This is the continuation of my travel journal of our adoption of Dinara and Noah from Kazakhstan in 2001. Dinara was 2 1/2 and Noah was 7 months. If you are new to my blog, please check the JULY ARCHIVES and start reading with post titled *Detained in Moscow. Posts that start with an * are adoption journal posts. I hope you enjoy the story. I’ll be striving to share a bit of the story each day.

Ok so in my post yesterday, I forgot to mention when we drove up for our afternoon visit, there was a van with a large slaughtered animal in the back. We think it was a horse. It had huge ribs. They were “cutting it up” with an axe. It made quite an impression. We later learned that it was for the celebration today. What I thought was Kaz independence day. I t’s not.. it’s “woman’s day”. Like our Mother’s day. Lots of women walking around today with flowers.

We also went to two banks today to cash those travelers checks into US dollars. We learned there that there is a holiday until Sunday. That is why court is open on Sunday. They are working a “long week” so they can have the next few days off. The bank told us this. I am assuming it’s the Muslim holiday that my aunt Mary explained in her post.

It was a so so day with Dinara. We made some more progress today. Its just never going to be a scene from Little House on the Prairie, where she runs through a field of flowers yelling mamma and papa. In the morning, we took her new red shoes. She liked them. And I bought her barrettes with little flowers on them. She REALLY liked this. We’d get a smile when we’d say “A-dee-emma Dinara” (Beautiful Dinara)

She sat on my lap and cried today. This is progress…usually she doesn’t want to be with me at all. She finally quieted down a bit and we tried to transfer her to John and she wanted to stay with me. Mostly, she wants to stay with whoever she was with last. Change is avoided at all costs.

Our morning visit was shortened because we got to watch some of the “production” put on by the kids for the day’s celebration. Some of these kids are so cute!! If anyone out there is anyone thinking about adoption… (and isn’t scared to death after reading our trials and tribulations) there are some incredibly adorable kids here! John and I are both glad we are not approved for three kids. We’d come home with another for sure.

The big news with Noah is that he likes the MAM brand pacifier. He was quite taken with it. Sucking away at it. Poor guy is drooling up a storm… and he’s still very congested. In other Noah news…we snuck him some Banana. (They don’t want you to feed the babies here) He loved it. I wish they would let me feed him sometimes. He continues to amaze us with his smiles and laughs.

I am feeling better today. John and I decided to “experience a bit more of the culture” and splurged on some pastries. They are WONDERFUL here. The bread is the best bread I’ve ever had. It’s really a treat.

Our afternoon visit with Dinara was ok. She was very withdrawn but didn’t cry much. We mostly just held her and cuddled her. The only time we got much of a response was when the translator asked her if she wanted Mamma to put the barrettes in her hair. She did. She also ate a TON of fruit. We view this as a good sign. She ate Nectarine, Banana, and Orange. She ate so much we are worried she might get a tummy ache. We also went on a walk with her. She was very “anti-mommy” today… maybe leftover angst from this morning’s traumas? Anyway… its not bothering me much anymore. I am now positive that when we get her home, she will be fine. She has gone through incredible changes lately. She was moved from Baby House #2 six months ago, she was in isolation for a respitory infection several weeks ago and now us. This little girl has been through a lot.

I know that once she is home and has security and structure….everything will be fine.

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