Thursday August 19, 2010

It's Groundhog Day! We wake up rested as usual (the bed is quite comfortable!), make our breakfast of toasted Nutella sandwiches while the maid comes in to clean the flat, do the dishes and our laundry! And off we go! It's a beautiful cool summer day, as the rain's have passed through and the breeze adds to the freshness of the morning.

 

The usual process takes place at the office as they bring our little Dannemillers to play outside in the two playgrounds. They are dressed in cute new play clothes with their little caps on and their huge little smiles. We head to the usual playground to start the running around and playing process, while they stop to eat cookies and drink crystal flavored water. Unlike the other days, we are surrounded by all the other kids in the orphanage, all with their own designated play areas and nurses. Max and David see their play group and make a point to 'show off' and wave to their buddies as if to say "nee ner nee ner nee ner...we have parents...".

One particular group of toddlers come out with their two nurses handling about eight little kids, dressed in nothing but diapers and bonnets - walking in an organized manner, two sitting in each stroller while the other four hold on side by side in perfect formation, as they slowly walk to their playpen area. With their white little faces and their shaved heads, they look at us from their little 'baby prisons' with blank stares, and it reminds us of a bunch of tiny little 'waifs' from Oliver Twist. Totally quiet, totally emotionless - almost as if they've been drugged.
Max and David are in the oldest age group here, as they would normally move up to a school orphanage when they turn five or six (similar to the one Vanya is in), so they are kind of like the BMOC's of this place. It probably doesn't help that we tend to let them run around, while all the other kids appear to be under some communist behavior control program. Actually - it's nice to see that these future Dannemillers haven't been here long enough to be brain-washed and subjected to some form of strict mind control. I realize it's easier for the staff (and probably quite necessary), but we have got to get these boys out of here soon! ;^)

 

At 11:45 we say our goodbyes and ask Gregori if he knows a good place for lunch. He knows just the place, and it's walking distance from our flat. So he drops us off at a really nice restaurant called Camellia's. We order a fairly substantial lunch, with a few beers, and the total is less than $15! Excellent food, great service with a nice porch-like dining area. Great choice - we'll be back tomorrow (creature of habits that we are)! On our way back to the flat, we decide to treat the boys with some fruit, so we stop at a small market to buy some bananas and oranges. Apparently fruit is a luxury item for these orphaned kids, which we will find out first hand in about an hour...

 

After a quick rest at the flat, we are picked up at 3:30 to see the boys for our afternoon session. We pull out the bananas and oranges and watch as they devour five bananas and three oranges in about 10 minutes flat. They were so happy; they were dancing around holding slices of orange in one hand while cramming banana into their chubby little cheeks with the other hand; like little chipmunks. Then he sugar buzz kicked in. We took them to the swings and the big-boy slide where they chanted names and repeated Ukrainian phrases with every push on the swing. If only we knew what they were saying...

 

Once again, the 5pm temper tantrum starts when Mad Max figures out its time to stop playing in his little play world that he gets himself into. David and I kick the ball back and forth, heading back to the office, while Emma carries the ranting three-year old back to his controlled environment. We know he is just testing us, and that he's at that age, etc. - but it sure makes it difficult. Gregori is waiting just outside the gate and has a bit of a chuckle as he watches Emma deal with her youngest son.

Another day done and another day of bonding completed. We climb up to our flat, cook our toasted ham and cheese sandwiches, drink our Ukrainian wine, read and write...you get the drill. One of these nights we'll actually 'push the boat out' (as they say in England), and check out the night life of Kirovograd - altho I doubt there is much of a night life in this town. Besides, these kids are wearing us out! We drift off to sleep, knowing this is exactly what we wanted and that we are very lucky to find these three beautiful, healthy and vibrant children. If only Dad was still alive - he'd love their energy, laugh at their gregarious behavior, and he would absolutely love every one of them. Meet your first grandsons old man!

Good night Dad ('The Bad")...