Bonding II

Today we started out the day with to key tasks: to finish the paperwork in Artemovsk so that we could send the papers in tonight's train to Kiev, and start bonding with our two youngest boys.

We left the apartment in Kramatorsk at 9:30 a.m. and got to the orphanage in Artemovsk around 10:30. First we went to Inna's office to sign some papers so that Masha could chase paperwork and then they told us that we could go to the play area and they would take the children ther for us. When we were done signing the papers, on our way out of Inna's office, Fernando met Santiago in the hallway! It was a little confusing and surprising for both of them but but it was wonderful all the same. They hugged and went upstairs together to wait for Nico so we could all be together. At the play area, there were two other American families with their children playing there. We found out that they were Katrina (Vicky) and Kyle (Oleg) with their parents. They already had their Court Hearings and are only waiting for the 10 days so they can go home to their other children. They are wonderful people and we were very glad to meet them. Everything went fine, they brought Nico and we played together, only there were more children, more toys, more pichinias, more Papas and Mamas. We were there all together for about an hour and then they took the children to lunch. We went to have lunch as well but we left the room with the feeling that we hadn't been able to go too far in our bonding with Santiago and Nicolas.
It was only our first visit after meeting them. Maybe the feeling that we had gone so far with Fernando Jr. made us think that it would be the same with the little ones. We had lunch at a new place called Byblos. It's an Armenian-Arabic Restaurant, very well decorated and with very good food and, most importantly (as we would later learn to value). The background music came from two big screens showing at first a Pink Floyd concert and later music from Scorpions!!! Fernando was thrilled about the music and, as I said, the food was good but both had nothing to do with each other...
We had lunch and the three of us had a good laugh. Then Masha took us to buy a SIM card for Fernando's cel phone but it didn't work. Masha is lending us a cel phone so that we can call home.
After this, it was already 3pm so we went to the orphanage for the afternoon visit with Santiago and Nicolas.
We got there and it was a completely different story from the morning visit! When we got there they told Santiago but he was his snack. He left everything, stopped eating, and ran outside of the room yelling Papa, Mama!! We were standing in the hallway and suddenly he appeared, running like crazy yelling Papa Mama and the caretakers chasing after him... Fernando and him joined in a big hug impossible to separate. They both went upstairs together and on our way we stopped at Nico's room where his clothes were being changed after his nap. He saw him from a distance and started calling him... Nico!! Nico!!! while we waived at him with our hand !! Nico, fidgeted on the changing table like crazy and waved back at us with his little hand while the caretaker tried to finish changing his clothes. He yelled Mama!! Mama!! So cute!!!
The 4 of us went alone into the play room and everything was wonderful. We got a long way!!! We played and talked about many things! We stood at the orphanage window to yell at the street. What a latino thing to do!!! but it was wonderful. Our sons had never done this before and they were fascinated just to be able to see beyond the orphanage's 4 walls. We learned how to say "Hoooola Chicas!!!! " (Hi Girls). Santiago perfectly and Nico started to repeat everything his brother said. Nico was even able to stand by himself for a while and walked with us, probably more than they had made him walk during the last year. He discovered building blocks and he was fascinated. He can manipulate toys very well with both hands and has a very good concentration span. A while after our new american friends arrived and we started playing all together. We left that visit with the feeling that we had gone a long way with the little ones. Almost on our way out, Masha introduced us to the well known senior caretaker. She is an older lady, tall and white-haired, very serious looking. We had already heard stories about how inflexible and strict she was so we were a little afraid. As soon as he saw her, Fernando took her hand in his and looking into her eyes told her with great enthusiasm Spasiba, Spasiba, Spasiba!!!
When we were already in the car on our way back to Kramatorsk, masha told us that she had found the lady crying in the stairway and sobbing, while she told her that nobody had ever treated her that way before. She said she loved Nico so much because he is such a loving child, and that she was so happy that he had found such a good family. Masha was amazed to see the "iron lady" in the orphanage cry. God's power made itself present today once again through us. These women really do the best that they can with the little resources they have and give their love to our children, and it seems that only a few people recognize this. Fernando pointed at Masha that how could he not be so grateful to the ladies who have been the "mamas" to our children until now.

Tomorrow is Nic's birthday, a very special birthday not only because he will be 4 years old but because his parents will be with him for the first time and he will have his first party. Remember that 4 year old children with special needs go to Institutions, and this would have happened to Nico if we hadn't been here for him. The Lord wanted that the timing would be exactly like this. The way it has happened all along our trip, everything is happening at the precise moment, not before or after, but at God's perfect timing.

Well, as a good latino mom, the minute I got permision to have the party I ran to buy a special tablecloth with napkins to match, horns, party hats, and tomorrow we will get the cake and the candle and everything else I can get my hands on to make the party brighter and happier. Fernando makes jokes at me because he says that where will I find the mini chocolate truffles and other specialties served in Peruvian parties (which are extremely sophisticated!). We plan to sing Happy Birthday 4 times, the South-American way, the Guatemalan way, the American way and the Ukrainian way. One for each year of age. I don't know if the Director knew what she was getting into when she allowed us to have the "little party". Fernando says this must be like having Obama's family, african grandmother and all, at the White House. We'll see how it goes, we will have it all on video so that you can all attend. Let's hope we can upload it to the blog...