Trip 2

Here is the breakdown for the estimated cost of trip 2:

Airfare:  $1300
Hotel in Moscow:  $300
Hotel in Region:  $300
Food:  $270
Transportation to/from airport/region/hotel:  $320
Daily transportation to visit Sophia:  $150
My physical in Moscow:  $1000
My visa:  $500
Notary:  $45/per visit
Apostille: $20/document


All needed before August.  

I have a Cookie Lee fundraiser going on and few others in the works.  Check out the gorgeous jewelry for you for gifts at www.cookielee.biz/connieallred :)

God bless

Fundraiser!

Hi everyone I have a gererous offer by Connie Allred to give 75% of profits to Sophia's adoption.  She is a Cookie Lee rep.  She is doing a home show for me in July.  If you are able please take a look at her website www.cookielee.biz/connieallred let me or Connie know if you would like to place an order.  The jewelry is lovely and make wonderful gifts.  Your bling will help bring Sophia home to her family!  Please feel free to share this fundraiser with your friends or families! xoxo

I will be doing a breakdown of the upcoming costs that I will be needing by September!  EEK  so soon but to start the above the fundraiser could be a goo start!

Day 5 final day :(

Well today was my last two visits with my baby girl.  It started out rough all around.  By 8:30 last night I was out I slept for about an hour- hour and a half and woke up thinking I was late for me visit....panic!  Phew nope still pm back to sleep.  11:30 pm woke up to fireworks going off wide eyed and bushy tailed.  Keep in mind I don't leave for my visit until 10am.  So I forced myself back to sleep and slept until 5am no more sleeping.  Talked to my mom, facebooked and got breakfast yep and still had time....  So by the time I left I had been going for 5 hours.


Today was beautiful weather wise no rain just sun!  So Sophia and I spent our time outside.  She loves to drag a purse with her when she goes walking.  Normally not a big deal but while dragging my purse she stumbles and lands on the purse there is a buckle on the front of it... Yep she scraped her face, bit her lip, and I'm not convinced that she didn't bruise her cheek and nose.  After some heart breaking tears for a few seconds it was all giggles as usual.  But I did get to be a momma and hold her and kiss her boo boo.  I wish we had been home so I could have cleaned her up but I did the best I could.     
I took her back and we found the Dr just as she was leaving and let her know via English (She speaks Russian) but I think she understood she seemed ok with it.  So we went back out to play some more.  When Boris and Irina arrived I asked Boris to let the caregivers know so they would be aware and not think I was trying to hide something.  Sophia is a very independent little girl which I think is great and encourage that but with that is going to come some bruises and scrapes I know but when you feel like your under a microscope having her in a bubble would be ideal.  


So I beat myself up a bit and thanks to some supportive adoptive momma's I feel better. 


Second visit went much better.  She is so tired by the second visit I feel so badly for her.  I wish there was a rocker I would rock her.  My back and leg were killing me first time all trip so I sucked it up and we walked.  :)


I also well we (thanks to all your support) donated diapers, diaper cream, and wipes for Sophia's groupa.  And per the Dr we donated vitamins and medicine I am told is for the belly and something to promote the brain.  



Someone left toys today so we checked them out and out all the toys the ones I brought and those left Sophia's favorite were the blocks.  I took note.  She was so cute she started stacking them all by herself.  Funny she seemed to get very upset at the blocks when they didn't stay stacked and fell over LOL

I hope the video works.


Ok I need to go as this is the last entry from Russia I will be leaving in just a few hours to head to the airport.  A final From Russia with love.

The proceeding were the before the boo.  The following are the post boo boo.

Day 6

Today was a good day nothing of note really.  I think Sophia might have acid reflux or a little stomach bug.  She spit up a fare amount of a clear liquid today maybe stomach bile? Didn't stop her from giggling and having a great time.  She is a typical toddler and fights sleep with everything she has.  My second visits usually 4:30-6 I have noticed she is really sleepy so we moved it up to 3:30-5:30 she still was very sleepy.  Poor baby.  As much as I want to be with her if she needs to sleep I wish she could.

I felt a little better today.  Without going back and reading my posts did I mention I was feeling nauseas I was/am hoping it's just exhaustion.  All this time when celebrities were admitted to the hospital for exhaustion I thought that was code for too much partying (alcohol, drugs etc.) But exhaustion can  really make you sick! But on a good note look how darn cute she is.  I know that is all we care about really hee hee.  

Serious cookie eating given by one of her caregivers.  I got to see her drink too!

After my morning visit with Sophia, Boris took Irina and I on a boat tour of Tver.  It was like the one I took in Moscow.  It was quite pleasant.  There were these birds like seagulls but all white with black heads they were pretty.  See...

Thanks to all of you I have kept up my journaling I know the visit information has been brief but really nothing to talk about LOL.

Here are some photos of the boat tour and just around Tver

Me and Irina taken by Boris.  I hope to get his picture too but he said no since the mosquitoes got his forehead.  Gratefully the mosquitoes like my leg and wrist all on my right side.    

These houses were on the bank of a town called River Station

Horses for hire. This poor thing looked pretty tired but beautiful none the less.

Closest I will ever get to having an Oscar LOL

Good Night all From Russia with Love.

Day 5

Sorry in advance this is going to be brief.  I'm really not feeling well and just don't have the energy to write this but have to give you all an update it's only right.


So both visits went well (not much to discuss)  I did find when Sophia is tired she makes sound/motion with her mouth.  It's like when you are trying to think of what sounds good to eat (make sense?) Anyway it is what she does  I almost rocked her to sleep.  key word almost LOL.


I met with the Notary today.  The notaries in Russia actually notarize the document that it is accurate etc.  It was quite formal.  There were some corrections that needed to be made so the price was higher than expected luckily I had it.  Oh I took the opportunity to show off a picture taken today of Sophia and I.  Want to see....No....too bad LOL  Here it is 

I also met the Judge today she is kind but very strict and by the book which is good for the children I think.  She is the only judge who does adoptions in this region.  She takes it upon herself to visit the orphanage and knows the children.  She knew my Sophia.


Thank you for the prayers.  She did ask for 3 additional documents two of which my facilitators assumed she would ask me for and prepared me for those they are easy enough.  The third one might be a tough one but I'm sure God will help me.  I also am sure He will help me with the funds I will need to raise.  This trip pretty much wiped me out of funds. 


My court dates are August 8-9 yep two days scheduled.  So about a month and a 1/2!


Please continue to pray for us and share our  story.  If you are led please donate. Every donation counts.  xoxox

Day 4

I went and visited my little sweetie this morning at 10 I had about 2 hours with her.  We were able to spend the majority of that time outside.  She loves to walk around and go where she shouldn't like the mud LOL  Typical toddler.  :)  It was 75 degrees today according to weather.com and I must say those that know me I'm always cold but not on this trip the humidity is a lot for me. The point of telling you this is when they said I could take her out they brought me closed toed shoes (she had on sandals) a hat, a pair of knit (like a sweater) pants and a matching sweater top and a jacket and told me to put it all on her.  Keep in mind she had on (which you will see in pictures soon be patient remember this is my journal so as much for me as you.) :)  tights, a light undershirt, button down long sleeved sweater under a little pinafore dress (really cute see)   

Before

Ok I ditched the hat, pants and after this picture the jacket.  Poor thing was going to overheat.  I don't think she is feeling well either.  She has a small snotty nose, she seems really tired and a little unsteady on her feet.  She is sucking on her hand a lot today that she wasn't  doing yesterday.  She is so cute though when she yawns.  

She loves to laugh especially when she is doing something she isn't supposed too Hee hee.  I have a biter on my hands not a lot but enough she has about 12 teeth that I can count.  She needs something appropriate to chew on not me LOL  She also grabs/scratches but if you make a sad face and stay that way through her laughing she gets a concerned face.  

She will mimic what you do for example if she is pounding on a window and you tap the window with your finger she will start to tap the window.  She really is smart.

You also well I discovered how out of shape I am and I think the best workout for someone who isnt' really into working out is, chasing, picking up and generally playing with a toddler that you love.  My arms are sore LOL like I worked out.  

My second visit with her was about an hours and a half and spent entirely inside.  Which consists mostly throwing all the toys out of the bag and picking them up and putting them away. (She is good about that most of the time) and running while giggling down the two hallways which lead to the various groupas.  So I have to swoop her up as she giggles. 

I discovered I have a refrigerator in my room that I didn't know was there it is hidden in the desk.  Anyway that means when I buy perishables I don't have to eat them immediately Yeah.  I also am basically not eating this trip. When I'm tired I'm not hungry or don't feel like eating.  So hopefully I will lose a few pounds LOL  

I am eating lunch meat and yogurt.  I have pretty much only been drinking water or milk.  

Here are some more pics for your enjoyment.  Tomorrow I meet the judge. Please pray she finds my paperwork in order and doesn't ask for either too many or impossible documents.  I pray she likes them just the way they are and gives me a court date!

How can you not smile at this sweet little face!

xoxo