy said, "I'm an American and I can find my country on a map and I know that there's a country and a state called Georgia." Well, they stopped talking about Americans and started stereoptyping people of other nationalities.
Yes, it really is time to come home I think!!!!!! :)
I forgot to comment on the Colts-Pats game we missed this past weekend - wow!!! Jodi and Ron - you guys must be psyched - 8-0. The '72 Dolphins are getting worried...
To my favorite Browns' fans Christopher and Nicholas - yeah - a winning record!!! Let's enjoy it while we can guys - we play the Steelers this weekend...
Hello to everyone else and I'm so glad to hear from so many of you who are enjoying the blog...Im having fun writing it and it will be a great journal for Drew to read someday..
Special hellos to all my littlest cousins: Zachary, Adam, Cattie, Breele, Jordyn, Melissa, Kaitlyn, Rebecca and Leah...and to all the Bakers!!!
I'll be back tomorrow...
Before I forget - I'm so glad to hear there are baby ipods - thank you!! Target here I come!!!
Today Patrick and I were rebel parents once again. We were all really bored in the tiny room and after seeing my 10th little bug crawling around I had to get the hell out of there!!! Plus, I thought maybe sunshine and fresh air would help Drew's congestion and cough. I'll preface the rest of this by saying it was about 65 degrees today and sunny.
Drew was wearing his usual two shirts, two pants (one with feet), socks and slippers - more than enough clothes for a sunny, 65-degree day. So, we put on his little hat and got ready to leave the room and Tonya said, "You need a coat for him."
Patrick just looked at her and said, "No, he's fine. We're not putting a coat on him."
"But the orphanage workers will get angry," Tonya said.
"Well, he'll be fine," Patrick said...and out Drew went...
He had a great time with dad pushing him on the Merry-Go-Round (which had no seatbelt in it - you'd think they would be more concerned about that!!). He also liked just being outside and seeing the sun.
When we went back inside, we learned that Drew likes to stick out his tongue at us, and lunge at us with his arms out for us to catch him - he was soo funny!!!
After our visit, Patrick and I went back to the restaurant in the nearby hotel where they didn't want to wait on us a few days ago (if you remember from my previous blog entry). This time there were other people there, so it went well. Of course the people at the next table, who were from somewhere in Europe, were talking loudly about how most Americans can't find their own country on a map and how most of us don't know that there's a country called Georgia, as well as a state.
So, after glaring at them, I sort of loudy said, "I'm an American and I can find my country on a map and I know that there's a country and a state called Georgia." Well, they stopped talking about Americans and started stereoptyping people of other nationalities.
Yes, it really is time to come home I think!!!!!! :)
I forgot to comment on the Colts-Pats game we missed this past weekend - wow!!! Jodi and Ron - you guys must be psyched - 8-0. The '72 Dolphins are getting worried...
To my favorite Browns' fans Christopher and Nicholas - yeah - a winning record!!! Let's enjoy it while we can guys - we play the Steelers this weekend...
Hello to everyone else and I'm so glad to hear from so many of you who are enjoying the blog...Im having fun writing it and it will be a great journal for Drew to read someday..
Special hellos to all my littlest cousins: Zachary, Adam, Cattie, Breele, Jordyn, Melissa, Kaitlyn, Rebecca and Leah...and to all the Bakers!!!
I'll be back tomorrow...
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Baby ipods???
So...do they make little plastic ipods for babies??? Drew wants one for Hanukkah! And no grama, that was not a hint!!! I know you....
Today he discovered dad's ipod and the great song, "I love my beagle," by GrandBob (note: That is on PATRICK's ipod, not mine!!!!) He was doing what we call butt dancing to the song and was fascinated by the headphones and plugging them in and taking them out of the ipod...the poor child actually cried when we took the ipod away when it was time for him to go back to his group...
Other than that...his cold was really yucky today and he was a little grumpy - I would be grumpy too with his cold - I just want to aspirate his little nose out and take him into the bathroom, close the door and turn on the hot shower to clear out his chest...unfortunately, we can't do that in the orphanage so that will have to wait until we get home...
Of course we read "Tails" today and Drew ate and was upset when mom ran out of food. But there was lots of apple juice to be had, so that was a good substitute...
A few more of my Kazakhstan observations...
1. They make amazing bread here!!!! As much as the food is killing me, the bread is so soft and good. I also discovered this bread filled with potato thing for breakfast - they sell them at the corner store across from our hotel for 25 tenghe...that's about 15-18 cents of so.
2. Things are very cheap here!!! A gallon of gas is equal to less than a dollar! $1 = 120 tenghe and a gallon of gas is about 80-85 tenghe. Of course, to compare, 1 euro = about 172 tenghe - just to show how weak the dollar is in comparison.
3. Insted of bagging leaves, people burn the leaves...so at the end of the day the air smells like smoke and there's a haze over the city.
And that's it for today from Kazakhstan...
Happy Election Day - I hope everyone is going to vote today - it's very important. Jackie, Michelle, if you're reading this girlfriends - I hope you two especially are voting!! (LOL - does that remind you of our DC days??) And no, I didn't get an absentee ballot in before we left - I thought I'd be home by now...
Today he discovered dad's ipod and the great song, "I love my beagle," by GrandBob (note: That is on PATRICK's ipod, not mine!!!!) He was doing what we call butt dancing to the song and was fascinated by the headphones and plugging them in and taking them out of the ipod...the poor child actually cried when we took the ipod away when it was time for him to go back to his group...
Other than that...his cold was really yucky today and he was a little grumpy - I would be grumpy too with his cold - I just want to aspirate his little nose out and take him into the bathroom, close the door and turn on the hot shower to clear out his chest...unfortunately, we can't do that in the orphanage so that will have to wait until we get home...
Of course we read "Tails" today and Drew ate and was upset when mom ran out of food. But there was lots of apple juice to be had, so that was a good substitute...
A few more of my Kazakhstan observations...
1. They make amazing bread here!!!! As much as the food is killing me, the bread is so soft and good. I also discovered this bread filled with potato thing for breakfast - they sell them at the corner store across from our hotel for 25 tenghe...that's about 15-18 cents of so.
2. Things are very cheap here!!! A gallon of gas is equal to less than a dollar! $1 = 120 tenghe and a gallon of gas is about 80-85 tenghe. Of course, to compare, 1 euro = about 172 tenghe - just to show how weak the dollar is in comparison.
3. Insted of bagging leaves, people burn the leaves...so at the end of the day the air smells like smoke and there's a haze over the city.
And that's it for today from Kazakhstan...
Happy Election Day - I hope everyone is going to vote today - it's very important. Jackie, Michelle, if you're reading this girlfriends - I hope you two especially are voting!! (LOL - does that remind you of our DC days??) And no, I didn't get an absentee ballot in before we left - I thought I'd be home by now...
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