Weekend visits always differ from weekday visits, just because there is usually different staff on, the entire orphanage is more laid back, just a different feel. This place is no different.
We trammed into the orphanage, with a banana and yoghurt in the backpack. Milos was ready for us. He loved the yoghurt, and cried when it was all finished. We worked on signs for "eat" "more" and "finished", then played the "pick me up, no put me down" game, walking the halls. He likes to empty the back pack one thing at a time, for more food. On one of our trips down the hall, the caretaker gave me a banana for Milos. I mashed it up in the yoghurt cup and fed it to him with a spoon, working on "eat", "more" and "finished". His hitting has almost stopped, except when we take his picture with a flash. He does not care for that, and will let us know by a definate slap! But, instead of hitting out at Jim now when I am carrying him, he puts his hand out to "give Jim 5" (nicely, not hitting him) and Jim kisses his hands. Milos watches Jim do this, and smiles every time.
Jasmina had asked us if we wanted to tour the fortress today, with her and the Maples family. SURE! So, after visiting time, we met Sarah and Jon in the lobby. But, as the morning drew on, the fog settled in, meaning we would not be able to appreciate the fortress' views. We decided to forgo that for now, and canceled with Jasmina. Instead, the four of us headed to lunch....Mexican food in Eastern Europe! It actually was not bad at all. Then off to the outdoor market to look for a backpack for Milos and some indestructable toys for him to fish out of said backpack. None found. On to the pedestrian shopping area, where Sarah and Jon found the cutest little dress for their new little girl. We found a backpack in one of the stores, but the price, for a small sized, mostly plastic (read...this thing will not last long at all!) was $38.00! No thank you! We will keep looking. We did end up at the fortress, still foggy and misty so the views were not the best, but it was a very nice day with friends all the same.
Then, headed back to the orphanage for our afternoon visits.
This was a very exciting visit for us! We took yogurt with us again, but knowing it was going to be a shorter visit and close to dinner, we figured on feeding only the yoghurt, not the banana. He went right to the backpack to look for the food. Again, we worked on "eat", "more" and "finished". (the signs for these words). We played the "pick me up, put me down" game. Each time he wanted to be picked up, I told him to say 'UP". I have been doing this, generally "accepting" any verbalization he gives, rather than tongue clicks and pucker noises that he prefers. We were in our "room" where he generally does much more for us, and he looked right at me, thought really hard, and said "P". (the sound, not the letter name). I was overjoyed! He is really trying to do what we say.
We walked the halls, played more up and down, then returned to our room. (there is only so long you can spend in this little tiny room!). We pulled a pair of gloves out of the backpack and played ball with it, throwing it back and forth between Jim and myself. When we caught Milos' attention, I gave him the "glove ball", and he showed amazing abilities of turn taking...100% accurately! He got tired of that and went back to looking for food in the backpack. It was about time to take him back for his dinner, but he was intent on emptying the backpack again, so this time Jim held a bag and we directed him to take each iten out and put it in Papa's bag. He took the first 2 things over, then came back to me and VERY DELIBERATELY signed "MORE", got another thing, took it to Papa, came back, signed "more" again, took another thing, and did it again! 3 times, each time signing "MORE", We have not seen this movement before at all, and even when we tried to hand over hand help him sign it, he resisted so it was a loose approximation, but these three times were 100% corrctly formed, bumping those little fingers together 2 times each time! A very sly smile accompanied this as he looked shyly at us all the while!
Just about in tears at this, I announced it was time to go back. We put the backpack stuff away, he looked at me, and held his arms up to be picked up.
I said "say UP", he looked at me and very clearly said "up". I could have picked him up as high as the next floor up! Again, that very deliberate smile of a child who knows exactly what he is doing. He is so definately "in there" waiting for someone to love him enough to risk "coming out" to meet us!
Our little boy blessed us with his first word!
Unfortunately, we had to take him back, but as soon as we said "ciao", he blew us a kiss.
Jasmina managed to snag some basketball tickets for us, and Sarah and Jon decided to go with us, so we had a WONDERFUL time at the very loud game.
I couldn't tell you who played, but I know that the home team lost, however it was a great game. Each team had one American playing on it. The crowds are LOUD and VERY ROUDY. When they don't like a ref's call, rolls of toilet paper come from the upper decks to litter the court. We were a little concerned when toward the end of the game, two squads of riot police were guarding the exits! But at the end, everyone shook hands and no bloodshed was to be had.
Back "home" getting ready to call the kids on Skype. We miss them terribly. Jim made us a yummy ham and cheese omlet for dinner, and it will be a late bedtime for us.
But such an incredible day with such an incredible little boy trusting us enough to say his first word...both verbally and with sign.
We are certainly blessed.
Mary
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment