First Dr. Visit

We are settling in good here at home! Josie is such a good baby!! She is eating 6 ounces about every 4 hours..We are using the platex bottles w/ the fast/rapid flow nipples. She will take the vent air by platex. She does NOT like cereal at all..
She cries everytime you try and feed her.The formula they had her on in the orphanage, they told us 3 scoops for her bottle when the box said 6!!!!! We did buy some and bring it back and slowly have changed her over w/out any major problems..
She goes to sleep around 9 and gets up around 6:15..WOW!!! Takes a bottle and right back to sleep and wakes up around 9ish!!!! She laughs all the time!!!

We went to the doctor on Monday her first visit. He said she is very heathly! She has gained 4 oz. and grew 3/4 inch! When we picked her up she didnt have any hand eye cordination no leg movements, she was very stiff...she now can pick up toys bring them to her mouth...LOVES to stand and jump. The doctor does want her to go to therapy for the tension in her upper body..she really has come a long way from the day we picked her up!!! She can babble...roll over both ways, track objects, reaches for us and her bottle..laughs out loud. The doctor said she is on track for a 6 month old. Only her weight/height is low 12lbs 7 oz. 24. inches long!!!
She is wearing 0-3 months clothes, size 0 shoes!
The doctor wants her to start cereal, veg's, juice, and fruit!!! Well we have tired it and both Josie and I wear most of it!!!
She is on Enfamil Lipil w/ Iron and will be taking vitamins.
She got 4 shots!!! And has been running a temp and vomited once yesterday when her temp was up!!! But over all she is doing great!!! Now for some pictures!!!!

Finish the story

We made it to the hotel with our daughter..our daughter..that sounds so cool!
For the next few days we do nothing but look at her!!! She is eating good, sleeping really good! Our next big day is to pick up our Visa's..So, we head to the Embassy of Kazakhstan. We get there at 6:15pm they open at 6:30pm..they are a lot of people waiting outside. The doors open people start pushing like there is a million dollars flying around inside. They are pushing me I'm holding Josie trying to keep up with Saule and Danny is behind me! For those that have meet Danny he is 6'6 not a little fella! We get to the door way and they are really pushing and shoving!!! He stand in the door way (he is as broad as the door) nobody can get there..he just stands there, he said three guys was pushing him and said I'm not going anywhere. So, after fighting the crowd we get to the window with about 10 other ppl trying to get there little heads in a 12x12 window!!! The guy comes out and tell Danny and I it will not be ready until Thursday of the following week..this is Tuesday. I start to cry and the JERK! says "you cry over this?" And I said this had been a rough week and I/WE want to go home!! He just laughs and walks off!!!! After the room has cleared there was about 25 of us that didn't get our visa's they tell us to leave..And of course Danny and I just stand there because they are speaking Russian and we pretend we do not understnad what they are saying..which we didn't but the hand movements did :) lol So, they end up getting a guard to remove us!! And then tell us to wait outside that was about 7:15 and they CLOSE at 7:30 I told Danny they just made us leave so they could close the door!!! I went to the curb and cried and prayed God please move in a mighty way..get me out of this country!!! Get me home...I/we had just had enough of everything the devil fighting us everystep of the way..I continue to pray..Danny knew what I was doing I don't think Saule did...I came back and held Danny and cried some more!!! I knew God was going to do something...We have trusted in him for him not to.
About that time all kind of police officers are clearing the streets, no cars aloud and if you have been to Kyrgy you know there are millions cars everywhere at anytime!!! So once the cars/people are clear here comes a big line of nice cars..it was the President of Kyrgy...and here at the Embassy there are 25 people standing around that they didn't move off the street or area!!!
That was great for us! About 5 mintues later this "diplomat" comes I go up to him and ask him to help us and gave him our last name..he kept saying I'm just a diplomat and I keep saying I'm an American and I want to go home!!! So, within 5 more minutes...image we had our visa's!!!! It was a good thing we had our clothes backed our driver waiting to take us to Kazakstan..and had already checked out of our hotel and they didn't have any rooms open!!!
Saule goes w/ us to the board THAT was SCARY! They searched the car...just scary situation! We get in to building Saule is once again pushing people (the same ppl we were in line w/ that the Embassy) we are first to the window and off we go!!! Very tense situation. So, we are off THANK GOD!!!! Saule was great the whole time we where there...She truly has the best interest of the children!
OUr driver speaks NO English!!!!!!! We start of and get this I get MAJOR car sick if I'm in the back...I pop two motion sickness pills...I remember passing BIG trucks and the curvy road but that's it!!!
Oh I forgot we don't have reservations in Kaza....the hotel said we didn't!!! GRRRR
But Zoria our advocate had us on!!! King size bed!!!! I slept great!
The next day we have an appt w/ the SOS clinic!! She did great. All test came back good. She weighed 12.3 and was 23.5 inches long!!!
Next step was the US appt...which took about 5 mintues no questions asked...just sign here here and here!! Simple and once he said you are ready to go home I started to cry!!!!! What a relief..Josie did great through all of this!! She is such a good baby!!!
So, that evening we pack up the room and head to the airport at 12:15am
We get to Frankfort, Germany no problems, we make it to Chicago!!! YEA!!! USA USA
My baby is an AMERICAN GIRL!!!!!
Then the devil tries to fight us AGAIN!!!! I call my sister "WE MADE IT" but our flight is delayed..and might be cancelled they over booked down sized the plane ppl are mad everywhere and Josie has a melt down!!! She is just wore out we all are!!
I told Danny, if this flight gets cancelled I'm calling my sister and she can come and get us which is about 8 hour drive but I didn't care. My cell phone is going dead! So, I told her I would call her when we knew something...We get to Charolette!
with 20 minutes to get from one side of the airport to another..and carrying all our stuff. I had Josie on my hip and we are running!! She is laughing!! Thank God!!!
We get to our gate!!! The plane is backing up!!! And they ladies seen us running up and asked us our names and stopped the PLANE!!! We didn't puck up our luggage..so yep we lost our luggage AGAIN!!! I didn't care at that point!!!!
We run to the plane!!! And within seconds we are off...HEADING HOME!!! I call my sister and tell her we made it and we will be home at 9 instead of 9:45!!!! PRAISE GOD PRAISE GOD!!!!!

We make it to Huntington..which is about 30 mintues from our house!!! And I'm crying before I get off the plane!!! Josie is ready to meet her brothers...What a reunion it was..I'm so proud of our boys! They are really good guys!! And are in love w/ Josie!

HOME AT LAST

WHAT A TRIP! WE FINALLY MADE IT HOME...AND BOY WAS IT A VERY TRYING TRIP...
EVERYTHING THAT COULD HAVE WENT WRONG DID..EXCEPT BRINGING THAT SWEET BABY GIRL HOME..
LET'S START FROM THE BEGINNING.
WE ARE TO LEAVE ON THURSDAY 3RD. I WAKE UP ON WEDNESDAY VOMITING, BRONCHOTICS, SINUS INFECTION. SO WE RESCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY THE 5TH.
WE MAKE IT TO THE AIRPORT, I'M STILL SICK AND NOT READY TO LEAVE MY BOYS AGAIN.
WE MAKE IT TO CHICAGO, HAD AN 2 HOUR LAY OVER...
WE ARE GOING TO BE FLYING FOR 8 HOURS TO LONDON, LONDON GETS SNOW WHICH IS A BIG DEAL TO THEM IT WAS A DUSTING AND IT SHUTS DOWN THE AIRPORT AND CITY, 1/2 OF THE WORKERS DON'T COME TO WORK BECAUSE THE ROADS ARE "BAD"! SO, WE HAVE TO FLY TO MANCHESTER TO REFUEL ENDS UP WE ARE IN THE AIR FOR 14 HOURS...IN THOSE 14 HOURS I SWEAR MY EAR IS GOING TO BUST...ALL THE PRESSURE FROM THE SINUS INFECTION WAS REALLY GETTING TO ME, I TIRED EVERYTHING...I CAN'T HEAR...WE MISS OUR CONNECTING FLIGHT BUT THAT WAS OK IT WAS CANCELLED. SO, WE STAND IN A LINE FOR AN HOUR FOR THEM TO TELL US WE ARE IN THE WRONG LINE TO GET OUR TICKETS REDONE...SO, WE STAND IN LINE FOR 3 HOURS TO GET OUR TICKETS, HOTEL VOUCHURE AND DINNER VOUCHURE...I STILL CAN'T HEAR AND THE PEOPLE IN THE AIRPORT ARE CRAZY, MAD AND UPSET AT EVERYTHING. SO WE MAKE IT TO THE HOTEL ROOM..I WAS EXCITED ABOUT STAYING ALL NIGHT IN LONDON BUT WE GET TO THE HOTEL..READY TO GO TO BED DANNY'S CPAP MACHINE WONT WORK WHICH MEANS HE SNORES WHICH MEANS NO SLEEP FOR ME...GRRR. WE GET UP HEAD FOR THE AIRPORT YOU KNOW THE FAMOUS TERMINAL 5 THAT LOST OVER 20,000 PIECES OF LUGGAGE!!! WE GET THERE GET IN ANOTHER LINE..YOU GUESSED IT, NO TICKETS THE LADY FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE DIDN'T CONFIRM OUR TICKETS..WE HAVE TO GET NEW TICKETS, WE DONT KNOW WHERE OUR LUGGAGE IS.
AFTER 2 HOURS AND ONLY 20 MINUTES TO GET CHECKED IN SOME LADY HELPED US AND OFF WE WENT...WE HAD TO FLY TO ISTANBUL OR WAIT 2 DAYS FOR THE DIRECT FLIGHT TO BISHKEK
WE MAKE IT TO ISTANBUL, ONCE AGAIN OUR TICKETS HAD BEEN CANCELLED SO WE WAIT AGAIN!
ABOUT 2.5 HOURS, THIS GUY TAKES ALL I MEAN ALL OF OUR DOCUMENTS AND TAKES OFF RUNNING DOWN THE AIRPORT TO GET US TICKETS. HE IS GONE FOREVER I'M PANICKING THINKING WE HAD EVERYTHING AND WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THIS GUY...NEVER THE LESS HE SHOWS UP 45 MINUTES LATER W/ TICKETS AND TELLS US TO HURRY IT LEAVE IN A FEW MINUTES...OFF RUNNING WE GO..STILL NO CLUE WHERE OUR LUGGAGE IS...
WE MAKE IT TO BISHKEK NOT KNOWING IF WE HAVE A RIDE TO THE HOTEL SINCE WE ARE A DAY LATE, DIFFERENT AIRLINE...WE GET THERE BEING VERY PROTECTIVE OF OUR CARRY ON..SO NOBODY TOUCHES IT..AND THERE IS A GUY W/ OUR NAME...THANK GOD.
WE MAKE IT TO THE HOTEL AROUND 8:30. WE TAKE A SHOWER AND WASH OUR UNDER CLOTHES IN THE SINK AND BLOW THEM DRY W/ THE HAIR DRYER! LOL
WE WAIT FOR SAULE TO PICK US UP, TO GET OUR VISA APPLICATION TO THE EMBASSY OF KAZAKHSTAN. AND TO FIND OUR LUGGAGE. WE GET TO THE EMBASSY AT 12:00 TELL THEM WHAT WE NEED IT'S 12:05 NOW AND SHE TELL US WELL YOU WILL HAVE TO WAIT TIL THURSDAY TO PROCESS YOUR APPLICATION..WE STOP PROCESSING APPLICATIONS AT NOON...AND THEN WE ARE CLOSED ON WEDNESDAY AND IT TAKES 3-5 DAYS TO PROCESS YOUR APPLICATION IF THE SERVER IS WORKING.
WE PUT IN A REPORT ABOUT OUR LUGGAGE..THEY KNOW NOTHING..THEY SAID IT'S W/ ABOUT 20,000 LOST PIECE AND COULD TAKE A WEEK OR MORE!!!
WE THEN TRY AND CONTACT THE ORPHANAGE TO SEE WHEN WE COULD PICK UP JOSIE..SHE SAID NOT UNTIL YOU HAVE YOUR LUGGAGE..NO BABY SUPPLIES...I SAID WELL LET'S GO SHOPPING!!!
OH NO THAT'S TOOOOO EXPENSIVE! I SAID I DON'T THINK SO..SO OFF WE WENT I GOT DIAPER, WIPES, FORMULA, 3 OUTFITS, 2 HATS, SOCKS, BOTTLE, PACIFIER AND 2 BLANKETS FOR ABOUT $30.00!!!
SO, WE CALL THE DIRECTOR AND TELL HER WE HAVE SUPPLIES..AND OFF WE HEAD TO TOKMOK
WE MADE IT THERE. I WAS TRYING TO STAY CALM AND NOT CRY LIKE A BABY!!!! ONCE I GOT TO WHERE SHE WAS AND I OPENED THE DOOR I STARTED FEELING THAT BIG LUMP IN MY THROAT.
WE WALKED IN...SHE HAD THE BIGGEST SMILE ON HER FACE...OH MY GOODNESS SHE IS A DOLL.
SHE CAME RIGHT TO US..AND I STARTED CRYING! WE DIDN'T STAY VERY LONG, JUST LONG ENOUGHT TO CHANGE HER CLOTHES, SIGN SOME PAPERS IN THE DIRECTORS OFFICE AND TAKE SOME CAKES TO THE WORKERS AND CANDY TO THE OLDER KIDS...
WE ARE OFF TO THE HOTEL! THE RIDE BACK WAS VERY SHORT...WE JUST LOOKED AT HER THE WHOLE TIME!
OK NOW FOR SOME PICTURES I WILL RAMBLE LATER, I JUST KNOW I LOVED HEARING/READING EVERYSTEP OF OTHER PARENTS BLOGS..






















I have a lot more pictures, our family and friends had a Welcome Home Party for us on Sunday the 20th. I will post more and finish our trip story then...
Just enjoy the pics..Sorry it took so long...

We are HOME 4-18-08

We finally made it...Sorry for the delay in the blog..no internet at home!!!
I have tired several times to post...i have one almost ready! w/ pics

Embassy appt. and HEADING HOME!

Well, the Embassy appointment was the easiest part of this WHOLE trip! Very quick and easy no questions asked!!! So, we are headed home..We will make it to Huntington, Wv on Friday night at 9:45pm..We pray for no delays!!!

So, until we are on American soil!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi ALL!
We finally made it here..Josie had her appt and she is doing good she
weights 12.3 lbs and is 23.5 inches long.
We have our embassy appt tomorrow at 3 and can leave anytime after
that..We have contacted our travel agency to see if we can get out of
here Thursday evening your guys time which will make us getting there
Friday evening
We can't use our computer so we are using a computer lab...So, once
we get our tickets we will call to let everyone know when we will be
home!!!!
We can't wait to get home and see everyone!! Especially those BOYS!!!!
We love you guys and we will call you later!!

I will post more about our horrible visa experience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hotel Change

We got a call today Hotel Kazzhol wll not hold our reservation any longer in Kazakhstan...So, we are staying at
Astana Hotel
113 Baitursynov Str., 050022
Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan
Telephone: +7 (727) 250 70 50

It looks like it is very nice on the internet...It should be it's $275.00 a night!! OUch the other hotel was $105.00 a night. At this point I don't care. Just let me get there and let's go HOME!!! We spoke to advocate in Kazakhstan she stated if we pay extra money to have Josie's blood work done, we could leave here Thursday evening (our time at home) and be there Friday evening in Huntington!!! Just remember us in your prayers that God will keep us safe and for a fast trip home!

They do have wireless internet at Astana Hotel....... So, Until Kazakhstan!

Just some pictures

Our last day in Bishkek

Well it's 830am on Tuesday morning..We are suppose to pick up our Visa for Kazakstan around 6:30..We are planning on leaving for Kaz at that time..But our advocate said 3:30 in the morning..If anyone is reading this and has drive to Almaty, Kaz...what time is the best to travel?
It was a raining day yesterday here...I didn't get out..and this room is getting smaller and smaller each day. Danny went out today and brought chinesse home for dinner, it was REALLY good..But while he was gone I thought I heard a baby cry in the back yard here..so i looked..Not a baby but a goat tied up to a tree by one leg..the next minute i looked out the man had killed the goat..cut it's legs off and was skinning it..while the woman had the fire ready for cooking!!! Well that almost ruined my dinner..ALMOST I was starving..

Thinking about that family I have watched for the past week..I feel truly blessed..
And Thankful I don't have to cook outside over a fire...wash my clothes in cold water w/ my hands and dry them on the fence...I'm blessed that I get to go to the grocery store and get my food...I'm just blessed! And Thankful for my family!

As for our sleeping routine..Danny takes a late nap..I got to bed around 9:30...wake up around 3:30...let Danny go to sleep...Josie is sleeping great! She is eating really good...just a sweet baby..The reason we are sleeping in shifts is Danny's snoring...I'm thankful for a C-pap machine that works. We will have to order another on before we get home.. And hope and pray our insurance company pays for another one.
If not it's around $1,200 which we don't have right now..we are kinda broke..staying her an extra 5 days has cost us more than we thought...But I know we will be taken care of..

As for us leaving..We are hoping to leave on Thursday evening (your time) and make it home Friday evening...Well that is IF Golden Rule will return our calls/emails which they have not...They have messed up our credit card...charged us for 2 sets of tickets..which is $4500 extra...Now we have to change our return trip charge tickets again...But we can't get them to take off the extra tickets..which has maxed out our credit card we brought..Very upset about that... our credit union said it would take 60 days to get the charge off of there...So, we are praying they return our calls/emails..we just want to come home!

We spoke to the boys and my family this evening..The boys are doing good..they enjoyed their paint ball game w/ my nephews..S had his first appt w/ the dentist to start his braces..He get them all on, on Monday...J had a track meet this evening and got first place on the hurdles..YIpeee those long legs have come to good use.
We miss them so bad..these 2 weeks have been challenging..And I know the extra time is for a reason...
We are staying at the Hotel Kazzol in Almaty, Kazakstan..I hope they have internet..
Getting on here has made the time go by faster..We LOVE LOVE Skype..if you are traveling/adopting or do a lot of long distance calling...we have called home using the computer/skype for only 2 cents a minute!!!!

So, Until next time..We love everyone and can't wait to get home!

A lazy Sunday here in Bishkek

We have done nothing but sleep. Danny uses a c-pap machine at night to breathe...Well it broke on the way over here..SO, his snoring is REALLY REALLY loud! So, I wasn't sleeping at all...cotton balls and ear phones and a pillow over the head didn't work..So, I said up all night waited for him to get up and then went to bed about 6:30am slept til 2:00pm...Now I'm wide awake and it's 2am :(
We all have a cold,Josie had one when we picked her up. And boy she does not like to have her nose wiped. She is a very good baby..She has had 2 major melt downs..we couldn't do anything right..she finally fell asleep.

Saturday we had a good day out, we went shopping. I loved it you get to haggle w/ them...And that's one of my favorite things to do! I know it's weird but I love the challenge..maybe that's why I love real estate.
Kuba our driver took us around today we ate at the Metro...I had chicken fingers, french fries and "Lite coke" Danny had a bacon cheese burger, french fries and onion rings. We did go all out and ordered Apple pie a la mod..it was nasty!! Ice milk ice cream..yuck...no flavor in the pie..just nothing like my mom's.

It's getting harder and harder every day being here. We miss our boys so bad..
We miss our families. I feel like ok we have her let's go home! But no..paper work paper work! YUCK.

We spoke to the boys earlier, they ar doing good..they love staying w/ my sister.
They love hanging out w/ the older guys. And are planning a paint ball game today..
I wonder how that will go??

Well I will post some pictures of this past week..And head to bed


This is the view from our window at the Asian Mountain:


These ladies were Josie's Caregivers



This is Saule our Advocate in Kyrgyzstan



On the road, coming back from Tokmok



Josie watching TV..lol



View from our room and dinner..pizza..it was ok very bland...











Josie

Visa for Kazakstan

We finally heard today that we will get our Visa's on Tuesday evening!! Well that is the day we are to fly home..So, much for that. Hopefully we can get her sos Clinic appt. for Wednesday, get the results on Thursday, have our embassy appt. on Thursday...Maybe fly home on Saturday????

We need to be home by Sunday the 20th. My family and friends have a Welcome Home Party planned..Invitations have been sent out :(
Just remember us in your prayers, It's hard being here, we just want to bring our baby home.

As for Josie, she just makes us smile! We gave her a bath last night and she smiled the whole time. I gave her a massage w/ Baby Magic...That is my favorite smell! I wanted to eat her up. She is eating really good and sleepy about 6 hours a night, she will get up eat and go right back to sleep. She loves to watch tv..lol
It's so cute she will not take her eyes off of it. She has started to "sing"..She has been babbling. She has found she can reach for toys and play with them. Danny and I was talking in the past 48 hours she has really noticed her hands and hand eye coordination is getting better. She is almost 6 months. But to me her motor skills are about a 3 month old...But like Danny and I said it has improved in the past 48 hours. She loves to lay on her belly and did roll over to her belly yesterday...She got mad at that and Mommy had to come to the rescue :) lol
We I'm going to take a nap...I have forgotten what it's like to get up in the middle of the night!!! lol

GOTCHA DAY!

What an amazing day...We walked into the orphanage...I was trying to stay calm and not cry...well, before we walked into the doors of her room..I lost it...They handed that sweet baby to us...She did nothing but SMILE!!! She has grown and that beautiful head of hair is longer...She is just amazing..
She is eating good and sleeping a lot. We are trying to keep her up more this evening. She is sleeping good at night, but has a runny nose and that wakes her up a little..






We did receive my luggage on Gotcha day...Danny's and Josie's showed up today.
We are staying at the Silk Road Lodge, it's nice..WONDERFUL food..Last night
I thought I would lick the plate lol. We are going to do some shopping tomorrow.
Hopefully pick up our Visa's for Kazakstan..We are planning on heading to Kaz
on Saturday, rest on Sunday..Go to our SOS clinic appointment on Monday..
We get home we dunno???

But as of tonight..we feel blessed knowing God has been with us the whole time.
Looking at Josie, her smiling at us..Just knowing she is ours..I still can't believe it, and don't think it has hit me yet, I think it will really hit us when we land and we see our boys...Oh I miss them..

One step forward...50 steps back!!! No baby yet!

NOW FOR JOSIE!
We are hoping to pick up Josie tomorrow...they didn't want us to pick her up without any supplies (no luggage) We did go to a little store and purchased bottles, formula, diapers, wipes, and finally a little outfit. After I packed everything
in the world for her, we have nothing!

I don't even know where to start about our travel!!! I'm/We just trying to be patient.

First of all we on a plane from Chicago to London for 14 hours, due to snow in London. Our next flight was cancelled which didn't matter because we where 3 hours late. We got to spend the night in London...only seen a double decker bus, a "nanny 911" car, a couple of houses..
Got up the next morning left for the airport, they didn't have our tickets or reservations. We finally made it to Istanbul then they cancelled our reservations
to Bishkek. Finally we are in Bishkek at the Asian Mountain having dinner. Without our luggage! We have had the same nasty clothes on since Saturday...
We have washed our under clothes and dried them w/ a blow dryer :)
We will have to move to Silk Road Hotel tomorrow, the Asian Mountain doesn't have any more rooms available.

I know this post doesn't make much since at all, but we are tired both sick

And we are off!

As we sit in the Lexington, Ky airport those boys are on my mind..It was very hard leaving them at the gate...It breaks my heart everytime to see them cry knowing they are hurting...But we won't be gone long..And Doretha will take great care of them...
So, We will not post anything until we get to Bishkek

Visa's

Well We didn't get our Visa's for Kazakhstan...They had a sign on their door stating they were overloaded and the office was closed today...
Don't you wish you could close your office/job if you felt overwhelmed??
But anyways..we are going to apply for it on Monday in Kyrgyzstan....
I am feeling better, not 100% yet..But I'm praying I will be back 100% on Saturday.

We should on our way to Lexington to catch our plane

Boy yesterday was a rough day, I work up vomiting, coughing, major headache...and having trouble breathing. So, off to the doctor I go. They first give me a breathing treatment and then tell me I have a stomach virus, bronchitis...I have not been this sick in years!!! I'm finally able to sit up this morning..and drinking some sprite and eating dry toast.

We decided just to fly out on Saturday..and praying I feel better.
Maybe it's a good thing we still don't have our visa's for Kazakhstan
If we get our visa's here we don't have to stay in Bishkek an extra 3-5 days.
So, we are praying that we will get them today and have them overnighted to
us.

So, our schedule has changed:
Saturday: fly out of Lexington, Ky
Leave Almaty Tuesday 15th to Huntington, Wv

We might get to leave earlier if our visa's come today...let's keep our fingers
crossed..and pray I start feeling better!!!