Has it been three years??

We just celebrated Josh's 4th birthday on Sunday. While we were preparing for the party I was thinking back to three years ago when Chris and I were in St. Petersburg and Lomonosov to meet the boys for the first time. We had been prepared with information from a physician who specializes in International Adoption when we went to Russia. We were told that the orphanage they were in was the former summer home of a Soviet Navy captain. You could see that the place was once really nice, huge rooms with beautiful oriental carpets. But by the time we were there in July 2004 it was literally falling apart, walls outside propped up so they wouldn't fall apart. The boys were brought to us in what was used as a music room a big room with a piano lined with mirrors and little chairs for the kids. We played with them for a few hours - hoping to hear Dima speak since the doctor indicated that we should keep an eye out for that. Near the end of our visit we did hear him whisper to some stuffed animals we brought along. Josh kept trying to crawl to the door to get out of the room and while he was sitting with me he actually spoke to me. I said "hallo" and he echoed me right back.

It's amazing to me how fast the time has flown. Things changed for me over night when we came back with two kids and I wasn't working any more but devoting my time to them. But that's nothing compared to how things changed for the boys. They both were totally uprooted from everything they had known up to that point including language and any familiar faces.

Right now Josh is sitting here over breakfast talking about his new birthday toys and how both he and Dima got Spiderman stuff for their birthdays. They're also looking at the blow up waterslide we have here from the party and they keep asking how soon we can blow it up again. I wanted to use it again before we have to give it back but it was chilly yesterday. If it's warmer this afternoon we'll blow it up cause I want to go on it too!!

Later today I'm taking a picnic to go to a playground near where Chris works to meet and social worker who will be doing our final "post-placement" report to Russia. We have to include their current height and weight and a few pictures. I wonder if anyone from the orphanage actually get to see the stuff. They'd probably remember Dima as the one who was taken out of the place kicking and screaming since he disliked cars. (Their previous experience with cars was to go to the doctor.) And Josh would be remembered as the cute, charming one who cried the loudest when he was hungry. I would like to go back sometime when the kids are older. St. Petersburg was beautiful.

Both boys are enjoying their new toys - Dima also got some books and a set of Lincoln Logs. The frustrating thing about the toys is they're all packaged to withstand a nuclear blast. Trying to undo the wires and clips that keeps the stuff in the boxes requires it's own set of instructions. A truck that Josh got actually had screws holding the thing in place! It also doesn't help that the kids want to play with the toy ASAP so they grab at the package while you're trying to get it out and figure out how to use it. I just un-did a set of motorcycles for Josh and it had all kinds of clips to hold it in place. We're heading outside now to play with his new motorcycles, new basketball game and new trash truck.