Day 2 with the Boys

We got up around 8:30 after a very restful night of sleep. John boiled eggs, sliced bread, cheese and sausage, made coffee. We each showered – it was wonderful, especially with the water hot from the heater in the bathroom, and after having to do without yesterday!

Andre’ ran a bit late due to a traffic jam, so we didn’t arrive at the baby house until 10:30. We will be allowed to see the boys twice daily Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to noon, and 4:30 – 6:30 PM. We had to check in the doctor again. We had to surrender our passports, one in each child’s room, but were allowed to take them outside unescorted. A cracker forestalled Denis’ cry. We found a bench in the shade. John and Nick played with the ball, the coloring book and crayons, but it was the bubbles and Nick’s enthusiasm again that aroused Denis and brought out his bright smile. It took him an hour to maul the cracker again. He eventually played with the stacking cups and stacking rings. On the way back in John and Nick were ahead. Nick was trying very hard to tell John something, but he just couldn’t understand. Each time John told him in Russian: “I don’t understand”, Nick would repeat, enunciating more carefully. John felt so bad, and frustrated. On the way back to the room they got lost, and from the woman who escorted them back he gathered from her conversation with Nick that Nick was probably telling him he wanted to sit down and play some more.

After the visit Andre’ took us to an Internet café that happens to be on the back side of the same building as our apartment. In fact, if we could climb out the window of our bedroom, it would be right next door! John got on-line to post an update; unfortunately his first, longer attempt disappeared into cyberspace before he could save it. He wrote a briefer outline, just so y’all would have some idea what was up, and we read the messages that had come in. Thanks everyone – even if we don’t have time to reply each time!

Andre’ and Sasha had been off trying to get some documents copied and notarized, but didn’t have much luck. And as Sasha said tonight: “No seal, no deal”. They gave us a call to find out if we were done at the café, then picked us up to go back to the apartment. That’s when we found out how close it was. While they went off to work on the documents some more, we went exploring down to and on Lenin Prospect (Street). John was able to purchase more minutes for the cell phone and an Internet card to use in the apartment over the telephone land line. We meandered through that mall, especially the children’s clothing store, but knew we needed to wait – at least until we have measurements. We found a business supply shop and purchased blank paper for Nick to draw on and some graph paper for me to try to design patterns to knit into the sweaters for the boys. We passed the pizza place where we ate lunch yesterday. We also found a bread shop, and drawn in by the aroma purchased a wiener baked in a light, flaky pastry and two sweet pastries filled with cherries, all for less than $1 US. Then we went back to the apartment to be ready for the return of Andre and Sasha.

For the afternoon visit, Denis was “on the pot”, so John went off to find Nick. When they came back, Nick came running down the hall and gave “Mama” a big hug. It needs to be understood, however, that every adult woman is “Mama” and every adult man is “Papa” to all of the children. We tried to entertain Nick with the newly acquired pad of paper and the tape measure (we hope to do some clothes and shoe shopping tomorrow). When Denis came out, he again looked anxious and began to cry, but also again the cracker (just half this time) did the trick, and we were on our way outdoors. Denis made it through the half-cracker a bit more quickly, and we let them share a banana. Nick was really wound up this time, tending to rambunctious disobedience, and managed to take another tumble, this time resulting in a face plant with a mouth full of dirt and cuts on upper and lower lips. We cleaned him up as best we could with the hand wipes, then went off to find Sasha and take him back to his group so they could check him over. No one was in his room, however, so we went off to play again, more quietly this time. Denis warmed up more quickly, making more eye contact and finally smiling, faintly, with out the aid of Nick. He took a walk with John, holding his finger. Nick showed just a little jealousy for John’s attention being directed more to Denis, but just made sure he had mine fully. Denis proves to be a good cuddler with both of us. It was harder for us this time to say “Paka” (good-bye) because we won’t see them again until Monday.

Back at the apartment we heard that Sasha’s extension couch would not be delivered until Saturday, and I guess only then because Andre’ will pick it up and deliver it in his van. John cooked up a tasty dish of spaghetti, tomato sauce and chicken. I introduced Sasha to red tea (really a tisane). We had a very pleasant dinner. Then Sasha helped John set up the Internet connection with the new card while I cleaned up. We persuaded Sasha to move the television from our room to his, since we wouldn’t be all that interested even if it was in English. Now, at 9:40 PM John is asleep next to me and I will have to wake him to get this posted, but I know he won’t mind, because we both realize some of you might be eager for more details.

Good night!