visit #4

Visit #4



This morning we were picked up at 9:00 am we first went to a notary to get something signed then we went to see Josiah it was already 10:30 so we had missed 30 min when we got there the kids were playing outside again I hoped that Josiah would not be upset like he was the last time after coming from outside. We got into the home put on our booties lol and went to the room they brought him to us and he came right to us and I picked him up and kissed him his little face was cold so I think they had just come in but he was not upset he was happy. He sat on my lap and played with the music toy and looked at the photo book I made with the kids pictures and mine and mikes on the front I would point to the kids and say their names and sister or brother he pointed to Jordan and said brother and he kept going back to Amelia's picture he even kissed it and pointed to her eyes then to his then he shut the book and said papa he knows mike is papa and he pointed to mikes picture. then they told us it was time to go he was going to have lunch so we stood up I gave him hugs and kisses and then he reached to hug mike and he put his hand up to feel his beard sweet then the nannies asked me if I wanted to help him wash his hands of course I did she sent us to the back room where there were three little sinks just his size we washed his hands then he went out and sat at the table they gave him his soup and he held his hand out for his bread and he ate like a big boy we waved and said bye bye and he waved back saying bye bye. It was a great visit. Then we went to take all the paperwork we had signed over the last couple days back to the committee. Then or coordinator took us to have pancakes but they are not like home they are thin and they put stuff inside them it was good. We also stopped and got a pizza from pizza hut to eat later at the hotel the pizza tastes the same as it does at home only better the coke even though its in a coca cola bottle from the coca cola co it does not taste the same and all drinks are warm here no ice. Oh its almost 7:00 am in Portland we are going to Skype the kids its 6:00pm here. Sorry I cant add pictures for some reason I can’t.

3rd visit .

Visit #3 we got to go back and see him for a 3rd visit usually they only let you come once a day but they said we could come back after his nap so of course we did. So we got there around 4 pm and the children were having tea is what they said, they get tea and cookies or cracker or fruit after nap. I guess like I give my daycare kids snack after nap but I would sure never give them tea our coordinator said tea is given to Russian children almost from birth. .They wanted to let him finish his tea So they took us up to this little room the size of a close.t it had a small sofa and a book shelf with a few toys but also a file cabinet and some other stuff like maybe storage, it did have a window. Mike and our coordinator and I all had to fit in this room and somehow play with a 3 year old boy lol. at first we thought it was crazy but it worked well it was easier to contain him and he was not distracted by his little friends coming to the door, he just sat on my lap and played for the most part. He loved the little music toy I brought that plays songs and nursery rhymes. he figured out fast how to work it and would choose the same song over and over. he would put it up to his ear to listen and he danced a little so cute. I also brought some animals for him to play with, he liked them and choose the giraffe to hold but would take the others out and I would say the sound and he would look at me and giggle so hard then our coordinator told me the sound they make for the animals in Russia (who knew animals sounded different in Russia lol) anyways that’s why he was giggling because I was saying it wrong. The room we were in was the path to the Dr office where they give the kids shots and checkups, when the nurse came thru Josiah moved up in my lap and made a funny face. she said," no no its ok no shots." and patted his heads he was ok then lol he knew what that room was. earlier when we where there for our visit the nannies would take tow kids out at a time they were crying they told us they were going to get a flue shot, then when they came back they were all smiles. not sure what they did after the shot maybe gave them a candy. While we were playing with Josiah I took his hand and kissed his palm, he like that and kept giving me his palm up to my lips then once he grabbed my nose and giggled. when he giggles it is not just a little giggle it is a GIGGLE! he's so cute and has such a since of hummer he likes to tease. We had a taxi take us for this visit and he waited for us we told him one hour so we had to go, it was already past an hour. Josiah didn't want to go, I’m glad. When we got back to the hotel the Internet was not working I’m so upset I need to call the kids! it is still not working now but I’m writing this on the desk top and will copy it over as soon as I can. we will be leaving soon to go back to the committee to sigh the last of the papers. then to the notary to get them notarized. and then to our 4th visit. We have not done any sight seeing and to tell you the truth we don't really care we are so tired we just crash in the hotel. but I know we need to go see something or we will regret it. I think Boris our driver will take us someplace tomorrow maybe the winter castle. The hotel we are staying in is right near the bay of Finland and we can see it out our windows it is pretty. they also have little gift shops all thru the hotel 3 restraints a bar and the water park that also has video games and stuff for kids I think a lot of the locals come here for those things.

2nd visit

 Today we got to Skype with the kids first thing this morning. it was great to see them, we miss them so much, our hotel has this huge water park pool in it and we went and looked at it today and wished the kids were with us.  after we talked to the kids we had breakfast. our hotel has as great buffet that is included in our hotel stay. then we were picked up by our coordinator and taken to Josiah's baby house. there were kids playing out side in all three playgrounds all bundled up in snow suits. it was so nice to see them outside playing and I have to say this baby house orphanage is great. they love these kids, they take them outside, they have great playrooms. on the walls in the hall are pictures of them with the kids at the beach, building a snowman, working a little garden, having a Easter party. these kids get to have fun not just sit in cribs all day. the nannies teach them colors, shapes, all the things little ones need to learn. now I am not saying that these kids don't need families they do! nothing can be better then a mama and papas love but while they are waiting for their families to find them they are in a good place.when we got into the room they put us in the room to play with Josiah. its also where they eat lunch. we could hear someone crying it was Josiah, he didn't want to come in from outside but they were bringing all the kids in. he was really upset so when he got to us his face was all red and he was crying. I picked him up and put his cheek on mine and said, "shush shush its ok and he stopped crying" he pulled his head back and looked right in my eyes for a long time, that was so great I was able to comfort him. we played for a while he liked the toy that sings songs that we brought him, he learned real fast how to make it work. he was distracted though because he could hear his friends in the other room, then one of the nannies got plates and bowls out to get ready for lunch and that was it! he was done! I asked if we could take him in with the other kids and watch him they said yes, they were watching a movie he sat right down and watched with them, so I sat down too. some of the kids came to me and shook my hand so cute! there was another little girl in the group that has down syndrome she came over scooted closer and closer until she was in my lap. I asked if that was ok they said yes. then I pulled Josiah over on my lap too so I was holding them both. I hope we can get this little girl on to Reeces Rainbow and find her a family she is so sweet.when it was time to eat Josiah got up and the nannies looked at him and shook her head yes, he took off to the other room where the little tables were. when I got in there he was sitting down eating soup like a big boy no mess wow! after that we left. I felt so grateful that they let me come in and sit with all the kids most orphanages don't let you do that. we are going back for a 3dr visit in 30 min

A Mama's thoughts after meeting her baby boy for the first time.

A Mama's thoughts after meeting her baby boy for the first time.

There are no words to describe the feelings I felt when I set eyes on my boy for the fist time. He is now real not just a picture and some words on paper, not just dreams. The sweet smell of his little neck, his soft skin, his bright eyes, huge smile and contagious giggle and can that boy giggle.Today was amazing I will never forget the feeling I had when I held him in my arms. He is so much more then I had dreamed he would be.Thank you Lord for giving us this blessing of this special boy,thank you for choosing me to be his Mama!

what you have all been waiting for 1st visit

We pulled up to the baby house a cute yellow building with a short fence and three play grounds, a cute place. we buzz the door and a man opens it, they give us booties to put over our shoes to not track dirt in. (wish I had them for my daycare room) then we went down a long hallway, they make us wait what seems like forever but then take us to a room full of toys and 4 little wood tables and 4 wood chares at each table, there are two doors off this room one leads to another playroom the other to the back room with sinks and changing area. We sit down on a little sofa and wait, they tell us they are taking the kids to get a flu shot and its his turn. so in a few min we see them walk thru the room with 3 children one was Josiah. then about 5 min later they come back . They bring him over to us and I picked him up and kissed him all over and felt his little face, he giggled and loved it. we spent the next hour getting to know him, playing with him. he giggled every time the flash went off on the camera. it was a great 1st meeting. Then it was time to eat so they came in and told us it was time to go.we said bye bye and then had to go meet with the doctor. she told us all about Josiah from birth till now. his sizes how he grew what illnesses he had so on and she came to the part where she said he had just had a full body exam and that there was no longer a heart problem, there was also three other medical problems he had had even back in march that were no longer there. I teared up because I have been praying for the Lord to heal his insides and he did thank you Lord.


Then after the dr was done we had to go talk to the head lady, she gave his history about his parents. we even got to see pictures of them. they both signed the papers giving him up the day he was born. that is good because that means that is already done for court. it ends up he has a 19 year old brother but no other siblings .
It was a lot of info to take in for one day but it was great. we signed the papers to agree to adopt him at that moment.

IST VISIT

Update and Pics from my Mom and Dad!!!!!!!!!!

We had such a great day emotional but wonderful! Josiah is better then we ever dreamed he is so cute so so smart and giggles alot! You guys are going to fall in love with him! everyone that meets him is. God is so good, they read us his medical file and as of Oct 2010 he has no more heart problem it is gone! and the other three things that were wrong in his insides are also gone. God healed his insides just how I prayed he would.

The shorts he had on were size 18 months, his hair is the same color as mine and his eyes are dark brown.

                               Isn't he so cute!!!? I can't wait to meet him!!!

                                          He looks like he loves Daddy!

To me, it feels like a dream, it doesn't fell like my parents are all the way in on the other side of the globe meeting my baby brother we have waited so so long to see! :)
 Amanda

They have arrived !!!

My Mom and Dad just called!
We miss them so much!
They got to there fine. Said the airplane ride was really long.
They are less than 30 minutes away from the MOE meeting. After the MOE meeting they will get to meet Josiah. I'm so excited to see new pictures of him and knowing more about him!!
LOVE YOU MOM AND DAD!!!


                                                                                                                           Amanda