Day 5- the last goodbye.

My cool guys!! I guess Asher had followed our kitten Trixie up to the top of the upright piano (very high!). Asher went over and got Josh's sunglasses and put them on his forhead just like his Daddy. Josh,noticing that Asher is mimicking him, puts his own sunglasses over his eyes. Asher does the same. Hence the 'cool' picture!

Valentin took this for us. We were visiting in the forey (sp?).

TICKLE MONSTER!!

Lovin' on Bohdan!

Oh my! How handsome.

Fruit Ninja on Robin's I pad. He is a total Ninja!!

What a big boy!

A beautiful picture of Robin and Yuri.

Plugging ears!! I will plug his ears and he will look around like what is that noise!!

My sweetie!!

Today was the last day we will say good bye to the boys. Robin and I were explaining to them that tonight is the last night they will stay in the orphanage, tonight is the last night they will sleep away from their family. We told them that today was the last day they will wear orphange clothes with numbers on them. That tomorrow they will wear their very own clothes and pink will be a color they will only see on flowers and girls. We told them that they will not be alone anymore and that this is the last night they will spend as orphans. I thank the Lord our God that He has made this possible and that He chose us to be Yuri and Bohdan's family. What a great honor this is! We serve an awesome God who loves and cares for the least of these. My heart is overwhelmed by His great big love for us.

The boys did great at the visit today. The latest and greatest is 'Indian'. Bohdan will make noises with his mouth and I will pat his mouth to make funny sounds. Today all I would have to do is put my hand to my shoulder (my right not my left, if I tried the left he would push it away) and he would grab my arm stick his face out, pucker his lips and make noise so I would pat his mouth to make 'indian' noises. Yuri loved this! It didn't matter what he was doing but the moment he heard that noise he would squirm so he could watch and then he would laugh and laugh. Both boys did great today! Robin and I absolutely cannot wait to bust them out tomorrow!

We had to run around and do some paperwork today. After calculating our expenses we figured we could scrape by with the money we had. Then there were extra 'fees' today so we asked to go to a bank. Let me just say, it wasn't impossible but if you are coming after us bring extra and hide it away for 'just in case.'

We got the list of items the boys are fed. Big shocker to us was coffee in their morning puree!!!!!!!!! Anyway we went to the store to stock up and realized they call many of the things we use for babies different names. Like stew is baby food meat and veggies, porrige is different flavored baby cereal. There was crackers, cheese, yogurt and cottage cheese on the list. I'm hopeful then that they don't have a milk allergy. For the life of me I cannot find crackers at the grocery store so I think they are giving them cookies.

With this thought in mind I offer the boys a cookie today. They knew exactly what a cookie was and not in a good way. They didn't just push is away and fuss they were visible agitatted and upset that there was a cookie present. They didn't calm down until we put it away. Keep in mind we never tried to put it in their mouths. Oh Lord, what have these precious angels endured that the sight of a cookie scares them to death.

Thank you all for your prayers. There is a good possiblility that everything will work out and that we will leave on Saturday. We are leaving the apartment at 10am tomorrow morning to go bust the boys out. YeeeHaww!!!!!!!

Day 5- attack of the zombies

As always, listening to music

Is that the sadest face? Poor baby, his eyes are so red from the gunk being cleaned out of them.

Me and Yuri

Robin loving on Bohdan

Bohdan playing with Robin's I pad. This kid is SO smart. She showed him a game and in seconds he was playing it on his own. He is one smart booger!!

It has been quite a roller coaster of a day. First things first though the count and then questions.

Count: Robin- 4 slips 0falls

Autumn - 4 slips 0 falls

Locals- 6 slips (it is rare to see locals slip on the ice but I guess today was extra slippery)

About the change of the birth date. We changed their birth date to make them both younger. This is going to allow Bohdan to recieve 6 months of in home therapy and will give Yuri a better chance at having one on one therapy. Where we live 3 years old is the age that they go into group therapy and I think we can all agree these littles aren't ready for that. However, ATTENTION ALL MOMMAS ADOPTING FROM THIS REGION, even though it is legal to change the birth date by 6 months in some parts of this country, it is not legal in this region. Big suprise......

The only reason they are allowing it is because the judge wrote it in his decree and he wasn't supposed to do that. None of their computers know how to process it and it has everyone in a tizzy.

The talking monkey I got at build a bear. I didn't want to carry the big bears so we got small frys and recorded my voice in the little voice recorder disc. Then they cut open the monkey, took out some stuffing, put in the disc and sewed him up. Easy as pie. I got one for each of my boys and they have been a big hit.

So today was the epitome of emotional rollercoaster. Tatianna and Valentine pick us up. Tatianna had called us and said the doctor was going to be out of orphanage tomorrow so we needed to give the donation today. I go to the money belt and I guess we spent too much the first trip because we are running low. I didn't bring enough money back with me so we are trying to figure out how to get money here with out it costing any appendages. I would REALLY appreciate any advice on how to accomplish this if you have any to share. So anyway we are driving along and we ask about the air raid siren. They don't understand so I have to make the noise. They start laughing. Valentine starts saying something. Tatianna explains it was just a test and that Valentin can just see us scared in our apartment. He doesn't speak English but he knows a few words. he is laughing and says "Russian Invados", he says something about Veitnam and laughs and mimicks us running for cover and then says "in Metro". And then he laughs and laughs. He then says, "Zombies!" and acts like a Zombie! He had us rolling!! We were laughing so hard. Robin and I thought his few choice English words were funny. Zombies!

So we get to the orphanage and visit with the boys. Tatianna comes up and says that the passports will not be ready until Monday afternoon. She says "its ok though, you get train to main city on Monday and go to Embassy on Tuesday". I then remind her about our plane tickets that we were told to buy weeks ago. She starts looking worried. Poor thing, I feel like our adoption has really stressed her out. So she gets on the phone and works her magic. We visit the orphanage doctor and give him the donation. He says that the money will be used to help the kids and that all the construction we see is funded through donations like ours. Yeah cuz those new doors are really helping the babies but I digress.

We leave and go to passport office. We walk up the most dangerous stairs I have ever been on. They were tile and very short. Did I mention everything was wet and slick today. I am pleased to announce no one fell up or down the stairs. We go up and meet with a lady who seems to be yelling at Tatianna. We are worried. She is walking around the office and is visibely upset. Oh my! Robin and I try to stay out of her way. She hands Tatianna her coat and she helps her get it on and they smile. Then Tatianna says something to her and she snaps at her 'No'. Then they both smile at us. We leave and Robin and I bust up laughing. Tatianna says "not about you, she is upset at her boss." whew!! Tatianna gets on the phone some more and I'm not at liberty to discuss how but we should be able to pick up the boys on Saturday. I have made the Embassy appointment for Monday and hopefully we can fly out on Wednesday. Thank you for all your prayers. Please keep them coming we are not out of the woods yet. Tatianna is bending over backwards for us and she is not sure what she is trying to do will work. Please pray for her also, she is working SO hard on this.