Day 4-

If this picture doesn't melt your heart then I don't know what will!

This is the monkey that has my voice recorded in it. Robin would play it for Yuri and he would put his head on it. Then he would be throwing the ball and any toys she would give to him but when she picked up the monkey he wouldn't throw it but would put his head on it listening.

look at those eyes!

He has his Momma's ears.

Notice the ball in mid-flight

He walked quite a bit today. He kept wanting to let go of Robin's hands but she explained that Momma's don't allow walking without hand holding till you get bigger. He submitted to this and kept walking until he got tired.

Listening to music

This was later in the visit and I was trying to walk him around to soothe him.

Aren't they beautiful together? These two are best buds!

Lovin' on my baby.


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www.robinwinklesphotography.com/Favorites/winkles3.htm

We went to the orphanage today and when we walked in there was a little boys with CP who was being carried by nurse talking to the doctor. He was sobbing. :o( I don't know what was going on. I don't know if it was anything or nothing but it was hard to see. I want to make it ok. I want to make it better. I want to bring all the kiddos home with me. Oi!

Our driver, Valentin, worked his magic and got us into the room where the christmas pageant was held. It was a big, quiet, non stinky room which was very nice. While he went to get the key he motioned us down the hall. I didn't know why or where to, so we went and stood in the zoo room. After standing there a minute or so I thought 'what if this isn't where we are supposed to be and what if they get the boys ready and come looking for us and can't find us because we are hiding with the rabbits!' So went back out into the hall and meandered down to the thier room. I poke my head in and caught a glimpse of the babies. They were both naked and being changed and dressed for our visit. I could hear sweet Julia talking and talking and then I realized why. They had put her in the crib with the 6 year old boy I had mentioned previously. He was very sweet with her and was trying to play with her. He was sitting up and using his hands which I thought was really great. She was laughing and playing with his crib toys.

They boys were being double teamed with wipe downs and diapering and dressing. It looked very rushed and harsh to me but the boys just went with it. We got them and went to the room and spread out. The boys were great for the first 30 minutes and then, as if the memories of yesterday flooded their brains, they were done. Even Bohdan! He was grunting at Robin so I took him, but that only lasted 10 minutes and then he started grunting at me and every attempt I made soothe him.

Yuri did good. He had his momements but overall had a good day. We didn't get to feed them today and they were happy to see the nurse come to get them. :o( Soon enough boys, soon enough you will learn that Momma's are for feeding and a lot of other great things. Only a few more days.

Thinking about that is exciting. We have to have the passports before the orphanage will release them to us even though Josh and I are listed as their parents on their birth certificates. A fact Tatianna casually told me yesterday as we walked out of the last birth certificate office. She said "you are now a mother. you are on the birth certificates. the boys are winkles." That is HUGE news! but we had so much to do we couldn't dwell on it. We had to rush to get more paperwork done. Anyway we will hopefully be able to get them on Friday or Saturday.

We will find out in the morning if we can get their passports on Friday. Please pray this is the case!! I hate to be a debbie downer (wah-wah) but I'm done. Stick a fork in me. I don't know why it is so soon this time but I'm already feeling the strain of wanting to go home really bad. I guess it is because I was only home such a short time in between trips and because Josh, my sweet hubby bestest friend, isn't here. And because I'm pretty sure Caius and Asher have disowned me. Asher won't talk to me at all on Skype. Caius usually will interact with me but today he wouldn't look at me.

Oh Lord I'm ready to be home with all my children. (sounds like a crumby soap opera)

So many of you have asked about the changing the date of birth. It is legal but it is rarely done. I was the first to ever change a child's date of birth in this region and we have the chance of being delayed because of the confusion it has caused.

I think I have answered all the question you all asked me in the comments. If not ask me again. ;o)

The count: 3 slips a piece today. The side walks are all ice!

So the interesting thing that happened today was.... I was taking a nap and woke up to an Air Raid siren. REALLY?! I go ask Robin if that was something on her computer making that noise but she just gave me the look like 'no and oh my gosh.' I went and hung my head out of the window to see what was going on. Turns out Robin and I were the only ones worried. Everyone else was walking around like usuall. We have no idea what it was but hope to find out.

Day 3- going out

This pic was taken when we first got Bohdan at the orphanage. He was in an orange snow suit which is better than pink but it did have flowers on it. :o(

I realize it isn't fair to bring a professional photographer but in my defense she ins't using her big camera. I'm just loving the pictures. She take my memory card and edits my photos also. They look so much better when she gets done with them.

I can't explain our feelings upon taking the boys outside. It was awesome and it was only for today but the thought of this being the first time for them and the first time we have been with them outside was just awesome. Robin and I kept giggling and kisssing on the boys. Valentin took a pic of us so we could remember the moment. Too cool!

Is he handsome or what?!!!! Yes guess who took this picture, not me. I love it. He was very handsome today in his snow suit. They were my little abominable snow babies. Their snow suits were too big for them and their hands were engulfed in the sleeves. They would try to suck on thier fingers but the bulk of their clothing didn't make it easy.


Day 3

Well boys did absolutely amazing today the adults didn't fair so well.

We are so proud of Yuri and Bohdan, I mean think about it, they have never been outside (that they can remember), they have never rode in a car, or been held longer than the 2 hours that we hold them on our visits. They have never been in or seen a crowd of adults, they have never been in a city or seen snow or been in the sunlight. So taking all this into account they did so great! Did I mention they didn't get a nap today and were sweating their guts out cuz of all the layers?

Both the boys handled the car ride like champs. Looking out the window and checking out the scenes. Once the car would stop though Yuri would get fidgitey. By the time we got to the passport office both boys were yawning and ready for a nap. We sat in a large waiting area with benches. We were trying to calm the boys down and we were pulling out all our stops but they just wanted to lay in the safety of the crib they know. We played and listened to music. Robin pulled out the Iphone and let Bohdan use his little fingers to scan through pictures. The nurse who accompanied us couldn't believe it! She was super impressed and even got my attention so I could see. :o)

Not to be dramatic but everyone was staring at us and whispering. I guess we were a spectical even though we were mostly quiet. After an hour and a half of dirty looks and a hot smelly room we left. The boys pictures came out great and they are really cute. Unfortunately Bohdan was in his girlie pink sweater. just building memories I guess. Poor little Yuri was more than done and just wanted his bed. On the way back Robin was playing him music and she started playing this one song, he put his ear on it like usuall but then started smiling and then laughing!! Not just once but many times. This was such a blessing to us after our long day. Bohdan just sat in my lap and we held hands. It was wonderful!

We drove at lightening speed back to the orphanage and then back to the arpartment. We ate dinner and then dragged ourselves down to the coffe shop to get online. That was the hardest part. I could have just passed out I was so exhausted!

The day was hard on us because we were in the car from 9am till 5:30pm with only an hour and a half for Robin and two and a half hours for me spent in waiting rooms. We had no time for lunch or drinks and we didn't have any potty breaks. I'm sure we could have asked for them but after not drinking or eating anything it was not necessary. It was also stressful being on display for so many and not in a good way. I just said that we should love these boys as much as we can and let God do the rest in their hearts.

Sorry if this post is incoherent but I'm running on empty. Talk to you all tomorrow.

by the way, please pray about our passports. The date of birth changes are causing quite a few problems. They say we might not get the passports on Friday and will have to wait the weekend to pick them up. Which isn't the end of the world but it would be nice to catch our scheduled flight on Wednesday.