Monday, December 7, 2009

Tuesday in Eastern Europe

We are up and about, getting ready for Tuesday. Nothing special about Tuesday, except waiting, praying for the required signature to move forward.

We are beginning to gather the necessary equipment (both hardware and software--we are Alton Brown fans---) for bringing Milos to our apartment, and eventually for the plane ride home.

On the shopping list is: diapers, food that can be made into a thin, smooth consistency (baby food?), wipes, and tights. All of the boys in Eastern Europe wear tights every day, and we did not bring any. I'm sure Milos will be much more comfortable if we keep as much as possible similar to his usual routine, which will result in fewer outburts. We have socks, but they are short, almost ankle socks. He'll want tights. Oh, and we still need the backpack.

The weather here has been the same overcast, threatening to rain, about 35-40 degrees every day. I'd love some sunshine. 

We are both hoping for some rest time today...these days are very busy and we are averaging 6-7 hours of sleep. What ever happened to 10+ hours a night during these trips???? 

We are in contact with our pediatric ENT at home, who suggested a priority list for medical appointments based on symptoms, and I emailed Cardiology to see about getting him in there as soon as we get home. Waiting on their reply now.

Again, we miss the kids. I know it has not been THAT long, compared to other trips, but I have more kids at home to miss now! But, we are keeping our spirits up, enjoying the new friends we have met here, and the new experiences we are blessed to have.

We are not getting any comments on the blog, tho. Anyone out there following along?

Will write more later.

Mary

Monday's events

Today went well. When Milos first saw us this morning, he came running with big hugs. He knows us and is beginning to look forward to us coming...if for no other reason than we bring him some yoghurt!

He ran to our room, we accompanied, along with the psychologist. Milos was uncomfortable from the start, not sitting in his chair or wanting to be held, alternating between wanting his yoghurt and slapping it away. Finally Jim got a whiff of why!

We took him in to be changed, and I offered to do the deed. Let's just say he needed a bath, and they conveniently have a large sink right next to the changing area.

He is a skinny little kid, and I did pick up some substernal retractions, but we will address those when we get home. All freshened up and dressed again, and we headed back to our room, again with the psychologist. We explained that he did well on Saturday, and on Sunday morning, but by Sunday evening he was out of sorts. Perhaps a belly ache!

We played 'glove ball", and he participated well. He even did some signing of "more" and I think the psychologist was surprised. He is doing this about 25-50% of the time that we request it. So not all of the time, but more than random movements!

I did get to ask the doctor, his pediatrician, about his stridor. She said he could have laryngiomalacia, it is a possibility. I did tell her that we would get it checked out as soon as possible upon returning home.

We took him back to his group at lunch time, and headed out to get ourselves some lunch. Following a recommendation from the psychologist, we went to a local spot and had a great lunch. I got chicken wrapped in bacon, Jim got a bunch of meat.....hamburger, steak, bacon, pork, chicken, and sausage. Plus salads, and some fries, and we have leftovers in the fridge.

Back to our apartment for laundry and rest, then back to the orphanage. He was a bit better this afternoon, but did not want to eat. Maybe they had just had a snack? I'm glad to see him refusing tho, when he does not want it. We did take the stroller with us this afternoon, just to let him get used to it. He does not like new things, and since we will need him in this quite a bit on our travels home, we figured we should introduce him to it soon. As expected, he did not want anything to do with it at first. I put him in it, and buckled him in, then took him out. We left it in the room with us, and later put him back in it, walked down the hall and back, then allowed him out. He loved it. We played the "get in the stroller and have mom or dad push you up and down the halls in it" game for at least 20 minutes! Glad he does enjoy it!

We dropped him off a bit early to make it to the Maples' by 5 for dinner. Vlado and his wife met us, but Jasmina was unable to come. Sarah and I rode with Vlado, while Jim and Jon, and Svetlana, Vlado's wife, rode in a cab to the restaurant. What a meal! I had steak gorgonzola (SP?) The steak was a filet that rivaled Mortons! It was huge! Again, we have leftovers in the fridge.

We had a wonderful evening, laughing, sharing, talking, and bonding with new friends. Unfortunately, we missed the concert that Jasmina had also planned for us...we could not get back to where she was to meet us by 7:30pm. I do hope we have another chance to do some thing with her!

As for adoption news, the conclusion about our visits was written and turned in, just waiting for the required signatures. Then we can plan the ceremony, and begin the last paper-gathering tasks including birth certificate, passport, medical exam, and visa. No time line yet, but each step is moving well.

We did do some video, but Jim has to post it. It will come "soon".

Mary

Sunday, December 6, 2009

out and about on Monday

I am really looking foward to moving ahead with the procedures for Milos' adoption now that it is bright and early Monday morning! We have our regular visit this morning, then probably to the market to look for a backpack for Milos. Then back for our afternoon visit, which we will cut short :( because we have dinner with the Maples, Jasmina and Vlado and his wife. After dinner, a concert is on the evening's agenda. I'm not sure where, or what kind...other than cultural.

Our conclusion about our suitability to adopt Milos will be written today and hopefully signed tomorrow (if not this afternoon...please??), then we can schedule the ceremony. After that, all of the finishing up stuff....passport, medical exam, visa, and we are ready to bring him HOME!

We spoke to the kids last night. I'm missing them all terribly. It will be good to be home again.

Not much else to say this morning.....more this evening

Mary

Pictures from Sunday

Bengals Win!

Who-Dey!

Here are todays pictures!

enjoy

Sunday-- Who-Dey--in EE

Back to the apartment and happy to have found a station that forgot to block out the Bengals game on their stream (they shall go unnamed as so no one gets popped this holiday season)

Blogging.. listening... and having a nice refreshing Pivo (I feel a bit like a sellout as I am having a Becks-- I have tried the 2 big local beers--Antlers and Lions-- and they are both too fizzy-- almost like there is seltzer mixed in. The taste is not bad just way to fizzy to be natural beer)--Okay enough Beer snob stuff


As Mary mentioned yesterday, weekends feel very different at the orphanage.

We were up and out early today-- Milos was waiting for us (or was he waiting for his snack??) Either way, he ran up to us and happily walked back into the visiting cell. Yoghurt snack. "glove ball" and a very nice visit.

We caught a cab for English Mass at 11:30 at Christ The King- a tiny little church near the American Embassy-- I assume they were mostly State Department workers at Mass as everyone spoke English with an American accent.

We were going to meet our friends for lunch at Pizza Hut but I guessed wrong on the tram and we ended up at the central train station. We hopped off the tram and started walking up hill to a landmark we knew. (when we can tell you where we are we can share the exact landmark and show photos of some American influence--if you can call it that)

We ended up only being about a mile from Sarah and Jon's apartment and walked there to meet them. We went hunting for Pizza Hut--and again my usually great sense of direction failed me-- we decided to get a cab and have the driver take us for "pizza the American way".

back home I am not a big Pizza Hut fan, but this was WONDERFUL-- we have not been gone long enough to be craving American food so I think it really was VERY good on its own merit!

Since we were not quite sure where we were, we decided to split cab back to the orphanage.

Hummmmmmm how to put it-- as great as our early visit was today was as bad as the afternoon visit.-- not sure what it was but Milos was NOT having a good afternoon. He was back to hitting, spitting, biting. Not all the time, but alot. He did play ball and backpack and "up and down" but he really seemed to be in some pain from something.

We stayed late so Mary could feed him dinner-- I'll let her detail that for you.

We headed back to the apartment and stopped for some more street food (I have heard how good the hamburgers are here -- a national treasure-- there is no way they can be as bad as that "thing" was last night. We got our burger from the "M-eat Bar" and it was WONDERFUL!! Burger with Cheese and ham inside. YUM!!

No pics to upload tonight becasue it will hinder my Bengals stream experience-- We will ge tthem up tomorrow!

PEACE!

jim

Saturday, December 5, 2009

on our way out for the day

We are up and just about ready to get out of here for the day. On tap today....visit Milos this morning with a banana and some yoghurt, leave there in time to make it to 11:30 Mass....we found an English Mass at a church close to our apartment.

Back to visit in the evening and hopefully be there when he eats his dinner. I just want to help/observe some meal times.

Vlado, our "landlord" would like to have dinner with us, the Maples, Jasmina and his wife one evening soon. Could be this evening. If we are late posting tonight, you will know why.

Oh, I think Jim wants to follow the Bengals game today...I forgot about that! I think that is 7pm our time this evening, so I guess dinner will not be on the agenda today!

We are really beginning to consider all of the "stuff" we are going to need for Milos when we get him home. Even though he is 10 years old, he is the size of a 3-4 year old, and the developement of older baby/toddler. Not planned for this adoption, yet needed are: a crib (I think we will need to have him in our room with us for a little while at least...and I certainly don't want him up and wandering if I happen to be really asleep!) and all the stuff that goes with that; a high chair (from what I've seen, we need to contain him, and probably protect everyone else's food from his grabbing. We tend to crowed 7-8 people around a 6 person table as it is, so that will just not work. Plus, he will be at risk for burning himself reaching for food on the table, until he learns manners), and a stroller...I can't carry him EVERYWHERE!  I've been having fun window shopping on line.

Julie: I like the Badger Basket Baby High Chair with table conversion.  Take a look and see what you think..........

Off to the tram......

Mary

Pictures from Saturday

Not much to add to Mary's update--

There is only one Milos picture becuse it really freaks him out to use the flash--- too dark not to use it today-- so more pics on a brighter day--

The highlights of the day for me:

FIRST WORDS-- from a boy they gave up on as mute-- A simple "up" wishing for mama to pick him up... precious.

Walking...walking..walking-- to the trolley, to Mexican food-- the the rynook, to the pedestrian zone, to the fortress, back to the trolley, and on and on..

Mashed banana-face

Hand kisses

Man these people take basketball seriously---REALLY!

yoghurt face

New friends

Don't eat the street burgers

I did not know Home Depot had a basketball team

exhausted

What no Pivo at basketball games :-(

crazy cab driver

FIRST WORD!!!

LITTLE MILOS!!!!!