Day 7 Trip 2 - Getting to know the kids better...

Again, I am catching up on blogs I have missed. If you want to read them in order, scroll down to where you left off....

Jason was up first today. Monte gave him juice and fruit in the kitchen again to try to keep him quiet, but that is hard to do in that small of a space. Robin was up next and within seconds, everyone was awake and started our day. I played with the kids with the coloring books. I pulled out some flash cards to try to work on English, but they just wanted to play with them. Monte and Korey went up to get more cereal and milk. That is what we give them for "second breakfast", trying to keep on the same schedule as the orphanage. It doesn't take long and their behavior deteriorates quickly, so Monte took them to the orphanage park, I straightened up the place and joined him later and Korey took a shower. We took the kids on a walk to another park on the orphanage grounds and let them play there until they were cold. Then we took them back to play in our room and Monte let me try to sleep in the other room, but they were in and out banging the doors, etc. Just think of it as trying to occupy your kids in a hotel room for this many days .... and you don't speak the language. We are getting along really well with hand signals I think, but there are many times where we just can't understand them and that isn't pleasant for either of us. I didn't get any sleep, so just played with them again and then Korey and I walked to the store to get more groceries. We had mashed potatoes again for lunch, which they love and a summer sausage which they didn't care for. We tried nap time again and it wasn't anymore successful than the previous day, except that Jason did end up falling asleep for a little bit - until he fell off the bed. Bogdan came soon after with an invitation for one of his graduates to take us to the ticket office for the puppet theater so that we can take them to the puppet theater tomorrow. Monte stayed with the kids - I think he is getting into Russian T.V. Bogdan gave him the key for the psychologist's office too. Then Korey, I, and Maxim went up to get tickets. It was in the city center. It was fun to drive down there. Korey really liked downtown Kiev and Maxim was fascinated. We bought 7 tickets for tomorrow at 3. We drove back to the orphanage. When we were leaving with Maxim, the other kids had a meltdown and wanted to go too, so Monte got them ready to take them outside just as George showed up to let us know what was going on next. They both took them outside to play. George will go on the train Monday night back to Odessa to get the passports (again pray for all the officials involved that they will be correct and actually be there!!) The passports should be ready on Tuesday, then the rest of the week will be spent doing embassy stuff. When we all got back, Bogdan filled us in on the plan on how we will get to the puppet theater. Alyosha will drive Monte and I with the little ones and Korey and another orphanage graduate that is 24 and knows English will take Korey and the older two on public transportation and will stay with us for the show and help us find our seats. I hope it goes well, it will be nice to do something different. We then took the kids into play at the psychologist's office. Monte didn't know that he could take them there earlier as the psychologist wasn't in today. To give him a little break, Korey and I stayed with them in that room and played with legos, big stuffed animals and building things and the developmental toys, even Robin likes them - you know the kind you would give babies/toddlers with the shapes that go in certain holes. Monte made us a supper of chicken nuggets and spaghetti. Korey and I found all the incredents when we went to the grocery store last. Bogdan found a lady to help him with the stove in the cafe that has an oven, otherwise we just have hot plate. Monte served us in the cafe, which was a nice treat to get out of this room. After that, Korey holed up in the other room with a video game - I think he needs to get away from the kids a bit!! and I think he is ready to go home. We put in a movie and tried to keep the kids occupied with coloring books and flash cards. I tried to check e-mail and write in the blog, but the computer didn't cooperate, but while I was trying, Ryan wanted to use my pen and started writing words in his tablet. (Korey had written their names and his during their quiet time earlier in the day and had Maxim copy them - and they finally called him Korey and not papa - they call all men papa.) Monte again helped Maxim write his name and mama and papa in English, then he just took off writing the words from the flash cards and trying to say them with us and Robin started in and Jason even said his name in English - finally some progress in English!!!! Ryan is also a really good drawer and drew the computer and the phone. That was some nice quiet time before bed and we stayed up with them 'til 9:30, past their usual 9 p.m. bedtime, but still the meltdown and Robin joined them in the crying. It took a while for everyone to settle down. When I finally got Jillian to sleep, Ryan and Robin were still whispering and I had to separate them and they finally settled down too. I am sure this is a scary place and that is probably the time of day when they are really missing their friends and their familiar routine. (Please pray for their transition to America and our home and some extra prayers to get through the time here!) I think I am finally caught up to present on the blog and I need to go to bed - I am really lacking sleep!! C ya tomorrow!!