April 15th

Last night we climbed into bed and without hesitation Alex scampered over to my side of the bed and laid his head on my shoulder. He’s last words of the day were “Goodnight Mom.”After about 5 minutes of trying to get comfortable he rolled to his side of the bed and promptly fell asleep.

I on the other hand could hear the washing machine whirling and gyrating and started doubting my knowledge of how to turn off the water boiler. Will it explode? Around midnight when the washer stopped, I hung it up to dry and quietly listened for the boiler. Nope, it was off. Good maybe I can sleep now?

No blinds in this place either so were up around seven am. Alex made me salad for breakfast. Cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage and some sort of processed meat (spam type) with olive oil and I made eggs. Salad for breakfast, not so bad.

Then I got a call that the window guy was at the orphanage and they needed my donation to pay for the windows so Naydia came and picked it up with the window guy in tow. I have no doubt that our donation went to pay for new windows!

Then Alex and I got dressed for the day. But not before we had a quick lesson on matching clothes. I explained (and I’m sure he did not understand) that he is no longer an orphan and I refuse to have him look like one! We settled on his new jogging suite with a white Nike soccer shirt underneath.

After a quick lesson of English which started out as torturous for Alex and ended with a tickle fest as he tried to learn the parts of the body, we walked over to Bunch’s place (my old place) and took them with us to the school on the bus. This was their practice bus run. Oh, how lovely my old place was!

Because my day yesterday took so long in Dniproprotrosk I didn’t have a chance to meet with Alex’s teacher. So today she sat down with me and went over his school work and gave him a scrapbook, and gave me his report card and his medical history. She told me he hates to study and will need a lot of motivation. Alex looked at me slyly and said “presents” and I laughed. No sweetheart your motivation will be no computer or bike if you don’t study. (And the translator was able to tell him that clearly!)

We went to visit his class and pass out our little gifts and his teacher cried when he left. She seems so very sweet and loving.


Alex was pretty nonchalant about the whole thing. I asked earlier how he got along with other children and she said he didn’t cause any problems or fight but that he does like to play by himself and doesn’t like to do group activities. This, like the studying issue comes as no surprise.

Naydia presented me with this carved wooden fish that some of the children made at the school. She told me it's a wishing fish. I wished right there and then in front of everyone that "Alex will learn English quickly!"

We took the Bunch’s and the bus back, stopping at the market for more salad ingredients for Alex and the Bunch’s came up to check out our pad. It was great as I had all of Alex’s laundry hanging in the entry way and it was like a haunted house maze when you walk in the door.

We came home and Alex made yet another salad for lunch. Pickles, green onions, crab, tomatoes and oil and vinegar. It really was pretty good. I had mine on my Ritz crackers that the Rast's brought for me. Here is a picture of both salads:

Then I logged on with the satellite modem and posted yesterdays post and before I know it Jeff called to confirm where we were meeting for lunch. Alex was watching cartoons and I had to peel him away.

We jumped on the bus and met up and went to pizza. (Only I first directed us into a jewelry store, Alex shook his head and said “No mama” and guided us around the corner to the actual pizza place. He has an amazing sense of direction!)

Alex and I just had drinks and dessert as we were full from our salads. Then we went and bought Amy a hairdryer and curling iron. Alex knew right where to take us. Why didn’t I wait and find my curling iron with him? Amy’s cost $12 American as mine was considerable more! We all count on Alex a lot. He orders for us and translates to the other children. He’s doing a great job. He doesn’t speak a lot to me IN English but he understands basic instructions and questions. While in the store Alex purchased another Gangster Video game without my permission and with my money so we had a quick lesson on that and returned the game. I explained that #1 he has to ask before spending my money and #2 we do not buy games that are rated for 18 years and older. He actually handled it pretty well. And told me he was sorry. Later I did let him pick out a “mom approved” game. He’s has "please, thank you, excuse me and I’m sorry" down pat.

The Rast then rode the bus with us to view our apartment and hang out for a bit. There’s just nothing like a tour to get the real feel for this place.

We had a disgusting dinner of meat filled dumplings with some sort of bean sauce. Yuck. My cooking is about par with the kitchen I’m preparing it in!

Alex is watching Scooby Doo while I post, tomorrow we’re up early to go to Dniproprotrosk yet again to pick up the social card and get Alex’s picture done for his passport. Still unsure of our time frame for departure but I will post it as soon as we can pin it down better.

I did post pics on yesterdays post so be sure to check out our "home sweet home"!