"And how many parts will there be", you ask?? As many as it takes.

Wednesday, March 8 -

Wednesday morning we woke up and got ready with time to spare. We had breakfast in the bar because the restaurant was closed for Women's Day. It was still about a 4 course breakfast and we got plenty to eat!

After breakfast, we went up and finished our packing. We would be bringing our luggage down with us when we left and the drivers would keep it in their cars during our visits today and until we headed to the train. .....This picture is of hubby and D outside the Hotel Oktoberskaya.

The drivers brought the cars nearer to the hotel this time so we wouldn't have to drag the suitcases through the thick snow again, then we just hoped and prayed that the cars would stay in the ruts as we left and not get stuck again!

Next we headed to the orphanage for our last visit with baby V. When we arrived we went straight to the playroom and started removing our snow gear and before I even got my boots off, there she was! They are some speedy little caregivers at this orphanage! They had her swaddled up in a Blues Clues blanket, and she had a different little bonnet on today (Oh how I wish I could show you a picture - she was so sweet!) She was still a little snuffly, so I guess that was the reasoning behind the swaddling and bonnet. We took her into the bigger playroom and got down to our playing business.

It didn't seem like too much time had passed and a worker brought a tray of food for baby V to eat. I was going to get to feed her! It was a huge amount of food! Now remember this is a tiny 15 1/2 pound baby - 13 months but the size of a 6 month old US baby! The luncheon consisted of a big bowl of soup with lots of vegies floating in it - to be eaten using a huge tablespoon; mashed potatoes; ground meat; smushed beets; bitter bread; and a teacup of some type fruit juice. She loved the beets and mashed potatoes. She withstood eating some of the meat. Took only a few sips of the soup and simply refused the bitter bread. She drained the teacup of it's juice - although it wasn't a very delicate operation. They brought a small dishcloth for me to use to contain the mess. Of course I was the one making most of the mess! Baby V did very well! She really didn't eat a huge amount of the food, and I'm sure she is accustomed to being fed much more quickly than I was managing to do. She ate most of the potatoes and beets and then she seemed to be finished. I felt like I didn't do a very good job. I'm sure baby V was wondering who in the world this novice feeding lady was!

We went back out into the playroom and baby V played a bit with the baby of the other family from our agency who had traveled at the same time. Baby V is 3 months older than Baby M, but they were a hoot to watch. One would take the other's toy and then she would try to get it back. Baby V was much more the bully though!

D went back and forth between playing with baby V and playing alone on the gymnastic type equipment they had in this playroom. That baby stuff didn't hold her attention long.

As we had noticed earlier, baby V's nose was pretty runny, but whenever I tried to wipe it off, she didn't want any of that! This was the only time she put up any type of fuss.

We stayed about 2 1/2 hours and I could tell she was getting pretty tired. This had to have been her nap time of day because every afternoon at this time, she would definitely be winding down. She sucks her two middle fingers of her right hand when she is tired. Before we knew it the caretaker was there to get her. Our translator was in the other room with our region coordinator and we really didn't get a chance to say goodbye! Just a quick hug and kiss and she was gone. D was playing on the other side of the room and didn't get to tell her goodbye at all!

This was nothing like our parting with D when it was time for us to leave until court time. We were able to put her down in her crib and kiss her goodbye. Of course I cried like a baby when we left D. But this time around, I didn't have a moment to even comprehend what was happening! It wasn't until we were walking out the front door of V's orphanage that the tears began to fall. I really don't like to be rushed and especially not at a moment like this! But it is all out of our hands.

So, we were gone. Bye bye baby V pahkah, pahkah. We hope to see you very soon!

Our coordinators felt we would be back by mid-May which sounded SO FAR OFF. Well, here we are ... it's nearly mid-May and still no court date. This is really and truly the hardest part - the waiting to see her again.

Till later . . .