Monday 13th November 2006 - Bonding - Day 12
Excuse the mix up in dates - 2nd time to blog this page - must be lost in cyberspace!!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!!!!!!
Yes, today is my birthday and how nice that I will be able to say I celebrated it in Kazakhstan – think I only spent one other birthday in a country other than Ireland – my first birthday in Canada.. Oh yeah, I forgot, I was in New Jersey for my 26th birthday…. I had warned Declan not to tell the others that it was my birthday and fair play to him he said nothing until I announced it myself on the bus home this evening from the Baby Home.. Now, I am officially the babushka of the group!!!
Galina who was our coordinator in Taraz when we adopted Elena...
Today was a good day. Alfiya told us this morning that Galina, the coordinator we had for Elena’s adoption was in the Baby Home visiting her families so I was really anxious to meet her and I grabbed my photos and went down to Cathy & Brent’s room as she is their coordinator but had just missed her. Anyway, she was outside the door talking to someone and when I went out she had such a welcome for me, big hug, and said she was so excited to see me and Sonia in Almaty had told her we would be here in Ust. She ushered me into a room so we could talk and she wanted to know all about Elena and I said I had photos and she was so excited to see her and how she had changed. I gave her a photo of Elena for herself and she was delighted. Then she came up to see Declan and Alex. It was so nice to see her again. It must be wonderful to go back and work with the same agency as they would be so familiar and genuinely excited to see returning families.
Declan, Sue & I went to Pizza Blue and had lunch and I managed to send a cute photo of Alex to everybody and read a few emails. We bought an internet card to try using the internet in our hotel room so hope that will work. We also bought a new data traveler. Hope this one will not get fried like the last one…. We will just have got on top of the communication issues when it will be time to go home..
Things are going so well here now. It took a while to settle but we have got into our routine and the days are going by fine. Someone mentioned ‘Groundhog Day’ today and it is so apt as anyone who has ever adopted from Kazakhstan will testify!!
Little Sasha was in great form in the afternoon and we had a lot of fun with him. He is such a happy little guy… We fed him his kefir and biscuits and he played quite happily until it was time for us to leave.
When we came out of the Baby Home yesterday evening there was this beautiful red sky - sign of a good day tomorrow!! We have started calling everything an omen (happens to all adoptive parents as a way of coping with all the unpredictability and lack of control in the process!!! well, maybe just this group!!) So, two magpies on the road - good omen, maybe we will get a court day today... rain - bad omen - court will not go ahead on Monday as predicted... red sky... good omen - paperwork will arrive from Astana in time for court!!!!
Declan went across to the shop to get a phone card to ring home but arrived back with a lovely bouquet of Kazakh roses!!!
Excuse the mix up in dates - 2nd time to blog this page - must be lost in cyberspace!!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!!!!!!
Yes, today is my birthday and how nice that I will be able to say I celebrated it in Kazakhstan – think I only spent one other birthday in a country other than Ireland – my first birthday in Canada.. Oh yeah, I forgot, I was in New Jersey for my 26th birthday…. I had warned Declan not to tell the others that it was my birthday and fair play to him he said nothing until I announced it myself on the bus home this evening from the Baby Home.. Now, I am officially the babushka of the group!!!
Galina who was our coordinator in Taraz when we adopted Elena...Today was a good day. Alfiya told us this morning that Galina, the coordinator we had for Elena’s adoption was in the Baby Home visiting her families so I was really anxious to meet her and I grabbed my photos and went down to Cathy & Brent’s room as she is their coordinator but had just missed her. Anyway, she was outside the door talking to someone and when I went out she had such a welcome for me, big hug, and said she was so excited to see me and Sonia in Almaty had told her we would be here in Ust. She ushered me into a room so we could talk and she wanted to know all about Elena and I said I had photos and she was so excited to see her and how she had changed. I gave her a photo of Elena for herself and she was delighted. Then she came up to see Declan and Alex. It was so nice to see her again. It must be wonderful to go back and work with the same agency as they would be so familiar and genuinely excited to see returning families.
Declan, Sue & I went to Pizza Blue and had lunch and I managed to send a cute photo of Alex to everybody and read a few emails. We bought an internet card to try using the internet in our hotel room so hope that will work. We also bought a new data traveler. Hope this one will not get fried like the last one…. We will just have got on top of the communication issues when it will be time to go home..
Things are going so well here now. It took a while to settle but we have got into our routine and the days are going by fine. Someone mentioned ‘Groundhog Day’ today and it is so apt as anyone who has ever adopted from Kazakhstan will testify!!
Little Sasha was in great form in the afternoon and we had a lot of fun with him. He is such a happy little guy… We fed him his kefir and biscuits and he played quite happily until it was time for us to leave.
When we came out of the Baby Home yesterday evening there was this beautiful red sky - sign of a good day tomorrow!! We have started calling everything an omen (happens to all adoptive parents as a way of coping with all the unpredictability and lack of control in the process!!! well, maybe just this group!!) So, two magpies on the road - good omen, maybe we will get a court day today... rain - bad omen - court will not go ahead on Monday as predicted... red sky... good omen - paperwork will arrive from Astana in time for court!!!!
Declan went across to the shop to get a phone card to ring home but arrived back with a lovely bouquet of Kazakh roses!!! 
4 comments:
Adrienne,
I am not sure if I ever wished you a happy birthday. With all that has been going on, I may have forgotten. Please forgive me.
Did you ever think you would be spending your birthday in Kaz? I have know you since shortly before your 21st birthday. We could have been knocked over with a feather had we known then the paths our lives would take; all the way from Strokestown!!!
Anyway...........belated Happy Birthday.
Hi Adrienne,
Alex is a real cutie. Can't wait to see him! Happy birthday to you! That was lovely what Declan did for you. You must save one of the roses.
Danara is up since 5 running around and wanting to play games and watch Barney
So I'm a bit boggy eyed!
I'm sending you a photo of her on Halloween night.
Take good care.
Give our love to Declan.
Will be thinking of you on the 20th and we will toast little Alex's birthday
Wendy Donal & Danara
Hello Dear Adrienne!
I am hoping that all is well with you, and that you are having a
smooth-sailing and joyful adoption journey!
Your package arrived here safely yesterday (Friday, November 10th),
and I will very happily deliver it to the orphanage director. I
think that having the letter be in English won't be a problem at all-
-Vera helps often at the orphanage with various tasks, including
taking all the photos of the children for the Registry and records,
and also interpreting as needed for the orphanage staff. So, I'm
guessing she'll read the letter to the Director and others.
Your note was correct---as I realized that you have very kindly sent
along gifts for the girls and me, I thought "you shouldn't have",
but then when I opened the very sweet and lovely photo-frame
ornaments, I was delighted!! I love them, and I know already they
will be part of our Christmas tree decorations and our special
traditions for many years to come. The calendar is also lovely, and
I will use it and enjoy seeing the great photos!
Thank you for this very nice surprise!
Blessings to your family,
Marcia
Thanks Marcia
Wishing you a safe third journey to Kaz.
Finally getting laptop up and running and things are going fine - should have court next Monday - Bonding finishes tomorrow.
Very happy with our little boy - can't wait to get him home...
Will post photos on taraz photo album when we get home.
Glad you like the photo frames - we have them on our tree every year. Just bought myself another for little
Alex.
Wishing you the best with your two lovely taraz beauties.
Adrienne
Post a Comment