September 13, 2004

The word of the day - EEEE Awwww

Hello Everyone! Priviet!
We are back in our apartment after a morning full of fun!! We started the day off at 6:30am as we are trying to get on a schedule before the children come back to the apartment with us. There was one killer mosquito that was happy to wake us, along with the alarm clock. I tell ya what, these kazakhstan mosquitoes are as big as they come. They have large pointy stingers, at least two feet long. And not only do they have stingers, they have garganchuan teeth. If they are not stinging they will be biting. Tonight we go to bed with our new favorite cologne "skin so soft" and a fly swatter!
The day started out with a bowl of honey nut cheerios and a yogurt. The yogurt is exactly how we were told it would be, very creamy and smooth with an icecream like flavor. I had to look twice to make sure that it was in fact yogurt. YUM! Next it was down stairs, (oh let me clarify on the stairs - we are on the third floor - the flights are split, up a little, turn, up a little more and up again) in my book that is 6 flights when carrying a hundred pound duffle and no sleep in 40 hours. But, for those of you who were feeling really sorry for us, the true confession is three flights...and I make Jeff carry the heavy stuff.
Ok, back to the events dujour. We headed for Ecik as usual, except this morning there was some kind of jam in a circle getting out of the city. Apparently in Kazakhstan its perfectly normal to jump from the car to find out what is going on. Not after a little while, but about 2 seconds after you stop short and 1 second after you have honked your horn. Both Emil and Gulnara were out of the car like a shot. Jeff and I just looked at each other - before we knew it Emil was yelling something in Russian which was to be guessed as "get in the car.car.car" He did, she did and we were off. If it was a second shorter, I dont think we would have realized what happened.
Again our morning commute was wonderful!!! I very much enjoy looking out into the fields to see people walking through them, gardening or doing who knows what. There are people walking or squatting everywhere. We still don't know why squatting is so popular - nearly everywhere you look there are groups of two or three people, men, woman, children both young and old, hunched down on two feet with their knees pulled into their chest. Sometimes they smoke, sometimes they eat. The only thing we can figure is this is the Kaz equivalent to hangin on the corner.
Upon arrival at the babyhouse we were greeted by the two most beautiful smiles I have ever seen. One w/ one w/o teeth. Karleigh was in a great mood this morning and was grinning and bright eyed. When she is happy she opens her mouth reeeeeeal wide and shows all 5 teeth. She also squishes her nose up a little like my buddy Olivia so Im especially happy about that. McCale was his usual captivating self, w/ a dash of FEED ME NOW. It was my turn to feed him as Jeff has done so the past couple of days. I tucked the bowl under the chin, and started spooning. He gulped it down like a champ. After we finished breakfast we experienced our first dirty diaper. It was a super duper kind of diaper, ya know, one you won't forget soon. While I'm trying to change McCale our coordinator and driver were scampering around looking for the camera. Apparently the diaper changing event makes good press for the judge on court day. I really can think of nicer pictures to see, but I guess this proves we are caring for him. He was very happy to be changed, and "delayered" for a moment, but I was trying to manage the wipes, old diaper, new diaper and look up to smile for a picture. How does this all happen and a person thinks about tucking in the tummy and defolding the extra chin. I guess all my vanity is out the window. I can see that soon these things wont be an issue anyhow as we will definately be on the run. About "delayering" the kids each wear three outfits at once. I know you keep seeing the same sleepers in each photo, these are just the outer later outfits. What is underneath is somewhat different each day. In addition, we know they are getting fresh sleepers because yesterday Jeff got McCale so wet from his food that when they brought something to change him into it was the same thing we just took off. Weird or groundhog day? You decide.
We spent a long time with the kids today, we also had a brief meeting with the cheif doctor and the director of the babyhouse. They reduced me to tears when they told me that Karleighs name (Karlygasha) is a birds name, and superstition has it that if the bird makes a nest on your house you will always have good luck. I got a little foggy at this point, then while they were talking among each other, Iooked behind me to see Jeff on the floor with the kids. He was comforting McCale and his full tummy while blowing raspberries at Karleigh. It stole my heart. I turned back and the tears were running. They asked "why you cry cooleeen?" I said, "because Im so thankful" they said "ohh good tears, ok". They were so sweet. They told me it was ok to cry and that it was good. The doctor gave both kids a clean bill of health and told us they had full body catscans that came back fine. I had no idea they performed that kind of test on the children, it was a comfort, but nothing, no how no way is going to keep us from adopting them. Its way too late for that. We have now both experienced McCale falling asleep in our arms and the peaceful way Karleigh sits in our lap and gazes into our eyes - then smiles. Its all way too good to be true.
On the way back from the babyhouse we stopped again for Jeff's new favorite meal "peroskies" (at least I think thats what they are) I know he described them yesterday - but todays were phenominal. Just out of these outside ovens that burn a special Kazak wood to very high temperatures - they bake the roll sized loaves until the top is smooth and brown. Todays filling was potatoe, mashed and creamy. Dr. Atkins, please forgive us, its just not happening this week!! Jeff took out the change in his pocket and for about .80 cents he purchased our lunch...4 of them! Seriously, this has to stop. The kitchen has the remainder of the .25 cent loaf from the other day and pasta. I can proudly say there is a small container of cucumbers out there to for a cucumber salad. (Joe - we were having withdrawal). Tonight we may enjoy our large bottle of beer - we cant read the label - but we believe its beer. It was a whopping .80 cents US! This is not the cheapest beer, but very close to it. There are other beers available like corona, amstel, etc. Ofcourse we want to try something new. You have to know that the clerk was laughing on our way out - we probably bought the Kazak version of old milwaukee. Hey, beers beer.
We made one more stop at an incredible candy store. As soon as we got out of the car, the air was filled with the smell of chocolate. Lets just say 'we got a golden ticket!'. Gulnara our interpreter thought we should get some chocolate for our caregivers, doctors, judge and prosecutor, it was a perfect idea! We picked up very large boxes of chocolate as gifts and bought ten small candybars for us (yeah...atkins, I know) but how could you not. It was like the chocolate chip cookie stand at the mall. The smell brought us in and we were in a trance, could not resist, could not resist, must have chocolate...... We did sample it this afternoon and it was incredible. Perhaps we will bring some home to share it with you. I was thinking we would be travelling alot lighter on the way back. Yeah, right who am I kidding.
Tonight we return to the Ramstore (large mall like building with the equivalent of a superWalmart inside) for more diapers, cleaning supplies, and a few other misc. items. We are really doing well and adjusting. Our driver will go in the store for us, he likes to push the cart and help us find what we need. He is a real doll. I cant say enough about how wonderful both our driver and interpreter are. They are really so much more than that.
Jeffs napping and Im close to follow as we have two hours before we leave. Tomorrow is another busy day preparing for the kids and a scheduled shopping excursion to the green market. I hear its quite the place. We will let you know.
Thanks so much to Sue and Al for taking care of the dogs for us so spur of the moment, we are so comfortable knowing you are there looking out for things. This is a comfort that is more helpful than you will ever know.
Take care everyone...Miss ya!
Colene

DANG forgot to tell you about the donkey. Guess the picture will have to do the talking.