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Back in Pskov, it snowed all night added about 3 inches of snow to the ground. Its cold, damp cold, but not frigid. We are glad for our winter gear, but its maybe not as cold as what I was expecting anyway. The 8 Dr medicals, just a few laughs from that experience since I now many will find this funny. We went to this old hospital, felt very communist type building, but now very dilapidated falling apart. There were so many hallways I couldn’t have found my way around alone by any stretch. It was so easy to get confused and lost that even our interpreter often had to ask for directions. We started with finding a place to store all our luggage, for our family of 3 that was 3 large suitcases, 3 carryons and our coats comp bag and my bag. That’s a lot of bags. Finally they came to rest in the head Dr’s office. We ended up in and out of there all morning long. We arrived at the hosp about 8:15 a.m. and finally left there at about noon. We started in the head Dr’s office with the special diseases dr, he asked questions about communicatable diseases that we have had, chicken pox, etc. Nothing special there, then the lady Dr for Cardiology came and asked questions and ordered our chest x-rays and blood work. Then off Roger and I went to get blood drawn, it was alittle weird in that they soak their cotton balls in alcohol before gauzing them around your elbow so tight it was uncomfy. Then back to the office for tea, coffee and sweet desserts. After alittle time Roger and I went to get the chest x-rays done. I went in first, had to remove everything on top and shoes and step up on this platform lean onto this x-ray wall with a lead apron around my waist, chin up. The tech actually came behind and pushed me against this wall firmly, then left, it was COLD. Took 2 min and it was done. Dressed again and back outside while they did Roger’s. Then down the hall for the EKG, in and undress again to the waist, lay down on this table on top of some gossimer type fabric. She came and put these metal clamps on my ankles and wrists after she brushed them with this horsehair type brush. Then she put this COLD pile of metal suction clamps on my chest and began attaching them to me. That was uncomfy, mostly cold but also sort of pinching. She did the test, took about 3 min and dressed and outside for Roger to take his turn. She had trouble with the suction clamps on Roger, couldn’t get them to stick to his hairy chest, so she had to hold them on while she pushed the buttons to do the test. After that it was our turn to have our chest/breast exam and belly rub. It wasn’t all that bad as long as details were known ahead of time. Even Roger had the breast/chest exam. There were 3 ladies in the room and the interpreter and us…plenty to be present and accounted for when I have no clothes on top!! J Then off to the Neurologist, she smelled bad but was easy to get through. She tested our reflexes and poked our legs and arms with a metal pin thing and then looked at our teeth and tongue. Then we stood and closed our eyes and touched our finger to our nose both hands. That proved we were healthy in her office. Next was the psychiatrist and he asked us questions based on our home study. He asked Roger a bunch of questions first, Roger was having trouble understanding the interpreter so I began to help him understand and then guide his answer, the dr asked him if I always spoke for him??? That had me speechless immediately!! I waited for my own questions and the interpreter began to speak more slowly and louder to be heard. My questions were easy tho he was hung up on the name of our religion and wanted to get me to say we were Orthodox or something. Got through him and we were done. Took a little bit to get the paperwork, pay the hosp and the dr bonus’ but finally we were done. It was right at noon and we left the hosp and headed directly for Pskov. No lunch served at all. We got in to Pskov about 5 p.m. checked in, found ourselves some supper and crashed, that lasted till 4 a.m. for our little boy. He crawled into bed with us and chatted up a storm. Finally got up at 6:30 and got dressed went down for breakfast. I had these grand memories of Brayden and cereal thought he would really enjoy it….NOT he doesn’t like Russian cereal anymore. Imagine that. We won’t be going down for breakfast anymore. J Ludmilla picked us up at 9:15 a.m. and we went to the orphanage. They are doing construction there, so had to watch where we walked touched etc. Wet paint and such. Went to play rooms and the boys were brought to us. Braxton WALKED to the playroom, he wasn’t walking much 5 mo ago, but lots has happened since then obviously. He was immediately upset when he saw us, but he calmed down and settled in. We got a few smiles at the very end of the visit, they came when I lifted him up over my head several times. He was watching Brayden’s every move, but wouldn’t really play with him. Finally he would roll balls back to us and smile. When they came back in to get him his smile turned down right away, he didn’t want to leave. J His hair was much longer and more of it tho still very fine and very blond. His skin is much better, the bottoms of his feet still has some skin peeling and stuff but its healing and no longer red and infected. His hands are also better, one of his fingernails still had a small spot of black where it hasn’t grown out completely since he slammed it in a door. He does have an owie on his forehead where he fell and took a header. Its healing though so not new. Overall he looks good. Court is tomorrow, have to write a speech for that blessed event. We are first in court at 10, then Robert and Jill. Today it was decided that Brayden will attend court with us, it will help the judge. We will see how that goes, but maybe she will appreciate that Brayden is well. After court we go back to the orphanage to see the boys again. To clarify, Robert and Jill are from PA and they are adopting Yuri (our first referral). They are a wonderful couple that we can be friends with forever. The boys are in the same baby house so we share trips out there and they have two visiting rooms sort of anyway.