Milos is (finally) with us!

It was so late last night that Milos had to stay at the orphanage for the night-- boo!

We were going to have our celebration meal with the folks who helped us to get through the process, but I managed to step in every slush puddle in Belgrade and had goo up to my knee (with no change of shoes).. I hope we can do it later (with Milos)

So we were up extra early today to catch a cab to the orphanage to get him.

Sidebar-- there is a taxi/truck strike starting today in Serbia. The government wants to impose a 20% tax on the drivers and require them to carry a cash register and issue receipts so the government can collect the tax-- The drivers are stopping traffic all over the city-- you pretty much cannot "get there from here". The strike started at 8am that is why we left for the orphanage at 6:50am--yawn

We got to the orphanage a bit after 7 and they already had Milos up and fed and ready to go..

I can't help feel that it was a bit sad today as he left the only life he has known for the past 2 years, yet the life ahead has so much more promise. Little Milos now has a chance at a fulfilling life. His nurse was doting on him and they dressed him in his best outfit to leave his old world and enter his new one.

We had several stops to make to day and no way to get there-- the roadblock by the taxis and trucks have made the city impassable by public transportation and difficult (at best) by private car.

The orphanage bus driver was kind enough to take us to our first stop. Mission accomplished. From there Mary hopped a tram with Milos-- it was only 5 stops and we figured it should be okay-- it was and they made it to the apartment.

I went with Jasmina to the lawyer's office to get the translated documents and fill out our visa application.

Tomorrow we have to pick up Milos' Serbian passport and get the medical report. The US Embassy is closed tomorrow but I spoke with a nice fella there and they assured me it was no problem to get the interview and the visa issued on Monday. Our appointment is for 2pm.

Milos is fascinated by the TV-- he wants to reach out to the things on tv---

I spent a large chunk of the day out-- Lawyer, trying to get to the orphanage to get Mary's passport, Grocery store, Pizza Hut for takeout--

Mary and Milos:
Watched TV
Took a nap (tried)
Made a poopie mess (Milos did that not Mary)
Took a Bath
Walked up and down the apartment steps
Did some laps in the stroller in the apartment
ate oatmeal (thanks Sarah n Jon) with homemade apple sauce
Ate pudding
Ate mashed potatoes with chicken soup
Tried a piece of Pizza Hut Pizza (spit it out)
Took another bath (for fun)
jammies on
bedtime--- (Yea RIIIGHT)

When Milos gets to bed I will have more time to post pictures from today


sidebar--

Please pray for the soul of Bengals Wide Receiver Chris Henry who died today. He had 3 young children and despite his "bad boy image" was always a gentleman to me. Rest in Peace.

Jim