I have posted several times on this blog about my encounters with toilets in Russia. I am not a person who can use the hole in the ground toileting system - at all!

I have found a product that will revolutionize my toileting abroad!! It is called the Whizzy and it is a device that allows for a Female to "go" standing up!! I am so excited. No need to fear the Russian seatless potty any longer!

I have found this site with Onesie Extenders. V has a closet full of clothes that I'm sure she is outgrowing by the minute. However, I doubt she's getting much "fatter" as much as she is getting longer. I think these will come in very handy!

I haven't been able to find any of these in my usual stores (read Target, WalMart, JC Penney or Dillards).

Maybe I'm not the only one who could use this info.

If you have any experience with these extenders, please let me know how well they work.

Starfish has this book meme going for any who want to play along. Instead of tagging people, I'll just invite you to share if you wish.

Here's how to play:
1)In the book you're currently reading (or find the nearest book)
2) Open to page 123
3) Type lines 6-8 of said book
4) Tag three others

Well first of all, the book I'm reading doesn't even have 123 pages LOL, it only has 118 - this is what I've come to! So, I'm going to share page one instead of page 123.

The Six-year-old is wonderfully complex and intriguing, but life can be complicated for him at times, and what he needs most in the world is parents who understand him. For Six is not just bigger and better than Five. He is almost entirely different. He is different because he is changing, and changing rapidly. Though many of the changes . . . . .

from Your Six-Year-Old: Loving and Defiant by Louise Bates Ames, Ph.D.

*updated 1/31/07 - 1:03 p.m.

Having traveled to Russia 4 times, I am still learning when it comes to travel tips. The term - "Live and Learn" applies.

So, I have decided to keep an ongoing post concerning travel and I will add to it along the way - this is a work in progress.

Your experience may be different, but these are common things that we have found over all our trips.

If you have tips to add, let me know in the comments section and I'll add them into the post. Hopefully it will help someone down the line.

AT THE MOSCOW AIRPORT(with some info about St. Pete airport):

• Before you depart the plane, usually a few hours before you land, you'll be given customs declaration sheets to fill out. You will also be given a Migration Card sheet, it is printed in Russian. There are two sides to these (same info left and right) and you'll fill in both sides. There should be an English "cheat sheet" provided by the airline. On our trip in March though, Delta only had a few cheat sheets and they had to be passed from passenger to passenger. In October,our agency had a copy of the cheat sheet that they provided us with on our visit trip. You'll keep 1/2 of this little slip in your passport at all times during your trip. I think it is at passport control when you first arrive at the airport that they tear off 1/2 to keep. But you'll need to make sure you keep that little 1/2 slip in your passport all the time. We were asked several times to show it.
• When you exit the plane, you'll walk down a long corridor and there will be ladies in military looking uniforms who will direct your way. They will all have on very high heels with these short skirted uniforms - welcome to Moscow.
• You'll go down a set of brownish steps and there below you'll see the passport control.
• While standing in line, waiting your turn, keep your bags near you and have your passport out and be ready. You'll have your first experience with the Russian concept of "no personal space" here in this line. Stand behind the red line until you are called. If you pass the line, you'll be reprimanded. Hubby usually goes first and then I go next. Don't smile at the officer and look them straight in the face. They will look over your documents very, very carefully. When they start stamping things, you know you're good to go - I love that stamping sound.
• At Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport, we learned the hard way that there are free luggage carts right beyond the luggage retrieval area. When you come through the passport clearance and you are looking at the luggage belts, the carts are to your left. Our most recent plan of attack is that my hubby goes to locate the luggage as it comes on the carousel and I go and get one of these free carts and bring to him. It is usually just about the right timing.
• This from Kate in St. Pete: "if you fly into St. P instead of Moscow, the luggage carts at the airport require a (refunded) 2 euro coin. That was a shock the first time I flew into St. P after the free ones in Moscow. Now, I take 10 euros out of the atm in Frankfurt, buy some gum, and keep the change for the cart!"
• When you pass through the passport control, into the luggage waiting area, there are restrooms just to the right when you come out of the passport control booths. This bathroom is decent - USE IT! You don't know how long it is going to be before you get a chance to go again and if it will be a toilet with a seat or just a hole in the ground. Take your handy tissue with you, there wasn't any paper when we were there in October.
• At the airport, there will be many porters who want to take your luggage for you, if you do not desire their help just say kindly but firmly "Nyet, SpahSEEba" We have used the porters in the past when our agency's main Russia director's husband picked us up and the porter's cost was about $10. This amount was fine for us newbies who had never navigated the Moscow airport. But we have since learned that he must have been firm with the porter and not allowed him to rip us off! In March, when we went on our first trip to meet V, we again used a porter and ended up paying $40!! The sweet little 20 year old translator had no authority over the burly (yet helpful) porter and we were at the mercy of them with no language skills. Now we know about the free carts and now you do too!
• You will also be advanced upon by many Taxi drivers at the airport while you are waiting for your ride or searching for the sign being held by your agency representative. Again, a firm but kind "Nyet, SpahSEEba" will let them know you do not need the Taxi and they have always kindly left us at that point.

PACKING TIPS:

• It cannot be said too much. Do not overpack. After you've packed your clothes go back and take out 1/2 of it. You'll still have too much! Just make sure you have plenty of clean underthings and you'll do fine.
• Make sure your socks aren't holey as they'll often be exposed.
• Remember that even though it's COLD outside, it won't be inside. From some time in October to some time in April (there's a formula for how many days above and below x degrees it has to be before the heat is turned on or off) it's very, very warm inside. A t-shirt for the hotel (and train) is a good idea for these months.
• While the vacuum seal travel bags are great, remember that even though the stuff gets squished smaller, it still weighs the same! They're great for carrying the gifts and donations in, and then putting dirty clothes in them to return home. Especially the unmentionables.
• Do pack Pepto-Bismol chewables. Take one every morning of your trip to coat your stomach and protect against whatsoever lurks therefore. Beware, though, if you take it at night (say you wake up in the middle of the night on the train and feel queasy) you will awaken the next morning with a BLACK tongue! I know, it happened to me - ick! It doesn't brush away very well.
• DO pack lots of kleenex pocket packs and keep one in your coat/jacket pocket at all times. Most restrooms do not have tissue, especially in more rural regions, but also many times in Moscow. ALWAYS keep tissue handy. We also like to bring several of the Charmin travel tissues (available at Target)
• Do pack some individually packaged wet-wipes or Mr. Clean wipes. I was forever wiping down toilets (when they had something for me to set my bum on!)
• When you receive your Visa in the mail/fed-ex there will be a little slip of paper enclosed from the consulate, like a packing slip of sorts. Carry this with you on your trip.
• Make copies of your passport picture page and carry with you in your carry-on. If you were to lose your passport, you have this as back up. We made color copies on our in home $99 printer/copier.
• Take an extra voltage converter in case yours blows out! Most electronics have dual voltage (check on the "power supply brick", but some hair appliances do not. When first trying out your voltage converter, try it on something that is easily replaceable like a curling iron or blow dryer - not your Camcorder or laptop. Take more than one adapter (the one for Russia has two long round prongs).
• I always take two very thin, cheap beach towels. I use them for many purposes throughout the trip. If there are not enough or ample towels, they dry quickly on the radiator, or the exposed pipes in the bathroom (I love those pipes! We're going to have them installed if we ever build a house!). I use the towels to cover the feather pillows which are EVERYWHERE because I'm allergic and I feel better with that extra barrier of fabric.
• I take several of the cheap thin wash cloths from WalMart (a whole package of 18 is like $3) and I just use them and leave them. I've never encountered a wash cloth in Russia that I didn't bring with.
• Put at least two separate pieces of paper inside each one of the pieces of your luggage and any coats that you take--Including your CARRY ON stuff and check in stuff--On both pieces of paper put your name, itinerary, and phone numbers where you can be reached while traveling in Russia. Even hand carried stuff, gets left on planes, taxis, at customs, lost, etc.

IN AND AROUND RUSSIAN CITIES:

• Carry two memory cards with you and keep switching them out throughout the day. If your camera is stolen, you will not lose every picture. The camera is replaceable, those photos are not.
• Don't be shy about taking video and pictures of the places you visit.
• Always keep a few lower value rubles handy in a pocket. You'll need to pay to use the restroom (almost always 12r in our experience), and when you need just a bit at a time here or there. You don't want to EVER pull out a large wad of bills in public. Having some lower value rubles right at hand is the best plan.
• In Moscow, most of the streets have underground walk-throughs. You don't usually cross at a crosswalk like we're accustomed to. You'll usually go down steps and through an underground tunnel to the other side. There are usually little kiosks under there to purchase magazines, piroshki, sweets, sodas, etc.
• There are kiosks everywhere, the flowers are beautiful and they are bundled in these lovely ruffled paper holders. I really, really want one of those! Hubby thinks it's silly of me.
• Flowers: If you give flowers while there, always give an odd number! Even numbers are for funerals. So give 5 or 7 instead of a 1/2 dozen. Or give 11 instead of a dozen. Not 13 - that's an unlucky number ;o)

PACKING FOR YOUR CHILD:

• Do pack a little laundry soap - kids go through several outfits per day.
• Do pack plastic pants to go over the disposable diapers. Many times when there is a change in the diet, the child will have blow outs. She may also have a parasite causing much diarrhea.
• Pack several plastic bags to dispose of stinky diapers. During your wait time, you can start saving those thin plastic bags you get at the grocery for produce. We always stick those in every bag we pack, usually in that outside zipper part of the suitcase that's not good for holding much.
• Pack some plastic spoons and knives. Disposable flatware was not to be found at all in the Russian hotels we stayed in and especially in our more rural region. When we purchased a meal (at an outside restaurant) to eat in our hotel room we had to "rent" a stainless fork at the hotel Rossia once! Knives come in handy for slicing fruit for your child. We were afraid to pack a "real" knife due to air safety regulations.
• Just pack enough diapers to get you through a day or two. You can buy diapers there, but you may not get out and about for a while to shop for diapers - so have a back up plan.
• Take some disposable bibs.
• Pack tights during the late fall, winter and early spring - even for boys! You'll be accosted by Babushkas everywhere if even a centimeter of your child's skin is exposed to the outside world. (Sidenote: D slept in tights (under her jammies) for a few months after she came home, I think it was a secure feeling for her.)
• Kaolectrolyte is like pedialyte, but sold in packets you mix with water. Much easier to pack. Use in case of diarrhea. Walgreen's sells this.
• DR. Smith's rash cream (pharmacy department) The best stuff on the market.
• BE CAREFUL giving your new child apple juice. It is a natural laxative. I diluted D's apple juice until she was 4. If you do try apple juice, do so before you are set to travel to "test it out". It would be very bad when diapers are in short supply (on a plane, in a car, etc.)
• Big refill pack of diaper wipers - re-sealable. You'll use lots of wipes for everything (not just baby). I found a good one at Super Walmart, White Cloud brand. It's hard to find re-sealable soft packs these days.
• Take some disposable baby washcloths with the soap already in them.
• Take at least one plastic bowl for the child.

We've been waiting a couple of weeks for an update on V's growth and development. We found out today why we've had no news . . . QUARANTINE.

The orphanage has been under Chicken Pox Quarantine for the last two weeks. We won't find out until next week whether or not V was affected.

I'm going back and forth trying to decide if I hope she has had them or not. On the one hand, if yes - she will be done with it. On the other hand, I don't want my sweet baby to have to suffer without the proper coddling and nurturing that she would have at home. But then again, if she were home, we'd get the vaccination and hopefully she would never have to endure them anyhow.

Oh well, it doesn't matter what I think, does it? Like I have any control over whether she has the chicken pox or not! Like I have any control over anything - right!

I just feel so bad, just one more thing my baby is having to endure without her Mommy - - - or maybe not.

Tune in next week for As the Chicken Pox Itch.

Imagine my surprise when I spotted the sign at the gas station down the street - gas is under $2 per gallon! Woo Hoo. Regular unleaded - $1.95!

Again, adoption pertinence - none.

Have you seen the latest commercials for Healthy Choice frozen meals? The two chefs are there telling how they have been working 'round the clock to come up with recipes that taste more delicious with less salt, less fat - yada yada.

Well, oh my goodness, let me tell you what - they really are! No, I have no connection with Healthy Choice (other than the delicious chicken digesting in my stomach). I grabbed a few of HC meals last week at the grocery when they were on sale. Hubby is going to be otherwise occupied over the next week or so and I won't need to be cooking as much and thought these would be better for me than calling out for pizza or making Velveeta Grilled Cheese sandwiches.

Yes, yes I know it is much healthier for me to prepare fresh vegetables and chicken - blah, blah, blah. But these are good! I just had the Chicken Teriaki with brown rice and broccoli and warm cherry compote for dessert! I will tell you right now, I would never cook that well and healthfully for just myself!

And what, you ask, has this to do with adoption of any sort?? Nuttin.

Ok, that is my product recommendation O' the day!

If you or a friend are adopting from Guatemala, please read this information posted by Debbie on her blog. It is very informative and useful information!

I just read a little story in the February issue of Redbook magazine. This couple in Ohio was trying to raise money for their Guatemalan Adoption by selling their coveted Ohio State - vs - Michigan tickets on E-bay. E-bay pulled their sale stating that selling something specifically to fund an adoption is in violation of the site's policy.

So, I guess the lesson here is that if you're selling to raise money toward your adoption, don't list it as such on the site??

The good news, though, is that they ended up listing the tickets for sale on dreamseats.com and an annonymous someone bought them for $2,000 but then they returned the tickets to the couple anyhow, so they got the money and got to go to the game after all!

Anyhow, here is a link to their website where they have their fundraising Cookbook for sale.

We adoptive parents have to stick together, right??!!

Go give the Pisariks congrats and see the boys! They are precious beyond words!

A little over a week ago, the postman delivered a big box to my door. I wondered what on earth that could be, I knew I hadn't ordered anything.

I brought it in and saw Debbie's name in the return address space.

It was a birthday gift for V. A very special gift made from Debbie's heart and by her hands. It must have taken many hours to make and I know that during that time, Debbie thought and prayed for V. That is almost more special than the gift itself!

Debbie made a soft quilt in shades of purple for V. On one side it is many squares of multi-colored purple cloth and on the other side it is soft, soft flannel. Also included in the box was a 7x7 purple Creative Memories photo album and an extra set of pages and the page protectors for all of it! That is a huge gift in itself!

When I was looking over the quilt, I had a little "scene" play in my mind. It was just a flash, but I pictured V holding her special quilt and asking me, "Mommy, who is the lady who made this quilt for me?" and I answered her, "You know, *******'s mama."

You see, V and Debbie's child will know each other because we use the same agency and we will see each other through the years at various activities. But more than that, Debbie has become a special friend and it will be wonderful when both of our children are home and they can become special friends as well!

Thank you sweet friend!

Two years ago today the sweetest baby girl was born in Russia. She was born well before it was time and she was very, very tiny. Although she was tiny, she was strong and brave.

Two years ago today, a lady in Russia gave birth to a baby girl. The baby was born before it was time and the baby was very, very tiny. The baby had many struggles to endure. The lady did not have a way to support even the healthiest of babies, she was not married and she did not have a home of her own. So on that day, the lady had to leave the baby in the care of others. I am sure that lady is thinking today of the sweet baby girl.

Two years ago today, a lady in the United States was going about her daily routine of loving her wonderful husband, caring for her strong, healthy 4 year old daughter, keeping her warm and cozy home - and dreaming of the new child who would fill the crib in the former guest room. Little did this lady know that half a world away, her daughter had been born.

Every day of those two years the US lady, her loving husband and her strong, healthy daughter have prayed for that baby across the sea.

Today, the sweetest baby girl is still in Russia and living in the orphanage where she has been since she was nearly two months old. The baby girl is no longer a baby because today she turns two years old. Although she is still very, very tiny and has overcome many struggles, that little girl is strong and healthy and is still very brave.

Today, a lady in Russia thinks about the tiny, tiny baby she gave birth to on that cold January day two years ago. I'm sure she misses the baby and wishes that things could have been different. In her mind, she probably still pictures the girl as that tiny, tiny baby. Today that lady in Russia is probably feeling a real, physical ache in her arms as she thinks of holding the little girl.

Today, the lady in the United States is longing for her baby girl, who is no more a baby because today she turns two years old. She stills prays without ceasing for this little girl who has been growing in her heart for over two years and filling it with love. But that is a lot of love to hold inside and sometimes it comes leaking out of the lady's eyes. Especially today. Today, in the United States, there is a lady whose arms are aching, physically aching to hold that little girl. To squeeze her tight and let her know how very, very much she is loved and wanted.

Today, in Russia, there is a little girl who has two mothers. But she is alone.



Heavenly Father, I pray that you will reach down and cover V with your father's love. Hold her little body and keep her warm. Put your loving cheek to her cheek and let her know that you are there.

Please let someone today hold her and love on her. Please let someone tell her she is lovely and special and that she can be anything she wants to be.

Please let her know that you knew her and loved her from the very moment she was conceived, let her know that she is a precious birthday girl today who will have the hugest party when she comes home. Let her know that Mommy and Daddy will let her have a whole birthday cake to herself and she can make the biggest mess she wants with the frosting.

Please tell her we're coming as soon as we can and please help us get there. Help us, help us - Please!

This is my day so far:

Woke up 6:28 nothing on the radio about school being out - all clear - up and at 'em.

D is up and dressed looking especially cute and warm.

7:40 Off to school.

7:45 It begins sleeting a lot.

7:55 Our School's Superintendent comes on the Radio announces that "the buses are turning around and going back to the school. Parents of car riders, please come back and get your kids. "

8:30 D is back home.

Here are some pictures of Blizzard 2007 in East Texas -

Yes, Margaret, RIDICULOUS! And D isn't even of the age to be happy that school was released! She loves school!

I know I've been terrible at posting lately.

I really don't like to be a whiney poster and since all I've wanted to do lately is whine - no posting.

It is just a really hard week for me.

As I answered in an e-mail from a fellow bloggy mama friend when she asked how we are doing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

We breathe in - breathe out - wake up - live the day - go to sleep - repeat.

It is already January 18 in Russia.

2004

December 22, 2004 - Submitted Drivers License and Criminal History Check Forms

December 29, 2004 - Submitted first part of Formal Application and $200 application fee (in order to lock in 2004 agency fees before they were raised in 2005 - V was born 20 days later)

2005

January 18, 2005 - V was born (of course we didn't know this at the time)

April 26, 2005 - Submitted I-600 A Application to Adopt Foreign Orphan

May 12, 2005 - Submitted Application packet to agency

May 17, 2005 - Re-Accreditation came through!!


June 7, 2005 - Application Approved

June 9, 2005 - Home Study Social Worker assigned and Home Study scheduled

June 30, 2005 - Home Study visit by Social Worker (more or less an update since we'd already adopted D through this agency)

July 19, 2005 - Home Study approved and Dossier Requirements received

August 12, 2005 - Fingerprinted in Dallas (NW Highway location) for I-171H approval

August 18, 2005 - Dossier completed, but Texas would enact a $100 cap on apostilles per adoption on September 1, so waiting till after the first of September to send (thank Goodness we did!)

August 20, 2005 - RECEIVED APPROVAL FOR I-171H! Eight days from fingerprints to mailbox!!

August 20, 2005 - Attended one full day Educational Seminar at the agency (since it was our second adoption, we only had to attend one day instead of the full two days)

September 6, 2005 - Sent entire Dossier packet to Austin for Apostilles

September 19, 2005 - Dossier hand delivered to agency.

** Let me add that we changed regions during this time. We originally thought we would not be able to go to the same region D came from, so had prepared our dossier for a different region, then in late October we learned we could register in D's region so we had to update a few things and then it was submitted.**

December, 2005 - Somewhere in the first two weeks of December our dossier was finally registered in our region.

2006
January 18, 2006 - V turned One-Year-Old

February 4, 2006 - Attended our agency's Russian Culture Day, (given a hint that good news was coming soon!)

February 9, 2006- Received V's referral!!! She was 12 months 22 days old at referral.

February 14, 2006 - Accepted V's referral - Happy Valentines Day!

February 18, 2006 - Got our travel dates for first trip

March 1, 2006 - Left Dallas to go to Moscow

March 2, 2006 - Arrived Moscow

March 5, 2006 - Train to region

March 6, 2006 - Arrived in region

March 6, 2006 - Met Baby V

March 7, 2006 - Visited Baby V

March 8, 2006 - Left Baby V

March 11, 2006 - Arrive back in Dallas

March-April, 2006 - Re-do most of dossier

April 12, 2006 - Fed Ex redone dossier to agency

May 17, 2006 - Agency's Russian Accreditation expires

August 11, 2006 - Received update on V's growth and development

October 13-20, 2006 - Go to region only to visit V

2007
January 12, 2007 - still waiting

January 18, 2007 - V's Second Birthday

February 20, 2007 - Re-applied for I-600A which expired on February 18. Sent big stack and $545.

March 6, 2007 - One year anniversary of meeting V

In answer to Melissa's question in the comments section of the post below.

Yes, this is how long we have been waiting for a court date. (Based on the time we were leaving the orphanage at 3:30 p.m. on March 8, 2006.)

10 months, 4 days, 5 hours and 18 minutes . . . . tick - tick - tick

AN ORPHAN’S PRAYER
I am waiting…somewhere far…far…away on the other side of the world.
I may not know who you are or what you look like,
But some how deep in my heart I know you are out there.
That one day you will come and find me.
It’s a long journey, and it takes a lot of time…I wish it could be easier.
But I know that the ones who come for me will not count the cost.
They will only see the joy of finding me.
For now I abide in the fields of the fatherless.
Day by day wondering why I was born here and not somewhere else?
Asking…why my life couldn’t have been different?
It is so lonely…
Even though I am surrounded by hundreds of other children,
I know that something is missing…
I know in my heart that I need aplace to call home.
My arms long to be wrapped in a father’s embrace…
I long to be soothed by a mother’s love…
Gazing out of the orphanage window, I offer a prayer of hope,
“Oh God please help them come quickly.”
Even as I lay in the darkness each night somehow I feel assured,
That no matter how lost I appear I am not alone.
Holy hands guard my steps, sacred fingers wipe my tears, touching mylonely heart.
The one who made me, The God that knew me before I was born,
Hears me every time I call.He whispers His promises in my ear.
I listen with hope to His voice.
But what I worry about most is that no one wants to look for me.
The fields are vast and there are so many scattered all over the earth.
I wonder how one little child, so lost, can be found?
Yet He calms my heart and assures me that He will find you.
That He will make sure that you hear His voice clearly.
He has promised me that He will make a way through the fields,
That He will personally cut a path, and lead you right to myorphanage door.
My prayer is…When He speaks…Please don’t forget to listen…
When He calls don’t be too afraid to go
For I am waiting….somewhere, far…far…away
On the other side of the world
To come Home

I've spent a good amount of time tonight reading lots of blogs! I found that if you go to: http://www.technorati.com/search/ and type your blog address in the URL search, you can see where your blog is linked.

I am amazed that so many people have linked my blog. I don't mind at all. I'm just surprised. I've tried commenting on many of your blogs to let you know I stopped by. I'm just amazed that there are so many people reading me, but not commenting! Say hi y'all!

Back to investigating.

till later . . .

Nadia's Story is a documentary and I believe I was meant to see it on this day as I long so much for V. It is about 15-20 minutes long and does require tissues (believe me, get them now or you'll be clicking pause to go get them in about 5 minutes.)

I just stumbled across this little film this morning and I do mean stumbled.

The resemblance between Nadia and V is uncanny! Maybe that is why the little film moved me so much.

After viewing, click on the link below the "screen" and you'll see that there has been a complete book , entitled UNSHAKABLE, written about this family's adoption experience and it says it will soon be made into a motion picture.

Very encouraging for this my new year . . .