YAY We are a family!!!

HI Everybody-

We are officially a family. It is 11:30pm on Tuesday night and the kiddos, while still in their beds are STILL NOT ASLEEP. That is right, they have decided there is no way, no how, they are going to sleep at all. And, if we leave the room then they are unhappy and we dont want that either. So, right now Papa is in there and I will go relieve him momentarily. I cannot believe they are still awake. We started the 'to bed' process at 8pm- their bedtime- and are still at it. Any advice?

But to give a recap of our wonderful day!

First we went off to the vital records office- a boring place, filled with bureaucrats. Aaron filled out some very unofficial looking paperwork and off our coordinator went to the powers that be. A little while later we were called into an office where this lady handed us very official looking -- new birth certificates- naming Aaron and I the parents of Apple and Orange. Wow, seeing my name, in Russian, as the birth mother- for some reason I didnt actually realize you got a totally new birth certificate with all new info. Kind of surreal to be honest but in a good way. Then we got the adoption certificates and decree, stating that the children are now ours and the 10 day period has ended. YAY! We had to sign about 20 different places- it was crazy she kept handing us papers and saying Mama, Papa, sign here over and over again. No idea what we signed because it was all in Russian but hopefully not led astray! Then she gave a lovely speech about family and we were off.

Next it was to the bank to exchange more $$ for donations to the baby home and then some last minute shopping for some other gifts I hadnt known about before. Then we were off to the Baby Home! We got there around 4pm and the kids were awesome- I mean, totally calm, totally happy- let us change their clothes no problem, happy to read a story while we waited etc. I was so worried, and for nothing! There was one moment of tears when we left and got into the car but that was soon forgotten as we whisked down the highway for 2 hours of sights and sounds they had never heard or seen before. They were so great in the car- so brave and cute and good - very proud! Seatbelts were not their favorite thing so who knows what they will feel about car seats but they were so good anyway!

Then to the apartment- elevators are very very scary if they are tiny, old, Russian, noisy and you have never ever seen one before. Once we got over that and up to our 9th floor apartment things were great. We fed them a light dinner and they loved it- had 3rds and 4ths of things but here is a shocker, Orange, who we thought would eat anything, will not eat hard boiled eggs. Nope. Very interesting.

Then onto bathtime- Apple was so awesome- she loved the bath, great at brushing her teeth, combing her hair etc. She didnt even mind me washing her hair. Orange was also a trooper to be sure and cute as a button-- he doesnt like to have his hair washed and brushing his teeth was not high on his list of favorite things but they both love being wrapped in big fluffy towels to dry off. :) So adorable.

Then a story, a snack and a cuddle. Things are going well, right. You are all reading along thinking- Wow, even though Sarah and Aaron have never parented a moment in their life, they are doing a pretty bang up job of it. Well, here is where the wheels come off the cart. Bed time. Yup, at 8pm we put them down- lots of tears, scared, unhappy. Get that sorted out, but no sleep. If we leave the room Orange is out of his bed runnng around and Apple is sitting in her bed crying. She still has not even laid down- she would not even take her shoes off until 10:45pm (she had put them on again with her jammies after her bath- apparently this is common with kids from baby homes- their shoes disappear onto other kids if they do not guard them so she is feeling quite attached to her new pink sparkly sandals). So, at least we have her shoes off now! I will let you all know how it goes if and when we ever go to sleep but for now we are HAPPY, THRILLED, and TIRED.

Love,
Us

One more day!

Hi everybody-

well, we just got back from the baby home and we had a great visit. They tell us they are giving us custody tomorrow "for sure" as the kiddos have no signs (knock wood) of CP and they do not think they were exposed now (grain of salt). But the plan is for us to go do some paperwork related to the passports in the morning and then go to the BH in the afternoon- laden with lots of "presents" and such for everyone there. Then we get to change the kiddos into their new clothes and off we go! Then home to the apartment and we spend Weds and Thursday together hanging out and waiting for their passports and then off to Moscow on Thursday night if all goes well!

Today was really funny- Apple had on a bride of frankenstein getup in blood red and gold thread- I wish I could post a pic here! And Orange was his usual cute self, and we all had lots of fun playing with balloons and blocks.

That is all we have to say today- tonight is our last night as parents with no kids so we are going out to dinner.

Love,
Us

1, 2, 3 breathe, breathe, breathe

Hi All-

So we got to go to the baby home again today! YAY! The babies seem to be just fine - they were laughing and we played pretty hard for 2 hours. Today we brought an apple with us (a real one, not just Apple products) and you would have thought it was Christmas and Easter all rolled into one. Those 2 will sit quietly and read a whole book if they know a "yablaka" piece is coming their way. This was super cute. Apple (the child) was not 100% happy when she came in but soon shed that with a cookie and some water and a new coloring book.

And guess what, she said "1, 2, 3" with me as we were counting doggies in one of the books! YES! These are her first English words. It was, of course, followed by a long conversation in Russian about her hair- mostly I think about her desire for a barrette (she arrived this afternoon with a haircut- a mullet- and neither she nor I think it suits her) but I only got about 50% of that down. And then lots of crazy play with the big blocks and puzzles.

Orange had his first real meltdown today- after being told "nyet" about something. But Aaron was a champ and got him through it with yoga breathing and a time in. And then it was all forgotten and off to play.

For some reason the baby home director is "sure" they did not contract the chicken pox and that it will all be fine. Not sure what inside info she has going on but I can tell you that I am going with this info. I know it could all be out the window tomorrow or sometime before we leave but I just need to believe that everything will happen on schedule and we will leave Thursday, with 2 healthy kiddos, for Moscow! So, everyone else- positive thoughts too please!

We have a long weekend of nada in front of us- no baby visits until Monday but we are going to clean the apartment, go shopping for toddler food etc so it should be okay. :)

Love,
Sarah & Aaron

Friday Morning in Novosibirsk

Hi Everybody-

Just a quick post to say no new news yet. We didnt get to see the babies yesterday (we knew that we would not, it was not on our every other day schedule) but if all goes as planned we will get to go this afternoon to see them!

So, no word on the chicken pox issue either- please everyone just keep your fingers and toes crossed that it passed over them- we will know by Tuesday hopefully one way or the other and as you all know I am all in favor of us leaving Novo for Moscow on Thursday as planned.

The good news is that if we have to stay for longer we think we should be able to stay in our apartment (80% chance) rather than have to move someplace else. And, of course, Aaron would get to see the eclipse - Uncle Peter, he will have a full report for you!

So, everybody think positive no chicken pox thoughts and we will keep you posted.

Love,
Sarah and Aaron

Worst Day Ever

Ok- so today we went to our every other day (supposed to be every day but they changed their minds at the last minute) visit with our kiddos and we learned that one of the kids in their groupa has chicken pox. They are not sure if our kids do or not. But, if they do they are possibly not going to release them to us on Tuesday as planned. We may be here MUCH longer than anticipated. And, with the eclipse who knows if we will have someplace to stay. And why on earth we cannot have custody now and take care of them I do not know but that is also out of the question. I am MAD and SAD and scared for our little ones. Anyone have any advice for me??? Anyone know the incubation period for chicken pox? My DH is being very nice and supportive- he wants me to remember that "fyosh budit harasho" (sp?) but it is super hard right now.

And the darn washer in our apt broke with all of our clothes in it. I am losing it right now.

So, that is where we are right now. Will keep everyone posted on what happens- hopefully they will not present symptoms and we will get to leave this hinterland on Thursday as planned but at this point I have little hope. Or a place to stay after the 31st.

Another Day in Siberian Limbo....

Hi all!

Just a quick update- quiet day today as we did not get to see the babies and Aaron was recovering from his terrible cold. Bad news is that I finished my last book that made the trip with us and English language books seem hard to find. I will have to find something to read because one can only watch so much Russian 'pimp my ride' on Russian MTV.

We went out to dinner tonight with another adoptive couple here in Novo- HI Tanya and Jon- thanks for the fun dinner! It was great to have a whole conversation in English and you guys are cool! Have a great rest of your trip. :)

So, that is all today- nothing to report other than we have one more day on our 10 day count down to check off and we are safe and well (except for Aaron's cold).

Love,
Us

Quiet Weekend

Hi,

Well it is Monday morning and it is POURING out. Huge thunderstorms rolled in yesterday and we have had torrential rains on and off for the last 24 hours. Good news- cooling things down- it is only 80! and Bad News- very very wet when you only have your feet as transportation. :)

Aaron braved the elements yesterday morning and went out and bought 2 umbrellas - at at least 100% + of the cost from the day before I am sure, but we needed something! Then we waited for a break in the downpour (princesses dont like to get too wet if possible) and went out for a walk, a visit to the dept store that is about 8 blocks away, a quick stop by the Sibir to leave a note for another adoptive family that arrives tonight, a grocery visit, and dinner at the pub nearby. It actually didnt start really raining until we were on the walk home and with our trusty new umbrellas we stayed pretty dry.

Today we are free until 2pm when we will leave for our afternoon visit with the babies. Aaron woke up this morning with a hideous cold- either caught from Orange or due to his foray into the storm yesterday morning for umbrellas so I will go to the pharmacy when they open and use my incredibly stilted and sad Russian to try to find him some medicine. While we brought over a dozen kinds of baby medicine from our doctor with us- we forgot all grown up medicine- no tylenol, no cold stuff- nada. So, now I will go forage (umbrella firmly in hand though) and hopefully find something good that isnt too potent and scary.

That's it- just wanted to give you all a quick update on our very quiet weekend.