Val took Carl, Danil and me out today to do some toy shopping for Danil for the plane ride home. I asked him to take us to a toy store and oh my, what a toy store he took us to. It was like a toy store in some movie - a toy store that doesn't really exist. It was decked out with the window displays - the kind that they used to have at Christmas in the center of shopping malls. Animated figures, miniature houses, trees, fences....The whole place was unbelievable. There was a person for each department (each age group) and that person walked around with you and helped you select the right toy. There were rocking horses as beautiful and detailed as carousel horses. There were Oscar de La Renta strollers - almost $3000. There was an animal house with little movng animals inside and outside, each doing something different - a monkey sawing wood, a bear working on a clock, etc. Danil loved it and it was a mere $20,000. There were SO many cute things! But all we wanted were a few small surprises to occupy Danil on the plane and we found them! I just wish I had 3 days to spend in there but Val rushed me in and out in 30 minutes. I think Carl conspired with him ahead of time! :)
Well, then we went to a couple places looking for Dad a hat. We think we found a good one - hope he doesn't mind that it's Austrian!!! It's what everyone is wearing here in Russia!
Next it was off to the Russian Consulate to pick up more paperwork and then back to the hotel.
Poor Danil, every time he went to sleep today we would stop the car and go in some place different. He never got a full nap today and bless his HEART, it was ROUGH on him. Carl and I cannot even imagine how difficult the next transition to Texas is going to be for him. Then surgery in November. Then visiting our families at Christmas. I just hope we are not putting too much on him. From all that we have read and all that we have been told, what he needs more than anything in TX is a ROUTINE and a calm, peaceful environment. We can definitely give him that. I just hope these disruptions aren't too much. We'll just have to see how he does when we get back from surgery.
All that being said, this is our last night in Moscow. I liked Moscow much better once we had Danil with us. I enjoyed people watching more than anything. I got a lot of chances to do that with all the time I spent pushing Danil in the stroller in the hotel lobby. Carl and I have had some precious moments with our new son - we are smitten. We are tired. We are so hoping we know what we are doing. I told Carl I may be on the internet every night trying to find the answer to some new parenting question I have - like I've been doing every night here!
We called Singapore Airlines today to try to get bulkhead seats. The guy on the phone said, "You need to do that online." I told him that we tried to do that online but ALL the seats are blocked off and we couldn't reserve them. He told us to go back to the website and try again. We tried again. Same problem. We couldn't choose bulkhead seats - they were blocked out. He said, "Well, I guess you are just going to have to wait and talk to the folks at the ticket counter tomorrow. Maybe they can work something out for you." I said, "Sir, we have a 2 year old little boy who is NOT going to be happy if he has to sit confined in a normal row of seats. And I can guarantee you that your entire plane of passengers will NOT be happy if he has to sit confined the entire trip. In fact, if you like, I can give you a sample of what it is going to sound like on that plane if you want." And at that precise moment Danil let out a few of his cranky "not-had-a-nap-today" noises. The man said, "Okay maam, just one moment and I'll see what I can do." He came back on the line if a few seconds and said he thought he had it handled for us. Couldn't have scripted it better if I had tried...
Please pray for our safe travels back to the U.S. - and pray that we can keep our nerves calm for the 11 hour flight back to Houston, the four hour layover and the 1 hour back to Dallas...
And thank you so much for all the petitions you've made to God on our behalf....
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It's so hard not to second guess ourselves as parents and there will probably be many more times in the future that you may be wondering if you are doing all of the right things. You are motivated by love and I know you will figure it out as you go along. Look at what all you have conquered thus far! I hope your flight is smooth. Maybe you will be able to sing him to sleep in your arms for part of the flight home. We will continue to cover you with our prayers! Happy Homecoming!!
ReplyDeleteLove,
Shannon
Can't wait to see you guys! We will be @ DFW ready to get you!
ReplyDeleteBe safe!
Paola
You surely will be in my prayers! Even as special as the time there has been, I know you will be glad to be back home. I'm praying that the flight, layover, etc. back will go well. Welcome home!!
ReplyDeleteLove..........Cean
Maybe by the time you get this message, you'll be home. We've been praying and praying and asking everyone we know to do the same! We love y'all!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePaul is blessed beyond belief to have two loving Christian parents who are so concerned with doing what's best for him. And, it's obvious in your writing that you've been blessed with a joy like no other--the joy a child gives his parents. We hope your trip back is safe and smooth! May you settle into routine quickly once you arrive home. Can't wait to hear of more adventures! (Had a typo before--had to delete and start over)
ReplyDeleteAbbie and Elizabeth have been praying earnestly for you to get your baby for months, and were squeeling with joy when I told them that you had him. They seem to think that God answered their specific prayers....I tend to agree with them. :0)
ReplyDeleteI hope that you all do well on that 11 hour flight. We can't wait to see all of you!
Much love,
Celena