Shopping Expedition

To answer the question: Daniel was born 01/27/2007, so he turned three just before we met him.

Up in time to exercise again. Warm shower. Same-o, same-o for breakfast. Nice walk to orphanage, but less open water and a nice thin glaze of ice nearly everywhere.

Daniel picked the first of the three couches down in the corridor. We always ask him “here or there?“ as we move down the hallway and he usually points farther down. When he was naughty it was just the usual stuff, no major showdowns today. He pulled my comb out again and made himself and Daddy handsome. He really liked it, though, when he would hand it to me and I would comb his hair and tell him he was very handsome (in Russian). He has one special smile for the things he really enjoys and wants, and a sweet, soft almost whispered “da” (yes) with that smile when we offer him something he really wants. Will probably never catch that on video, but I hope you all get to see and hear it some day. He did quite a bit of fishing - even standing alone against the couch. He used the much-shortened fishing line, but that was far too easy I guess because he ‘caught’ all the fish again with a somewhat longer length. He ate a little bit of banana, for the first time willing to put out one index finger as part of the sign for it, and then “peeling” Daddy’s finger for the rest. He sure does know how to sign ‘please’ and thinks that should be quite enough. It has decreased his use of “dai, dai, dai” (give, give, give) significantly though.

When we went up at 11:30 Sergei was already there waiting to talk to the director. It seems that it might be necessary for me to be present on the day Daniel leaves the orphanage to sign papers. It may not be enough to give power of attorney to John (which we are in the process of doing now). She has been checking into it, was planning to call the Inspector and will let us know tomorrow. This would entail a change in plans - either having me stay just until the 11th day when the decree goes into effect and we take Daniel out right away, but then John would need to take care of him for a week or two in Kharkiv waiting for a passport before spending another few days in Kyiv; or I could stay the entire time; or I could fly home and come back - but the return date would be unknown until the passport comes through. Sergei’s previous adoptive family had to wait a month (previous to that 5 days). It is good to know God holds the whole situation in his hands and none of this is a surprise or unplanned.

As we planned Sergei took us shopping. He took us to Ukraine’s largest market which is located on the outskirts of Kharkiv. It is really beyond description, but with John’s help I’ll give it a try. Something like a flea market but a hundred times bigger than we’ve ever seen, and a daily event akin to a Packer game, with nearby residents renting parking spots. It isn’t entirely outdoors or indoors, although much of the indoor booths are only “indoors” because of a huge corrugated roof or joined tarps high above. Some enclosed stores can be found under the roof as well. Rough asphalt pavement winds throughout the structures (pretty muddy and wet today). Cardboard boxes were laid down for added traction in some areas, some of these looked like mud, too. We drove among the cars, carts and pedestrians who wove their way between row upon row of booths/stores with seller after seller after seller with all imaginable items. How Sergei ever found the section of children’s items I’ll never know, but he found that and a parking place for $1, too. Inside he said even he gets turned around and lost sometimes, but not his wife! Some enterprising vendors have carts with instant coffee or tea and hot water with the option of sweetened condensed milk. It was $1 for three, 4-ounce (thin) plastic disposable cups of coffee. It was chilly enough to have cold fingers. I was very glad when Sergei made the coffee suggestion and we found an amenable vendor.

As for the actual shopping, we found some shoe/boots (we checked on size with the caregivers this morning), three pairs of warm socks, a lined wind-breaker outfit (will feel soft like the clothes he has been wearing since we came), and two extra t-shirts. We also bought two smaller rubber balls with gripper studs, a sturdy plastic drinking cup with handles (Daniel crushes the disposable cups we have, just like Dennis did back when), a motor cycle and a stroller. We looked over strollers in a few booths and settled on one that says “Zibos Italian Design“. They had a red one on display but also showed us the blue one in a catalog and said they had it available, too. We chose blue. First they looked in their stock high above, then had to go out to a remote container. They didn’t seem to mind this at all and when we confirmed it was the color we wanted and that we wanted it still in the box they wrapped packing tape around the center of the box three times loosely to provide a handle. The motorcycle? Well, the youngest always gets spoiled and earns privileges earlier than all the other kids, right? We have been looking for some kind of riding toy that would be narrow enough in the center for Daniel to straddle, have good handles to hold himself up and be something he could propel himself. We found a very reasonably priced ‘motorcycle’ with footrests we thought could be removed.

We stopped to pick up cell phone minutes and promptly used them up over lunch. The place Sergei was planning to go has closed, so we had pizza at another place he has enjoyed. These “personal” pizzas are 10x10” square and the slightly sweet crust close to an inch deep. John went with the pineapple and chicken, I had the chicken and mushrooms, Sergei ham. I asked Sergei to finish my last quarter. I was stuffed. We talked to the boys. Dennis picked up first and strongly resisted giving Nick a turn. He said he was going to pull John right through the phone to him. He also said he didn’t want to say good-bye. We told him a bunch of times that we miss him and love him, and to give the phone to Nick. “Why?” Finally I said we would just have to hang up if we weren’t going to be able to talk to Nick anyway. Suddenly Nick was on the phone. Nick was already working on his math for the day. He said they had orange juice for Dennis’ orange day today, and that was about it. Christine came on for a bit, said Nick had has three good days in a row, and that Dennis is really doing fine (as far as missing us) the rest of the day. Then the minutes ran out. We bought more but needed to get back to the apartment and the orphanage for our afternoon visit.

Sergei came in with us, carrying the motorcycle. He explained to the caregiver who answered our knock at Daniel’s door that we would be using it with Daniel and planned to leave it with the orphanage when we returned to the States. He also arranged for us to be able to leave it there now so as not to haul it back and forth to the apartment. She said Daniel was still eating - they were letting him feed himself - so we had time to apply the decorative stickers to the motorcycle and determine we did not have the tools to remove the foot rests, and that likely once removed they could not be replaced.


John carried Daniel, who seemed very interested when I showed him the new toy I carried (along with the bags of old ones). When we started to go up to our usual evening the landing a caregiver indicated it was already in use. Turns out the long corridor was better for the first run of the motorcycle anyway. Daniel is able to separate his legs if his knees are bent even in the braces. Sometimes I carry him on my hip with one leg in back, one in front. He fit the motorcycle well and it seemed to suit him too. Since he didn’t have the option of self-propulsion (footrests in the way), we put the long handle on the back and gave him rides for a great deal of the visit. We all enjoyed that. He may never agree to push himself now. Sometimes he stood and just used the handle to move the motorcycle back and forth, or tilt it up and down. Many caregivers stopped to comment on his new toy. Not sure, but they may have been asking for dates, now that he has his own wheels and all!

We stopped at the Billa on the way home. Included on today’s agenda: cleaning the apartment. After all, we have company coming! The shopping list: chocolate, yogurt, eggs (which they sell mostly in cartons of ten, but alternatively six or fifteen), hot dogs, chocolate (yes, more), two ice cream bars, cleaning cloths, Mister Muscle general bathroom cleaner, ‘Santri-gel’ (approximate transliteration) toilet bowl cleaner (we are dependent on label pictures) and little Kharkiv, Kharky for short - a cute little brown stuffed puppy John decided I needed. I agree. :}

After a quick dinner of hot dogs (never buns, by the way) with the yellow horseradish mustard and an orange we cleaned. John swept the entire apartment. I removed my outer layer of clothing and cleaned the bathroom. We have cleaned, and kept clean the kitchen as we go. When we were done we rewarded ourselves with the ice cream bars. Done! We also looked through our bedding and towel supplies and we are ready for Anya’s visit. Just waiting to see if the washing machine will agree to finish washing the bathroom mats.

Tomorrow is court day. Please pray that all of our documents are in order, that the judge will combine the preliminary and real hearings into one, that she rules favorably and that the orphanage director finds a way to let me go home (and stay home) early, as planned. Only and always as God wills of course.