In Krivoy Rog

Random thoughts from today in Ukraine... I sent some of this in an email yesterday...

It's been busy and stressful and crazy. It's cold and drury here in Krivoy Rog, but today we had about an hour of sunshine... yippee. It's like having dessert. You soak up every little morsel. We haven't mastered the language yet. We are on the way to learning the alphabet... Don't be too impressed... the Ukranians actually find us pretty funny. Our driver laughed at us today as we were sitting in the car sounding out words on signs... we sounded like little ones reading words for the first time. He would eventually say the word for us. And, he finally got out of the car to smoke.

The apartment we are staying in is pretty cozy and compared to the outside, it's like heaven. The orphanage is just the same... like a ray of sunshine. We have learned so much about Ukraine, the people, the country and the legal system and the way the orphanages are set up. Nina was supposed to be in a school for invalids and would have been cast aside. However, the "baby house" which is where children go from ages 1-3 kept her because they liked her. And, they were going to "have to" send her to the invalid house in July on her fourth birthday. Wow! I guess God had other plans for her. You would be amazed at the stimulation and affection she has received. What a different story it would have been for her. I think God has big plans for her... two dogs, two sisters and a brother, for starters!

We bought a few toys for the children at the baby house today. It was too much fun, knowing they love anything you give them. So, we had our first experience in a mall today! Big Nina and I shopped like women together. It was fun. We looked and compared prices. We LOVED shopping for our kids, or just shopping in general. And, we were very aware of the prices! It was good. Nina and I bonded in some small way. We also went to the grocery store and at the end there were little stores where you could buy miscellaneous things. She bought some slippers (because they are of good quality and cheap in Krivoy Rog.) Then, she shopped for sunglasses. I stepped in and tried some on. It was a very girly experience. Jordan just stood out side and waited... a good man! I found some and Nina said, "Oh, you look very European! You should buy them." I thought that would be great and she translated the price. I started sweating and casualy mentioned it to Jordan. Ha! He was not on board with this decision. I left them. Nina wrote down the brand but said that she and her husband do not spend that amount without talking to each other first. She was going back home to a local shop to ask him about buying them. So fun! And, the funny thing is that Jordan and I have the same agreement. We discuss purchases first... around the globe, couples are so similar. It was fun to recognize that! She appreciated the similarity as well.

We also had to go to a clinic to get blood tests for Nina, Syphillis, Hep B & C. All were negative. Then we had to haul her over to another clinic for an HIV test... results next week. Please pray for negative test results! It was a hard morning. She had nothing to eat (required) and they woke her up early and then we hauled her out of her "safe place" and we have known her one day. That was hard and emotionally draining. We loved on her and I got to hold her on the bus ride over. But, she was very scared and happy to return to the baby house.

Our facilitator gave Nina an apple. I had offered her a little cookie, but she chose the apple and some water. I got to hold her on the bus. She was scared but still snuggly.

Another part of our day, we saw Nina again today. We played with her "grouper" and the children are so fun and eager for attention. Nina was slightly possessive at first, but then she allowed us to interact with the group. Apparently, this is common as our translator asked us about this tonight (she was not with us at the time.) The kids don't care if we speak their language. They talk to us, and we just smile and try our best to understand.

The "baby house" is immaculate. Nina and the other kids are well loved and fed. They live, eat and play and potty in a small area of the "baby house" but it is very well taken care of. We took a video of all of the children and it will be fun to watch when we return. Nina is beautiful and warm and loves hugs and kisses. She called us mama and papa or dada. It's precious and so unexpected. But, the caregivers encouraged this from day one. This is all so amazing. We will be here for another few days... until possibly April 4th to fly home April 5th. Our court date is set for April 2nd tentatively. We will both fly home and I will return around April 13th. The translator advised me to go home and see my kids (I guess I missed them on the outside more than I knew.) We have had scary and trying moments, but Jordan and I are praying and God has carried us through it all.

Our translator pointed out to us that it may seem overwhelming and scary to us, but our sensations are nothing compared to the uncertainty she is feeling and will continue to feel.

Based on her experience, it will take Nina about a year to adjust. She will be speaking English within two months. This is amazing to me. Big Nina suggested we be very patient with her and realize her trauma. Big Nina has adopted a little boy as well. He was 18 months when he was adopted by her and her husband Dennis. Sasha is the boy's name. Dennis, her husband, does the same job as Big Nina, but for primarily French-based agencies. They sound like an amazing couple. They have an aparment in Kiev and a country house North of Kiev. Her son had many adjustments and he was younger. Nina told us that if she adopted again, she would adopt one within the ages of 3-5. She was very open about her past experience with pregnancy. She had a tubal pregnancy and it ruptured. The removed both tubes. Now, they may pursue invitro. In order to do this, she will endure HIV testing on a regular basis, among others. She told us that when she had surgery, the anesthesiologist said if she could pay, he would give her good drugs. If not, he would give her the older drugs. We took this to mean the more advanced and less advanced drugs. She also had to pay the surgeon when he came to visit her room right before surgery. So different! This is obviously a very painful experience for her. She would like to have a baby, but she also has the strong personality of so many here... it's all presented as facts, nothing emotional.

Nina and I stayed up last night talking about parenting. It was good. She is very healthy, concerned about sugar intake. It was fun and enlightening because her son is also adopted. She has no other children and she kept commenting about how great it is that we have other children. We prayed for her. She is in a job that is emotional and draining and stressful. I admire her. She is very intelligent and very strong and very independent... but her husband expects her to wear high heels when they go out, and she concedes (with comfortable shoes in the trunk of the car!)