Court...

We had court this morning at 10, judge was late so it started at 10:15 or so. Brayden was allowed in and that was decided yest. He colored and read books really nice for the hour it took. The judge and prosecutor both commented on his behavior, how much he and Braxton look alike etc. It was a benefit for us to have him in the room. They did ask how come we wanted another one from Russia since we already had one, I said I wanted them to share a heritage and history with each other not just our family. Guess it was the right answer. The verdict came back in our favor, it will be ready for translation in 5 days and take full effect in 10 days. We stepped out of the court room and it was Robert and Jill's turn for Yuri. Theirs took close to an hour as well. Then we came back to the hotel and went out for our celebration lunch. After lunch we headed for the baby home. When we got there the director came in and said that Braxton spiked a fever last night after we left so we wouldn't be allowed to see him. I asked if I could just hold him for a few minutes. They brought us masks for our faces and we were allowed to go hold him for 2-4 min was all. Brayden stayed with Ludmilla and Robert and Jill were cut short on time with Yuri too. We will see how he is in the morning whether we will be allowed to visit tomorrow or not. He was in a quarantined room with 10 other children various ages. He didn't look sick or feel sick to me today, but then I am not his caretaker. Will let this do for now as I need to get supper going for us. Will add more in a little bit.

Here's my guys

updating...

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.

In Pskov

We have arrived in Pskov and are settled into the hotel here. All is well. We are headed to see Braxton in the morning, can't wait to see how he has changed. Brayden slept for the entire van ride to Pskov about 4 1/2 hours, he was one tired little boy. The 8 Dr meds went off without a hitch and they deemed us HEALTHY, imagine that. Robert and Jill are here with us and so Brayden stayed with them in the Head Dr's office while Roger and I did tests. We traded off on tests so we were each one with him and our luggage while the others were testing. All very interesting. Will let this do for now, we need to go get groceries and have supper, then get cleaned up and rest. It is almost 6 here now and already dark and snowing. Its cold, not quite bitter but close and there was only about 4 hours of light today and no sunlight at all. Best be done everyone is waiting on me. love to all... Bon Voyage to my family travel safely!!

In Denver

Here are some pics, Brayden in front of the plane in Denver that brought us to St Pete. He really thought that was a huge plane. We got to watch it arrive, be serviced and then got on it. The supper that night was salmon, rice and spinach. He ate some spinach without knowing it, but when he did look down and saw it on his fork headed for his mouth he said "Mama I don't like the green stuff", but as long as he didn't see it, in it went and down the hatch. :-) Cartoons can be soooo captivating. I was going to monitor how much of them he watched, but since its not exactly habit forming as we have no tv here, decided it wasn't really a big deal. :-) He loved it and watched the same toons twice. Hello to the Preschool class at Wind River. Brayden is missing school today, but he will be doing his homework this afternoon. You all have a great day!!

We are here

We arrived safely into St Pete tonight, our plane was early and our driver was not...always traffic no matter what time the plane arrives. Brayden did fabulous all through the airports planes etc, he almost lost it when we were waiting on the driver, but then the bathroom was a good diversion and when they came back out, our driver was there. Then he had a struggle containing himself while Daddy exchanged some money that took a long time for sure. Then our drive to the apt was about 40 min give or take 10 min. He really was wound up tighter than a drum by the time we finally got here. was good to come in and let him unwind in private. He got right down on the floor and raced cars really LOUD. :-) We finally have him out and sleeping peacefully. We will be picked up at 7:30 a.m. for our 8 Dr medicals. I am taking a sense of humor with me because that is what is prescribed. Anastasia told me to bring a towel with me tomorrow to cover up with as this is a Russian hosp not an American hosp. I will NOT be given a gown to wear for the chest x-ray and exam. I brought a button up shirt to help this situation, but know that a sense of humor is the only way to get through it. Will see how that all goes. Brayden gets to eat breakfast but we don't. After the meds we will head for Pskov, don't know when we are allowed to eat in that time frame, guess we will find out. The plane food was ok till the last flight, none of us could eat it. Brayden simply refused it smelled so bad. It was tortillini shells in a white sauce with just a dab of marinara in it. Then a hard roll and some mini donut type dessert bites. He ate some of his roll and I got the apple out from home that made it into my bag and he ate most of that. He had a long wait for a sandwich tonight when we finally got into the apt made some calls and then went to the store. Tomorrow will be better. Will let this do for tonight as I am on the edge of not thinking straight, but knew several would be watching...so we are here, more later...

And so the journey begins again...

We got it all packed, not sure we have everything we need, but we can always go shopping!! We have all but the kitchen sink. It was snowing at home this morning and snowed off and on all day. After a combined effort on packing for 3 1/2 hours we decided to head out when we got it all together and get to Casper. The roads coming down were good, a bit slick in some spots but not bad. However, Casper is snowing and has snow on the roads pretty good in most places. It was wet when we first got to town which means it will be real slick in the morning. We are certainly glad to be here. Nothin is getting between us and that airplane in the morning. :-) When we came past the airport I pointed it out to Brayden and said that was where we were going in the morning to get on the plane. He said "I think I can handle that mama". :-) Our little man is soooo excited to go tomorrow. Roger is down at the pool trying to wear him out a bit so he will sleep good tonight! We will sleep better here than at home, nothing I can do now, its all done for better or worse. I am finally excited and quite ready to go!! I was beginning to get worried that the excitement was permanently escaping me, but here it is and I am almost shakey with it!! We will post tomorrow maybe at the Denver airport, if not, the next post will be when we have arrived in St Pete. You may have noticed the new clock on the side, my entire fam will be in New Zealand while we are in Russia. We have to know when they are awake and when they are sleeping!! Perhaps some others will find it useful too. :-) Thanks for following along, remember that we LIVE for comments on the other side of the world. It means the world to us to read your thoughts, please leave us something to read. We hope to have good internet access, will see how that works out. Until next time...we love you all!