More visits

Our visits with the twins are going very well...............when we arrive they run to us.......well Anthony runs around Dennis to me and Angelina runs right to Dennis.

The twins tell the caregivers that Dennis is Angelina's Poppa and I am his Momma - Poppa is not his Poppa should go to Angelina.  We have made a lot of progress with them and they are certainly happy to play with us.............Dennis and I are happy that things are going smoothly with them.  Anthony has made progress with Dennis and will give him a kiss (if told to by the caregivers) and will run and play with him if only to run from him to me.

Angelina is a sweetie and thrives for Poppas attention.  It is tough when you have 2 kids especially because they each favor one of us.  So while I'm with Anthony I feel I am not spending enough time with Angelina and that makes me sad and when Dennis tries to spend time with Anthony she wants to get right in on it with them.  We are making headway but it is not easy.  Another sad part of this whole thing is that while we are bonding so well we realize that in a few short days they are not going to see us again for one month..................that is a long time..........too long and we fear that of course they will forget our fun times together and we will again need to work on establishing bonds with them. 

A few observations.  Anthony is much more talkative then Angelina.  I see that she does struggle to speak - she does try - we keep saying one two three and she tries so hard to get the sounds out I am sure this is one of the things that will really need help with.  Anthony has such a pep in his step and has a sweet happy little swagger walk he does when he is happy.....it is quite endearing.  Angelina is a tough cookie - when she wants her bother to do something she gets right in his face or will grab and make him turn around or try to hold him in place if they are on the swing and we ask for them to look at the camera......................Anthony is very shy...............and puts his head down and peeks up with his little gray eyes very shyly but he is determined  and very head strong and the battle of the wills comes out when he wants his way he will not give up or give in.......he is tough in that sense.

As for Dennis & I we have finally adjusted to the time change with Sunday night being the first night we slept straight through.................we had been waking up at 1 or 2 AM staying up for and hour or so and then go back to sleep......................the food at the hotel is good.  Breakfast is chosen for us and again it always is some type of sliced meat on bread..............to start.  Getting tea and  coffee is a challenge - it's like one cup of coffee for him one tea for me (tiny teacup size no less)...............sorry that doesn't cut it for us especially struggling with lack of sleep............................... and although we are good tippers which we always hope will help get want we want & need it seems in Russia it doesn't matter. 

We are also struggling with our translator.  We of course cannot complain as that would not fair well for us but we are not happy that we don't have someone here who can assist us more.  We ask questions and we get a blank look or an answer that doesn't really apply.  We do realize we are New Yorkers and we speak fast and expect instant information but still we really think our agency let us down by having us struggle along. 

Of course the rule with international adoption is go with the flow and expect the unexpected.......................well so far we have learned that we can expect to be in court on Thursday for at least 7 hours......with a one hour lunch break.............whew and I was worried we would miss lunch.  Yes seven hours as the judge will go through every document...............let's see that is 2 dossiers and a whole bunch of other added in documents that we needed to satisfy her & lets not to forget she wouldn't give us a court date unless we supplied said documents so you would think yes she has already read every single thing if not once but maybe twice - remember she also had the pre-court hearing - didn't read everything then?  Anyway it is what it is and we will suffer through  it (with lunch also thrown in).

Originally we were told the court observer would be coming to the orphanage on Tuesday morning.  This morning we were told she would be coming this afternoon so after our visit we went to pick up some coffee, teas and candies for her office - not a bribe or a gift just a nicety.....................

As far as the little man goes we are getting updates and photos and have called him several time and with the last call being he really didn't want to speak with us because he was busy at a street fair and we called just as they arrived at the fair - he did manage to stop to say hello and not much else.  He is doing well and having lots of fun and keeping busy.  He hasn't asked when we are coming back but they are counting the days until we arrive home.  Nicholas doesn't know where are - we couldn't tell him we were heading back to Russia because he would absolutely would have wanted to go with us to see his brother and sister and second he would not understand how come they are not coming home with us yet.  So we told the little man we are taking care of family business and he was fine with that. We do miss he little man a whole bunch and can't wait to see him - this part is hardest for us!!!

Ok well I guess that is it for now............................................................

Oh right pictures..............................................

DND