Leaving for Almaty on Sunday!

These are from Wednesday the day we left the Baby House. Poor baby was so hot under all of those layers they insist on. Much happier once she was stripped down in the apartment.

Beehet is amazing. She came by last night to tell me we are leaving for Almaty on Sunday. She already made our appointment with the US clinic for Monday morning. Then we have some other US Embassy interviews and paperwork and then home!!! I don't have the day confirmed but thinking we will be home on Wednesday the 7th. Can't believe it. Only 2 more days in this apartment.

Maya has been doing well. She is sleeping a ton, wakes up, snaps her head around - what the hell? I'm still here? Then she looks at me, scrunches her eyebrows, oh yeah, I know you. ok. She must be feeling insecure because (like my dogs) she is following me everywhere. We tried to go out last night for dinner with Elise - Maya's first dinner date - but not a chance. She started screaming when I went to get my boots on. I don't really know what happened but that was the end of our outing. Probably too much on the first day home.

Internet connection has been unreliable again. I don't know if I will have any in Almaty. So this may be the last entry until we get home. The trip home should be interesting. 7 hr flight from Almaty to Frankfurt, 7 hour layover in Frankfurt, and 10 hour flight home. Good Lord.

Tomorrow is the day!

Today was the 37th and very last time…..I put her in crib, kissed her and promised I’d be back; left the nursery with the instant drop in mood and a little sick to my stomach because I wouldn’t see her for 24 hours; I drove out of those gates without her.

Tomorrow Beehet and Gusanna will come here in the morning for about 30 minutes of paperwork. Then we pick up cakes – one for Doctor’s room and one for the caretakers in her nursery. After lunch, we’ll go to the baby house and make the rounds thanking everyone, handing out gifts, thanking Dr. Alma (head Doctor) who is just wonderful. Then finally, finally I get Maya and drive out of those iron gates for the very last time.

Elise is taking me to dinner tonight. As she says, my last night of freedom - EVER! Doubt I’ll sleep at all tonight. Excited and anxious all at once.

Count down

Baby girl is still not feeling well but trying hard to rally at the the playroom party.

Beehet told me yesterday that I can bring Maya home to the apartment on Wednesday as long as she is better. Funny. You'd think she would get better faster in the apartment away from 100+ kids passing germs around. Anyway, that is my campaign pitch.

A bit about Kazak pop culture....Driver's choice of music in the car is primarily American Rap and club music. Second runner up is Beyonce. And believe it or not some Celine Dion and George Michael. Everyone here has a cell phone and the rings are most often an American song. God knows how long it will take upon my return to get the most commonly heard song on the radio or on a cell phone out of my head - Smack That. out on the floor....smack that... gimme some more....tappin' my foot as I type.

I just came from dinner with a new Mom adopting a gorgeous baby girl, Julianna. Elise is a single woman from New Jersey. We have the immediate East Coast bond. She arrived at dinner frenzied, fast talking and animated as only East Coast people can be (God I miss that), telling me she is fed up with everyone staring at her and pointing to her head!! On her walk to the restaurant she was stopped on the street by several stern looking, older Russian women. They scolded her by pointing to her hatless head, where is your hat stupid woman!!!

As adults we learn to be polite, wait your turn, say excuse me and thank you. Not here. Survival of the fittest. What is that about? Why are they so angry? Leftover oppression? And why are they all so skinny? A genetic fight to stay alive? As Americans we haven't had to fight for anything except for the remote in a million years. Anyway, for such a rude bunch they are surprisingly soft spoken. I've learned to say the very few words I know in Russian looking down and in a whisper. So Elise has now had the ephiphany we all seem to have our first week...push, shove, scowl and mumble. How quickly I move from proud to critical huh? I am proud. I just find all of this interesting. Some would say the same of my home state, New York.

The deal about the hat is this. The belief here is that being cold causes colds. That is why the babies are bundled up so tight they look like stick figures. Nobody walks in public without being covered with hat, scarf, coat, and boats. Even the men. On the day of court Gusanna wore this cute little black skirt on her 22 year old size negative zero body, black pantyhose, and boots. Cute as a button. It was freezing and windy that day. Beehet took one look at her and in a Motherly, concerned tone told her to cover up her legs. She threw a scarf over her legs in the car. I asked Gusanna about it. She said that Beehet is worried about her fertility. What??? If she gets a cold down there she won't be able to have children. I really try to be respectful of the crazy old wives tales here but couldn't help laughing. Now, whenever she wears a skirt I shake my finger at her.....remember your fertility...

The count down has begun. I'm actually crossing out days on my calendar like a prisoner awaiting parole. Love my beautiful daughter's country but time to go home.

The Baby House

These are from yesterday. Maya was tired girl unless Darhan was around. She is sleeping on my leg. She is doing just great. What changes in just a month. From sitting only when propped up to crawling and standing strong just holding my pinkie. Rarely smiling to smiling all the time showing off her bottom teeth (8 total now, 4 up and 4 down). She is also getting more vocal. Maya is diggin' me now. Looks to be sure I'm still there. Reaches up to be held. Big smile when I walk into the nursery.

I heard her first frustrated cry - no tears, I have yet to see tears. This was after court. "Ok, we are official now. Honeymoon's over Mama. Slooooowly letting out my true colors." She is so good, I have this fear of bringing her home and devil child emerging.

These pictures are of course the playroom where

we visit with our babies for 2 hours a day.

I got there early yesterday and wanted to show

you all how cheerful and well equipped it really is.

The 3rd wall is a rack of all different size balls and 4th wall is a wall of

windows overlooking a small parking area and

large outdoor playground (one of two outdoor

playgrounds).

2 representatives from the states and from my agency, CAI were here yesterday. They are visiting the baby houses in different regions in Kazakhstan. It was funny, I felt like a proud citizen making sure they got how wonderful it is here. "You need to tell prospective families about the baby house, the Doctors, the caretakers, the grounds, the beautiful, beautiful babies, the city.......they are lucky to hear your baby is in Astana!"

We are officially a family!

Court is over and we are officially a family as of February 14. I'm so happy. Maya is happy she caught the ball. My internet connection has been down more than working lately so if you don't hear from me or I don't answer your emails assume that. But keep them coming! The support is amazing and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate all of the kind emails and comments here on the blog.

Maya turned 8 months old on February 15. I got her new measurements. She is 27 1/2 inches and 18 lbs. So she grew about a half an inch and lost almost a pound. All that crawling no doubt. I'll bring Maya home to the apartment on March 1. We are in the home stretch! More to come. Better send this while I still have service.

Court has been moved up to tomorrow!

The love story continues.......

Beehet is just the best. Some background - after court begins the 15 day appeals period. Not the way we think of appeals, just another waiting period. On the 15th day, the Judge declares his/her final ruling. Beehet needs this to begin the final paperwork and to get Maya's passport. On the 16th day I can bring Maya home to the apartment. Well last week at lunch Beehet realized the end of the appeals period falls on a holiday Thursday March 1. Which means people will take off Friday as well. I'd lose 2 days. I teared up at lunch. Every day, every minute closer to bringing her home is meaningful. So Gusanna just called and Beehet was able to move court up a day so I wouldn't lose any time. Just love her for this. So court is tomorrow, Valentine's Day at 5pm.

Lunch was at our favorite place, we now go almost every day. The group is getting larger as new families arrive. The doorman knows us now. For families going over it is called Shakirasada (not the right spelling - phonetic) close to the Baby House, Driver will know it. Fabulous Kazak buffet for 500 tenge (about $4.00 right now). So over lunch I learned a new phrase. Bis ma la (again no clue how to spell) means God be with you in Arabic. Some knew of it and I guess it is in a Queen song???? Anyway, brand new to me. The caretakers say this to the babies all the time. The couple from Dallas told us. She is originally from Egypt. He is from Holland. Bis ma la, Bis ma la. Nice ring.

There are 2 english channels on my TV. The EurAsia news comes on everyday at 5pm. I thought it would be interesting to see if they report on any or what news from the States. It appears much like our Nightly News. A very professional female reporter comments on the flooding in Thailand, the business news report, a sudden increase in honor killings, the war in Iraq, and.......the death of Anna Nicole, American Playboy centerfold dies suddenly. Now don't get me wrong, I think that is just tragic, truly. But seriously!

Ok, I will report back after court. Wish me luck!

Bis ma la,

K

Mirror, mirror

This is from Saturday. The day I moved down to 4th position for the biggest smile from Maya. Beehet, Darhan, her Mother, all stepped down to the new reigning Queen, Maya herself. There is a big inflatable castle in the corner of the room against the mirror. We decided to check it out. Maya discovered the mirror and the rest of the session was spent with her cracking up at her reflection or pulling my hair.

The other 4 families went to court on Friday so lots of discussion about how it went. What questions were they asked. How was the Judge, the prosecutor, how long it took....it felt a lot like back in college searching the dorm for someone that already took the final you're about to take. The questions, the questions....The coordinators prepare us as best they can for what we may be asked. I went through a mini, mini version of this on the day I met Maya.

Before going to the Baby House that first day, we went to the Ministry of Education. It looks and feels like any government building, long hallways and sterile. We entered into a small room and were greeted by 2 women. Beehet and the 2 women started talking in Russian, seemed friendly, there was some smiling. Then Beehet motioned for me to have a seat. Gusanna stood as did the woman who would be asking the questions. The tone of the room changed and I got nervous. The questions started out pretty routine, all translated by Gusanna. Do I understand the laws of adoption in Kazakhstan, do I understand my obligation to complete post placement reports....I started to relax a bit. Next question, I look to Gusanna and she translates in the same monotone, "Do you have boyfriend?" Probably a release of tension, but I burst out laughing. Did we go from interrogation to girl talk? Four eyes glaring at me in silence. Guess not. "No, no I do not currently have a boyfriend." Next question, "What will you do if you want to marry a man that does not like your child?" Oh, that is where they were going with this. Ok, easy. "I couldn't love with a man who didn't love my child." I was tempted to add.....or my dogs. Probably not relevant. Beehet told me to expect this question in court as well. I won't laugh. From there we went to the Baby House to meet my angel love.

I just talked to my Mom. Through the computer! For free! Technology is so cool when it isn't frustrating the hell out of me.

3 days to court!