Back At Home

We apologize for not updating the blog earlier! We had every intention of updating our blog a lot while we were in Kazakhstan but technology doesn't always make that possible. Our computer was unable to connect with their internet so we had to use their computers in the "business center" and that very difficult. Anyway, we are now back home in Chicago, Illinois and miss Nora very much. We left Kazakhstan and are having her escorted back here for several reasons and all are in Nora's best interests. Legally Nora is now our child (the 15 day waiting/appeal process has passed). We expect that she will be with us in approximately 3 weeks if all goes well with the visa/passport paperwork and the escort process. So we will recap and blog some experiences until her arrival, we miss her very much!

Hockey Night/Court

Sorry for not putting more updates and/or quicker updates. The internet frequently goes down and when its up we're at the baby house (go figure). When it is up, there is a mad dash for the 2 computers that are probably 10 years old. So anyway, hockey night was a lot of fun although the home team lost 2-0. Everyone seemed to have a nice time and it was nice to get out for a couple of hours.

Court for us was on Thursday March 6th. Everything went well and we were very relieved. It was an emotional landmark for us. We were excited, relieved, happy, and emotional all at the same time. The 15 day waiting period is now in day 3 for us. After 15 days, we can bring her back to the hotel. We are anxiously awaiting that date of course...... After that, the paperwork for us to leave can begin and we can look forward to returning home.

As I write this, most everyone has returned home to the U.S. We hope that everyone made it home safely to their families. Some will be turning around and coming back in two weeks. Of course without Amy here it just isn't the same.....

Dana has been battling some type of sickness the last few days. Nora has been pretty much sick the whole time we've been here. I battled some home sickness yesterday but am better today. When we left the baby house today, Nora cried as we left her - a good day believe it or not......

Hope all is well back home, we'll write more as we can!!

When does March Madness Begin and End????

The Little Russian Is Doing Well

Well today's events started off with making razberry noises. The Russian was keeping up with the Americans at first. But in the end, the Americans won but only because they are more obnoxious. But in the temper tamtrum event, the Little Russian conquered all and took the Gold. The Americans were in awe as the Little Russian destroyed them - maybe tomorrow we'll have a rematch. HA

Speaking of sports, Bill is going a little crazy due to the lack of US Sports to watch. He can only watch so much soccer or skiing. So who could be surprised back home to hear that Bill set up a hockey night. He bought 20 tickets for the adoption families to have a night out - Ust versus Russia. We have heard that there are actually 8 players from Kazakhstan in the NHL. One is even on the Chicago Blackhawks, he will be our new favorite player. We can walk to the game and the price was right - 250 tenge or about $2.25 per ticket.

Well Nora is still fighting congestion in her chest. She doesn't cough as much but when you hold her, you can feel it. Her behaviour hasn't changed because of it thankfully. She crawls, crawls, and crawls it is so hard to keep up with her. I swear I do my hair and make up every day but after one hour with Nora I am a complete wreck.

I can't wait for everyone to see her facial expressions. She has several different smiles. One look for her and you want to give her whatever she wants to see a smile. She's a looker and cute as a button.

Its hard to believe we have been here for 2 weeks. I miss home, I cried when the internet went down. I wish I could see Nellie my dog and I want my mother too. Everything is ok though because Bill is here. No way could I do this without him, he is my rock. We have been watching the series 24 (1st season) with Kiefer Sutherland, its pretty good and fills up our nights.
Well, I better go for now. If anyone doubts that the United States of America is not the greatest country leave it for a while, you will change your mind. Yes we are very patriotic these days. There is no greater place in the world to me than home: The South Side of Chicago in a little house in the Mt Greenwood neighborhood. Love, Love, Love, Dana

Hello everyone. my name is Nora and this is my mom and dad. They love me very much. I'm having a great time playing with them and they give me tons of kisses. I can't wait to come home to Chicago and see my family. Will my cousins David, Lauren and Alex come over to play with me? I sure hope so. I hear a lot about my grandparents and anties and uncles and it seems like they love me too. Oh the waiting is hard but it's worth it.

love to America!!!!
Nora

please forgive grammer and spelling errors because of jet lag

I just want to say thank you for all your comments and emails. They all mean so much to us. It's really a way to keep in touch with all that is going on with America. I may not be able to comment back but believe me each and everyone is so important to us. We reread them all a bunch of times. Oh America we miss you so much.

Have we told all of you that our matress is GREAT, better than the one we have at home. No back pain here except picking up Nora, I'm so out of shape for that....... We had pizza today. No one is Chicago would call it that. But for Kazakhstan it's not bad. Basicaly I'm on the high Carb diet. Bread, Bread and bread. I have to watch it tho. Elainea from South Africa is starting to have some problems because of the lack of veggies. She has been here much longer than us and has already been to court. so over this long period of time with no vegtables has really put a strain on her.

Nora is pretty sick now. She has a bad cough and she is so congested. She let me hold her yesterday for a long time. She just stared into my eyes. And then she started to close her eyes but didn't. I think she was afarid she would miss something. Bill got to feed her a bottle today . I think Bill will do most of the feedings so she will bond with him that way. ( Oh by the way Bill is the first man she has ever seen) Bill is very happy about this too. This was the first time we saw a bottle. They normaly feed the children with a cup regardless of age. It really werid to see such small children being fed that way. Did I tell you that she just turned 1. She had a birthday right before we got here. I can't believe we get to bring her home. (God willing) Bill and i both are over the moon about her. It nice to see Bill growing so found of her. You would think he would get board of talking about her with me. But no. He now has a new woman in his life and I couldn't be happier for him.

Hello everyone. Bill and I are sorry we have not bloged much but we have been a bit preoccupied. HA! We also have had problems with our lap top connection with the Wi Fi.
So the trip was ridiculously long. LONG!! 9 hours to Frankfurt Germany,6 hour layover, 8 ½ hour flight to Almaty Kazakhstan, then picked up in the midle of the night to be dropped off at the hotel for 10 hour nap. Then pick up for our 1 hour flight into Ust. Which was delayed about an 1 ½. But we are here now. It’s a lovely town with lovely, kind people. We feel very comfortable. We are very close to Russia. And there is more Russian people here that I thought there would be. 50% Kaz and 50% Russian. But then again we are very close to Russia. We love our coordinator Alma and driver Bolat. They are so nice and easy to be around. We love Amy. Our travel companion and who is adopting as well. (Karina who is almost 4) And we love our new Irish friends Phillip and Amanda as well as our South African friends Jeremy and Elaina.

We are dressed very dumpy here. These people here know how to dress. They all are so very classy. Very one wear fur. Fur hat, fur coat, fur boots. I think we stand out because we are so casual. The hotel is very nice, except for the internet. It is so aggravating when you wake up early to go down to the lobby and it’s out of service. And our lap top will not connect because their Wi Fi is down.

The breakfast here at the hotel is great. The lunch and dinner is ..well…gross! We have eaten out a few times. The best Chinese food I ever had. For those of you coming to USt don’t bother packing food and toiletries. They store Daniel,is close to the hotel and it’s nice to get out of the room. You can also exchange your money at the store Daniel. The rate is much better than at the airport. The jet lag is awful. I’m writing you this at 2:00am our time. Which is 2:00 pm your time. I can’t sleep but of coarse Bill seems to have know problem. Bill is snoring up a storm right now in the bed room while I sit in the bathroom watching Bridgette Jones Diary. Tomorrow should be interesting with this little sleep but there is an incentive to get up is…NORA!..

Nora is so sweet. We get to see her twice a day once in the morning and then in the afternoon. 1 hour each, sometimes more. She looks like Alex my nephew but cute like a little girl. She is getting to know us and we of her. She loves her care takers. And when we get to the room early to watch her she is very loud and funny. We have tons of videos and we watch them a hundred times a day. She is just beginning to walk with our help. Before we got here the Irish couple Phillip and Amanda had taken some video of the babies room when the music teacher came to play the piano. Nora is jumping up and down and beating her maracas and tambourine! It is priceless. She will fit in our home just fine.
She is a blessing from God.. And thank you God for her. Please keep praying for us. We still have a long road a head.

Every day is Christmas!

Well here she is, Miss Nora Spyker.