Our 4-Square!These are just a few of the fun things we've been watching Nicholas learn to do! It is so amazing, crazy, strange even at times to see a boy this big actually doing some of these things for the first time. Everything thrills him. His eyes open wide and he gets this very Nicky-esque smile. Each day, it seems, he does something new. Today he went on a trampoline for the first time; and a merry-go-round.
He's also getting used to some routine things like going to the "Y." He does great in the kids club with Isabelle, so I'm able to work out a bit. He loves our regular babysitter, Lauren, so I'm able to get some work for WHO done still. Everything is really going better than I ever expected. I mean there are the regular sibling tug-o-wars for Mommy's time or a certain toy, and the busy-ness of summer definitely leaves me ready to collapse into bed, but it is just so amazing that Nicholas is finally here! He's grown an inch, and although his blood work came back with a high level of lead (20), we should see that go down. The health dept does have to do an inspection of the house though. What an awesome country we live in, yes, inspect my house for lead! They will also send a letter which I plan to forward on to the orphanage since it's likely that other kids there are being exposed and have high levels.
I'm including a bunch of photos...out of chronological order because the ones of our last days in Kaz were on the memory card that sunk to the bottom of the pool. The card was fine although the camera drowned.
Lastly, my suitcase arrived back here on my doorstep on July 12th, some of the stuff moldy, including my Russian Phrasebook for Children which I mailed to British Airways with my receipts, as a symbol of the inconvience they caused me. Unreal. I will never fly them again with checked luggage and avoid London at all costs. The terrorists have succeeded in destroying 'normal' life at Heathrow airport. Oh, and they lost my Kaz-purchased stroller on the way home too!
Signing off now. I may post again sometime in the fall. Thank you to all for your love and prayers and support. Oh, along those lines, I memorized and repeated Psalm 23 to myself hundreds of times in Kazakhstan, especially on the flight from Almaty to London. Let's just say Nicholas doesn't fly well. Ok, "hell on wings" might be used to describe the experience. Just before embarking on the London to Chicago flight, I visited the prayer room at Heathrow (big windows looking out at sky and runway) and was practically bawling as I prayed 23 again. I was so excited to go home and suddenly felt so full of God. It was really surreal, a most cool feeling, just before going to our gate. Got to our gate and looked at the big sign "Gate 23" and it struck me that what had sustained me thru so much, was the same gate thru which I was passing to the future, to our lives together, reunited with my family, back home finally, again, after a difficult, but unforgettable time. It was awesome. Thanks for taking the journey with me. (tons of photos below...)
Nicky at the Hyatt in Almaty, one night reprieve and first glass elevator ride.
Nicky at the Hyatt pool, just before drowning camera!
Lines, lines, more lines on the travel home
Finally reunited with the family at O'Hare. Me crying in what has come to be known as my Kaz dress.
First haircut
Lunch time! Goosna (yummy)
At the pool
All smiles
