Back on Track Monday!!!

I just got off the phone with Sean, and he was getting dressed and ready for his debut back at school! I was so impressed with how he sounded. He was wide awake, chipper, and ready to see his buddies at school.He brought back a bunch of coins so that he could give every kid in the 5th grade some tenge. He also got his teacher a gift and the other 5th grade teacher (who will teach him his very favorite subject, HISTORY)a gift. He picked them out himself. I am really proud of him!! He sounded so incredibly mature. Joe is taking him to school today, to take him into the office to let them know he's back (school started August 20th) and to meet his teacher. He finished all the work he was given, so I am hoping he won't be too far behind! Joe said the phone didn't stop ringing yesterday from his buddies calling him since they knew he was home. Seanie is a pretty popular guy! He had 2 fun days playing with his friends. I know he is excited about playing football at school today. I will be anxious to hear about his day in the morning. It's so weird..his evening is my morning..freaky. I'm a lil teary eyed right now because I miss him. :) However, my frown will be turned upside down soon when I talk about his sister, Miss Leeza Grace! She makes me smile and she is HERE, not millions of miles away. :) Plus, I know we'll be home very soon, but I also have very mixed emotions about leaving here. I really do love it here very much!






It was a GORGEOUS day in Kostanai today. The sun was bright and shining, although right now it seems like the clouds kinda covered it up. Lunch went well today. Leeza ate her soup like a champ, and just turned her head when she was done with her second courses. That is more what I am used to her with her. She just turns her head and shuts her mouth and won't eat anymore when she is full. The past 2 days she was crying and squirming with real tears before I even got a spoon full in. They did show me that another girl in her group downs EVERYTHING, but that's ok with me that Leeza doesn't. I would much rather her stop when she is full! The food her is very nutricious though..she gets carbs and protein and veggies in every lunch I feed her! I would say she eats WAY more than I could ever get Sean to eat at her age. Plus her food is prepared fresh every day, and he ate baby food!





After her lunch, we went for an hour and 15 minute walk. It was so nice out, I didn't even wear my jacket. I had Leeza strapped to me in her ergo and snowsuit, plus walking briskly kept me warm! One of the caregivers was outside with a stroller with 3 lil babies in it, all snuggly together. She had on a coat and hat. She asked me," HOLANDA, HOLANDA" and rubbed her arms. I said, NYET, and pointed to Leeza, hoping she understood that I was NOT "HOlanda" (cold) because Leeza kept me warm.
Leeza took her power nap again and I kept on trucking, around and around and around the baby house I went. Joe and Sean would never walk that much with me, they said they got dizzy. :) We had been walking about 45 minutes when we saw Kelly and Doug and Natasha arrive. Natasha came out with her son and we walked around a few times with them. Leeza was asleep, but when they asked if Leeza was sleeping, she opened her eyes like a little sleeping beauty! I would have stayed out even longer today because it was so nice, but I felt like I was restricting Leeza from playing so we went in. I do love our walks and I love the snuggle time, but we gotta mix it up!!





I was taking off her snowsuit, etc and Almagoul came out and motioned me to come into the kids playroom. All the kids were gone though. After a few minutes, Asiil started bringing them back in. They were all getting showers or baths (or whatever they get here?) and they all had their heads wrapped up in blankets and tied around their chests so they'd stay on. It was HILARIOUS. I got some great pictures. I wanted them to come play on the floor with us, but I THINK the told me they don't want them on the floor with wet heads or maybe cuz they were all clean. So, Leeza and I played on the floor and all the kids watched with rapt attention. I handed them some stacking cups and a couple other toys and they had a blast. I also brought my ipod and speakers in and they were rocking out! I was laughing so hard! I am so in love with these children and I am so attached to them! I am going to miss them so much. They are such sweethearts! I got SO many pictures today. Sean will really like them. A new guy started today, I am assuming maybe he moved up from the younger group. He is a real cutie too! I am really going to miss all the kiddo's. I wish I could know what will happen for them. I don't know their situation, if they will become available for adoption or if they have family right now who visits, or what. I just know that they are very sweet and lovelable children who deserve a family! There are so many families too waiting for their turn to come. It just doesn't seem fair to the kids or to the waiting parents.



They asked me to get more pampers for Leeza. The big jumbo box of 135 is gone already, but I don't care. I THINK they were telling me they used them all when we had the water turned off, but I don't care anyway. Diapers are so expensive here and I would much rather every kid wear one anyway. I am thinking of a a fundraiser for 2 Hearts for Hope. I have friends from my life at Tech Data, and we could put together a slide show off all the incredible pictures I've taken, and perhaps have a silent auction as well. (Patti and Maria...I'm talking about you guys!!)I want to raise as much money as we can for these children!! There is NO WAY that people would not give once they see the faces of these incredible sweet children!
I would also love to figure out a way to ship stuff to Kostanai for the Dolphin baby house specifically. It's so expensive to ship here,but maybe thru Eugene and Tatiana and my smart husband we can figure out a way. There is just NO WAY I can do nothing after having been here and seeing how much these women do for these children. I was watching the caregivers while I was playing with Leeza. THEY NEVER SIT DOWN!! These ladies WORK THEIR ASSES OFF!! They are ALWAYS always always working, and they also love the children too. It's so obvious. Even the one caregiver I was scared of, (who is now super sweet to me and was the one who invited me to come in the playroom) gives them hugs and kisses.


I totally understand why people get home and say they want to come back for another child. It's so hard to get here, but once you are HERE, it's so wonderful that you "forget" the labor pains and you are ready to start all over again!! I so wonder what will happen in the next few months with Kaz adoptions. I know it's getting more difficult and rumors are rampant. I have not read any of them, and I wish I hadn't read them before I came. However, when you are waiting, you are DYING to hear any piece of information that might shed light on the process.




As you can tell, I have a heavy heart today. It's a happy heart, for sure, I am very much in love with my daughter and I am very much in love with her country and where she got her start in life. I just feel so helpless and I want to do MORE for these children!! I know that their lil faces are going to be imprinted on my memory forever. I have such mixed feelings on leaving here! On the one hand, I am so excited to introduce Leeza to her family (she has a very big one!!) and all my friends who are so excited to meet her. I am starting to actually imagine what our daily routine will look like once we are home! However, I know I will cry when I take her out of the baby house, and I will cry when I leave Kostanai. I have heard my other blogger girlfriends talk about these conflicting feelings, and I am experiencing it as well. I get teary eyed just thinking about it!