Day 17, 18, 19 - Change in plans

Day 17 (Monday, February 19th)

It is another FREEZING day outside! Probably minus 25F!! After our visit with Polly and lunch out, Laura and the wife of the new American couple decided to battle the cold and wander over to one of the outdoor markets. They were back within a short period of time as Laura was sure her legs were in the beginning stages of frost bite (they are fine). Tomorrow is supposed to be upwards of about +20F…a warm day compared to the last few and if appropriately dressed, a fine day for the outdoor market.

Tonight, however, the temperature seemed to be fine to walk to Laura’s favorite Italian restaurant “Dolce’ Vita” with our friends from Tennessee. Mmmmm Goood!

Day 18 (Tuesday, February 20th)

Today was a special day for the three year old group (Polly’s group). In honor of children in that group who had a birthday in either January or February, the children performed a special show. In the audience were various adults staffed at the baby home, adopting parents who were present in the home during this particular time frame (us included) and the children in the two year old group. Our Polly and her peers were all dressed up in lacy dresses and mini suits. They danced, sang and participated in a skit put on by a couple of their caretakers. It was a great treat. Our regular visit with Polly began after the show was over.

Tonight we dined in our room for a change and watched a movie. Our dinner included fresh bread, cheese, summer style sausage, pickles, olives, grapes and marinated cherry tomatoes. Our plates resembled something we’d put together for a sunset picnic at the beach…cold bottles of our favorite brew included.

Day 19 (Wednesday, February 21st)

Not sure if it was the marinated cherry tomatoes or something else, but Brett did not get much sleep last night…he’s got a bit of a belly ache. So Laura set off to visit Polly alone while Brett rested.

Polly continues to show more of who she is with every passing day. She’s got quite a few facial expressions and mannerisms that are loaded with character! We are looking so very forward to when we all actually understand each other verbally! However, when it came time to go outside today, Little Miss Polly put up a bit of a fight. After battling to get her coat on, we finally ventured outside to what I’d hoped would be a fun “Mom and daughter” play date. I thought wrong. Today was the first day that Polly insisted I pick her up the ENTIRE time we were outside. If I even hinted to put her down she’d yell “Nyet! Nyet!” (which means no! no!) and threaten tears. With only 2 hours of bonding time a day, we want to avoid tears if at all possible. This was unfortunate because this was the first day that a caretaker approached me and encouraged me to take Polly off on my own, away from the other children, and play…Polly just wasn’t interested in anything other than being held off the ground.
Once I returned to the hotel, Brett was still not feeling quite up to par and I, like any other day, had no interest in hanging around the hotel room. So what did I do you ask?! I rounded up our coordinator and the American mom from up the hall and the three of us wandered over to the out door market to shop, what else! Three women with money burning holes in their pockets…needless to say, we had a good time.

By dinner time, Brett was feeling better so we walked to “the Russian pub” for a bite to eat and came home to watch another movie.

After careful consideration, Brett and I decided today that I would return home with him following our final court date (which we hope is no later than the end of next week). The original plan was for me to stay and continue the bonding process until it was time to bring Polly home to the US. This was when we’d thought I’d be alone in Kazakhstan no more than one month. Together we agreed that anything longer than that would be too difficult for me, Luke and Polly, really, because my sanity would be in jeopardy any longer than that. So, the new plan is to go home and return to Kostanai Kazakhstan once Polly’s new birth certificate is issued and her passport and visa are ready to be processed. When I return, I will likely spend a full week here before taking her out of the baby home to re-establish our bond and her trust in me before taking her away forever. Polly’s 3rd birthday is March 26th so my hope is to be able to return to celebrate her 3rd birthday with her and her group peers before she says goodbye.