Rewind...day 30.

I haven't blogged about my final day with the children at the sanatorium, because it still brings tears to my eyes when I think about it, but with us leaving for home tomorrow and since I can't sleep because of my absolute excitement in going home, I thought I would take advantage of this time while the apartment is quiet and the boys are asleep, finally. I mentioned in an earlier post that when the boys left the sanatorium their final day they weren't able to really say goodbye to their friends, so the next day we returned to the sanatorium. Before we took the 45 minute bus ride over to the left bank I gave each of the boys 50 grivna so they could buy a few little gifts to "present" to their friends. They bought little flashlights, a football, candy and a few packages of sunflower seeds. When we walked through the fence I could hear the children inside calling out, "Bogdan, Ruslan" and then from every open window and door boys were spilling out. They all ran to eachother and embraced one another. They each have their own little group of friends, so they would stand together and hug and talk amoungst themselves. Their friends were so grateful for their gifts. They all split the sunflower seeds by filling each of their pockets and periodically grabbing a handful and then filling their llittle mouths, the sanatorium "playground" is covered with sunflower seeds, they love their seeds. They are flavorless and I personally do not care for them, but oh how the children devour them. During our visit three nurses stood within five feet of our little group literally standing guard, they each stood there with arms folded across their chests and not a single smile amoungst them. I didn't undestand why, but it was okay...they let us spend some time with the boys and then about 30 minutes into our visit they started ushering them back into the sanatorium and this is when, as you guessed it, I lost it. Each of the boys embraced Ruslan and Bogdan and a few of them just held on for a bit longer and then they came over to where I was standing and hugged me also. My little Nicholas, who I absolutely have grown to love and adore said, " please Daniella, me America, no mommy no poppy, please". How do you respond to something like that, what do you say? I simply hugged him and told him it would okay... and I hope that one day everything will be. He then walked away. The boys said their final goodbyes and then a few of them walked us to the fence opening where David and I had left our boys so many times before, but this time they were walking out with me and yet I still had to leave some behind. The children continued to stay and wave goodbye at the fence until we went around our final corner to go home. I wish I had the words to share with you how heartbreaking that day was. Each and everytime I think of these boys I have a heavy heart. Why do they need to live like this? Why can't every child have parents that love and adore them? Why? I will never be the same person I was when I first arrived in Ukraine, my life has forever been changed.


Loves and kisses!!

The boys that walked us to the fence waving goodbye.


My most adorable Nicholas. He fell a couple of weeks ago and really skinned up his little face and hands. The green you see on his face is an antibiotic they use.

I snuck a picture of the sanatorium dining room through an open window. The tables have bread and apples for the children to eat.

The sanatorium playground. These are pavillion type structures. On one of my visits we played tag like game where instead of tagging someone with your hand you would tag them with a small soft ball. We ran around these structures, they, not me, climbed on top, to avoid being tagged. We laughed, ran and dodged the ball until we were absolutely exhausted.

More of the playground. The Ukrainians sure know how to recycle their old tires. You see them everyhwere as playgound equipment, planter boxes, benches...they sure are popular.


Bogdan's buddies. (Roseanne notice the baseball equipment, they were so excited when I told them we were leaving the ball and gloves with them. Thanks for letting me give them to the boys, you're the best!)

Ruslan's friends.

The boys showing eachother their gifts and then playing with them.

Nicholas and Vladik.

Ruslan with his friends showing them each what he brought for them. This picture was taken from quite a distance, when they realized Ruslan was back they all ran to eachother. It was the cutest thing ever.

The children.

Days 35, 36, 37 & 38...whew.

We made it. We are now in Kyiv and in our second apartment since our arrival late Thursday night. It is now 1am in the morning and the boys have finally fallen to sleep, it'll be nice to be back home and to get the boys on a consistent schedule, maybe then they will fall asleep at a "normal" time, I hope so...they are sure wearing me out.
We left Dniprodzerzhynsk Friday afternoon after we picked up the boys new passports, we then took the train back to Kyiv, which was a long six hour ride, but the boys enjoyed every minute of it. What's not to love...there was a television and food and then periodically a woman would push a grocery cart up the isle with sandwiches, drinks and candy and they loved rifling through the cart trying to find something to snack on. They absolutely loved the whole train experience. Me? Not so much, I was just glad to finally arrive. Afterwards while walking through the parking lot I fell in a hole, shocker, holes in random places in Ukraine, what? My white bag is a now lovely shade of brown, my left knee is bruised and I twisted my right ankle. Woe is me...
Friday morning we had our appointment at the American Embassy and that was quite the experience in and of itself. After a series of checks we were ushered into the embassy ahead of the 50 or so people waiting already. I felt a little guilty "butting" in line, but also grateful in that I knew the boys would never last waiting all day. Once inside I heard the most glorious sounds ever...English. I was able to eaves drop and understand every conversation going on around me, it was wonderful. After filling out a series of papers we were then told we needed to receive medical clearance for the boys so we were off and running again. The rest of the afternoon was spent getting checkups, shots, and blood work done and then we received the okay that they were healthy and had all the necessary vaccinations to travel and live in the U.S. While we were at the doctors the embassy called and we needed to return so that they could fingerprint Bogdan and we needed to be there by 3pm. Sooo, we drove back, RAN through security, RAN to the front of the line and made it just in time, whew. The woman helping us apologized profusely for not having us do the fingerprinting when we were there earlier. She had not realized that Bogdan was 14, he is just so little. In the same area of the embassy that we were in two other couples were there finishing up their adoptions as well. One couple was adopting two beautiful little girls, sisters, the mother was holding the toddler in her arms while the older sister was sitting close by. We chatted for a bit and the father of the little girls mentioned their little girl is also mistaken for being younger than she actually is, you see the toddler the mother was holding was actually 8 years old...she truly looked as if she were 2, if that. Such an amazing couple, I wish I had the time to sit and really talk with them, to listen to their story.
We went to the ballet, which was FANTASTIC. Translator Oksana called me the other day and asked if we would like to go it was going to be 20 grivna to attend, about $2.50. I didn't tell the boys, because first of all I didn't know how to explain to them what we were doing and secondly, I knew if they realized we were going to the ballet I was not going to get them out of the house. When they did finally realize what we were doing, you could probably guess, they weren't too happy, but they actually enjoyed it. It was about pirates, princesses, kidnappings and killing, what teenage boy wouldn't love that kind of action and I know they sure thought the female dancers were pretty cute too. It was a wonderful, wonderful evening. (Thanks Oksana).
We have our final appointment at the embassy tomorrow and if all goes well, WE ARE DONE!! Since being back in Kyiv and leaving Dnipro I am ready to go home now. Leaving Dnipro was difficult, leaving the children and the friendships I made. I will never be back. It reminds me of my mission...saying goodbye to people that were such a big part of your life, that you grew to love and knowing that you would never see them again...it was hard. But, I'm ready to go.

Loves and kisses!


George taking us to the train station. Notice where the white line is, now you know why I was a nervous wreck while sitting in his car and there are no seat belts as well, at least where I was sitting.



Driving down the lane leaving our apartment complex for the last time.

Our apartment building, we are the third apartment up right in the middle of the photo.

Okay, I had to do it. I had to feed the dogs one last time and we were going to go out in style, not hot dogs this time. I went and bought some hamburger, fried it up and added some yummy ham and a little bit of bread.

The dogs were grateful...they finished their meal in 2 minutes flat.

The girl on the left works at the cosmetic counter at our grocery store. My goal was to get her to say, "hello" and smile, and she finally did. I never did get the nurse at the sanatorium to do it though. Oh well, 1 out of 2 isn't bad. The man on the right is security, he stands there all day watching the cashiers and the comings and goings of the store.

The frozen food section at the grocery store.

My most favorite cashier of all, Anna. She was so helpful and kind to me each and every time I went in, which was pretty much everyday. She hugged me when I explained to her that I was leaving, I love her.

The produce department. Not very big.

The man holes in Ukraine. This one is filled with rubbish so you won't fall in.

This man hole is filled with a stump. I walked by this one and the one above every single day.

I started to take a picture of Bogdan while he was getting his blood taken, but he said, "No mama, off, " he was starting to cry and he was a little embarrassed, but then he realized it wasn't so bad and so he then wanted his picture taken, he was so proud of himself. Oh, how I love this boys ever present smile.

Ruslan getting his blood taken. He looked the whole time and was as brave as can be. I got a little weak in the knees though...

Ruslan's drawing of a race care, he really has some talent.

Bogdan's drawing of, you guessed it, Sponge Bob.

There were fireworks last night. Oksana mentioned it was in celebration of the Germans leaving Ukraine during WWII. This was taken outside our apartment window.

We went shopping down "Souvenir Road" and I told Bogdan that he could take a few photos while we were there. He actually took 68, these are just a few. Seriously Dave, this boy needs his own camera.

Inside the theatre where we attended the ballet. It was simply beautiful inside.

Tanslator Oksana, my dear, dear friend and the boys.