Sunday, Happy Birthday Jackie!

Regarding our video call with Daniel yesterday Christine wrote: “How cool to see Daniel. Dennis was crying when we disconnected. Nick asked him if it was because he missed Daniel and he said, "Yes." I asked him later why he was crying to make sure it was not just the power of Nick's suggestion and he answered the same. From something he said, I got the impression that he did not fully understand that Daniel was coming home to stay with all of you. We talked about the whole process and tried to compare it to their story. We'll see... Nick, on the other hand, does seem to get the whole thing. “

I had an alarm set but was wide awake by 7:30 and got back to work on the journal before taking the first turn in the shower just after 8 AM. Didn’t need to leave much time for breakfast since everyone was still pretty full from the night before (again).

We left the apartment around 9:15 taking the Metro (with one line change) to the Historical Museum stop. We walked into the Digital Photo place we used on our previous trip at 9:50 but we were informed that it wouldn’t open until 10:00. That gave us a bit more time to greet people up in the Musical Institute(?) before the church service began. I was so excited and happy to see Katya and her dad (Denys) as soon as we entered the hall where they meet. We walked right up to Denys and said “Hello, welcome back!“. He hesitated and said, “Oh, you are Americans.” and proceeded to introduce himself. We explained we had been here three years earlier to adopt and we could see recognition dawn. Poor guy - jet-lagged, back in his home church less than 36 hours after returning from a year and a half in the United States and he is accosted by strangers he saw for a few Sundays three years ago. He handled it very well. We excused ourselves so he could continue his other reunions. Katya, on the other hand, recognized us immediately and with two adoring young fans glued to her waist came over to greet us. Her English was very good three years ago, it is flawless with no detectable accent now. She was feeling pretty energetic at the moment but did admit she was awake and trying to fall asleep at 3 AM.

We settled into our “usual” spots over on the right near the back. Alec came over with a friend Alex (who had just returned from six weeks in Nigeria) that he had asked to interpret for us. Once he realized Anya was with us (and recalled who she was from mutual mission trips), he explained to Alex and he sat elsewhere, looking forward to just enjoying the service in his home congregation. Katya’s mother Tanya was already back at the piano.

Anya was able to help us find the hymns more quickly, and we followed along or just listened. Songs today included “Breathe on Me Breath of God“, “Holy, Holy, Holy”(everyone stood), “His Name is Wonderful“, “Brightly Beams our Father’s Mercy”, “Power in the Blood”. Pastor Gnadi read 1 John 1:7 and talked about how much Jesus’ blood can do. He talked about the need for each individual’s salvation, but how much that also attracts to Jesus and therefore assists your family, neighbors and the whole church (so if you only ever do things for others, not for yourself, get saved to help those around you).

The children’s message focused on the Passover meal Jesus shared with his disciples on the Thursday before Easter (Maundy Thursday). Again the message was quite extensive in our experience of children’s sermons. She encouraged them to read John chapters 13 - 15.

Pastor Gnadi’s main message started with the prophet Isaiah and his dumb-founded response to his heavenly experience. He pointed out that as [Christian] believers we have God’s Spirit and the Spirit has communion with God - in spite of us. Also when God showed himself people become different: they changed so they could accomplish something for God. [Abraham, Moses, Joshua and Isaiah come immediately to mind.]
He also talked about people’s reaction to Jesus, God in human form. People didn’t tremble. We read Mark 7:31-37. He pointed out how at that time Jesus kept telling people not to talk (after the miracles), but they didn’t listen. When he left the earth he told us all to tell everyone about him, but we don’t listen either. Why shouldn’t we tell? Did he do anything at all to be ashamed of? The church has done things throughout history to be ashamed of, but never Jesus. Don’t be ashamed, and don’t be afraid that he will not give people the miracle they need: the miracle of a changed life.

We sang “Blessed Assurance”. (Do I sound like a confirmation student trying to prove I was in church and paying attentions)

Three members of the congregation have just returned from long visits out of the country and each shared their spiritual experiences/growth while away. Alex (Nigeria for 6 weeks) found a comfortable church on this third Sunday with the help of Brother Ben. He had considered that he would be among barbarians when he went to Africa, but found very many Christians there and that it was with his Ukrainian colleagues that he needed to share his living testimony. He learned the importance of having close relationships within a home congregation to withstand temptations in daily life. Liyna just returned from Germany where she was visiting family. On Sundays she worshipped with other international visitors, often with no common language. She has been struggling with joy in life since the death of her husband, but it has returned. Denis shared their search for a church where they sensed community. He said America wasn’t a barbaric land, but it did have lots of barbarians. J He shared his conviction of the vital importance of being continually immersed in the Word of God. It may be hard to start this practice at first, but it brings such joy.

We had only two birthdays to acknowledge this week. One was for Sveta. She and her husband Victor are very good friends of Alec and Nadya and we all had shared a Sunday dinner last visit. They now have a beautiful little girl named Anya. She looks about 2 ½ years old.

Immediately after the service Tanya (Katya’s mother) came over to us and looked just as excited and happy as I felt. I so enjoyed talking to her, finding out about their time in America, how they are adjusting to being home, about her parents. We had brought a shawl/scarf as a gift for her and she said she just loved shawls and had to be prevented from buying them sometimes (indeed, she was wearing one that morning). After a time she went to get Katya (still with adoring little fellows attached to her waist). We also had a very good time of getting reacquainted. She was at a school (public) which she enjoyed very much with kind teachers, good friends and everyone was so nice. Her mother liked it, too. She has not had such a pleasant experience with school here in Kharkov and is not looking forward to returning to classes tomorrow. She will also have to pass examinations for which she may not be prepared since physics and chemistry are not covered very thoroughly in 7th grade in the States. They did try to keep up with her Ukrainian studies while they were away, though. We also had a small gift for her and exchanged e-mail addresses. Eventually Alec came and urged us all to go down to the café in the basement (which is new since they left) and where more visiting is encouraged.

I just can’t tell you how thrilled I was to have such a chance to connect with them again. Sometimes you look forward to seeing someone and it simply doesn’t happen. Sometimes you have very high expectations for the reunion - and it falls flat because the other party isn’t really interested. Today even exceeded my hopes. Thanks, God!

We did move down to the basement, had a cup of black tea and a cookie and chatted a bit more. I was also able to re-connect with Sveta and Victor (and meet little Anya). They weren’t in church last week. John had a longer conversation with Pastor Gnadi. We also spoke a bit with Alec and Nadya. Their business is selling/delivering bouquets of candy, so we brought them a bit of candy made in Oshkosh. We forgot to give it to them last week. They had plans celebrating birthdays for the rest of the day. Since I might not be here next Sunday I took leave of them, Pastor Gnadi and Katya’s family.

We went back to the digital photo store and ordered prints of photos we have taken this trip. Immediately around the corner is the small cafeteria called “Lido” where we ate several times with Alec and Nadya. We had lunch there with Anya. Lighter fare today, We had soup, tomato and cucumber salad and a meat. Anya had mashed potatoes and fish. The photos weren’t ready yet (had been only 30 minutes). We stopped to buy pastries in the Metro tunnels and headed back to the apartment to enjoy them with a cup of tea or coffee. Might have enjoyed them a bit too leisurely, and I should definitely listen to John when he calculates travel time, because we found ourselves running from Metro train to Metro train and finally missed Anya’s 3:22 train back to Kharkov by about two minutes. She was very calm about the whole matter - not upset in the least (and kept reassuring me so I could stop being stressed out about it). She got Metro directions to the bus station. We accompanied her that far but stayed within the tunnels when we said good-bye. She let us know by text that she was able to catch a bus to Dnipropetrovs’k leaving five minutes later. That was another thrilling reunion which exceeded high expectations. It felt much too short, even with the extra half-hour.

We hustled back to the apartment to pick up toys and called the Engebrechts while walking to the orphanage. Being a very busy Sunday morning back home we just arranged with Brian for a time to call later. Christine had written in an e-mail:
“Tomorrow I play organ, Katie acolytes, Ben ushers and Brian is on call. A lot of potential for craziness, don't you think? We'll let you know how it all turns out.”

We didn’t get to Daniel’s room until 4:30. He looked just a little pale, except where it was red until his nose, and seemed tired. He wasn’t too interested in the motorcycle. He did play with the fishing puzzle, he didn’t finish the cookie he asked for (but he did a great job saying and signing ‘cracker’ again). John didn't mind the extra cuddle time at all. Since he was tired and we still needed to do some shopping for the party tomorrow we left shortly after 6.

We dropped our things off at the apartment and headed back into the Metro system. The photo place was still open so we were able to pick up our pictures. Most of the underground kiosks were closed so we hoped to find envelops for the thank-you notes and family photo for the caregivers back at the Billa. We searched: no luck. We did pick up bananas, oranges, juice, plastic plates, giraffe napkins and duck crackers (they didn’t say we couldn’t bring crackers: the advantage of not asking). We called Sergei and let him know we would need to also pick up envelops in the morning.

We called Nick and Dennis at 1 PM (9 here) as arranged. They were in the van (under supervision) while Brian and Christine shopped. We asked them to put Nick on first. We talked about church and Sunday School. Dennis had his turn - answered exactly the same as Nick regarding church and Sunday School, but also told us they ate lunch at “Anera”. Dennis was annoyed when Nick corrected it to “Panera” in the background. Then he started telling us he loves us “bunches and bunches and bunches and bunches , , ,”. It lasted the whole way home, a good 5 - 10 minutes. Since Nick had had a turn and we were on Skype (free) we didn’t mind at all listening to him. We learned from Christine that church had gone well (after she dealt with a number of issues Nick had while she was gone last night).

Having no envelops did cut down on how much we needed/could do for preparations for tomorrow. I pulled out all the gifts we brought to give to the orphanage and workers, loaded up the bags and worked on this journal. John grilled ham and cheese for us. It still ended up being a later night than I had hoped, but not as bad as it could have been. Tomorrow we also learn whether I will be able to leave on Friday as planned.

Monday Morning.

Our visit with Anya was great. We missed her train so she ended up taking a bus home.

We are awake this morning. Planning to get things ready for the party at the orphanage this morning at 10 AM. We have a couple errands to run this morning before hand, and they always take longer than expected. Sergey is planning to meet us a 8:50.

We will probably hear today from the director on her decision to let one parent sign the final paperwork when we are able to take Daniel out of the orphanage, which will determine if Jean is able to return to the states this week. Still waiting on the tax id numbers. Need these so Jean can sign a power of attorney to allow me to sign documents when she returns. Have to make sure passport office is good with this also.

Anyway God is in control of all the details. We praying that His Will will be done.

Jean will write up detail account of yesterday, look later for that.

Anya Comes to Visit

I thought I would have trouble getting up this morning after the big meal and late night but by 6:45 my body was done sleeping. After checking for e-mails I did my 20-minute workout. We were not at all hungry for breakfast.

Daniel took us to the second couch today and as soon as we sat him down to remove our coats and unload toys he was signing “more”. Not entirely sure what he had in mind, but when we asked if he wanted a cookie he answered in the affirmative in Russian.. He enjoyed a cookie and thereafter was very good at signing ‘cracker’, although ‘please’ is still by far his favorite sign and often gets him what he wants without being more specific. Can’t resist it.

Daniel rode on his motorcycle a bit, but was just as interested in standing where he could reach the handle, use it to tilt the front of the bike in the air, and then it drop with a resounding and satisfying bang. Since no one else was around to be disturbed at the time we didn’t stop him.

Our morning visit was interrupted when the doctor (who smiles and speaks better English than she gives herself credit for) and a caregiver came down to our corridor. She had a cell phone to her ear and asked for our translator (we think). John called Sergei, who talked to the doctor and then to us. Daniel needed to go see a doctor and they wondered if we would wait. Yes.

We had my computer (a mini) and the wireless Internet device with us so John surfed the net while I tried to work out the wool socks I am knitting to fit over Daniel’s braces with re-enforcements where the metal from the two feet rub and have been putting holes in the tube socks they put on him. Made some pretty good progress before they brought him back and we finished our visit.

Back up at Daniel’s room the very friendly older gentleman that works at the orphanage was getting ready to go home. He went inside to tell them we were back and cheerfully consented to having a photograph taken with Daniel. He is always friendly with Daniel when he passes down in the corridor, knows him by name as do all the staff it seems, and even stopped to share his apple-filled pastry with him the previous morning. I’m glad to have a picture for Daniel to keep. He also offered to give us a ride home (not that we could have told him where we live), but it is such a short distance and we needed to stop at the Billa, so we declined. He stopped his car and offered again when he passed us walking a few minutes later outside.


On our previous adoption we met five other families also adopting, but only one spoke Russian/Ukrainian. This time we have seen at least five other families and all of them speak Russian/Ukrainian. We are very glad to see this as it appears that culturally adoption is becoming more acceptable. More children will become part of families and at a younger age than those who wait for international adoption. (Children in Ukraine must be on the registry of adoptable children for an entire year before they are available for international adoption). Today we saw a couple visit briefly with a younger pair of twin girls - just beginning to walk, and then another couple with one girl I haven’t seen before, as well as the couple we frequently share the corridor with who are adopting Nastia (short for Anastasia),

On our way home we stopped at the Billa (grocery store) for water, oranges, a bit more chocolate. I tried to get more written and upload pictures before we headed out to meet Anya at the train station. John had studied our maps for Kharkov and of the Metro to figure out where to go. We originally planned to surprise Anya but if we didn’t see each other she would be headed to our home while we sat at train station. John sent a text message to her en route and in her reply we found out we had even more extra time than planned. When we emerged from the Metro via the train station we headed over to the McDonald’s where we waited with Sasha to meet Andrei our driver nearly three years earlier. After using the restroom we set off with our hot cappuccinos to purchase flowers for Anya.

We went back down into the Metro tunnels where vendors of all sorts work inside their booths. John had seen one selling flowers on our way up. The proprietor was busy constructing an arrangement of pink roses, each head individually wrapped in cellophane, with Baby’s Breath and more greenery and tied at the stem so the flowers stood out at very attractive angles. She had some other lovely arrangements displayed on the shelves behind her inside the glass booth/display case. She didn’t try to get our business at all so we were free to look at the various flowers down in water buckets (much like any flower shop or grocery store display at home). I wanted a bright, cheerful yellow and she had some tulips with fringed edges that were in perfect condition (unlike the roses we had to settle for that were given to the Inspector and director back on the day we met Daniel). She had nine of them and I picked up the whole cellophane sleeve, which had the price-per-flower attached, and held them out to her. I said “fso” (all of it). She did not look very happy (seemed strange) and pointed to the price. We said “da” (yes) and nodded encouragingly. She finished tying up the bouquet she was working on and pointed to another sign with the price on it emphatically saying something - presumably that the price was per flower, not for the whole bunch. We agreed again. John was holding out a bill that would more than cover the cost. She took them from me, shaking them just a little and asked “skolka?” (how many. We said “dyievet” (nine). She seemed to think maybe we understood her so she opened up the cellophane and started pulling them out one by one, tearing off a wilted leaf here and there, hold them together in an attractive bunch. When she had picked up all but one she showed them to us and said “dyievet” , but we said, hesitatingly, “vociem” (eight). She counted them out loud for us and had to agree. She added the last flower, wrapped them in fresh cellophane, happily took our money and returned the change.

The train station is a beautiful structure outside as well as in and very well maintained. We had never had a chance to take in this fact. On arrival the previous week we were so tired I can’t even be sure we went inside (I don’t think so). When we came to buy tickets to Kyiv on the last trip it was Nick and Dennis’ Gotcha Day. That was a very busy day and our focus was on getting them out of the orphanage and finding a way back to Kyiv. That day no compartments were left and the director was getting antsy to go home (but had to wait for us). Today we still had another 15 minutes before the train was due in at 2:42 so this time I was able to take a few pictures and a video clip to show the high, arched ceilings with paintings in each quadrant and the huge chandelier. We tried to position ourselves where we thought we could see the platform for Anya’s train and the top of two stairways she might come up. In the end it was the cell phones that allowed us to meet out in the square in front of the station. It is so good to see her again! It has been nearly three years since she spent time with us and the boys in Kyiv before we flew home.

We set out in search of food (soup was her request). We were so busy catching up that we missed the Metro station for “our” cafeteria which always serves good soup. We went all the way back to 23 Cerpnia and ended up at the Kumar Café which is at the end of our building. It turns out this is the café Anya ate at every chance when she used to come to Kharkov frequently for business (a previous job). She was delighted. She had salad and we all had soup. While she and I finished up John ran her things up to the apartment and grabbed our toys and blankets for Daniel (it was already 4:00).

The walk to the orphanage was slippery. Yesterday it had been quite slushy, today not at all.

Up in front of Daniel’s room the doctor who had come to get him this morning started talking to Anya. I heard her mention Sergei and was afraid she was questioning/doubting her right to be in the orphanage. Not at all. She did ask if Anya was here in place of Sergei (yes, he was busy with paperwork) and was glad to have an interpreter because she just wanted a chance to explain about the (outside) doctor visit this morning. That also gave me a chance to ask her a few questions that our children’s pediatrician back home had raised, getting information that would be completely unavailable when we got home. She was very helpful and forth-coming. I also had a chance to tell her how much I appreciate the care she has given now to all three of our children, that I know it is her job but she does it with much care. With Anya’s help I was also able to persuade her to let us take a picture, although she deferred until after she had made rounds.

We found John and Daniel down in the green corridor having some good quality time.

We moved up to ‘our’ second floor landing once I made certain it was empty. The first thing we did, because now we were late for our daily phone call to Nick and Dennis, was put through a video Skype call to the Engebrechts. It was difficult to find enough light for good visibility at our end, but Nick, Dennis and Daniel were able to interact for the fist time, seeing each other move and hear each other. Of course Daniel really had no comprehension of what was happening, but he stayed still and in front of the camera as I fed him small bits of cookie.

We spread out the blankets and continued a very good visit. Anya got out her D90 digital Nikon and snapped a bunch of good pictures. True to her word, the doctor found us and allowed a photograph or two.

Anya went through the photo album we brought to introduce Daniel to his new family and home, explaining things more completely than our limited Russian (and his limited English!) allows. We also tried to tell him that soon I will be coming home to get ready for Dad and Daniel to come home and that they would be riding on an airplane. Perhaps we should just find a way to just take Anya back with us, too. Seemed like a short visit. Anya was able to tell the caregiver that we wouldn’t be back the next day (Sunday) until evening.

We dropped our extra things off at the apartment and headed out to find food. We walked around our immediate area but found nothing more than the café we used this afternoon, and a woman with a cardboard table full of smoked or dried fish out in front of the flower market. Anya called a friend with more experience in Kharkov to find a French pastry/restaurant that all of her colleagues had raved about but which she had not tried. We found the appropriate Metro spot and started walking in the right direction, but watched for the place on the wrong side of the road so had quite a lengthy walk beyond it before stopping in a shop for further directions. After another appetite-enhancing walk back we entered a charming restaurant called “Paris” and were directed down a couple of levels to an intimate (non-smoking) room with just a few tables. The tables themselves were interesting: glassed topped displays with a variety of items - Beanie bear, post cards of France, Eiffel Tower key chain, etc. All had price tags attached.

They had no menus in English, but I’m learning it is better to consult with the waiter anyway. We determined we wanted only an appetizer to share, a hot entrée and dessert. We shared a cheese with shrimp fondue, dipping bread that was amazingly delicious all by itself. The waitress asked our preference of meat, and then described the entrees accordingly. John had a chicken steak stuffed with a touch of blue cheese and a cylindrical mound of rice. Anya had fish with a yummy green sauce and a similar mound of rice. I had a chicken steak topped with grilled vegetables and melted cheese. We all tried each other’s foods and everything was great. We all had tea - John’s was black, Anya and I shared green tea with jasmine.

Then dessert. Unfortunately for John, at that point in the (late) evening they had no pastry with chocolate left. He ended up with a multilayered cake and a small cup of melted chocolate. He as not disappointed. We have been trying to duplicate some drinking chocolate we experienced in St. Petersburg, Russia for six years now. This was a little different, but closer than anything we’ve managed. Anya said she has been making it at home since she was eight years old and likes it best with sour cream and very good powdered cocoa. She said this restaurant even makes its own cocoa powder. My dessert was an amazing creation of chocolate mousse, chocolate ice cream and whipped cream. The meal itself had been much more reasonably portioned than the previous night, but the richness of this dessert more than made up for it.


We snapped a picture and headed back home via the Metro. We fixed up Anya’s bed on the couch (mostly she did) and we all promptly went to bed - it was nearly midnight again.

Actually, feeling an obligation to our loyal readership, and with words and events swirling around in my head anyway, I stayed awake journaling for the blog until 1:45. Unfortunately I had left the Internet device in the other (Anya’s) room so I wasn’t able to post right away.

Addendum, or the Rest of the Day, or More About Food

A woman came to look at the washing machine as promised. Via Sergei we learned she thinks it overheated and would come back in the evening (when we would likely be gone) with our permission. We didn’t think it was a problem of overheating - more like the filter was clogged - but that was fine. She also replaced our (very much mildewed) shower curtain while she was here. Quite an unexpected bonus and a nice complement to our newly cleaned bathroom.

Back at the orphanage they handed Daniel off without his braces. I just love the feel of his relaxed little body in my arms. Wonder if they put him in shoes instead of braces because the motorcycle wheels wore new holes in his socks last night . . . More likely he just doesn’t wear the braces on certain therapy days. In any case we all cheerfully set off for the green corridor, motorcycle in tow. Initially he was much less steady on the bike without the stiff braces so we watched him more carefully, especially when turning around, but by the end of the evening he was just fine. It was a good visit, the usual activities but all with a new sense of being family. Today he clearly said “nana” for ‘banana’. Since the Russian word is ‘banan’ it is another new word the staff will not recognize.

We were able to get a pretty good shot of the three of us with the timer on the camera. The doctor (who smiles) took a couple of shots, too, but declined to have her own picture taken, but finally promised she would another day.

We had time to regroup back at the apartment before Sergei and his lovely wife Vika picked us up for dinner. We had been planning this for about a week. We asked them to choose a restaurant and they narrowed it down to two possibilities: Vietnamese and Uzbek. Since we have no idea where we would get Uzbek food in the States (at least in Wisconsin) we chose Uzbek. Near the door in the central part of the restaurant was a structure like a typical desert dwelling of something like mud with straw. It had a curtain across the doorway and I wondered if it was some sort of VIP private dining area. Turned out to be the coatroom! They seated us within site of the live music (band with singer). They were a bit loud but we adjusted to the volume and it was no hindrance. We looked over the extensive menu. They placed English menus in front of John and I without needing to be asked. Sergei told us what he knew of the food - traditional Uzbek or not - but he had eaten here once about three years ago. I figure the staff have a pretty good idea of what they like and what the customers tend to favor, so I went with the waiter’s recommendations, including that on a half-portion of the first course because the second course was very large.

I couldn’t tell you the name of a single thing any of us ate except the dessert but it was all amazingly sumptuous. The seasonings in every single dish were complex (John couldn’t sort them out) and begged to be savored. John, Sergei and Vika started with an appetizer that turned out to be a fermented (soured) milk beverage that reminded us of very good akroshka (cold cucumber soup), but with pepper. Very different, strangely appealing. When later courses arrived it was the perfect complement.

I ended up with two first course items somehow. I remember asking for the salad with aubergines (eggplant), chicken, cucumbers and tomatoes. Somehow I also received ground, seasoned mutton inside a square, light pastry. This I cut into four parts and offered (urged) to share around the table, so we each did taste it and proclaimed it good. We each had a bowl of soup, fortunately mine was smaller. Vika’s resembled chicken noodle soup, the rest of us had a broth base with a whole boiled potato, a large chunk of a large carrot and a chunk of mutton ribs. Maybe Vika chose her soup because I found no ‘dainty’ way of eating the meat - used fingers, fork, knife and big soup spoon right in the bowl. Delicious, though. For the main course I received this very large plate holding three pieces of veal on the bone, roasted potatoes, grilled/sautéed mushrooms, red bell peppers and flower-cut onions. Each item was tantalizing, it took me a while to decide where to begin. It was clearly too much for me to eat so I urged everyone to try at least one thing, which they did. Then I just ate one of each food, and then another of each food, and another until I only just had a little room left for dessert.

Vika and Sergei had a rice pilaf dish that is very much traditional Uzbek food. It is prepared a certain way for one holiday, a different way for another holiday, and another way for non-holidays and everyone has their own special way of doing it (kind of like Ukrainian borsch). I already (Saturday night) can’t remember what else they ate. I do remember their plates having many slivers of fresh cucumber. John may describe his food another time.

We enjoyed getting to know each other, too, of course - that was the point of the evening. We learned that in Ukraine kindergarten is for the youngest children, then preschool, then (regular) school. Their son, 5 ½ years old, has begun and English class and when he starts school next fall Sergei and Vika chose the school that will begin English classes in the first grade rather than in the sixth. Another school focuses on mathematics, the third choice is just a general school and all three school are located side-by-side. We showed Vika pictures of Daniel on our cameral (since our photographs were in the hut with the coats). We all had plenty to eat. Sergei told us about an old cartoon that involved a dog inviting a wolf to a party and feeding the wolf so much food while it hid under the table (so as not to frighten the other guests) that his belly was sticking way out. All of us were feeling like the well-fed wolf, but we still wanted dessert so we shared one item which was an assortment of delectable baklava four ways.

It was a very leisurely meal lasting more than three hours, and by the time we left the clock in the car showed us it was 11:38.

Back at the apartment we found the heat was turned on again, the washing machine still held undrained water and we went to bed.. What a day.

Happy Birthday Caleb, and more about Court

First of all: Happy Birthday, Caleb! Today our youngest nephew becomes a double-digit boy and we hope he has a great day that exceeds his expectations. Interesting that on this date Brian and Christine became parents of their third child, a son, and today the court has ruled that we also shall be parents of a third child, another son.

For those who appreciate routine and consistency I’ll start at the beginning of the day: alarm set earlier so I could get in my exercise. We ate eggs and yogurt in the midst of other morning preparations. The washing machine never did drain last night.

I wore my “court day” blouse and skirt so have now used every item of clothing I packed for the trip. Sergei picked up the orphanage “Deputy Director of Medical Affairs” (who represented the interests of Daniel and the orphanage at court) at her home then stopped by for us. We were at the designated spot two minutes earlier than arranged (8:35 AM), but they were even earlier. It must have only taken ten minutes to reach the court because on arrival (8:45) the guard inside the door said we would not be permitted inside until 9:00. A few more people gathered to wait - many court workers were admitted into the building. Almost everyone from young to old wore blue jeans. John saw our judge from Nick and Dennis’ hearing go inside.

Promptly at 9:00 the rest of us were allowed to enter. Just inside the entryway was a metal detector. We all passed through and no one seemed take any notice of the various sounds it emitted. We had to show our passports and presumably Sergei explained the specifics of why we were there before we could pass through a security turnstile. At the judge’s door we were told to wait. Another case was called in ahead of us and then we were instructed which courtroom door to enter. The court secretary took some information from Sergei, the Inspector and the doctor before the judge and the two jurors entered. Having two jurors present at an adoption hearing is a new law since last round. Sergei had explained some of the things to expect, let us know some of the questions that might be asked and had given us a cheat sheet of what to say (exactly) when asked what we were asking of the court (although they had the written petition in hand). Everything was handled in a formal and professional manner. Our documents were carefully reviewed by the judge and jurors (one sat on each side of her). They reviewed our adoption of Nick and Dennis, seemed pleased with the (many) photographs we brought, asked if we understood all that was happening, what our rights are and that all court participants could have written or recorded copies of everything that happened today, if we each supported our petition, to explain ourselves (jobs, care arrangements for the boys), if we understand Daniel’s medical diagnoses and that they will require a lot of work, etc. One juror asked if we spoke Russian - how would we communicate with Daniel? John said (in Russian) that he understands a little Russian and speaks Russian badly, then demonstrated some of the phrases we have learned to interact with children. They smiled/laughed and agreed that we can communicate at the level of a young child. Then they retired to the judges chambers to deliberate.

We stood as they returned, and the judge formally gave the ruling of this court of Ukraine that our petition had been granted to adopt Daniel and to change his name to Daniel Alexander Thur. I honestly hadn’t expected to feel so emotional. I had been viewing this day as just one more formality, one more step in the whole process, not really such a big deal, but as it became clear that the ruling was in our favor the tears started pouring down my cheeks and I couldn’t stop. John was crying, too. The younger juror looked up at us a few times and smiled. It is a day we have been praying for now for almost three years “Please let Daniel be part of our family.” (Oops - the faucet just turned on again.) The judge and jurors graciously agreed to a photograph and the judge told us in English that she was glad to meet to meet us and shook our hands. The doctor and Inspector swiftly headed down the stairs while Sergei took care of a couple details with the court secretary. The doctor was still riding with us, but the Inspector had departed without a chance to say “good-bye”. We were back in the car by 10:15.

We took the doctor back to the intersection near our apartment where someone was waiting for her then we stopped quickly at the apartment for my computer and the Internet device so we could post to the blog. At the orphanage they were just taking Daniel off to therapy and we told them to go ahead. The therapist said she could see improvements in him since we have come - he is more relaxed and is saying more words, although they can’t understand them (English!). We told him ‘hello’, gave hugs and kisses and said we would see him later. The director was too busy to see Sergei today and the secretary said she would remind her about talking to the inspector and urged us not to press our case with her today. Okay!

Still not even 11:00 - a great time for cappuccino and pastry. We tried a different roll with chocolate. Sergei had the pig-faced one that contained pork (he asked for me and the proprietor replied in English). He checked with the tax ID place - still not ready - also contacted the apartment agency and let them know about the washing machine. He dropped us off at the apartment and when back to the orphanage to find out what time we could have a party for Daniel’s room on Monday and what we would be allowed to bring. Before 1:00 he let us know someone would be by soon to take care of the washing machine and that we could have the party at 10:00, juice and fruit would be okay, cake and ice cream would not. Oh, well.

Tonight we are having dinner with Sergei and his wife at an Uzbek restaurant so I may not journal anymore tonight.

A happy, happy day!

Oh - and Sergei suggested little Kharkov’s nickname be “Kov”, since this is also close to the sound dogs make in Ukraine.

Court Day

The court has granted our petition to adopt Daniel. The decree goes into effect in 10 days if appeal is made against it.

God is good - all the time!

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.

Site Seeing

I was up in time to exercise - only the second time since we left Oshkosh. Still no heat but nowhere close to seeing our breath. John guesses mid-60s. Warm showers and usual breakfast. Outside much like yesterday with bright sun and slushy walking.

Morning with Daniel was pretty routine. I brought lots of wool yarn along to Ukraine and hope to finish a few hats to leave behind at the orphanage. I’m altering the pattern so I made Daniel be my model this morning. He didn’t seem to object to the hat he wore to the clinic yesterday, but he never wants to keep Mama’s hats on. We took Daniel up to his room at 11:00 even though it would be another 15 minutes before Sergei picked us up. He didn’t seem interested in any of our toys or other ideas of play and indicated he wanted his group. When we arrived at the room the other little fellow who gets water therapy on a similar schedule was just leaving with the therapist and they said Daniel would go too. Happy boy! We think this is what he was expecting at that time.

It took quite awhile to get out of Kharkiv and then about an hour to reach the boys’ hometown. We took pictures of the city sign, any monument we saw, the hospital where all three were born (and the new one right next to it that opened since then) and stopped at the office of vital statistics (where the birth certificate is) to ask a question about me leaving early and we ate at the small café on the end of the same building. For less thatn two (US) dollars we had three coffees, John had a hot dog wrapped in dough and Sergei and I each had “meat in dough”. It was quite tasty (still is . . .). We purchased a plan of the city at a book store. Then it was the drive back into Kharkiv during which I finished Daniel‘s hat for the fourth time. Sergei checked it for me - looks like I finally got it right..

We were a little late calling Nick and Dennis but had a good phone visit. Dennis told us many, many times how much he loves us: “so much” and “bunches and bunches and bunches and bunches”. He wanted us to drive over and get him, and when we explained there is too much water to drive across he said he could fly. He also told us more than once he didn’t want to say good-bye. He kept thinking of just anything he could tell us (Christine said he was walking in circles with the phone trying to come up with more to say). Eventually he was able to give us a cheerful “good-bye” and hand it back of to Nick. Nick told us he missed us too and wants to know when I will come and take them home.

This afternoon we hung out in our second floor landing on the blankets. Daniel kept poking himself in the eye, and after repeatedly telling him “nyet” (no) and the Russian equivalent of “you are not allowed to do it”, and him grinning and doing it again I held his arms (gently) down at his sides so he couldn’t do it anymore. He was very mad about this and kept a loud cry up for a very long time (at least ten minutes). We told him he needed to say the Russian equivalent of “I’m sorry”, but he refused. Eventually one of the caregivers came up to make sure everything was okay. She noted he was pretty hot from crying so long and hard and helped me take his fleece jacket all the way off, I had only unzipped it. She also asked if we had some water for him, and went to get it when we didn’t. It gave us a chance to see how he drinks from a cup: different than any other kid I’ve seen except Dennis when we first met him. He was calm after that. I finally made him nod his head in agreement that he was sorry and gave him a big hug and told him I love him.
A ride on Daddy’s back signaled that all was well again and the rest of the visit was calm and pleasant. He found my comb and made himself very handsome. He also spent most of the rest of the visit playing with the jacket he always wears but never gets to investigate.

John cooked pasta for supper and the tomato sauce this time was much more familiar and Italian-tasting. We’ve asked Sergei to take us to the open market tomorrow between Daniel visits to look for a stroller, a sturdy plastic cup (Daniel crushes the disposable ones we have tried), and a few clothes. Anya called, she will be coming on Saturday.

An Outing for Blood Work

Another great, restful night! Tomorrow I’m getting up in time to exercise. We also had warm showers. Thanks, God. Egg, yogurt, juice for breakfast.

Yesterday afternoon they told us that Daniel would need to go to the hospital for a blood test, and could Sergei please take another girl, too. It would be around 9 AM. Sergei picked us up just before 9:00. We wanted to go along if permitted, just to have a little time out of the orphanage with Daniel. Sergei checked when we got there and they said yes, although maybe only one of us would be allowed in the room where the test was done. That was fine. No braces this morning - hurray! We know they are important and we will do whatever is best for Daniel here and at home, but when it is determined he may have some freedom we will also celebrate with him. They had him in a nice warm coat, hat and boots. I pulled out the hat I had knit with his Ukrainian name and showed it off proudly - until I learned that in this circumstance I should have left off the last letter. Back to the graph-paper drawing board! The caregiver and I rode in the back seat with the children (of course no car seats). Daniel was very solemn, not even a smile the whole trip.

The caregiver said it was a “general” test. No specific reason. Sergei was told he would also be examined by a phthisiologist, a tuberculosis specialist (routine). The “hospital” was part of the first floor of the building right next to our 2007 apartment building (!). We waited in an entry room with several other parents and young children who one by one were taken into another room and shortly there after emerged crying while a piece of cotton was held to a finger. The caregiver took the little girl back first. After a while she took Daniel and I went along. When she saw me in the lab-drawing room she just indicated I should take my coat off. We actually stood to the side while all the other children (three) finished up. The phlebotomist showed me how to sit next to her table, hold his right arm out and keep my left shoulder back away from the table. She had a couple of rubber toys for the children to look at, but I couldn’t tell if he was allowed to hold them. He wanted one of her little pieces of paper and she gave him a clean wrapper from a pipette. She didn’t put on clean gloves that I noted, nor did I see her clean off his finger, but maybe I was distracted trying to be a good holding mommy. She took out a sterile little metal jabber (like a razor blade with an extra point sticking out) and jabbed his finger, then held a plastic pipette with a bulb to his finger. As she got a little blood she squeezed it into an open test tube on her rack (Daniel was #33). A corresponding piece of paper presumably had his name on it. I talked in his ear, not telling him to be quiet but saying “I know, I know” in Russian. She got probably about a milliliter and then put a piece of cotton on the tip of his finger for me to hold, she gave him the wrapper from his own pipette and we escaped. The entry room was empty except for us by then and we headed back to the car. No other examination. ?

He was still pretty quiet on the way back and played with the wrappers, trading them back and forth with me. We were back at the orphanage by 10:15. After removing his warm jacket and hat we headed off to our corridor. Daniel definitely loosened up after that.
In fact, he was one silly, floppy noodle. He thought everything was hilarious, even when we took a toy away for being naughty. Usually this makes him quite mad/sad, but today he just flopped backwards in Daddy’s arms and laughed. If he didn’t also practiced standing on his own strength and without braces, and if he hadn’t learned to both sign and say ‘cracker’ (cookie) I would have thought he was on Vitamin V (valium) or something like it. “Cracker, please” was his first two-word (without consecutive prompts) combination.
Without the braces we also had him ride up on our shoulders. Sometimes he would sit upright, other times just flop over with a goofy grin. He liked hiding under Daddy’s coat. On our way back to his room John had him try a couple of stairway steps and without his braces he can lift his leg nearly the whole height of a step. It was a pretty happy session!

Sergei was waiting for us, doing some translations on this laptop. He does translation work for technical manuals for various countries. We stopped at the Billa to get more minutes for the Internet device we are using (couldn’t get on-line this morning and thought maybe we were out of minutes). First John exchanged money at the adjoining bank. After intense scrutiny and a look at John’s passport they exchanged the $100 bill that the apartment agency had rejected and that Sergei had been unable to exchange. We also picked up 12 L of water (since we had a ride), bananas to share with Daniel, oranges, yogurt, juice and yogurt for us.

Then we all went to Pizza Bella - a place near our old apartment that Andrei had introduced us to. We shared ante pasta. John and Sergei each had a ‘Bomb’, I tried the ‘Bella’. Mine had pepperoni and cheese, as well as pineapple and bananas! It sounds strange but was quite tasty. Then we took him (okay - so he drove but we treated) to our favorite . . . French pastry! He seemed to understand why we liked it so much when we finished.

Back at the apartment it took many tries but we did eventually get on-line and were able to talk to Nick and Dennis (and Christine and Katie). Still no heat coming into the apartment. Sergei said there are no rules about this. The city shuts it off without notice and it may be off for a short time or a long time. We are still fine, but I don an extra sweatshirt when we come in and we were both snuggled under blankets on the bed when we called the boys.

It was a bright sunny day, the walks slightly slushy over the pavement or ice. It took a while to get Daniel ready for us this afternoon. It was pretty quiet back in his room, so I wonder if naps ran late today. They have a buzzer up on the wall next to the door that we used for Dennis, but it hasn’t worked since we arrived this round. We always knock and wait, knock and wait. Time and again staff from outside and inside the room have told us to use the buzzer because they can’t hear the knocking, and then we show them it doesn’t work or they try it for themselves. It’s okay, we can be patient, content (and quiet) Americans. Doesn’t hurt to defy the usual stereotype.

We headed off to our very warm upper landing where we have room to spread out the blankets. Nothing too remarkable about the afternoon. He did enjoy the banana. He refused to use the sign or word for banana, but he sure has “more” and “please” mastered. He got mad when we cut him off after a half banana. We had fun with the ball and he showed us that it is much easier to ‘catch’ fish with the magnetic fishing pole when you significantly shorten the string. He also practiced some more “down” and “up” antics with John, standing and ‘dancing’ to my version of “Rock Around the Clock”. He seemed tired by 6:15 and when we asked if he wanted to go back to group he smiled and said “da” (yes), so we packed up (slowly) and headed back.

Cheese, almonds, an orange and a few leftover chips for supper.

One potential snag came up today when Sergei told the director I plan to go home before John. She is a very cautious administrator and isn’t sure if that is possible. Things may have changed in the past two years when the other Amercian couple adopting at the same time had to do the same. She will look into it.

Tomorrow we hope to do a bit of sight-seeing in the boys’ hometown, about an hour from Kharkiv. It is dependent on the weather and no currently unknown but absolutely necessary documents cropping up.

A Cookie, a Ball and a Bag, What Fun!

Last night before bed we pulled two extra comforters out of the closet and laid them on top of the mattress under the sheet. I also drank a double dose of Sleepytime Extra tea (Celestial Seasonings) and it was nearly midnight when we went to bed. I don’t know which factor was most important, but I had the best sleep since that five hours after getting off the train last week Sunday. It was marvelous! I finally woke up feeling rested. John says he slept ‘good’, nothing remarkable. He woke up this morning. End of comments. We haven’t completely figured out the boiler. We still have no heat coming to the apartment (which is fine under warm blankets together at night), but washing up this morning was, shall we say, quite invigorating. John may have the answer for a warmer shower tomorrow. Hope so.

Yogurt and egg for breakfast. We walked to the orphanage. It was warm enough to have standing water on and between the areas of ice but the wind was brisk and it definitely felt colder. We had a good visit down in the green corridor. We showed him our pictures of family and home for the first time this morning. He was more interested in turning the pages, but we’ll keep working on it.

Yesterday we first introduced him to the American Sign Language sign for ‘more’. Today he knew it well and we started working on ‘please’ and ‘cracker’. It helps, of course that he wanted the cookie we gave him in small pieces. John also worked on “down” and “up”, which I have him saying on video. A big bunch of children dressed very warmly came through to go outside via the door right next to us. This was really hard on Daniel. I held and rocked him and told him “I know, I know”. They were barely outside before returning and Daniel calmed down. We are guessing it was too wet or messy out that door (not all of the children were wearing boots), as we could then see them through a window out on a paved area. Someone came to get him around 11:30. When we didn’t understand her words she said “gymnastics” and started some very energetic and comical antics. We’ve never seen this in any Ukrainian before, and we, including Daniel, thought it was great.

We headed for the apartment. John checked in with Sergei who gave us the good news that he was able to secure a Friday court date. Sergei was surprised to get it yet this week. We learned later that usually there is a preliminary hearing, then the real hearing. They sometimes do it all at once, but if not the ‘real’ hearing will be a couple of days later. Please pray that the judge chooses to complete both on Friday. We stopped at a sporting goods store in the same parking lot as the Billa and picked up 4# hand weights. John will get back to work on his shoulder. Now that I can sleep, I need to start ‘shredding’ again. After the subpoenas were prepared Sergei picked us up for lunch around 12:10 and took us to a cafeteria where we’ve never eaten. The name sounds something like “Jillybilly” and means “Once Upon a Time” in Russian or Ukrainian. He said it was the first cafeteria in Kharkiv. The décor was fun and the food very good. We both had the borsch - even better than most - John had kielbasa and vereniky, I had meat wrapped with pancakes and chocolate tort.

Then we thought it was a good time to start working on the power of attorney I need to assign to John so he can travel home alone with Daniel. (The next section is dry - may want to skim or skip it). First stop the notary. The one we have been working with previously didn’t think I would need a Ukrainian tax ID number (like a social security number), but she since then she checked with someone else and I do. So over to the tax ID place (not easy in the traffic and had to park at a McDonalds). We decided to get a number for John right away, too, just in case. When it was our turned they needed an official translation of our passports, a copy of which the inspector had. After coffee and a bathroom break at McDonalds it was back across town to the inspector, to whom Sergei needed to deliver a subpoena anyway. Getting the document from her was quick, finding a place to make the copies was not and John and I fogged up the car windows talking while waiting for Sergei to take care of it. We call Nick and Dennis every day at 3 PM. Since it was obvious we would not be back at the apartment (and our computers to use Skype), we got some quick instructions from Alec and called them on the cell phone. A quick stop back in at the Inspectors office and we went back to the tax ID place. We did better with a parking place this time, and did not need to wait in line. The woman told us this usually only takes two to three days, in exotic cases up to one week. We needed the blankets and toys from our apartment and by the time we reached the orphanage it was 5:15. What an afternoon! This has been Sergei’s life for the past week.

They brought Daniel out about 10 minutes later and we had a great visit. Our usual evening landing was already in use by another mom and baby so we settled in on a couch in the green corridor. He wanted a cookie first and we fed it to him a small piece at a time while he practiced signing and saying “more” and “please”. When the last crumb in the bag was gone we brought out the ball we had purchased in Kyiv. Turns out the cookie, the ball and the shopping bag it came in were all we needed. He spent a long time with the colorful shopping bag, sometimes having us help put the ball inside, shaking it down and then dumping it out. We batted the ball around for a while. We all passed the shopping bag around for a while, bunched up or folded. He practiced rising from sitting to standing, getting ‘fives’ and the chance to fall backwards.

I finished his hat for the third time and tried it on tonight. He wasn’t thrilled, but we got him to smile for the picture. The most fun was at the end when he stood up on the couch, I only provided balance, and he knocked the ball off of John’s hand again and again and again. He thought it was hilarious to watch John chase after the ball and even consented to use his right hand part of the time (if I held his left hand back against his body). He did a great job keeping his legs straight and his torso upright. This is the way to do Physical Therapy! At 6:40 we started telling him that soon it would be time to go back to group, but we were all having such a good time we put it off until the same lady who came for him at lunch came to lead us upstairs for supper.

On the walk home we noticed that no standing water remains, it has all turned to ice. We had our grilled ham and cheese and an orange for supper again. Tonight we are snacking on the microwave popcorn. It is the first thing that has tasted just like it does at home (including bottle Coca-cola, John says). Wonder how it would be popped? Just kidding. The microwave works fine.

A prayer answered!!

Just talked Sergey court is schedule for this 9AM Friday. Praise God. This means 10 days for the decision to be finalized is up March 9th. Jean should be able return next week March 5, and I should able to return with Daniel, the week of the 15th.

Hurray for Sunday!

Forgot to mention that we spoke to our friend Anya by phone yesterday. She was in the States when we left but is back in Ukraine and hopefully will come for a visit next weekend.

Slept in until 8:00, at least I waited to get out of bed until then. The apartment (and therefore the entire building) really doesn’t have heat. The radiator is cool and the lovely heated pipe that curves itself back and forth near the wall in every Ukrainian room/apartment bathroom I can recall was also cool. Sometime in the night John got up and switched our bathroom water over to the personal boiler that is in the bathroom so we had hot showers this morning. An egg and some yogurt for breakfast, then it was off to church. John reviewed the Metro directions with Alec yesterday, but we got a little confused when it was time to switch lines. We missed the first train that was immediately available because they show the stops along the line on the wall that is behind the train when it is stopped. After it left we could see the stop we needed, and caught the next one just a few minutes later. At the musical institute where the church rents space we were also a bit confused inside because the stairway under construction at our last visit was now repaired and the ascent was unfamiliar. Eventually we found people to follow and confirmed with the pastor, in Russian, that a church met here. We told him we were looking for Alec and Nadya and we think he was indicating they would be coming later. We found out after the service that Pastor Gnadi actually speaks excellent English. In fact that was his major and he is a teacher of the English language. We found a couple of seats and were greeted by a man who remembers us from last time (with Nick and Dennis) and had a nice conversation in English. Alec came shortly thereafter. He was the pianist today. We followed along as best we could. They started with several hymns, most were familiar including “Amazing Grace“, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”, “Come Thou Almighty King” and later “Take My Life and Let it Be”. A woman had a lengthy message for the children. They sang a song that wasn‘t familiar but clearly was about God being the creator of all things. Nadya arrived from a youth meeting after that and provided the gist of Pastor Gnadi’s message about training for a godly life. Another gentleman also spoke (I missed his name and hope to get it from Alec and Nadya). His message had to do with the gospel not being about a set of rules but how each person must have a relationship with God and seek what is His will for him/her - not one answer is the same for all (e.g. to marry or not marry). Each preacher used several specific Bible passages which we were able read along in our English Bible. We had prayers too, of course, and sang “happy birthday” in Russian to four people today. We met a few people after church including Nadya’s mother (who was just baptized in the previous year). She speaks very good English, too, and was Nadya’s first teacher although she lacked confidence today because she is out of practice. When we adopted Nick and Dennis we got to know a lovely young girl named Katya who had spent some time in America due to her father’s job and was eager to practice her English with us. Before we left we exchanged prayer requests and I have been looking forward to seeing her ever since. Today we learned that Katya and her family have actually been in Pittsburgh for the past year and a half and will return on Friday. Afterwards we were invited downstairs to a café that the church hosts after service. A gentleman behind the counter provided tea bags or instant coffee as requested (and he speaks English). They had some bread and cheese, bread and meat, many different cookies and a really wonderful napoleon tort birthday cake. A gentleman who speaks no English but was delighted to have us present made sure we each had a piece of the cake and we had a conversation with him thanks to Nadya. He said he once had an opportunity to learn English but he didn’t because he didn’t know that someday we would be visiting his church! Pastor Gnadi graced us with a good bit of time for conversation too. We had a good visit over lunch with Alec and Nadya at a multilevel mall and they dropped us off back at our apartment.

We had time to change clothes and call Nick and Dennis before heading over to the orphanage. Christine wrote about yesterday:
“As Dennis was getting ready for bed, he asked where we went again, "Medieval Times," and as he wore his sleeper on just his arms he declared that he was a king and put his hands on his hips. I asked him if he wanted to be a king when he grew up now, he said no, he was a king now.” [‘now’ in bold]

It remains warm outside - melting and melting and a just a little bit of rain on our way out. It turns out a couple of the snow-covered slopes we have been climbing en route are actually terraced stairways!

It was a nice visit with Daniel, mostly low-key but not boring. He was wearing a hooded fleece jacket and they showed us he should keep the hood up, so he may have just had a bath.
The Huggies wipes container has been a favorite ‘toy’ all week - today was no exception and he definitely knows how to open it now. Yesterday he first learned to spread his hand wide and flat to give us “five”. He had lots of opportunities to give/get ‘fives’ today: John created a game where Daniel sat on his leg, then stood up nearly all on his own strength, gave me five, and then fell backwards for Papa to catch him. The effort of standing was worth the fun of being caught and he did it 12 - 15 times. We haven’t seen him stand from a fully seated position before and so we were quite delighted. He still gets very sad when Mama and Papa tell him not to do something and then follow through after three tries by taking the item he is being naughty with away, but he is recovering a little faster now.

We stopped at the Billa on the way home for water, and bought 6 liters of water, chips, Coke, microwave popcorn (!) and chocolate. Supper consisted of the remaining two hotdogs, a shared orange and some chips. John had the multivitamin juice, I had two cups of multivitamin tea. Sergei called to check in on us. We had encouraged him to spend yesterday (and today) with his family since we really don’t need rides to and from the orphanage and we could always call if we needed something interpreted. He said the heat to the apartment buildings gets turned off sometimes and there really isn’t anything you can do about it. John gave me a down blanket for my birthday with this trip in mind (I really can’t sleep if I’m cold at night) - it has been wonderful!

Check the side panel for a link to the Google maps of Kharkiv which shows our exact location (Metro Stop).

Rainy Saturday

Check the middle of yesterday's blog: John was able to add a link to the video mentioned.

A correction on earlier information: looks like Daniel’s birth weight was 2100 grams rather than 1200. When Sergei copied down all recorded measurements he found the 2100 gram number.

To follow up on the snow storm (Monday night) and snow removal, we discovered that the alley behind our apartment building was being cleared by city workers on Thursday morning. Yesterday morning the large parking lot in front of the Billa was cleared off, and today the street running along side the Billa, as well as the road (lane) going back to the orphanage had been plowed.

Since we were committed to staying in the apartment over lunch we decided to get our cappuccino and pastry early. We left the apartment around 8:20, took the Metro to the Nayakova station, and discovered the French Bakery doesn’t open until 10 on weekends (9 on weekdays). Well, Saturday breakfast at a restaurant is a family tradition now, so we headed over to the nearby McDonalds. By then I was craving carbs and John chocolate, so with our cappuccinos (good ones, by the way) John had a chocolate muffin and I had the pancakes. The Styrofoam container is familiar and even says “Pancakes” in English, but those were blini inside, to my great satisfaction. I had a packet of strawberry jam/syrup to go with them.

Back on the Metro to the orphanage. Pretty quiet on weekends - no music classes, no physical training - bet its pretty boring for children and staff alike. Plenty of staff walked passed us in the green corridor, but no children. Oh - the staff were all dressed up yesterday - an important visitor or lots of Friday night plans! Daniel was eager for a cookie today. We were encouraged because after one slightly sweet cookie on Monday, and a third of a chocolate wafer cookie on Tuesday, he had not wanted anything all week. He is on a medicine for a respiratory issue that may be upsetting his stomach (and causing muscle and joint pain). Anyway, I think he would have eaten as much as we had with us, but we cut him off after about half a chocolate cookie. He is always asking for our coats, so today we put mine on him - he didn’t like the hood on, but otherwise it was okay. We didn’t leave it on long because the orphanage has been quite warm the past couple days and they always have a fleece jacket over this t-shirt. Otherwise he was hard to amuse and we spent at least 20 minutes just walking up and down the corridor carrying him. We took him back up at 11:30 - out of ideas and needing to get back to the apartment by noon. Heading back upstairs I set him down to “climb” the second flight. He got a big kick out of it as I had him hold on to the hand rail and helped him maneuver each leg/foot. He had a great smile on his face and each time I asked if he wanted to keep going he gave me a happy “Da” (yes). The (smiling, English-speaking) doctor who has told us to try to make him walk came by and looked surprised but pleased with the effort. Daniel had so much fun with that, that by the time we reached the top he was willing to try walking for us again. It was a good way to end the morning.

For lunch we had hotdogs warmed up in the microwave, naval oranges, the rest of the potato chips and (of course) multivitamin juice. The repairman came shortly after 1 PM and it did take about 30 minutes, mostly because he had to keep going back down and up the four flights of stairs to get equipment/parts from his vehicle. A shower tomorrow - hurray! I worked on medical CME and finished Daniel’s (second) hat. John was putting Russian words with English transliterations into a document on his computer.

We also spoke to Nick and Dennis and a couple of Engebrechts. From Christine’s note on the 17th: “Right now they are busy making adoptions papers with markers and shopping list paper so they can adopt Daniel and start playing with him.” Yesterday she wrote: “Cute story for the morning was that Dennis's preschool theme was suitcases today, so we got out a medium rolling suitcase for him to play with. When Nick got done with his school, he and Dennis played "Going to Adopt Daniel from the Ukraine." They packed things for themselves to do on the airplane and a bunch of stuffed animals for Daniel and went to the airport. We made sure they had their adoption papers and they took off leaving Nick and Dennis behind. Later I asked if they had called Nick and Dennis and they said, "Yes." I asked how Nick and Dennis were doing and they said, "Fine."“

It definitely felt warmer outside today and you could hear dripping from the melting ice and snow. By 4PM it was raining. When we picked up Daniel for our afternoon visit we were ordered not to feed him. We weren’t really planning to anyway, but we were surprised to get the instructions in English, and curious. Our plan now is to spend mornings in the green corridor and evenings on the blankets up on the big landing. We laid out the blankets and put the wooden train in the center. We set Daniel down on the edge of the blanket and he quickly army-crawled to the train. He seems to tire quickly of lifting his chest up and playing while prone. Before long he flips himself over and holds the toys above him. That’s okay with the plastic blocks, but we get a bit apprehensive when he gets frustrated with the heavier wooden pieces. Not bad today. I tried his second hat on - got the OF circumference right this time, but should have started the decreases on top closer to the letters. This one says ‘Daniel’ in the Cyrillic letters in the Ukrainian form. We ran through our usuals: magnetic fishing, putting fish in the plastic bag, marking one faint line on the paper with each crayon, tickling his bellybutton and armpits, taking away Mama’s knitting and papers, trying to interest him in the smaller train and airplane. It was another session of walking and walking, mostly with him on our backs. Other than when we’ve just had to tell him “no” and take something away, it sure is hard to figure out what upsets him: the braces uncomfortable, being in one position for too long, being tired, hearing familiar voices we are keeping him from, the inability to communicate what he wants to have or do, the impending sense of change and loss . . . Kinda like a newborn or young infant. We were done by 6:30. For once he didn’t indicate ‘yes’ when we asked if he wanted to go back to group, and didn’t get excited as we packed up and walked back together. He did, however, start smiling when I made up a song of “I love you Daniel” in Russian (John and Nick are usually the best at making up songs). We told them we wouldn’t be there in the morning, but planned to be back at 4 PM.

It was still raining when we walked home. It has been slippery enough as it is. If this freezes overnight it will be quite an amazing ice rink. We were both very tired when we got back, but John found enough energy to grill ham and cheese sandwiches again. The juice will have to suffice for the rest of our fruits and vegetables today (NOT how I do things at home where juice is reserved for stay-at-home illnesses). That put me on the clean-up detail. Although the orphanage has been warmer, we don’t seem to have heat on in the apartment the last day or two. We’ve been keeping a window open to counteract the cigarette smoke coming in from the hallway. The temperature only feels uncomfortable after sitting still for a while, though.

It really doesn’t much feel like a weekend. John wore jeans today. I’m in a sweatshirt now and put jammie pants on early. Sure looking forward to church tomorrow!

Here Comes the Judge! (or not)

No nightmares (that I can remember) and we both slept through last night without any lengthy awakenings.

We forgot to boil eggs last night so it was cheese and yogurt (and a granola bar for me) for breakfast. John had his French-press coffee, I had my herbal tea. Sergei went straight to the courthouse today to try to get our court date scheduled, so we had a nice walk to the orphanage. We waited about 20 minutes for Daniel this morning and they checked with the doctor before they got him ready for us.

We hung out in the long green corridor. His leg braces were locked completely straight so we didn’t make any serious attempts at having him walk today. John and Daniel sat side-by-side on the couch taking turns looking at the cardboard box and booklet that had been inside the plastic blocks container. They would each look over their thing for a moment or two and then trade. Sometimes John initiated the trade and sometimes it was Daniel. It was really the cutest thing and if we get a chance (and figure out how) we will post the video to the web. See Video

It was another day of being sad when other children passed by (and they were oh-so-cute in their little gym outfits!). Imagine keeping a big bunch of three-year-olds shut in for most of the winter. Even Nick’s most stern caregiver let them go running along the corridor on the way back to their group/room. One little girl took a minor tumble. The lady encouragingly told her to “Stand up”, then “good job”. Daniel’s hardest time was when the little boy who had hydrotherapy right after him on Wednesday went by with the therapist already done. He seems well aware of his schedule, and definitely who does what with him. It took a long time to settle him down after that (note: tossing him a little way in the air and catching him turns out to be a good mood-changer). We were disappointed for him too, thinking he was missing therapy to be with us, but then at 11:40 the caregiver who handed him off to us this morning came by to take him to his water session. All three of us were happy again!

We stopped at the Billa for cheese, yogurt and eggs. We also bought some dark chocolate filled with espresso cream, oranges, Italian-sounding pasta sauce and John’s daily 0.5 L bottle of Coke.

Then it was off to the Metro. We started with our soup today. I also had mixed vegetables (corn, green beans, carrots and broccoli). John had a breaded meat cutlet of some sort. It was good. Next we visited the French bakery for the cappuccino and chocolate crescent. The red-headed girl smiled from the start today. It is a busy, tiny shop over lunch. You can’t even imagine what they accomplish in an 8x12’ space. Back at the apartment John caught a short nap and the shower head broke off the flexible tube in the bathroom. We checked in with Sergei. He had been waiting all morning at the court house. The head judge, who assigns all of the cases, had been called away and many people were waiting for him to return - but Sergei was first in line. We mentioned the shower head problem. We had trouble connecting to the Internet but were very relieved when we were able to make our daily call to Nick and Dennis. They were pretty excited about Pokemon rings they had received at a restaurant yesterday (European Tea House, I think Christine e-mailed). Sorry - they told me the names of the Pokemon characters twice but I still don’t remember! Dennis was also feeling privileged that Katie was allowing him to play with her dolls in her room - all but the big one. He seemed fine with that. Nick kept it short because he wanted to get back to vision therapy (which finishes up each day with a viewing of “Magic School Bus” through red-green glasses).

For our afternoon visit with Daniel John said I pulled out all the stops. We brought a larger fleece blanket to place on the floor, and the quilt I made for Daniel to put on top of that, as well as the Melissa & Doug (popular brand name) wooden train to play with. We went to the landing where we were first allowed to play with Nick and Dennis and all got down on the ground. Daniel was somewhat interested in the train. He played more with the large (reusable) shopping bag I had used to carry it and blankets. Typical . . . He did some magnetic fishing - and did it well - tonight. He did some army-crawling, especially to reach things he couldn’t play with: Papa’s shoes, Mama’s knitting and papers. Typical . . . He also played with the bubbles. Did we mention that he consistently uses a word for “belly button” (‘bom’), and another for “armpit” (‘arm’) to let us know where we should tickle him? He gets the cutest look on his face getting ready to tell us he wants to be tickled, and where. He frequently does this when we are in the middle of something he’d rather not do - at least not the way we want him to do it. He also clearly says “tap, tap”, as we have said many times when we try to get the extra soap off the bubble wand (we had fun with that tonight). At least once every time we get the bubbles out Daniel has to check and see if the wrong end of the wand will fit into te bottle yet, or maybe he just likes the way Mama laughs and says he's silly.

Sergei spent his whole day at the courthouse. Finally he was able to see the head judge who determined he did not have time to take the case himself and assigned us another judge (standard procedure). It is a woman this time (obviously not the same judge we had last time, and that is just fine by us). Sergei went to her office but by then she had gone home for the weekend and the secretary said to come back Monday. So, on Monday we should find out our court date. We are still hoping for some day next week. Sergei said if the judge wants to, she can schedule it for next week. We’ll wait on God. Sergei came back to the orphanage for a document the director needed to do over for Kyiv. She had it ready for him (!). The Inspector apparently has been hearing nice things about us from her, and that she likes us. That is an encouragement. Sergei also called the apartment agency, who said if we would be present in the apartment from noon - 4:00 tomorrow they will come by and fix the shower head. Should take about 30 minutes. We agreed to stay put. I’m pretty excited/hopeful it will be fixed the very next day.

At the end of our visit we had fun doing push-ups and reverse Daniel-ups. Back at his room we handed him to the caregiver who had favored Dennis and had been his favorite, too. Earlier in the week we had discovered her name is Tanya, not Katya as I had been misremembering for two years. I commented, via Sergei, that Daniel resembles Dennis. She said she had seen our photographs and agreed. She also asked about Dennis’ personality. When we tried to leave the building, our usual doorway was locked. It turns out Tanya was done for the day, and we walked out together another way.

We scrubbed out the skillet in the apartment tonight and finally had our anticipated grilled ham and cheese sandwiches (and the remaining bag of potato chips - these had mushrooms in the picture, quite tasty) and multivitamin juice, of course. The chocolates with espresso inside are delicious.

Physical Therapy

I reset the alarm for 7:24 this morning and only hit the 4-minute snooze twice. Breakfast was a repeat. Sergei picked us up on the street in front of the Billa. Daniel wasn’t wearing the braces today and they asked where we would be playing because he would have physical training (therapy) at 10 AM. Daniel emptied the entire carryall, and of course the only thing he wanted was Mama’s knitting needles: the only thing he wasn’t allowed to have. Pretty typical little kid, I’d say. He wasn’t at all interested in the cookie - maybe because they are the dry, almost tasteless ones. As 10:00 approached we repacked the carryall and tried to amuse him with just one thing at a time. He wasn’t easy to amuse. Walking up and down the corridor carrying him helped as usual. We looked at each orphanage worker expectantly as they passed by on this errand or that. Daniel wasn’t nearly as upset when other children passed by today. He paid more attention to staff but still didn’t cry. Sergei worked on his laptop sitting on a nearby couch. He was preparing our court petition and sought out some needed information from the doctor for that and for some papers for Kyiv (vaccination records).

At 11:30 (finally) they came for him and invited us to observe. We were delighted. They called it “physical training” and it lasted about 30 minutes. John got a video recording of nearly the whole session. It took place in a very nice room up near the director’s office. We all took off our shoes and she placed two low stools for us to sit on. She really put him through his paces in that 30 minutes, with lively children’s music in the background. Oh - think I forgot to mention that on the first day the psychologist told us Daniel likes to listen to Mozart and Beethoven. We will try to find out if he has favorite pieces and get those CDs for John’s trip home. She used a large therapy ball, rolling him back and forth on his tummy and then on his back so he could feel his feet touch the floor. She also bounced him up and down while he laid on top of the ball. He army-crawled across a mat for her while she encouraged him to also use his legs. She helped him up three foam steps from which he quickly pulled himself into large ball pit. He had a great time in there as she pulled him forwards and backwards, had him throw balls, etc. Out on the floor she also supported his body upright and we were surprised to see him move each leg in a walking motion, needing to get one foot out from behind the other (the tight muscles pull his legs together scissor-wise). He wouldn’t do that for us at all since Tuesday when he would bend his left knee a bit. She also had him kick balls loose from triangle supports where they were lodged. It was nearly lunch time when they finished, so we all got our shoes back on and took him back to his Group.

Just as the three of us were leaving for lunch, Sergei was once again accosted, I mean requested, to provide transportation to the hospital for doctor visits. Since there wouldn’t be room for us as well as the three women and child, he took us to the place we wanted to eat lunch first, then went back for them. Lunch started with cappuccino and a melt-in-your mouth chocolate-filled pastry at that French Pastry shop we grew to appreciate on our previous trip. The proprietors are the same. They smile, uncharacteristic in our experience of Ukrainians, and may even remember us. We’ll have to return because the croissants we remember as even better were not available in the display case today (but we saw them in the oven). Then we had soup and vegetables at the Ukrainian cafeteria. John had quite a headache so we headed straight back to the apartment. The cappuccino, Coke, Advil and a nap helped greatly.
Sergei stopped by with the court petition which he dutifully read/translated for us and we eagerly signed. We called and talked to the boys. Nick gave us another account of the Imax movie. Christine wrote in e-mail: “Dennis was so funny on the way home. He was talking about all the fish that swam into his coat at the 3D movie yesterday. They were still there and he was sharing them around and the all the kids joined the game.“ Dennis said he still had some fishes to share with us. While Sergei took care of paperwork we walked back to the orphanage.

This afternoon Daniel had his braces back on. We brought the rubbery plastic blocks this time, but they weren’t quite the hit we had expected. However, the advertising pamphlet inside the package did keep him occupied for a very long time. He did a bit of magnetic “fishing” but we were all a bit tired and bored this evening and took turns doing laps up and down the corridor. I was knitting while John carried Daniel, and one of the workers stopped to ask if the hat was for Daniel and seemed delighted to hear that it was so.
Daniel spent a long time looking at and paging through the First 100 Words in Russian book that we had. He was handling it without the roughness of earlier, concentrating very hard to turn the pages. When it seemed a reasonable time to return to Group we headed upstairs. The evening ended on a high note, because at the top of the stairs (far end of a long hallway from his room) he moved his legs to walk for us with much cheering and encouragement. It was definitely no reflex movements. He put deliberate effort into each step. John got some of that on video, as well. It was so cool! He was pretty happy, too. When we handed him off it was the first time he didn’t seem all that excited - maybe he is beginning to enjoy his time with us more. Maybe he was just tired. In any case we are definitely looking forward to tomorrow.

Sergei had a dental appointment so we walked home. This is no chore whatsoever. We both enjoy the little bit of exercise and fresh air. At the Billa we picked up another 5-liter jug of water, some hotdogs (how to choose from so many options?: we went with the most expensive), frozen breaded chicken filled with butter and chives, and potato chips (the problem with being hungry when shopping). When we got home we saw directions to cook the chicken in the oven (which we aren’t sure we can turn on) or on top of the stove. We it in the microwave and they turned out fine. It was time for a change from cheese and nuts.

It is possible that tomorrow Sergei will be able to tell us our court date. We are hoping it will be next week.

Hydrotherapy

After his evening nap, John ended up awake and listening to Pimmsleur Russian lessons for an hour and a half last night when he couldn’t get back to sleep. The alarm started going off at 7 AM. I kept hitting the snooze until 7:32. Then I recalled my nightmare. I was drowning in some nasty green water with Dennis on my shoulders. Lucky for me that John was awake because he heard me making sounds of distress and woke me with reassurances: in Russian! “Fsyo kharasho.“ It worked, but I had to check with him in the morning to see if that had just been part of the dream. Same breakfast as yesterday.

Sergei picked us up on the street in front of the Billa. At Daniel’s room they asked us to wait a bit because he was sitting on the toilet. Of course that was fine, and answered a question about whether they were working on this. With the doctor’s permission they even brought a potty chair out to show us what he was using. Pretty conventional potty chair with a low back and handles down by the seat. We will ask Sergei to get his toileting schedule. It’s how they do things here. We didn’t stick to it when we got home with Dennis, and it took a year to gain back the progress. We had a good visit. They invited us to observe his hydrotherapy which took place from 10:00 to 10:40. He loves it, and we loved this inside look into his life and treatment. They rubbed his skin briskly first, to increase circulation, I think, then had him in the large bathtub supported mostly by his head/neck. They had him stretch out his arms and legs, did various things to help him relax, had him reach for floating toys, reach for the textured mats on the end and bottom of the tub with his hands and his feet. We were surprised to see him clearly and deliberately move each leg independently - flexing and extending and in a bicycle motion. This must be almost impossible in the braces he wears during the day, which reach from this waist to beyond his toes.

After the ‘bath’ they dried him, wrapped his lower half in a warmed comforter and massaged his upper body. Then they put a shirt on and massaged his lower body. The work on his feet must be uncomfortable. He fussed and started pulling on his face as he does for us when he is frustrated. We will use the same phrase they use now when we stop that behavior. Overall he loved the entire event, especially his beloved Natalya, “Mama”, whom he recognized in the next room by her footsteps. They let us stay in the adjoining play/therapy room while they worked with another child in the tub. It included a ball pit, and a nice thick rug that he army-crawled across for us - but only once! When both boys were done Natalya put them together in a stroller. When we came to the green corridor where she had found us she took him out for us and he was very, very upset when she left. Although it is hard to see him so sad, it is also very encouraging that he has attached so well to one person. Leaving will be very painful for him, but he will be able to attach again. He let me comfort him and that was good, too. Meanwhile Sergei, while waiting for the director to arrive to provide necessary documentation, obtained all recorded measurements of Daniel as we had asked - copying down more than I had even hoped for. After that he took a child and caregiver to the hospital as a favor to the director.

At lunch time we picked up some more water at the Billa, left that and my carry-all bag at our apartment and headed for the Metro. We needed a new charger for our Ukrainian phone (must have left it on the train, but might find it around here some day). You just never know what you will find in the kiosks underground at the Metro. Into a tiny, 3X5’ booth John handed his phone through the small window. He showed them a charger from a different phone, and the gentleman inside not only had what we needed, he also plugged it into the phone and to an outlet to demonstrate that it was working. That’s another thing we like about shopping in Ukraine, they always prove that the appliances are working when you buy them. Less than four dollars later we were all set. They are also eager to accommodate our lack of English.

It was a nostalgic ride back to the Metro station we always used during the previous adoption. We ate at the Ukrainian cafeteria below the department store, then went upstairs to see what had changed. One half of the first floor now had displays of very modern (western?) kitchens: counters, sinks, appliances. The electronics store on the other side was much smaller. Up on the second floor they now had small needlework shop at one end. We bought embroidery floss so I can mend John’s blue sweater. The proprietor was busy knitting some article of clothing. She had a selection of yarns, knitting needles, crochet hooks and cross-stitch kits. A very cute cross-stitch picture of a wooly sheep sitting up and knitting away was on display. The other half of the second floor used to be several clothing stores, including one for children, but this was all one big furniture store. I was a little disappointed until we went back outside to check out the store on the other side of McDonald’s parking lot. The pictures outside made it look like a children’s store, but I couldn’t believe this huge, five-story building was all for children’s supplies - until we got inside. It was like a mega ToysRUs (and priced similarly). We will need a good stroller with a five-point harness for John to bring Daniel home through airports, etc. Most of their strollers were of the luxury type and cost in the vicinity of $300. They did have a couple that looked suitable and collapsible for around $80. For now we’ll keep looking and perhaps find something used at the indoor flea market. We did purchase a simple coloring book, some crayons and a couple of board books for Nick and Dennis as well as Daniel. Then it was back to our apartment for a rest (me), to check work e-mail (John) and call the boys (we wait until 7 AM their time). Nick is battling the same cold Dennis had when we left. He is quite pleased to need cough medicine. They are doing great overall, and enjoying Ben’s break from classes since it meant a trip to Medieval Times on Monday (Dennis now plans to be a knight when he grows up), and a 3-D Imax movie about undersea animals yesterday.

When we went back for our afternoon visit they had us wait while he finished a snack. The caregiver asked us if we feed him when visiting. We had only given him about a third of a chocolate cookie (and some juice). They said he refused his bread rolls, and she laughed and said maybe he was expecting cookies. She asked that we not feed him after 5:30 so he would be hungry for his supper. Of course we heartily agreed. This morning’s paperwork was supposed to be ready when Sergei returned with us at 4 PM but it still needed the director’s signature and seal and (of course) he had to wait for her to return, again. Thankfully the inspector had agreed to wait for him to deliver these papers. She did and said she will have them ready tomorrow. Then they need to go to Kyiv for processing. Hopefully we will be able to get a court date next week.

As far as visiting Daniel, he wouldn’t even attempt to walk for us today, but we put him through the motions a few times. He kept asking for things from my carry-all “dai, dai, dai” until he finally got the plastic Ziploc bag he was looking for. We told him up front if he tried to eat it we would take it away: “Ne kushi, illi paca bag”. Whether he learned his lesson last time and/or understood us this time, it wasn’t a problem today. He likes to put al of the wooden puzzle pieces inside and shake them down. We made him alternate right and left hands. He didn’t like it, but he could and did do it. He also tried out the crayons, but was somewhat more interested in dumping them all out than in coloring or drawing. Based on the way he held the crayons it might have been his first attempt at coloring.

Three other adoptive families, all Russian-speaking, were also visiting their children in the long green corridor this evening. One woman had twin girls who were quite interested in Daniel, bit did listen when the mama called them back to ‘their’ couch. Everyone else left around 6 PM. We kept going until 6:30, but we finished early too because he seemed tired. It feels like long therapy sessions to us. Four-plus hours in a day would tire anyone.

Sergei planned to drive us home, but then had to call back and say he was caught behind 5 - 10 cars stuck on the alley that turns off the road toward the orphanage. He himself had gotten stuck for the very first time ever when he pulled to the side to let someone through in the same area earlier today. It is uncommon to travel with a shovel in the trunk, but he was happy to be unusual today. Back home we weren’t hungry, so supper was cheese and nuts again (and a FiberPlus Antioxidant bar for me). John’s holding out against an evening nap better tonight - even plans to start a load of laundry while I get this posted. By the way, we have a good Internet connection (just have to take turns) so I am able to answer e-mails pretty easily.
P.S. Their affectionate name for him is 'Danetchka', emphasis on the first syllable.

Snowy Day

We both slept through the night (finally) but we are still adjusting to an unfamiliar bed, especially since it is shorter than John is used to and he needs to sleep diagonally across the bed or crook his neck at an awkward angle. The alarm started going off at 7 AM. We awoke to the sound of spinning tires. John boiled eggs for breakfast to go along with the multivitamin juice, buttered bread and yogurt.

It snowed last night: looks like another eight inches. Kharkov is not really geared up for snow removal like Oshkosh and other Wisconsin cities. Most streets never get plowed, and very few walkways are shoveled. Just have to hope someone drove or walked where you want to go first. Sergei was delayed by the weather, but was able to pick us up in front of the Billa where we stopped to buy the diapers for Daniel as requested by the caretakers. The roads/alleys back to the orphanage are some that are never plowed, but Sergei made it through and once we arrived the men on site had done a nice job of shoveling all the walks. Sergei headed out to the boys’ hometown with someone from the orphanage for the document mentioned yesterday. It took all day so we walked the rest of the trips back and forth - just fifteen minutes each way.

When we arrived at Daniel’s room we only had to wait a few minutes. For further detail of his current abilities: he cannot sit alone but he does have good head control. He has very good use of his left hand, and some use of his right - it is not tightly fisted as I first expected from the photographs. He doesn't have strong trunk muscles and has no balance but he is able to bear weight on his legs. They had him in leg braces today and told us to try to make him walk. When he was feeling cooperative he actually moved his left leg forward by himself, otherwise we worked together to get him moving and hold him up.

He hears just fine and we are certain he has already said three new words for us - one for "where is it?", the Russian word for ’fish’ and another for bellybutton - which he loves to have tickled we learned today. They were bringing many children back and forth through the corridor today - we think some to go to an exercise room, but it also may have been “shot day”. Daniel would get sad and/or mad, reaching for and obviously wanting to go with the other children.

On our walk home from the morning visit we ate at a nice café’ at the end of our apartment building. Hard to beat soup on a snowy day. John did some laundry - but the economy washer didn’t need nearly as much soap as he added, so ran it through twice. I finished off my first attempt at a hat for Daniel (it says “Daniel”). Even before we knew how petite he is (size of a small two-year-old), it was clearly too big. I’ll make a smaller one now, maybe put hs name in Ukrainian. We were able to call the boys via Skype. It is always great to see them - technology is great (when it works).

Back at the orphanage we were directed to talk to the doctor, who checked with the director and told us we could see him in “group”. We asked where his group was, since they didn’t just give him to us at his room, and she took us down a couple of loong corridors and a flight of stairs to . . . Nick’s old room. She was very, very apologetic. She actually was remembering Nick and realized we knew where to find Daniel in his own (Dennis’ old) group room. John thinks the reason we were directed to talk to the doctor was to find out where Sergei and the orphanage representative who went with him were. She speaks pretty good English, but lacks confidence, and so we phoned Sergei and let her talk to him.

In any case, we had a good, long visit with Daniel back down in the very long “green” corridor, as John calls it because of the many plants. No children going back and forth, but nearly all of the adults seemed to know Daniel and have a kind word for him. Sometimes he seemed upset after these encounters, too, but overall it was a very encouraging visit. He is taking to John very well now - certainly enjoys being a Daniel airplane. We had him standing between my legs or against the couch for most of the time. He had fun with the magnetic fishing puzzle, but even more so with the plastic Ziploc bag that initially held my current knitting project, but was then filled with and emptied of the other puzzle pieces several times - all while standing against the couch.
We tickled his tummy some more, and he remembered his word to tell us that’s what he wanted. He was tugging at John’s winter coat, so we put it on him. More like we put him inside it - even with the arms all bunched up it was hard to get his hands out. We took some more measurements, too.

Back to the apartment where the gizmo that lets us in to the outer door didn’t initially work. A helpful man passing by indicated we needed to wait five minutes. We did one circuit of the building and all was well. We settled on cheese, nuts and multivitamin juice for supper (I had a granola bar, too). John checked in on work e-mail. We both looked over Yahoo messages and now at 8:30 he is dozing and I am finishing up the blog. Hope it is a restful night - for us and all who sleep later.

Meeting Daniel!!!

I slept pretty well, except when John was up again at 3 AM with a headache. Not sure how much was caffeine withdrawal and how much was awkward head/neck position. We both did get back to sleep, though.

The alarm went off at 7 AM and we worked through the first of our mornings in our temporary new “home”. Eventually figured out how to get water from the shower head rather than the faucet. Used shampoo to wash with since I hadn’t managed to dig out our bar of soap. Did remember my washcloth - an item still very foreign in this culture. Breakfast was a peanut butter sandwich, Multivitamin juice and a cup of French press coffee. Matches went on the shopping list for the day.

Sergei picked us up at 8:15 and our first stop, by our request, was to pick up flowers for the inspector and the orphanage director. We arrived at the inspector’s office with 15 minutes to spare (they open promptly at 9 AM and not one minute sooner), waiting between the doors in the entryway. Our meeting with the inspector was very pleasant and the wait for documents to be made not very long. A change from the last adoption is the new regulation that the inspector must be present a the first meeting between prospective adopters and the child. Fortunately she was available to come with us as soon as the documents were ready. We waited outside the orphanage director’s office just as we did nearly three years ago. Presently (eventually) the director arrived and after some time we were invited into her office. With great pleasure we presented her with the flowers and a couple of small gifts from home. When Sergei returned from moving his car she read through all the regulations regarding the meeting of prospective adoptive parents and an prospective adoptive child. This was a new step to us and to Sergei, and may have been prompted by the presence of the inspector. This was followed by the legal documents regarding Daniel’s placement in the orphanage and removal of parental rights. Then the Deputy Director in charge of Medical Affairs read through his medical information. He was premature and weighed only 1200 grams at birth. He has intracranial injuries (as would be expected) causing development delays and cerebral palsy. He does not have Down syndrome. We gave this doctor a mug with pictures of Dennis dressed in a doctor’s costume (www.Walgreens.com). She never smiled during our appointment for Nick and Dennis, nor this one - until the gift, and then she kept on smiling.

And then his primary caregiver, Natalya brought him in!

He was brave enough for all of us new people while in her arms and even consented to let me hold him for a few minutes - long enough for John to take a photo. Natalya told us more about his personality, abilities and limitations, and the psychologist also came in to give us more information, and then even took us down to the dark therapy room (they have a ‘light’ one, too) to show us the equipment and even demonstrate some of the ways they are working with Daniel. He was taken off for lunch and a nap while we went back to the director’s office. There they said they would look forward to our decision, and we immediately assured them we definitely wished to proceed with the adoption. Everyone seemed quite pleased. Everyone seemed very happy with the photo albums of Nick and Dennis, too, and the director promised to show them to their caregivers.

We will be allowed to visit him twice daily: 9 - noon, and 4 - 7 PM. Next stop - returned the inspector back to work, taking a quick picture and obtaining some piece of documentation. Then off to a notary. Notaries are quite different here. They have to go to school for five years because they are actually lawyers and prepare legal documents, as well as witness signatures. Sergei uses the same notary office as did Sasha on the last round, but no resident cat was in sight. They did complete some nice renovations, however. By then John and I were starved, caffeine-deprived and I was just thoroughly wiped out. We made a quick stop at McDonalds (only because it was quick), ordered three “Big Mac Menu’s with Coke” and soon felt much refreshed. Back to the Inspector, then to the orphanage - but the director would not supply the next piece of documentation because she needs something from Daniel’s home town. Sergei may be able to obtain this tomorrow.

It was only 3:00, so Sergei dropped us off at the Billa. We stopped in for water, yogurt, dish towels and ‘speachkey’ - matches - but they didn’t have any so we bought a lighter instead). Then stopped at home to quickly call Nick and Dennis and our parents.

When we arrived back at the orphanage we learned that Daniel’s group is in the same room that Dennis used. He was just finishing up a snack but was brought out before long. It was Tanya, Dennis’ favored caregiver, who took Sergei’s passport for security (since she wouldn’t be able to read anything in ours anyway). Then we headed off down the hall to a lounge area in a stairway. He didn’t accept a cookie right away - probably because he had just finished his snack), but did enjoy the wooden puzzles we brought. He was still quite leery of John, but did sit on his lap briefly a couple of times. He wasn’t as fascinated with the bubbles as Nick and Dennis had been, but we found out his belly button is quite ticklish and found other ways to make him laugh. He also knows how to tease and got a kick out of pretending to eat the puzzles pieces when we would tell him “ne kushi”: don’t eat it. He did eventually eat a whole cookie, too, and never let John take it out of his hand. He did not, however, like flash photography. We took a walk through the corridors at some point and found two other couples each with a young child. They may have been Ukrainian. It was a good visit, and shortly before 7 PM he seemed to be tired (it had been quite a long day) and we took him back to his group. He gave us a cheerful grin and waved good-bye and we promised to return ‘zahftra’: tomorrow.

John successfully lit the stove, cooking pasta and the red sauce for supper. The red sauce had tomatoes and garlic on the label, but smelled more like barbecue sauce when we opened it up. John added Frontier Italian seasoning and dried garlic and made a fair marinara. I washed up the dishes. I may be a bit too cautious, but Nick and
Dennis both arrived home with Giarrdia, so I boil the wash and rinse water just to be safe.
And so another day draws to an end. Sergei plans to pick us up at 8:55 tomorrow before he and a representative from the orphanage head to Nick, Dennis and Daniel’s home town for that document.

Happy Valentine's Day

Oleksandr came to pick us up around 7 PM. We loaded the two big suitcases in his car (last round we had four big suitcases) and went over to the Chocolate Café for coffee. We apparently had made a good case for the awesome brownies because he ordered one and persuaded us to do the same. Since we had recently eaten a full meal with Oksana, complete with a shared strawberry blini, we shared a brownie, too. It was still delectable. Next we put the four small bags (oops - that was up from two small bags when we arrived) into the car and headed for the train. We had plenty of time before our 10:25 departure for more visiting - before and after settling into our compartment. We rented an entire second-class compartment (usually for four people) giving us more space for suitcases on the top bunks and saving us some money, too. We learned to do this from mission trip travels.

The train was very new and much more modern than any we have encountered so far. We were very comfortable and enjoyed our tea with lemon. We stayed up until midnight trying to fulfill Dennis’ request to call him from the train, but we were unable to connect via the broadband modem, and couldn’t get our cell phone to work for an international call either. After that I slept fairly well. John did not. The wake up announcement came around 6 AM. I had been careful to limit fluid intake, and so did not have to use the WC again - always less pleasant by the end of a trip. Sergei was right at the door to help us disembark and took us in his car to an apartment he had procured for at least one night. We assembled the bed and promptly fell asleep for five hours. Sergei called around 12:30 to say he would be by after 2 PM to look at one or two more apartments that were located closer to the orphanage. We managed to clean up, change clothes and get ready, but neither of us was a bit hungry. The apartment he showed us was very close to the orphanage: not even a block from the Metro station closest to the orphanage from which we had walked twice every day to visit Nick and Dennis. It had a bedroom separate from the living room, bathroom with a shower curtain and a toilet seat cover, a small functional kitchen, washing machine and the ever-present electric tea kettle. We took it. We actually went straight back to the agency and paid for the first week and moved our luggage in right away, not even staying the night in the first apartment. We were both glad to just be settled prior to meeting Daniel and starting all the documentation process.

We walked over to our favorite (familiar) Billa grocery store next to the Metro stop for supplies. The grocery list this time: meat, eggs, cookies for Daniel, paper towels, peanut butter, butter, pasta, a red sauce, multivitamin juice for us and a few juice boxes for Daniel and we each picked out a candy bar for a Valentine’s treat. Back at the apartment we discovered we had no matches to start the stove, so we had ungrilled cheese sandwiches, a banana, a dried fruit bar and our candy bars for supper. We did try to call the boys but our schedules did not coincide. We knew their Grandpa and Grandma Thur would be over for a visit, too.

We tried watching the Olympics, but the biathlon wasn’t the easiest: too much commentary was necessary to understand who was really in the lead based on time and accuracy and everything was in Russian, except for the commercials! We watched the only DVD movie we brought: Twilight while I knitted a hat for Daniel. Although I carefully checked my gauge before starting, it is clearly too big for any three-year-old’s head. Guess I will finish it and hope he isn’t too embarrassed to wear a hat with his name on it by the time it fits. Off to bed after laying out all the things - gifts, photo albums, documents, toys, treats - we want to take along in the morning.

Mom Gogolin's Birthday and Traveling Night

I will no longer surmise the status of our jetlag or time-zone adjustment. Last night after a light dinner at the Ukrainian cafeteria on our corner, and an amazing brownie dessert and decaf cappuccinos at the Chocolate Café next door, John napped from 8 - 9, and from 9:30 - 10:30. Then we both got ready for bed (for real) and laid awake for more than an hour. So what to do after midnight in Ukraine? I taught John how to play cribbage, sans board, so no score-keeping, after a failed attempt at Wild Card (did think about calling Mom for the rules). After another hour or so we tried again. I listened to an hour of Tolstoy and other of Jim Brickman’s music on my iPod and finally succumbed. John was up again from 4:30 - 5:30, but I was out until the alarm at 8:30, and got John up at 8:50. We had requested 9:00 breakfast. That called for another nap after breakfast!

We picked up some groceries nearby, since Oksana assured us that not only do roads get closed in bad weather, but sometimes the trains get stuck, too, and we should have some food (cheese, extra water, etc.) with us. We also exchanged money and paid our bill here at the hotel. Then it was time to get packed up. Most of our clothes from my laundry stint last night have dried - my jeans will dry in use.

We have been able to call Nick and Dennis every day using Skype, and yesterday even saw each other with the webcam. Dennis wants us to call from the train tonight - we’ll give it a try. A good test of the broadband modem coverage. We waited until 7 AM home time today to wish Mom a happy birthday.


Oksana made crepes for us at her apartment this afternoon and brought them to our hotel. It is National Pancake (blini) Week here. Then she showed us where they ice skate at an outdoor rink in the center of a mall before taking us to a different restaurant for late lunch/early supper. We started out with our favorite borsh (found out what we make at home is more of a vegetable soup - need to add potatoes and red beans), the garlic rolls, grilled vegetables and tried a couple of new things we liked very much. Then we shared a blini with strawberries and ice cream.

Now (6:30 PM) we are just waiting to catch the 10:25 train to Kharkov. Wonder if we’ll sleep tonight.

Picking Up Our Referral from the SDA

We were able to meet with Karla Jesse (from Idaho), and Victor and Alina for dessert last night. They were able to squeeze in a visit between dinner and jumping on the night train to Dnipropetrovs’k . For everyone who has ever met Karla (and even for those who have not) I just want you to know, jet-lagged notwithstanding - that lady is looking absolutely fabulous!

Last night was much more restful: no 3 AM awakenings! In face we both slept until 9:30 AM. I did my 20-minute video workout for the first time in a week, and we had a relaxed morning. We ate lunch at “Papa Johns” in the food court at the underground mall (Metrograd) and walked the length of it a couple of times. The first time was for laundry detergent and shampoo at the far end. The second time, well, we got a bit turned around, but also got more exercise.

Today is Oleksandr's birthday! He picked us up shortly after we returned around 2 to go pick up our referral. That is another change from the last time when Oleksandr was able to pick it up without us. Actually it was a nice activity for a very quiet day. It has been snowing all day - a condition they just are not used to for the past 15 years, so snow removal is slow and incomplete, and the busy traffic of a big city was slower and more jammed up than ever. At the SDA we met another couple in the process of their first adoption. They are from New Jersey and will be meeting a 6 year-old boy soon.

Then it was off to buy train tickets. Originally Oleksandr had considered driving us there on his way to Lugansk, but with the change in weather we all agree it will be much safer to take the train. He will deliver us to our compartment and Sergiy will meet us in Kharkov. We purchased the tickets on the way back to our hotel. We leave Saturday night at 10:30 PM. Wish we had a passel of mission-trippers to stay awake with on the way! Guess we’ll have to find some two-handed games. Didn’t pack the cribbage board . . .

Appointment Day at State Department for Adoption

Can not say we are fully readjusted to this time zone. Feeling rested and restless, and misreading the clock in the dark, John was awake, up, showered and ready to go - - - - at 3:10 AM!!! He was very disappointed when he realized it was still almost 6 hours until our appointment time. As for me, well, at least I got some Continuing Medical Education credits done . . . And then we both got a couple more hours of sleep.

Breakfast today was a plate of tomatoes, meat and cheese, bread, juice, yogurt and an omelet to share. John had coffee, I brought my herbal tea with me. We have nifty electric tea kettle in our room and I have been trying to flood a cold out of my system particularly before we enter a baby house.


Our appointment at 9 AM went very well. Oleksandr picked us up in his car, we arrived at the SDA with 5 minutes to spare. We took our photographs again - this time including Oleksandr (we never managed to photograph him last round). He was able to accompany us inside today and we had a very pleasant time with the SDA representative. As soon as she opened the folder we could see a photograph of Daniel. She asked us to tell her a little about ourselves and it was hard to focus and to guess what she would like to know. Then she shared the known facts about Daniel. Really not much more than we knew before. He has a crossed eye and some problem with his muscles and/or joints. He is also "neurologically and psychologically delayed", but then pretty much every child in an orphanage carries those diagnoses, so the facts/severity remain to be seen. The photograph of Daniel at a younger age shows hair exactly the color of Dennis’ at 18 months, and the later photograph (March, 2009) shows it has also turned darker but different shade. We were back outside about fifteen minutes later very excited for this glimpse of our third son. We stopped in at the small café next to our hotel for a cup of coffee and celebratory second breakfast with Oleksandr. We asked if we could possibly receive our referral yet today rather than the customary tomorrow, hoping to meet Daniel as early as Friday, but this seems unlikely.

John and Oleksandr need to get some software installed in the MacBook in order to use the broadband modem, but Oleksandr was called away on urgent business for another adoptive family. We browsed through the underground mall that can be reached just outside our hotel and runs a good six blocks. We found paper, colored pencils, a ball and some bubbles for Daniel. I found knitting needles to complete the sets I neglected to bring with me (simply ran out of time to verify prior to departure). We will find something for dinner later. Perhaps we will be able to meet up with Mama Karla (from Idaho). Tomorrow has no current plan.

Meeting Old Friends

I slept GREAT last night! I kept busy re-organizing our stuff until 9:10, then fell asleep to Jim Brickman and didn't get up until the alarm at 8 AM (because we had requested breakfast at 8:30 AM). John was up for an hour around 5 AM. I was aware he was checking the clock and later learned he was finding his iPod Touch to listen to some Russian lessons - but I was out!

Breakfast was comfortingly familiar: a plate with cheese and sliced cucumbers, a plate of bread, bananas, two eggs over easy and our choice of coffee or tea (coffee for both today). John went off to the underground shopping mall to retrieve the sim card left the night before and purchase more water and some tea. I caught a nap before we met with Vitaly, Lyra and 21-month-old Ivanka for lunch. Vitaly and Lyra are friends from prior GAiN mission trips. It was so good to see them again, and their little Ivanka is an absolutely adorable little charmer!

John caught his nap after lunch and then Oksana (also a friend since the earliest mission trips) took us on a walking tour of some of the newer attractions in Kyiv. We had our picture taken next to the new little monument for a classic Soviet-era cartoon character in “The Hedgehog in the Fog”.
check it out on Youtube. We ate sushi for supper at a very nice restaurant that Oksana was personally able to vouch for. We went to bed later - close to 11 PM, excited about the next morning.

Safe In Kyiv Ukraine

It was an uneventful trip across the Atlantic. We both chose the curry chicken for supper and drank as much water as they offered us. Somewhere between New York and England Monday became Tuesday. I made it a point to rest/sleep as much as possible. Even so I listened to the first seven chapters of The Death of Ivan Illych. John passed the time with various movies and television episodes. We arrived before dawn in Frankfurt and had coffee with money that Slovadon (across the street form the broken house in Iowa) had given for that specific purpose. In the gate we made the acquaintance of a man who was former pastor, now pest control expert, from Florida. Our plane fro Kyiv left 80 minutes late because the wings needed to be de-iced The pilot said that is only necessary once or twice in a whole year. At the Borispol (Kyiv) airport we were met just inside the building by a man holding a paper with our name on it. Our passage through customs, once our luggage finally appeared on carousel couldn’t have been smoother.

On the other side Oleksandr greeted us as friends and deftly delivered us to the private hotel we used last time, checking us into a very nice room and securing wireless Internet access for us. Since then we have checked in with family; purchased a new sim card for our Ukrainian mobile phone, two new converters for the outlets, cups for tea, bottled water, pistachio halva and fresh almonds and cashews. We had our first in-country Ukrainian borsht in nearly three years at the café on corner of our block for supper, and now we are just trying to stay awake long enough to get a good, full night’s sleep and adjust to the eight-hour time shift.

Departure from the States

No reason to be up until the wee hours this time, so we enjoyed a very good night’s sleep until Dennis developed a hand-washing fetish in conjunction with the foaming hand soap at 5 AM. This resulted in much movement of the step stool placed just for his use and my foggy brain thinking Christine was moving the chairs down in the kitchen an awful lot, especially at that hour. This was followed by a few visits from both boys asking if it was time to be up yet.

At 6:30 Nick informed us it was okay to get up because Katie was getting up. I stumbled down after them thinking to referee, but there was Christine cooking up eggs and muffins, the three Engebrecht cousins all delving into the day’s school work. By 6:47 our two had joined them (talk about positive peer pressure!) and the newly expanded Engebrecht Homeschool Academy of Excellence was in full swing. By the time we left at 10 AM Dennis had worked on the colors blue, brown and green, and Nick had practiced writing the numerals 1- 9 and all of his “popcorn” words from kindergarten using red pencil/marker and his red-green glasses (meaning he is done with vision therapy exercises for the day) and had talked Aunt Christine into one short movie.

My (Jean) separation anxiety including leaving behind our thousands of digital photos on the hard drive of my laptop because I will only be using a Netbook for the trip. I decided to transfer the past year’s photos onto USB jump-drives, but apparently I have simply too many photos (even when trying to be selective) and I don’t know the most efficient way to move them because several of the windows indicated 5, 6 and even 22 hours remaining until completion. Good practice learning to live with less!

Ben had to stay home for an Internet History class and test, Brian was off to work, and the rest of us headed to the airport. Although we have all been very excited about finally getting Daniel, and about staying with Uncle Brian and Aunt Christine and Ben and Katie and Caleb -just Nick and Dennis, not Mom and Dad - and going to the library on Monday and getting five library books each, Dennis started having quiet sad times on Sunday. Nick was wilder than usual at the house, and then got mad at the airport, refusing to hug Daddy and even kicking when it was time to leave. Thankfully John kept his mobile phone handy, and before they were even off the airport grounds Christine let Nick call us to say good-bye, letting him (and us) depart on a much more pleasant note. Brian and Christine are two of the most capable people I know, and I know they are in terrific, loving hands. But when it came right down to it, leaving was even harder than I expected. They each have a wallet-sized family portrait to carry with them and a stack of sticky note ‘tickets’ to turn in for ‘Mommy-hugs’ from Aunt Christine when they need them. Of course, Aunt Christine hugs are also abundant and available at any time.


Getting the luggage checked was a bit of a to-do because we opted to pay extra for two overweight bags rather than try to maneuver four pieces. I would imagine the Quad City Airport doesn’t have to confer with Lufthansa about flights to Kyiv, Ukraine very often. By the time that was finished, however, two seats adjacent had opened up so we were able to sit together. I had to wait at security until someone had time to pat down my sweatshirt (never mind that I had offered to remove it). The 22 minute flight was uneventful.

At O’Hare it was pleasant not to go through security again. We found the Chili’s restaurant we had grown fond of en route to previous mission trips. The difference is that as the years pass we have learned to share one burger and the accompanying fries: one last extravagant American calorie splurge. A stop in the restroom and it was time to board the plane.

7 February 2010 Nick Turns 6 - and here we go again!

Packing, printing, organizing lasted until 3 AM Sunday morning. After a short and restless time in bed and a birthday breakfast of pancakes and sausages corn-dog-style we worshipped with our church family and participated in Sunday School and Bible class one last time as a foursome. Our Bible study friends stood (Ukrainian-style) for a very welcome prayer to send us on our way.

We stopped at our north-side Walgreens for a few photo reprints before changing clothes and loading the last few things (perishable refrigerator times and a big bouquet of balloons). Then it was down to the south-side Walgreens for many more photos and a round of hot chocolate and mochas at Starbucks. The boys began the first of many “how many minutes till we get there” queries for the day early. Fortunately the first stop was only an hour away in Beaver Dam at John’s parents’ home. We had a birthday lunch for Nick with all of the grandparents including Superman cake left over from his party with 15 friends at the Oshkosh Gymnastics Center on Saturday. Sandy settled in with his litter box, food, water dish and the shallow cardboard box he had claimed while we were cleaning up the day before. A family group prayer and lots more hugs started the next leg of the trip.

Nick managed to nap for an hour in the van after lunch. Dennis, who regularly proves he simply doesn’t need as much sleep, managed to stay quiet during that time. John taught Nick to figure out “what number comes before . . .” using the mile markers for most of the rest of the trip to Milan, Illinois where Nick and Dennis will stay with Jean’s sister and family while we are gone.

Just enough time to squeeze in a Super bowl party and another round of cake (this one with a rainbow, frogs and snakes per Nick‘s specific request), ice cream and the singing of the Happy Birthday song before getting ready for bed. Twelve-year-old cousin Katie is graciously hosting the month-long slumber party in her room. Hope lots of slumbering does occur . . .

Almost Ready to Leave

We received our permission to travel letter today from the State of Wisconsin, and updated home study.

Jean has the boys packed and herself pretty much there. Is guess I need to get to that tonight. Still need to schedule mail to be forwarded, program lights. Have the neighbor kid signed up to shovel snow.

Have a birthday party scheduled for Nick tomorrow at the Oshkosh Gymnastic center.

We plan to leave for Jean's sister house in the Moline, IL on Sunday after Church and Bible class. Plan to have a quick lunch with both set of parents in Beaver Dam, WI on the way. That way they can see Nick on his birthday. Sandy the cat will be staying with my parents.

God is in Control, so I am not too worried, but is a bit to do yet.