Our Last Day with Anna

Well, here we are on our last night of our first trip. Can't believe the week is over already, but then again it's been soooo long. (Did that just make sense?) Our flight is leaving at 6:00 am. We're going to fly first to Frankfurt, then to San Fransisco, then home. Not looking forward to a full day of traveling. But I can't wait to see the kids and come back to the good 'ol USA, where buildings are free of smoke, strangers will smile at you and riding in a car isn't a harrowing experience. Not that EE isn't wonderful. We just have it soooo good. I told Jeremy last night, I didn't realize how rich we are. By American standards, we are just like most families, but man, we have it so, so good. I am so thankful for my home land this Thanksgiving!

We scheduled two visits today so we could soak in all of our little Anna that we possibly could before we leave. For both visits, they had us go into the little therapy room. It doesn't really matter which room we are in because she is content to color for most of the time.  She's so funny.  She scribbles all over one page, then she wants a new one.  So she puts that one aside, grabs another one and starts going.  I think we've gone through a hundred sheets of paper and an entire coloring book this week.  She is also ambidextrous.  She uses one hand, then she switches and uses the other one.  Is that a DS trait?  Someone tell me if you know. I'm curious.

We had fun with this little velcro shape board for a while.  She's very particular about how we do these kinds of activities. If she doesn't like where you're putting something, she says "nyet!" or whines.  I think she's used to getting her way with her caregivers.  They all talk like she's got them wrapped around her finger.

 

In the afternoon, we braved the Subway system again so we could go find the kids some treasures at the flea market in the Nevsky Prospect area of town.  It was so cold and wet, my toes and fingers were frozen.  So I whined the whole time and made it miserable for Jeremy. :)  We had to walk all the way down the sidewalk that is behind him and around that big church at the end to get to the flea market.  What we do for our children.  Geez. :)

The Church of the Spilt Blood

After our adventure in the cold city, we went back to the hotel room and I slept for two hours...making up for my four hours of sleep last night.  After that, I felt all refreshed and ready to see Anna for the last time.
We had a great hour with her and just tried to soak in every little detail we could about her.  Her smile, her mannerisms, the way she waves her hand back and forth when she says "nyet," the way she uses the back of her chubby little hand to brush the hair out of her face or pushes her sleeves up, etc. etc.  We know she doesn't really have a concept of time, so we didn't tell her we were coming back in a few months or anything.  She wouldn't have understood that, even if it was explained in Russian.  We just hope she recognizes us when we see her again, and that she remembers how she felt when she was loved by us this week.  We think she will.  Her caregivers really have their hands full.  I don't think she's ever experienced this kind of one-on-one attention.

After taking her back to her groupa, I pulled a little girl named Angelina out of the room and took some pictures of her.  She's listed on Reece's Rainbow and her picture is...not a good one.  That was on my to-do list for this week: Get a good picture of Angelina.  OK, so it's a little bit blurry.  But if you compare it to the one that's on the site, it's pretty darn cute, if you ask me. Go here and scroll down to Angelina to see her profile.  I hope her family will find her before she's transferred to an institution.  She deserves the love of a family so much.  I was sad to learn that her best friend, Elizabeth has already been transferred. 
Elena described to us today what happens when these special kids go to the institutions, usually at age 5.  It's not a good place like the orphanage. They are pretty much written off as having any hope for adoption, and no money or time is spent on giving them a good life.  No classes or stimulating activities.  Not as many caregivers to provide them with the basics.  Just a very dull life.  If or when they turn 18, they are transferred to an adult institution for the rest of their life. Yuck.  No child deserves this.  The thoughts of our little Anna living out her life in one of these horrible places literally makes me sick to my stomach.  She was sent to this earth to share her light with others and change them for the better.  That is her purpose.  We just learned that her mother was single and had no means of taking care of a child with special needs in this country, so she did the only thing she could do.  Now Anna will be able to change lives, the way she was intended to. We thank our Father in Heaven every day that we found her and that we have the opportunity to witness this. Man, are we ever blessed.

This was our last view of Anna as we left her in her room tonight.  All the kids were going crazy, coming over to us, trying to hug us.  We were able to hug a few of them before their caregiver re-established order.  Anna just sat in her little chair, looking at the video, totally un-phased by all the commotion.  She had already had her fill of affection that day.  She was good.  (Gretchen: Ian was behind the lady's arm.  Sorry I didn't get him in the shot.)

Goodbye, sweet pumpkin.  We love you more than tongue can tell.  See you real soon, all right?