Police cars, broken bikes & big hugs...all in a Satuday morning...

It’s Saturday afternoon here, and after 3 nights in Angarsk, some of us (Mike) have completed cycled over to their time zone. Some of us (Skip) are almost there, and some of us (Me) is struggling to sleep at night, and stay awake during the day. I thought we were home free last night when both Mike & Skip fell asleep before 9 p.m. I thought for sure I’d get a full night’s sleep and be “normal” again. Well insomnia hit Skip around 2:15 a.m., and it wasn’t until well after 4 (I stopped looking at the clock!) that we got back to sleep. We all got up around 7:30, some feeling totally rested (Mike) and others (Skip & I) not so much…

We visited Harry this morning just as they were getting ready to go outside, so that is where we spent our time. Of 12 children in his groupa, only 5 went out since the others all have colds and weren’t allowed outside. (Apparently they feel it best for the kids to breathe in the stagnant germ-filled air all day, rather than get fresh air, so….)

We brought a battery operated car for Harry today – a very loud one. A plastic police car that has an annoying siren, and flashing lights. He loved it of course. Like his brother Skip, Harry immediately turned it over, found the switch, turned it on and off several times before determining that was all it did – then opened the battery compartment, counted the batteries, put it back on, then spent the next hour playing with it. The toy is loud and obnoxious, and one we decided, would stay at the Baby Home when we leave! We also figure the batteries will promptly be removed by the caregivers – and I can’t blame them! Inside, the noise is just a bit much…

After tiring of the car, Harry decided to ride one of the three tricycles this group owns. All three are in poor shape, but rideable. I suggested to Irina that perhaps we could buy another bike for the kids, and when she told this to the caregiver, she said they would be VERY appreciative.

We spent the entire morning outside, playing with both Harry and the other four children in his group. One little girl, Alina, has been following us around all week, hugging our legs as we stand, or sitting in our laps whenever we sit down, and at one point today declared (in Russian of course) “So I should go home with Momma & Poppa). It just breaks your heart! Another little girl, Anya, appears to be Harry’s best friend. They are too cute together. Irina said the little boy who was his closest buddy was recently moved to the orphanage, having turned 4 shortly before that. Apparently Harry would have been moved with him, but knowing we were coming soon, they kept him here, in Group #5 (thankfully!) We also learned that Harry has been with this same group for about a year and a half. THIS makes it clear how frightened he has been, and how reluctant he has been to open us to us. THIS – group 5 – is the only “family” he knows or remembers! One caregiver told Irina that yesterday, Harry was telling her about our visit earlier in the day. Having heard that he wasn’t exactly thrilled at first, she began to tease him, telling him that if he doesn’t like his family, then perhaps he should tell them so we could take another child home. He became very upset at this suggestion, and told her in no uncertain terms, that we are HIS family and HE will go home to America with us!…

ALL the children in his group just crave attention, and love to have their pictures taken. Each time I’d take a picture, they’d insist on seeing it, and when I’d show them, they would smile so brightly, quietly pointing to themselves and saying their names. When Mike took a picture of Me with several kids, Harry & Skip included, they all couldn’t wait to see it. When I showed them, Harry began to point to each person, saying their names: “Anya, Alina, Vitaliy (Harry) Momma, and finally Skip” Last time we were here he called his brother “Gip” instead of Skip, so clearly his language has improved!

Our highlight of the day was at lunchtime when we were getting ready to leave. The caregiver sent Harry over to say goodbye, and he came running, giving all of us HUGE hugs. It made me cry because I waited more than a year and half to feel his little arms around me again! With that we left to go find a bicycle. We were unsuccessful, but will try again tomorrow….