Monday-an incredible day in SO many ways!!

We had a really nice day today. It started off early, as we were picked up by Tatiana at 7:45 for an 8:00 tour of the Delphin baby house. I have read about this tour so many times back in the “ole blog stalking days of yore” that I almost felt like I had been on it before! There is nothing like seeing with your own eyes though. Wow! They really do an impressive job here-and Dr. Irina is VERY proud, and rightfully so. We saw the isolation room, where the babies stay for 21 days right when they are admitted to the baby house (On Monday’s). The sauna, salt room, swimming pool, and speech therapy room were also really impressive. I was amazed at the kitchen and how the head lady there keeps track of all the kids meals, their calorie requirements, how much they eat, how much it costs, etc. It’s all done meticulously by hand. I loved seeing all the children..they are so adorable! It just breaks my heart that they all don’t have parents they live with. I was surprised when Dr. Irina told us that over 60% of the children at the Delphin baby house are NOT available for adoption, and of those that are, only 10% are available for adoption to the US. No wonder we wait so long-but, I have to say, it’s totally worth the wait. Sean has already asked when we can come back and adopt another one. He is clearly taken with these children as much as we are. I am SO glad I brought him with us. None of us will EVER be the same after this, that is for sure.

After our tour, we had our medical interview about Leeza. There are a few concerns, but I am confident that we can work with her on an issues she may have. After our medical interview, we got to take part in something amazing! They had the “grand opening” of the playground that the Wiley’s donated to the Delphin baby house. They had cookies, and juice, and 2 groups of kids come out to play. There were balloons everywhere and the kids were just PRECIOUS! We got to play, with the kids, on the playground, for an hour and a half. It was SO MUCH FUN! I got so many adorable pictures for Leeza. I’m sorry, I can’t share them since they’re of the kids, but let me suffice it to say, they’re INCREDIBLE! We got to give cookies to the kids “one for each hand” and they kept coming back for more. Sean had a BALL running around and playing with them too. Joe had this lil guy who came running up to him, and Joe held him for awhile. When he went to put him down, the lil dude just hugged on his legs until Joe picked him back up.
The caregivers told us that his biological father visits him often so he really likes men.
After this lil cherub had to go in, some other lil dude found his way into Joe’s arms. I got some incredible shots of Sean holding onto this lil boy and laughing. I had so much fun playing and running around with the kids. It really just breaks your heart. I wish I could take them all home!! It was chilly this morning, and it started warming up, so the caregivers just took the kids pants off (they had shorts underneath) and let them keep playing. I will never forget it-I feel so blessed to have been a part of something like this.

We went to see Leeza in her hut outside at 11 and she was still sleeping. I got some adorable pics of her in her sleeping angel pose. They woke her up , and she was all smiles. She really does seem laid back. We played for a bit and it was time for lunch. I donned my doo rag and apron and they gave her an extra big bib underneath her bib this time..I guess they heard that Leeza’s mama is very MESSY! Of course, we still made a big mess but she is a good lil eater. I guess I am getting a lil better cuz she didn’t get as frustrated with me today. I think she is cutting her old lady some slack! I got to meer her care giver today, Aigul. She is very sweet. She told us that Leeza is crawling and babbling and is always happy and alert, but calm at the same time. I hadn’t seen her crawl, so that was good news to hear. Aigul told Tatiana that I was “fashion forward”. How FUNNY IS THAT!! (Sara Tennen-that was my Target skirt outfit!!!). I told her that is why I needed a girl cuz Momma does like to shop!! After lunch, Sean really wanted to push Leeza in her stroller. She really loves it, but I don’t think that’s the best “bonding” activity we can do with her when we only get a measly 2 hours a day. We just went a couple times around and went back on the grass to play. When it was time to take her back at 1, we hung out for another 30 minutes (at least) in the hut. We had so much fun playing with the other kids in her group. They are all so adorable! Sean has been an incredible lil photographer. He gets such unique shots and does a great job of getting shots of all the kids. He is really really sweet playing with Leeza, and with Leeza’s buddies in group 11. Leeza and Sean spent good quality time today blowing raspberries at each other. It was cute, but then Sean was spitting all over the place, which wasn’t THAT cute.

It was a really unforgettable day. We went to the store (it’s called GROS, but it’s not really gross) and I got some cherry juice, yogurt, chocolate, cheese, and beer. I just finished some yummy bread with cheese and some cherry juice for lunch. It was really yummy! The juice here is really GOOD! We really eat a lot less here so far, which is good. We all could stand to lose a few lbs in the process. It was so interesting at the grocery story just trying to figure out what everything was.
I successfully washed my first load of laundry and it didn’t turn grey! GO ME!

I hope I can download some pics today. I do them one a time, and they are small, but maybe not small enough. What can I say..I am FASHION FORWARD, not a TECHNICAL GENIUS. I can’t have it all…..