Day 44-The last day!!

We were packed and dressed and had our luggage hauled downstairs by 3:15 am.

We loaded everything in Irina's car and we were off to the airport.
Irina made sure we were in the correct line for check in and then we were on our own. It was about 4:00 am, we waited and waited and finally got our boarding passes and checked in our four large suitcases.
Then we were directed upstairs to yet another line where we waited and waited. I'm beginning to get nervous as it's about 5:15 and our flight leaves at 5:35 and there is only one flight out of Kiev each day. Then I look at my ticket and it says gate 8 and the only sign I can see says Gate B1-11. My ticket doesn't say B only 8. All of a sudden I start feeling sick, like I could throw up sick and my heart starts racing. Am I in the wrong line? I finally get to the front of the line-I'm at the passport check place-and I frantically ask the guy if I'm at the right place. He tells me in broken English, not to panic this is the right place and then he takes Alex's large packet of papers and says he'll be right back. Right back? Are you kidding me? He's gone for about seven minutes and then meanders back and slowly stamps our papers, it's about 5:23 right now. Luckily our gate is just right around the corner, we board and get seated and we have about 7 minutes before take off. Good grief!
We fly into Frankfurt and disembark and we walk a few miles to our next gate. I used my visa for the first time in six weeks for a quick breakfast and we wait for our next flight. I did talk with the gate agents as Alex and I are not sitting together on this flight and they give me two isle seats across from each other and I'm easily able to trade with two rather large sisters for their window and middle seat in exchange for my two isle seats. This flight is the long one and we don't have the cool little TVs on the back of the chairs like we did on the flight there. Alex does very well though. He paces himself with the Game Boy and listening to the headset and then breaks that up with laying his head in my lap and trying to rest but I'm not sure either of us really got any sleep on this flight. We did watch two movies. Alex figured out during the second movie that it is in Russian on channel 8. They only advertised channel one for English and channel 2 for German.
Then we land in Chicago. I'm so looking forward to hearing and understanding English but despite being in my native country speaking the tongue of my birth, Chicago by far was the most difficult airport to navigate and to get help at. First we have to go through a passport check, then to immigration where the grumpiest Asian man with terrible English works. Then we wait and wait. Alex and I walk in circles-well I walk, Alex runs as we've been sitting for so long! A lady approaches me and hands me formal papers from the US Department of Health. Apparently I have to take Alex in for a TB check here in the States? I now have a form I have to take with me and then grumpy Asian guy massacres the pronunciation of our name and give's us back our passports.
Now we have to take all our luggage through immigration screening where they confiscate my beef jerky-which I bought in the United States-oh well. And we're sent out some doors with all our luggage and it looks like we're going out to the street. Wait! I have a connecting flight-oh turn left-left is only Lufthansa airlines-they tell me turn right-I find United they scan our luggage tags and take our suitcases and tell me to take our carry on's. We start walking and realize we're headed into an employee only area. I return to the United lady and tell her I have been up for over 20 hours, could you please give me specific instructions as to where we go now? Upstairs to the train. Gate B-12. (Note: the tickets have no gate information) Upstairs I can see the train but don't know which one to take, I seek further instructions and we're told where to stand. We get on the train, get off at section 2 then stand in another very long line to get through security...again. This will be the FOURTH time. We finally get through security and look for gate B-12. We walk, and walk and walk some more. As soon as I find the B's we stop for drinks and banana's and Alex gets a happy meal at McDonald's & I a tuna salad at some concession stand and then we walk and walk until we get to B-12. At this point I'm wondering if it's just me or if this is the most un-user friendly airport ever?

We get on our small commuter jet (after yet again re-arranging our tickets to sit together) and we both fall asleep. But it's so noisy-the people and the airplane and so uncomfortable that I'm not sure I slept for more than 10 minutes at a time. I wake up Alex when we land and he tells me "No-tired!" No kidding. We've been up now for 26+ hours.
But we're both awake and excited by the time we walk through the concourse and down the escalator to find our family waiting for us. What a sight! My kids are crying, I'm crying. We hug and hug and cry some more.
Besides my parents and children, The Lobo's are there, Jeff Rast, and the Howicks-who I think were videoing our tearful reunion and Nanette and Vern showed up minutes later. Of course we took lots of pictures-me with airplane hair and all tired.
Then we grabbed our luggage and we went home!!

My five in order of height-not that we planned that.

With the Garrett's

With my parents-we were missing James as he's hard at work but at least now we're only four hours apart instead of 1/2 a world away!

The house was all decorated-not to mention the lovely homemade hammock that Austin and his friend made by stringing the old trampoline top from our two front tree's. I will have to post a picture in the day as at night, you just can't get the true "white trash" feel it gives the place.



The first thing Alex did with his cousin's when we got home....Wii


Me hugging on my Sydni and Kambree hugging on us!

Ritva, my awesome RS president and friend dropped off yummy Schmidt's goodies earlier in the day. Apparently Ritva's been dropping off treats the whole time I've been gone! Thanks Ritva!
We ate cake, and I started laundry and Alex toured the house and LOVED his bedroom. He showered and somehow I managed to get the kids all to bed by ten pm. I crashed in bed after a very hot shower-into my king size bed with clean sheets and my little Ella snuggled next to me.
Ahh...home at last!

Misc Ukraine Photo's....

Me, curling Sara's hair in my smelly apartment

Eating Easter Cake with the Rast's.

Amy, Jeff and Oxana seeing us off the FIRST time we took the night train.

The bathroom on the train. The water splashes out of the toilet so there is a grate to stand on. When you flush, I swear you can see the tracks below.

Our first night train-in business class-so we were served tea.

Alex enjoying the Game Boy on the ride BACK to Dniprozerzink on the night train

Amy modeling the LARGE tortilla she found at the market

Alex-the unknown girl that joined us for lunch (later we learned that she was in the orphanage but was now too old, I'm not sure where she was living now but the kids really liked her) and Lena

The $10 dollar chips and salsa we were served at "The Tequila House" restaurant

Alex being his rocker self

Jeff & Amy-my Kiev roommates

Mary, Amy, Me & Alex hanging in our Kiev apartment

Alex multi-tasking-brushing and game boying

Alex and I in front of the Puppet House in Kiev

Group Shot in the "Land of Open Sky" Musem
Alex, Me, Oleg, Oxana, their son, Amy & Jeff

Amy & I in front of a very old church at the museum.

More of the museum

Traditional Ukraine food. Yes, this is pork fat.

Hana and I (Hana cried when I gave her this syrup!)

Alex and I in Kiev

Alex getting his Hep B shot in Ukraine at the Medical Visit

On the plane going home!

April 29th Day 43/Medical & Embassy.

I'm home now writing this post but I'm going to publish them in order so let me back track to Wednesday.
We headed to the medical center around 8:30 and waiting in this little hall with little couches lining the walls and we waited and waited and waited. We finally got in to see a woman doctor that did speak English but was very difficult to understand. I just kept nodding. She was upset that the medical report I brought from the orphanage had only a few words...she wanted sentences. So she went through Alex's medical records page by page, writing things down, thumping her finger on certain things and making lots of notes.
She told me he had had a lot of upper respiratory infections, five of them. (Hello? He's ten, that's not so bad is it?) and that he was in a clinc/spa for TB in 2005. This alarmed her and she insisted on a chest x-ray. It was clear and she gave me the x-ray to take home. Then Alex had a Hep B shot

Then we went to the little cafeteria for lunch-more Ukraine food. While eating our paper work was delivered and then we left for the embassy.
The embassy was a little confusing as they had given me papers to fill out but Irina had taken them from me. I reminded her of this as she's handing me other documents in the car outside of the embassy so I went in-unprepared. It was pretty busy, I saw a couple with three girls there that I also saw at the medical place and a Dad with a small hearing impaired boy. The most humorous was the blond that was there and because she and the consult representative talked so loudly I couldn't help but hear her explain how she's in love with her American fiance and the consult guy flat out denies her permission or whatever it was she was seeking as she and this fiance have only been together for two weeks. She starts bawling and pretty soon she and her Weird Al Yanchovich fiance come back. He calmly tells her he can fix this-he's sure it's just a misunderstanding. Then the goes to the window and talks with the consult guy who once again flat out denies them permission-tells him to marry her here if they love each other so much and the conversation becomes very heated. Weird Al has some very fine curse words to call the consult guy when he leaves. Alex and I are trying not to act like were listening but they are about three feet in front of us. Personally I'm hoping I don't get this consult guy next as now I'm sure he's in a pretty bad mood.
I get called to go back to the consult (after filling out six pages of paper work and the rest of James paper work that he left blank) and I have to raise my right arm and swear that everything I've filled out is true and accurate.
Then he asks if I can wait for 30 minutes and Alex's visa will be ready. I'm sorry, wait 30 minutes? I've been waiting for two weeks for this moment I will happily wait until the cows come home if I can get this today!
We walked out into the yard and spoke through the fence with Natalia (the translator) who was holding my purse and cell phone-as you cannot take ANYTHING into the embassy besides your wallet and papers.
We went back in and picked up our visa's. Alex face is just one big grin and he keeps doing this little "da doma" dance!
We picked up a taxi and went home. I tried to sleep as I had a pounding headache but it was no use. Finally I warmed up leftovers for dinner and then we walked to McDonald's for ice creams and stopped and checked emails at the Internet cafe. Then we had our last 50 grynva to spend.
We went home and I showered and dried my hair and packed everything I could. I called my sister and mom as it was so lonely there with Amy and Mary gone-it was that feeling you get when camp or summer is over. I don't know why because the only thing I want to do is go home but it was just a lonely feeling. I had Alex call Ivan to say goodbye and Ivan wished me luck-I know he wanted to say more than that but that was about all his English allowed him to say.
Then we went to bed as soon as it got dark-with the thought running through my mind that the next time I go to bed I"ll be in my own. My cell phone alarm was set to go off for 2:45 am.
Tomorrow we're going home!

April 28th/Day 42...Last Post From Ukraine?

So, last night we rode the Metro. Wow! We went down, down, down to the depths of the underground and took the “blue” line. We just counted how many stops were between ours and the one we wanted to get off on, then we lucked out and found enough people that spoke English to point us to the south exit, the street and eventually the Tequila House Restaurant. (A Mexican food restaurant we heard had an English menu) We had the Sodeburgs, Andreas, Amy, Mary, Alex and myself. Alex is our main tour guide-imagine all these adults counting on a ten year old to tell them which way to go? He’s pretty impressive.

The restaurant was a disappointment and very expensive. Ten dollars for chips and salsa and they gave us about 15 chips! But at least it wasn’t traditional Ukraine food. Amy & I have had enough of that for awhile. (Everyone else is new here so they’re not complaining….yet!)

On the way back some guy asks me “Russian or not Russian?”(Mind you, - I was in a well lit area, with plenty of people, heading the opposite direction of him-with two tall American men in our group) and I said in my best French accent. “Not Russian-French.” “France?” he asked? “Yes, we just prefer to speak in English!” The man started laughing as we walked away. I felt so liberated to joke with someone. I miss conversations in passing, hello’s and small talk in the elevators. I miss nods and winks and just confirmation that others are aware of you and understand you. Okay, let’s get off the subject of what I miss.

This morning Alex and I went to the open air market by the SDA and did some last minute souvenir shopping. I got him a cool fork & pocket knife combo for Boy Scouts with a Russian decal. I’m betting there will be no mistaking his silverware with any other boy. He’s pretty excited about it and wanted to use it at the restaurant at lunch but I said no.

Sodeburgs and Mary & Amy found us at the market and then Hanna our first translator met up with us and we walked to TGI Fridays for lunch and it was delicious!! I had a cheese burger. Well worth the walk!

Hana came back to the apartment and I was able to give her the Russian Book of Mormon, Russian Animated Book of Mormon and syrup. It made her tear up! She also helped me get postage and a letter off the Lori’s Bogdan. Thanks Hana! We love you!

I got a call around 3:30 that Oxana had Alex’s passport in hand but needed to fax it to the embassy. I waited about a half hour and called the embassy to confirm they’d received it? Nope. I waiting and called Oxana about 4:30. No answer. I text Oxana and got a “no” haven’t faxed it. I text her I was starting to freak out as it has to be there by 5:00. Lena then called and said it would be faxed within 10-15 minutes. Making it about 4:55 before it would arrive. I was so stressing out but sure enough, it arrived and I confirmed with the embassy it was received and we’re on for tomorrow with Alex’s medical and consulate visit and should have visa’s by the end of business day. Whootwhoo!

Amy & Mary leave tomorrow morning. Horlachers are already on their way to their orphanage and Sodeburgs leave for Dniprozerzink tonight so tomorrow it will be just me and Alex taking care of business and packing to go home! (Do I dare say that out loud?)

And for those of you who have asked about our flight plans:

We leave Kiev at 5:35 AM

Arrive in Frankfurt 7:15 am

Leave Frankfurt 10:35 am (over three hour layover)

Arrive in Chicago 12:30 pm

Leave Chicago: 5:15 pm (almost five hour layover)

Arrive in Salt Lake: 7:45 pm (United Flight 6449) Total travel time with time changes: 23 hours and ten minutes!

This will probably be my last post until I get home as the computer will be going with Amy in the morning.

I need to give a big shout out to Amy & Mary (and Jeff before he left) for hanging with me in Kiev. Thanks ton's. If it were not for you guys I may be in one of those Ukraine mental asylums right now!

And while I'm at it, hugs to my Aunts, Bev, Shirlene & Christine. Thanks for following and commenting so often.

To all the Adoption Way families, my ward friends, my cuz Michelle, the best loan officer in the State of Utah, Corbie and everyone else that has made comments. I appreciate every single one of them.

To Ivan & Snezhana-I'm so happy to add you to our family and look forward to watching you start your own family!

Adoption Way-thanks for always worrying about me and getting me through this crazy system. Especially Oxana-I truly love you.

A HUGE thanks to my Mom & Dad & sister Kammy-who send emails and pictures and see that my babies at home are taken care of. I could not have done this without you and your support.

A thanks to those of you who follow and don't comment too-I appreciate you coming along for the ride.

A special thanks to my four at home for all the text and support and willingness to love a new brother. I know this has been very long and that you are all very ready for life to return to normal-or at least normal as we understand it.

And last but not least a thanks to my husband, James who not only puts up with all my blogging but opened his mind and heart enough to tackle this adventure with me. I love you.

For all of you that have asked, yes-I will still blog-but probably not every day. I actually started blogging long before Alex came into our lives and just think of all the material I'll have to write about as he adjusts and we adjust to him....so if you're interested, stay tuned for the next chapter!

Peace, love & apple dumplings....

Wendy

April 27th/Day 41

Last night was like a reunion of Adoption Way families! We had Sodebergs and Horlachers at our apartment. We were just missing a few of you! It was weird to think about organizing our luncheons in Utah and now being here together in Ukraine. We laughed and told stories and poor Alex went upstairs and tried to watch Russian TV but we were so loud. He’s got to be so very bored. I at least have people to talk to. He is the only child around and although speaking more and more English everyday, it can’t be easy for him.

We went to the park this morning and Amy & Mary ran and I put on my IPod and took a brisk walk. I found a step hill to walk up and down. It was warm and I was able to wear my gym clothes and break a sweat. Alex brought his soccer ball and kicked it around and then showed off his hill climbing skills. He was like a mountain goat but then decided he could ride down the steep hill on his shoes. I yelled “No Alex!” but too late, he made it about 1/4th of the way down and then fell forward on his belly and body surfed all the way to the bottom, barley missing a tree at the bottom. Who needs brisk walking to get your heart rate up when you have Alex around? He jumped and said “Cool hu?” No, not cool my boy, you could have been killed! He was so dirty-and in a new shirt and clean jeans by the way! So we found Amy and Mary and headed home for all of us to shower and change.

We decided to take Mary to the Ukraine buffet, which is like a Chuck A Rama only you pay for each item and you recognize very few of them. She got a little cup of what she thought was porridge but Alex was making pig noises and pointing to Mary. She did have quite a lot of food so I told him to be nice and then I realized he was not pointing at Mary but her little cup of “porridge”- which I had tasted and it didn’t taste at all like porridge-and then I realized what he was trying to tell us, pig fat! That’s what Mary had, pig fat like the appetizer we had at our lunch celebration after court. Needless to say, she nor Amy would even try it. Everyone thanked Alex for enlightening them.

I forgot to mention that yesterday during church some Asia people walked in and Alex pointed to them and made karate movements. Discretion is something we’ll have to work on. He also imitates fat people, drunk people and crazy people.

While making our cookies last night Amy and Mary were eating some cookie dough and Alex took the bowl away and then did a great pantomime about how Amy would choke and die from eating cookie dough. He was hilarious.

Last night he said the sweetest prayer. We take turns and for the first time I really felt like he was praying and not just saying random words to appease me. Then he asked me to sing him songs and tickle his face, then he sang me a song and tickled my face. He has a very sweet singing voice, I just wish I could understand the words to his songs.

So the verdict is in, NO PASSPORT today. It’s done. Just not delivered until tomorrow. So that will delay me yet another day. I’m working on re-arranging my flight for Thursday. I refuse to cry. I’m done crying, what’s another day…right? (Picture me with a fake smile and glazed over eyes while making this statement.)

We found missionary’s in the mall today both from Utah and both are going home within the next couple months. They gave us their home phone numbers just in case we need translators when we get home. They also said they’d be willing to translate the discussions for our children. (Kambree, they were both very cute…but way to old for you!)

We’re sitting in our apartment trying to figure out what to do this evening. We were invited to FHE with the single LDS people here by the missionary’s. But we heard there is a wonderful Mexican food place here that we’re trying to locate. We’re hoping to hook up with the Sodebergs and Horlachers for dinner. But they won’t appreciate Mexican food like we will right now!

Sometimes I write these post and think, what is there to say? Just more of the same. If feels like Ground Hog day over and over again. At least I have people around me and I can’t thank you all enough for your comments from home on my blog, my email and my Facebook.

Two more post and we should be on the plane!

April 26th/Day 40-Stake Conference

Alex and I are enjoying a quiet Sunday afternoon.
We did manage to find church. It was Stake Conference and we shared a headset with English translation with Troy Keller. He was there with his three children and his facilitator.

I also saw the couple I saw at the embassy, little did I know they were LDS. They had sweetly given me pointers about the upcoming medical exam. Apparently they live here for his work? The church meeting was great (what we understood). When it was our turn with the headset, Amy and I used my headphones from my IPod because they split apart-I just had to remember not to reach into my bag for items to entertain Alex as it would pull the ear bud out of Amy's ear.

I came home and put in a roast with carrots and potato's. (One of the first American meals I've tried to cook in weeks!)
First I had to figure out how to light the gas stove-which was no easy task but after buying matches (as the spark thing they provided wouldn't work) and then lighting it in four different places and pounding on the element until it was entirely lit, we have a oven!

Troy stopped by for about 45 minutes and our kids ran around throwing balls at each other-I'm thinking I'm pretty lucky to have a one to one ratio as opposed to Troy's one to three! But he's handling it so well. He was better prepared for church then I was as he had fruit snacks and fish crackers. (American one's, not nasty fish snacks!)

Amy went to pick up Mary but her flight is delayed an hour so I'm hoping dinner won't be over cooked. I have no idea what temperature it is actually cooking at as there are no numbers on the dial-I'm just hoping for the best.

We're hoping to make chocolate chip cookies tonight. The cooking utensils in the place although cleaner than my last place, are lacking greatly. We have ONE fork. I told Amy whoever cook's-gets the fork!

We found tin foil at the little downstairs market by our apartment (James we're in the same building we were in just on the other side.) and we're going to have to use that to cover the rather disgusting broiler pan for a cookie sheet.

Of course cookies are pending the arrival of chocolate chips-which we have coming via Horlachers and Mary. (Just in case we want to make more than one batch!)
Last night my Alex got frustrated with the Game Boy and started crying. He's so tough about so many things (like the big scratch on his hand today) and yet things like trying new food or not mastering Lego's or the Game Boy bring him to tears. I tried to comfort him, get him to laugh, hug him, nothing. Finally he just feel asleep in his sad state and this morning he was sweet and sunny. (Right now he's Game Boying and I can hear huffs of impatience and sighs of exasperation-unfortunately when it comes to electronic games-I am not the parent to turn to for instruction or secrets. I don't even know how to turn the dumb thing on!)

I'm hoping to get Alex in to my doctor on Friday so we can register him for school on Monday. That's so weird to think-next week he could be in school and I could be living my normal life, brushing my teeth with tap water, folding warm clothes from the dryer, understanding the television programs and street signs, driving my car, (I hope I haven't forgotten), cooking in MY kitchen, and hugging ALL my kids!

With any luck and good fate, we'll have Alex's passport in hand tomorrow night and faxed to the embassy during the day. If that happens then Tuesday we'll do his medical exam and then head back to the embassy for our appointment and then....dadoma America!

April 25th/Day 39 Trip to "Sauna"

Warning….this post may not be suitable for all ages. Reader discretion is advised.
We started this day off with a trip to the “sauna” with Oxana. (That sort of rhymes if you say it out loud!)
We were warned by others, told not to go, other places were recommended but this only added more curiosity and determination for Amy and I so of course we went! (Jeff graciously offered to watch Alex.)
The building was about 150 years old and not in the best of shape. We went into a locker room where with out any inhibition Oxana stripped down to nothing and Amy and I cautiously followed suit. (We’re thinking that we’re going to get a towel…right? Umm…nope. But we did get some sort of hat- that is a sort of a cross between the Hot Dog On The Stick girls and Dopey from the Seven Dwarfs)

(Insert picture of the three of us in stupid hats!)
Although Oxana suggested we take pictures at the “sauna” this is the only picture we took of the event. You’ll just have to use your imagination for the rest.
Anyway, when in Rome….
We walk into the next room that has a few naked ladies showering in showers without doors and we are told to scrub down with a brush and some sort of sea salt soap. Then it was into the oven. Literally. Red glowing coals in fact. I felt like the Gingerbread Woman. Each tier of this “sauna” is about 20 degree’s hotter than the lower one. I can honestly feel myself baking and decide quickly that the lowest (and coolest) rack is the rack for me.
After baking for a few minutes Oxana took these bunches of leaves (we think they’re acorn leaves) that she had soaking in water and did some sort of ritualistic waving and shaking of the leaves and then started fanning us with them and then smacking us with them. I know, weird. But it actually felt rather good. (The leafs were wet and refreshing compared to the heat-apparently the leaves are good for your skin and health.)
After getting hit with the leaves we went out and wrapped in towels and laid on wooden slate beds to “rest”. Amy and I were laughing so hard there was no resting. We couldn’t help it. All these middle aged naked women running around smacking each other with bunches of leaves? And you think our hats looked dumb? There was one that looked like a cross between a pirate hat and something Napoleon would wear and another with little ears like a donkey or Fiona from Shrek.
Anyway we repeated the oven ritual and then it was on to our coffee scrubs. Oxana, worrying about our abstinence from coffee had supplied our Russian massage lady with decaf coffee for our scrubs. There was only one women doing all the scrubs and she was in various states of undress throughout the experience. When Amy got her scrub she was topless, when I got mine she had on a sweatshirt and some sort of wrap and then later we saw here in the wooden slat bed room with only the sweatshirt and no pants.
So just what is a coffee scrub? Well, first off it is not in a private room or a discreet corner. It’s right smack in the middle of the showering/prepare you leaves for smacking room. With naked ladies coming and going. You lay on this stone slab with NOTHING on and then the massage lady takes coffee and starts rubbing it all over your skin. I mean ALL over. And then grinding it into your flesh. I would like to say it was enjoyable but since I had chatted with Amy during her scrub (giving a new meaning to the word “Coffee Talk”) I sort of knew what I was in for and the whole time I kept thinking “Okay, Amy lived through this-I can do this-she’s almost done-oh my heck what am I doing?”
Then it was off to the showers were I attempted to wash ground in coffee off of my skin and out of my belly button. Then back to the oven’s for more heat and leaf whacking .Then we washed our hair-still trying to get coffee grounds off of us, dressed and left.
Whew! We made it. Amy and I have giggled and laughed all day long. We still cannot believe we did this. I’ve never been this naked my whole adult life. I told Amy I would always think of her and this experience every time I walk down the coffee isle of the super market.

Side note from Wendy & Amy: The sauna experience was in no way a sexual and/or pervert thing. It was more like a bonding woman thing and although we laughed and giggled it was because this was so out of our comfort zone. We really appreciate Oxana letting us hang with her on her day off and feel privileged that we were included and had this experience.

We left Oxana at the sauna to walk home and get ready for our afternoon but we were STARVING and not knowing where we could grab food fast-we went to McDonalds. Never have I seen a busier McDonalds. I told Amy we should open a franchise in Dniprozerzkink and put it by the orphanage. I bet we’d be millionaires!
Oxana and Oleg picked us all up and took us to “The Museum of Open Sky” which was a village with authentic old homes and wind mills. There was a church there that Oxana informed us was older than our country. Alex played some soccer with Jeff, Oleg and his son Daniel while Oxana, Amy and I shopped. It was a beautiful day and a wonderful afternoon.
We came back and Amy made Sweet-n-Sour chicken with rice and Alex made two of his famous salads. Alex told me he didn’t want anything but salad for dinner, but being the mean mother that I am I dished him a very small portion of rice and chicken-about a spoonful. He’s eyes filled with tears and her hid his face in his hands and said “no”. So I said, okay, go to bed (see I am mean!) and he stubbornly stuck the food in his mouth tasted it and then asked for more. He loved it! (Well, he loved the chicken, he gave the rice a take it or leave it sign) He told Amy “Amy food good.”
Alex communicates more everyday. Today he was planning his birthday. He wants Amy and Jeff to come for his birthday (as well as every member of our family calling Kammy "big Kammy" and my brothers "big brothers") and Amy is to make Sweet-n-Sour chicken and he’s going to make a BIG BIG salad and everyone is going to bring him “prisints”. Oh, my. We have three months and three days and we’re already planning our birthday.
He’s really ready to go home. It’s amazing how much he can communicate with his few words of English, but we have full on conversations with lots of hand motions, sound effects and guessing. And he makes me laugh at least ten times a day.
He had a conversation with Jeff this morning telling him in no uncertain terms that his Dad could beat him up in a fight. He is quite sure of this and he imitates James and his big muscles.
He sure is a cute boy, although I’m looking forward to him sleeping in his own bed and not putting his knees in my back all night long and hearing him talk in his sleep-which of course is in Russian and I cannot understand in the least.
We’re looking forward to going to church tomorrow. We’ll Amy and I are, Jeff is heading home and Alex grimaces when I mention church. Just like your average American 10 year old.
Here’s to leaf whacking, coffee rubs and adventure. All though I’d rather be home, I think I’ve laughed as much today as I’ve cried all week.

April 24th/Day38

Greetings from my clean and cozy apartment in Kiev! Jeff brought his laptop and he’s figured out the Internet and he and Amy have left for the notary and so I have his computer all to myself! (Imagine sounds of insane laughter inserted here!)

Our train ride was yet another grand adventure. Did I mention that when you’re in Dniprozersink that the train stops for exactly TWO minutes? You have two minutes to load yourself and your luggage and hand your tickets to the train attendant. The first night Alex and I left we had FOUR suitcases (two of them over sized) and four bags. Thank heavens Jeff and Amy came as Jeff threw our luggage on the train while I tried to turn in tickets and haul it down to our compartment.

If you’re claustrophobic, Ukraine overnight train rides are not for you! The hallway’s are so narrow your carry-on bag with wheels rubs the walls as you pull it to your compartment. In an effort to make the train’s more homey-there are rug runners down these halls that catch the wheels of your luggage and so now not only are you pulling your luggage down the hall, your dragging the rug with you too. The larger suitcases are too large for you and the suitcase to proceed down the hall at the same time. You have to sort of lift the 50 pound bag out in front of you and grunt and groan until you reach your compartment.

Once in you compartment (the first ride we rode business class so we had a compartment to ourselves and we each had a little bunk on each side of the compartment) you cannot stand between the beds with your suitcase-it’s impossible. You have to pull up the beds and man handle your bags underneath in order to negotiate the small walking space in between the beds. Then you are provided with a rolled up mattress, clean linens and a two ton pillow. (Seriously, if you were to have pillow fights with these pillow and the strength to swing it at someone you could knock them out cold!)

The 2nd night train as mentioned we shared a four person compartment with two ladies but our 3rd train ride we shared a four person compartment with the Rast’s and all would have been fine if it weren’t for the men smoking two compartments down! Those really stinky cigarettes that are probably burning holes in not only the smokers lungs but ours as well. Keep in mind at this point I’ve wanted to take someone out at the passport office and defiantly pulled out George’s backseat seat belts and I’m thinking I’m going to let these men know how I feel about this smoking. Luckily Jeff held me back. That and I saw that the men (four in number) were enjoying numerous alcoholic beverages as well as their stinky cigarettes. So I made a u-turn back to my compartment and we all suffered through. (By the way we were in a non-smoking car!)

The Ambien kicked in and I was out until the train attendant woke us at 5:45am. Why when our train doesn’t arrive until 6:53? The train does stop longer in Kiev so we don’t have to jump off in two minutes like in Dniprozerzink so in my mind-this wake up call is insane. Let us sleep!

So our day today so far as consisted of showering, eating breakfast-always an adventure and going to the Internet café to check emails.

Amy and I have been looking for a gym to work out at and Elena mentioned her friend goes to this free gym on the bank of a river and would take us tonight. We were getting excited. Then she explained further. Not only is it a gym but it’s free and it’s out doors… What? AND it get’s better… all the equipment is “handmade”. Now, we’re really curious. (The outdoor part had me turned off. I’ve decided I’m allergic to cold!) Jeff found pictures of the gym on the Internet. James I think this is your type of gym!

Seriously, does it remind you of a prison yard? Yea, not thinking we’ll hit THIS gym any time soon.

Anyway, we’re thinking Italian opera (why not? Russian? Italian? You can never understand opera anyway.) or English speaking movie tonight. Jeff volunteered to stay with Alex if we elect to go the opera so we’ll probably go to the movie as Jeff is already keeping an eye on Alex tomorrow while Amy and I go to the “sauna” with Oxana.

Apparently this “sauna” is something else. Very old and rustic. We’re going to get our bodies scrubbed with coffee beans. Oxana was concerned because we don’t drink coffee but I’m not thinking a coffee body scrub would be breaking the world of wisdom. Do you?

So despite being stuck here, I have company, a bustling busy city, Internet access and my sweet boy. I’d rather be home but this ain’t so bad….

Love to all, thanks for your prayers and comments and concern. Another bright side to staying is our first translator Hana is out of town and won’t be back until Monday night so by staying I’ll be able to hook up with her and deliver her the maple syrup I had Straders bring AND the Russian animated book of Mormon she asked for. She’ll be so surprised!

Oh, and Mary-Amy’s friend is bringing lot’s of comforts from home, baking powder, Bisquick & syrup and Horlachers are bring chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk. We’re going to have pancakes, chocolate chip cookies and fudge! (And NO I have not lost my planned 10 pounds-I’m lucky my jeans still fit!)

Alex is watching cartoons and has been a trooper through all of this. Three nights on a train, hanging out with adults and a bawling new mother-he’s awesome. He knows that Kiev is one step closer to home and he’s so excited to get there.

Peace, love & warm chocolate chip cookies to all!

More on April 23rd...

Alex and I made it to Dniproprotrosk for his 2nd passport photo. They asked me for his original birth certificate when I walked in. Um, hello...that is at the embassy and I could feel the hair on my neck standing up. I was ready to take someone out. Just tell me who. If they can't understand me I promise you they'd understand my body language! But some head person waived the need for the birth certificate (because I've already done this once-good gravy) and we proceed. Good 'cause I really could kick some one's can about now!

On the way there Alex fell asleep with his head in my lap (and messed up his carefully combed hair) and I listened to my I-pod trying to shut out my surroundings-but that may have not been the best idea as a song came on that Kambree had danced to and I started thinking about missing her dance concert. Kambree dances with such passion and life and I LOVE watching her dance. Tears started steaming down my cheeks (again). Luckily Alex was sound asleep and neither the driver or Oxana could see me. However, these were not sad tears of frustration from yesterday but the proud tears of a mom remembering what it's like to watch her child perform. I always cry (happy tears) when Kambree dances as she lights up the stage and makes my heart -soar. She works so hard and is so self conscious little does she know how beautiful and perfect she is. I love all my children so much and I am so proud of all of them. Austin melts me and makes me laugh. I miss his teasing. Devree is so driven and determined and excels at everything and is always willing to run places with me. Rylee is my baby and always will be, she is like the frosting on the cake. She's tender heart-ed and I love listening to her tell her long winded stories and my Alex-everyday I think how blessed I am to have found him-this one child out of thousands-he will complete us.

We stopped at the mall and I found my tea set and while I was with Alex finding him some more "oh la la" body spray Oxana purchased my tea set for me as a gift. I know she just feels terrible about the passport problem and I know it has nothing to do with her. I sincerely have come to love Oxana and Oleg. I keep telling them they need to come visit us in Utah. I know she must have this effect on many of her clients as she tells me she has invitations to New York and California.

On the way home I boldly dug out the "never been used" seat belts in the back seat of George's car and fastened myself and Alex in them. I figured I would be doing all the rest of you a favor. I feel so rebellious right now-so what if I offend you and make you think you are not a good driver-the fact is driving here is super crazy and super dangerous and now all my friends following me can buckle up. It took me a good ten minutes to find the belts and then fish them out from under the seats! If you don't like it-then send me home!!

When James left he told Alex to take good care of me and Alex truly takes that to heart. He is always worrying. "Do we have the key?" "How will we get our luggage on the train?"" How will we get tickets to Kiev?" I'm finding these things out as I've been hanging out with Oxana and Lena and I'll say, "What did he say?" "Oh, he's worrying about..." I've told him, "Alex, I'm the mom, it's my job to worry. I'll take care of you." But he's just not getting it. I guess when you've had to fend for yourself for so long it's hard to know how to let someone take care of you?

He is currently out shopping with Jeff. He asked for money for "prisints" for Kambree, Austin, Devree & Rylee. He gets so excited to buy "prisints". I told him "NO FOOD!"-as I can see him bringing everyone those dreaded fish snacks back.

I found English speaking church in Kiev (thanks Buck!) and Amy and I are going to try and go on Sunday. If anyone arrives in Kiev (or Troy-if you want to go) call me 8050-954-1249. It's at ten am. The more the merrier.

It's 5:45 in the morning in Utah and 2:45 in the afternoon here. How bizarre that my day is half way over and yours has yet to begin.

We're leaving on the 11:23 pm train back to Kiev. I think I'll be passing Ambian to all (except Alex of course) as last night was heavenly!

Alex just got back with all his "prisints". He bought treasures for everyone. Brach, Tyler, all his siblings and me! I got a Power Ranger picture frame, a candle, a decorative box and a card in Russian. He say's it says "I love you mama." I wont' tell what he got anyone else!

April 23rd/Day 37

Little did you know that following my blog would involve so many tears and so much drama did you? Nor did I.

So, we just got off of our 2nd overnight train ride and at Jeff & Amy’s (hence my computer access) waiting to drive to Dniproprotrosk for picture #2.
I don’t know if I’m just an:
#1 avid train sleeper
#2 or that I was totally exhausted from riding the train the night prior
#3 or it had something to do with in my emotional crying fest yesterday upon hearing I’m here for another five days
#4 and/or the Ambien I took the minute I laid down
but whatever it was I slept like baby on the train from 11-3:30-which is saying something as the night before I think I might have slept for 45 minutes at a time.
We shared a four person compartment with two ladies-and I didn’t notice any terrible odors wafting from their bunks. Alex and I had the top bunks and fortunately neither of us had to get down and step on our bunk mates in the night visiting the tin can bathroom. (Yes, I took pictures-will post when I get home.)
But it was an uneventful train ride and Oleg picked us up at 6:15 am and now we’re just killing time at the Rasts apartment. I’m on the computer and Alex is watching cartoons.
Last night on our drive to the train station we saw a big white limo and Alex had to tell Irinia (our driver and Kiev facilitator) about how his “babooska” rode in a limo for her birthday. I don’t know how he knows this or remembers it, but he is very focused on cars so it’s probably etched in his mind after looking at our photo albums?
The other thing he LOVES is cell phones. Like an obsession. He has an older cell phone with free incoming minutes and he has lots of music and pictures (thank fully the ½ naked women pictures have been delete) and he is of the opinion that his phone will work in the U.S. and keeps wanting accessories for it and I keep telling him it won’t work in America but he’s very stubborn that it will. We’ll see-as we don’t have a adaptor to keep it charged. (And I really don’t like the music he has on it so I don’t see myself trying to find one!)
We went to McDonalds last night (and it’s just as yucky here as it is at home) and he ordered a salad and took two bites and then said yuck and pushed it away. Yes, I am a mean mother and I made him eat it. (Well, all the tomatoes cucumbers and five bites of lettuce.) He does this quite often, asks for and/or order s things and then turns up his nose and wants to throw it away. It’s something I thought I’d work on with him later but no time like the present! And since time is all we have we’re starting now!
We are also working on table manners. He likes to stab his meat and eat it off his fork without cutting it up. I told him that in America we cut up our food and eat small bites and chew with our mouths closed AND swallow our food before putting more in. He eats like he’s in a race and starving. He then informed me okay in America but right now? He’s in Ukraine. (Good grief!)
One of our favorite words is “patience” and I’ll stroke his check, he really just needs to slow down and relax. Which is funny as the favorite song he listens to on my I-pod is Mika's “Relax….take it easy.” Which needs to be his motto!
Last night while walking home from the Internet café he would pat my arm and say “my mama” and then circle his arm around indicating all the other women around us and say “not my mama” and then pat my arm and say “my mama”.

Alex entertained himself (and in turn me) yesterday by excitingly yelling "Mom, mom!" every five minutes and insisting I follow him into various rooms to show me all the things in our new apartment. Like the can opener, the piggy bank on top of the shelf, the tea pot etc...
His English improves everyday and whenever he says three words or more he’ll ask “Me English good?” and I of course tell him it is. (Hey, it’s a heck of a lot better than my Russian!)
Well, I better get my boy ready for picture #2-hope it works-apparently this problem has only happened once before but since this passport system is only a few months old I don’t think the odds are very encouraging!

April 22nd/Day 36

What is that saying about the best laid plans?
Apparently, I'm not coming home on Friday.
Alex's passport photo (as well as every passport photo taken in Dniproprotrosk that day) did not turn out and has to be re-taken. And although, the picture is taken in Diniproprotrosk and sent to Keiv and then sent back to Dniproprotrosk and I am currently IN Kiev I cannot get this fixed here. Alex and I are now back on the night train to get his picture taken at nine tomorrow morning and then BACK on the night train AGAIN to get back here.
BUT there's more....
Now we have another three working days from tomorrow before the passport will be finished making it MONDAY before we will have the passport and then Tuesday we can go the embassy and fly home on WEDNESDAY!!
The question you're asking might be, did you cry?
OF COURSE!!!
I tried hard not to let Alex see me but I couldn't help the tears from streaming down my face. Poor Irina and Lena (my translator) who had to deliver the bad news. I called Amy and cried to her and then pleaded for her to stay with me in Kiev as I think I might be going insane!! She was coming to Keiv already to drop off Jeff and pick up her friend and we arranged to take the night train Thursday back to Keiv together. (Yes, Andreas-take the train it is so much cheaper than driving AND safer too! Plus it's an adventure!)
Amy's friend Mary is coming in Sunday and my Ukraine BFF Amy has agreed to stay with me through Tuesday. We're going to share my apartment and honestly she is an angel. The idea of staying alone and attempting to entertain Alex for FIVE days more was really pushing me over the edge! Not that he isn't the sweetest boy in the world but we're both bored and ready to come home! (I did break out the Game Boy today-I was saving it for the plane ride home but I figured, I'll have Amy, Jeff and Mary-he needs something too!)
So I am at the Internet cafe-again-trying to rearrange my flight plans-again! I will be here when Sodeburgs and Horlachers get here, that is a bright spot in all this and I made Amy promise to not let me cry and be a party pooper.
I'm working on finding church here on Sunday, that will help.
By the time I leave, I will have been here six weeks and one day. (But who's counting?)
My BFF and husband James leaves for two weeks of work the morning before I get back. We will have not seen each other for five weeks by the time he gets back. Good thing we had those 17 straight days in Ukraine together. I told James between my sobs this morning that I feel like I'm a pregnant overdue woman and every extra day feels like a week! He had a few choice words to say about the Ukraine government that I will not repeat on this family friendly sight.
Alex is entertaining himself by looking at the items on the street market outside. He came and asked me for 20 gryvna and came back with a "Suprise Mama" and made me close my eyes. He bought me a beautiful wooden trivet for my kitchen then he asked for more gryna and came back with surprises for Papa and Babooska. I won't say what they are as to not spoil his surprise but is he sweet or what?
Tonight on the train we do not have a private compartment and will be sharing with two other people. That will be interesting, I just hope they are regular bathers. (Don't scoff-it's not a common occurrence here-bathing!)

Thanks for the comments and emails. You are my life line to home.

Someday I'll look back and this will have been a blink, today it feels like a black eye but someday, a blink.

April 21st /Day 35 Update...

Well, Alex and I took the night train to Kiev. It was an interesting experience and when I get home I'll post pictures and tell you all about it. For now I'm in an Internet cafe checking emails and confirming my flight home which will be Friday (IF I GET HIS VISA ON THURSDAY) United Airlines flight 6449 arriving at 7:45 pm. This is bitter sweet because my biggest push to get home (besides my apparent homesickness) was to see Kambree's dance concert Friday night at SEVEN PM!! So not only will I miss it, I'll arrive in the middle of it! |

Speaking of Kambree, apparently James is getting a taste of single parenting and the emotional and financial exhausting of having a teenager daughter, not working, taking college courses, active social life and performing with dance company. There is yet another dance coming up and Kam hit James up for money and a dress. Needless to say, he's freaking out. Anyone have a dress Kambree can borrow?

The plan I worked out by talking with the embassy is to go there this morning bringing Alex's visa photo. (Remember that day he had his picture taken and I didn't know why? Well, it's for his visa!) Oxana will pick up his passport back in Dniprprotrosk, fax the info to the embassy before noon so the can get started today and then she'll send the passport on a train this afternoon so we can have it in hand to go to his medical appointment in the morning and then meet with the consulate that afternoon. With any luck we'll have the visa in hand by the end of business day tomorrow and hop on our 5:30am flight on Friday.

So lots to tell about the train but it will have to wait. Thanks all for your positive thoughts and encouraging words.

We're still alive....barely!

I have posts for the last two days but they're on my laptop and it has crashed. We are not getting Alex's passport today as planned BUT I've been on the phone with the embassy trying to figure out a way to still catch our flight on Friday. It will be very tricky and until I check out a few more things it may be impossible.
Yes, I've cried and that made Alex cry but he may have been crying because the computer broke but either way we've had a rough day.
I'm at Jeff & Amy's using their computer but Alex as well as their girls are forbidden in this swanky apartment so they're outside playing while I check emails and write this post.
Grrr...I really want to be home on Friday, not sure I can get us flights out on Saturday. Think positive thoughts and send them to this side of the world!

April 20th/Day 34 Goodbye Ivan & Snezhana

This post is also on my laptop-check later! (Posted 6/18/09)

We had all talked about sleeping in on Monday but Alex was up at 6:45 and so, so was I. We tried really hard to stay quite but around eight we woke Ivan & Snezhana up-sneaking into the room next to theirs to check my emails. I offered to buy us all breakfast at McDonald's but Ivan doesn’t like McDonald's AND he pointed out-we have a ton of food left over!

So we ate more Easter Cake, tea and Snezhana fried up the potato dumplings which are even better the second day. I really am going to make these when I get home.

Alex and I were ready to head out as we have laundry to do and he was pleading for “da doma”. (Which is actually a Ukraine word not Russian and it’s one word “dadoma” whereas I always thought it was “yes home”. The word for home in Russian is “Dome” How confusing to have two languages. Everyone speaks and watches TV in Russian but all of Alex’s studies were in Ukraine. No wonder he hates to study!)

We had an English lesson on fruit as the table was covered with a plastic cloth of fruit. We stopped at McDonald's on the way to the bus station. It was Ivan’s idea but here is how he looked, he thinks McDonald's is unhealthy. I assured him I agree and we don’t eat there often-which is true-just ask my homegrown kids!

We had talked in McDonalds about Ivan & Snezhana coming to visit us. I told them I would check into how we “invite” them so they can get a visa. It would be awesome to have them visit but it may not be for a very long time as they’re trying to build their home and start a family.

Then we were off to the bus stop. (BTW Ivan backs into his parking spots too James. I knew you two were kindred spirits!)

So the moment I had been dreading was upon us. Saying goodbye. I had reminded Alex at the house to say goodbye to the dogs and to Andri Ivanovich and he did fine. We purchased our tickets and were getting on the bus as Ivan and Alex exchanged their goodbyes. Ivan told him to be patient with James and Wendy and to study and learn English. (This I got through Snezhana-I’m sure more was said but that was between Ivan & Alex) Then they escorted us to our seats-which was great because someone was in our seat and they made them get out. Ivan carried my bags which had multiplied as they sent me home with jam, Easter cake, fresh milk and a container of potato dumplings and roasted meat. (They also sent me an Easter Cake to bring to Utah! I hope it makes the journey!)

We said good bye again as they got off the bus, Alex had his baseball cap on and I turned his face up to me and his eyes were filled with tears. He didn’t sob or cry loudly but turned away and buried his face in his hands. I knew this was going to be the hard goodbye. I hugged him too me, I wanted him to tell him it was okay that he was crying-that I would worry if he wasn’t-that we would always stay in touch with Ivan but of course he can’t understand any of this so I just hug him and say it’s okay. Meanwhile, Ivan & Snezhana had walked around to our side of the bus to wave (we’re sitting right against the big window in the back) and they could see Alex’s crying and by now I’m tearing up too. It hurts my heart to see my boy so sad. So Alex is crying, and I’m crying and I’m sure we’re just a sight of sadness. We wave again and I can see that Snezhana is getting teary too.

I found Alex a tissue and we pull out and then it hit me just how brave Alex is! Everyone is always saying I’m brave, that they could never do this-adopt a child-let alone an older child and one that doesn’t speak English? But truly who is brave? Wendy the 40 year old that will live in her country, speak her language, live with her family and incorporate Alex into her life? Or Alex the ten year old little boy that will leave everyone and everything he knows good and bad and travel half a world away to live with people he’s know for short time, learn a language and a life he has never known and trust and believe that he will be loved and cared for? Who is the brave one? He is only ten years old, think of when you were ten…could you have done such a thing? What a trusting soul, what a beautiful, brave child.

Weeks ago while saying my payers I had such a strong witness of Heavenly Fathers love for Alex and how he had been entrusted to my care. When I look back on our path to this point, I have no doubt that we knew Alex in the life before this one and that he was meant to be a part of our family. This I know because I feel the spirit and I’ve watched the miraculous journey almost as a bystander as to how we got from my initial stirrings-that there was someone missing in our family-to this point. I just hope that the spirit is whispering to Alex that all will be well too. That this is where he belongs. That he is loved not only by us but by our loving Father in Heaven who knows him just as he knows all of his children.

It was a pretty quite bus ride. After the first few hugs during the tears he didn’t want to snuggle or lay against me. I think he just needed his space. We caught our second bus and walked home to our little scary apartment dropped our bags and then Alex threw his arms around me:

Alex “I love you Mama”

Me: “I love you too my Alex.”

Alex: “My mama...”