Our Journey to Owen

Welcome!

2008-02-13T21:18:00.001-05:00

Hi and welcome! We are Bob and Jodi Mechem. As we were working through the adoption process and during the long months of waiting, reading other families' journals really lifted our hearts and helped us prepare for the time we would make our own trip.

In that spirit we'd like to offer you the chance to follow along with our journey to our son Owen, starting with our posts from January 2007. We hope you enjoy reading of our adventure and we wish you the best of luck on your own adoption experience.

Some thoughts and travel tips:

Embark on this journey with an open heart and open mind. Of course there will be cultural differences and times when the way things are done in Kaz is frustrating; but as our agency says "Go with the flow". You can't change things and your life will be much easier if you relax and remember that the people in country are doing their best to help you realize your dream.

Pack light! The majority of apartments do not have elevators and if you are going to Kokshetau you will most likely be flying that most beloved of Soviet era planes, the Yak 40, on which you will be loading your own luggage. You really do not need many outfits - the washers there have a way of aging clothes quickly anyway (don't take all your favorites) and all your intrepreters, drivers, etc. will be wearing the same couple of outfits over and over as well. Plenty of nice toiletries (Dove, Pantene, etc.) are available - as is "American" toilet paper - and we suggest buying a hair dryer there as well (saves your converter for something else too).

Be open to new things. Whether it's food or music, remember that this is an opportunity to learn about your child's culture. Take full advantage. Not only will it make your stay more memorable but it will enrich your understanding of Kaz.

Take the time to get to know your Kaz "connections" and your travel partners. We feel like we now have friends for life in both cases and meeting such amazing people really enhanced our trip.

Believe us when we say all the paperwork, disappointments, fears, anxieties, and waiting disappear the moment you finally hold your child. It is so worth it! Good luck!

Gotcha Day Anniversary

2008-02-12T07:00:00.001-05:00

Then ...

Now ...

Today is another milestone for us, as it's our offical "Gotcha Day"! One year ago a stern looking judge listened to Bob and I profess our love for this little boy then known as Adil, and after a few questions and some nervous moments in the hall (for us, not her), she called us back into the courtroom to officially - and forever - declare that Owen Edward Mechem was our son.

It was a dizzying moment, a bit unbelieveable but ultimately one of relief and joy. We rushed back to our apartment to change from our court clothes, gathered our gifts of appreciation for the doctors and caregivers, and made the journey one final time to the Kokshetau children's hospital. We shared a tradional piece of cake and tea with Dr. Victoria, Rada and the representative from the Ministry of Education, then buddled Owen in his snowsuit, wrapped a scarf around (and around) his little face, and carried him outside to Oleg's waiting van.

I remember the bliss of having him - really having him - all to ourselves. I remember calling my mom and smiling ear to ear when I told her he was finally ours. Bob and I held him, played with him, feed him, changed him, and for the first of many times to come - tucked him in bed for the night with a kiss and a soft "I love you Owen".

A whole year has passed; that's hard for me to believe. But I'm grateful for these milestones because they make me pause in the hustle bustle of everyday life and remember how incredible our journey has been. When Owen is older we'll ask him how he wants to celebrate this day - some families do elaborate dinners with Kazakh recipes and presents; some mark it in a more low key fashion - but for Bob and I it will always be a very special day, along with (of course) his birthday, the day we met him, and the day we brought him home to Maryland.

Then and now. Yes, in one year Owen has grown so much, and our love for him has grown even more. Thanks for celebrating with us!

Owen's Been Home 6 Months!

2007-09-07T08:43:00.000-04:00

Owen has now been home for almost 6 months, and life is good! He continues to be a happy, easy going baby - Dr. Victoria was right when she said he was a "calm gentleman".

Our little boy has grown so much and learned many new things since that wonderful day in March. He has brought joy and laughter to his family and friends. Owen has healed a hole in my heart and allowed me to let go of past dissapointments and pain. He's taught me patience and reminded me to be open to both the big and small blessings in life.

I've learned a few other things along the way too:

I love him completely, without hesitation, with all of my heart; and I always will.

Apple Cinnamon Puffs are surprisingly tasty; Gerber's Mixed Vegetables are not.

Getting bitten by six baby teeth hurts a lot.

I like the sound of soft rain on the roof at night, the cats purring, Justin Timberlakes' CD. My favorite sound by far is Owen giggling.

A warm baby sleeping in your arms - even if it occurs in the mind numbing hour of 3:00 am after you've been roused from slumber - is a wonderful feeling.

People have a need to tell you that your child looks like you. I don't mind since obviously I think Owen is adorable - but it did come as a surprise to us that Bob and I look asian.

Crawling babies can move astonishingly quickly, and will always go exactly where they shouldn't.

Being a stay at home mom is sometimes really hard and tiring. There are no coffee breaks, no lunch hours, no water cooler gossip or sick days. Forget about performance bonuses or a salary! But it's all always, always worth it and I am so thankful to Bob for allowing me this opportunity.

Have stacking cups, will travel.

I miss sleeping in on Saturday mornings.

Bodily fluids and other "outputs" aren't (quite) so gross when they are coming from your own kid.

I understand mama bears completely - I too would destroy anyone who tried to hurt or take away or interfere with Owen in any way.

You can have a whole room of toys but the cats water dish is much better entertainment.

Being a mom is the best job in the world!

Owen is Home!

2007-03-11T11:51:00.000-04:00

HOME ... one of my favorite four letter words; along with love, life, and Owen!

On our last day in Kazakhstan we had a few more details to take care, including a trip to the US Embassy to get Owen's visa, where we were reminded again of what a small world it is. Earlier in our trip on our flight from Kokshetau to Almaty we met a very nice gentleman who had a cousin that lived in Ellicott City (the location of Bob's office), and during our interview at the Embassy we found out that the agent was originally from Baltimore! He asked us if Owen was going to be the newest Orioles fan and we replied "of course, but he'll be an even bigger Ravens fan"! We signed a few papers and were given a sealed packet to give to customs upon our arrival in the US. Of special significance to me is the fact that all Owen's visa paperwork (and visa) is dated March 6th.

We then met up with Maureen, Sean and James for a meal at the Stetson Cafe and finally got our cheeseburgers which weren't bad considering that they had cole slaw on them. Back to the apartment to give Owen a bath and pack up; then Kirill picked us up at 12:15 am to head to the airport. It took a while but we made it through security, got checked in, passed through customs, and joined about eight other families in the waiting area. After a short time we were aboard a Lufthansa jet headed for Frankfort, Germany! While we were obviously thrilled to be heading home, there was also a sense of melancholy leaving Kazakhstan - after all this is the country that gave us our son.

After more than 24 hours total travel time, two flights and a five hour layover, we finally arrived at Dulles Airport on the afternoon of March 7th, and as soon as the plane's wheels touched down Owen became a US citizen! Because the flight was a half hour early there were no lines in customs and we breezed right through, collected our luggage and joyfully reunited with Jodi's mom (Nana) and dad (Pop-pop), Uncle Rich, Aunt Cathy and our dear family friend Courtnay. They were wearing "custom made" t-shirts, holding balloons and signs, and smiling from ear to ear. Seeing my parents welcome their newest grandchild was a dream come true.

Finally we loaded into the van and headed for our house. The first thing I did upon arriving was greet my fur babies - they all looked great and I was so happy to see them. Our wonderful neighbors and friends had decorated our house with balloons, signs, flowers, and gifts for Owen and me; and stocked the refrigerator and pantry with yummy food and drinks. We are truly blessed to have such caring people in our lives - thank you so, so much: Mom, Dad, Aunt Cathy, Uncle Rich, Aunt Sue, Sherry, Bruce, Kim, Chris, Casey, Donna, Nelson, Jill, Vicki, Ashley, Alison, Eric, Chuck and anyone else who helped (but did so without my knowledge!); you are all incredibly special to us.

Our first full day at home was filled up by more fun with Aunt Cathy and Uncle Rich; then Nanny, Uncle Todd, Aunt Maria, cousin Hannah, Sherry and Kim came to visit, and again, Owen was welcomed home with lots of love and attention. I loved seeing the joy in Nanny's eyes when she first held Owen. On Friday, Owen, Nana and I had an outing to Target (obviously the first of many) and I got a huge surprise when I opened the front door to see my brother in law Jeff unloading a car ... Kris, Jeff, Samantha and Mackenzie had flown all the way from Wisconsin to visit!! I was so touched that they came to see us and I loved meeting our newest niece and spending time with them all and my parents. Thank you again Bruce for acting as their airport shuttle and helping to create such an incredible memory for me.

Owen is adjusting very well - he's sleeping through the night and seems to be very comfortable in his new home. He likes to pet the cats; he likes his new toys; and he gets a good daily workout in the Jumperoo. The last two days he had been fighting off a cold, (thank you Dr. Mike and Krista for putting up with this nervous new mom and fielding my call on Sat!) but he's improving and is almost back to his usual happy, adorable self.

Thank you all again for your support, friendship and love. Your comments and emails helped us tremendously while in Kazakhstan and will be a treasure we will share with Owen. Bob, Cearra, Owen and I wish you health and happiness.

Ahhh, Almaty!

2007-03-05T11:50:00.000-05:00

We’ve made it to Almaty and it’s like coming to the big glittering city after camping in the boonies. It’s wonderful!

On our last Friday in Kokshetau we woke up early to get everyone ready and finish packing. Once we arrived at the airport we met up with the other families, got checked in, and paid $50 in overweight baggage charges. Although I was very happy to be moving on, it wasn’t easy to say farewell to Rada, Oleg and Inna. When we thanked him for all his help, Oleg gave me a hug and said “Now he (Owen) is with his parents and that is what’s important”. Rada cried when she said goodbye; we will certainly always remember these very special people and all they did to unite us with our son.

Three fairly uneventful hours later – Owen was very good and cried just a bit when he was fighting a nap - the Yak 40 touched down in Almaty (and I finally took a breath again). The guys unloaded our many bags from the plane and as a group we met up with our drivers and headed off. First our driver Kirill took us to get Owen’s visa picture taken, then we went to the Sisters office to complete some more paperwork. Next, a trip to the SOS medical clinic for Owen’s required physical. He got blood taken from his finger for an HIV test, and was weighed and measured, poked and prodded. Our boy is now 17.6 lbs and 26 inches long and the doctor said he looked fine. Owen didn’t like the finger prick at all but was a champ the rest of the day.

We made a quick stop to pick up some essential supplies (water, diapers, and Diet Coke) and finally arrived at our apartment for the next several days; a very nice one bedroom near the Ramstore (upscale mall and great grocery store). Yes, Scott and Susan – we are in THE apartment and having fond flashbacks of you guys! The view out our window here is of the Rolex building and a Marriott Residence Hotel; we have a kitchen with new cabinets, a full size frig, and a stove that works on all four burners; nice (fake) wood floors; a clean and stink-free bathroom; a kitchen table with four matching and sturdy chairs; and a bed that is somewhat more comfortable than a cardboard box. Quite a difference from Kokshetau.

Our second night in town the “Hamster Gang” met up at Mad Murphy’s for dinner. This Irish pub is a tradition among visiting American families offering an English menu and good “western style” food. Owen fell asleep in the car on the way there and took a nap before waking up and having some fun with his old buddy James.

The next day we again met up with Maureen, Sean and James, plus Jill, and went to the Green Market to buy a stroller – perhaps the best purchase so far – and then on to the third floor of the Tsum (zoom) store for souvenir shopping. Having worked up quite an appetite we then headed to the American Bar and Grill for lunch where we tried to order cheeseburgers, only to be told they didn’t have them at the moment! But we were all pleased with our second choice and just as importantly Owen enjoyed his teething biscuit and bottle and was, once again, a very good baby.

As you can probably surmise, we are enjoying the freedom of being able to take Owen out in public, and the weather here is warmer too so it’s great to go out and see some sights – like a giant red tulip!Today we will buy Owen’s return airline ticket, and tomorrow we have our “interview” at the US Embassy for the rest of the paperwork he needs to come home. We’ll probably try to get the whole group together for a last dinner to celebrate our successful journey (and my birthday!) then we’ll pack everything up and head to the airport again around 1:30 am Wednesday morning.

So this is our last post from Kazakhstan . It’s been a long trip. Some days (and nights) were incredibly rough, but the amazing moments were worth any tears. It’s been frustrating, tiring, maddening, and confusing, but most of all it’s been a journey we will never forget for the people we’ve met, the things we’ve seen, and most of all for the little boy we are bringing home as our son. Owen is truly a joy –we can’t wait for you all to meet him!

Almost Done in Kokshetau

2007-03-01T11:49:00.000-05:00

It’s official … the waiting period is over and our little boy’s birth certificate now shows us as his parents and gives his name as Owen Edward Mechem (in Russian of course)!This incredibly important step happened the way many things here do; we followed Oleg into a government building, sat around for a while, then walked into a small office where we signed several documents as instructed. The woman handed us Owen’s birth certificate and with a big genuine smile wished us “Congratulations, grow strong and be happy”. Then we went to a teller style window in another part of the same building and waited for about twenty minutes for more paperwork; I think it will now all go to Astana (the country’s new capital) to be processed and we’ll get it back along with his Kazakhstan passport once we are in Almaty.

Speaking of which, we are now into our last full day in Kokshetau! We just got haircuts, and will now head back to start packing up. Not looking forward to dragging all the suitcases down the stairs or boarding the Yak again, but we are so looking forward to Almaty and getting closer and closer to coming home. Once in Almaty we’ll meet again with the sisters, go to the US Embassy for Owen’s visa, get his required medical done, and hopefully do some shopping!

It’s actually a little hard to believe that we are finally wrapping things up here. This has been a good trip; we’ve met some incredible people, learned a lot of interesting things about Owen’s birth country, and of course received the greatest gift in Owen, but we can’t wait to be home. I know Bob is most looking forward to seeing Cearra, and also getting back to work, and I am so ready to:

- See friends and family at the airport

- Talk to more friends and family on the phone

- Give my furry babies lots of love

- Take a real shower

- Wear some different clothes

- Enjoy the comfort of our house again

- Finally put Owen to sleep in his crib, in his room, in his home

There are a hundred other things big and small that I will appreciate about being back in the United States. We are very fortunate to live as we do and traveling certainly makes you appreciate our quality of life and freedoms.

Once again, thanks to you all for following along and for all your wonderful comments and emails. And a huge thank you to Alison for making it possible for me to keep you all updated! I don’t know if we will be able to post in Almaty but I promise to try. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we travel and we hope to see you each of you soon.

Today's Post Brought to You by the Letter "B"

2007-02-26T11:48:00.000-05:00

I read in a parenting book that to facilitate your child’s language skills, you listen to the sounds he first makes, then repeat words that begin with the same sound. After two full weeks with Owen, we can say that like babies everywhere he loves to make the raspberry noise (photographic evidence shown), and his favorite sound is “booo”. So does this mean we should be teaching him “booze”, “booty” and “boobs”? Hmm, so much for that particular piece of advice.

Owen still loves his beach ball (check out that coordination) and butterfly but I think he’s ready for some new toys. Good thing he has a bunch waiting at home, including some furry ones that move and make noise.

This morning he was checking out the “Who Loves Baby” book so he knows who to look for upon his arrival in Dulles. He still loves to eat and Bob and I think he’s gained weight; there are times he looks just like a little Buddha.

All the attention the kid is getting is starting to have one not so great side effect – he has decided he no longer needs naps and bedtime has turned into a cry fest. Surprisingly he isn’t too fussy despite his lack of rest; we think he has really just decided that we are pretty fun to hang out with and he doesn’t want to miss a second! The good news is that this also means he is bonding with us, so we aren’t too upset; just a little tired.

On Sunday Rada took Maureen, Sean, Bob and I bowling. It was Rada’s first time bowling and her expression when she finally managed to knock down a pin (it took a few frames) was priceless. The place was small (5 lanes and a little bar and café area) but nice. They had electronic scoring complete with screen graphics, including a dead chicken for a gutter ball and a sports car for a “speedy spare”. We even got little socks to wear with our bowling shoes. Maureen was the best out of the gate but Bob managed to get in a groove and beat her in the third game. Sean, Rada and I … well, we had fun.

And our final “B’s” for the post … brrrrr – its -6 degrees today. We are sure hoping spring will be in bloom in Maryland when we get home!

The Kaz Crawl

2007-02-24T11:48:00.000-05:00

We woke to another blizzard – snow blowing sideways for dramatic effect – which cleared in time for the Mechems to visit the Powers (Sean, Maureen and James). They are in an apartment a few blocks away so we bundled up the boy and braved the chill. Owen and James were both very good, engaging in a little friendly wrestling and playing with their toys. Maureen and Sean were going to treat us to a dinner of french fries, chicken nuggets and fish sticks; unfortunately their gas cylinder ran out halfway through cooking and a replacement couldn’t be delivered until the next day. By this time in the trip we all are sufficiently “Kazified” to laugh it off and eat dried peach and raisin pie for dinner instead.

Owen continues to be in good health and is making developmental gains everyday. It amazes us to see the things he does after being with us just short of two weeks. He can now sit on his own for several minutes, he loves to stand and even “dances” a bit, and he really seems to be enjoying investigating his toys and his world. But he’s still not showing any real interest in crawling; why bother when you can scoot yourself around on your back - the Kaz Crawl! We try to tell him that if he keeps it up the bald spot on the back of his head will never have a chance to fill in and the girls will tease him, but so far, it doesn’t seem to matter to him. Especially since pretty girls like Rada come by to give him lots of attention no matter how his hair looks (hmmm, maybe it’s really the Nittany Lion paw print on his pants that she likes).

Our little one also had his first babysitter this week. Luba is a wonderful woman who works with our agency and is the housecleaner at the cottage; she also does our laundry. She loves kids – as soon as she walked in she went right for Owen and started speaking Russian to him and he seemed perfectly content with her. Bob and I went to dinner with Rada at Kokshetau’s sole sports bar. It was nice and rather new looking inside with several large screen TVs all showing soccer. Rada tried to teach us a bit about the rules of the game, but if Owen decides to play I think I’ll have to get a crash course from Drew because I still don’t understand what constitutes getting a yellow card!

It was nice to get out and have a good meal, but it was even nicer to come back to the apartment and give Owen big hugs and kisses.We are now heading into our last week in Kokshetau!

Happy O is Back Again

2007-02-22T11:46:00.000-05:00

The other night as I lay in bed unable to sleep, the chorus of a popular song kept running through my head … in Russian. Yep, we’ve officially been here too long.

I promised myself not to turn this into the “diaper diaries”, but as I mentioned Owen was having some serious intestinal issues that were pretty rough on all of us. After a few days of only rice cereal and formula didn’t help we asked Rada to call Dr. Victoria . She thought the only thing wrong with him was that we had fed him jarred carrots instead of the boiled cabbage and meat she suggested, and prescribed him medicine, capsules that we broke open and mixed with some water three times a day.We are happy to report that the situation seems to finally be back to normal. Just in time too as we woke up this morning to no running water for the third day in a row (it has since thankfully come on) and the kind of clean up involved in previous days would have been difficult to say the least. And no, living without running water is not at all fun, particularly for me, someone who won’t even go camping unless we stay in a cabin with indoor plumbing and a shower (Audrey stop laughing!).

Owen has been mostly back to happy baby lately, although he does get cranky if we are a little late or slow with the food. He sure does like to eat and I’m looking forward to his medical exam in Almaty (required before leaving the country) to see how much he weighs now. We are still tinkering a bit with his schedule and think we’ve found a winner – more frequent, shorter naps and a slightly later bedtime.

Our social life is pretty slow at the moment as it’s been very cold and snowy for a few days. But we do manage to get out occasionally - Bob and Sean went on a walk around town to take pictures of some of the monuments and I met Maureen, Jenny, Joey, Diane (a newbie from Alexandria), Bill and Jill for an afternoon of shopping at the Tsum store.

The Tsum store is really just a bunch of small kiosks and stores that sell everything from auto parts to fur coats. There are stores for appliances, sporting goods, books, stationary, wigs, chandeliers, cosmetics, food, curtains, shoes, china and glassware … in short, if you need it, you can probably find it here. It might not be all that nice or even look like it belongs in this decade, but you can find it.

We do a lot of reading to pass the time; I’ve finished two books that I highly recommend: “The Boleyn Inheritance” by Philippa Gregory (Mom, I think you’d very much enjoy; it’s about the court of King Henry VIII from three women’s point of view) and “A Short History of Nearly Everything” by Bill Bryson. The latter is just what the title suggests; it’s an explanation of everything from how the Universe works to what an atom does. It’s written by a non-scientist and is therefore accessible for everyone. Every five pages I was saying “Bob, listen to this …” Amazing stuff, great book.

Hope everyone is well. Your comments, thoughts and prayers keep us going – but we are really ready to come home. Two weeks to go!

To The Pick-Up Store

2007-02-20T11:45:00.000-05:00

Grocery shopping in Kokshetau is a good thing for three reasons … 1) it gets you out of the apartment, 2) it gets you out of the apartment, and 3) it gets you out of the apartment. The half mile walk in each direction through snow and ice gets your blood flowing and muscles working. And really, there is nothing quite like the sensation of having your nose hairs freeze.

Once you arrive at the local pick-up store, the nicely dressed (business suit/pointy shoes) security guard eyes you suspiciously and the clerks look at you and whisper among themselves. But it’s really a lot of fun to navigate the three aisles and try to figure out what things are by the pictures. Go ahead - try this for yourself! Visit your local Safeway or Giant or Acme, pretend you don’t read English, and buy your entire list only by what’s on the package. Interesting, yes?

Mayonnaise here comes in a bag and mustard in a tube like toothpaste – I picked ours by the drawings of pepper and horseradish on the front – and there are at least nine kinds of ketchup; although none of the bottles we’ve tried tastes like Heinz. There is a whole row of teas and instant coffee but no peanut butter or crackers and very limited vegetables and fruit (fresh, frozen or canned). One of my new snack finds is a children’s breakfast cereal of little wheat squares filled with cherry, strawberry, orange, vanilla, raspberry or cappuccino (perhaps it gives the kids an extra boost for the walk to school in the morning?) cream, and I usually grab some Sour Cream and Onion Pringles, or the Kaz equivalent “Kracks”. I’ve given up on chicken but the yogurt is great, and we like the potato pirogues and “Mexican” beans with rice for dinner.

But without a doubt, my favorite thing is Twix Dark. Chocolate cookie, caramel and dark chocolate - delicious. We need these at home. Unfortunately, I told our fellow travelers about them and they agreed they were an everyday necessity and now I think we may have purchased Kokshetau’s entire supply. I’ll be looking in Almaty!

In other news Bob got a (good) haircut for five hundred tenge ($4); we’ve discovered Owen only likes the more expensive brand of formula (hmm, wonder where he gets that from); this week Kaz celebrated National Pancake Day; and it’s still snowing. Ah, the days go by …

Introducing Mr. Cranky

2007-02-19T11:44:00.000-05:00

For reasons known only to Owen (and maybe his teeth), our sweet, agreeable, “easy” baby has turned into Mr. Cranky. We don’t see any little white Chiclets emerging from his gums but the other signs seem to be there … the previously oft-mentioned drool, the shoving of anything and everything into his mouth (why doesn’t someone make teething rings the same texture as fingers since that is obviously the preferred thing to bite?), ear rubbing, crying and general fussiness – see picture. And of course out of the all the toys and diversions we offered, the plastic wipes bag was the only thing to halt his tears for a good fifteen minutes.

The good news from Kokshetau is that we are getting out of here two days early, March 2nd instead of March 4th (although our flight home is still scheduled for March 7th). We don’t know the reason behind the change, although we heard something about the flight schedule changing for spring. In winter, the Yak flies only on Wednesday and Sunday; and yes, it has snowed here for three days straight and the high today is zero, but I think March 1st is the official start of spring. Whatever the reason we are happy to have more time in Almaty. Because it’s a much bigger city we will be able to take Owen out in public, Mad Murphy’s Irish Pub has awesome food, and the Ramstore is better than the Westminster Mall. Hopefully by then our happy baby will be back!

First Bath and First Play Date ... Coincidence?

2007-02-17T11:43:00.000-05:00

Owen handled his first bath like a trooper, a happy surprise for us as so many new adoptive parents have reported stories of screaming babies (apparently bath time in the orphanages isn’t much fun). At first he was a little hesitant but was soon sitting happily while we soaped him up. He even enjoyed playing with a few cups and splashing a bit. Since we don’t have a baby tub Bob climbed in with him, which was great for Owen but unfortunately didn’t result in any bath pictures we can post on the internet!

The next day James and his mom and dad (Maureen and Sean) came over for a play date; and although it’s possible the adults enjoyed the afternoon more than the kids, we did get a few smiles from them. James is one of the “hamsters” and shares a birthday (July 14) with Owen. We are hoping to get together with Garrett soon; also one of the fab five, he’s Jenny and Darryl’s son.

We think we have Owen’s schedule figured out pretty well but have decided to cut out the carrots and pears for a few days; to put it nicely we think it may be a bit too much for his system right now. He’s having a lot of fun discovering his voice and he remains a very happy kid for most of the day. He’s also drooling a small stream so we expect more teeth any time. We tell him everyday about all the family and friends he has waiting for him at home and I think he may be counting down the days too (its’ now 18 to go).

Bob and I have decided we now miss American TV. It would be really nice to sit together at the end of the day and relax with an episode of CSI (the original, NY or Miami – any of them would do). The only English speaking channel here is Euro Sport, which is usually showing soccer or tennis. Music Box does play some familiar music and US/British artists; and today I saw a new A-ha video! Kris, they look pretty much the same although I think the lead singer may have had some work done.

To close out today’s post, another Russian/Kazakh superstition Rada told us … if you take a ring off and hand it to someone you are passing them your luck; therefore, always put it down first and let them pick it up (Sherry, thought you might enjoy this one and we’ll have to remember it the next time we are sitting at Texas Road House). Enjoy your weekend!

Welcome to Parenthood

2007-02-15T11:42:00.000-05:00

I know that all new parents are sleep deprived, but our tiredness is not because Owen doesn’t snooze – in fact he’s doing great; out like a light by 9:00 and sleeping until 8:00 with only one early morning call for action. No, Bob and I are awake most of the night listening to each squeak of the ancient metal “death trap” crib (part of it swings and one leg is broken), each breath Owen takes, each sigh, each squirm. Sitting up in bed and asking over and over, “Was that him; is he ok”? Plus I just plain miss seeing him and holding him! As Bob said at about 3:30 am the first night, “Welcome to Parenthood”.

We’ve spent the last few days trying to get Owen (and us) settled into a schedule. This is the most physical activity he’s ever had, and as a result he’s eating far more than the four bottles (two each of cereal and formula) he got at the hospital. We’ve introduced carrots and cherry juice (he doesn’t like apple), and plan to try yogurt and pears soon. It’s been interesting trying to figure out amounts of food and naps; but he’s pretty good at making his wishes known!

Of course we play and talk with him a lot; his newest favorite toy is a blow up ball (thanks Alison, Jeff and Jack) and he also enjoys just hanging out with his dad in the chair or with me in the hip carrier.

Bob and I can already see how this last part of the trip gets really long – it feels like, ok, we’ve done what we came to do, why can’t we go home now?! Since Owen has been with us we have lost water and electricity (O and I watched from the window as the big old falling-apart service truck pulled up to the corner and a man in a fur hat climbed the pole). Thankfully both services were restored before causing any real inconvenience but it sure does make you appreciate how good we have it at home.

We have been strongly discouraged from taking Owen out in public and to stores, restaurants, etc., so at least one of us is housebound all or part of the day. Bob goes to the Internet Café to post and check email; and I’ve walked to the pick-up store with some of our fellow travelers. It’s important to take a little break and get outside and get some fresh air (although this weekend the fresh air is supposed to get extremely cold again) so we try to take turns.

Sean/Maureen and Darryl/Jenny had court on Tuesday and now have their boys with them too (yeah!), so once they are a bit settled we’ll try to get together with them as well. Bill/Jill also had court and were granted their request to adopt (twins) but their babies are in a city that does not allow custody after court so they have to continue making visits, which of course is rough. We are very thankful that the judge in Kokshetau allows immediate custody.

You’ve all accused me many times of making you tear up with my words … well now you’ve turned the tables on me. In the brief moments of connection we have in the apartment we always try to read your comments and we cherish each and every one. Thank you so much for sharing in our joy. And Shannon S … your email really had me crying. And you are so right, we thank God for the broken road that led us right to Owen. I can’t imagine any other way, or any other child.

Primary Court Complete

2007-02-13T11:41:00.000-05:00

It’s 9:15 pm in Kokshetau and we just put a peacefully sleeping baby boy in his crib for the night. That’s right … Owen Edward Mechem is out of the children’s hospital and officially our son!

Our court date was earlier this afternoon, and since Rada told Bob that his horoscope today said his charms would win over any situation, we felt pretty confident. Honestly we were a bit nervous, but we knew Owen was meant to be our son and had faith.

We dressed up, went to the courthouse and waited until called into the judge’s office. Serious faces all around. We sat with Rada in office chairs lined up along the back wall and the judge, prosecutor and secretary sat at the judge’s desk. After we answered a few basic questions about understanding our rights, Bob stood and did a great job with his speech and follow up questions from the prosecutor and judge (although Scott and Susan, we did have to evoke your names as being the reason we “chose” Kokshetau; at which point the judge actually nodded and smiled!). Then I stood and gave a brief speech. Dr. Victoria and Zhania, the representative from the Ministry of Education (they oversee adoptions), spoke next; the judge and prosecutor looked through our photo album from home and pictures of our visits with Owen; and asked a few more questions. All of us left the office to let the judge make her decision; and after a very long wait (but probably less than 5 minutes in actual time!) we went back in and listened as the judge read something in Russian that Rada basically translated as “YES”!

Tears followed (mine, and Rada welled up a bit too), pictures were taken, then back to the apartment to change and gather all our gifts for the caretakers and various other folks, as well as our donations to the hospital. Oleg drove us for the last time to the hospital and Dr. Victoria brought Owen into her office, where we shared bowls of tea and the cake we had brought with her, Zhania and Rada.

Finally we got to bundle up the boy and head for the apartment at about 6:00 pm. Owen has been great all night – he took his bottle well, played with some new toys, laughed and seemed happy to be with us, and then fell asleep in my arms.It’s been a truly wonderful day. I don’t think it’s really even sunk in yet that finally, after years of wishing and waiting and working for this, we’ve finally been granted our dream. But it sure feels good right now to have our son sleeping in the next room.

So we hold our breath for the next 15 days (official waiting period) that neither his birthmother or bio father (nor their families) files a claim for adoption. After the time is up we’ll get his official birth certificate listing his name as Owen and us as his parents. And after that we’ll get his passport and head back to Almaty for a few days and lots of official appointments before we fly home! But all that is a few weeks away and right now we are just enjoying the experience of having Owen with us all the time.

Our Days in Kokshetau

2007-02-11T11:40:00.000-05:00

We are half way around the world, yet our domestic life is much the same as at home. I clean, cook, make the bed and do laundry; Bob does work and plays video golf on his PSP! But to be fair, he has now been grocery shopping more times in the past three weeks then in his whole life, I know he will do a huge amount of caring for Owen once he’s at the apartment (Susan, don’t be too upset but I do have to tell you that Bob changes most of the diapers!), and I'm sure he'd do more around the apartment if I asked.

If you’ve followed along to this point you may have the impression that we have parties every night, but in reality our days are pretty routine and not that exciting. We wake, take our lukewarm on/off shower; eat breakfast, dress in layers and meet Rada and Vladimir for the thrill ride to the Children’s Hospital. There we visit with Owen for about two and a half hours, then we either go to the Internet cafe, the Tsum store (souvenirs, clothes, electronics, household items), or the pick-up store (groceries). If we go to a restaurant for lunch it usually takes at least two hours to complete the meal between Rada translating the entire menu for us – and the “salad” section alone usually has at least 20 choices – and the fact that it seems the kitchen cooks meals to order. After lunch we head home, repack Owen’s bag for the next day (new outfit, eight diapers), do laundry/dishes, etc., then have a light dinner. Most evenings we watch a movie or turn on Russian MTV and read, play video games (Bob), work on the cross stitch project Maureen gave me (Jodi) or work Sudoku and crossword puzzles (thanks Amy B!). At about 11:00 its’ lights out then we wake in the morning to do it all over again.

It’s not a bad way to spend a month and a half, but as those before and with us have said; it does get to be a bit like the movie “Groundhog Day”. But we are making memories that we will always have to share with Owen and we know that this trip, although at times difficult and very long, is so worth the end result. And we are now almost halfway home!

Getting Closer

2007-02-08T11:39:00.000-05:00

Things are continuing to move along in Kazakhstan. We had pre-court yesterday which was 50 minutes of waiting in a small lobby and 10 minutes sitting in a big, hot office while the Chairman (I'm not sure of what) read through our paperwork and asked us a few questions ... "How much do you have left on your mortgage?", "Will this interfere with the adoption?", "Do you understand his medical issues?", "Why do you want to adopt a child with problems?", "How long have your ancestors been in America?", "How often do you see Cearra?", "How big is your family?", etc., then he said ok, we'll accept your application to adopt and move your paperwork along, and then he actually smiled while Bob tried to say hi in Kazakh - which is about 20 letters long and sound a little like "sell met sezs beer".Court is next up and we are waiting on word as to the date - it should be either Monday or Tuesday. We'll start working on our speeches now and trying not to be too nervous!

The other couples on the same time line as us had similarly good results and last night we hosted a party at our place to celebrate. It was pretty crowded but a good time was had by all. Oleg and his wife Vera and youngest daughter joined us as did Rada and Inna. There's also a new couple here - Joey and Gary from Phoenix - who are adopting a little boy from a town near us, and it was great to welcome them to town and introduce them to the unofficial cocktail of Kaz - yes, cherry juice and vodka.

Today's visit with Owen was wonderful, especially since yesterday he was totally cranky. Of course it was the day they were going to take his passport photo so we might end up with a crying baby picture for that - which is ok considering my passport photo is no beauty shot either. We think he was just hungry and his teeth were bothering him, but today he was back to his happy self. And good thing too as the judge we'll have for court stopped by to see us with him and ask us a few questions about our visits, his medical diagnosis, etc.

At the end of the visit he fell asleep in Bob's arms and I asked him what he thought babies dreamed of. And Bob said "mommies and daddies". Hopefully Owen is having very sweet dreams these days - we certainly are.

Around Town and More O

2007-02-05T11:37:00.000-05:00

After one of our recent visits Rada told us that the children’s hospital had run out of food besides yogurt, so we went immediately to the store and purchased formula and cereal for them. The other families weren’t told this, so we aren’t sure how desperate the situation really was, but we are glad to be able to help out with the babies care. While we were at the store, Rada also told us that we could bring Owen some baby food to see how he liked it. Among the many jars of fruit with added sugar, I finally found a vegetable choice – broccoli. So the next day, we “bibbed” him up and gave him a spoonful. One brief grimace, and then the boy loved it! We did not want to give him too much for the first time out, but he sure let us know when we stopped that he was not happy with that decision! He also chomped half a teething biscuit and happily finished his bottle when it was brought.

Despite his apparent love of food, he actually weighs a bit less then last week – about 16.3 lbs. I’m sure that will change once he is consistently getting good food and vitamins. We take some time each visitation to work with Owen on strengthening muscles that to this point he hasn’t had much reason to use; for example we practice sitting up and balancing, and getting his knees in position to crawl. But as you can see in the picture, he much prefers to stand (with assistance of course). I have a feeling we are going to be chasing him all over the place before too long!

Rada and Vladimir took us on a city tour today, pointing out different buildings around town, giving us a brief history of Kokshetau and letting us take a lot of pictures. We drove around Lake Kapa and saw men ice fishing and one brave soul parasailing across the frozen expanse. Rada pointed out the many factories that were abandoned after the fall of the Soviet Union and one of the four apartment buildings that were built to spell “CCCP” if viewed from the air. We went through neighborhoods of small wood houses where the residents still have to get water from a central pump, dragging their filled bottles back to the homes on sleds; and the newer, bigger brick houses that Kokshetau’s wealthier citizens call home. In the gentle hills surrounding the city we saw row after row of “dachas” or summer houses where families grow potatoes and carrots and beets; and passed scattered groves of birch trees that must be beautiful in spring and summer but also have a certain spare beauty now.

One of the things we had noticed earlier on our walks is how many dentists there are in town and we asked Rada about this. She explained there are so many because it’s slippery and people fall a lot and damage their teeth. Well, shortly after Rada took this picture of us at the “horny husband” hill (we are up from the ground quite a bit and no, we still aren’t entirely clear as to why it’s named that), I fell on the ice while climbing down. And at that moment, laying face planted in the snow and hip hurting, I really wanted to be home. I think it’s that same deep seated emotion that makes you always want your mom when you are sick. Bob helped me get back to my feet and brush myself off and I’m happy to say there was no permanent damage – just a slightly swollen lip and a little soreness; perhaps a bit of a bruise tomorrow. But no trip to the Kazakh dentist required!

We met with Dr. Natalia (pictured) today and learned more about Owen's birthmother, including seeing a picture of her. We are very pleased that we will have this information to share with Owen as he grows up. Dr. Natalia also prepped us for pre-court which is Thursday morning (which is Wednesday afternoon/evening for you) so please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we move one step closer to bringing home Owen!

Baby It's Cold Outside

2007-02-03T11:30:00.000-05:00

Since we’ve been in Kazakhstan the weather has been clear and in the low 30’s during the day, which is unseasonably warm. In fact Rada has been wishing for snow to cover the ice on the sidewalks so walking is easier (note however that the ice doesn’t stop Rada and all the other fashionable women from wearing boots with stiletto heels and doing just fine). But it appears that our good weather fortune has turned as we are now experiencing bitter cold and a wind storm so fierce that all the roads leading to and from Kokshetau were closed, several buildings have lost parts of their roofs, one of our double pane windows flew open in the middle of the night, birds are blown sideways as they try to fly, and the power* is out all over town. Welcome to a real near-Siberian winter.

Visits with the little man continue to be great although the time with him always goes much too quickly. Our only “problem” – and one that we’ve discovered the other couples share – is what we now call the Baby Wars. In other words, who gets to hold him, feed him, diaper him, change his clothes, carry him around the room, and so on. Bob and I really try to take turns but it is so hard to give him up once you get your hands on him! It’s one of the reasons we can’t wait until after court when we will hopefully be able to bring him back to the apartment … to have all that time with him will be heaven.

Rada, Inna, Vladimir and Oleg have shared many stories, customs and superstitions with us and I pass along a few for your consideration:

- Never pour your own vodka or you might become alcoholic

- Never whistle inside or your fortune will fly away

- Keep your money in your wallet arranged neatly by amount if you want to do well financially

- A woman who sits at the corner of the table will never marry

- Leaving an empty bottle on the table is bad luck – throw it out a window or under the table

So far Bob and I have found that we don’t really miss the material comforts of home; for example we have no idea what’s happening on “American Idol” and we don’t care, and we are fine living in an area no bigger than our family room and kitchen combined – although a real, hot shower would be very nice as would a bathroom that didn’t smell like a combination of sewage and cigar smoke! But we are definitely missing you all, and I’m missing Sadie, Beamer, Ava and Remy very much (Bob probably is as well although he wouldn’t want to admit it). We do get your emails and although I don’t always have time to respond we want you to know that we really appreciate your messages and always look forward to reading them and feeling closer to home.

Weather update ... the power came back on within about two hours, the winds have finally calmed down and now it's snowing!

One Week Done!

2007-02-01T11:20:00.000-05:00

January 31st was National Vodka Day! Rada told us it is to celebrate the Kaz chemist who invented the drink in the 1800’s. Not too sure about the validity of this story, but we say what the heck - “Cheers”!

We have now completed one week of visits! Dr. Victoria, the director of the Children’s Hospital, came to talk with us about Owen’s medical file. Nothing unexpected and by now we are much calmer when hearing various Russian diagnosis, especially when we can see for ourselves that Owen is healthy and happy. Dr. Victoria shared his schedule with us and commented that he was always happy to be held, liked everyone, and was a “calm gentleman just like his dad”. She’s only known Bob for a little while but I guess she likes him! She also told us that the caretakers call Owen and his four nursery buddies “the hamsters” because there are so many of them and because of their big cheeks! We had noticed that one of the caretakers in particular seemed very fond of Owen; so we made sure to get a picture of her when she brought his bottle to us today.

As we mentioned before, Owen has his two front teeth; Dr. Victoria said they came in the week before we arrived. In Kaz, they believe that once babies have a tooth they should start on solid food, so she recommended we feed him the following:

1st – small grain cereal
2nd – boiled mashed potato and cabbage with butter and salt
3rd – egg yolk and milk mixed together
4th – boiled mashed potato and minced meat
5th – ground apple

I wrote this all down and nodded seriously, all the while thinking of the bright little packs of Gerber’s carrots, squash and green beans awaiting him at home.

Owen continues to charm us. One of his signature moves is the “bridge” demonstrated in one of the pictures (Dad K – we think you may have your wrestler!). Owen is getting more vocal each day, and his sweet little laugh is the best. But I think my favorite part of the visit is when he falls asleep in my arms before we leave; is there anything in the world more peaceful than a sleeping baby?

One thing I do a lot of is asking Bob “did Cearra do that?” I know that at times being here is bittersweet for Bob especially – he misses his “baby” girl so much. We think about her all the time and proudly show her pictures and brag a bit about her to everyone here. Rada and our driver Vladimir also saw a picture of our house today and commented that it was huge and beautiful. We told them that we were very blessed with everything we had in our lives, and Bob added that we would give up all our material possessions as long as Cearra and Owen were healthy and happy. So true.

It’s truly wonderful to be here with the biggest group ever to come through Kokshetau, and each and every person is great. We had Maureen and Sean over for dinner (chicken, onion and potato pie from the Viola market) one night, and on Saturday the group is heading over to Joan’s apartment for pizza and lentil soup. Our shish-k-bob night at the Rainbow Café was a big celebration, complete with lots of pictures, great food and many vodka toasts. We are also trying to find a way to watch the Super Bowl together at 6:00 am Monday morning. And as further proof that we are making ourselves at home, our favorite shop clerk from the Viola market was at the Rainbow Café and made sure to wave and say hello to us. I think Rada was a little mystified as to why we knew the locals and she didn’t! Yep, we are sure enjoying this adventure!

Power and Shopping in Kaz

2007-01-30T11:01:00.000-05:00

We knew that power outages were common in Kazakhstan, so we weren’t at all surprised when we returned to the apartment this evening and had no electricity. What did surprise us was when we noticed that the apartments across the way had power, as did those on the 1st and 3rd floors of our wing. So we moved the contents of the fridge to the enclosed porch, and called Rada, who called Oleg, who called “the electrician”, and an hour and a half later we have light again!

Our visitation time with Owen is now 10:00 to 12:00, which puts us at the hospital with two other adoptive parents, Steve and Mechelle, and Joan. It’s nice to get the chance to talk with them, especially since they are both here adopting their second child and have some good advice. There are currently five babies being adopted from the hospital. They were all born in July, and we have found out they all had chicken pox in December. Owen does have a few pox marks from the ordeal, but we have to admit that we are glad we’ve got that particular illness out of the way.

The last two days with Owen were amazing. We think he really enjoys being with us now. Of course the downside to this is that he has begun to fight dozing off during the visits, and when we put him in his crib when it’s time to go he lets loose with some serious crying! But for most of our visit he is happy to play, bang on the CD player, take a walk outside, enjoy his bottle and a teething biscuit, and try out a pacifier for the first time. He does so many little things that make us laugh and every day brings a new joy. When he reaches for us, or smiles at us, or falls asleep in our arms, we just look at him (and each other) and wonder how we got so very lucky.

And while we’d happily spend all day with Owen, we can’t yet and so we do have to fill up the other hours of the day. Today that meant lunch at the Rainbow Café with the other families and our drivers and interpreters, then shopping at the Green Market. This is rather like a farmer’s market, with butchered meats; stalls of fruits, vegetables, nuts and sweets; and long deli counters. The minute you get close to the counters the saleswomen cut a slice of cheese or salami and offer it to you to try. I finally found a cheese that is somewhat close to cheddar – although when I first asked to sample it the saleswoman said ok, but I wouldn’t like it! It seems that their tastes in food are different here than in the US; they seem to like a lot of either sour, pickled or bland food, and apparently cheddar does not met those criteria. We also got good salami, now we just have to find crackers and we’ll have a favorite snack/lunch.

After the market we went to some other stores and purchased clothes hangers and a sharp knife for the apartment, and some items for Owen to have as he grows up that represent his birth country. Bob also had the opportunity to try on a traditional Kazakh robe (trying on interesting hats and taking pictures is something Bob does often when we travel!), which Rada found rather amusing.

All in all another good day in Kokshetau. Now we are going to fix a vodka and cherry juice (Jodi), grab a beer (Bob) and watch a movie before bed. We hope you are doing well! Paka (bye) for now.

The Start of a New Week in Kaz

2007-01-28T21:20:00.000-05:00

We've moved into our new home, a one bedroom apartment on the 4th floor of a Soviet-era building. Interesting architectural details include molded and “woven” ceiling tiles that look like a cross between plastic and Styrofoam, French doors, an enclosed balcony, and some really beautiful doorknobs (the proceeding commentary brought to you especially for Alison!). We have a nice size living room with plenty of floor space for Owen to play once we get custody of him (which will hopefully be Feb 13th after court). Three of the four burners on the stove work and Oleg is trying to find a microwave for us. There is an unpleasant smell here (and also in the Children’s Hospital) that reminds me of cigar smoke, we think it may have something to do with the heating. Our interpreter Rada told us when we bathe we must “turn the hot water on and get wet, turn it off and soap up, turn it on and rinse” because there is only a small water heater in this apartment. Of course if we want a shower instead of a bath we first have to figure out a way to rig up a shower curtain as we don’t currently have one; it’s a good project for the day.

Our visits with Owen continue to go well and we feel like we get to know him (and vice versa) better each day. For example yesterday we learned that the boy can make quick work of a teething biscuit. When offered one he grabbed it right away and ate it like a pro. Of course he didn’t want anything to do with his bottle when the caretaker brought it in a short while later; lesson learned … bottle first, cookie later. We were told we could bring him any food we like, so we may also try some rice cereal.

Owen was in a mellow mood for most of our visit which was fine with us. We just cuddled him and played quietly with him on the blanket, and near the end of our time he fell asleep on Bob – so sweet. He did wake up when we put him back in the crib and he definitely was looking sad that we were leaving; it was so hard to walk out the door. I’m sure that once we are gone he settles himself down and naps, but we are left to spend the rest of the day and night looking forward to seeing him again!

Settling In

2007-01-26T21:11:00.000-05:00

The Yanks have invaded Kokshetau! I don’t think this city has ever seen so many Americans walking their streets. There’s Maureen & Sean (TX), Jenny & Darryl (OH), Steve & Mechelle (GA), Joan (CA), and Bill & Jill (WI). We get some stares, but Bob and I don’t feel uncomfortable or unwelcome. In fact we think the greatest thing about traveling is realizing first hand that while we may look different and have different customs and ways of living, everyone really is the same underneath, with similar hopes for a happy, good life.

Because there are so many WPA families here right now, we have been in a hotel since arriving (our sitting room and "kitchen" are pictured), but will be moving to an apartment on Sunday. There is no washing machine there but a local woman will do laundry for us (about $4 a load but baby clothes are no charge) and we think we will try to buy a microwave to make cooking a little more convenient. We are looking forward to being able to unpack the suitcases and feel a little more settled. Plus the apartment is very close to the Viola market which is good for food and drinks, and the cottage where two of the families are staying.

Last night we went to the local “pick-up store” (a small grocery store where you can actually roam the aisles and select things for yourself as opposed to the more common stores where the merchandise is located behind glass or on shelves and you have to ask the staff to get you what you want) for my daily supply of Coke Light. A young woman who works there shyly approached us as we looked at the beer selection and asked if we needed help; sensing that she really wanted to practice her English we asked her advice on beer, cookies and dark chocolate – so much for losing weight while here - and ended up with a few more things then we originally went for, including a personal interaction that left us (and her) smiling.

Yesterday was also our first day without a nap – which is a pretty big milestone in getting over jet lag. Of course this morning I woke at 4:00 am so we may still have a ways to go. Oleg, the main driver and “get things done” guy here (we tease him that he’s really the Mayor and he usually responds “not yet”) says drinking a little vodka everyday helps your body adjust to the food, and so far I think he’s right as my nightly cherry juice and vodka has kept me feeling pretty good!

I wish we could update everyday but the dial-up internet connection is very touchy and sometimes just won’t work at all. I’ll do my best to provide you all with stories, insights and more pictures of the cutest boy in all of Kokshetau! Know that we love your comments and emails and that while we miss you all, we are safe and happy and having a great time on this adventure!

We Made It to Owen!

2007-01-25T21:06:00.000-05:00

After a long but uneventful journey from Dulles to Frankfort to Kazakhstan, we spent last night in Almaty in a nice hotel, and got to visit with Sean and Maureen from Houston, Texas, two of our travel partners. Andrei picked us up this morning and took us to the airport, where we met up with all the other couples and loaded our luggage through the tail-end of the infamous Yak 4o. After a nail biting flight we landed in Kokshetau and were met by Inna (interpreter), Oleg (driver and main "go to" guy here), Vladimir (our driver) and Rada (our interpreter). We checked into a hotel where Steve and Mechelle and Joan were waiting for us all with bottles of vodka (they have already been here one week and wanted to welcome us the Kaz way!).

This morning we woke and met Rada and Vladimir for the short trip to the Children's Hospital (in Kokshetau there is no baby house; the babies are born at the Maternity Hospital and then transfered to the Children's Hospital at three months), and finally, finally, we met Owen!!

He's a very happy and content baby who we quickly found loves to be thrown in the air, bounced about and flown around the room. One of the care takers told our interpreter that we "should not be shy with him; he likes motion". I think the jumperoo at home will be a big hit! He is also pretty smooth with his rolling over action and sits up with help.

Of course we also spent a lot of time just holding and talking to him which he seemed to like - especially if he could grab one of our fingers to chomp on ... his two little bottom teeth are already in!

After his bottle, a diaper change and more cuddling, he fell asleep in my arms. That was the most amazing joy; without a doubt this little boy is so worth all it took to get here.

I'll write more about Kokshetau, our quest for an apartment, our awesome travel partners, food, daily life, etc. in later posts once the routine sets in. Thanks for your comments - we love hearing from you!

Here We Go!

2007-01-22T21:05:00.000-05:00

The house is cleaned, our bags are packed, and the cat care schedule is all set (thank you Kim, Casey, Sherry, Jill, Donna and Mom!). We are a little anxious but mainly just eager to get to Owen and finally complete this long, winding journey.

We leave tonight and arrive in Frankfurt at about 9AM on the 23rd, and then press on to Almaty, arriving close to midnight. The morning of the 24th (Kaz time, which is 11 hours ahead of EST) we will meet with the sisters, then board the Yak for Owen's birth city. We hope we will be able to visit him that evening, but if not our visits will start on the 25th. We'll try to update the blog shortly thereafter.

Your thoughts, good wishes and prayers are much appreciated, and we will carry a bit of each of you with us! Check back often!

Travel Dates

2007-01-08T21:29:00.000-05:00

This is what the Lord says, ... "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."- Isaiah 43:16,18-19

"The coming month shall bring winds of change in your life"
- Jones Green Apple Soda bottle cap

"Leap, and the net shall appear"
- Zen saying

"Let's go!!"
- Bob and Jodi

Yes, it's almost time ... we got our travel dates, and if nothing changes between now and then we will be heading to Kaz and Owen on January 22nd! Now we do the visa applications, more paperwork, final preparations and packing. Thanks for your prayers and good thoughts - and please keep them coming our way!