The Tenth Day

I didn’t sleep so well last night. I have a spot on my right upper back that gives me some problems. I was seeing a chiropractor before we left. She gave me some exercises to do. Just like all those adult patients I don’t want to take care of because they don’t do what they know they need to do, I haven’t been doing my exercises regularly! Well, from now I will. The pain wasn’t intense, but once I was awake for other reasons, it seemed to keep me awake.

Back at the French bakery this morning, John had the chocolate-filled pastry and I tried one with a slice of pineapple.

We picked up Dennis first. The caretaker told us to wait, went to the doctor’s office and then came back to give Dennis to us. No problems, I guess. We went to Nick's room. They said “patuum” (later), so we took Dennis outside, where we saw a group of unfamiliar women. It might be that they were visiting guests and Nick’s group would be giving their program (or be on display). We stopped and chatted with Susan and Losha, then went to the back corner play area. We had a very nice visit with Dennis, spending at least 40 minutes with just the bubbles. He also likes to test limits – beginning to climb up on the rickety wooden platform again and again. He usually steps back down when told to, but the biggest problem is that he loves it when we come and lift him away!
We checked several more times for Nick, but never saw him this morning. We did see and say hello to the Italian couple and their child. Yesterday we saw a new couple indoors. They answered our “hello” in English. They are actually Swedish but came here from Spain. We saw the man again today outside with the interpreter, but he was too busy chasing a ball with the little boy.

On the way home we stopped at the Billa for supplies. Last night Susan shared with us Losha’s daily schedule which included the types of food his group receives at each meal break. They get lots of kasha (cooked cereal of variable grains) and potatoes, one meal of soup and meat. Nick’s diet is likely the same, and perhaps Dennis’, too. That is something we hope to find out when Sasha is back with us on Monday. We bought yogurt, instant (we think) hot cereal and cheese, and a new, bigger ball. We stopped for our usual hotdogs, since they are never available on the weekends, but other customers beat us to them all! John chose a slice of pizza and two rolls with potatoes inside instead. They were good.

This afternoon Nick’s group was coming outside when we arrived. We told him “hello”, and “soon”, and picked up Dennis before going back for Nick. He had a very big smile and was eager to go with us. We actually ended up in the same area as this morning. It has two benches and a sandbox (and the rickety wooden platform).
Nick played in the sandbox almost the whole time, content to have one or all of us join him in piling up the dirt into a “bolshoya” (big) mountain (John’s idea). Dennis went along with the program most of the time, although he still liked to wander out of the designated play area so we would retrieve him. When he kept putting non-edibles in his mouth John and I took turns taking him for walks. That is, until John injured his mid-back picking him up while reaching. He didn’t dropped Dennis, but he sure is in pain now and being very careful with every move.

We went to Bella Pizza for “date night”. We both had a variation of spaghetti. We were given spaghetti-specific utensils: a narrow, three-tined fork to twirl the pasta and a spoon with a large round bowl to spin it against. John also had the ante pasta (maybe post pasta, since the entrée was served first) and I had a “chief” salad (a common option on menus here).

We are able to visit the boys this weekend and could tell them we will see them tomorrow afternoon. Hurray! We are definitely hoping and praying John’s back is much better by Tuesday when we will have to at least hold onto if not carry both of the boys. At least we should have a lot less luggage by then (orphanage gifts). We talked to Sasha a couple of times. He will be here Sunday night, pick up the decree from the judge Monday morning, and help us arrange a going-away party for the afternoon (we think) before a very busy paper-chase day on Tuesday. As of this morning no one had appealed. He doesn’t know how we would be notified if someone did today since that has never happened to one of his adoptive couples before.

Oh – a “mom moment” from yesterday: ‘Hmmm, Dennis you just finished a chocolate flavored cookie, but your hands are clean. I wonder what part of my clothing isn’t now!”