He is an Angel!

Wow, what a couple of days it has been. We took the train down overnight, which was real interesting, it was an experience that i really did enjoy, because it was neat, but sure didnt get uch sleep on it. very small area for 5 people. we went to the orphanage wednesday, first to the doctor, so she could tell us his medical issues. its hard to sit there and know that she could tell you ANYTHING and you just have to take it in. there is nothing she could have said that would change anything in our minds, but it was nerve wracking. we knew alot of it, but some we didnt. poor little thing has alot of things to deal with. So, then they took us to his room. they opened the door and i saw him sitting at a little table playing with a car. He is TINY. i know everyone is surprised at how small they are, but he is 5 1/2 and smaller than my 2 1/2 yr old. He came to me and i sat down on the floor with him. it was a bit difficult because all the nannies and yulia were watching. i got out my toy bag and he played with the toys. we only had about 15 minutes because yulia had to bring papers to another place still that day. our cabbie didnt like us at all and was very rude. you get that here. the next day we met serge and marina there at the orphanage, artiom came to me when we go to his roo to get him, the nannies dont really like us to come in the room,and we have to take him to the music room to play. its chilly in there and not much to do, but we sure enjoy playing with him. we get 2 hours once a day.

i had alot of emotion the day we me.et him. in my mind the build up was so huge, i had imagined it a million times. yet, it wasnt really like i imagined. here was this tiny helpless child, with no one to love him. i immediately knew i would always take care of him and that kind of thing, but its hard to explain...you want to feel immediate love, immediate connection. you dont want to feel like you are hugging someone elses child. but you sort of do. then the rest of the visit the next day that is, i would observe his behaviors, which seem autistic but of course could just be orphanage behaviors. then i start to think about all the dr appt that lay ahead and what his potential may be...i will keep this very real..it was a little hard. you start to question things, things you know your heart isnt really questioning, but your earthly mind is anyway. if that makes sense.

that night we got a call from marina saying there was a paperwork issue and we might not be able to adopt him if they cant find a certain document. all my earthly doubts about whether God brought him to my life went out the window. i was so scared that he may end up in an institution and it was unimaginable. i knew he was supposed to be our little boy. thankfully, they called back later that night and said that they DID find the document. he has 4 brothers and sisters and it was an issue with that. i think his mother is not living.

we had a good visit today, he is very very happy and smiling all the time. so innocent. he is totally non verbal, and may stay that way. he has the sweetest smile in the world. we leave one teen at our apartment with alex because he was a monster the day we brought him. we have an apartment w/in walking distance to some shops and there are stalls selling food and things everywhere here. the ride to the orphanage is about 30 minutes each way. taxi drivers are crazy, they dont plow the roads here and we got alot of snow, so its a mess. big dogs run everywhere digging in the garbage. the women dress very risque for lack of a better word. signs of store windows are pretty bad too. you become more aware of it when you have your teens with i guess.

we have not heard a thing about the interpol, which is not so good. we cant get a court date until we clear the interpol.

i had borsht with yulia. i love it. really. Actually i love alot of things here, i could seriously live here. its been such an amazing experience all around. we play crazy eight and night and walk to the market for milk and bread and smoked string cheese, yum! the orphanage staff dont seem to like us a real lot though so its a little awkward. we have to wear masks too but you can buy them here if you forget them.

I asked serge about the pics of the kids on my list and he said he would take care of it for me, i have no doubt the staff would not let me, but they will probably let him or marina. keep your fingers crossed. i didn't see any of our RR kids in artioms groupa, they were all young, like 1-4 yrs old. they keep artiom in the younger group because he is so small and sensitive and gets along well with all of them.

i am going to have shane put some pics on here hopefully. I have to check out RR while i have internet to see what kiddos are committed to this week, and if mindy got a family in time. all of you coming here have such an amazing experience to look forward to. adoption is the most wonderful thing in the world!

jodi

p.s. nancy, I dont have the phone with me, rich has it back at the apartment. i still h ave to get the # for you :)