Later

(This morning we just had time to snap a couple photos of the soldier statue across the intersection from our apartment building before Sergei picked us up.)

Our stop at the notary actually took more than an hour, so the passport application will be one less thing to take up time tomorrow. We will still need certified copies of the new birth certificate and adoption certificate, but those shouldn’t take as long. We ate lunch at a place near the Naukova Metro stop we noticed yesterday call The Grand Café. It was a nice place, quiet atmosphere. John ordered mushroom soup with baked bread and fresh vegetables: cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots and parsley. Sergei and I each ordered borsch and a Cesar salad. We all had black tea. Turns out John’s ‘fresh vegetables’ were served as a pureed drink. The baked bread was croutons. Tasty, just not as expected. The soups and salads were good - although a ‘Cesar’ salad must actually be intended to be different than our ‘Caesar’ salad.

Next stop train station. We decided to book a compartment for the overnight train tomorrow, leaving at 10:55 PM. No second-class compartments were available (we like them because we can put luggage on the upper bunks, and they cost less) but we were happy to take a first class compartment, and we’ll just have to work out the luggage. Good thing we don’t have the four huge suitcases plus carry-on luggage we had last round.

We stopped at the apartment for the ‘evening’ toy bag and then Sergei took us to the orphanage. They provided us with the letter we need petitioning the passport office to issue Daniel a passport. They also gave us the letter regarding medical coverage. We were able to confirm that the doctors will be giving us Daniel’s complete schedule, and we got a quick overview today (up at 7, breakfast at 8, second breakfast at 10, lunch at noon, nap from 12:30 until 3:30 or f4:00, then snack, supper at 7 PM; they put the kids on the toilet 10 - 15 minutes before and after every meal). They said they don’t do anything special to his food: he can eat anything. They also made sure we knew he needs a potty chair with handles and a back support - and not one that makes music when he sits down. I loved that one! They also suggested that when he pulls at his face it is because his head hurts - oh, yeah, just like my head hurts when I don’t get exactly what I want right when I want it. J

We went in search of the psychologist next. The director’s secretary was with her, and she went back to her office to Xerox the cover of the CD she uses that Daniel likes so we can find it on the Internet. She also gave us rather extensive lists of classical music. His favorites, she said, are Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” and “Fur Elise” and Tchaikovsky’s “Waltz of the Flowers”.

Then it was time to see Daniel. He came out with his legs loose, jacket hood up, hair damp and smelling very sweetly of clean little boy. No other families were visiting yet and we got the landing for our last visit (we hope). The usual: looking out the window with many cheerful comments; bumping into things while riding on Daddy’s back; fishing; removing pieces from the puzzle; eating 1 ½ crackers and a half banana. He was content to sit on my crossed legs - really does form a pretty good seat for him - and use the puzzle board as a table for looking at the Russian word book.

He was in a generally good and very cooperative mood and agreed to try just about any word we asked of him. He said “Mama, help” for the first time. (“help” was more like ‘elp’) he said bump, armp’ (armpit), bum (bellybutton), Dad, pole (fishing pole), ‘nana, cracker, down, water, “peet” (Russian for ‘drink), and signed fish (although he held his outstretched hand still). He moved his legs for walking and stood and sat multiple times. Our knitting lesson was briefer today but I introduced him to the circular knitting needles this time.

Six thirty came pretty quickly, and when we asked if he wanted to go to group he was very helpful putting everything back in the carryall. He was even patient lying on the couch while we folded up the blankets. On our way out we saw the couple adopting little Nastia. We told them we are going to Kyiv tomorrow. They indicated they will be leaving in five days.

I took a picture of the last walk down the hall returning to group. Back at his room we gave the wooden train and the rubber blocks to the caregivers as a gift. One of the nurses who gave us a completed note card over the weekend was able to tell us she won’t be here tomorrow during the day and said good-bye (’das va dah nya‘). I’m certain she was also wishing us well and said something about Daniel growing big. She had previously asked for photographs and showed us her address in the note card. I will do my very best to honor that request.

At the Billa we found wipes for the trip home, Cokes (and candy bars) for tomorrow’s paper chase, a loaf of bread to feed Daniel breakfast or snack.

John cooked up the last of the ham, sliced up the last of the cheese and we have been finishing up the last bag of chips, the last two pieces of Woman’s Day chocolates, the last chocolate croissants, the last chocolate wafer cookies. Big sacrifices, don’t you think? I think we are done packing. I picked out Daniel’s “Gotcha Day” outfit - couldn’t resist the jacket and pants that say “Oshkosh” even though he will swim in the 3T jacket. We have set aside our gifts for Sergei’s family, calculated our remaining finances, and I’m about to drink a double-bag cup of “Sleepytime Extra” tea, hoping for less trouble falling and remaining asleep tonight, since Sergei recommended we get good rest. He will pick us up at 7:15 so we can get an early start back to Daniel’s home town and be first in line at the Vital Records office after the long holiday weekend.

I have no idea when or if we will have time to post tomorrow. I’ll have the computer with me and should be able to write things down as we go.