Well today was our best day in close to a week, we did'nt run all over the country side. We went and got Madison at 11:00am and went to lunch, did a little shopping (The girl loves to read) bought her lots of books. Came back to the apartment and settled down for a movie and just relaxed all afternoon. We worked on flashcards and english. We got out all her new clothes we brought and she took all the tags off and folded them and put them away. She is very meticules about her stuff (which I Love). She watched Mama Mia and loved it, she likes to dance so it really captivated her.Donna and her did the girl things like fingernails and played with their hair and all the stuff girls do. She had to be back at six and thats no fun but we asked about tommorow already, so we have something to look forward to. The weather here is getting hotter by the day, it is going to be in the mid to upper nineties by saturday. If we can get Madison out for a longer day I think we are going to try the beach in Yalta, the beaches there are supposed to be great. We are finally in the stages of things were all you do is wait, which I,m not complaining.
We should know our court date very soon. I have a few new pictures I will post at the bottom of the blog.
Love
Jeff & Donna
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Wednesday July 22nd ...On the road again
Hi,
We started this morning like every other we head down to the market because Jeff has found this thing he likes for breakfast so as a creature of habit he wants it everyday. We got there this morning and guess what....they didnt have it so he had to try something different...he was reluctant and tried his best to point to the picture to find out why it wasnt there this morning but the girl just stared at us so he decided on the new one. LOL...We also bought the sandals for the boy. Jeff is excited to give them to him...We had to get back to the apartment to be picked up by our facilitator and our driver ( Jeff Gordan). We named him that for his unique driving skills....we headed to the notary to have some papers completed there and then off to the country again to try to get what we needed from the school and the HELPFUL man. The drive is beautiful and we got to take pics of this awesome site called BIG CLIFF. We stopped because Jeff Gordan was driving at the speed of light and we hit a bump and our heads almost hit the roof of the car ( good shocks or bad roads) and we heard this pop and we broke a spring in the passenger rear wheel..That made the ride much better LOL. Anyway we made it there at 1155 and we didnt leave until 530. It is a long day just waiting for everyone to do what needs to be done. We headed back to the orphanage and when we got there Madison was at the hospital already. She spends her time reading. She completed the book and started another one. I asked her if she ate today and she responded "DAH" (yes). I asked her if she wanted me to take her new outfit and wash it for her and she said she already washed it herself. That impressed Jeff. We told her we would be there tomorrow early and maybe we could bring her back to the apartment she said ok. She also said bye mom and papa in English. It is supposed to get very hot the next few days...we are not looking forward to that but thats life. We had the driver drop us off at the supermarket and we bought some eggplant and squash and came home and made a little dish we were served the other night and it was delicious. Then started watch a movie...ofcourse we fell asleep but the good thing is these movies will last us forever because it takes us 3 days to get through 1. The phone rang at 315 and it was Zach he just wanted to tell us about his day so that is why I am up at this time of the morning...they havent gotten used to the difference in time zones....the disadvantage is as thier mother I answer when they call me thinking something could be wrong...when I call them early...they ignore me...ha....so I am going to try to lay back down before the sun comes up.
Love
Jeff and Donna
We started this morning like every other we head down to the market because Jeff has found this thing he likes for breakfast so as a creature of habit he wants it everyday. We got there this morning and guess what....they didnt have it so he had to try something different...he was reluctant and tried his best to point to the picture to find out why it wasnt there this morning but the girl just stared at us so he decided on the new one. LOL...We also bought the sandals for the boy. Jeff is excited to give them to him...We had to get back to the apartment to be picked up by our facilitator and our driver ( Jeff Gordan). We named him that for his unique driving skills....we headed to the notary to have some papers completed there and then off to the country again to try to get what we needed from the school and the HELPFUL man. The drive is beautiful and we got to take pics of this awesome site called BIG CLIFF. We stopped because Jeff Gordan was driving at the speed of light and we hit a bump and our heads almost hit the roof of the car ( good shocks or bad roads) and we heard this pop and we broke a spring in the passenger rear wheel..That made the ride much better LOL. Anyway we made it there at 1155 and we didnt leave until 530. It is a long day just waiting for everyone to do what needs to be done. We headed back to the orphanage and when we got there Madison was at the hospital already. She spends her time reading. She completed the book and started another one. I asked her if she ate today and she responded "DAH" (yes). I asked her if she wanted me to take her new outfit and wash it for her and she said she already washed it herself. That impressed Jeff. We told her we would be there tomorrow early and maybe we could bring her back to the apartment she said ok. She also said bye mom and papa in English. It is supposed to get very hot the next few days...we are not looking forward to that but thats life. We had the driver drop us off at the supermarket and we bought some eggplant and squash and came home and made a little dish we were served the other night and it was delicious. Then started watch a movie...ofcourse we fell asleep but the good thing is these movies will last us forever because it takes us 3 days to get through 1. The phone rang at 315 and it was Zach he just wanted to tell us about his day so that is why I am up at this time of the morning...they havent gotten used to the difference in time zones....the disadvantage is as thier mother I answer when they call me thinking something could be wrong...when I call them early...they ignore me...ha....so I am going to try to lay back down before the sun comes up.
Love
Jeff and Donna
Tuesday July 21, 2009 Happy bday Zach
Hi,
We started our day off bright and early. Today was hard because it is Zach's 17 bday and we have never missed one. He is ok and understands but it is hard on dad and I. We have managed to make the other 16. Our family and his brothers spent the evening with him and we left a card for him for Trevor to give him, thats the best we can do. We will celebrate when we get back. We had to go pick up Madison's sister and then head to the town she is in school in that is 100KM away. The roads here are crazy..they beat you to death or not good shocks on the cars...or both ...I really cant decide. Anyway we had to go to the inspector there and she sent us to the school and the principal there is old school and believes no one should leave the country, so he was very difficult and sent us back empty handed. So pretty much we got nothing accomplished after a whole day of trying. We didnt get back to the orphanage to see Madison until late but we were able to take her to dinner before she had to be back at 730. We make sure we are punctional so we can hopefully have her for extended period of time soon with her. When we go eat she always gets a salad of some kind and eats it all. Jeff has made friends with a little boy who broke his sunglasses and spent a hour trying to find a little screw on the ground...finally Jeff told him if he could have the glasses. I saw Jeff putting his foot up beside the boys foot and asked me what size I thought it was. So we discussed it and Jeff said he was going to buy him a pair of sandals because there were holes in the soles of the heel and ball of the foot plus his toes were hanging off the end. We left and came back to the apartment and took showers and watched a movie. We have been trying to watch the same movie for many consecutive nights but we are so exhausted from the day we just fall asleep...UNTIL the dogs start barking...they are awful...I almost stood at the window the other night at 3 am and screamed at them but then I realized they wouldnt understand me but all our neighbors would know it was me because we are the only Americans in a 100 sq mile radius. So I just put the pillow over my head and went back to sleep until 5 when the sun is up and shining in the window...ha...thats all my complaining and it dont matter what elements we have to deal with....she is worth it.
Love
Jeff and Donna
We started our day off bright and early. Today was hard because it is Zach's 17 bday and we have never missed one. He is ok and understands but it is hard on dad and I. We have managed to make the other 16. Our family and his brothers spent the evening with him and we left a card for him for Trevor to give him, thats the best we can do. We will celebrate when we get back. We had to go pick up Madison's sister and then head to the town she is in school in that is 100KM away. The roads here are crazy..they beat you to death or not good shocks on the cars...or both ...I really cant decide. Anyway we had to go to the inspector there and she sent us to the school and the principal there is old school and believes no one should leave the country, so he was very difficult and sent us back empty handed. So pretty much we got nothing accomplished after a whole day of trying. We didnt get back to the orphanage to see Madison until late but we were able to take her to dinner before she had to be back at 730. We make sure we are punctional so we can hopefully have her for extended period of time soon with her. When we go eat she always gets a salad of some kind and eats it all. Jeff has made friends with a little boy who broke his sunglasses and spent a hour trying to find a little screw on the ground...finally Jeff told him if he could have the glasses. I saw Jeff putting his foot up beside the boys foot and asked me what size I thought it was. So we discussed it and Jeff said he was going to buy him a pair of sandals because there were holes in the soles of the heel and ball of the foot plus his toes were hanging off the end. We left and came back to the apartment and took showers and watched a movie. We have been trying to watch the same movie for many consecutive nights but we are so exhausted from the day we just fall asleep...UNTIL the dogs start barking...they are awful...I almost stood at the window the other night at 3 am and screamed at them but then I realized they wouldnt understand me but all our neighbors would know it was me because we are the only Americans in a 100 sq mile radius. So I just put the pillow over my head and went back to sleep until 5 when the sun is up and shining in the window...ha...thats all my complaining and it dont matter what elements we have to deal with....she is worth it.
Love
Jeff and Donna
Monday, July 20, 2009
Monday continued
Well we have had a great day....we were picked up at the apartment and we went to see Madison...(thats real weird for us) when we got their we were allowed to take her with us till 730 so we got about 3 hours with her. We took her to eat and we have no idea what we are ordering or her but it turned out when it came out her and Jeff got the same thing...some salad with a bunch of seafood with heads on them and she ATE it all...it was cute....then we ordered ice cream and just sat outside...then we played tic tac toe....Jeff is a sap, me not so much...I have to remeber to not be so competitive....anyway that was fun..then we had work to do so we took her with us and then we brought her to the apartment to show her the goodies we brought and she picked out an outfit to wear back and I told her I would wash her clothes and we could exchange tomorrow. She was asked about what she is doing in her spare time she said she is reading a book called Blessed Saviour. She says she know much about Orthodox church but nothing about Catholic...She chooses to go to church every Sunday and enjoys it..We showed her the blog and she responded to Luda's comment and then we told her bye and she gave us huge hugs and kisses and she left a happy little girl.
Love
Jeff and Donna
Love
Jeff and Donna
From Madison ( Nina)
Hi Madison is at the apartment and she is going to say something: Luda wrote Nina a letter and she is responding....on the blog
Luda thank you for writing me the note. I am doing fine. I also hope to see you soon. I want to say my parents are very good.
Love
Madison ( Nina)
Luda thank you for writing me the note. I am doing fine. I also hope to see you soon. I want to say my parents are very good.
Love
Madison ( Nina)
Sunday July 19th
Hi,
It is so hot today...the worse yet...we were picked up by the driver and taken to the orphanage to see Nina. We got there and had about an hour and a half before she returns to have lunch. We brought a puzzle and we all laid on the blanket and worked it...she is so smart...she also told me her A B C's and 1,2,3's in English along with colors in English and the appropriate color for each one. She also picked her name...Nina Madison Dziedzic. She wants to be called Madison...so get used to it...we cant its hard...she has been our Nina for so long....she is so pretty and she is very proper and has an athletic build about her. She has a bright smile but a certain shyness about her still...she always greets us and tells us bye with a huge hug and kiss....When she left for lunch we also took a lunch break and Aloyna helped us with the menu and get on the bus to get back. Galya arrived at the train station sunburnt but pretty and her and Jeff went to the transition home as Aloyna and I waited for Nina to visit with her. When Jeff and Galya returned the caretakers said we could have Nina for 2 hours so we took them to dinner and then Galya had to be at the train station to head back to Kiev. We walked Nina back said goodbye to her and Aloyna then headed to the apartment. With still no INTERNET....but we could see a soccer game from our apartment so that wasnt to bad....
Love
Jeff and Donna
It is so hot today...the worse yet...we were picked up by the driver and taken to the orphanage to see Nina. We got there and had about an hour and a half before she returns to have lunch. We brought a puzzle and we all laid on the blanket and worked it...she is so smart...she also told me her A B C's and 1,2,3's in English along with colors in English and the appropriate color for each one. She also picked her name...Nina Madison Dziedzic. She wants to be called Madison...so get used to it...we cant its hard...she has been our Nina for so long....she is so pretty and she is very proper and has an athletic build about her. She has a bright smile but a certain shyness about her still...she always greets us and tells us bye with a huge hug and kiss....When she left for lunch we also took a lunch break and Aloyna helped us with the menu and get on the bus to get back. Galya arrived at the train station sunburnt but pretty and her and Jeff went to the transition home as Aloyna and I waited for Nina to visit with her. When Jeff and Galya returned the caretakers said we could have Nina for 2 hours so we took them to dinner and then Galya had to be at the train station to head back to Kiev. We walked Nina back said goodbye to her and Aloyna then headed to the apartment. With still no INTERNET....but we could see a soccer game from our apartment so that wasnt to bad....
Love
Jeff and Donna
Saturday July 18th
Hi,
We started our morning off at the market to pick up candy, chocolate and drinks for the kids at the orphange. They just huddle around when new people come all eager to see what you have brought. We got there and Nina passed it all out for them and then we were granted permission to take Nina for 1 1/2 hours to the park across the street. We brought a blanket and computer and sat and showed her pic's of our family and friends and dogs and cars and vacations. Then she discovered how to take pictures and she loved that. She also loves pringles...We had to have back at 12:30 and she wouldnt return to the orphanage till Sunday and we were invited by friends we have met to have dinner at their summer home. So we went...we also invited Aloyna (Nina's sister). The meal was wonderful it was traditional Ukrainan meal which consisted of all fresh veggies, meats and fellowship. It was a very relaxing evening we ate dinner under grapevines in the garden and you couldn't tell it was 90 degrees. We left and took Aloyna home and went back to the apartment and crashed as we had no INTERNET still. The internet is a vital link to our family and friends and it is no fun without it.
Love
Jeff and Donna
We started our morning off at the market to pick up candy, chocolate and drinks for the kids at the orphange. They just huddle around when new people come all eager to see what you have brought. We got there and Nina passed it all out for them and then we were granted permission to take Nina for 1 1/2 hours to the park across the street. We brought a blanket and computer and sat and showed her pic's of our family and friends and dogs and cars and vacations. Then she discovered how to take pictures and she loved that. She also loves pringles...We had to have back at 12:30 and she wouldnt return to the orphanage till Sunday and we were invited by friends we have met to have dinner at their summer home. So we went...we also invited Aloyna (Nina's sister). The meal was wonderful it was traditional Ukrainan meal which consisted of all fresh veggies, meats and fellowship. It was a very relaxing evening we ate dinner under grapevines in the garden and you couldn't tell it was 90 degrees. We left and took Aloyna home and went back to the apartment and crashed as we had no INTERNET still. The internet is a vital link to our family and friends and it is no fun without it.
Love
Jeff and Donna
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