I tried to go to sleep around midnight and had trouble falling asleep worrying about the trip ahead. I had packed everything but was thinking about Akvila and how she would do and how hard it would be. I finally fell asleep about 2:30 AM or so and had to be up at 4 AM. The alarm went off and I reached for it and Akvila stirred and looked at me and fell back asleep. I went in and woke up my mom and started to get dressed. We were making some noise getting everything together and Akvila woke up. She went potty and then I took her clothes to her and she was still half alseep and trying to dress herself, she finally let me help. We finished getting dressed and got her baby doll dressed and proceeded to get the luggage out the door. She was smiling through very sleepy eyes.
We went downstairs and I tried to leave her with Grammy to unlock the courtyard door to the apartments and she didn't want me out of her sight. So when I got down with the last bag Grammy went and unlocked the door and the taksi pulled up. I ran the keys back upstairs and then we loaded up the luggage in the taksi. One of the women from the law office came in the taksi to help get us to the airport. Akvila rode in the taksi next to the window and staired out the whole way not saying much.
We got to the airport and got in line to check in. Akvila just stood there patiently while we checked bags and got our boarding passes. We proceeded through security and she put her coat and baby in the bin to go through to get their picture taken in the xray machine. We proceeded toward our gate and I went to get some coffee. I got her a bottle of water and she didn't want it. She was looking out the window at the airport at all the little trucks and the airplane sitting at the gate. She kept saying that ours was a big plane and then she saw some others that were even bigger and realized ours was a little one. We did go for a walk through the terminal and went into a perfume shop. She was smelling some of them and I found a lotion tester and wanted to smell it. I squeezed it just a little and it squirted out in my face. Akvila laughed and so did the clerk. We walked across the hall to another shop and she looked around a little and was ready to go back to the gate. We went back over there and she played around a little and kept asking questions about leaving Lithuania.
We boarded the plane and she was watching out the window at the people and vehicles that were prepping the plane. We backed out of the gate and headed for the runway. I tried to explain to her what would happen. When taking off she did not say anything, she just kept staring out the window. I was not sure if she liked it or hated it. After about 30 minutes she started talking again and asking questions. She was fine. That flight was short and she was still sleepy. We got to Amsterdam and had to go though the airport to another terminal. They have the moving sidewalks and escalators. She loved both! we got through the airport and to the gate for our next flight. There was no place to sit so we sat on the edge by the window, she had her baby doll in her hands. There was a little girl about 2 years old that walked over and tried to take her baby doll. I giggled and so did Akvila, the little girl did not think it was so funny and started to cry. We moved a few minutes later because Grammy found some chairs. We got on the big plane and got settled in. Again she watched intently as we took off. She fell asleep shortly after and slept for about 2 hours. While she was sleeping they served lunch. I saved hers for her. When she woke up she did not want to eat. It was not until about 2 hours later that she would eat anything. About half way though the flight that I started to get stressed out, she was spilling things and had ants in her pants. I tried to walk her around the plane but she kept wanting to go back to her seat. She was still tired but was fighting sleep the rest of the way. She kept wondering where we were so I showed her on the flight map where Lithuania was and where America was and showed her where we were going. I told her we had to take 3 planes to get to daddy. On the decent she started making faces and said her ears hurt, I told her to drink water and this helped. So we landed in Detroit and got to passport control/immigration and there was a huge line. So we got in line and waited. She was pulling around her little roller backpack and there was a baby behind us in line and she kept looking at the baby. We were talking with some other people that were waiting and this helped pass the time. It took about 2 hours to get through this process. She was very antsy but was pretty good all things considered. When we finally go to the front of the line we went and checked in and started our paperwork. We were then directed to the secondary immigration area. We had to wait there for about 15 minutes until they processed her and stamped her passport which meant she was now a US citizen.
We then proceeded to baggage claim and found Grammy who had already gotten our luggage off the carousel. We wheeled the cart toward customs. The customs line was short and we got through quickly. We then went through security again and headed toward our terminal. This is where we had to separate from Grammy, we stopped and gave her hugs and said bye bye. Akvila and I went one way and Grammy another. We stopped in a shop to get some drinks and then walked to the gate. I sat near the windows and she looked out at the planes. She saw several planes take off and told me to look each time and she got excited seeing them. I told her that we only had one more plane until we would see daddy. I hoped she would nap on the flight.
We left Detriot and were on our way home. She was dozing in and out but would not let herself sleep, I leaned her against me and she dosed for a second and when she realized this she woke up and sat up straight in her seat. She played with some toys and look around at all the other people sleeping. We landed a little while later and as we were taxiing to the gate she was dozing off again. I was worried she would fall asleep and with the carryon baggage there was no way I could carry her, but as we parked she woke up and walked with me. We picked up the carryon and then went to the potty and headed for baggage claim. When we got to the bottom of the escalator Wayne was waiting. Akvila was looking back up the escalator and had little or no reaction to seeing wayne because she was sleep walking at that point. She tripped getting off the escalator but did not fall. We grabbed our bags quickly and headed for the car.
I expected her to fall asleep any second but as we were driving she was looking around and then started to smile. When we pulled up to the house her face lit up. We parked and got out and went into the basement door. She saw her little playhouse and was so happy. I rang the doorbell and she went inside. After a few minutes we headed upstairs and I showed her the bedroom we had decorated for her. She was all smiles. She hugged me and looked around at all the stuff we had gotten her. We showed her around the rest of the house and she ran around looking at everything. I could not believe she was still awake and alert.
Around 7:30 we sat down to watch Shrek and she was dozing. She laid down with her head on my lap and I thought she had gone to sleep. I tried to move a little and she started to giggle. She then sat up and when I told her it was time to go to bed she said no but we came up to the bedroom anyway. Wayne put Shrek on up here and she laid down with me, in a matter of minutes she was out for the count.
I have to say she has just done so amazingly well. I am so thankful for that and for all the friends and family that have been praying for us. I can't believe my daughter is home!!!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Wednesday (Wayne's point of view)
I was a nervous wreck today. Everybody at work was curious what was going on, Did Peggy make the flight? How do I think Akvila is doing with the flight? But they all were very excited too... knowing that my family was starting today.
I had been watching the flights on the computer as they made there way home to America. Finally I see that they land in Detroit. So I am waiting for Peg to call to give me an update. An hour goes by... then two hours pass. Now I am starting to wonder, did they even make there flight? Finally two and a half hours later Peggy calls me at work. Apparently it took them 2 hours to get through customs and immigration. Since Peggy is a citizen and Akvila only has a Visa, they had to get into another line and wait. From what Peggy told me on the phone was, that they told her it could take 15 minutes per person and that is why it took them so long. We didn't talk for too long, because I needed to do some work.
I left work at 3:50pm... I enjoy talking to all people there, but I knew I had to run out of there fast so I didn't get stopped and be late for picking up my family.
So I get to the airport. It has been a while since I have been there. I am used to the very short term parking, but I wanted to go inside and meet them. I didn't realize about the new entrance to the parking deck. So long story short, I get parked and go inside. I am waiting at the bottom of the escalator, finally I see them coming down. No smile from Akvila, Peggy looks a little pleased that I am there. Akvila almost trips coming off of the escalator. Peg them tells me she is a zombie, that the whole time flying that she has maybe slept 2 hours. With layovers and flying it is about 18 total hours. I tell Akvila "Hi" and she just looks at me with a blank stare. I give Peg a little hug and we head over to claim the bags.
The drive home, she is looking around, still being very quiet; and after about 5 minutes of driving Peg says "Akvila's has gotten her 4th wind." She is in the back smiling away as we drive home. As we turn into our driveway, she has a HUGE smile on her face. It looks like it does in the pictures, she knows she is home.
So we enter into the basement and she is looking around slowly. We start to see big smiles because she recongnizes some things she saw on our web chats. We go upstairs and start to unpack some of her things and explore the rest of the house. She is getting sleepy again, so we tried to feed her some dinner. Not hungry. So we plop Shrek into the DVD player and she watches while Peg and I have a bite to eat. Peggy then sits next to her on the couch and Akvila starts to cuddle with her. She appears to fall asleep, but a couple minutes later we hear her giggle softly. She has been trying so hard to stay awake, and Peggy tells her it is time to lay down. She fights the urge again, but this time she gives in, because momma has fallen asleep next to her.
SO currently I am awake typing this blog as they are asleep in our bed. Before Peg fell asleep she asked me if I should sleep in there as well? She finally said, nah you sleep with us, but if she gets fussy you might get kicked out.
Tomorrow, Peggy will type up her point of view of everything that happened today. It has been just over two years (2 years and maybe 17 days) since we were told we were never going to have biological children and made the trip to the Adoption Service. Now we finally have a child and SHE IS HOME!
I had been watching the flights on the computer as they made there way home to America. Finally I see that they land in Detroit. So I am waiting for Peg to call to give me an update. An hour goes by... then two hours pass. Now I am starting to wonder, did they even make there flight? Finally two and a half hours later Peggy calls me at work. Apparently it took them 2 hours to get through customs and immigration. Since Peggy is a citizen and Akvila only has a Visa, they had to get into another line and wait. From what Peggy told me on the phone was, that they told her it could take 15 minutes per person and that is why it took them so long. We didn't talk for too long, because I needed to do some work.
I left work at 3:50pm... I enjoy talking to all people there, but I knew I had to run out of there fast so I didn't get stopped and be late for picking up my family.
So I get to the airport. It has been a while since I have been there. I am used to the very short term parking, but I wanted to go inside and meet them. I didn't realize about the new entrance to the parking deck. So long story short, I get parked and go inside. I am waiting at the bottom of the escalator, finally I see them coming down. No smile from Akvila, Peggy looks a little pleased that I am there. Akvila almost trips coming off of the escalator. Peg them tells me she is a zombie, that the whole time flying that she has maybe slept 2 hours. With layovers and flying it is about 18 total hours. I tell Akvila "Hi" and she just looks at me with a blank stare. I give Peg a little hug and we head over to claim the bags.
The drive home, she is looking around, still being very quiet; and after about 5 minutes of driving Peg says "Akvila's has gotten her 4th wind." She is in the back smiling away as we drive home. As we turn into our driveway, she has a HUGE smile on her face. It looks like it does in the pictures, she knows she is home.
So we enter into the basement and she is looking around slowly. We start to see big smiles because she recongnizes some things she saw on our web chats. We go upstairs and start to unpack some of her things and explore the rest of the house. She is getting sleepy again, so we tried to feed her some dinner. Not hungry. So we plop Shrek into the DVD player and she watches while Peg and I have a bite to eat. Peggy then sits next to her on the couch and Akvila starts to cuddle with her. She appears to fall asleep, but a couple minutes later we hear her giggle softly. She has been trying so hard to stay awake, and Peggy tells her it is time to lay down. She fights the urge again, but this time she gives in, because momma has fallen asleep next to her.
SO currently I am awake typing this blog as they are asleep in our bed. Before Peg fell asleep she asked me if I should sleep in there as well? She finally said, nah you sleep with us, but if she gets fussy you might get kicked out.
Tomorrow, Peggy will type up her point of view of everything that happened today. It has been just over two years (2 years and maybe 17 days) since we were told we were never going to have biological children and made the trip to the Adoption Service. Now we finally have a child and SHE IS HOME!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Tuesday Update
Written by Wayne
I got to talk to Peggy via Instant Messenger today while at work and she told me how excited Akvila was. But she didn't make it clear what she was excited about. Peggy told me Akvila helped her pack the rest of the stuff today. She kept asking (in Lithuanian) "does this go to America?" She wanted to make sure all of her stuff was coming with her.
In approx 3 hours Peggy, Akvila and my mother-in-law will boarding the plane heading for Amsterdam, Netherlands, leaving Vilnius, Lithuania for the last time (at least until we return one day). There they have a 2 hour layover, but if they land in the same terminal as we did before they will have to walk to another terminal; and that takes like 45 minutes or more. The gates in Amsterdam have there own Security checkpoints. After through security they will sit there for an hour until they board the "Big" plane heading for America.
Peggy and Akvila arrive in Tennessee @ aprrox 4:34pm CT tomorrow March 30th, 2011. I will go to work tomorrow and try to work; then leave at 4pm to pick them up from the airport. I am going to have some balloons blown up (I am leaving them in the "SUV") and "no" I did not decorate the house. I had thought about it, but everything is going to be so new for her. I want her to try and get adjusted quickly, that way she can feel comfortable in her new home.
I have also been asked if we will continue this blog once she comes home. The answer is "I don't know". The way Peggy tells me how Akvila has her running around and the constant not wanting to leave her side, I am not sure if we will have a lot of time continuing this blog. This was our story to bring her home to America. Maybe occassionaly after she comes home we might, but that is going to be a wait and see thing. Hopefully we will have more info to post soon after Akvila comes home (details about the trip and her 1st time flying experience).
For all of you that have kept up with this blog, I want to thank you all for reading about our journey. If new adoptive parents have read this, I hope it has been very informative to you as well. I know besides our friends and family reading there have been some other people who have read this, and I hope you have enjoyed. Maybe they stumbled upon it, by certain keywords or talked to friends who were reading. But ALL, I want to thank you for being supportive and praying for us.
In closing for now, I just want to share how many website hits we have received on this blog and where they came from.
United States - 4,309
Lithuania - 306
Canada - 59
Germany - 36
Singapore - 17
Guam - 8
Denmark - 4
Australia - 2
Brazil - 2
Ecuador - 2
I got to talk to Peggy via Instant Messenger today while at work and she told me how excited Akvila was. But she didn't make it clear what she was excited about. Peggy told me Akvila helped her pack the rest of the stuff today. She kept asking (in Lithuanian) "does this go to America?" She wanted to make sure all of her stuff was coming with her.
In approx 3 hours Peggy, Akvila and my mother-in-law will boarding the plane heading for Amsterdam, Netherlands, leaving Vilnius, Lithuania for the last time (at least until we return one day). There they have a 2 hour layover, but if they land in the same terminal as we did before they will have to walk to another terminal; and that takes like 45 minutes or more. The gates in Amsterdam have there own Security checkpoints. After through security they will sit there for an hour until they board the "Big" plane heading for America.
Peggy and Akvila arrive in Tennessee @ aprrox 4:34pm CT tomorrow March 30th, 2011. I will go to work tomorrow and try to work; then leave at 4pm to pick them up from the airport. I am going to have some balloons blown up (I am leaving them in the "SUV") and "no" I did not decorate the house. I had thought about it, but everything is going to be so new for her. I want her to try and get adjusted quickly, that way she can feel comfortable in her new home.
I have also been asked if we will continue this blog once she comes home. The answer is "I don't know". The way Peggy tells me how Akvila has her running around and the constant not wanting to leave her side, I am not sure if we will have a lot of time continuing this blog. This was our story to bring her home to America. Maybe occassionaly after she comes home we might, but that is going to be a wait and see thing. Hopefully we will have more info to post soon after Akvila comes home (details about the trip and her 1st time flying experience).
For all of you that have kept up with this blog, I want to thank you all for reading about our journey. If new adoptive parents have read this, I hope it has been very informative to you as well. I know besides our friends and family reading there have been some other people who have read this, and I hope you have enjoyed. Maybe they stumbled upon it, by certain keywords or talked to friends who were reading. But ALL, I want to thank you for being supportive and praying for us.
In closing for now, I just want to share how many website hits we have received on this blog and where they came from.
United States - 4,309
Lithuania - 306
Canada - 59
Germany - 36
Singapore - 17
Guam - 8
Denmark - 4
Australia - 2
Brazil - 2
Ecuador - 2
Tuesday
We got up this morning and had french toast. Akvila did not eat much. I think she was eating constantly the first part of the week because she has never had food so readily available. She now eats much less.
We started packing this morning and Akvila was ok, she was watching and got a little nervous but then started to ask if she could take things to America. I got quite a bit done and then she said she wanted to go outside. So we went for a walk to find some Chocolate for my sister, some bread to feed the birds and some lollypops for Akvila during take off and landing.
We went and founds some birds to feed and then came back to the apartment. After a little while I went across the street to the linen store and she watched from the window. She had fun making steam on the window and using her hand to make baby footprints. She saw me come out and got all excited. I came put the stairs and rang the doorbell and she was on the barstool looking out the peep hole.
We had some lunch and did more packing. She actually helped a little. We talked to my sister and her family and then talked to Wayne on Live messenger. Akvila did the dishes and swept the floor and scrubbed the counters. She would not even let me dry the dishes, she wanted to do it.
This afternoon we went outside again to go feed some birds and go to the store to get some ice cream. She had such fun day today. She even raced me back toward the apartment and was giggling the whole way. She knows we are leaving tomorrow and hopefully it goes well :-)
We talked to my dad and sister Ginny again this afternoon so she will get to know her Papa and Aunt Ginny. She tied some balloons for them and they watched her clean the apartment. She really likes to clean. Hopefully she will let me give her a bath tonight.
We are going to go have some dinner. Hopefully the next time you hear from me we will be home with Wayne!
We started packing this morning and Akvila was ok, she was watching and got a little nervous but then started to ask if she could take things to America. I got quite a bit done and then she said she wanted to go outside. So we went for a walk to find some Chocolate for my sister, some bread to feed the birds and some lollypops for Akvila during take off and landing.
We went and founds some birds to feed and then came back to the apartment. After a little while I went across the street to the linen store and she watched from the window. She had fun making steam on the window and using her hand to make baby footprints. She saw me come out and got all excited. I came put the stairs and rang the doorbell and she was on the barstool looking out the peep hole.
We had some lunch and did more packing. She actually helped a little. We talked to my sister and her family and then talked to Wayne on Live messenger. Akvila did the dishes and swept the floor and scrubbed the counters. She would not even let me dry the dishes, she wanted to do it.
This afternoon we went outside again to go feed some birds and go to the store to get some ice cream. She had such fun day today. She even raced me back toward the apartment and was giggling the whole way. She knows we are leaving tomorrow and hopefully it goes well :-)
We talked to my dad and sister Ginny again this afternoon so she will get to know her Papa and Aunt Ginny. She tied some balloons for them and they watched her clean the apartment. She really likes to clean. Hopefully she will let me give her a bath tonight.
We are going to go have some dinner. Hopefully the next time you hear from me we will be home with Wayne!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Monday
So I just found out that Lithuania changed to daylight savings time while we were here. I imagine that would have been more important if we left the apartment more. But it will be important to catch our plane.
When we woke up this morning we had no electricity. Akvila tried to turn on the bathroom light and did not understand when it didn't come on. So we checked the others and none worked. I called the manager and he didn't answer. I proceeded to cook breakfast on the gas stove and had to use a lighter to start it since the electric start didn't work either. We had pancakes and Akvila had fried sausage (the balogna kind). We tried to find something to do since the TV did not work, we had no internet access and we had to wait for the apartment manager to call back. I pulled out the laptop and we played some music. She wanted to play the little alphabet game I found on the web but with no electricity there is no internet router. Try explaining that LOL.
While waiting for the manager Elona called and said she was going to come by with all of our documents to travel and all the adoption paperwork. We visited with her for a little while and decided that it would be good to have someone from the law office help get us to the airport on Wednesday because it will be hard for me to manage the luggage, Akvila and the tantrum she is likely to have if she is awake enough to realize what is going on. After the manager came the electric was back on and she played the computer game.
We went out today to do some more shopping and while Grammy was in the amber shop Akvila saw a small convenient store so we went inside. She found a drink and she found a chocolate bar to buy for her daddy and then I got her a hot dog. Their buns are pretty cool, it was a bread tube closed at one end that they stick the hot dog in.
We went to the street vendor area and sat down so she could eat. Grammy showed her how to break off a piece of the bread and throw it to the birds. That was the best thing ever. She ate the hotdog and fed most of the bun to the pigeons LOL. Here are the pictures.
She had a great time. We then walked back toward the apartment. We came back and played and colored. We had slept a little late this morning so I knew bedtime would be fun. She fought going to sleep but just recently fell asleep watching Shrek. Tomorrow we have to get packed which will probably make her nervous. I tried to pack some of our clothes tonight so that there would be less to do tomorrow. I think I am going to give her the empty suitcase to put all her stuff in. I will let you all know how that goes. I hope she accepts that we are going to America on Wednesday.
When we woke up this morning we had no electricity. Akvila tried to turn on the bathroom light and did not understand when it didn't come on. So we checked the others and none worked. I called the manager and he didn't answer. I proceeded to cook breakfast on the gas stove and had to use a lighter to start it since the electric start didn't work either. We had pancakes and Akvila had fried sausage (the balogna kind). We tried to find something to do since the TV did not work, we had no internet access and we had to wait for the apartment manager to call back. I pulled out the laptop and we played some music. She wanted to play the little alphabet game I found on the web but with no electricity there is no internet router. Try explaining that LOL.
While waiting for the manager Elona called and said she was going to come by with all of our documents to travel and all the adoption paperwork. We visited with her for a little while and decided that it would be good to have someone from the law office help get us to the airport on Wednesday because it will be hard for me to manage the luggage, Akvila and the tantrum she is likely to have if she is awake enough to realize what is going on. After the manager came the electric was back on and she played the computer game.
We went out today to do some more shopping and while Grammy was in the amber shop Akvila saw a small convenient store so we went inside. She found a drink and she found a chocolate bar to buy for her daddy and then I got her a hot dog. Their buns are pretty cool, it was a bread tube closed at one end that they stick the hot dog in.
We went to the street vendor area and sat down so she could eat. Grammy showed her how to break off a piece of the bread and throw it to the birds. That was the best thing ever. She ate the hotdog and fed most of the bun to the pigeons LOL. Here are the pictures.
She had a great time. We then walked back toward the apartment. We came back and played and colored. We had slept a little late this morning so I knew bedtime would be fun. She fought going to sleep but just recently fell asleep watching Shrek. Tomorrow we have to get packed which will probably make her nervous. I tried to pack some of our clothes tonight so that there would be less to do tomorrow. I think I am going to give her the empty suitcase to put all her stuff in. I will let you all know how that goes. I hope she accepts that we are going to America on Wednesday.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Sunday
So I made Akvila get a shower with me. She was not real happy about it but she did it. Afterwards she wanted to put her tights back on and I told her no, she was confused and said she would be cold. I assured her she would be fine. So she let me put on some jeans and socks. We got done and I brushed her hair. She left it down while it dried. She let me put in a headband but it would not stay in her hair very well.
After our hair dried and we played some childrens ABC games on the computer we went to the grocery store. When I told her we were going she said no, then asked if we were going for a ride (like in a taksi) I explained we were just going to walk and then she was ok with it. We walked the short distance to the grocery and got the things we needed. She enjoyed putting everything in the shopping cart and then putting it up on the counter. When I was done bagging everything she tried to pick it up, haha it was heavy. You have to bring your own bags to the market or buy them each time you go, so we took our own. She still is very nervous about being outside the apartment, after about 20 minutes she was ready to go home.
I know the trip to the airport and home to America will be an interesting one. She is showing interest in learning English and she likes talking to her daddy and cousins on the live chat. She looks for them everyday.
Tomorrow we have some other paperwork to finish up, don't know if we have to go back to the embassy or if it will be brought to us. We have a few more souveniers to buy for family but other than that I am so ready to come home. I need Wayne's help.
Here are some pictures from today. The last ones are us playing hide (where I know where you are) and go seek. She is so funny and gets to laughing even when she is supposed to be hiding. I am enjoying it but it is tiring.
After our hair dried and we played some childrens ABC games on the computer we went to the grocery store. When I told her we were going she said no, then asked if we were going for a ride (like in a taksi) I explained we were just going to walk and then she was ok with it. We walked the short distance to the grocery and got the things we needed. She enjoyed putting everything in the shopping cart and then putting it up on the counter. When I was done bagging everything she tried to pick it up, haha it was heavy. You have to bring your own bags to the market or buy them each time you go, so we took our own. She still is very nervous about being outside the apartment, after about 20 minutes she was ready to go home.
I know the trip to the airport and home to America will be an interesting one. She is showing interest in learning English and she likes talking to her daddy and cousins on the live chat. She looks for them everyday.
Tomorrow we have some other paperwork to finish up, don't know if we have to go back to the embassy or if it will be brought to us. We have a few more souveniers to buy for family but other than that I am so ready to come home. I need Wayne's help.
Here are some pictures from today. The last ones are us playing hide (where I know where you are) and go seek. She is so funny and gets to laughing even when she is supposed to be hiding. I am enjoying it but it is tiring.
Saturday Evening and Sunday Morning
So now I have done better establishing bed time. The first night I did not want to push it but now she has gone to bed the last two nights when I put her to bed. This is great. Of course it would be nice to have some me time during the day when she is supposed to nap. They told us she still took a nap, I find thta very very hard to believe.
So yesterday we had breakfast of french toast and sausage. She likes the sausage they have that is like bologna. I fried some and she ate it all, then I did some more and she ate most of it. She has been eating like crazy. She ate the other orange, she ate almost the whole roll of bologna sausage. I guess she is not used to having regular access to food so she feels she should eat it while she can.
Yesterday before lunch we went out for a walk. There are street vendors near here that sell souveniers and other things. So we walked down there. At the first stand she found a little lapel pin that was a sheep so we got that. Then at the next she found a little wooden mouse (i think) that was covered in amber chips. After looking at a few stands we went into an amber shop. She did pretty well in the shop, looking at everything. I bought a few gifts and she found a little angel bell that was really cute and so I got that for her to. Yes I know.... she is going to be spoiled. I did say no to some other things.
After about 15 min in that shop she said let's go home so we finished up there and headed back to the apartment (where she feels safe). We came back and I made lunch, meat dumplings with sour cream sauce. She ate these up and asked for seconds. She loved the sour cream sauce and I was surprised by this because it had sauteed onions in it. But she liked it so much she scraped the plate and put the onions and sauce on her bread to eat it.
Last night we played hide and go seek again and again. Of course in a small one bedroom apartment there are not many places to hide. Grammy helped make it more fun by looking in places like the socks, trash can, etc. Akvila loved that and started looking for me in the toilet. She has not quite figured out that she is supposed to hide and stay quiet until I find her. She likes to hide in the tub and tell you when she is ready or hide in the bed covered in a blanket and then starts laughing before you can find her. It is the cutest thing ever.
I am going to try to get her to take a shower and change clothes today, that might be interesting. I am thinking now that they even slept in the same clothes they wear during the day because she does not want to put on pajamas.
Well its breakfast time so I will talk to you all later!
So yesterday we had breakfast of french toast and sausage. She likes the sausage they have that is like bologna. I fried some and she ate it all, then I did some more and she ate most of it. She has been eating like crazy. She ate the other orange, she ate almost the whole roll of bologna sausage. I guess she is not used to having regular access to food so she feels she should eat it while she can.
Yesterday before lunch we went out for a walk. There are street vendors near here that sell souveniers and other things. So we walked down there. At the first stand she found a little lapel pin that was a sheep so we got that. Then at the next she found a little wooden mouse (i think) that was covered in amber chips. After looking at a few stands we went into an amber shop. She did pretty well in the shop, looking at everything. I bought a few gifts and she found a little angel bell that was really cute and so I got that for her to. Yes I know.... she is going to be spoiled. I did say no to some other things.
After about 15 min in that shop she said let's go home so we finished up there and headed back to the apartment (where she feels safe). We came back and I made lunch, meat dumplings with sour cream sauce. She ate these up and asked for seconds. She loved the sour cream sauce and I was surprised by this because it had sauteed onions in it. But she liked it so much she scraped the plate and put the onions and sauce on her bread to eat it.
Last night we played hide and go seek again and again. Of course in a small one bedroom apartment there are not many places to hide. Grammy helped make it more fun by looking in places like the socks, trash can, etc. Akvila loved that and started looking for me in the toilet. She has not quite figured out that she is supposed to hide and stay quiet until I find her. She likes to hide in the tub and tell you when she is ready or hide in the bed covered in a blanket and then starts laughing before you can find her. It is the cutest thing ever.
I am going to try to get her to take a shower and change clothes today, that might be interesting. I am thinking now that they even slept in the same clothes they wear during the day because she does not want to put on pajamas.
Well its breakfast time so I will talk to you all later!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Friday Afternoon to Saturday Morning
I was too tired last night to do a full update. So here goes...
We took Akvila for a walk. I was hoping to take her to the playground but when we got there it was a muddy mess. So we kept going and went to the store. She picked out some hair bows that are little girls with braids, some yogurt and the candy egg with the toy inside. We walked back toward the apartment and close the the apartment she wanted a piggy back ride. As I was trying to pick her up our lovely friend the Russian came up to us and offered to take a picture and then asked us to buy him bread and milk at the store. Like I am going to let him touch my camera! He gave up fairly quickly this time which was good.
We got back to the apartment and Akvila gobbled down her yogurt. I think she had a hollow leg yesterday because it seemed like she ate all day. The good thing is she likes healthy things as well as junk. We got her some oranges at the store and she peeled one and shared it with me and grammy.
I put her to bed around 9:30 and fell asleep with her. I got up around midnight and talked to Wayne for a few minutes before going back to bed. She did sleep in a little longer today, til 8 which was nice.
I am still amazed at her love for doing dishes. She did them about 6 times yesterday. On one occasion I think she used more than one cup just so she could wash them. She wanted to do them again last night around bedtime and I told her we would do them tomorrow. This morning we got up and I made her some sausage (which is more like balogna) and french toast. She was hungry this morning because she ate one piece of toast and about 8 slices of sausage. Of course she drank tea with it. She loves her tea. Some of it is a fascination with being able to use a tea bag, the microwave and put her own sugar in it. She is becoming an old pro.
After we finished eating she did the dishes, she washes and I dry. She does not like to fill the sink with water, she lets the water run lightly while she puts a little soap on each item as she washes it. I think we will run out of soap before the week is over. She likes to wipe off the counters after she is done too. Wayne is excited about this thinking it will be less dishes for him to do, I told him he better buy her a stool for our sink then.
She is happily watching cartoons now. So I took the quiet time to update all of you. Thanks for all your well wishes!
We took Akvila for a walk. I was hoping to take her to the playground but when we got there it was a muddy mess. So we kept going and went to the store. She picked out some hair bows that are little girls with braids, some yogurt and the candy egg with the toy inside. We walked back toward the apartment and close the the apartment she wanted a piggy back ride. As I was trying to pick her up our lovely friend the Russian came up to us and offered to take a picture and then asked us to buy him bread and milk at the store. Like I am going to let him touch my camera! He gave up fairly quickly this time which was good.
We got back to the apartment and Akvila gobbled down her yogurt. I think she had a hollow leg yesterday because it seemed like she ate all day. The good thing is she likes healthy things as well as junk. We got her some oranges at the store and she peeled one and shared it with me and grammy.
I put her to bed around 9:30 and fell asleep with her. I got up around midnight and talked to Wayne for a few minutes before going back to bed. She did sleep in a little longer today, til 8 which was nice.
I am still amazed at her love for doing dishes. She did them about 6 times yesterday. On one occasion I think she used more than one cup just so she could wash them. She wanted to do them again last night around bedtime and I told her we would do them tomorrow. This morning we got up and I made her some sausage (which is more like balogna) and french toast. She was hungry this morning because she ate one piece of toast and about 8 slices of sausage. Of course she drank tea with it. She loves her tea. Some of it is a fascination with being able to use a tea bag, the microwave and put her own sugar in it. She is becoming an old pro.
After we finished eating she did the dishes, she washes and I dry. She does not like to fill the sink with water, she lets the water run lightly while she puts a little soap on each item as she washes it. I think we will run out of soap before the week is over. She likes to wipe off the counters after she is done too. Wayne is excited about this thinking it will be less dishes for him to do, I told him he better buy her a stool for our sink then.
She is happily watching cartoons now. So I took the quiet time to update all of you. Thanks for all your well wishes!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Friday Night
It is hard to keep track of time this trip. Akvila and I played for a long time tonight. We chased each other around the apartment and she was laughing so hard. At 9:30 I put her to bed and she wasn't happy about it but did go to sleep at a decent hour. I fell asleep with her. I woke up a few minutes ago but am going back to bed because 7 am comes early and I need my rest.
Things are going really well. I hope that continues. Goodnight all and I will let you know how tomorrow goes.
Things are going really well. I hope that continues. Goodnight all and I will let you know how tomorrow goes.
Our first full day together
Wayne tells me I have not put enough details in the blog so far. I told him what do you expect when I have an energetic 6 year old and the movies only work on the computer rather than the TV. But she is running around cleaning the house right now so I have a few minutes.
Elona called about going to the embassy and asked if we could meet her outside or if she needed to come up to the apartment. I told her that we were having trouble making Akvila understand that we needed to go out for a little while and she needed to put on clothes. So Elona talked to her for a few minutes on the phone and told her we were going to pick up her passport and then going to the doctor's office to get a letter and then going to the Embassy. She then let me change her clothes and was ready to go. We had to wait a while at the passport office and while there a woman sitting across from us that stared the entire time. It was kind of weird because I would look at her and she just kept staring. I don't know what her deal was but I didn't let it bother me.
We picked up the passport and got back in the taksi. Akvila really likes riding around in the taksi and looking at all the buildings and statues. She talked with the taksi driver while Elona went in to the doctors office for paperwork. At the embassy we had to go through security and she watched the xray machine while my things went through on the belt. We walked over to the Visa office and Elona explained to her that we were in a little piece of America.
She has been very curious about everything. I also had Elona tell her that we will not go to America for four more days. She is ok with going home with us but is not so sure about the airplane.
Since we got back to the apartment she has had fun. We talked to daddy on the video chat, she had macaroni & cheese. She did the dishes after lunch. Wiped off the table and has brushed her teeth three times. She really likes to clean up. I am guessing this is because she helped out around the orphanage.
I had hoped she would take a nap this afternoon but it is not looking that way. She is full of energy.
Time to go for a walk, I will post again later I hope.
Elona called about going to the embassy and asked if we could meet her outside or if she needed to come up to the apartment. I told her that we were having trouble making Akvila understand that we needed to go out for a little while and she needed to put on clothes. So Elona talked to her for a few minutes on the phone and told her we were going to pick up her passport and then going to the doctor's office to get a letter and then going to the Embassy. She then let me change her clothes and was ready to go. We had to wait a while at the passport office and while there a woman sitting across from us that stared the entire time. It was kind of weird because I would look at her and she just kept staring. I don't know what her deal was but I didn't let it bother me.
We picked up the passport and got back in the taksi. Akvila really likes riding around in the taksi and looking at all the buildings and statues. She talked with the taksi driver while Elona went in to the doctors office for paperwork. At the embassy we had to go through security and she watched the xray machine while my things went through on the belt. We walked over to the Visa office and Elona explained to her that we were in a little piece of America.
She has been very curious about everything. I also had Elona tell her that we will not go to America for four more days. She is ok with going home with us but is not so sure about the airplane.
Since we got back to the apartment she has had fun. We talked to daddy on the video chat, she had macaroni & cheese. She did the dishes after lunch. Wiped off the table and has brushed her teeth three times. She really likes to clean up. I am guessing this is because she helped out around the orphanage.
I had hoped she would take a nap this afternoon but it is not looking that way. She is full of energy.
Time to go for a walk, I will post again later I hope.
Very tired
Akvila finally fell asleep around midnight. I did not want to push too hard to put her to bed in case she got homesick again for the orphanage. She laid down with me but flopped around the bed for quite some time. When she finally fell asleep I was relieved. Of course at 7AM sharp she started to stir. I was thinking surely she will sleep a little longer, I opened my eyes and she smiled at me. She then leaned over and said Mama and hugged me.... I can forgive the lack of sleep for that.
We got up and I had coffee while she had tea and then I made some pancakes. I can tell she is Lithuanian because I gave her some butter to put on her pancakes and she scraped it off the knife with her spoon and struck it straight in her mouth! My mom loves butter and so do my neices. We joke that they have the butter gene.
She has now watched Shrek Forever After 3 times and a Bug's Life 1 1/2 times. I hate for her to watch too much TV but at least it is something she likes.
Some of the smaller clothes I bought her don't fit... the ones that are 6X/7 or 7 skinny jeans. Glad I brought a bigger pair this time. She does not want to change her clothes though. I imagine its because she is used to wearing the same thing for a week. They did change her into clothes I bought her when we picked her up, but she still has on the tights they had her in. I need to get her dressed to go to the embassy today. This should be fun :-) She did want to see what the washing machine did so this morning we washed the jeans she wore yesterday with 2 of my pairs so they are hanging up to dry. Later we will have cardboard jeans.
I just looked up and they have Dora dubbed in Lithuanian!!
Here are some pictures Akvila took with her camera yesterday.
We got up and I had coffee while she had tea and then I made some pancakes. I can tell she is Lithuanian because I gave her some butter to put on her pancakes and she scraped it off the knife with her spoon and struck it straight in her mouth! My mom loves butter and so do my neices. We joke that they have the butter gene.
She has now watched Shrek Forever After 3 times and a Bug's Life 1 1/2 times. I hate for her to watch too much TV but at least it is something she likes.
Some of the smaller clothes I bought her don't fit... the ones that are 6X/7 or 7 skinny jeans. Glad I brought a bigger pair this time. She does not want to change her clothes though. I imagine its because she is used to wearing the same thing for a week. They did change her into clothes I bought her when we picked her up, but she still has on the tights they had her in. I need to get her dressed to go to the embassy today. This should be fun :-) She did want to see what the washing machine did so this morning we washed the jeans she wore yesterday with 2 of my pairs so they are hanging up to dry. Later we will have cardboard jeans.
I just looked up and they have Dora dubbed in Lithuanian!!
Here are some pictures Akvila took with her camera yesterday.
She looks so sleepy here.... its around 11 PM I think.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Akvila is doing great
Ok so it has been a very long day. It is now 11:30 PM and Akvila is still awake and running around. She had a huge meltdown for about an hour early this afternoon. I was trying so hard to comfort her and it was very difficult. I think when I started to cry she realized she was not the only one hurting. It took a little while longer and then it was like a light switch. She stopped crying, she started watching Shrek and she has been having a ball.
I am amazed that she has not gotten upset again, she saw it get dark outside and everything and seems to be doing great. We will see how things go tomorrow when we go to the embassy. I will try to keep everyone in the loop but now I am in mommy mode and have to entertain a 6 year old.
Love you all!
I am amazed that she has not gotten upset again, she saw it get dark outside and everything and seems to be doing great. We will see how things go tomorrow when we go to the embassy. I will try to keep everyone in the loop but now I am in mommy mode and have to entertain a 6 year old.
Love you all!
Picking up Akvila
It has been a trying morning. We left the apartment around 10:30 to go pick her up. We took some gift bags for the kids and presents for her care takers. We arrived and she started to cry. She did not want to leave her friends. She did not want me to come anywhere near her. The caregivers and social workers spent about 30 minutes talking to her and she finally calmed down and I had her give the presents out to the kids. She was doing fine until they took her to change her clothes. She came out and started to cry because she knew this meant she was leaving. It was then we started to head for the door and she had a screaming fit. One of the social workers was able to calm her by telling her she would come with us.
We left a little while later and headed for the passport office. She had to have her picture taken and she was tentative but ok at that point. Afterward we got in the taksi to go back toward the apartment. Rather than coming right in the social worker walked with us to the grocery store and shortly after we went in I took Akvila toward the curd bars I know she likes and when I turned around the social worker was gone. Almost immediately Akvila started asking where she was. I managed to get her to the register and check out quickly. We got outside and she kept asking where she was and I kept saying lets go. We walked across the street and she started to have a meltdown. I quickly set my stuff down and hugged her tight while she kept wanting to get back in a taksi and go back to the orphanage. I ended up having to pick her up and carry her to the apartment because if I set her down she kept pulling away and I thought she would run.
About halfway back to the apartment I stopped and put her on my back piggy back style and she calmed down but asked where we were going.
We got into the apartment and she looked around and started to cry. It took a few minutes but she has calmed down and is watching cartoons. She is not her playful self but that will come with time. We are going to have some lunch in a few minutes.
I will update you all later today on how it goes from here.
We left a little while later and headed for the passport office. She had to have her picture taken and she was tentative but ok at that point. Afterward we got in the taksi to go back toward the apartment. Rather than coming right in the social worker walked with us to the grocery store and shortly after we went in I took Akvila toward the curd bars I know she likes and when I turned around the social worker was gone. Almost immediately Akvila started asking where she was. I managed to get her to the register and check out quickly. We got outside and she kept asking where she was and I kept saying lets go. We walked across the street and she started to have a meltdown. I quickly set my stuff down and hugged her tight while she kept wanting to get back in a taksi and go back to the orphanage. I ended up having to pick her up and carry her to the apartment because if I set her down she kept pulling away and I thought she would run.
About halfway back to the apartment I stopped and put her on my back piggy back style and she calmed down but asked where we were going.
We got into the apartment and she looked around and started to cry. It took a few minutes but she has calmed down and is watching cartoons. She is not her playful self but that will come with time. We are going to have some lunch in a few minutes.
I will update you all later today on how it goes from here.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Visting Akvila
When we arrived at the orphanage Akvila was scared and had a look on her face of pure fear. I think she thought we were taking her right away. But one of the caregivers walked her down to the playroom with us and talked to her and she started to feel better.
We caught her attention with balloon animals and we started blowing up balloons and making more. She thought the balloon pump was very cool. She is a very fast learner because by the end of the visit she was having me help her and she took apart the dog and put it back together pretty well (probably better than Mama).
She asked where her daddy was and we told her he was at home and she wanted to know why. We told her he had to work but that he loves her and misses her very much. She smiled. She talked about her "jumper" with her name on it and said Akvila Griffith without any prompting. We then told her she has a new middle name of Hannah. She asked again what my name was, what grammy's name was and what daddy's name was.
I gave her a banana and she ate about half and gave the rest to me. She didn't eat any goldfish which surprised me but then she told us (through Agne) that her tooth is loose. She told us that she has already lost a few teeth but her regular teeth have already started to grow. Akvila played with me for a while in the balls, I gave her a piggy back ride and goofed around. Of course when she saw the camera my little photographer took over. She even remembered when we set the timer and then sat on the couch to get our picture taken together.
See if you can pick out which ones she took :-)
We caught her attention with balloon animals and we started blowing up balloons and making more. She thought the balloon pump was very cool. She is a very fast learner because by the end of the visit she was having me help her and she took apart the dog and put it back together pretty well (probably better than Mama).
She asked where her daddy was and we told her he was at home and she wanted to know why. We told her he had to work but that he loves her and misses her very much. She smiled. She talked about her "jumper" with her name on it and said Akvila Griffith without any prompting. We then told her she has a new middle name of Hannah. She asked again what my name was, what grammy's name was and what daddy's name was.
I gave her a banana and she ate about half and gave the rest to me. She didn't eat any goldfish which surprised me but then she told us (through Agne) that her tooth is loose. She told us that she has already lost a few teeth but her regular teeth have already started to grow. Akvila played with me for a while in the balls, I gave her a piggy back ride and goofed around. Of course when she saw the camera my little photographer took over. She even remembered when we set the timer and then sat on the couch to get our picture taken together.
See if you can pick out which ones she took :-)
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