We received our embassy interview appointment set for 11am on the 24th, and now are looking into flights for Christmas Day. It looks possible that we might celebrate Aitugan's first Christmas in four countries and on three continents. Our travel agent (Lynn at Countryside travel) will help us as we attempt to get seats on a British Air flight from here to Russia, then London, then Boston, then a 3 hour drive to our home in Maine. If all goes as planned, it will all happen during the 25th, making for a busy, though highly memorable day.
We spent a few wonderful hours with Jennifer, Marshall and their beautiful daughter Aila today here at the hotel and plan to see them tomorrow along with another couple completing their adoption here in town. It was fantastic to meet them and feel we have much in common with them, and are happy that we are but a few hours drive away from one another.
Aitugan continues to sleep erratically, though she is definitely improving. I can't wait until we actually have more time and capacity to write entries here and post the large number of photos that have accumulated since we left Astana what seems like weeks ago. Take Care.
21 December 2007
20 December 2007
Greetings from Almaty.
Yes we made it, and yes we are all fine. As everything is, internet service is very expensive at the Hyatt, and so we are using internet cafes to check email. Without our usual systems and Macs in place, I'm not sure we will have new photos up before we get home, though to be sure, we are taking them, so bear with us.
Aitugan continues her defiant sleep patterns, refusing to sleep more than 5-6 hours at a time at night, and napping only an hour or two a day, and most of it when we are carrying her to and from the supermarket/internet cafe, so not exactly great times for us to sleep as well. Once we are back at the hotel, she is all for being awake, even if her best version of awake includes rubbing her eyes, yawning, fussing and crying.
We have taken to putting her in the carrier that we have(Ergo Carrier) and walking laps around our floor. Fortunately the Hyatt made sure to utilize as little interior space as possible and therefor has a ten story high center column that is open to a skylight dome with rooms set up in rings around the perimeter. This creates great visual entertainment for Aitugan to peer over the railing and look down upon the dining and lounge areas below complete with a piano bar, full sized yurt, and fountain.
The Hyatt really is quite a visually appealing hotel from the inside, though the exterior and grounds, at least at this time of year, sure don't strike one as a 5 star hotel. Among the inside attractions is a wonderful pool area. Again it is too bad we are not able to post photos at this point - but we will when we are able.
We took Aitugan to the pool last evening for her first swim, and she loved it as we expected she would. Of course KJ - being prepared for eveything - brought a special suit for Aitugan to swim in at the hotel. It is essntially a neoprene wetsuit cut such that there is a brief bottom that goes over the diaper followed by a 'shorty' style body suit with velco along one side. It could not be simpler, and provides nice buoyancy and warmth. Aitugan seemed to love every bit of her time there and we will definitely do it everyday until we leave.
So leaving - we won't know until tomorrow afternoon when exactly our US Embassy Interview is, but it seems quite likely to happen Monday such that we should be cleared to fly home Tuesday morning. Yesterday we had her medical exam and HIV test performed, and all seemd to go just fine.
We are hoping to meet up tomorrow afternoon with another couple from Rhode Island who are in town completing their adoption. It will be the first time that Aitugan will have had the opprtunity to interact with another child in more than a week (since she left the Baby House, and though we are happy for that, we are perhaps more excited to meet Jennifer and marshall and share experiences and just reconfirm our sanity.
We will leave you with that for now. KJ is strolling around the mall carrying a near sleeping Aitugan and so now we will trade off and she will come and check her email. I hope that everyone at home is well and that the holidays are providing a time to be with family and just to take time for each other. Take Care.
Yes we made it, and yes we are all fine. As everything is, internet service is very expensive at the Hyatt, and so we are using internet cafes to check email. Without our usual systems and Macs in place, I'm not sure we will have new photos up before we get home, though to be sure, we are taking them, so bear with us.
Aitugan continues her defiant sleep patterns, refusing to sleep more than 5-6 hours at a time at night, and napping only an hour or two a day, and most of it when we are carrying her to and from the supermarket/internet cafe, so not exactly great times for us to sleep as well. Once we are back at the hotel, she is all for being awake, even if her best version of awake includes rubbing her eyes, yawning, fussing and crying.
We have taken to putting her in the carrier that we have(Ergo Carrier) and walking laps around our floor. Fortunately the Hyatt made sure to utilize as little interior space as possible and therefor has a ten story high center column that is open to a skylight dome with rooms set up in rings around the perimeter. This creates great visual entertainment for Aitugan to peer over the railing and look down upon the dining and lounge areas below complete with a piano bar, full sized yurt, and fountain.
The Hyatt really is quite a visually appealing hotel from the inside, though the exterior and grounds, at least at this time of year, sure don't strike one as a 5 star hotel. Among the inside attractions is a wonderful pool area. Again it is too bad we are not able to post photos at this point - but we will when we are able.
We took Aitugan to the pool last evening for her first swim, and she loved it as we expected she would. Of course KJ - being prepared for eveything - brought a special suit for Aitugan to swim in at the hotel. It is essntially a neoprene wetsuit cut such that there is a brief bottom that goes over the diaper followed by a 'shorty' style body suit with velco along one side. It could not be simpler, and provides nice buoyancy and warmth. Aitugan seemed to love every bit of her time there and we will definitely do it everyday until we leave.
So leaving - we won't know until tomorrow afternoon when exactly our US Embassy Interview is, but it seems quite likely to happen Monday such that we should be cleared to fly home Tuesday morning. Yesterday we had her medical exam and HIV test performed, and all seemd to go just fine.
We are hoping to meet up tomorrow afternoon with another couple from Rhode Island who are in town completing their adoption. It will be the first time that Aitugan will have had the opprtunity to interact with another child in more than a week (since she left the Baby House, and though we are happy for that, we are perhaps more excited to meet Jennifer and marshall and share experiences and just reconfirm our sanity.
We will leave you with that for now. KJ is strolling around the mall carrying a near sleeping Aitugan and so now we will trade off and she will come and check her email. I hope that everyone at home is well and that the holidays are providing a time to be with family and just to take time for each other. Take Care.
17 December 2007
Our last night in Astana. I should probably feel some sense of sadness for leaving this place where our daughter was born and has spent her first 8 months of life, and perhaps at some point in the future I will, but all I can think of now as I prepare to pack up our basecamp here is that tomorrow we move camp to Almaty, then on to the summit in a week or so. It has been a long and rewarding climb, but we are ready to go home.
Our Super-Trooper Aitugan continues to amaze. Her smiles float with an unearthly airiness and her giggles resonate with such vibrancy that any lingering doubts I might ever have had about my readiness and capacity as a parent are vanquished - hopefully forever.
We went on another short excursion today, this time to have lunch with Elena and a friend of hers, Tatiana. Again Aitugan fussed at the donning of her snowsuit, but after that was generally agreeable.
She is fascinated with the wheels on other cars and loves to watch them spin. Stop lights are the more difficult time in our rides, as her movie seems to inexplicably come to a temporarily pause.
We continue to wonder where the real source of her energy is coming from, and when will we be held accountable. Yesterday she went all day with only one nap, and even that, just over an hour.
This from a child we were led to believe was napping 6 hours a day, and whom, most of the time, could seemingly not hold it together for the full two hours of our daily visits. Now suddenly she is taking on stretches of 5 and 6 hours. Surely this borrowed energy will need to be repaid - the question seems, when?
I had mentioned that for several days we were experiencing a phenomenon wherein within seconds of removing Aitugan's diaper, we were being rewarded with a little bonus urination. Well, today we tried to be practical about it, and the results seem to indicate we may be on to something.
Initially I decided to change her next to the toilet so that I could hold her over the toilet if it happened. Of course it did, and so about an hour later I tested it again and removed her diaper and put her over the toilet - success. Satisfied that it was not a fluke, I invited KJ to try it a short while later, and sure enough, we went 3 for 3.
It doesn't in any way suggest that she is close to potty training, but she definitely has a connection between diaper removed and pee. We had specifically asked her care givers before she left whether or not she had begun potty training (as often in the Baby Houses it begins quite early) but were told that her group had not.
She continues to eat well, though with her sleeping so out of schedule, her feeding has also fallen out of routine. I can't begin to imagine the sheer volume of connections being made in her brain on a daily basis right now. It is simply staggering.
It seems futile to try and even elaborate upon anything in particular. Suffice it to say that all that is new is what we have come to know of as life.
She is of a mind to begin to comprehend certain portions of it, but to this point has had so little exposure. Now suddenly the blinders come off and her senses are bombarded with images, sounds, smells, feelings, and ideas, all atempting to find meaning and association in her mind.
You can literally watch her brain develop right before your eyes as processes, causations, and actions are calculated, tested, and stored away.
One area in which we were pleasantly surprised was her comfort in water. It astounds us how at ease she is, given our understanding of the relative infrequency with which she was exposed to bath time and water in general.
As you may recall, KJ was able to be with Aitugan at the Baby House one afternoon when the caregivers gave her a bath and took pictures showing her playing and splashing happily. Well our bath time experiences produce more of the same.
She actively climbs about the tub searching out toys and playing with her feet and legs without any sense of fear or hesitation. Her immediate willingness to lie on her back keeping her ears submerged and allowing the occasional wave of water to lap up into her eyes astounds us. She is so at ease that we can't wait to get her into a pool and see how she feels with floating.
Well we have a busy day ahead of us and so I should put this down and get to sleep. I am not sure what we will find for internet in Almaty. I am sure it is all there, it just may take a day or two before we get settled in and powered up. Maybe not, but we will see.
Hopefully our flight tomorrow will pass uneventfully and we will find ourselves sleeping happily in Almaty in just 24 short hours. Take Care.
Our Super-Trooper Aitugan continues to amaze. Her smiles float with an unearthly airiness and her giggles resonate with such vibrancy that any lingering doubts I might ever have had about my readiness and capacity as a parent are vanquished - hopefully forever.
We went on another short excursion today, this time to have lunch with Elena and a friend of hers, Tatiana. Again Aitugan fussed at the donning of her snowsuit, but after that was generally agreeable.
She is fascinated with the wheels on other cars and loves to watch them spin. Stop lights are the more difficult time in our rides, as her movie seems to inexplicably come to a temporarily pause.
We continue to wonder where the real source of her energy is coming from, and when will we be held accountable. Yesterday she went all day with only one nap, and even that, just over an hour.
This from a child we were led to believe was napping 6 hours a day, and whom, most of the time, could seemingly not hold it together for the full two hours of our daily visits. Now suddenly she is taking on stretches of 5 and 6 hours. Surely this borrowed energy will need to be repaid - the question seems, when?
I had mentioned that for several days we were experiencing a phenomenon wherein within seconds of removing Aitugan's diaper, we were being rewarded with a little bonus urination. Well, today we tried to be practical about it, and the results seem to indicate we may be on to something.
Initially I decided to change her next to the toilet so that I could hold her over the toilet if it happened. Of course it did, and so about an hour later I tested it again and removed her diaper and put her over the toilet - success. Satisfied that it was not a fluke, I invited KJ to try it a short while later, and sure enough, we went 3 for 3.
It doesn't in any way suggest that she is close to potty training, but she definitely has a connection between diaper removed and pee. We had specifically asked her care givers before she left whether or not she had begun potty training (as often in the Baby Houses it begins quite early) but were told that her group had not.
She continues to eat well, though with her sleeping so out of schedule, her feeding has also fallen out of routine. I can't begin to imagine the sheer volume of connections being made in her brain on a daily basis right now. It is simply staggering.
It seems futile to try and even elaborate upon anything in particular. Suffice it to say that all that is new is what we have come to know of as life.
She is of a mind to begin to comprehend certain portions of it, but to this point has had so little exposure. Now suddenly the blinders come off and her senses are bombarded with images, sounds, smells, feelings, and ideas, all atempting to find meaning and association in her mind.
You can literally watch her brain develop right before your eyes as processes, causations, and actions are calculated, tested, and stored away.
One area in which we were pleasantly surprised was her comfort in water. It astounds us how at ease she is, given our understanding of the relative infrequency with which she was exposed to bath time and water in general.
As you may recall, KJ was able to be with Aitugan at the Baby House one afternoon when the caregivers gave her a bath and took pictures showing her playing and splashing happily. Well our bath time experiences produce more of the same.
She actively climbs about the tub searching out toys and playing with her feet and legs without any sense of fear or hesitation. Her immediate willingness to lie on her back keeping her ears submerged and allowing the occasional wave of water to lap up into her eyes astounds us. She is so at ease that we can't wait to get her into a pool and see how she feels with floating.
Well we have a busy day ahead of us and so I should put this down and get to sleep. I am not sure what we will find for internet in Almaty. I am sure it is all there, it just may take a day or two before we get settled in and powered up. Maybe not, but we will see.
Hopefully our flight tomorrow will pass uneventfully and we will find ourselves sleeping happily in Almaty in just 24 short hours. Take Care.
16 December 2007
As our friends over at Seattle Grace would say - Seriously? ... Seriously!
Just as the sun was setting this afternoon I walked over the river and through the park to the future site of this year's Ice City. It is really quite an intriguing collection of cold men and colder water.
I'm all set. Do you mind unplugging me?
Today's field trip involved going out to lunch, going to the baby food store, and stopping by Aitugan's Maternity Hospital here in Astana.
Good habits start early.
I'm woefully behind with the written part of this blog. Hopefully I will find the time soon to catch you up on all the amazing progress sour little one is making, but as it is already close to 1am, I had better catch some sleep while I can. Take Care.
Just as the sun was setting this afternoon I walked over the river and through the park to the future site of this year's Ice City. It is really quite an intriguing collection of cold men and colder water.
I'm all set. Do you mind unplugging me?
Today's field trip involved going out to lunch, going to the baby food store, and stopping by Aitugan's Maternity Hospital here in Astana.
Good habits start early.
I'm woefully behind with the written part of this blog. Hopefully I will find the time soon to catch you up on all the amazing progress sour little one is making, but as it is already close to 1am, I had better catch some sleep while I can. Take Care.
15 December 2007
This afternoon we took a little field trip to go and buy our Plane tickets to Almaty for this coming Tuesday afternoon. So there it is, a definitive date for leaving Astana.
When exactly we will leave Almaty is still up in the air. We have not given up hope of leaving Christmas Day just yet, but it is looking less and less likely unfortunately.
This is the Kazak version of a rear facing child seat. Notice the fully adjustable two point restraint system - otherwise known as Dad's hands.
After getting our tickets, little Aitugan was doing so well that we decided to make a run over to the Bayterek (see tall spire thing with Ball on top in the Astana Tour entry). As we previously mentioned the Bayterek is a favorite stop of the wedding motorcade processional, and when you combine wedding attire with ice rink making, well let's just say that Larry, Moe, and Curly couldn't have written it better.
In the shot below our newly wed couple is proudly making its way from the Limo to the Bayterek entrance when they discover that a crew is working feverishly to ring the monument with two concentric 4 foot tall ice block walls and flooding the ring to create a skating surface (our best guess).
Apparently keen to demonstrate to his new bride that she had chosen well, our groom gallantly hoists said bride up in his arms and confidently takes to the ice covered wood planks that have been specially designed by OSHA to cross such slushy predicaments.
I am ashamed to say that I didn't see it coming - hence no action shot - but just a feet from relative safety, the groom slipped, and down went the pair into an inch and a half of semi solid water. I got my camera up just in time to preserve a little of his last ditch effort to salvage his pride - and bride - and scramble to drier ground.
Recognizing the folly of his ways, the remainder of the wedding party opts for the equally precarious 'bridge of death'.
Let's just say that they have a different sort of legal system here as this particular government building's entrance necessitated this tenuous approach (shown here being expertly navigated in a specially designed ice boot with needle sharp heel pick)
followed by a dozen or so custom built Teflon covered stairs
leading to a guardrail free 30-foot long snow covered 'Formica Challenge'
and finished with the downhill stair crawl.
Here our heroine Aitugan demonstrates her unflappable confidence in her mom by meditating in her newest yoga position - Inverted Superman.
Immune to the comedy, the flooding continues.
Because jumping off of regular stairs isn't dangerous enough!
This was one of 7 different wedding Limos parked out front while we were there, each with the requisite pair or wedding bands affixed on top.
It was interesting to watch the sculpting and fitting of the blocks and to see the combination of power and hand tools being used. This ice assembly is separate from the Ice City that is being constructed over behind the aquarium. We drove by that today, but they still have a ways to go. Hopefully we'll get back before we leave, as I would love to walk throughout it and see the work.
What can I say, I love watching her sleep, and this was especially nice as it was her first nap in the car. It certainly gave us hope that she might sleep at least a little on the plane ride. She was up for 5 hours this morning before taking a brief nap.
The little girl you see below also took 6, yes we counted, 6 poops today. Who knew that was possible? She even managed one while we were changing her diaper. Additionally she peed twice while we changed her diaper today. To put it mildly, it was a busy day in our make shift changing room.
This last photo of the day is from atop the Bayterek where there is an imprint of the President's hand in which to put your own whilst making a wish. This is the main reason for the wedding day pilgrimage - to have your photo taken while making a wedding wish.
Take Care.
When exactly we will leave Almaty is still up in the air. We have not given up hope of leaving Christmas Day just yet, but it is looking less and less likely unfortunately.
This is the Kazak version of a rear facing child seat. Notice the fully adjustable two point restraint system - otherwise known as Dad's hands.
After getting our tickets, little Aitugan was doing so well that we decided to make a run over to the Bayterek (see tall spire thing with Ball on top in the Astana Tour entry). As we previously mentioned the Bayterek is a favorite stop of the wedding motorcade processional, and when you combine wedding attire with ice rink making, well let's just say that Larry, Moe, and Curly couldn't have written it better.
In the shot below our newly wed couple is proudly making its way from the Limo to the Bayterek entrance when they discover that a crew is working feverishly to ring the monument with two concentric 4 foot tall ice block walls and flooding the ring to create a skating surface (our best guess).
Apparently keen to demonstrate to his new bride that she had chosen well, our groom gallantly hoists said bride up in his arms and confidently takes to the ice covered wood planks that have been specially designed by OSHA to cross such slushy predicaments.
I am ashamed to say that I didn't see it coming - hence no action shot - but just a feet from relative safety, the groom slipped, and down went the pair into an inch and a half of semi solid water. I got my camera up just in time to preserve a little of his last ditch effort to salvage his pride - and bride - and scramble to drier ground.
Recognizing the folly of his ways, the remainder of the wedding party opts for the equally precarious 'bridge of death'.
Let's just say that they have a different sort of legal system here as this particular government building's entrance necessitated this tenuous approach (shown here being expertly navigated in a specially designed ice boot with needle sharp heel pick)
followed by a dozen or so custom built Teflon covered stairs
leading to a guardrail free 30-foot long snow covered 'Formica Challenge'
and finished with the downhill stair crawl.
Here our heroine Aitugan demonstrates her unflappable confidence in her mom by meditating in her newest yoga position - Inverted Superman.
Immune to the comedy, the flooding continues.
Because jumping off of regular stairs isn't dangerous enough!
This was one of 7 different wedding Limos parked out front while we were there, each with the requisite pair or wedding bands affixed on top.
It was interesting to watch the sculpting and fitting of the blocks and to see the combination of power and hand tools being used. This ice assembly is separate from the Ice City that is being constructed over behind the aquarium. We drove by that today, but they still have a ways to go. Hopefully we'll get back before we leave, as I would love to walk throughout it and see the work.
What can I say, I love watching her sleep, and this was especially nice as it was her first nap in the car. It certainly gave us hope that she might sleep at least a little on the plane ride. She was up for 5 hours this morning before taking a brief nap.
The little girl you see below also took 6, yes we counted, 6 poops today. Who knew that was possible? She even managed one while we were changing her diaper. Additionally she peed twice while we changed her diaper today. To put it mildly, it was a busy day in our make shift changing room.
This last photo of the day is from atop the Bayterek where there is an imprint of the President's hand in which to put your own whilst making a wish. This is the main reason for the wedding day pilgrimage - to have your photo taken while making a wedding wish.
Take Care.
14 December 2007
Everyday is an adventure.
As I should have anticipated, having just gone and told you all how wonderfully she was sleeping, the past 24 hours were nothing like the previous 48.
She didn't sleep all that solidly throughout the day yesterday as I mentioned, and then last night didn't settle down until 10pm. She awoke a little after midnight, had her bottle and then proceeded to do everything but sleep until sometime after two. She would alternate between playing and climbing on us, putting her head on our shoulder and closing her eyes and screeching and crying, usually all within a 10 minute span.
We finally thought she had worn her little self out and was in for a good sleep, but only slept until 7. So now rather than the blissful 11+ hours we had had the previous two nights we were looking at something a hair under 7. Well we thought, she'll certainly be one tired little girl today and take an extended nap to make it up.
Its almost funny how wrong a new parents logic can be. I say almost because it is only truly funny to those hearing about it, not those living it. Our precious little Aitugan played, crawled, explored and bounced until 9pm tonight with only one 45 and two 30 minute naps.
It bordered upon incomprehensible how an 8 month old child could expend what surely was a personal record in terms of calories in a 24 hour period on what must also have been very near to her personal record for sleepless hours in the same period.
By her schedule she should have had 16 hours of sleep and 8 awake while her actuals were closer to 9 asleep and 15 awake. I must say that for such numbers, she was in a mostly wonderful and alert mood. I think our biggest concern is that she is not feeling well, which may quite probably mean Chicken Pox.
No I'm not being a hypochondriac, several of the child groups at the Baby House had come down with it, including several of the children who had been in the adoptive child playroom. She certainly feels warm to us, but she has also been extremely active. I went out to try and find a thermometer tonight but to no avail. We will try again tomorrow with our translator.
So where are we in our process? By all accounts, about to embrace a great number of holidays.
The good news today was that as of this evening we have obtained both Aitugan's Passport (Kaz) and her exit visa. Both of these needed to get done here in Astana before traveling to Almaty and the hope was that in fact they would be completed today, but we had always held off our optimism, for if they had not, because of the Kaz Independence Day celebrations, the next Kaz Gov't business day is next Wednesday.
So that is the good news. We are cleared to go to Almaty. The less than stellar part is that once in Almaty, we first need to get Aitugan's HIV test(standard for all Kaz adoptions) and Physical done before submitting paperwork for our US embassy interview.
Now typically this can all happen in two business days. 8am HIV folowed by a physical exam, take the results to the embassy by noon, get your interview the next day, and you're ready to fly.
So what's our anticipated schedule? The medical office we are told will be closed Mon and Tues in observance of the Kaz Independence, so Medical will happen Wednesday. The US Embassy will be closed Tues, Wed, and Thurs in observance of - I have no idea, but it means that out paperwork will be turned in on Friday, and with luck, we will get our interview on Monday the 24th, a full 10 days from now. Yippee!!
Our original tickets home are for the 28th, and because of the holidays, we do not expect to be able to push them up any in the event that we are cleared to leave On Christmas, but we have seen that British Air has a one way fare of 1057 going through London to Boston that takes 21 hours.
We most certainly will look to do it if at all possible. Given how much the adoption has already cost, the US2000 more it would cost to arrive home Christmas Day and forever have that as our day seems a no brainer. We'll see.
Aitugan seems to be sleeping somewhat better this evening. With any luck, so will we. Take Care.
Oh I almost forgot to say - To the many of you who regularly read our blog, and especially to the great number of you who take extra time out of your day to write us comments - We greatly appreciate it and have been touched and often overwhelmed by your love and support. It means far more than you may realize to this family miles away from home and family, and going through such a dramatic and life altering experience.
Many of you we know simply by location, for nearly everyday I click on the counter and then choose By Location, and I run through the list and see that Marn Spain is on as are other regualars such as Zonhoven Belgium, Mercer Island WA, Austin TX, Cedar Falls IA, Clearwater FL, Mentor OH, Silver Spring MD, and Tunkahanock PA (I know I mispelled that, but you know who you are). Thank You.
As I should have anticipated, having just gone and told you all how wonderfully she was sleeping, the past 24 hours were nothing like the previous 48.
She didn't sleep all that solidly throughout the day yesterday as I mentioned, and then last night didn't settle down until 10pm. She awoke a little after midnight, had her bottle and then proceeded to do everything but sleep until sometime after two. She would alternate between playing and climbing on us, putting her head on our shoulder and closing her eyes and screeching and crying, usually all within a 10 minute span.
We finally thought she had worn her little self out and was in for a good sleep, but only slept until 7. So now rather than the blissful 11+ hours we had had the previous two nights we were looking at something a hair under 7. Well we thought, she'll certainly be one tired little girl today and take an extended nap to make it up.
Its almost funny how wrong a new parents logic can be. I say almost because it is only truly funny to those hearing about it, not those living it. Our precious little Aitugan played, crawled, explored and bounced until 9pm tonight with only one 45 and two 30 minute naps.
It bordered upon incomprehensible how an 8 month old child could expend what surely was a personal record in terms of calories in a 24 hour period on what must also have been very near to her personal record for sleepless hours in the same period.
By her schedule she should have had 16 hours of sleep and 8 awake while her actuals were closer to 9 asleep and 15 awake. I must say that for such numbers, she was in a mostly wonderful and alert mood. I think our biggest concern is that she is not feeling well, which may quite probably mean Chicken Pox.
No I'm not being a hypochondriac, several of the child groups at the Baby House had come down with it, including several of the children who had been in the adoptive child playroom. She certainly feels warm to us, but she has also been extremely active. I went out to try and find a thermometer tonight but to no avail. We will try again tomorrow with our translator.
So where are we in our process? By all accounts, about to embrace a great number of holidays.
The good news today was that as of this evening we have obtained both Aitugan's Passport (Kaz) and her exit visa. Both of these needed to get done here in Astana before traveling to Almaty and the hope was that in fact they would be completed today, but we had always held off our optimism, for if they had not, because of the Kaz Independence Day celebrations, the next Kaz Gov't business day is next Wednesday.
So that is the good news. We are cleared to go to Almaty. The less than stellar part is that once in Almaty, we first need to get Aitugan's HIV test(standard for all Kaz adoptions) and Physical done before submitting paperwork for our US embassy interview.
Now typically this can all happen in two business days. 8am HIV folowed by a physical exam, take the results to the embassy by noon, get your interview the next day, and you're ready to fly.
So what's our anticipated schedule? The medical office we are told will be closed Mon and Tues in observance of the Kaz Independence, so Medical will happen Wednesday. The US Embassy will be closed Tues, Wed, and Thurs in observance of - I have no idea, but it means that out paperwork will be turned in on Friday, and with luck, we will get our interview on Monday the 24th, a full 10 days from now. Yippee!!
Our original tickets home are for the 28th, and because of the holidays, we do not expect to be able to push them up any in the event that we are cleared to leave On Christmas, but we have seen that British Air has a one way fare of 1057 going through London to Boston that takes 21 hours.
We most certainly will look to do it if at all possible. Given how much the adoption has already cost, the US2000 more it would cost to arrive home Christmas Day and forever have that as our day seems a no brainer. We'll see.
Aitugan seems to be sleeping somewhat better this evening. With any luck, so will we. Take Care.
Oh I almost forgot to say - To the many of you who regularly read our blog, and especially to the great number of you who take extra time out of your day to write us comments - We greatly appreciate it and have been touched and often overwhelmed by your love and support. It means far more than you may realize to this family miles away from home and family, and going through such a dramatic and life altering experience.
Many of you we know simply by location, for nearly everyday I click on the counter and then choose By Location, and I run through the list and see that Marn Spain is on as are other regualars such as Zonhoven Belgium, Mercer Island WA, Austin TX, Cedar Falls IA, Clearwater FL, Mentor OH, Silver Spring MD, and Tunkahanock PA (I know I mispelled that, but you know who you are). Thank You.
13 December 2007
So is it just me, or is watching your new child sleep among the most magical of events life has to offer - to the uninitiated perhaps akin to watching paint dry, though presumably to many others, wildly outpacing even the best of movies.
I stare wide-eyed, awaiting the next subtle movement or transition with the intensity and anticipation that a gambler might the Roulette wheel. Without the ever changing nuances of waves or fire, but with the same mesmerizing allure, I find myself captivated time and time again.
None of this is to suggest that Aitugan is any less appealing awake. Her fascination for all things crinkly, penchant for crawling up and over rather than around, and innate ability to join thumb and mouth never cease to draw fawning looks from her mother and me.
What have we done in these first 48 hours? Well lots of laundry for one. Did I mention that our prolific eating machine also excels in the regurgitative arts. Our newest concern is 'Do we have enough shirts with us to last the 30+ hour long journey from hotel to home?'. She seems to embellish one at least hourly, creating designs that rival the best spin art.
Aitugan has been sleeping remarkably well (of course with the sole excepting being as I write this this afternoon). This time though I just don't know what to do. Do I go the route of letting her cry it out and calm herself, or do I go and comfort her and try and reassure her that everything will be fine.
As it is, I am doing a bit of both, and with no clear result. She is of course happy when I go pick her up and walk her around and rock her, but I am no better off when at last I put her down again and at other times I let her cry until she inevitably finds her thumb, but unlike all the other time, the soothing that comes from that is not getting her to the point of sleep and the wailing begins within a minute or so.
I've changed her diaper, offered her formula, laid down with her and talked to her, all to no avail. We have been at this for just over 45 minutes, and while the period between her fits is lengthening, I am not sure we've had the last of them yet this go around. (P.S. - as one might guess, it stopped the minute I finished writing about it and she has been sound asleep for over an hour now)
Really I mean it when I say that apart from this most recent outburst, our first 48 have gone remarkably well. She has held pretty closely to the two hours awake and two asleep daytime pattern, and has astounded us with her evening sleep.
The first night she went down at 8:30, was awakened at 10:30 for a bottle, then took less than 2 minutes to get back to sleep and slept until 6:30. Last night went even better with her going to sleep at 9, a bottle at 11, and then not a sound until after 7:30. Dreams(new parents dreams anyway) are made of such things. If tempting fate didn't hold such high a penalty, I might even proclaim us lucky.
This afternoon we took our first venture as a threesome - okay that doesn't sound right, how about 'as a family' instead. Anyway, we pulled out the dreaded snowsuit and forcibly plied our child into its submissive encumberance. Thankfully the walk to the 'Neighborhood Cafe' (its real name) is a short one and the cars and people outside provided adequate distraction.
Given the range of possible outcomes for such an outing into her newly expanding world, she gave a star performance. I'm slightly ashamed as I think it through now, for at one point I attempted to placate her by having her dance on the table. What sort of parent encourages table dancing. Anyhow, she enjoyed it.
So the dancing is a relatively new thing for Aitugan. We were determined to surround her with music from the minute she got home, not so much because we are hoping to impart classical genius, but because we hoped she would find it soothing, and because we hoped it would help all of us if she could embrace nap time without perfect silence. To this point is appears to be working.
Yesterday was all about Nanci Griffith and Mary Chapin Carpenter, and thus far today we've had everything from Lyle Lovett and Bruce Cockburn to Sister Sledge and Meatloaf. No clear preferences on her part yet, though she was intrigued by several KT Tunstall videos that came with an album download.
We call it dancing though of course it is more of a weight shift from one leg to the other and back again, and unquestionably is influenced by the music - so yes, dancing. As one might imagine, her dancing is being highly encouraged by her parents, not because of our own dancing prowess, but rather, because it seems to really assist with her balance and strength, and you can't argue against that.
Another new fascination for Aitugan has been the front loading washing machine in the kitchen. First it goes one way, then the other, and there is swishing of water and swooshing of color. If somehow she could interact with it more I would market a child's toy version of it and retire.
I'll leave off with that and try and get some photos up before she awakes from her nap. KJ is off with Elena wrapping up some details and attempting to find some good reminders of our time in Kaz to bring home with us. Take Care.
11 December 2007
So this is the beginning of the Baby Freeing Process: Flowers, Cakes, and Gifts for the Caregivers, Nurses, Doctors and Director.
After the gifts were sorted out, we headed up to Aitugan's room where Marzhan put Aitugan into her escape outfit - clothes from the outside. It would be the last time upon this changing table.
A quick goodbye to those that remain on the inside.
One last kiss from Marzhan.
And finally, the long awaited Hand-Off.
And of course in the name of equality, I get a turn - to show off her award winning and heart stealing hair.
We head downstairs and pop in for a photo with her Doctors
then head over to Dr. Alma's (Director) office and complete our farewell parade. Next stop - Freedom!
Welcome to the world Dear Aitugan. We love you!
Somehow I think the enormity of the moment overtook our little girl, and for a few moments she was inconsolable.
By the time we got in the van, the tears were in freefall, and the eyes redder than her lips.
Not even Mom could save the day.
WIthin a few minutes, the tantrum had passed and she became once again transfixed by the visuals of a world passing outside the window. By the time we got home, all was right again in the world - okay, our world anyway!
As the bib(and eyes) say, Daddy's Little Girl. We will see how long that lasts.
This is not such a great shot, but does give a feel for our kitchen. Really quite nice. The table has now been transformed into one of her crib walls.
She was in such a hurry to finish her bottle that by the end, she looked as if she had sprung a leak.
Here is a selection of items KJ was able to buy locally for Aitugan.
We knew that Aitugan loved bath time. What we didn't know was how much she would love naked time that follows the bath.
She excitedly climbed all around the room exploring everything and even insisted upon climbing up and through the coffee table (now also a part of her crib).
Once in the table she decided her best mode of travel was to attempt to get to her feet, and remarkably she did.
One last parting shot before it is off to sleep for the night.
It's never too early to start giving back!
Aitugan alsleep with us tonight. Hope you all have a great day.
What a day. It is hard to know where even to begin so I'll begin with right now and work back.
As I sit here at the computer, I've downloaded another 100 or so photos, and have yet to back up what is probably an hour or so of tape. Nanci Griffith is playing, in part for me, and in part for Aitugan who is asleep about 10 feet behind me in a make shift 'crib' fashioned from two upturned tables set in the corner of the living room.
So we arrived at the baby House around 2:30 this afternoon and, after sorting out what gifts were for the caregivers, which were for the doctors, which were for the Director, and which were general donations to the Baby House, were with Aitugan in her room around 3:00. KJ bought an outfit for her to wear on her first day of freedom, and her caregiver took care to make sure we had all of her belongings before we left the room.
Walking out of that room with Aitugan that one last time was a surreal moment, and of course it was met with tears from me. For Aitugan, things had not yet begun to seem unordinary, though she would quickly pick up that this was no ordinary day as rather than going to the playroom as usual, we began what amounted to a long parade through the Baby House, stopping for photos and goodbyes at the various doorways.
After a few last photos in front of the Baby House for posterity, we drove out through the gates, leaving the womb of the Baby House and entering the world. Just like a newborn, the act was met with screaming and crying from our little angel.
It was a scene we had not yet experienced, and the tears that flowed spoke of a blend of confusion, fear, and tiredness. Within minutes, the tears receded and curiosity took its place in her eyes. The remainder of the journey back to our apartment continued with tired but inquisitive eyes.
we arrived here a little after 4pm and after a quick tour and bottle of juice, decided it was time for an overdue first nap together. It took a while, but with KJ on one side of her and I the other, we all found a few minutes rest in bed.
That lasted for roughly 45 minutes and then Aitugan was up again looking around and crawling over, anxious to explore. We got up and took her into the kitchen to feed her for the first time since our third visit day, when inexplicably we were allowed to feed her for both the first and last time until now.
After a jar of apple and a bottle of formula, Aitugan was eager to explore the apartment, and explore she did.
I am tired and finding it difficult to make this interesting, so let's just outline things.
We had a great afternoon. Aitugan has been brilliantly receptive to all that is changing and was quite smiley and playful during our awake time. She starred in several iChat video calls to folks back in the states, ate well, enjoyed a wonderful bath time, and has now been sleeping for a few hours. In fact she just awoke as I heard a noise from her for the first time in nearly two hours.
In a few minutes we will wake her to give her a bottle and put her right back in bed. We have brought our bedding out into the living room and will set up next to her for at least this first night if not until we leave.
The long and short of it is that she is well and free, and happily asleep in the company of her parents. We are all tired and so will sign off until morning. Take Care.
After the gifts were sorted out, we headed up to Aitugan's room where Marzhan put Aitugan into her escape outfit - clothes from the outside. It would be the last time upon this changing table.
A quick goodbye to those that remain on the inside.
One last kiss from Marzhan.
And finally, the long awaited Hand-Off.
And of course in the name of equality, I get a turn - to show off her award winning and heart stealing hair.
We head downstairs and pop in for a photo with her Doctors
then head over to Dr. Alma's (Director) office and complete our farewell parade. Next stop - Freedom!
Welcome to the world Dear Aitugan. We love you!
Somehow I think the enormity of the moment overtook our little girl, and for a few moments she was inconsolable.
By the time we got in the van, the tears were in freefall, and the eyes redder than her lips.
Not even Mom could save the day.
WIthin a few minutes, the tantrum had passed and she became once again transfixed by the visuals of a world passing outside the window. By the time we got home, all was right again in the world - okay, our world anyway!
As the bib(and eyes) say, Daddy's Little Girl. We will see how long that lasts.
This is not such a great shot, but does give a feel for our kitchen. Really quite nice. The table has now been transformed into one of her crib walls.
She was in such a hurry to finish her bottle that by the end, she looked as if she had sprung a leak.
Here is a selection of items KJ was able to buy locally for Aitugan.
We knew that Aitugan loved bath time. What we didn't know was how much she would love naked time that follows the bath.
She excitedly climbed all around the room exploring everything and even insisted upon climbing up and through the coffee table (now also a part of her crib).
Once in the table she decided her best mode of travel was to attempt to get to her feet, and remarkably she did.
One last parting shot before it is off to sleep for the night.
It's never too early to start giving back!
Aitugan alsleep with us tonight. Hope you all have a great day.
What a day. It is hard to know where even to begin so I'll begin with right now and work back.
As I sit here at the computer, I've downloaded another 100 or so photos, and have yet to back up what is probably an hour or so of tape. Nanci Griffith is playing, in part for me, and in part for Aitugan who is asleep about 10 feet behind me in a make shift 'crib' fashioned from two upturned tables set in the corner of the living room.
So we arrived at the baby House around 2:30 this afternoon and, after sorting out what gifts were for the caregivers, which were for the doctors, which were for the Director, and which were general donations to the Baby House, were with Aitugan in her room around 3:00. KJ bought an outfit for her to wear on her first day of freedom, and her caregiver took care to make sure we had all of her belongings before we left the room.
Walking out of that room with Aitugan that one last time was a surreal moment, and of course it was met with tears from me. For Aitugan, things had not yet begun to seem unordinary, though she would quickly pick up that this was no ordinary day as rather than going to the playroom as usual, we began what amounted to a long parade through the Baby House, stopping for photos and goodbyes at the various doorways.
After a few last photos in front of the Baby House for posterity, we drove out through the gates, leaving the womb of the Baby House and entering the world. Just like a newborn, the act was met with screaming and crying from our little angel.
It was a scene we had not yet experienced, and the tears that flowed spoke of a blend of confusion, fear, and tiredness. Within minutes, the tears receded and curiosity took its place in her eyes. The remainder of the journey back to our apartment continued with tired but inquisitive eyes.
we arrived here a little after 4pm and after a quick tour and bottle of juice, decided it was time for an overdue first nap together. It took a while, but with KJ on one side of her and I the other, we all found a few minutes rest in bed.
That lasted for roughly 45 minutes and then Aitugan was up again looking around and crawling over, anxious to explore. We got up and took her into the kitchen to feed her for the first time since our third visit day, when inexplicably we were allowed to feed her for both the first and last time until now.
After a jar of apple and a bottle of formula, Aitugan was eager to explore the apartment, and explore she did.
I am tired and finding it difficult to make this interesting, so let's just outline things.
We had a great afternoon. Aitugan has been brilliantly receptive to all that is changing and was quite smiley and playful during our awake time. She starred in several iChat video calls to folks back in the states, ate well, enjoyed a wonderful bath time, and has now been sleeping for a few hours. In fact she just awoke as I heard a noise from her for the first time in nearly two hours.
In a few minutes we will wake her to give her a bottle and put her right back in bed. We have brought our bedding out into the living room and will set up next to her for at least this first night if not until we leave.
The long and short of it is that she is well and free, and happily asleep in the company of her parents. We are all tired and so will sign off until morning. Take Care.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
