I cannot ever say enough that we meet the most interesting people while going through our adoption at the Vlad Inn. That's a big part of staying at this hotel is being able to experience the process together to some degree. Nothing will be like our first adoption as that was basically making family members who will forever be in our life since we had to do it all together from traveling to court to waiting to bring our children into our lives to learning how to transition into being a family and bringing them home. The Wallace Family is forever in our hearts and a part of our forever family.
The people we meet along the way also provide such a comfort during the days where there is a lull or we are just too exhausted to make it back to our room and figure out what to do next.
One couple T and J left us with Animal Cookies and Goldfish. Thank you! It is the support whether small or great, even the simplest of words that get us by in times of need.
Adoption as most know is a HUGE amount of work with a big reward in the end but it is really an emotional journey where exhaustive days are just the beginning to a long road of parenting. The parenting part is awesome even on its trying days but let's face it, specifically for us, a long journey of much needed caffeine and lack of sleep since we have one child with sleep disorders we hope he will grow out of one day.
No matter what the journey, for those who are taken to the Vlad Inn, there will always be a memory of those you meet along the way and those who you make long life connections with, funny enough even if just through a 5 minute conversation.
I will soon be alone and when I am I will be grateful for any type of help, words or support at the ol' Vlad Inn.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Autumn in Vladivostok
The Autumn colors are incredible as we walk around the hotel while leaves fall upon us. Reddish, goldish and brown leaves hang over the walkways. Quite a sight. I have only been in Vladivostok during Spring 2x and Summer.
It is not as cold though as it is at home so far. I know I see people walking around dressed very warmly but as I walked around today I found it warm and had my flip flops on. I think people thought I was crazy. Having said this, the cooler temperatures can change over night.
Alexei enjoyed cheese like puffs shared by our coordinator's daughter who he is oddly shy around for being a girl. Lately he takes off after the girls. We had a quiet tea and lunch today after following my sister's departure. Michael and I tried to work a bit while Alexei played with a funny Russian boy who thought Alexei was very quite humorous. Then he said "paka paka" and left with his mother.
The airforce planes have been going over all day long since early this morning. They are a sight to see as they fly over head. It is now sunset and I am watching Handy Manny with Alexei, my choice of course since I would probably have to watch Spider Man or Sponge Bob, which has been going non stop recently. Sponge Bob in Russian though is pretty darn cool.
I sit here enjoying a cup of tea and think about how I might be here for another 28 days. It is a long time to be away from home and I will be missing my Halloween celebrations. I hope Alexei has some serious fun during Halloween. Cannot wait to see pictures. Michael is going to take him to his work party as well.
As I watched the two boys play today I realized how great it will be for Alexei to not only have a sibling but a brother.
Last night was super difficult, lots of tears and frustrations over our loss of what was to be our little girl. I suppose there will be some sadness here and there for a while longer. I am not looking forward yet to heading home to see the beautiful girls' room we all created or all of the clothes we have had for her.
Tomorrow we visit the new little boy we have been spending a great deal of time with. He adores my husband Michael. Pulls at his hair, hugs him and laughs hysterically. The boy can be clown yet very smart about getting what he wants. Super stubborn, hehe. Brown hair, brown eyes, olive skin, lots of smiles and seems to love to play cat and mouse by running and looking back to see if we are following.
It is not as cold though as it is at home so far. I know I see people walking around dressed very warmly but as I walked around today I found it warm and had my flip flops on. I think people thought I was crazy. Having said this, the cooler temperatures can change over night.
Alexei enjoyed cheese like puffs shared by our coordinator's daughter who he is oddly shy around for being a girl. Lately he takes off after the girls. We had a quiet tea and lunch today after following my sister's departure. Michael and I tried to work a bit while Alexei played with a funny Russian boy who thought Alexei was very quite humorous. Then he said "paka paka" and left with his mother.
The airforce planes have been going over all day long since early this morning. They are a sight to see as they fly over head. It is now sunset and I am watching Handy Manny with Alexei, my choice of course since I would probably have to watch Spider Man or Sponge Bob, which has been going non stop recently. Sponge Bob in Russian though is pretty darn cool.
I sit here enjoying a cup of tea and think about how I might be here for another 28 days. It is a long time to be away from home and I will be missing my Halloween celebrations. I hope Alexei has some serious fun during Halloween. Cannot wait to see pictures. Michael is going to take him to his work party as well.
As I watched the two boys play today I realized how great it will be for Alexei to not only have a sibling but a brother.
Last night was super difficult, lots of tears and frustrations over our loss of what was to be our little girl. I suppose there will be some sadness here and there for a while longer. I am not looking forward yet to heading home to see the beautiful girls' room we all created or all of the clothes we have had for her.
Tomorrow we visit the new little boy we have been spending a great deal of time with. He adores my husband Michael. Pulls at his hair, hugs him and laughs hysterically. The boy can be clown yet very smart about getting what he wants. Super stubborn, hehe. Brown hair, brown eyes, olive skin, lots of smiles and seems to love to play cat and mouse by running and looking back to see if we are following.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Drinking Tea at the Vlad Inn & Thoughts
Familiar Faces through the years... The one comforting aspect of an adoption in Vladivostok, Russia is the familiarity. Although our adoption process has been rocky, I still stand by the people who have been helping us throughout. There is a special place for each person who has helped us take one more step in this journey.
To us they are family as they have given us more than we could ever have asked for with Alexei, a trooper in this trip to Russia. A typical three year old but asked to do so much from meeting his potential sister to his new brother to returning to his baby home and saying hello to everyone so politely.
He calls it "his old home" and I love how much he takes pride in Russia, whether it be yelling it from the tarmac "Back in Russia" or mentioning Russia every where we seem to go here. He was incredibly excited even to see the monument up top the hill in Vladivstok. For a three year old he just puts me in awe each day.
Even when it comes to him chasing after each girl. Oh dear, these boys are going to do a number on us lol.
He saw another girl today and ran after her down the Vlad Inn path to the park. When it comes to a boy, he stops, looks at them and stares at them cautiously lol.
I have also come to meet such incredible families once again at the Vlad Inn who are also going through the process.
Thank you Shelly for your incredibly kind message. It was wonderful meeting you today and I have to admit, you are in the most incredible hands here. One of my favorite people here to have on your side.
Let's see what another day brings us!
To us they are family as they have given us more than we could ever have asked for with Alexei, a trooper in this trip to Russia. A typical three year old but asked to do so much from meeting his potential sister to his new brother to returning to his baby home and saying hello to everyone so politely.
He calls it "his old home" and I love how much he takes pride in Russia, whether it be yelling it from the tarmac "Back in Russia" or mentioning Russia every where we seem to go here. He was incredibly excited even to see the monument up top the hill in Vladivstok. For a three year old he just puts me in awe each day.
Even when it comes to him chasing after each girl. Oh dear, these boys are going to do a number on us lol.
He saw another girl today and ran after her down the Vlad Inn path to the park. When it comes to a boy, he stops, looks at them and stares at them cautiously lol.
I have also come to meet such incredible families once again at the Vlad Inn who are also going through the process.
Thank you Shelly for your incredibly kind message. It was wonderful meeting you today and I have to admit, you are in the most incredible hands here. One of my favorite people here to have on your side.
Let's see what another day brings us!
Saturday, October 1, 2011
A Day with My Son Alexei in the Park We Played in 2 Years Ago
Alexei and I were able to have a few hours alone today. We decided on this chilly October day to set out to the park behind the Vlad Motor Inn. I watched him as he ran around the tennis court, went down the new tube slide and said hello to a pigeon. I couldn't help but think about how small he was when we first came to this park together. The waddling 15 month old, so tiny and yet ran around in slower fashion.
Today we spent time in the lobby while he stood with the hotel clown and she blew up balloons for him. Incredibly wonderful to see how well he does with all of the other children who speak Russian. He seems to enjoy playing with the children, running around together and laughing. I stand in awe at the strength he has had and the light emotions he has shown in returning to Russia. When we landed with Korean Air, he yelled "Back to Russia!" I cannot even imagine what people thought as his excitement was clearly shown in his loud voice, hands on the airplane window and huge smile.
He has also declared his love loudly for two girls. "I love her!" "I love her!" He yells. Oh boy, to have two boys who charm the pants off these girls.
Customs Experience: So, we are in line waiting to go through customs. We are next and Alexei has been pretty patient. DEAR LORD, you will not believe what he said and did: Long Lines, Sister in front of us waiting for the customs agent to return her passport, suddenly Alexei says, "Hey Sweetheart, we've been waiting long enough, it's our turn." THANK GOODNESS he is 3 years old. That is the only way we were able to get away with that. Whew.
From the moment I first met my son, I felt this instant connection and here we are back in Russia after 2 years of being together. He is my everything and the alone time is certainly cherished even when we sit together and converse at the table over lunch about Sponge Bob.
I often whisper when we are running around in his ears, "I love you" in Russian and he says it back quietly. There is nothing quite like the mother and son bond. I will say today, he answered the coordinator when she asked if he wanted to go meet his brother, he said, "My sister". He is still trying to figure things out since he met the girl we thought to be his sister and he became hooked. I show him video of his new brother and I think about the potential of me raising two sons. A funny thought really. Hockey, tennis, I suppose our house is ready for sure. Double the Trouble I say.
Alexei has waited months thinking we are bringing home his sister so this should be really interesting as to whether we are able to bring home a brother or if I am going to have to explain to him we are going home without his brother or sister. Aye, aye, aye is all I can say. I am so hoping to not have this conversation with him if we have to leave without.
It surely is a beautiful sunny, chilly day in Vladivostok. Chilly 37 in the evening and 55 during the day.
Today we spent time in the lobby while he stood with the hotel clown and she blew up balloons for him. Incredibly wonderful to see how well he does with all of the other children who speak Russian. He seems to enjoy playing with the children, running around together and laughing. I stand in awe at the strength he has had and the light emotions he has shown in returning to Russia. When we landed with Korean Air, he yelled "Back to Russia!" I cannot even imagine what people thought as his excitement was clearly shown in his loud voice, hands on the airplane window and huge smile.
He has also declared his love loudly for two girls. "I love her!" "I love her!" He yells. Oh boy, to have two boys who charm the pants off these girls.
Customs Experience: So, we are in line waiting to go through customs. We are next and Alexei has been pretty patient. DEAR LORD, you will not believe what he said and did: Long Lines, Sister in front of us waiting for the customs agent to return her passport, suddenly Alexei says, "Hey Sweetheart, we've been waiting long enough, it's our turn." THANK GOODNESS he is 3 years old. That is the only way we were able to get away with that. Whew.
From the moment I first met my son, I felt this instant connection and here we are back in Russia after 2 years of being together. He is my everything and the alone time is certainly cherished even when we sit together and converse at the table over lunch about Sponge Bob.
I often whisper when we are running around in his ears, "I love you" in Russian and he says it back quietly. There is nothing quite like the mother and son bond. I will say today, he answered the coordinator when she asked if he wanted to go meet his brother, he said, "My sister". He is still trying to figure things out since he met the girl we thought to be his sister and he became hooked. I show him video of his new brother and I think about the potential of me raising two sons. A funny thought really. Hockey, tennis, I suppose our house is ready for sure. Double the Trouble I say.
Alexei has waited months thinking we are bringing home his sister so this should be really interesting as to whether we are able to bring home a brother or if I am going to have to explain to him we are going home without his brother or sister. Aye, aye, aye is all I can say. I am so hoping to not have this conversation with him if we have to leave without.
It surely is a beautiful sunny, chilly day in Vladivostok. Chilly 37 in the evening and 55 during the day.
Adoption Update: Court on Hold
I know there are many waiting to read an update on our adoption journey.
We arrived safely in Vladivostok, happily at the Vlad Motor Inn. Korea was very nice and they have renovated the transit hotel with flat screen televisions, new beds, new showers/tubs, very nice.
It was very warm and humid the first couple of days in Vladivostok and now it is around 37 at night and 60 during the day. The leaves are falling and the autumn chill is in the air.
I unpacked all of our clothes including our daughter's clothes and put out her first outfit, a very cute blue ruffly skirt, black polka dot tights, white shoes, black long sleeve shirt and sweater with matching knit hat.
We went to visit our daughter to be the first 2 days where we saw other children playing and took our son back to his baby home. He enjoyed it very much. He said hello to everyone, shook their hands and played with the toys. He said to my sister later that he had visited his old home. He was very happy with his sister. He gave her big hugs and she was all over him, just about chasing him down.
The day before court, we said our paka paka's to our daughter to be, she hugged us like crazy that day and reached out for us. She had become so attached giggling and wanting up over and over. I was so happy with our daughter to be. She was sweet, smiling all of the time and was just a wonderful little girl. We had gone shopping for baby food, drinks and diapers and then back to the hotel to rest.
The day before court I never thought life would change once again for us. My sister and I had taken Alexei out for a walk around the hotel getting some fresh air. As I turned the corner, I saw our coordinator standing with my husband at the back door waving me over. I knew at that moment something was incredibly wrong.
Indeed the information was not good. We had lost our daughter to be at the very last moment, the ever so feared witching hour. A relative had come forth, however not guaranteed but put a stop to us getting to bring our little girl into our family. The bonding, the hugs, the smiles and the thoughts were all lost to one fact "I would never see her again".
I suppose it was the last line, "I would never see her again" that made my heart sink. It was broken. My husband took it hardest on the first day and I stayed strong trying to figure out what was next for us. The second day I was not great but things were moving fast and I had to keep up. We were already seeing a new referral of a little boy. A little boy who reminded me of our own son just with brown hair, brown eyes and olive skin.
So here I was realizing that everyone back home, our parents, family, friends all wanted to know what happened and I couldn't even bring the words out to tell them what or how I truly felt. I think as most who knew here were left speechless. This is how I feel.
I would walk into our bedroom and want to walk back out seeing the girls clothing, the first outfit, the 3 little pairs of shoes and the small knit hats. Then I would think of the little girl room we all created and what was waiting for her. It felt like a huge weight pulling down inside my chest and my stomach, like a sudden, great loss.
My son who had met his sister was so excited to see her again and I wasn't even sure how to tell him he didn't have a sister anymore, now a brother. He did not accept it until late today when he finally said "okay".
We know not of what will happen in the next few days. We have spent time with a little boy, given him a name and hope that everything will turn out successful. Honestly, I fear the outcome as I am not sure it will all work out but hope fate will come through the way it is supposed to for us.
I cannot put in words the loss we feel and yet the hope we have that things will come out the way we need them too. Either way, we hold tight that Alexei will be able to bring home that sibling he has so been waiting to come to Russia for.
We arrived safely in Vladivostok, happily at the Vlad Motor Inn. Korea was very nice and they have renovated the transit hotel with flat screen televisions, new beds, new showers/tubs, very nice.
It was very warm and humid the first couple of days in Vladivostok and now it is around 37 at night and 60 during the day. The leaves are falling and the autumn chill is in the air.
I unpacked all of our clothes including our daughter's clothes and put out her first outfit, a very cute blue ruffly skirt, black polka dot tights, white shoes, black long sleeve shirt and sweater with matching knit hat.
We went to visit our daughter to be the first 2 days where we saw other children playing and took our son back to his baby home. He enjoyed it very much. He said hello to everyone, shook their hands and played with the toys. He said to my sister later that he had visited his old home. He was very happy with his sister. He gave her big hugs and she was all over him, just about chasing him down.
The day before court, we said our paka paka's to our daughter to be, she hugged us like crazy that day and reached out for us. She had become so attached giggling and wanting up over and over. I was so happy with our daughter to be. She was sweet, smiling all of the time and was just a wonderful little girl. We had gone shopping for baby food, drinks and diapers and then back to the hotel to rest.
The day before court I never thought life would change once again for us. My sister and I had taken Alexei out for a walk around the hotel getting some fresh air. As I turned the corner, I saw our coordinator standing with my husband at the back door waving me over. I knew at that moment something was incredibly wrong.
Indeed the information was not good. We had lost our daughter to be at the very last moment, the ever so feared witching hour. A relative had come forth, however not guaranteed but put a stop to us getting to bring our little girl into our family. The bonding, the hugs, the smiles and the thoughts were all lost to one fact "I would never see her again".
I suppose it was the last line, "I would never see her again" that made my heart sink. It was broken. My husband took it hardest on the first day and I stayed strong trying to figure out what was next for us. The second day I was not great but things were moving fast and I had to keep up. We were already seeing a new referral of a little boy. A little boy who reminded me of our own son just with brown hair, brown eyes and olive skin.
So here I was realizing that everyone back home, our parents, family, friends all wanted to know what happened and I couldn't even bring the words out to tell them what or how I truly felt. I think as most who knew here were left speechless. This is how I feel.
I would walk into our bedroom and want to walk back out seeing the girls clothing, the first outfit, the 3 little pairs of shoes and the small knit hats. Then I would think of the little girl room we all created and what was waiting for her. It felt like a huge weight pulling down inside my chest and my stomach, like a sudden, great loss.
My son who had met his sister was so excited to see her again and I wasn't even sure how to tell him he didn't have a sister anymore, now a brother. He did not accept it until late today when he finally said "okay".
We know not of what will happen in the next few days. We have spent time with a little boy, given him a name and hope that everything will turn out successful. Honestly, I fear the outcome as I am not sure it will all work out but hope fate will come through the way it is supposed to for us.
I cannot put in words the loss we feel and yet the hope we have that things will come out the way we need them too. Either way, we hold tight that Alexei will be able to bring home that sibling he has so been waiting to come to Russia for.
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