March 1

Working
on the
sippy cup!









Hello! Just wanted to let everyone know that we are okay despite the absence of a blog for a couple of days. Zhanna has been sick with a temperature of up to 103.8F and a runny nose. Have spoken to Lena (who needed a temp in Celcius---forgot that farenheit means about the same here as a temp in Celcius means to me!!) and I figured out how to convert my brand new thermometer (bought for the trip--thanks Bonny!) to celcius. Apparently most of the other babies in room 2 are also sick or have been over the past few weeks. Tylenol and fluids (thank you Linda for the weight chart to dose Tylenol!) and if she is not better tomorrow the doctor from the orphanage will either see her and/or send over the medicine that helped the other children. I now know what it is to feel helpless to figure out how to comfort a sick child who has temporarily lost her "sunny disposition". She seems better tonight--has slept on and off all day. She is taking fluids well, but won't eat anything. I will go grocery shopping alone tomorrow while Lena stays with her. We will need more rabbit as well as juice and possibly formula as she won't eat right now. She was practicing with a sippy cup yesterday--lots of work to still do on that!
That is about all for now--will keep you posted. Today marks one month since I left home--and the end is in sight. The fifteen day waiting period will be over on March 9--then we begin a paperwork chase again--new passport, birth certificate, etc. Hopefully we will be home in three weeks. My mom is leaving Saturday to come here--she should be here by Tuesday morning. Can't wait to see her--and the rest of you when we get home!!
Zhanna is here on my lap--trying to help me type, and laughing. Hopefully that will continue and she will feel much better by morning.