We just found we are heading back over for Court. We are leaving on Sunday, February 5th to head back over to Ukraine. Direct flight from JFK, NY. Our court date is as on Tuesday the 7th. Than cross your fingers Stephane will be heading back to USA on Thursday. Get the train on Wednesday night and arrive in Kiev Thursday and go straight to the airport and get on his flight at 1PM to NY. Please let this work out!!
I will be staying in Kherson until March 3. I don't know how I am going to do it, leaving Jaclyn for soooo long. I have never been apart from her for that amount of time. I have to keep my eye on the prize!!! The biggest prize of my life, my son Kiril.
May God give me the strength!!!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
FOREVER Friday
Friday lasted FOREVER!!! We woke up 3:30am at the hotel and our shuttle picked us up at 4am. When we walked outside it was like we were walking on to a glacier. FREEZING. Our driver did not say one word to us. He opened the back door and just got back in the truck. I guess they dont help you here with your luggage here. We got inside his smoked filled little truck. The windshield was a sheet of ice but that did not stop him from driving away. We pulled up in front of the airport and he got out opened the back door and lit a cigarette and got back in the truck. He did not say one word to us!! We go inside and what do you know he dropped us off at the wrong terminal. We had to go out into Siberia with 5 bags and walk from B to J outside!!! Not a good start to our travel's home. Finally we are checked in. We wait until we board now. They make the announcement we can start boarding. Stephane always wants to wait until last to board, I convinced him to let us go first so we can get on the warm plane and start to sleep. We wonder why everyone is putting their coats on, so we thought we better too (Steph in a t-shirt). THANK GOD we did. We walked downstairs and were put on a bus. Now we sit on this frozen bus waiting for all the smart people who waited until last to go!!! (ok, Stephane was right) We were than shuttled to the plane in the middle of the frozen tundra were you could not catch your breath to save your life. They saw we were traveling with a child, I knew we brought Jaclyn for a reason. We got escorted to the front of the line to go up the steps to get in. Let me tell you they were not happy about this.
(they meaning.the rest of the Eskimo's waiting to get on)
Finally we are in the air heading to Munich, Germany. We arrive there at 8:30am and we dont leave Munich until 3:30pm to head to Newark, not Philly Newark. Fianlly we board heading to AMERICA. I have never felt so good about being American like I do now. The only thing bad about coming home is our Son is not with us.
That was the longest flight, it seemed so long,8 1/2 hours up in the air. It is so much better to fly when you fly during the night and sleep. During the day it goes so slow.
We land in Newark and by this time Jaclyn is not feeling well at all. I forgot to mention she was not feeling good all day. We head a very shaky landing very windy. That put Jac over the edge!!! I grabbed the barf bags just in case. My Mom and Dad were there to meet us off the plane. What a great sight to see my parents what would I do without them. They are my love's!!!!
The drive home felt forever everything felt long to us. We got up at 3:30am and no now it is 3:30am again. (Ukraine time) I want my BED!!!
I have to mention that I am shocked at how well Jaclyn my 10 year old handled all this travel today. She felt pretty bad the whole time in Germany, but what a trooper!!! She handled it better than me. If I felt like she did, I would have been a nightmare. SHE IS AWESOME!!!
It felt amazing to pull into my driveway. Jac went running in to see the dogs. We missed them so bad. We went in and saw Brie she did such a great job taking care of the animals and keeping the house in order. I can't thank her enough!!! One sad thing did happen, one of Jaclyn's guniea pigs died while we were gone. Poor Blackie!!! I looked around for Jaclyn and found her curled up on the couch sleeping like a baby.
Home sweet home!!!
KIRIL'S MEDICAL UPDATE
Tanya called us when we were at the hotel. Kiril will not be having surgery on Monday. His blood work did not come back normal. His hemoglobin is very low. They think it is just being malnourished, low iron. Me and Stephane both said that the first day we saw Kiril he didn't look healthy. His coloring is off and extremely skinny. I know you are all thinking that "all the kids are skinny" you are right most of them are but Kiril is a different skinny. I can't explain it. Jaclyn went to lunch with him at least three times and she told us each time that he didn't eat a thing but his roll. When you ask him he says he doesn't like the food there.
I am hoping that this is all that is wrong with him, nothing more serious. They are taking him to a better hospital on Monday to do more test. They will take him to the hospital where the surgery would have taken take place, not a clinic Tanya said she is going to try to go with him, if not I asked her to call Zhanna and she will maybe be able to go. I cant believe all this is happening now when we were there for the past two weeks doing nothing I could have been with him thru all this. CRAZY!!! Please keep him in your prayers and ask that everything is ok. Once he comes home he will have all the food he likes and needs to get healthy. When me and Stephane go back in 8 days Tanya said we can bring him to Zhanna's for some good meals. I will also bring a multi-vitamin with iron for him to take. I hope he is ok. I am so worried now
(they meaning.the rest of the Eskimo's waiting to get on)
Finally we are in the air heading to Munich, Germany. We arrive there at 8:30am and we dont leave Munich until 3:30pm to head to Newark, not Philly Newark. Fianlly we board heading to AMERICA. I have never felt so good about being American like I do now. The only thing bad about coming home is our Son is not with us.
That was the longest flight, it seemed so long,8 1/2 hours up in the air. It is so much better to fly when you fly during the night and sleep. During the day it goes so slow.
We land in Newark and by this time Jaclyn is not feeling well at all. I forgot to mention she was not feeling good all day. We head a very shaky landing very windy. That put Jac over the edge!!! I grabbed the barf bags just in case. My Mom and Dad were there to meet us off the plane. What a great sight to see my parents what would I do without them. They are my love's!!!!
The drive home felt forever everything felt long to us. We got up at 3:30am and no now it is 3:30am again. (Ukraine time) I want my BED!!!
I have to mention that I am shocked at how well Jaclyn my 10 year old handled all this travel today. She felt pretty bad the whole time in Germany, but what a trooper!!! She handled it better than me. If I felt like she did, I would have been a nightmare. SHE IS AWESOME!!!
It felt amazing to pull into my driveway. Jac went running in to see the dogs. We missed them so bad. We went in and saw Brie she did such a great job taking care of the animals and keeping the house in order. I can't thank her enough!!! One sad thing did happen, one of Jaclyn's guniea pigs died while we were gone. Poor Blackie!!! I looked around for Jaclyn and found her curled up on the couch sleeping like a baby.
Home sweet home!!!
KIRIL'S MEDICAL UPDATE
Tanya called us when we were at the hotel. Kiril will not be having surgery on Monday. His blood work did not come back normal. His hemoglobin is very low. They think it is just being malnourished, low iron. Me and Stephane both said that the first day we saw Kiril he didn't look healthy. His coloring is off and extremely skinny. I know you are all thinking that "all the kids are skinny" you are right most of them are but Kiril is a different skinny. I can't explain it. Jaclyn went to lunch with him at least three times and she told us each time that he didn't eat a thing but his roll. When you ask him he says he doesn't like the food there.
I am hoping that this is all that is wrong with him, nothing more serious. They are taking him to a better hospital on Monday to do more test. They will take him to the hospital where the surgery would have taken take place, not a clinic Tanya said she is going to try to go with him, if not I asked her to call Zhanna and she will maybe be able to go. I cant believe all this is happening now when we were there for the past two weeks doing nothing I could have been with him thru all this. CRAZY!!! Please keep him in your prayers and ask that everything is ok. Once he comes home he will have all the food he likes and needs to get healthy. When me and Stephane go back in 8 days Tanya said we can bring him to Zhanna's for some good meals. I will also bring a multi-vitamin with iron for him to take. I hope he is ok. I am so worried now
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Why thoughtless Thursday you ask? Because we did nothing today. We got off the train at 8:30 am after twelve hours in second class in a cabin as big as my trunk (not that trunk). Four bunks and one Russian woman who spoke not a lick of English and kept talking to me in complete sentences. If I told her once I told her ten times. "I am sorry I don't speak Russian". Oh did I mention she soaked in a tub of Chanel before she boarded the train ??? Guess who slept next to her??? ME!!!! I didn't sleep a wink because Stephane and Chanel snored in sync. All I heard all night was jaclyn saying "Dad stop snoring as she was pushing him reaching across to his bunk". I was just waiting for jac to land on Chanel underneath her.
Natalia picked us up and we had to climb 20 flights of stairs with all the luggage. By the way, I think the train dumped us in Siberia. IT IS FREEZING!!! We stopped for breakfast with Natalia who is pregnant and beautiful.Just thought I would mention that. She is soo very nice. Than we came to our Hotel, "The Old Port" that is being nice. I am serious when I say when you go outside your nose hairs freeze up instantly. We needed to eat dinner so we walked to a Mall that the worker here at the front desk said was right next door we didn't need a shuttle. Well it was walking on a sheet of ice and I couldn't feel my feet the time we got to the mall. We ate at a place called "McFoxy" if you are American you swear that it is a McDonalds same logo same everything except the food. NOT McDonalds!!
So we had to take that same walk but now in the pitch black. Guess who goes down???? ME!!!! Guess who helped me up ??? No one because they were laughing so hard they were on the ground next to me. I should take a picture of my (upper) leg. Its black not blue just black.
I am waiting to hear news about Kiril's blood work from Tanya. I will post the update when I hear!!!
Natalia picked us up and we had to climb 20 flights of stairs with all the luggage. By the way, I think the train dumped us in Siberia. IT IS FREEZING!!! We stopped for breakfast with Natalia who is pregnant and beautiful.Just thought I would mention that. She is soo very nice. Than we came to our Hotel, "The Old Port" that is being nice. I am serious when I say when you go outside your nose hairs freeze up instantly. We needed to eat dinner so we walked to a Mall that the worker here at the front desk said was right next door we didn't need a shuttle. Well it was walking on a sheet of ice and I couldn't feel my feet the time we got to the mall. We ate at a place called "McFoxy" if you are American you swear that it is a McDonalds same logo same everything except the food. NOT McDonalds!!
So we had to take that same walk but now in the pitch black. Guess who goes down???? ME!!!! Guess who helped me up ??? No one because they were laughing so hard they were on the ground next to me. I should take a picture of my (upper) leg. Its black not blue just black.
Wacky Wednesday
I forgot to mention that yesterday we met Tanya at the Notary office. We had to fill up some papers so they can prepare his passport. I wish we had more of a warning that today was the day that we would have to give our Son his forever name. We knew we wanted to keep his name Kiril as his first name but we wanted to give him a middle name in case he wanted to use that name in America. I had nine months to name my daughter. Now we had about ten minutes. We went with the name Stephane and I always wanted for a boy. It is not a name that got many votes by our friends and family and definitely not Jaclyn. You all ready "Kiril Beau Charbonneau" so what do you think? You can be honest everyone else is!!! LOL
Today we got up and packed all of our bags and got our self prepared to leave for the train today. I am leaving my big luggage here at Zhanna's for when I come back and I left most of my clothes here. So the next trip we are not loaded down like mules. Advice for all who are coming here in the future PACK LIGHT, TONS OF STEPS!!!
Me and Zhanna dropped off Jaclyn at Niki's school. She is spending the day at his school. After me and her went to the bizarre outside market and I got some caviar to bring home for my breakfast. and we picked up some other things we needed. It is freezing her the wind is crazy I guess because Kherson is on the water so the wind really picks up. Than we went to the cafe and had some coffee. I am sure Stephane slept the whole time we were gone. He has definitely caught up oh his sleep. We than went and picked up Jac and Niki at school. We went in to visit the teachers. Jaclyn had the time of her life. She had to get up in front of Niki's English class and talk about living in America. These kids were so excited to hear about America. Americans are really liked here. I don't care what you are told or heard. We heard before we came don't tell people that you are from USA, tell them you from Canada. Don't buy it they loved us here. Jaclyn took a lot of pictures of her time at the school to share with her class back home. They also want to set up pen pal's with Jac's school.
The other thing I heard is that it is not safe here. "Be very cautious", I was told, "lock yourself in your cabin the train" To tell you the truth I felt safer here than I have felt sometimes driving around Philly. Maybe I am just used to it more.
So we went to the orphanage to say goodbye to Kiril again since we had more time than we thought we would have. We go in and met Tanya. While we were all sitting around the tv room Kiril asks Tanya " Why is my Mama going home when I am going into the hospital for surgery?" We all looked at eachother and we were in shock. Here they scheduled Kiril to have his surgery Monday. They took him today and did all the prep test for his hernia operation. Oops looked like they forgot to mention this little detail to us. We all went scrambling we ran downstairs to talk to the doctor. She said it was up to us if we want to wait for him to come to US but she thinks its best to get it done, she said God forbid he has any issues between now and than. I called to ask Zhanna about this hospital he would be going to for a week. Yea you heard right a week for a hernia. That is routine here. These kids go to the hospital for anything they stay sooo long. Zhanna said this is a very good childrens hospital. We will sleep on this decision and call Tanya tomorrow. She is also going to call me with his results of blood tests. We will pray on this and see what we come up with. Even if I stayed the doctor said I would not be able to go there for three days and even after that I could only go and stop by quickly for a visit. I am so torn!!!
After that craziness we went upstairs and once again said our goodbyes. Kiril was very upset of course to see us go. WHY do they do things this way? Just let the boy come home already!!!!
Zhanna picked us up and brought us home to a beautiful dinner and than she drove us to the train and we met Tanya for our tickets. We boarded and that is our Wacky Wednesday!!!
Today we got up and packed all of our bags and got our self prepared to leave for the train today. I am leaving my big luggage here at Zhanna's for when I come back and I left most of my clothes here. So the next trip we are not loaded down like mules. Advice for all who are coming here in the future PACK LIGHT, TONS OF STEPS!!!
Me and Zhanna dropped off Jaclyn at Niki's school. She is spending the day at his school. After me and her went to the bizarre outside market and I got some caviar to bring home for my breakfast. and we picked up some other things we needed. It is freezing her the wind is crazy I guess because Kherson is on the water so the wind really picks up. Than we went to the cafe and had some coffee. I am sure Stephane slept the whole time we were gone. He has definitely caught up oh his sleep. We than went and picked up Jac and Niki at school. We went in to visit the teachers. Jaclyn had the time of her life. She had to get up in front of Niki's English class and talk about living in America. These kids were so excited to hear about America. Americans are really liked here. I don't care what you are told or heard. We heard before we came don't tell people that you are from USA, tell them you from Canada. Don't buy it they loved us here. Jaclyn took a lot of pictures of her time at the school to share with her class back home. They also want to set up pen pal's with Jac's school.
The other thing I heard is that it is not safe here. "Be very cautious", I was told, "lock yourself in your cabin the train" To tell you the truth I felt safer here than I have felt sometimes driving around Philly. Maybe I am just used to it more.
So we went to the orphanage to say goodbye to Kiril again since we had more time than we thought we would have. We go in and met Tanya. While we were all sitting around the tv room Kiril asks Tanya " Why is my Mama going home when I am going into the hospital for surgery?" We all looked at eachother and we were in shock. Here they scheduled Kiril to have his surgery Monday. They took him today and did all the prep test for his hernia operation. Oops looked like they forgot to mention this little detail to us. We all went scrambling we ran downstairs to talk to the doctor. She said it was up to us if we want to wait for him to come to US but she thinks its best to get it done, she said God forbid he has any issues between now and than. I called to ask Zhanna about this hospital he would be going to for a week. Yea you heard right a week for a hernia. That is routine here. These kids go to the hospital for anything they stay sooo long. Zhanna said this is a very good childrens hospital. We will sleep on this decision and call Tanya tomorrow. She is also going to call me with his results of blood tests. We will pray on this and see what we come up with. Even if I stayed the doctor said I would not be able to go there for three days and even after that I could only go and stop by quickly for a visit. I am so torn!!!
After that craziness we went upstairs and once again said our goodbyes. Kiril was very upset of course to see us go. WHY do they do things this way? Just let the boy come home already!!!!
Zhanna picked us up and brought us home to a beautiful dinner and than she drove us to the train and we met Tanya for our tickets. We boarded and that is our Wacky Wednesday!!!
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| This is the Seamen Academy in Kherson. Seems most men here are Seamen. Not many men in town. All away at sea. |
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| This was the bazaar we went to |
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| Niki's school |
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| Jac with some of Niki's classmates |
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| Our train cabin back to Kiev |
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| Niki's class |
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| Jac with the whole class |
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| This is all the boys big ratio here!!! |
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Twisted Tuesday
Went to the orphanage as usual had a nice time with the kids but the twist was that we were leaving tomorrow. So that means this is Jaclyn's last day with the kids. That do not go so well. When we were leaving she was sobbing and of course so was I. These kids were so sad that we were leaving. They were really sad to see Jaclyn go. They all fell in love with her it was unbelievable to see how they bonded with her. She fit right in here they took her with them to their meals, homework everywhere they went she went.
When we left Kiril was crying so hard he didnt want us to go. He was holding on to Jaclyn it was ripping my heart again. All the kids were very upset. Valera was just hugging me for dear life and I was telling him in his ear how much he is loved by so many people. He said "Its ok Noelle, I will be ok". They all walked us to the door including Tatiana. We said goodbye and heard the door slam behind us. We were waiting out front for Zhanna and we hear someone yelling for us. It was Anna running out to us. She came running in our arms to say good by. I told her we looked for her and she was not there.
We came home and Zhanna had some people over to meet us. Of course I looked a HOT mess. We had a little pizza get together. The pizza was SO good. She had two one with chicken and one with all kinds of seafood (octopus) DELICIOUS!!!!
The drama is about to begin. Let me start you from the beginning we were told that we would never be able to go home as planned so we were not to happy because we have to pay the penalty for the flight change. The big problem is is that the 14 hour train ride has to mesh with the plane departure. Not so easy. So we got a call last night that the plane was full can't leave Thursday. Maybe no train on Thursday because they fill up so now we have to try to figure out a way to Kiev which is a VERY long drive 9 hours maybe if it goes well!!! My travel agent said you need to book a flight or we will loose everything. So we booked a flight for Friday morning flying to Munich than to Newark, not Phila like we hoped. The big issue is its $1000.00 to make these changes. We were not prepared for this. WE ARE NOT HAPPY CAMPERS RIGHT NOW!!! It looks like my next trip I will not be going home with Stephane like we planned after court. I just spent that money.
Please say a pray that we get out of here today by train so we can catch our 5:30 am flight to Munich.
A very TWISTED TUESDAY!!!!
When we left Kiril was crying so hard he didnt want us to go. He was holding on to Jaclyn it was ripping my heart again. All the kids were very upset. Valera was just hugging me for dear life and I was telling him in his ear how much he is loved by so many people. He said "Its ok Noelle, I will be ok". They all walked us to the door including Tatiana. We said goodbye and heard the door slam behind us. We were waiting out front for Zhanna and we hear someone yelling for us. It was Anna running out to us. She came running in our arms to say good by. I told her we looked for her and she was not there.
We came home and Zhanna had some people over to meet us. Of course I looked a HOT mess. We had a little pizza get together. The pizza was SO good. She had two one with chicken and one with all kinds of seafood (octopus) DELICIOUS!!!!
The drama is about to begin. Let me start you from the beginning we were told that we would never be able to go home as planned so we were not to happy because we have to pay the penalty for the flight change. The big problem is is that the 14 hour train ride has to mesh with the plane departure. Not so easy. So we got a call last night that the plane was full can't leave Thursday. Maybe no train on Thursday because they fill up so now we have to try to figure out a way to Kiev which is a VERY long drive 9 hours maybe if it goes well!!! My travel agent said you need to book a flight or we will loose everything. So we booked a flight for Friday morning flying to Munich than to Newark, not Phila like we hoped. The big issue is its $1000.00 to make these changes. We were not prepared for this. WE ARE NOT HAPPY CAMPERS RIGHT NOW!!! It looks like my next trip I will not be going home with Stephane like we planned after court. I just spent that money.
Please say a pray that we get out of here today by train so we can catch our 5:30 am flight to Munich.
A very TWISTED TUESDAY!!!!
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| Zhanna made us Borscht!! |
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| Pizza with octopus! |
Monday, January 23, 2012
Just another Manic Monday
Today was anything but manic. It all went great. We went to the orphanage after Kiril was done school. We met w/ Tanya and she came today to take Kiril to the goverment office where he had to sign a letter that he wanted to be adopted by us. The director signed our paper that we needed and things are going very smoothly. It looks like we will be able to leave here on Thursday. Cross your fingers. I have to get Jac back in school.
Today at the orphanage went as usual Jac and Kiril played the whole time and all the children just hung out with us in the TV room. Some more children got to connect with their families in the US, which is always a good thing. The hardest part about me leaving here is going to be leaving all these children that I fell in love with. My nickname here is little Mama.
There is one boy here that I absolutely fell for, his name is Valera .He has been my translator here and seems to be for everyone. Whenever a family calls to Skype their future children Valera is the one who translates to the kids what the families are saying. What breaks my heart is no one is calling him to tell him how much he is loved and that there is a bedroom all ready for him. He will be 18 in a month and he still lives here because of his little 8 year old brother. Who is also precious!!! We need to find a way for this boy to get out of here.
Valera said to me today "my biggest dream is find a family in America to love me and adopt me. I know I am too old but it is my wish still!!" Talk about ripping my heart out!!
When it was time to leave Kiril walked us to the door and he went to dinner and we went out front to get picked up by Zhanna. We came home and I cooked an American meal for them. It was a big hit!! I was nervous to be honest with you.
Thanks for all the prayers keep them coming!!!
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| Valera and his little brother |
Good night sleep tight!!
Weekend with Kiril
What a nice weekend we had. We got to spend everyday with Kiril, because he had no school. The director would not let him leave with us for dinner until the papers are signed. (whatever) We spent most of the days just hanging around with all the kids. It seems like we are hanging out more with the other kids than Kiril. I was told that was normal. Him and Jaclyn are having a blast together. Jaclyn loves it her she keeps saying "I would love to live here, all they do all day is play" The mind of a ten year old. She said "at least there is no parents always yelling at them, they get to do whatever they want to" I told her that is the problem here. These kids have no direction at all. Dont get me wrong Tatiana their caretaker really loves these children that is obvious. She is only one person. The one thing that really stands out to me here is that the children are always hungry. It is very sad. Their meals are very small and their snack is a roll or one cookie. The kids will get food and hide it under their pillows. One girl pulled out a little bag of seeds of some sort and the kids were jumping all over her for just a seed or two, very sad. When we go now we pick up a bunch of snacks for the children some fruit and some cookies and they love when we show up with bottles of soda, that is a real treat for them.
On Saturday Kiril was acting a little different he was a little more stand offish. He did a few things to test us. I have to say that we came home I was a little upset and nervous about everything. I saw some of his actions that made me a little concerned. Nothing major at all just little things. I have to remember that will all change with some love and guidance.
Sunday was a different day. It was snowing and all the kids were outside when we got there. Not Kiril's group. They go out in groups when they do things. Anyway so when we were walking up the sidewalk all the kids were running up to us wanting us to play in the snow with them. Let me tell you something you have never seen a snowball fight until you had one here. You need a suit of armor. They will pellet you from head to toe. Remember the movie ELF and Will Ferrell was helping out his little brother in the snowball fight that is how these kids throw. Jaclyn barely had a ball made and it was knocked out of her hands. I ran for cover!!! Once we made it upstairs to Kiril's room ALIVE, he was very glad to see us. We went into the TV room and set up the DVD player we bought with us because all 5 of theirs is broken. We put in Transformers and the kids gathered around they love movies, it doesn't matter what language it is in. Than Tatiana came in and said everyone has to go outside and play. Kiril didn't want to go. He doesn't seem to like the cold. Great future as a hockey player. LOL Everyone went outside including Stephane and Jaclyn. You know Stephane will not turn up a chance to pounce those kids outside with some major Quebec style snowballs. It was nice because it was only Kiril and myself there in the tv room. I pulled out my computer and got on Google translate as quick as I could. We had a very nice computer conversation. I asked him and told him many things about how his life will change in the US. I asked him if we getting cold feet (obviously i didn't say those exact words) He said not at all he is very excited to be with us forever and he cant wait to go! I told him that it will be very different at home than it is here many rules and school and homework. I don't want him to think it will be the beach everyday like it was in summer with us in Ocean City. He understood and is thrilled.
I left the orphanage in a much better mood on Sunday than I did on Saturday.
The one thing that is making me so happy is that everyday i am connecting some of the children here with their future families in America thru Skype. It makes me feel like I am doing something good while I am here.
Overall a great weekend with our son.
We also went to a wonderful restaurant with Zhanna Sunday night. The food was very good. We are really enjoying the food here in Ukraine. It does help that when we come home Zhanna has prepared a big dinner for us at night after the orphanage. She was sent from Heaven to us, that is for sure. Without her I can't imagine this experience. Niki will be home tomorrow from his hockey game he was gone for the weekend. That was a challenge because Zhanna does not speak English but she did great.
Things I don't like; I am NOT sleeping good. I might have to whip out the Ambien tonight. Only having two meals a day. Not having my tempura pedic bed. Not having my TV shows. Most of all not being with my dogs,friends and family at home.
Have to mention what would I do with out Brie? She is staying at my house taking care of all the pets. I am so grateful for her. She checks in with us everyday. THANK YOU BRIE!!!! xoxo
On Saturday Kiril was acting a little different he was a little more stand offish. He did a few things to test us. I have to say that we came home I was a little upset and nervous about everything. I saw some of his actions that made me a little concerned. Nothing major at all just little things. I have to remember that will all change with some love and guidance.
Sunday was a different day. It was snowing and all the kids were outside when we got there. Not Kiril's group. They go out in groups when they do things. Anyway so when we were walking up the sidewalk all the kids were running up to us wanting us to play in the snow with them. Let me tell you something you have never seen a snowball fight until you had one here. You need a suit of armor. They will pellet you from head to toe. Remember the movie ELF and Will Ferrell was helping out his little brother in the snowball fight that is how these kids throw. Jaclyn barely had a ball made and it was knocked out of her hands. I ran for cover!!! Once we made it upstairs to Kiril's room ALIVE, he was very glad to see us. We went into the TV room and set up the DVD player we bought with us because all 5 of theirs is broken. We put in Transformers and the kids gathered around they love movies, it doesn't matter what language it is in. Than Tatiana came in and said everyone has to go outside and play. Kiril didn't want to go. He doesn't seem to like the cold. Great future as a hockey player. LOL Everyone went outside including Stephane and Jaclyn. You know Stephane will not turn up a chance to pounce those kids outside with some major Quebec style snowballs. It was nice because it was only Kiril and myself there in the tv room. I pulled out my computer and got on Google translate as quick as I could. We had a very nice computer conversation. I asked him and told him many things about how his life will change in the US. I asked him if we getting cold feet (obviously i didn't say those exact words) He said not at all he is very excited to be with us forever and he cant wait to go! I told him that it will be very different at home than it is here many rules and school and homework. I don't want him to think it will be the beach everyday like it was in summer with us in Ocean City. He understood and is thrilled.
I left the orphanage in a much better mood on Sunday than I did on Saturday.
The one thing that is making me so happy is that everyday i am connecting some of the children here with their future families in America thru Skype. It makes me feel like I am doing something good while I am here.
Overall a great weekend with our son.
We also went to a wonderful restaurant with Zhanna Sunday night. The food was very good. We are really enjoying the food here in Ukraine. It does help that when we come home Zhanna has prepared a big dinner for us at night after the orphanage. She was sent from Heaven to us, that is for sure. Without her I can't imagine this experience. Niki will be home tomorrow from his hockey game he was gone for the weekend. That was a challenge because Zhanna does not speak English but she did great.
Things I don't like; I am NOT sleeping good. I might have to whip out the Ambien tonight. Only having two meals a day. Not having my tempura pedic bed. Not having my TV shows. Most of all not being with my dogs,friends and family at home.
Have to mention what would I do with out Brie? She is staying at my house taking care of all the pets. I am so grateful for her. She checks in with us everyday. THANK YOU BRIE!!!! xoxo
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| This is Zhanna's home behind them , the one with the green exterior . |
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| The shopping carts don't move once they are on the (flat) escalator |
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| The kids playing |
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| Jaclyn with snowball army |
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| Tatiana with the kids |
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| She is skyping to a family in America., Valera being our translator! |
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| They love to do my hair. |
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| I love this little girl. She is attached to me at all times. |
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| Zhanna getting her hair done too. |
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| Stephane can't wait to see what is under the dome!! |
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