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....
Friday, November 30, 2007
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...
Monday, November 5, 2007
Waiting to go to the baby house...
It's about 12:30 p.m. here and we can't go to the baby house until 3 p.m. so I'm a little bored. We got our pictures developed for court today. We have to show the court a picture of us with Drew for each of the 14 days of our official bonding period. So we have a whole bunch of date-stamped pictures all ready....
I posted another picture of Drew - he's getting ready to propel himself down the slide! He's so cute!!! Yes, just like his Aunt Lysee - it's amazing how alike they are!! LOL..
Welcome home Alyse and Shawn...hope you guys had a great honeymoon...did you remember to get us a magnet??? :)
Kristi - Thanks for the info that your ped and social worker told you...
Jodi - Hills updates please!!!
That's all for now...I'll be back later after we visit the cutest boy in Kazakshtan! (That's the Kazakh equivalent to being the best boy on Market Street!!!)
I posted another picture of Drew - he's getting ready to propel himself down the slide! He's so cute!!! Yes, just like his Aunt Lysee - it's amazing how alike they are!! LOL..
Welcome home Alyse and Shawn...hope you guys had a great honeymoon...did you remember to get us a magnet??? :)
Kristi - Thanks for the info that your ped and social worker told you...
Jodi - Hills updates please!!!
That's all for now...I'll be back later after we visit the cutest boy in Kazakshtan! (That's the Kazakh equivalent to being the best boy on Market Street!!!)
Another Day...Another Blog....
It's a blah and cold Monday in Taraz...even Drew was feeling a little blah today...
We did a lot of walking, some reading of "Tails," some eating and drinking..but that was about it. Drew didn't feel like doing much today, but that's OK - you can't feel like doing a lot every day, right? His walking is just sooo much better though, it's amazing, and he's initiating it a lot more, which is a good thing. Of course when I tried to make him walk when he didn't want to, he layed down and started to scream - like any good little boy would! That will teach me I guess...
Glad to hear I'm not the only mommy who wants to strip their child to the horror of his or her caretakers - LOL...For all you adoptive moms out there - I noticed Drew doing some self-soothing things (rocking, pulling on his fingers) - he doesn't do it a lot, but I know that I should be on the look out for it and not let him do it - have any of you experienced this? What did you do about it?
So...I thought I'd tell you all some odds and ends about Kzakhstan....you can stop reading here if it gets boring... :)
1. We saw our first fire truck today...it was actually what looked like a long orange pick up truck with a big tank of water in the back.
2. In Kazakhstan, women wear their wedding rings on their right hands, instead of their left hands.
3. When Russian babies get names, their middle name is their father's first name with a "vich" on the end...so I would have been: Beth Davidvich Rosenberg...it sounds a lot better with a Russian name like Alexander or Ivan I think...
4. In Kazakhstan its tradition for a woman, after she is married, to go live in her husband's family's house - can you imagine?????????? (No offense to my inlaws!!!) Tonya, our translator, refused to do it because her husband's parent's house has no indoor toilet and she was not going to use an outhouse - can't blame her. So they live with her mother.
5. Kazakhstan has only been an independent country for 15 years. There is some anomosity here, in certain parts of the country, toward Russians. There are some Kazakhs who feel Russians should go back to Russia. There is also a push here for people to speak Kazakh, rather than Russian, which is what most people speak.
And that's all I got for today...
Aunt Lois - I saw that RU lost - ugh!!!! So much for our glory season of last year...what a distant memory...now I need to go check if the Browns won!!!!
We did a lot of walking, some reading of "Tails," some eating and drinking..but that was about it. Drew didn't feel like doing much today, but that's OK - you can't feel like doing a lot every day, right? His walking is just sooo much better though, it's amazing, and he's initiating it a lot more, which is a good thing. Of course when I tried to make him walk when he didn't want to, he layed down and started to scream - like any good little boy would! That will teach me I guess...
Glad to hear I'm not the only mommy who wants to strip their child to the horror of his or her caretakers - LOL...For all you adoptive moms out there - I noticed Drew doing some self-soothing things (rocking, pulling on his fingers) - he doesn't do it a lot, but I know that I should be on the look out for it and not let him do it - have any of you experienced this? What did you do about it?
So...I thought I'd tell you all some odds and ends about Kzakhstan....you can stop reading here if it gets boring... :)
1. We saw our first fire truck today...it was actually what looked like a long orange pick up truck with a big tank of water in the back.
2. In Kazakhstan, women wear their wedding rings on their right hands, instead of their left hands.
3. When Russian babies get names, their middle name is their father's first name with a "vich" on the end...so I would have been: Beth Davidvich Rosenberg...it sounds a lot better with a Russian name like Alexander or Ivan I think...
4. In Kazakhstan its tradition for a woman, after she is married, to go live in her husband's family's house - can you imagine?????????? (No offense to my inlaws!!!) Tonya, our translator, refused to do it because her husband's parent's house has no indoor toilet and she was not going to use an outhouse - can't blame her. So they live with her mother.
5. Kazakhstan has only been an independent country for 15 years. There is some anomosity here, in certain parts of the country, toward Russians. There are some Kazakhs who feel Russians should go back to Russia. There is also a push here for people to speak Kazakh, rather than Russian, which is what most people speak.
And that's all I got for today...
Aunt Lois - I saw that RU lost - ugh!!!! So much for our glory season of last year...what a distant memory...now I need to go check if the Browns won!!!!
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Standing Tall....
Drew was amazing today...he stood up on his own from a sitting position and did a lot more walking...it's amazing how much he's improved with that just in the little time we've had him. We also went on the slide today, which he loves!! And he spent some time picking up rocks and twings and playing in the dirt like all little boys should!
It was about 70 degrees here today - way too warm for November!! At the orphanage the kids are dressed in layers - like as many as four pairs of pants and three shirts at a time. Every day when Drew comes into our room the first thing we do is strip off half of his clothes! Today we were rebel parents and we took Drew outside on the slide in only one pair of pants and one shirt...our translator Tanya was not happy about that...oh well!!! Then she chastised us for walking him through the leaves because there is too much dust...I can't wait to get him home!!
Not much else going on here...court is a week from tomorrow - not that we're counting the days or anything...LOL...
Elissa - So great to hear from you!!! Drew and I are looking forward to your visit :)
Hi Jodi and Kristi!!!!
It was about 70 degrees here today - way too warm for November!! At the orphanage the kids are dressed in layers - like as many as four pairs of pants and three shirts at a time. Every day when Drew comes into our room the first thing we do is strip off half of his clothes! Today we were rebel parents and we took Drew outside on the slide in only one pair of pants and one shirt...our translator Tanya was not happy about that...oh well!!! Then she chastised us for walking him through the leaves because there is too much dust...I can't wait to get him home!!
Not much else going on here...court is a week from tomorrow - not that we're counting the days or anything...LOL...
Elissa - So great to hear from you!!! Drew and I are looking forward to your visit :)
Hi Jodi and Kristi!!!!
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Thank you!!!
Thanks for all the congratulations everyone!!! They really makes us smile from 6,000 miles away...it gets hard being so far away from home for so long and knowing all of you are rooting for us helps keep our spirits up - between the blog, the e-mails and the IMs...I'm feeling the love! :) We are truly blessed with not only a wonderful son, but a great family and friends...
Nothing much going on today...had a good visit with Drew - he's definitely walking much better than he was when we first met him and he's not as reluctant to walk either - both are good signs. He went right for the food again today...it makes me laugh when he does that.
We still don't know exactly when we can come back for Drew after court and how long exactly Patrick will have to stay - we hope to find out this week.
We did find out that when we take the train from Taraz to Amaty on Nov. 12 after court it will be the Spanish train, rather than the Soviet train. As you can probably tell by the names of the trains - the Spanish one is much better!!!! We took the Soviet one here and let's just say, I think it was built when the Soviet Union first formed, rather than closer to when it disbanded...
Not much else going on here today... hope everyone in the US has a good Saturday...and can someone e-mail me or message the blog as to when Daylight Savings Time ends?? Thanks!!! :)
As a side note...I don't think I ever explained how we picked the name Drew Sebastian for our little one. It's Jewish tradition to name a child after people who are special to you who are no longer with you. Typically, you use the first letter of the person's name, or you can use the person's actual name. So Drew Sebastian is named for my father David and my mother Sharon, both of whom I miss very much who would have been so happy to have a new grandson and loved him to pieces...
So - that's it from Taraz...I'll check back tomorrow. Gotta say, this place would be better if they had college football on Saturdays!! Go RU!!!!
Nothing much going on today...had a good visit with Drew - he's definitely walking much better than he was when we first met him and he's not as reluctant to walk either - both are good signs. He went right for the food again today...it makes me laugh when he does that.
We still don't know exactly when we can come back for Drew after court and how long exactly Patrick will have to stay - we hope to find out this week.
We did find out that when we take the train from Taraz to Amaty on Nov. 12 after court it will be the Spanish train, rather than the Soviet train. As you can probably tell by the names of the trains - the Spanish one is much better!!!! We took the Soviet one here and let's just say, I think it was built when the Soviet Union first formed, rather than closer to when it disbanded...
Not much else going on here today... hope everyone in the US has a good Saturday...and can someone e-mail me or message the blog as to when Daylight Savings Time ends?? Thanks!!! :)
As a side note...I don't think I ever explained how we picked the name Drew Sebastian for our little one. It's Jewish tradition to name a child after people who are special to you who are no longer with you. Typically, you use the first letter of the person's name, or you can use the person's actual name. So Drew Sebastian is named for my father David and my mother Sharon, both of whom I miss very much who would have been so happy to have a new grandson and loved him to pieces...
So - that's it from Taraz...I'll check back tomorrow. Gotta say, this place would be better if they had college football on Saturdays!! Go RU!!!!
Friday, November 2, 2007
Court Date Set!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are going to court on Monday, Nov. 12!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Assuming the court approves us to be Drew's parents, there's a 15-day appeal period following that date and then we can come pick him up and bring him home. Patrick will come back alone for that trip. During that trip we will get all his documents - his passport, his new birth certificate, etc...we then have to go to the Embassy with a bunch of paperwork, including some papers that will make Drew a US citizen once he gets home...
The other wonderful part of this is it means we can do this in two trips, instead of three as we had intended...and that is huge!!!!
So - if all goes well (knock on wood, cross fingers, throw salt over the left shoulder, etc...) Drew will be home for at least part of Hanukkah this year!!!
Patrick and I now plan to come home Nov. 14th...can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Other than that, not much else is new...Drew continues to be adorable...he's now gotten in the habit of going into his bag, and pullng out his spoon and food as soon as he comes into the room! That little boy likes to eat...today we tried plums for the first time and they were a hit!!
Drew also went down the slide just about by himself today - he loved it!!! Huge smiles all around.
And...today Drew learned the all important "Mokushka" song. It's a Hungarian song that my syblings, cousins and I all learned when we were little. It loses someting in the translation, but in English it is:
Little squirrel, little squirrel
He climbed up a tree
he fell down, he fell down
Broke his leg and knee
Doctor, doctor don't fix up the leg
Let the little squirrel get dead
Like I said - it sounds much better in Hungarian!!
Drew loved it - he was dancing around and loving it...I think he has some Hungarian in him... :)
So - today was a good day in Kazakhstan...there's an end in sight and our little boy will be home where he belongs next month!! :)
Assuming the court approves us to be Drew's parents, there's a 15-day appeal period following that date and then we can come pick him up and bring him home. Patrick will come back alone for that trip. During that trip we will get all his documents - his passport, his new birth certificate, etc...we then have to go to the Embassy with a bunch of paperwork, including some papers that will make Drew a US citizen once he gets home...
The other wonderful part of this is it means we can do this in two trips, instead of three as we had intended...and that is huge!!!!
So - if all goes well (knock on wood, cross fingers, throw salt over the left shoulder, etc...) Drew will be home for at least part of Hanukkah this year!!!
Patrick and I now plan to come home Nov. 14th...can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Other than that, not much else is new...Drew continues to be adorable...he's now gotten in the habit of going into his bag, and pullng out his spoon and food as soon as he comes into the room! That little boy likes to eat...today we tried plums for the first time and they were a hit!!
Drew also went down the slide just about by himself today - he loved it!!! Huge smiles all around.
And...today Drew learned the all important "Mokushka" song. It's a Hungarian song that my syblings, cousins and I all learned when we were little. It loses someting in the translation, but in English it is:
Little squirrel, little squirrel
He climbed up a tree
he fell down, he fell down
Broke his leg and knee
Doctor, doctor don't fix up the leg
Let the little squirrel get dead
Like I said - it sounds much better in Hungarian!!
Drew loved it - he was dancing around and loving it...I think he has some Hungarian in him... :)
So - today was a good day in Kazakhstan...there's an end in sight and our little boy will be home where he belongs next month!! :)
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