The
patriotic
look!!







Hello all!! Today is Tuesday---according to all calculations our last Tuesday in Karaganda. We will be leaving on Sunday to fly to Almaty. On Monday, Zhanna will have a physical at the SOS clinic--don't know what that stands for--at 12noon. On Tuesday at 10am I have to meet with the people in the Embassy for some type of interview to finish all details of Zhanna's visa to come to the USA!!! We will need to change our travel tickets when we get to Almaty, so if there is room and availability we will be leaving here early Wednesday morning....very early...for a 4:10am flight. We are all very excited!!
Today we went to visit the orphanage so my mom could see where Zhanna was raised for the past 8 months. We met with many of the caregivers and staff of the orphanage--who said Zhanna has really changed in the past 6 weeks. She is much more verbal--not with words yet, but constant babbling and laughing. We went to the baby store yesterday and bought 3 walkers to donate to the orphanage, as some of theirs were worn. We delivered them this morning. The babies in Room 2 were so excited...something new and different for them to explore ( and argue over!!).
As you can see, we attempted the patriotic look for the picture of the day. The flag is Kazakhstan's national flag, and the doll is the "Matrushka" which opens up to 5 littler ones inside.
We should be finalizing our plans on Saturday when we meet with Tamara and Lena for the final paperwork and to get the birth certificate and Kaz passport for Zhanna. She will have dual citizenship with a Kaz passport and an American passport until she is 18. Well-- that's all for now--not too much happening. Mom and I are fighting to see who gets to do the dishes and laundry every day---anything to pass the time!!!
Hope to see everyone SOON!!!!