Kyiv - Doctor and Embassy

I can hardly believe that was all just yesterday. I also can’t believe how much sleep/rest we all got last night. Daniel fell asleep lying on my chest. Dennis and Nick were never able to do that. After two hours I woke and needed to change position so I put him on the narrow bed next to me and he really never woke up all night. I would shift, or he would shift several times each through the night so I had many times of sleep arousal/awareness, but got some good rest. I was very glad for the way Sergei and John and lodged the two big suitcases under the table up by our heads. They provided a very sturdy support for my back or side in the small space. I never had to worry about either of us falling on the floor.

John and I were awake around 6 (I think) {John told me later he was already awake by 5) and Daniel shortly thereafter. Was able to use the bathroom just after it was cleaned. A clean train bathroom in the morning: definitely the best perk of first class! John purchased a bottle of water and arranged for our morning tea. Daniel ate a whole banana and some water. John made peanut butter bread for us (and we ate the complimentary chocolate wafer candy bars). Oleksandr called to say he was running a little late, so we let all the other passengers disembark first and John moved our stuff off in stages. I was in charge of Daniel. A kind gentleman helped us get one of the heavy suitcases up the longer two flights of stairs and Oleksandr met us there. We only had to fend off one persistent taxi driver in those few minutes.

The car was well-loaded with the addition of the stroller and boy. Off to the hotel first. Oleksandr had arranged for a room with a bathtub and away from the smoke. Wow - did he make arrangements! The “room” has two entirely separate bedrooms, a complete kitchen and a huge bathroom with a 5’-5’ Jacuzzi bathtub. Not only that, he had bargained the usual price down by more than a third! You could never, ever get this beautiful and extensive a place for the price at home. Did I mention it is on the first floor, too - no stairs at all?

We only dropped off one load of luggage and headed for the medical exam.
Thirty minutes later we had the necessary documents and were headed for the Embassy. By 9:30 we were done there, too, and had an appointment for tomorrow for 2 PM. We will be going home all together on Saturday!!! As of 1:30 PM yesterday, we really didn’t see that happening. So there was God giving us a small ‘no’ in return for a much bigger ‘yes’, but having us ask Him for it all the way the past couple of days, not because He wasn’t already standing with open arms to give it, but so we would know from whom the gift came.

We unloaded the rest of the luggage and had ‘second breakfast’ according to Daniel’s schedule at the cafeteria on the corner. Daniel didn’t eat much. We had a boiled egg (hard habit to break, I guess), and shared the cottage cheese ‘pancakes’ (someday I will remember the name) and poppy seed-filled blini. Yum!

When we got back to our rooms, we were so tired we decided to move the nap time up an hour or so. I put the sleeping braces on Daniel and didn’t yield this time. It still didn’t take long with head-stroking and hummed ‘Fur Elise’ for Daniel to conk out again. We all slept more than two hours. Then it was time for the first ‘swim’. Unfortunately it took a very long time to fill - more than an hour - so John and Daniel were just finally getting into the tub when I called Nick and Dennis. We had a short but good conversation and accepted Christine’s offer to pick up some diapers for us. We also asked her to look for lightweight potty chair (for travel) per the orphanage doctor’s specifications. Did I remind Christine no music on sitting?

I made Daniel wear the leg braces when I dressed him. He was not happy, but eventually could be distracted. Back to the cafeteria for afternoon borsch. Daniel ate a little soup, handling the huge spoon better without my help than with. He devoured the bread, so John went to get more. We had the stroller and went down to the underground mall for some relaxed browsing. We were able to find a CD with the Beethoven pieces. Really glad I learned the Cyrillic alphabet! John bought Daniel another Ukrainian board book - with which he became utterly bored as soon as it was actually purchased. At the children’s store where we had purchased his ball we decided to make use of their play are. We learned it costs about $3 for 30 minutes. They would actually supervise him for us, but we were just looking for a nice place (not the apartment floor/hallway) for him to move around and have some fun. John stayed with him while I found a different kind of sipper cup (under constant and close supervision by a clerk) and another pair of leggings to go under the braces (a different clerk, but just as close and attentive, and good enough English to be very helpful deciphering their sizing numbers). I hit John up for the cash and then joined them for the last 15 minutes. It was well worth the $3 just for the very small children’s slide we let him free-slide down again and again and again.

We wandered around some more, then went over to the underground grocery store for water, kasha (oatmeal) and yogurt. I waited outside the doors with Daniel and the stroller. John came out with kasha, yogurt, cheese and kefir. Had to go back in for the water. We had considered delaying dinner until 8 for a better chance at sleep and moving toward the home time zone, but Daniel was looking pretty tired. We opted for food in the apartment instead of the Chocolate Café, and while I Skyped with Katya back in Kharkov John rewarmed the “swimming pool”. John and I both stayed on the outside this time and he again loved it. The towels weren’t as warm, and my massage not as good as back at the orphanage, but I would consider our ‘water therapy’ venture a success again.

Pajamas, night braces, and he and John went to bed. He was distressed for a while. Wasn’t sure if it was because I wasn’t next to him, because he wasn’t as tired as we thought, because he was homesick. John moved his legs around and he quieted, so maybe it was the braces. I finally removed my contact lenses, flossed and brushed and decided to got to bed, too. Nice idea, but once Daniel was sound asleep - nearly there before I came - I found out I wasn’t so sleepy. John pulled up the Internet and Skype on my computer so I could make a doctor’s appointment for Monday morning (see y’all at 8:15!), and started working on this. Anya called to check in with us, too. So good to be in touch with her so much this visit. She even promised one more call tomorrow evening.

Okay, I think I will sleep now, and I definitely want to be under warm blankets. This will not be proof-read ( I read it aloud to John, usually, before posting) so be forgiving of mistakes, please. Hope to post pictures, too.

LHM devotion of the day: "Unsurprised"
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27