Day 4....

We are getting into a groove now. Up at 6:30am, have my coffee, David eats his breakfast, jump on the internet to see if anyone from home has emailed us, get dressed and wait for Al and whoever the driver is for the day to come and get us.

A word of caution here, don't pay attention to when they say they will be at your apartment to pick you up. Yesterday morning Al said they would be here around 9:20 - 9:30 and then calls at 10 till 9 and says we are five minutes from your apartment. We were in a semi state of dress and had to throw the rest on and run. That evening she tells us that it will be Saturday and not much traffic so for sure they would not be here before 9:20. This morning we were at least fully dressed when the phone rang at 5 till 9 saying they were again five minites from our apartment. Ok mental note to self, Monday we will be up and dressed and downstairs at 9:00am. Watch she will call at 8:30 to say they are five minutes from the apartment...lol. I suppose I should be greatful they are early not late.

Ok on to our fourth day with our little man. Today he had a physical he is 14 months old and they gave us his measurements - weight - 7.7 kilos (16.98 lbs), length - 69 centimeters (26.9 in.), head - 47 centimeters (18.3 in.), chest 45 centimeters (17.6 in). In other words very maleenkee (small in russian). The other couples daughter is 7 months and weighs 7.6 kilos.

I told him not to worry grandma is dying to fatten him up...lol. He is beautiful as always (and yes ladies and gentlemen, he IS in the same outfit for the fourth day). Maybe Monday will bring a different outfit...one can only hope. Anyway on to the pics for today.

Daddy's hands are so big!

What other goodies did you bring me?

I love my Pooh Bear, we even dress in the same colors everyday!

You guys are wearing me out with that camera!

Day 3...

I just want to say one thing before I get to the day at the orphanage. After driving to the orphanage for the last 3 days I can honestly say I am very thankful for the emissions testing in the US. By the time we get to the orphanage and back the fumes and carbon dioxide have our heads spinning. We could pass out from them.

Ok on to our day with William. He was wonderful as always. I have yet to hear him cry. He played with everything for about an hour and then started to rub his eyes and they were closing. I picked him up and rocked him and he was fast asleep. I can't believe he just let me hold him and fell asleep so easy. And whoever had bets on it being the same outfit wins...yes the same lovely red sweat suit and yellow duck footed pj's.....David is going to ask if we can buy them so we can burn them lol. Here are you pics of the day. Ok never mind...I have been trying to upload the pics for a half an hour....I give up. I will try again later. Talk to everyone later. Love you and miss you all. GO LAUREN!!!

Ok I think it is working now. Here he is!

Is this not the most precious angel you ever saw...(and no I am not talking about David..lol)

Day 2...

Today started off like yesterday. Picked up at 10:00am and off to the orphanage. The orphanage is an hour and half away from Almaty through some very small villages.
The roads get smaller and smaller and the ride is pretty bumpy the closer we get. The orphanage itself sits in pretty much the middle of nowhere. We had S as the driver today who is very nice but older and drives slower so the ride seemed a little longer.

Riding in a car in Almaty is an adventure in itself. David and I and the other couple keep wondering why the waste the paint to put the lines on the road as no one pays any attention to them. You just sort of squeeze in and make a lane where ever you want. The other thing that is cracking us up is that if you own a car, you too can be a taxi driver. People stand halfway in the road with there hand stuck out (kinda like a hitch hiker except without the thumb sticking out) a car pulls over and you tell them where you are going and how much you will pay and they either say ok and off you go or no and you wait for the next car to stop. Could you imagine anyone being trusting enough to do this in the US?

Anyway on to the orphanage pictures of the day, William's rash seemed milder today. We tried to judge the size of his feet although with all the clothes they put on him it is hard to tell. He was as sweet as ever and very curious. David picked him up and he, umm let's see the polite way to say this, passed gas on him...lol. Ok yep he is a Latham, let it rip where ever. Today he smiled really big and we could see his teeth, all four of them. He is constantly nawing on everything he gets his hands on so I am thinking more are coming.

Ok, I know you are wondering and yes this is the same outfit from yesterday with the addition of a pair of socks to cover the big duck feet. Wonder what he will have on tomorrow...lol. Talk to you all later, the internet is not to good tonight so this is all I can do. Take care back home we miss everyone.

Introducing....

The newest Latham addition... WilliamAnd no cracks about the donald duck looking feet Michelle. He is absolutely gorgeous (but then I may be just a bit biased). We took so many toys with us the poor thing didn't know what to play with. David and I purchased a ton of things, but what do you think was his favorite?

The one his Aunt Leah bought him of course. He wouldn't put it down after he got it. Go figure. That and the Winnie the Pooh teether we bought him he tried to eat. That's ok he initated it with his slobber...lol.

Well we are off for now. We get to go see him again tomorrow for 2 hours so will post more pics so you all can get tired of seeing him (too bad). Talk to everyone later.

Shopping...

A came by around 10:00 am to get us to go to the "Green Market" the most famous of shopping in Almaty according to A. We stopped and picked up the LMI couple that arrived at 1:00 am and off we went. It is like a giant indoor/outdoor flea market, complete with lots of vegetables and meat. The meat is just laying out on tables for you to choose from (huge chunks of it I might add). There was even the famous horse meat. A says she understands why I am turned off at the thought of horse meat, we think of them as pets, like she her cat. Ok sort of yes. I told her we ride horses in Texas we don't eat them...lol. Here is the outside of the famous Green Market



After this adventure we went to the grocery store again with the new couple and bought our supplies for the week and their first supplies. They are a very nice couple, we are going to the same orphanage tomorrow so maybe that will make the hour and a half drive not seem so long. Here is our wonderful supermarket....

Actually the "supermarket" part is in the basement, the rest of the building is made up of little shops, kind of like our mini malls. This is where we get the cheaper nursat cards.

Today was Kazakhstan's Republic Day and in honor of this they had a festival and fireworks today. David and I walked about a mile and a half (one way) to see the festivities. I will post pictures tomorrow.

Well, tomorrow is the big day (actually today since it is 12:15) so we better get ourselves to bed. David says hi everyone. Talk to everyone later.

Guess What...

We ventured out on our own today!! We walked down a few blocks from our apartment and found a little out door flea market type place. For you San Antonians think of Bussy(sp?) Flea Market. Did you know that point and nod is a universal language?? We made our first purchase all by ourselves. I just pointed at what we wanted and David handed over the Tenge for it (this is what marriage is all about, I buy and he pays lol).

This gave us the courage to go across the street from our apartment later to the 24 hour restaurant/outdoor food stand/disco David has been dying to try since we arrived. We went up to the outdoor counter and pointed at what I think was a leg of lamb (this is what David says anyway) and held up two fingers (by the way two in Russian is dva, as said by the waiter behind the counter). And low and behold he made two little things that look like burritos if you ask me, and then held up the ketchup and maynaise and pointed to them and then the sandwiches (burritos) and we shook our heads yes....I said da (I learned a little of Russian before we came here...lol). So don't be afraid to venture out on your own when you are here in Almaty. Everyone has been so nice and patient with us (of course when we walk away they are probably saying goofy americans...but we don't understand so it's ok..lol).

We are having a blast so far. A called and said she is taking us and another LMI couple that is arriving tonight to the Green Market tomorrow. I can't wait! Talk to everyone later. Hope everyone is doing great. Go get them at State this weekend Lauren we will be rooting for you from over here.

We're Here....

We made it! We left on Thursday, 10-21 3:51 pm and arrived in Almaty on Sunday 10-23 5:35 am. We went through London and stayed with some friends (Hi Chris and Michael...We had a great time!). It was a great flight to London. The flight to Almaty was interesting, a little bumpy and a 45 minute stop in Ekatterinburg, Russia to refuel. I can not say enough good things about British Airways, their flight crew was so wonderful and helpful.

M, A and another person (I can't quite make out her name when they say it) met us at the airport along with our driver (again whose name I couldn't understand). They are all so sweet and were so worried about us resting before we did anything else. We asked if we could stop and get something drink before we came to the apartment. This was interesting. The building was completely dark and A said she would go inside and see if they were open so we could get something to drink and for our breakfast. They were open...lol. Very different from our stores, if it is dark, it is closed.

Our apartment is unbelievable! It is so beautiful and spacious. We slept until about 11:30 and then A called to see if we wanted to go grocery shopping. Sure! This was fun and different. They had something we just had to buy! We come all the way to Almaty and find this...

We're HOME!! lol For anyone worried about buying groceries here in Almaty, don't! There is so much that is just like home. Well I am off of here for now (have to save my nursat minutes until I can buy another card). Tomorrow and Tuesday is a holiday here so we will not get to go to the orphanage until Wednesday. Talk to everyone later.

P.S. Chris if you are reading this, David said email the pictures already lol.

Last Minute Stuff...

Ok, sorry about no post yesterday but we have been running around doing last minute things.

The FBI documents arrived yesterday. David drove to Austin to get them apostilled, so we are off!! Can you believe it? We leave today! We are excited, happy and scared all at the same time..lol.

We may not be able to log on for a couple of days so the next post I do may be from Almaty! We want to thank everyone for there wonderful support and prayers. Sometimes without you all we would be lost.

The FBI is wonderful...

I think we will have our FBI clearances tomorrow!! I have been checking the FedEx site all day to see if the return label had been scanned yet. It was scanned at 5:38pm to return to us tomorrow!!! OMG I can't believe it. If everything is there we are on our way to Kazakhstan on Thursday. Of course we need to run to Austin on Wednesday to get the apostilles but that should not be a problem.

Ok, now I am spasing for other reasons. We need to get ready, we need to pack, we need to get to the bank.....OK I need to breath! It is finally here! We are going to meet our child. We are going to be called those precious words we have waited so long to hear...mommy and daddy (eventually...lol). We are going to have to learn all the parenting skills we still lack. I figure as long as I don't drop him we'll be fine.

Weekend Running..

David's family is feeding us to no end, afraid we will waste away to nothing in Kazakhstan. My SIL and MIL and I went on a 3.2 mile walk for Juvenile Diabetes on Saturday. It was a beautiful day. They had a record turn out. Then we went to eat Chinese at our favorite restaurant with David's Mom and Dad and niece and nephew.

Sunday we went out to breakfast with the whole family (notice the theme here?). Then we went shopping for bottles and diapers and nipples (fun stuff). Did you know there are a bazillion kinds of nipples? My SIL and I were talking about bottles one day and she mentioned I need to get different kinds of nipples and I said I thought they were all the same, a nipple was a nipple, needless to say she starting laughing. Then I was told NOT to go shopping for bottles without her. Who knew they come in slow flow, medium flow, fast flow, round ones, flat looking ones, toddler ones infant ones...sheesh! We have a lot to learn about this parenting thing!

No news is good news, Right?

I spent the morning checking my email waiting for the notice that the precious FedEx package had arrived safely at its destination. Finally, at 9:35am the email came through, the package was received at the FBI in W.V. One step down.

I called David and let him know it had arrived, so he could call the woman he spoke to yesterday (since she seemed to like him I thought it would be best for him to call). He told her the package was there and she told him she would go right away and get it and start it through the process. David ask her to call him if there was anything wrong with the prints or if she thought there might be a problem getting them through. No Phone Call!! He called a couple of more times only to get voice mail. Did I mention she said she was off on Monday? Ok I am back to spasing out. But yesterday, David said she did ask someone else in the office to be on the look out for our paperwork if it did get completed on Monday and get it out to us. So, do we assume that no news is good news?

On a good note, we did receive our passports back today with our visas in them. Very pretty I might add. So I am taking this as a sign that we ARE going to have the precious finger prints back in time to get them apostilled and on the plane on Thursday! (wishful, prayerful thought on my part)

The FBI may have a heart after all...

Well, today has been adventurous anyway. Up at 6:00 am (not that we slept much anyway), drove to our SAPD in downtown (which opens at 8:00am, we were taking no chances of not being the first in line apparently) to be finger printed yet again. Ok, we have our finger print cards. Now the fun begins!

I got back to my office and spent the morning getting the letters requesting the clearance reports written, along with a very pleading, a few tears on the paper, letter begging them to PLEASE process them and return them to us by next Wednesday at the latest. Then I got the number for the office and called them, pleading our case that our plane was taking off next Thursday, I cried, they didn't seem impressed. (Notice, not much work is getting done at this point by me)

David called them also, the woman he spoke to was all friendly and wonderful and told him if she had them in her hands tomorrow she would personally walk them through the process. She is apparently off on Monday, but she went so far as to ask another person in the office if they would be on the look out for the reports and get them back to us next week!!! OMG there may be hope still! They are in the hands of FedEx (if they lose them they are toast) with BIG bold wording to be delivered to her asap!!

If she can do this, we will owe her eternally! She has a permanent place in San Antonio to visit and stay, with everything paid for!! If you are praying people who are reading this, we could REALLY use them right now.

Nothing is perfect....

We thought we were so blessed, our paperwork flew through all the processes and steps (except the I171H). Everything was going so smoothly, perhaps too smoothly. We should have known something was going to happen, just didn't expect such a big thing to happen.

Apparently, Kazakhstan changes at a moments notice. We have our plane tickets. We were all set to fly out next Thursday and boom, they decide they now need FBI National clearance. Not that they don't already have our fingerprints from every other known source in this country. So unless by some miracle we can get fingerprinted tomorrow, send them to the FBI and beg and plead for them to get them back to us by Tuesday and we drive to Austin to get them Apostilled on Wednesday, we are NOT leaving on Thursday! UGH!

Our Time Line

2/28 I600A Sent
4/09 Home Study sent to BCIS
4/23 Both fingerprinted
5/12 Received letter from BCIS that David's fingerprints were eaten by the computer
5/13 David refingerprinted
6/09 Received letter that social worker license was "missing"
6/10 FedExed license to BCIS
6/24 Received I171H FINALLY
7/19 Dossier sent for translation
7/29 Dossier sent to NY Consulate
8/22 Dossier arrives in Kazakhstan
10/10 Letter of Invitation received requesting our presence in Kazakhstan on October 24

Time to get really nervous now!

Beautiful Cozumel (which I am missing this year)

 

Snorkling in Cozumel

Our Beginning

Married December 4, 2003. Took us awhile to find each other, but as they say all good things are worth waiting for.