Our First Day as Parents

Mike and I feel like we did not sleep a single wink. I am sure that is how you feel the first night you have your new baby home from the hospital. We would check to see if they were breathing, if they were okay, if they were really still there. It was crazy.

But, they woke up at 7 am – 2 happy little girls. We are over the moon!
We changed some stinky and wet diapers and clothing and off to breakfast we went. Up and down all those stairs with 2 little girls. No easy task. They enjoyed breakfast and eat very well. We spent the rest of the morning hours taking turns watching the girls and packing up our stuff. We seem to have accumulated a TON of stuff. Food, pampers etc for the girls are everywhere and in every bag!

At 11 Mike had to go with our interpreter to the Police Station to sign some documents and pick up the girls passports. We feed the girls lunch at 11:30 in anticipation of the 3 hour ride to Moscow. They ate well again and we changed and dressed them. Since Danielle pooped this morning I did not think she would go again. Of course while holding Meredith on my lap just before we were leaving she pooped so Mike had to run down all the flights of steps to get the diaper bag back up to me to change her.

So many bags...they all went into the yellow Van. We said our goodbyes to the coordinator who has been the most wonderful person to us. She is an amazing women and we are so thankful for her knowledge and pull in our region. So, we loaded up for the drive. Oh my God!!! What a trip. Picture this little yellow van; really uncomfortable seats, no seat belts or car seats and 2 squirmy toddlers. We are so grateful that they both fell asleep in our arms for about 1 and 1/2 hours of the drive. But Danielle was having a tummy ache (I think it was all the milk- NO more milk for her for a while!) so about 2 hours in I had to ask to pull over to the side of the road so I could change her. She made a messy stinky mess! No one in the van was too pleased with that! They driver and interpreter even got out of the van. Once we got into the Moscow area the traffic started to slow and both girls were woken up by all the stop/starting of the car. Danielle once again made a stinky mess and this time there was no where to stop, so in a moving van in downtown Moscow traffic I changed her again. Just disgusting! I am not surprised I am experiencing all this crazy mommy stuff already! and it is really only day 1!

Finally we made it to our hotel, Marriott Aurora. It is a gorgeous hotel. Of course, of all the Marriott's, this is the one right in the center of the city and traffic is NUTS. It took over 4 hours to get here from Tver. But we plan on staying in the hotel a lot and it is a great hotel and supposedly near good places to go. We will see.

Once we got in we immediately dropped all our stuff in the room and ran down to the restaurant for dinner because we were all starving. All the adults had eaten breakfast at 8 am and nothing else since. The girls had a snack at 11:30 is but were definitely hungry. We were all happy to sit and relax. Mike and I are exhausted and I know Neil and Lulu are also, they have been a godsend during this trip!

Danielle did not want to eat anything tonight but cheerios. Turns out her stomach was still upset and I cleaned up mess number 4 of the day. It got all down her pant leg so she came back to the table pant-less (in only a diaper) to finish the meal. She did chew on a few pieces of a roll and drank the baby tea but wanted none of the other stuff. I hope her tummy feels better soon. No more milk for her for a while.

I gave the girls their first bath tonight. It was a bit traumatizing for both of them but at least I got it done and they dont smell like poop any more. While I did that with the aid of the in-laws Michael met downstairs with the adoption agency coordinator in Moscow to go over our final schedule and sign all of the papers for the US embassy. We have an appointment with the doctor at 7:15 tomorrow morning. Thankfully the doc will come to the hotel and meet with us in the room so we are happy to be able to sleep in a bit.

"GOTCHA DAY"

Today is THE DAY! GOTCHA DAY is the day we have been waiting for.

First thing this morning we headed to a big supermarket to buy our supplies for the girls and a donation to the orphanage. The director had asked for juice so Mike and Neil filled a huge shopping cart completely with apple juice. The total bill came to less than $100 but I couldn’t believe how many containers we got. (about 30 huge containers) The orphanage was very happy with the donation so we were thrilled to do it. We also bought pampers and a ton of food, juice and milk for the girls. We also got this baby tea that they drink.

Heading to the orphanage we brought all of our gifts to give to the workers, doctors, director etc and the clothing and snowsuits for the girls to leave in. As soon as we got in the group workers took the clothing to dress the girls, I think they wanted to say their good byes privately to them. Once they brought the girls down they looked adorable in the Janie and Jack outfits Lulu got for them and I was thrilled that they fit both of them. We were able to say our goodbyes to the caregivers and even got a picture taken with them. We had a really nice good bye visit with the doctor who spoke on our behalf at our trial. We also gave our gifts and got may wonderful hugs and well wishes from the rest of the staff. It was almost about 12:30 when we were finally able to get them into their new snowsuits and take them away. Neil took a picture of us in front of the orphanage for the last time!

Here are photos of us taking them to the hotel with us. Bye Bye Teremok!!!!!!! Paka...

We got them back to the hotel right around when they would normally be napping. We really tried hard to get them to nap but they were definitely over stimulated from the entire event. I am sure it is completely traumatizing for them to be taken away from everything they have known their whole life. Even though we have been visiting them for a number of weeks in a row, we were only able to play with them twice a day and did not have to feed, bathe or get them to nap. So, once they got to the hotel with us and realize we were not giving them back to their caregivers it must have been a shock.

We were finally able to get Danielle to nap for about an hour. Meredith would have no part of it. She was completely awake. Neil and Lulu were gems. They ran to the resturarant and got us lunch while we tried to calm the girls. By about 4 pm we fed them lunch/snack of cheerios, jarred applesauce. Danielle even took some milk in a sippy cup. We played with them and tried to relax in the room until dinner. We didn’t get down to the restaurant until 6:30 ish. The girls were excellent and behaved so well. They both ate great. We ordered semolina and Meredith loved it and ate it up. It is amazing how much that little girl eats. I do not know where it goes right now but I am thrilled to see her eat and hope they she starts putting on weight ASAP, she is all skin and bones right now. Danielle drank some of the tea out of a cup and we all around had a good time with them. The staff loved them too, and it was fun showing them off.

We got back up to the room and though their normal bed time is around 7 pm we did not get them to go down until 9:15. They both cried and cried and fought it so much. It is completely heartbreaking to not know what to do to sooth them. They would be soothed when we picked them up but they would then not go to sleep and want to play. So we had to try to sooth them while they were in the cribs (pack and plays). Not an easy task to sooth an institutionalized child on the first night away from the institution. We had to let them cry a little bit and they did do some rocking/self soothing. But finally they both got down. A couple times throughout the early night I heard and saw Meredith rocking a lot for about 15 seconds and then collapse right back down to sleep. Danielle pooped around 5 am and It stunk but I was afraid to wake her to change her for fear of her not going back to sleep. So, not sure if it was a horrible decision or not but I left her stinky for anther 2 hours. She was sound asleep.

Officially Introducing Danielle Brooke and Meredith Emily

We can finally Introduce our little Girls

Here is "Dasha" now Danielle Brooke

This is her birth Photo from the Russian Orphan Database
These are her Referral Photos we received on Thanksgiving 2008!

Here is "Masha" now Meredith Emily

This is her Birth picture that we found online on the Russian Orphan Database

These are her Referral Photos that we received on Thanksgiving 2008.
I cannot believe how much they have changed in the short time we have known them. They change and evolve more and more everyday.

Last visit in the Orphanage

This afternoon was our last visit with our girls in the orphanage. We had a blast and all of the staff were commenting on how far both girls have come. Meredith is a much happier little girl now and so much more animated and mobile. Danielle has really attached to me and it is so great to see her looking to me for approval. She is really walking a lot and taking a lot more steps unassisted. After our visit our interpreter came back to our hotel with us to help us change our plane tickets and set up lap tickets for the twins. After 2 attempts on Skype where we almost finished the reservation and then the connection was lost we were finally able to complete the change. Lulu will have to go down to an aeroflot office on Friday and pay for the changes and for the girls lap seats. We treated the interperator to dinner at our hotel afterwards and I gave him the gifts we brought for him. I think he apprecaited the tie my in0laws brought for him and we gave in the picture frame with our Russian thank you in it. He said it was a good Russian translation so I am happy about that.

Tomorrow is THE day! The day known as "Gotcha Day" in the adoption world. We break them out of the orphanage at high noon. Wish us luck!

Final Paper Chase

Today began our final paper chase. This morning we headed to the Tver Center for Adoption to pick up the girls new birth and adoption certificates. All we did was sit in the car and our coordinator did everything else for us. Then we went to the Registration office where we had to sign a few documents and were given the official stamps on the certificates. The green documents are the new birth certificates with our names as the parents and the girls American names (although the document is still in Russian) and the blue documents are the Adoption declarations. The coordinator ran into another office to make photo copies of everything and then off we went to the orphanage where the staff there would use the documents we just picked up in order to complete their portion of the paperwork. While that was happening we did get almost an hour to play with the girls. We met the new couple from our agency with their adorable little boy and we spent some time playing with our girls.

We had to leave early as we had been told that some official big-wigs were coming to visit the orphanage today. From what I gather, some Russian person who adopted a child from this orphanage knows or is married to a government official they got some big-wig to donate money to expand the baby home. So an official visit is set up. The staff was dressed up a little more than usual and we were ushered out early. That means a lot of free time this afternoon to relax. We ordered pizza delivery for lunch today. On our last trip our interpreter took us to a pizza place (called Milano-and written in English) and we were able to pick up a delivery menu. The front desk ordered for us and it worked out great. There is only so much 24 Yaca and hotel dining room that you can eat without going crazy. Here is to a relaxing few hours. Tommorow will be different.

Neil & Lulu meet their Grandaughters

We were picked up this morning by our interpreter and met up with the other couple. Today is their gotcha day. We had a few official errands to run. We went to the court house to drop off gifts for the social worker and pick up documents for the other couple. Headed to the police headquarters for more documents, I am not sure which couple they are for. Then we finally headed to the orphanage to see the girls. The first meeting of the second set of grandparents. As soon as we arrived we were told that we would be taking the girls out of the orphanage today to have their passport photos taken. Minutes later the girls were delivered to us in full snowsuits and hats with what seemed like 20 layers of clothing underneath. They were both stuffed like sausages. We did get some cute pictures. The fun of having grandparents with more hands for cameras so we can concentrate on the girls and they can get good photos. We even have a cute 15 second video of us in the van with them.

We went to a photo/camera store and had their pictures taken. It took them 15 tries to get Dasha’s picture. She was looking all around and not at the camera. Masha was very pensive and did not want to take her fingers out of her mouth but she sat on daddy’s lap and he helped her calm down for a few minutes and the first shot of her was a keeper. Too funny.

Back to the baby home we went with only about ½ hour to play with them before it was time for their lunch and nap. We headed back to the hotel. Lulu hurt her knee so it was slow going walking on the icy streets of Tver but we made it. We were happy to take them to Fortuna and share the experience with Neil and Lulu. They thoroughly enjoyed the food and atmosphere. I took a funny photo of Lulu sleeping at the table. It has been an exhausting first day for everyone.

At 3:30 we headed back to the orphanage with the other couple. It was time for them to pick up their daughter and take her home so they were set with the clothes and snowsuit for her. Too cute. Unfortunately they had to hand over the outfit and the caregivers dressed her. We had been told that we would be able to dress them ourselves so I was not happy to see that. On Wednesday we will press to be able to dress them ourselves.

We got to play with them all in the lobby on the mat until 6 ish. It was a ball and the Levine’s enjoyed the girls. Masha is doing so well and crawling all over the place. Dash is a ball of fire and all over the place but she is very attached to me. It is great to see her looking back at me for reassurance and she always wants to come to me if anyone else holds her or picks her up. She gets jealous when I am holding Masha. We had a great time all around. This afternoon we found out a little bit about their schedules and what they eat. I was surprised to learn that they are not on any solid food, everything they eat is pureed. They do supposedly get pureeded vegetables and meat but I am not really sure how much or how often, all we ever see them eating is oatmeal/mush stuff. They drink luke warm tea and some sort of coffee drink. Weird! We will be stopping that right away! We were also told that they are bathed every two days. I am not sure what that means or if they have actually been in a bathtub before.

We are all exhausted and everyone but me took a nap before dinner. I think I am still on Russia time so the transition hasn’t been too bad.

This evening I organized all of my gifts so I can bring them to the orphanage tomorrow. I have beautiful enamel picture frames ( 5 bucks each at home goods but they look really expensive) for everyone with a small photo of us with the girls in it and a thank you letter written in Russian. I love them. In addition, the important people get scarves and all the caregivers and orphanage workers get Macy’s cosmetic bags. We also got our male translator a nice tie and a Swiss army pocket knife type thing. I hope they go over well.

We had dinner in the hotel and the dining room was pretty busy but they put us in a private dining room off to the side that we had all to ourselves. It was strange to have a whole dining room to ourselves but we had a fun time tonight and lots of laughs (as we could be loud Americans without getting any stares). I am trying to figure out what the hell we do with the girls once we get them to the hotel. It is daunting and I am happy my mommy-in-law is here to help me. It certainly will be interesting as first time parents of 14 month old twins!!!!

Tomorrow we have been told the morning will be taken up with paperwork and we will get to see the girls in the afternoon. Tomorrow the new couple from our agency comes to meet their referral. I am so psyched to meet them and for them to meet their little guy who is so adorable.

Goodnight.

Our Final Trip Begins

Mikes parents came in on Friday night from Indianapolis. We had a great dinner with the family. Unfortunately Neil and Lulu's plane was delayed so they got to dinner at the tail end. We enjoyed time with both parents and my Bro and Stephanie before we embark on this last adventure in Russia. I am thankful to my in-laws for coming with us this last trip. It was so wonderful to have my parents with me during the 10 day wait and now to be able to also share the experience with the Levine's too. I am happy for them to see the orphanage and get to know Tver a little bit. I will be even more grateful for the extra sets of hands once we get the girls out of the orphanage.

We had a very uneventful flight on Aeroflot. I basically slept the entire way. No problems through passport control and customs and our translator and driver were already waiting for us. So we hit the road. We stopped for coffee at McDonald's. Here are some photos of us in the Van during the ride from Moscow and a photo of the McDonald's drive through menu in Russian:
Here is the sign on the road to Tver: It says Tver and St. Petersburg. The one that was closer to Tver was only in Russian but we did pass one a little farther back that was in English also. I was able to get photos of both of them, amazingly considering how fast we were going.

We had an easy drive to Tver and went straight to the hotel. It really feels like I never left. We checked in and relaxed. I transferred all the toys and gifts to one bag, kids stuff into one bag and took out all the food and organized everything. We ate dinner in the hotel dining room where service was ridiculously slow but I was happy to eat as it was really the only meal Mike and I ate all day. We had fun showing off Russia to my in-laws. Of course Lulu is SO not impressed as she is a crazy world traveler. For her Russian visa the form asks for you to list the countries you have visited within the last 10 years and she had to add an additional page stating the 38 countries she has been to multiple times. She was also not thrilled with the 3 flights of stairs up to the room and the additional rather steep and slipper stairs in our duplex room.

So after dinner we were off to bed. We are excited to see our girls tomorrow and introduce them to their other set of grandparents.


On a more sober note: Today we sadly remember Eli Joshua and Samantha Brooke who were born still on March 1st, 2008. I did not think back then that almost exactly a year later Michael and I would be picking up my twins at a Russian Orphanage- but here we are. I am sad to remember that time and am hurting that Eli and Samantha did not have a chance at life. I am amazed that Meredith and Danielle have come into our lives at this exact moment in time and so happy for them to be our daughters. If Eli and Sam had lived we would not be here today. So, for that I have to be grateful.