Baby Home Visits and Bad Taxi Drivers

We will be leaving for Moscow tonight, but before we do, we will visit L one last time. We are very thankful that the baby home director has allowed us to visit both Saturday and Sunday, as we have been given an extra four priceless hours of playing and bonding with L.

She is such a bright little girl. As we handed her back to her caregiver yesterday, L looked at us and started to cry a little bit. It was clear that she wanted to stay with us, and as we walked out of the room, L turned her head to follow us, and we were told that she understands what is going on.

I don't really know how to describe the strange mix of emotions that I (and Adam) am feeling. On one hand, I want to stay here and continue to visit L until we take her home. She has come a long way, developmentally, in the just three days that we have spent with her, and I don't like the thought of her losing that while we are gone. On the other hand, I want to get home so our paperwork can be completed and a court date can be set.

Oh, and I really miss Isaiah and Caleb. If there is one thing about me that you should know, it's that I am a homebody. I love to be with my family, and in my house and in my own bed. These things make everything right in my world, and when they aren't there, it's like my life is out of whack....this is especially prevalent when the bed in my hotel room is rock hard.

That being said, I am sad to leave L here, but am excited to head home. Besides, I don't think I can handle the driving here any longer. I am pretty sure that our taxi driver had a little too much vodka yesterday because he drove into a snow bank here and there, drove into oncoming traffic twice, then did a five point turn in the middle of a busy intersection. I also think the lack of sleep, food and high stress of the past week have made me a little delirious. I say this because, after sliding to a stop and coming within inches of hitting a man crossing the road, our WACAP representative, who happened to be in the taxi with us at the time, said in her strong Russian accent, "Our driver is a little strange today." Our driver, or course, didn't speak any English, and so he had no clue what was just said. I, on the other hand, got the giggles and could not stop laughing.

Oh well. Such is life in a different culture.

More on these things later...like when I have slept a little bit and can actually put an intelligent thought together in my head.

Anna