Friday, March 26th So what did YOU do on your vacation this year??? We are up at 6:30AM and able to call and say “hi” to Cooper and to Tucker. We both wake feeling like we will be heading home after today, wondering what we’re going to do with a suitcase full of babyhouse worker gifts, ect. that we brought to give away.
10:00 – We head by taxis to the first of two babyhouses (“Cool-in-shock where we were yesterday is for older children who have aged out of the actual babyhouses). The first is Shapagat baby house (the same babyhouse that Tina , our friend from home got her little girl.) John and I were to fly with her to Kaz September ‘08. She went and we did not. Just before we left home on this trip, Tina brought us a small photo album full ofpictures of her Kaz daughter and many of the different workers from this babyhouse (along with newer pictures of Lily). So we began our “meeting” with theSkapagat staff with a presentation of Tina’s photo album and immediately there was smiles and laughts. Thank you, Tina! (Truly the entire atmosphere in this place is warm and inviting and with smiles). We were asked if we also would consider seeing boys and we said “yes.”
We were moved into the playroom (bonding room, maybe?) and waited. The problem with not speaking Russian is that John and I will sit with a smile on our face trying to look like “good little prospective parents” while there is quite an exchange of words about us being made. And we haven’t a clue if they are saying “We will take them out and hang them by their toes and shoot them” until AFTER Zhanat turns to us and translates In English (– just a little stressful.)
First they carry in an adorable 3yo girl who is understandably shy. We are told about her history and that she is “normal.” When she was asked to walk, it appears she has much difficulty due to some spactic muscles and weakness. She is able to crawl and has to crawl up/down stairs as well. At the same time this girl is in the room they bring in a little boy who turned 5 in January. It was not clear for several minutes if he was in the room because he was being shown to us for adoption. When we learn that he, too, is available John sat on the floor near him and starts rolling balls back and forth with him while I continue to hold the little girl.
I’m so mentally wiped right now I’ll just cut to the chase. Thank you, Lynn Sargent for your e-mail advise which most likely saved our adoption chances. And Lynn, as you once said, “Bobby, IT’S A BOY!” - We would like to introduce to you the newest addition of the King family…. SCOTT KIRILL KING (not sure about the spelling of Kirill, the boy’s Russian name he now goes by). He is 2 months older than Cooper and will go off to kindergarden in the fall with his sister (possibly not understanding a word his teacher has to say!). We are happy. It feels right and good. Thought we were here for a girl. After making our decision on this little guy, we see that we really just want a child to add to our family to love on and to love us. When we went back to the babyhouse after lunch and the door to his classroom was opened, he RAN to our side with a smile without even being asked. That’s a very nice start for our 14 day bonding process that has started TODAY. Thank you to all who have been faithful to pray. Luanne, your e-mail we received on Wednesday was prophetic. Yes, Friday not Thursday ( we wondered why you wrote Friday) is the turning point of our journey and bonding has begun. There is a Kazakh saying that has held true for us – that after 3 “troubles” all else will be easy/smooth. Easy and smooth sound good right now.
Enjoy the pictures. They say he looks like his mama (me!) and right now he is warming up to me more as well (big switch from our first days with Cooper when she would not let her mama touch her!).