3-11-08 Morning visit-Emma came out and actually looked a bit more interested to see me! Her interactions were all full of expression and she was looking me in the face more. We went in and told Olga we needed to speak with Dr. again. She, the Dr and Larissa (coordinator) came in and said we needed to make a decision b/c other families were on their way in and they are legally obligated to show families ALL available children and Emma is still considered available until I “choose” her. My stomach dropped…there was NO WAY they were showing my baby to someone else. Then Emma peed on me LOL We went over all our concerns: The glucose was a standard test they do here and it was fine, urine samples were also fine (if something was wrong w/kidney it would have shown in this). Got all monthly head circumference measurements and seemed fine. So I “chose” her! J Mom cried, then I cried. As we were talking to Olga, I thought Emma was sitting very quietly on my lap…looked down and she was sleeping! Just at the drop of a hat. Guess that’s good-shows she was comfortable enough with me to just fall asleep like that. They said we had to wake her up thought b/c it wasn’t time for her to sleep and it would throw off her schedule. That wasn’t fun to have to wake her, I was enjoying having her sleep on me. Larissa went over some of the answers I’m supposed to give when in my interview with the Dept of Education and judge. Interesting…. I’m NOT supposed to let on that I WANT to have biological children later. They figure if I’m planning that, then just go home and do that, no need to adopt. Also that then maybe you wouldn’t love this baby as much or pay as much attention to her if you have biological one. They also, apparently, assume that after 30 if you’re not married you’ll just go get pregnant. Not only NOT a big deal but almost expected. So I’m to tell them I CAN’T have biological children. Then she said “Once you’re home, you can do what you want” Interesting mentality. Had Olga write different questions on pieces of paper so we can just show them to people to get around. We actually have our address now to show a taxi driver how to get home, “can I use your phone”, Please drop us off at the baby store, etc. Had driver drop us at the “baby store” where we looked for some outfits to leave for Emma to come home with on the 2nd trip, and diapers that we have to supply now, daily. We stopped at the café to have lunch (French fries and Russian borscht-VERY good but no butter for bread. Got some chocolate cake to go-for dessert tonight) Sun shining, yet cold and a bit windy. Walked to grocery store for some small items (including air freshener for the smelly apartment bathrooms) and walked back to apartment. Wow we made it on an outing and back. No negativity or tears this time!! Yea!!! Afternoon visit- Now that I "made decision" as they call it we get out of our 5 x 6 room into the big room with all the families. we will be interacting with all of them for the rest of our stay. We feel extremely lucky to be living here on easy street with our Jacuzzi, and stand up shower which i found out today also is a sauna, our refrigerator and stove and eat whenever and whatever we like. See there is a bright side to everything in life even when it seems the bleakest. opened bathroom which always smell like sewer! i bought to lavender rooom fresheners because it make me gag every morning ( the stink only stays in the bathroom thank god) I opened door just now and said "oh good lavender smelling shit! No one drives over 45 mph here there are no lines in the street its just go where there is a space. PEDESTRIANS DO NOT have the right of way. driver almost took out a little old lady today trying to get her footing in the snow lol if you get to an interpass that only fits one car oh well someone just has to back up! oh bye the way we walked to mall the other day with just a sweater and sweatshirt it is not that cold here except today we walked home with coat on and couldn't feel fingers by the time i got home but we are not cold at all apt. is very warm and comfortable always. no biting cold to hit you in the face when you go outside so that’s pretty awesome didn't expect that. but we stand out like a sore thumb because of our sneakers IN THE SNOW went to by boots at the mall the other day but didn't carry a size 7 - what am I a Neanderthal woman. Today mom bought Emma a Xylophone they don't have musical things in the orphanage. she loved it - got the hang of it in a few swings. she's soooo cute and seems that since we have been here we can see her falling in love with us as well. we used to toss her in the air her legs and arms flailing around but no expression of glee on her face. today she was squealing and cooing. she is a survivor the healthiest one truly no just saying that she really is.

3-10-08 3am: Emailed home and had Joe leaving messages for Dr. Farber to answer questions on email. She’s not calling him back nor answering my emails. I am supposed to tell Director if I choose Emma today and can’t till I get these results. Morning visit I was asked if I made my decision and when I said I still had to get some answers from the Dr. The coordinator said I had to make a decision definitely by tomorrow. She looked so cute with the 2 barrettes I put on top of her head. She seemed very tired this morning and still not showing much expression when she sees us or when you do things, you’d expect her to laugh at. We put her on a little tricycle that was in the room and she seemed to enjoy it by kicking her feet but no facial expression. The coordinator came in the room with Olga and just stood there and talked amongst themselves. We thought we were being “watched” then she just said “ok, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Came back to apartment to find door was open and a cleaning lady was inside cleaning EVERYTHING. Washed our towels, changed and made beds, cleaned floors, shower, tube, etc. Wow we felt like the rich and famous! LOL We made a big chicken, rice, & vegetable dinner and played Rummicub and listened to the music I had downloaded on my laptop from home….ah that was nice! Afternoon visit-Emma has a runny nose, out of nowhere! Boy she hates you wiping her nose! Shakes her head from side to side. She seemed more interactive and happy during this visit. Still trying to get in touch with Dr. Farber from home to answer some questions we had left. I had Susan call her b/c I still have no way of dialing outgoing phone calls. And my internet minutes were almost up (1 hr left). Susan called her, asked what was going on and found out Dr had power outage and never got my emails from last 2 days. She was going to check her email and write me back in about an hour. I called Olga (who was buying me more internet units) and she gave me the new number I needed to update internet time. Mom and I watched a movie and I fell asleep. Midnight: I checked emails and still wasn’t satisfied with report answers. Susan called Farber again and she told Susan her report and hung up. Some of it still didn’t answer questions and some didn’t make sense to me so Susan called her back and then me on a 3 way so I could speak with her directly. Answers were still vague. Very stressful night and now I have to go to orphanage tomorrow STILL not being able to give them decision until I talk to Emma’s Dr. yet again!

3-9-08 Went to orphanage for the morning visit to find about 5 other couples there too. We asked Olga if we could continue visiting in a private room and she said “once you make the decision on choosing her, you go into the room with all the other families during visitation”. So we said I still needed to get an answer from the Dr.- it bought us one more day of privacy. We met one couple who’s daughter is 2 weeks younger than Emma and she’s so much smaller. I gave Emma the “My 1st Easter” rattle and she loved it! I think she doesn’t have many noisy things. She got a kick out of it. I figured I’d take it home with me each time I leave that way she’ll relate that toy with me. I also put the 2 new barrettes/clips in her hair and she’s so cute with her little tufts sticking up. Also tried on her new ski hat, I got yesterday, and she looks like a little round faced cupid doll. She’s like a porcelain doll…Mom says “how do you describe precious?” She’s still imitating me when I do raspberries on her belly…its so funny. I came home and slept during the “break” b/c I was up at 3am on the computer talking to Susan and couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore. On the second visit I got to feed her! She ate thick “slop”(like Farina) and drank milk (mixed with something-maybe rice water) right out of the cup! No lid or nipple, just chugged it with slurping noises. Boy she was thirsty! They tell me that she doesn’t use a bottle to go to sleep, she just lays down….ah how nice that’ll be if it continues to work that way. Emma enjoys standing in front of a mirror (must take after Aunt Susan lol) seems interested in her own reflection and figuring out how to touch her own hand in the mirror. She babbled a bit more and showed more expressions when thrown up in the air. Mom was making a certain noise before doing this and when she stopped, Emma would imitated it, as if to say she wanted to do it again. We’ve learned “bye djum”(phonetically speaking) means “let’s go”. This is what Olga says to her when its time for her to go back to her room and us to leave. We came home and had spaghetti. Mom made macaroni salad with tuna….tuna in can didn’t need to be drained and came with carrots and corn mixed in with it. Figured out how to use the washing machine. Again, in Russian, has all symbols we don’t know (has a feather= light) no start button. Everything is bells, whistles, buttons and remotes but nothing comes with instructions. And yet, no dryer. Figured we must wash something 3 days before we want to wear them b/c it’ll take that long to dry jeans. There’s racks of clothes and towels everywhere in orphanage so I guess this is the norm. Seems today has been easier (since we’ve decided to shelter ourselves from the outside world). Mom does her embroidery; I type away and talk online with Susan, Patrick, Joe and Trish. We barely even turn on the cds we brought b/c we’re enjoying the quiet.

3-07-08 AND 3-08-08 3-07-08 Ok, these beds suck! We doubled our comforters and lay on top of them to TRY to make it more cushion but my back is killing me from it. Anyway............ I've found Emma! :) Went to the orphanage ....NOT on my birthday as anticipated. I Saw 4 babies and Emma really was the only one I was "attracted" to. She's 10 months old has brown hair that looks like a firecracker went off on her head! LOL Brown eyes (of Asian feature) and very white skin (porcelain like). She's very attentive and ticklish!! :) She can pull herself up to a standing position but doesnt crawl yet. She can roll over and sit herself up too. She's very smart and very intuitive. She mimics you and is very alert. We went back for our afternoon visit and spent the 2 hrs only with her. Yet the food has been ok what we have had. The food we bought in the store is "different" the milk tastes like cream, only non spreadable no salt butter, the bread isn’t like we know it (in wonder bread fashion) but instead looks like "fresh" bread from a bakery and tastes like its a month old. HAVE to dip it in tea or coffee for it to be soft enough to bite. 3-08-08 Today was “Women’s Day” a holiday, we couldn’t go to orphanage so we’ll go tomorrow, where we normally wouldn’t go on a Sun. This holiday is equivalent to Mother’s Day yet is for all women. They’re all walking around with flowers. Got report from Dr. Farber she thinks everything seems to be very good from the reports and pics/video too... just a few things I need to double check on tomorrow. Ventured out to walk to “the mall”. It got colder as we started walking and our white sneakers quickly got ruined. The people are SO rude; everything is dirty, muddy, & cold. NO ONE speaks English and they don't help you but laugh at you. We totally stick out. All the women are in black tight gaudy clothes, lace, belly shirts, stiletto heel boots, leather and/or fur coats. It’s horrendous. Most look like hookers/street walkers. Every where we went people were looking us up and down and laughing. Talk about rude!! You’d think we were walking down the street naked! It was soooooooo uncomfortable. There's NOTHING to do here. Obviously the movies are in Russian. We went to the "baby store" thinking it would be like babies r us and it was smaller than a 7-11! The stores are little tiny things with nothing worth looking at. Mostly perfumes, cell phones and purses (THEY'RE huge here). There was a “trade center” that was a glorified indoor flea market with all vendors set up and no ‘stores’. Cant buy boots, exchanging money-cant find bank, more laughing. After walking around all day, my back killing me. I had to get out of there but we had no ride home and were hungry. We can’t figure out what anything is when we try to eat something out but we found a store that said “Inter food” so we figured “ah that’s gotta be somewhere to eat”. The food was pretty good and luckily the girl on line behind us spoke English and helped us out. She also explained to the lady behind the counter that we need to use the phone when we leave. I had a beef stew and mom had chicken with peas and tomatoes in a sauce. We were asked if we wanted a salad with the salad bar. We said yes then went over to find there was again no lettuce at this “salad bar”. They ask you what you want and when I pointed at ONE item they spooned out a portion, weighed it, and handed it to me. Guess you can’t have cucumbers AND carrots. When we were done the nice lady that worked there called Olga for us. We have to call our interpreter every time we want to go anywhere b/c we don’t have a phone, cant speak the language, and don’t know the name of our apartment. So we call her, she calls the taxi/driver and it’s just so inconvenient. We were told to wait outside across the street from a certain store. We thought we saw our taxi b/c he was motioning to us. We got in and realized he wasn’t sent FOR us when he didn’t know who Olga was so we got out. We crossed the street in front of the store, we thought we were supposed to be in front of, and then waited so long, had to go in the store and call again. Olga said he’d be there in 5 min in a black Mercedes. About 7 min later a man came up to us and said “Olga sent me” and we got in his red Nissan. (THIS is what I’m talking about) We're SO miserable here I just want to come home. Unfortunately, we're stuck here and can’t believe we still have to come back. Wish we could just get her out of here now. We've now decided to only leave the apartment to go to the orphanage. It’s just such a shame that the country and our surroundings are really seriously affecting this experience. I only look forward to going to the orphanage again tomorrow. We couldn’t get back in the apartment fast enough. Mom had an urge to put on her John Denver cd and the first song was “It’s good to be back home again” and she had a minor emotional breakdown. We seem to take turns doing this. I just look at the pics I have taken of Emma and think, ok it'll be worth it but the thought of having to be here this much longer AND come back is so emotionally unappealing it makes me cry to even think about it.

3-5-o8 AND 3-6-08 March 5, 2008 Flight from Frankfurt to Almaty was a 7 hour flight (one hour less than last flight) except when we got on the plane it was smaller and we did not notice any TV’s. When asked of the stewardess if there was to be a movie she replied “NO BUT WE HAVE MAGAZINES”. They do, unlike America, offer free newspapers and magazines to all as you get on the plane. Again, came the constant “want water, want beverage, want juice?” Followed by some mixed snack l oz. in a bag. We did get a hot deli sandwich which was very tasty and 2 chocolates in a box – very posh. One nice thing that I noticed that, unlike any other flights I have taken, is they let you sleep if you want to. Jennifer was sleeping when meals came on both flights and when she awoke we asked to have her meal and they brought it all warmed up no questions asked. We were given a piece of paper each to fill out on the plane. I almost threw it away. It had a stamp across the front looked like some kind of magazine subscription request. I then realized it was the customs form. None of the airline stewards could offer any help in filling this out. It was very confusing due to the fact that they were asking WHO INVITED US AND OUR REASON FOR BEING THERE. Jennifer was getting paranoid on the way this was filled out because she was there on Adoption business and I had to write specifically tourism or personal pleasure~ we were not sure. A girl from Almaty helped us translate this information. Some of it SHE didn’t even know and asked her friend from Karaganda to translate. Then they asked for a # which we found out meant out passport #, then realized the DEPARTMENT of EDUCATION was the organization inviting Jen in to the country. But not me. Then figured out I was invited by the USA Dept of Tourism. OK got that all straightened out. Phew. I told the stewardess that we were told to bring water and something to eat because nothing in Almaty airport would be opened that early. She was so nice and gave us a big bottle of water and a bag full of club sandwiches left over from the flight to take with us. She said they were only gonna throw them away anyway. March 6, 2008 Arrival in Almaty (actually seems like last flight took an entire day but was only 6 hours, due to the time difference we arrived at 12:45 am – Jennifer’s Birthday) After getting our luggage, which surprisingly enough, made it there ok. Not too many people in this tiny tiny airport to help out. We got herded through the customs counter to a woman who did not speak any English again, grunted something at us (which we could only assume meant passport and that customs paper), stamped it and we were on our way (still not asking to declare any money brought in with us). Then some official looking person that kept asking us “if 3,000 ok can go through”. This did not happen-thank God! Anyone could have followed us out of the airport. Instead this official kept saying “go through with 3,000 or 7,000!” Wish he’d make up his mind! AND tell us what was the difference b/t the amounts. On the other side of the door was the outside of the airport which scared the hell out of me. I told Jennifer we are not leaving this airport until we are sure of this money thing before we get arrested for customs evasion or something. Again no one in sight to meet us as we were told to help translate this 3,000 7,000 mess. We weren’t even sure if he meant Dollars or Tenge (their money). We went through the door and were met by 15-20 men all looking like derelicts forming like a runway for us to pass through shouting something at us, we assumed must mean Taxi. We kept notioning to them we were waiting for someone, but our someone was not there. Fear built in us as we realized that all we knew is that LOLA was meeting us, did not know what she looked like or a phone # to call her. 15 minutes later… NO LOLA… men are leaving us alone except for one that kept hand gesturing that our ride wasn’t coming and we should go with him. That might have been ok if WE KNEW WHERE WE WERE GOING. (We later found out this was the norm of how the rest of the trip would be. Getting info and it being inaccurate or just completely the opposite of what we were told). Just take it on blind faith that they will be there. After 20 min. (we were lucky. Some of other parents waited l ½ hours) A woman came up and said “I’m Lola, sorry late” we grabbed our luggage and started for the curb, I looked around and said the Jenn where’s the other bag, Lola said nastily, “He’s got it already.” Surprise to us we were told cab driver would not handle luggage. The ride to the apartment was quiet. No,”how was your trip” or welcoming comments. Felt like a ride through Harlem. When I asked her if she could take us around Almaty later that day she replied “ I can’t be with you I’m busy”. Again they told Jen we would not be left without an interpreter. Drove to this dingy section of town and made us get out in slush and mud to walk down an alley with our suitcases. The driver did help us and dragged our suitcases through the mud. We walked up to a metal door which she briefly told us a code we must use holding down all 3 buttons at once. Once inside that wonderful aroma of cat piss hit our nostrils and dirty bowl of cat food inside we were waiting for the rats (one thing we realize about this country is there are no screens on windows. no roaches~ as bad as it was, because they’d freeze their little wings off). Once inside she ordered “Take shoes off” boy would we get to know THAT phrase! Almost in a sneaky manner looked behind her and bolted the door and told Jen to give her $25 and $25 for the driver. Then told Jen we would go to orphanage later that day which was what Jennifer had expected to Pick her baby on her birthday. Nicht! Wrong again! We had to sleep and by the time the flight from Almaty got to Karaganda and got to apartment it would be to late to go to orphanage. Jennifer was really upset. Never showed us around the apartment just walked Jen out by the taxi, pointed down the road, and told her to exchange her money there in the morning. Then pointed down the right and said “walk one block this way and one block that way and you will come to a souvenir shop just ask anyone they will know it” (name escapes us now). And she left. We went in bathroom no toilet paper Jen found some napkins in kitchen to get us through until morning. (which was really only 6-7 hours layover) There were bars on the windows and we were on the first floor. Boy were we tired Jen started to cry. We both felt like someone was gonna knock on the door and say “Vinny sent me” it was like a scene out of the Godfather or a Black Market Baby Ring. No friendliness at all~ all very sneaky and secretive. All she said was the driver will pick us up later – uh this is the same guy you just locked the door in front of! She was going to be with him so I guess that was OK. We were so tired and went to lay on the bed (which is being very kind) It was a slat bed with a mattress on it (no thicker than 3 inches) no box spring, just a spring running through the mattress, and very close to the floor. It was as hard as a rock and we thought we’d never make it if the beds are like this the entire trip! OUCH! I told Jen to leave the light on we really didn’t know how to escape this place if need be and to get two big knives out of the kitchen. She did and we slept with them under our bed. Oh by the way, Lola was gonna leave without giving us her phone #. We asked, she said she’d “I’ll just be there”. After insisting, we got her #. We didn’t even know where we were if we had to call her or the police for that matter. When we woke up later that day, before the flight, we tried to make tea, I had brought with me, except no matches in apt. to light stove. Also a Microwave with no microwavable cups. We decided to have water WE brought with US and some AIRBORNE vitamin tablets, which substituted for our Orange Drink like tang. Made the most of it and had left over un-refrigerated sandwiches from the plane. Actually our apartment in Almaty was quite nice and airy, big rooms but no shower curtain. The bathtub was built on a platform and you really had to climb into it. We found the shower curtain and rod but it wasn’t able to be fitted to that shower. We took showers without the curtain and got the floor all wet – ahhh tooo bad that’s their problem. Luckily we brought own shampoo and soap. We then dried ourselves, in what I refer to as a Cheese Grater for a towel…NO DRYERS here even in hotels and orphanages just use drying racks. Ventured out to get money exchanged. Walked up to a little room off the street which we know is where we were to do this but when we entered, a man with a machine gun at his side followed us in and stood behind us. Jen was at the counter trying to talk to someone, again that knows no English. I turned around to see this guy and thought WHAT THE HELL and said “are you the police?” He must have understood b/c he nodded and I said “OH GOOD”! Jen did her thing thank God she brought her calculator. She has been great the whole trip knowing exactly what they need. They were all laughing at us (little did we know we would have to get used to THIS also). I asked the policeman, “How do you say goodbye” he said “goodbye” lol. (Which NO ONE says that here, so again he was being a wise guy). We then went (not around the corner as instructed by Lola) but many city blocks and endured the stares as we walked in mud and muck and slush and got sprayed by cars. Clothes here were 10,000 Tenga which was $100. for a teeshirt you can but in Target for $20. Walked all over trying to ask people about the souvenir shop that “everyone” was supposed to know about~ and know one did. THAT’S PROBABLY BECAUSE NO ONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD VACATION HERE TO WANT A SOUVENIR. And THAT will also be the reason we’re not bringing any home for anyone! Haha Jennifer’s bringing back the biggest souvenir and will just have to share Emma with everyone! Back to the apartment and 20 minutes before we were supposed to leave for airport Lola called and said she wouldn’t be coming with the driver and to pay him and leave the money for the apartment on the table. This was the guy she didn’t want to let in the house that morning. Jen tried to call her back for something and it wouldn’t go through just a fast beeping sound NOW WHAT DO WE DO? FELT STRANDED! Jennifer had a melt down and stated she really didn’t know if she could go through with this for 3 weeks if this is what is was going to be like. I gave her Birthday card and she cried more. I told her any time she wants to call this off I would support her no matter what but maybe we should just tuff it out until we get to Karaganda. The driver came in and didn’t say anything to us just took off his shoes and walked in kitchen we didn’t know where the heck he was going - looked at the money on the table for the apartment and got Lola on the phone without saying anything to Jennifer. This was all a surprise to Jen she didn’t even know he looked at the money and handed the phone to her with Lola on the other end. Lola replied “you didn’t leave the right money, I told you 11,000 Tenga and you left 10,100. We were not used to the money and she never explained the money to Jennifer. We just had picked the money up and couldn’t get her on the phone to explain it to us in English. Then Jen had to make change with the driver what a mess. He was obviously not happy. Again all seemed to underhanded it cost us $91.00 for a 6-7 layover when we found out we could have stayed at a hotel at the airport for $58.00. They love to keep control here to their benefit. Jen cried the whole way to the airport nothing I could do to console her because it was to be such a beautiful experience and nothing was the way it was explained to her. Every time she read someone’s blog, or their adoption site, they all seem to have such wonderful experiences and good times and nothing bad to report. Jen is probably the only one with enough guts to actually have reported the true experience instead of sugar coating it. Jennifer has had such a hard time even thinking of re-living these few days so she’s completely skipped them in this journal. I said we have to go back and fill in those days and Jen said “I just can’t do it”. So, I am writing this a few weeks later and have learned by all the responses to her postings of this event – that in fact other parents are coming forward and saying “hang in there we know what your going through and it will get better”. Don’t you think it would have been nice to know what to expect before we got here? We got to the airport and waited about 45 minutes and off to Karaganda we flew. The flight to Karaganda was only one ½ hours. I was so surprised to see little overhead TV’s on such a short flight.”Will there be a movie, I asked” the steward replied “oh yes” GREAT – how stupid of me – he passed out headphones which plugged into Russian music. When the movie came on, it was not a movie, but in fact a documentary on how they welded and layed the train tracks in Kaz and Almaty. Ok better than nothing – NOT – it was all in Russian! We both tried to sleep instead. Good snacks and flight went well. Landed in Karaganda, went to meeting area and OLGA our interpreter was waiting for us and noticed us and Jen knew that was her from pictures. Jen sail “Olga” she said “yes” and shook Jen’s hand with a big smile on her face. WOW things were already looking up, what a difference. She said she had to wait on other side of little doorway while we picked up luggage. We got a cart (they’ve always been free in Germany and Kaz) loaded our luggage on it pushed it literally 10 ft. and Olga replied “You can’t take the cart passed here” (why couldn’t she tell us that while we were loading it) lol She took us to the driver who also helped with luggage, we were told not to expect this, and drove to our condo. Very appealing when we drove up, definitely like this already. The complex is a gated one. Then it hit when Jen said, 'we're on the 5th floor right?" (againg thats what she was told ) and she told us we were on the 7 th floor. Ok no problem, “where’s the elevator” “there is none” Jen and I just looked at each other. The driver, Olga and the two of us managed to get to luggage up 79 STAIRS. A quick look around our beautiful condo. And down 79 stairs to go to grocery store. What a hoot. Nothing we can read, nothing packaged in anything that would resemble a picture that would give us a hint to what was inside. A cow could mean butter or cheese. We grabbed a few staple foods, laundry detergent, dish soap etc. No lettuce to be had in all of Kaz. (They don’t do lettuce). It was getting late so Olga ran around getting the stuff we asked for and put it in the cart, very nice of her but we didn’t know where to get it next time when we were alone. Mayonnaise comes in a little squeeze container that resemble the sips drinks the kids brink to school, and not much bigger than that either. It has a potato on the front, some have olives on the box, yeah we were supposed to know that was Mayo. No bread with preservatives, it’s sliced but hard as a brick – maybe the inner 2 inches of each slice is soft. Off to the register with this cart that glides front, back and side to side, weird feeling, so you don’t actually TURN you cart you just guide it. The checker does no speak English and shows us the amount on the screen. 16,000 Tange!!!!!!!!!!!Oh My God – Jen whips out her calculator – Jen says that’s only about $130.00, I could now breathe again. Went back to condo, up 79 steps carrying groceries and 5 gal jug of water. Asked Olga where a nice restaurant was to take Jennifer for her birthday. She gave us directions to a place within walking distance of the apartment. Got changed and went down 79 steps again ( we don’t need a gym here ). Up one long block, a left and a right and we were there. Walked down into a basement type establishment, to find it was indeed a Café with two people in it a cafeteria type tables. OK Happy Birthday Jen. So far this Birthday did not compare with her 30th skydiving. Jennifer had 2 dried frigadel type hamburgers and kind of coleslaw and I had beef wrapped in a noodle kinda like a big wanton, which was very good and of course, a coke. The whole thing came to about$12.50 includes tipping. Can’t say I don’t take you to the best places! We liked the place and the menu and decided we would come back again someday for a lunch. We asked the owner what time they opened up and she “said ONE” and held up 10 fingers! Ok still don’t know what time to come back, I guess we’ll just wing it. Walked home. The apartment is actually awesome.5 bedrooms, 2 baths, "spiral" wooden staircase, glass surround shower with a remote control, has all the bells and whistles, CD music, mirrors, jets that you can program to hit you anywhere, a heater lamp and even seats if you want to program I for sauna, but serioursly when I get in I just want to say “beam me up Scotty”, a huge jacuzzi tub, chandeliers in every room, and heated floor in one tiled area of living room. A huge living room upstairs with beautiful curtains, fancy furniture and nice surround sound stereo. But the beds are just like Almaty. The water has a yellow tint to it but the bathroom SMELLS so bad like a sewer....it makes , you gag to go into the bathroom. The water from the kitchen sink doesn’t smell or seem discolored but we’re not taking a chance on drinking it. We found that there are no English channels except one and that one they interpret over in Russian so you can’t understand it anyway. We sat in our upstairs living room and Jennifer hooked up the DVD and we tried to watch “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” but we fell asleep, - just as well we have to make these movies last like our food from home. Figured out how to play music on it. I got up in the middle of the night couldn’t sleep. Tried to get the movie back on, touched something, and the DVD won’t work – that was the end of that for the entire trip – watched TV downstairs on a little TV with a #2 in the corner we still have not figured out how to get rid of. So what!

3-4-08 Left for Newark Airport at 3pm flight on Lufhtansa at 6:15. The day has been very emotional! I haven’t stopped crying for 2 days and the nerves, stress, anxiety and the unknown has really taken a toll. Susan was crying on the phone saying bye and it was emotional leaving Patrick, when he dropped mom off at my house. Joe drove us to the airport and we grabbed a bite to eat (and a beer) before leaving. Checking in our luggage was no big deal and nothing was mentioned about our suitcase weight being over. Joe walked us to the security gate and it was very hard to say goodbye. Felt like I’d never see him again. He continued waving to us the whole time we walked down the long hall to…..who knew. First flight was nice from Newark to Frankfurt and was only 6 ½ hrs and the service was great. The movie they had for us was National Treasure (the one we just saw and mom slept thru in the theater) we both slept thru it here too. Had dinner consisting of chicken, rice, veggies mixed together. Cheese, grapes, Cesar salad, and cheesecake with raspberry sauce on it…know how mom loved THAT! Lol Met a nice Jewish lady going home to Israel with her 13 mo. Old baby Alex. Very good and happy, no crying the whole trip. They had the bassinet for him that hooks right onto the bulkhead (wall), set it up with a little blanket and pillow and hood cover, very cute. So now we know what to expect for the trip home with Emma. We lucked out with the emergency row so we got to stretch out our legs! They offered us warm towelettes for our hands followed by a never ending offering of drinks. “Would you like some soda” 2 min later “Would you like some water” 2 min later“Would you like some red or white wine” 2 min later “Would you like Coffee or tea”. Then “would you like some duty free items (chocolate, liquor, cigs) all after we just ate. NO LADY we're trying to sleep! LOL Then our “breakfast” consisted of ½ a strawberry, 4 pineapple cubes and a partridge in a pear tree…lol… a cold roll with butter and jelly and a plastic wrapped slice of cheese. Yum. Jewish lady plopped Alex in my lap so she could go get her bags from other compartment. Honestly, not as bad as we thought. In Frankfurt, the airport Workers are on strike…. Started 2 hrs prior to our landing! Told us we’d have to sit in plane a while but surprisingly we didn’t have to. But we were told not to pass back thru security point b/c we wouldn’t be able to get back in. Tried emailing home on the kiosk in airport, but buttons weren't normal letters. Had to hold Control Q for the @ sign and the y and z were reversed on the keyboard. Found out that a pack of AA batteries in airport were about $20! Slept in airport for lay over. We were stuck in this little area till we left. We’re here for about 5 hrs. Many international flights cancelled but we’re ok for now. Got worried we’d be stuck in Germany with no way of contacting Lola who’s meeting us in Almaty with our tix to Karaganda. So much for seeing Germany. (should have realized THEN that this was a bad omen)

February- I havent updated this in a long time so I'm just gonna summarize the month. My agency went out of business and I was supposed to be traveling the end of the month. After my complete mental breakdown, my file was given to another agency and therefore, my dates were pushed back. Chris at Families for Children has picked up my case and helped me thru the end of the process before travel. I was to travel then Feb 24th. Then it changed to March 4th. Then moved up to the 2nd. Then the Embassy hadn't recieved the letter of invitation so the dates were up in the air. Finally said its definitely the 2nd. So I called to make the travel arrangements and the flights were more expensive on the 2nd and then the 3rd didnt have the right date for return flight so I booked it for the 4th! Packing begins.