Dear Family and Friends,
After another enjoyable visit with our little one, a bit of lunch and a nap, here we are sitting down to recount the events of the day. Today is Wednesday here in Vlad. We were to be picked up at 8am this morning. Of course, by experience, we know that that means more like 8:30 or even 9am. So it was again this morning. Lana, our interpreter, was delayed by the horrendous traffic heading into the city. We feel for our two dear ladies here in Vlad. They both live on the side of town more toward where the baby home is located. They each drive all the way in to our hotel to pick us up, then sometimes we go right back in the direction from which they came, or we keep heading onward into downtown, both of which take forever. Honestly, without traffic, you could be downtown in 20-25 minutes. Instead it's about three times that because of construction and traffic. The ride to the baby home should really only take about 35-40 minutes, but is more like an hour. Anyway, Lana arrived about 8:45 and we began our drive to the baby home.
We arrived around 10:15 this morning. We picked up the social worker who serves the Artem area. She is a really nice lady whom we met when we adopted Slav and Sergei. She was excited to see pictures of the boys and how they've grown. She met with us at the baby home and gave us the latest update on the boys' birth mother. Needless to say, it is sad. I'll just leave it at that. We took some notes while Lana translated everything for us. Then it was time for our little buddy to enter the room. His care giver brought him in once again. This time he cried as she left him with us. It was just a bit of fussing though. I (Joel) started playing some Russian nursery rhymes on my iPhone. That seemed to calm him down and put him at ease a little bit. It was another good visit. His disposition was about like yesterday. We are strangers to him and it will take time for him to warm up to us. So once again today he really didn't smile or make any sounds. We tried to get him to laugh and react to things. Mostly he just continued to stare at us with a look that says, "Who are you people? Where is the lady who takes care of me?"
We spent about an hour with him today. We played on the couch, on the floor, standing up, sitting down, riding in the little car, etc. Nothing really sparked a reaction. He ate some animal crackers and drank some apple juice. Nevertheless, we still consider it a positive visit. He didn't run away from us or anything. He just needs time to warm up to us. Unfortunately, the way things work here with us having to leave on Saturday and not see him for a few months, just as he warms up to us, we'll be out of his life for three or four months until we return for court and to bring him home. So we'll just enjoy the time that we have now. We have a photo book with phrases in Russian (Thanks, Nadya!) that shows him our family. We hope the caregiver will read it to him. We haven't shown it to him yet, perhaps tomorrow and Friday we'll tell him our little family story.
At the end of our visit his caregiver showed up to take him back and he just lit up. He was all smiles for her. As they were leaving Lana says "He really loves her." Ya think? We're glad that he is so loved and has learned to attach to people so well. It will be difficult for him to leave the baby home when the time comes but it will pass as we become a family. Thank you for your prayers in his and our behalf. We're praying that we can get paperwork wrapped up as quickly as possible when we get home so that we can get back here soon and bring him home. Lana says that the average wait between trips is 3 to 4 months. We're hoping more for the three!
After another enjoyable visit with our little one, a bit of lunch and a nap, here we are sitting down to recount the events of the day. Today is Wednesday here in Vlad. We were to be picked up at 8am this morning. Of course, by experience, we know that that means more like 8:30 or even 9am. So it was again this morning. Lana, our interpreter, was delayed by the horrendous traffic heading into the city. We feel for our two dear ladies here in Vlad. They both live on the side of town more toward where the baby home is located. They each drive all the way in to our hotel to pick us up, then sometimes we go right back in the direction from which they came, or we keep heading onward into downtown, both of which take forever. Honestly, without traffic, you could be downtown in 20-25 minutes. Instead it's about three times that because of construction and traffic. The ride to the baby home should really only take about 35-40 minutes, but is more like an hour. Anyway, Lana arrived about 8:45 and we began our drive to the baby home.
We arrived around 10:15 this morning. We picked up the social worker who serves the Artem area. She is a really nice lady whom we met when we adopted Slav and Sergei. She was excited to see pictures of the boys and how they've grown. She met with us at the baby home and gave us the latest update on the boys' birth mother. Needless to say, it is sad. I'll just leave it at that. We took some notes while Lana translated everything for us. Then it was time for our little buddy to enter the room. His care giver brought him in once again. This time he cried as she left him with us. It was just a bit of fussing though. I (Joel) started playing some Russian nursery rhymes on my iPhone. That seemed to calm him down and put him at ease a little bit. It was another good visit. His disposition was about like yesterday. We are strangers to him and it will take time for him to warm up to us. So once again today he really didn't smile or make any sounds. We tried to get him to laugh and react to things. Mostly he just continued to stare at us with a look that says, "Who are you people? Where is the lady who takes care of me?"
We spent about an hour with him today. We played on the couch, on the floor, standing up, sitting down, riding in the little car, etc. Nothing really sparked a reaction. He ate some animal crackers and drank some apple juice. Nevertheless, we still consider it a positive visit. He didn't run away from us or anything. He just needs time to warm up to us. Unfortunately, the way things work here with us having to leave on Saturday and not see him for a few months, just as he warms up to us, we'll be out of his life for three or four months until we return for court and to bring him home. So we'll just enjoy the time that we have now. We have a photo book with phrases in Russian (Thanks, Nadya!) that shows him our family. We hope the caregiver will read it to him. We haven't shown it to him yet, perhaps tomorrow and Friday we'll tell him our little family story.
At the end of our visit his caregiver showed up to take him back and he just lit up. He was all smiles for her. As they were leaving Lana says "He really loves her." Ya think? We're glad that he is so loved and has learned to attach to people so well. It will be difficult for him to leave the baby home when the time comes but it will pass as we become a family. Thank you for your prayers in his and our behalf. We're praying that we can get paperwork wrapped up as quickly as possible when we get home so that we can get back here soon and bring him home. Lana says that the average wait between trips is 3 to 4 months. We're hoping more for the three!
As our visit ended, our friends Nathan, Melissa and Iliya arrived at the baby home for their reunion with their little one. It was nice to be able to witness that special moment, especially as Iliya got to meet his little brother for the first time. You can read their story from today at their blog. Our prayers are with them for their court hearing tomorrow!
That's it for Wednesday. It's about 6:40pm. We're sitting up in the White Rabbit Lounge looking out at a beautiful evening. Might be time for a quick walk to the beach. We had a big lunch, but the shashlik may be rather tempting when we get over there. Attached are a couple pics from today. Until tomorrow!
Sincerely,
Joel & Clarion
I love the picture of his little handin yours!
ReplyDeleteWow! Do all three look like brothers? At least that's what I was thinking from looking at the back of his cute little head. So glad you're finally there and meeting him. Thinking of you all often.
ReplyDeleteThanks again Joel & Clarion for sharing with all of us. Can't wait to hear that his face lights up when he sees you. It will come. I just know that Sergei could make him smile.
ReplyDelete-Aunt Jan-
So happy to hear things are going well with your new little guy! Enjoy your visits with him and keeping our fingers crossed you get back to Vlad nice and quick! From the pictures he looks adorable!
ReplyDeletehe looks like a cutie pie from what I can see ;)
ReplyDelete