They are HOME!!!!!!

The girls got here Saturday morning. They have really grown over the last month and a half. Leeza is up to 24 months and Sasha is wearing 18 months, but will soon be wearing 24! Sasha especially has put on a lot of weight. They both have little tummys now. Everything is going well except we are still trying to get over jet lag and the time change so sleep is difficult.

This is the girls at the airport. Look how big Sasha has gotten. She is almost as big as Leeza!

Leeza and the doll that Nadia got her. The poor doll arms fell off in the week they had them, but they are another memory from Kaz.

Sasha, as always, was very cautious, but she is opening up now.

They fell asleep after about 5 minutes in the car and slept for the whole 4 hours drive. Probably one of the many reasons they were both awake at 1am and ready for the day to start. I'm hoping for a better night tonight.

Almaty

I got an email from the escorts today. They are all in Almaty and have been to the SOS clinic. The trip to Shymkent went fairly well. I guess there were some tears. Sasha doesn't look too happy to be on the plane. I expect a lot of those tears were from Sasha.
Sasha on the plane with Ashley(one of the escorts) headed to Almaty!

Leeza waiting in the airport. She looks like she is enjoying all the flights as much as I did- I couldn't wait for the flights to be over with either.

Sasha does not apppear happy to have to go to the doctor in Almaty.

Their outing to the park in Almaty. Sasha really looks like she has gone through a growth spurt in these pictures and is almost as big as Leeza is.

The girls in their pink outfits.

Leeza after her bath and in need of a haircut! She appears to love her new doll. I hear they are going on a picnic tomorrow. Lots of new experiences for them in this trip.

Just a few days left before they are home. I can't wait until Saturday!

Shymkent

I got an email that the coordinators made it to Shymkent today. I don't know if they got the girls today or will pick them up in the morning(which is actually right about now when I add the time difference in), but in either case, the girls have probably left the baby house and have started their long journey home. They are still on track to arrive Saturday morning!

Happy 2nd Birthday Sasha!

I had hoped that I would be able to spend Sasha's 2nd birthday with her, but passport delays prevented that. I got a small cake for her and Frosty and I had a party for her anyway. We have many occassions to celebrate in the coming years so I will make sure each one of those is special to make up for the ones we have missed together.

On the positive sign, the escorts left this afternoon and are on their way to Frankfort right now. Sometime Sunday morning, they should arrive in Shymkent. Monday morning they should pick Leeza and Sasha up from the baby house and catch the morning flight to Almaty. After going through the process there, they will arrive at Ohare at 10:33 am Saturday morning! One more week to go!

On Schedule-so far!

The escorts are scheduled to leave for Kaz on Friday. They should get to Shymkent on Sunday and pick the girls up Monday morning and head back to Almaty. So far so good. I should be meeting the girls at 10:33 am Saturday the 24th. Ok, that is when their plane lands so it will probably be a while after that before they actually get through customs etc.

2 weeks to go- I hope!

2 weeks until this journey is finally over and the truely exciting one begins. I am hoping for an update on the timeline early next week, but information seems scarce right now. It still seems like the escorts will leave on the 16th and return on the 24th.
I am painting the playroom this weekend. The color is Poetic Princess- or most people would call it light purple. I'll post some pictures when it is done. I am also trying to figure out how to install the car seats. Lots of latches and belts and clips to connect. I have to guess where to set the harness straps as I don't have the girls here to try the seats on for size. I hope I guess right because I don't want to have to be adjusting them in the middle of the O'hare airport parking lot.

waitingwaitingwaitingwaitingwaitingwaitingwaiting

I got the call today to tell me when to schedule the flights for the girls to come home. I guess there was a delay with one of their passports and now they are not scheduled to come home until the 24th! Yesterday, I was worried that they would come home early and I needed to rush to get things ready, now I have an extra week and I am unhappy that I have to wait even longer. I guess I should look at the bright side and say at least I have a date now, but I will miss being with Sasha for her 2nd birthday by a week. I know she won't care, but I do.