Name:
Location: Ellensburg, Washington, United States

I am a deputy prosecuting attorney in rural Washington state.

Thursday, December 29, 2005

Last Day in Kazakhstan

Well, this is Candace--Sue has done heroic duties, going out to the supermarket, getting us meals at restaurants, and posting on the internet from the hotel business center, while I have stayed in our hotel room with the boys. Although entertaining two toddlers when sick is not exactly relaxing! I came down with a nasty cold, just in time for the airplane ride back. I'm just praying the boys and Sue don't get it. It is also frustrating, because there are some sights we did not see because I just wasn't up to it.

Yesterday's US Embassy visit was much better than the medical visit. It was shorter and we did learn from our mistakes and were better prepared. It was rather amusing, because when we got called in for the interview, the first thing the woman said was, "before I start, my husband just wants to tell you how much he misses and loves Ellensburg." Apparently he went to Central--they are both from Washington State. Such a small world, and not something you necessarily expect. It was smooth and final, and I have the adoption decree and amended birth certificates in hand. Once the boys step out of the airplane in Chicago they are American citizens. Last night we went down to the restaurant in the hotel for dinner, but, alas, the Embassy appointment was during nap time, and they had refused to go to sleep before that. So the little one was very squirrely, and I had to take him back to the room. Sue and Lonya stayed and ate with our friend Anita. Sery had dinner in the room. At least the boys got a good night's sleep.

Today was a free day. We had breakfast in the room (we have been eating out many meals, which is really a lot to ask of a 1 and 3 year old). Then we went on a fine walk through the snow and slush to get some fresh air and see Almaty sights. Lonya was particularly impressed with a flock of pigeons that took off right in front of us. Sue got some food to go at a restaurant and brought it back for lunch. Then nap time--not without a fight, though they finally slept--and we are starting to pack. We feel very blessed to have such loving and sweet little boys. Even when they are being little terrors. They are growing more comfortable by the minute, and they are craving the attention and affection that they could not get in even the most loving of orphanages. They are doing a little testing, too. Sometimes it takes us by surprise, after they have been such good sports about everything.

Tomorrow will be a very long day for all. It involves leaving the hotel at 6 a.m., catching the 9 a.m. flight to London, a short 2 hour layover there, and then on to Chicago. All in all, about 24 hours of travel, though it will still be December 30 when we land, due to the time zone changes. At least we don't have two six-hour layovers like the ones we had the first trip. Please remember us in your thoughts and prayers. We will need those. Somehow we are having a hard time imagining keeping these active boys entertained on two 8-9 hour flights. We will write again from Chicago, courtesy of Grandma Hooper. Thank you all for following the blog. It means a lot to read the comments or to hear later that you were reading our adventures. Just the thing to keep us from being homesick.

4 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hooray! So begins the long journey home. Good luck! I remember chasing an ice cube around the dining tray over and over and over again with Annie. It's just plain long. Much sleep ahead when you get home. Hang in there.

8:21 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good luck on the trip home! Thank goodness you get to go to Grandmas on the way, that will help to break it up a bit. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

7:20 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm not sure if you'll see this before your journey home. . . Try to let family "watch" the boys so you can rest; once you get home you'll have to tag-team or "paper-rock-scissors" who gets to nap first! (I'm not talking about the boys either!!!!) I'm glad the stroller came in handy. It was snowing all day here today (12/30) so I'm glad you're in shape to push the stoller here!

We all are looking forward to seeing all of you!! Take care and you are all in our prayers!

11:07 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I thought I checked to see if there was an entry from you yesterday, but it must have been the day before. Sorry I missed replying before you left. By now you are at Grandma's and able to have a short rest before the last leg home. I hope Candace is feeling better and that Sue and boys didn't catch the dreaded cold.

Allison, Betty and I did get together and play around with Christmas tunes for fun. We knew we weren't performing so it was a laid back practice. We missed the two of you. I left my Christmas gifts for all of you with Allison (I wasn't prepared with gifts on our practice day) because she thought she might be going to Leavenworth. She was going to drop them by Betty's for her to deliver to you via Sue at school. BUT -- she didn't go to Leavenworth -- so we will have to figure something else out. Maybe you will have a "meet the boys" get together after they have had time to settle in. I'm sure all of your friends are anxious to meet them :-)

I hope to see a blog update sent from Grandma Hooper's. Will try to check again later tonight. Bill and I are celebrating our 14th anniversary tonight -- even though the actual day was last Wednesday :-)

That was really cool meeting people from Washington (Ellensburg) at the Embassy. My sister met her husband in Germany while he was in the Army and she was the base recreation director. He was from Oregon, just across the river from Vancouver WA. Not only that they shared the same birthday and both majored in Recreation. It IS a small world :-) See you soon. Nancy

12:04 PM  

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