Wednesday Update

We are in Moscow now after a very difficult train ride of 8 hours. The children hardly slept and were very excitedly playing in the little sleeper compartment for most of the night. Then, as Kayla mentioned, we got a very unhappy cell phone call home about the unexpected death of my cousin and my mother's niece, Emmie. It appears we will not be able to get home earlier, but we have done everything we need to here until tomorrow's visit to the US Embassy.

Today, the doctor was waiting to examine the children when we arrived at the hotel at 7 AM! And, then Momma had to entertain them in this fancy hotel lobby for about another hour and a half by herself while I completed the embassy paperwork. We heard joyful laughter throughout the morning. We had naps (well, everyone except Daniel) since sleep was not a part of our train journey for the most part. Then, we went to KFC - please don't think that it is the same menu as in the States in case you visit. We thought that we would get biscuits and mashed potatoes and gravy, but all they had were the standard chicken (no English menu's and no way to point!) and the children didn't like it much at all. We came back and checked out the pool. Fortunately, I'd bought some blow up rings for the pool because the minimum depth was 6' or so - Momma and Bobushka had to work a lot! Maria never left the ladder, but she absolutely loved it. Daniel was all over and appears nearly ready to swim on his own with a few lessons! He's quite strong and loves it.

We figured they would enjoy the pool after our last evening at Kursk. We had a Jacuzzi tub and I went and turned on the water in it (never made it to the jet level). Maria heard it and came running in the bathroom stripping as she came. It took him at least 2 seconds to take his clothes off to join her when Maria called him. I promise you have never seen two children have so much fun in a bathtub. Of course, it took two adults to supervise and we were praying we didn't need an ER visit on the way to the train station.

The children are sleeping peacefully now - and have been for a few hours. We may even try for all night if they keep at it like this. They need the sleep with all of the adjustments they've had.

We get to come home on Saturday night and we are looking forward to "real life" with them - the kind with rules, consequences, fun, love, and all of that stuff.