And then, amazingly, we left for Sosnovoborsk. Marina and I chatted quite a bit on the way there. She is such a lovely woman. We were really glad that she was our interpreter. She told us that Sosnovoborsk was actually founded when the factory was built there. The housing was for the workers. It means something like the city in the pine trees, or surrounded by pine trees. We saw these on the other side of the city. They had their first snow fall of the season on Sunday night- so we got to see a beautiful landscape, complete with snow. Sosnovoborsk has the largest babyhome in Russia. Where most baby homes have 60 children, Sosnovoborsk has 150 or more- up to 180 we heard.
We arrived at a nondescript building, parked and went in. On entering, we saw the old swimming pool area that we had seen in several other folk's pictures. We exchanged shoes for slippers and headed down the hall and up the stairs. At the end of the next hall upstairs was a very spacious room called the Music Room. There was a piano, couches and a large playing area, and the carpet we saw in the referral pics. We kinda stood around, nervous, yet feeling great anticipation. I was afraid I would burst out in tears at any moment. We had a chance to meet Galena, the doctor and director of the orphanage. She is an amazing woman, knowing all the children and caregivers by name.
We arrived at a nondescript building, parked and went in. On entering, we saw the old swimming pool area that we had seen in several other folk's pictures. We exchanged shoes for slippers and headed down the hall and up the stairs. At the end of the next hall upstairs was a very spacious room called the Music Room. There was a piano, couches and a large playing area, and the carpet we saw in the referral pics. We kinda stood around, nervous, yet feeling great anticipation. I was afraid I would burst out in tears at any moment. We had a chance to meet Galena, the doctor and director of the orphanage. She is an amazing woman, knowing all the children and caregivers by name.
Then the door opened. One of the caregivers walked in with Sergey on her hip. I knew him immediately from the pictures. She came over and set him down next to the table and put a stacking toy next to him. "Come on, Mama- come play, Papa" she said to us. Tim and I went over and, trying to keep from tearing up, began to play with our son for the first time. "Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us" and I got a very large dose of "He loved us even before He knew us". Thank you, God! It was hard not to give in to urge to bawl like a baby, sitting there, finally holding our son, whom we had been waiting sooo long to meet.
Sergey loves to stack.. The stacking toy played music each time you put a ring on. He is also a budding musician. He loves the xylophone. We sat on the floor and as he pounded away on the xylophone, I pulled over the bear we had brought, and snuck it up to him to give a kiss. He kept pounding away with his right hand, and without looking reached over and grabbed the bear by the head. I thought he was going to throw him out of the way, but he brought the bear up to his face, and gave himself several more kisses from the bear. He began to try to get away from us- not running, just picking up the toy he was playing with and moving to other side of the room. We soon found out why. He made a little face, and I thought I heard a toot. Then another. Then more noises. Tim was very proud of his boy for the volume of noise and smell :0) lol Very soon one of his caregivers came back to get him and wash him up. He was gone for a while, and when he came back in, with his striped outfit he had on for the referral pictures, began to cry when the caregiver left. What a heartbreak to hear your son cry and not know the language to console him. We got him distracted with more stacking toys, and soon we were playing peek a boo and bounce the ball. It was so precious to see Tim holding his son. I leaned over his shoulder to play peek-a-boo, and thought my heart would bust as we heard the little giggles come from our son. The highlight was when he saw himself in the camera and waved to himself. He even began to feel comfortable enough with us that he began to babble a little. Not sure if it was Russian or baby talk. Can't wait to hear more! And all too soon, the caregiver came back for Sergey. It was so sad to see him go, but we knew we'd be back the next day.
We stopped at California Pizza, and had pizza and Coca Cola before we came back to the hotel. The pizza was pretty good! Boy were we tired. Don't think we've actually slept more than a few hours since we left Sat. Tim downloaded the videocamera, and I got the gifts together. We fell into bed exhausted around 10:00 and got up at 5:30 to get ready for what the morning holds.
Sergey loves to stack.. The stacking toy played music each time you put a ring on. He is also a budding musician. He loves the xylophone. We sat on the floor and as he pounded away on the xylophone, I pulled over the bear we had brought, and snuck it up to him to give a kiss. He kept pounding away with his right hand, and without looking reached over and grabbed the bear by the head. I thought he was going to throw him out of the way, but he brought the bear up to his face, and gave himself several more kisses from the bear. He began to try to get away from us- not running, just picking up the toy he was playing with and moving to other side of the room. We soon found out why. He made a little face, and I thought I heard a toot. Then another. Then more noises. Tim was very proud of his boy for the volume of noise and smell :0) lol Very soon one of his caregivers came back to get him and wash him up. He was gone for a while, and when he came back in, with his striped outfit he had on for the referral pictures, began to cry when the caregiver left. What a heartbreak to hear your son cry and not know the language to console him. We got him distracted with more stacking toys, and soon we were playing peek a boo and bounce the ball. It was so precious to see Tim holding his son. I leaned over his shoulder to play peek-a-boo, and thought my heart would bust as we heard the little giggles come from our son. The highlight was when he saw himself in the camera and waved to himself. He even began to feel comfortable enough with us that he began to babble a little. Not sure if it was Russian or baby talk. Can't wait to hear more! And all too soon, the caregiver came back for Sergey. It was so sad to see him go, but we knew we'd be back the next day.
We stopped at California Pizza, and had pizza and Coca Cola before we came back to the hotel. The pizza was pretty good! Boy were we tired. Don't think we've actually slept more than a few hours since we left Sat. Tim downloaded the videocamera, and I got the gifts together. We fell into bed exhausted around 10:00 and got up at 5:30 to get ready for what the morning holds.
1 comment:
awwwww... my heart smiles for you :)
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