Waiting Day Six

Once again Oleg did a great job of getting us to OZ in two hours. Traffic was not great and a little snow was falling but he just goes! The trip home took close to two and half hours, but who cares!?!

When we got there, we met briefly with Tyler’s doctor and got his vaccination record. We also asked him about what types of things the hospital might need for the children. He basically said not much that they get diapers donated and that they have plenty of clothes and toys. While we may not agree (who could ever have enough toys, see Jeff’s tool cabinets), we also do not want to insult anyone and give them things they do not need or want. The doctor said they can use little things like wipes, Q-tips, baby lotion and powder. We are going to stop on our way out next time and get a few boxes of stuff for them. We have been leaving behind a few toys each time and that seems to work.

They were changing Tyler into the outfit we left him in last time. We were going to change him into something new, but we know that we will use everything we have during the eight days that we have him before returning home. He will have pictures of him in everything before we leave. We once again went to the play room where we spent two hours with Tyler. He was so content to just play and explore the room. We took some more video and pictures. Tyler seems to be tiring of the flash from the camera as he is starting to squint and make ugly faces when he sees the camera.

Speaking of ugly faces, we were there when it was time to eat. The nurse came down with two bottles, one with a beef broth and one with a warm Kompot that is boiled veggies and fruit . . . a kind of broth as well. The nurse tried to feed him the beef broth and the faces that Tyler made were great. He really does not like it. The nurse made him eat some because he needs the nutrients. Eventually, she brought the cream of wheat and Maria gave that to him. As usual, he slurped it down. Jeff tried to give him some of the Kompot, but he was not that interested. He did take a few sips because he was hungry, but not enough to eat that.

He already is like many children. We have brought numerous little toys, rattles, and stuffed animals for him and today we had a small gift box for the 4 year-old that lives at the hospital. Well, Tyler had the most fun with the box. He beat on the lid and chewed on the corners.

Each visit seems better than the last. We are in the final week. Next Tuesday, we go to pick him up forever. Elena, our translator, talked to the doctor today to make sure he or whoever is at the hospital are prepared to give Tyler to us next Tuesday evening. Another great day with Tyler and one more day closer to completing our journey.

Below, is a picture of the baby hospital in Orekhovo-Zuyevo. There are two of these buildings next to each other. One is the Neo-Natal Maternity Hospital and the other the baby hopsital where Tyler was moved when he was one year old. The brown door is the one we enter and Tyler is on the second floor.

Maria and Jeff