Friday update...

Following our morning visit with Harry yesterday, Irina did more running around trying to secure these new signatures & seals for our medicals, while we stayed at the apartment doing school work with Skip. She called in the afternoon to tell us that we could go visit Harry again, so we did, gladly. We got there around 4, about ½ hour after they get up from their naps. The kids were all outside, so we spent about an hour and a half playing with them. Harry, clearly the bandleader, was busy collecting something in a milk bag (Milk here often comes in 1-liter bags – no jugs). We had no idea what it was he was collecting, but he bag was quite full. He was sitting in the dirt behind a bench, with his co-hort Igor. When we got close enough we found out what he was collecting – DIRT. Yep, he and Igor were just scooping it off the ground, and putting it in the bag. BOYS!

Later, he was running around with the bag – which from a distance looked like a sack of money, since he was clutching it so tightly. I am glad we got such a long time to play with the children and watch them interact. Harry & Igor are VERY close! At one point Igor fell and hurt his leg. He sat up and sat and cried. When Harry noticed, he stopped what he was doing immediately, came over and hugged his friend. It is very cute to watch. At times the two will just hug, then continue what they were doing. I loved watching them! I must say, the more time we spend with Igor, the more endearing he becomes. He and Harry ran us ragged the first day, but since then, I’ve come to see the very sweet side of him. He is cute as a button, and has a smile that will melt your heart!

Once we went inside we were allowed to play in the sleeping room again. Harry rode circles around the rows of beds, and a few times, had Skip sit behind him on the bike as he rode. He wouldn’t exactly let Skip ride the bike, but he was happy to take him along for the ride so to speak. He again showed up his bed, number and 10, and proudly showed us his pajamas which were tucked under the pillow. Off-white which brown bears. Two-piece, flannel. The kind that has pants, with a collared top that buttons down the front. I don’t know why, but I loved seeing them. I often think about him going to sleep at night, and try to picture him in my mind. But now I CAN picture him in his cute little p.j’s!

This morning at 4:00 a.m. Levi arrived here at the Irkutsk Airport. Irina insisted on picking him up, despite the long hours she has been putting in for us. We had told her if she could just call for a taxi, Mike would go and pick him up, but she said she and Vova would do it. THEY ARE AMAZING! They dropped hin off here to the apt. at 6:00 and at 7:30 she returned to begin yet around day of seal chasing… We did a few hours of that, then she dropped us off at the Baby Home. We had another great visit with Harry, who now jumps up as soon as we arrive. All the kids call Momma, Poppa, and then he proudly walks past them to greet us. We forgot our camera for this visit, so took from there only memories. The boys are beginning to have a lot of fun together! Harry was shy at first with “Braat, Levi” (Brother, Levi) but warmed up quickly – taking his cue from us.

We left at lunch time, but this time we took the trolley home, making Skip VERY VERY happy. He has been asking to do this since we got here. He calls it the trolley train. The line goes right in front of the apt, and he likes watching it from the window. Irina rode with us today, showing us where to get on, and where to get off. The cost is 10 rubles per adult, Skip is free as long as he sits in our lap. He prefers to stand and watch the trolley as it goes about its route.

Around 3:30 we again took the trolley, this time TO the Baby Home. We took along a bunch of outdoor toys to play with the kids, but when we got there, they were inside. It didn’t matter since we have kept a big bag of toys there since our first visit, and each time we get there, the caregiver gives us the bag of toys.

We played with bubbles again – new ones that we brought today, Cars that Levi brought for the boys, a sticker books with planes & cars (HE LOVED THIS!) watched part of a DVD, played with balls, and the huge stuffed horse. The boys chased each other around a stuffed “mushroom” that sits in the middle of the room, and just wore each other out. When Harry gets frustrated with Skip, he yells “Skip, stop” . He has learned this gets a response from him – unlike the times he yells at him in Russian..

We stayed for 3 hours, but the time flew by. We again said good-bye, and this time Harry wasn’t ready for us to leave. A first! He kept stalling, trying to play some more. We told him we’d be back in the morning, and he was happy with that, and said “Pa-ka” after giving us all big hugs.

We are all tired right about now. In fact, Skip said he wasn’t hungry when we got dinner ready, and when we looked in on him 2 minutes later, he was out cold. I guess you could say we ALL had a long, but fun day!

On the “news” side, we learned today the judge’s assistant has been in contact with the attorney here in Irkutsk regarding the definition from last week. One thing she specified was that the medicals need to bear the official “Russian Eagle” seal. While we have done all our medicals at State Run clinics which SHOULD have this seal, most don’t. Why, nobody can tell us. BUT, the attorney advised us that the NZ families she worked with also had this problem, and got a letter of explanation from some head honcho at each facility, and this has sufficed for the judge. All things being equal, that should have meant we’d be fine, but, things are NOT equal, and thus we feared she’d again turn us down. Today however, she has told our attorney that this WOULD be okay! YIPPPEE! Two of the doctors we need to see (again) won’t be around til Monday, so we plan to finish up then, and right away file them with the court. The lawyer tells us also, that the judge inquired as to how long we will can remain in the country. We all assume she figures that we will leave the country, obtain new visas, and then return again to bring him home. This is not uncommon for families who run into delays as we have, but are here on standard 30-day tourist visas. The lawyer didn’t realize we have 90 business visas, and told the judge she wasn’t sure, but that she assumed we have only another week to 10 days before it expires, and thus, requested a quick court date once the medicals are submitted, provided they are “acceptable”. For some reason, the judge agreed to…so we’re hoping this is good news and that we’re back in court by the end of next week.

The thoughts, prayers, and encouragement we’ve received from all of you have been tremendous. We are so grateful! It has helped us in ways we can’t describe nor repay. We ask that you PLEASE continue to keep us in your prayers just a little longer. While we never asked for this role, we’ve been thrust into one that is making the journey a little easier for the American families who are right behind us in their pursuits to bring their children home. A victory for us, makes it that much easier for them!