We are alive! 2 week home update...

Okay, everyone.. I know you have been wondering after 2 weeks.. where is Tammy and Steve?....how is Olesya?... where are the facebook updates?

We are alive and well... Olesya has been keeping us very busy.... when she's quiet you know she's doing something she shouldn't be...lol...she is a busy girl... never sits still but loves everyone she meets.. doesn't know a stranger.. she is adapting well into the family.  She is very loved! 

We have had some rough bed times.. (she doesn't want to go BYE BYE - which means NIGHT NIGHT!)  she screams and throws fits.. I'm not sure if night time was a pleasant time for her at the orphanage... other than nap and bed time - she is a happy, easy going girl... of course as long as she gets her way...

As I say this.. she is giving her father a hard time... and being fussy..but it is getting close to bed time so she may be dreading what is to come.

She says "cheese" her first English word!

THE TRAIN RIDE - UGH!

Olesya does not like trains. At first she fell asleep and slept about 2 hours, then when she woke up she was screaming bloody murder and would not stop screaming.. she had herself worked up into a real tizzy (must have been a nightmare or something). Steve paced up and down the small area of the train car. She was inconsolable... she just wanted off the train. She was up until around 4 a.m. when she finally couldn't fight it anymore and went to sleep..... then something woke her up at 5:00 a.m. screaming again... she threw another two year old tantrum..she kept putting her boots on wanting to get off the train. Of course, we can't get off until we are in Moscow (not until 6:30)...she wanted her hat and her boots and her coat. The train stewardess talked with her a little to try and calm her down. It was the first time I'd see real tears... she'd been a little fussy... but not real tears. She is sleeping peacefully right now and for the first time... not sweating... the hotel we sweat all day everyday... when we went to the orphanage we sweat... UGH! I'm so glad to feel cool and comfortable... I just hope she doesn't catch a cold... it does feel much better to me though. Darlene - hope you guys have better luck on the train... (Steve says it was the train ride from hell--sorry for the bad news) Good news - that was the last train ride she will ever have to take! Me too!

We got to the apartment for the next 4 days (11th floor- we are high up). It is very nice with lots of breakables... and plug in's without any covers... OH NO...NYET-NO-NYET - NO..... I'm afraid that is all she is going to hear from us for the next few days. there is more room and a pack and play.. we might try laying her down in that tonight... When we got to the apartment, the doctor showed up to give his take on Olesya's health... Everything good.. no heart murmur or anything... he said they did a good job of fixing it. He picked her up and said 25 26 lbs...(no scale)  He told us of an ointment we can get (over the counter - I think it was neosporin) for her face and so Tatiana was going to pick us up some when we see her next. The doctor now will submit his report to the Embassy and that is all we had to do today.. YEAH! I'm not sure I am capable of much of anything anyway.

Tomorrow we go to the US Embassy - all three of us... I'm not sure how long I should let her rest today... but we were all so exhausted we slept from 7:30 to 12... It is 1 p.m. now...when should I wake her? should I? It could help us get on American time... if it weren't that we were staying until Friday...

Steve woke me up so he could run to the market and pick up some snacks and food.... now that I have a stove.. I can cook.. what I wouldn't give for a cheeseburger! Maybe he will come back with one... .hopeful thinking.

We are not far from downtown Moscow. Steve is checking out the sights while he is out so we will know where we want to go when we take Olesya for a walk later today (Tatiana is letting us borrow her stroller). She needs to get out and get some fresh air... It is a little windy and cool (though)...

I just looked in on her again.. Wonder what she thinks about sleeping without sweating... I hope so.

Steve just got back from the market. Olesya woke up on her own at 1:15 .. yeah! More later...

Gonna get a hot shower.  AAAHHH!!

Tired

Stephen, Tamra & Olesya

last day in Tambov, Russia

Well - We have the passport!  She is a doll... We can now board the train with her and go to Moscow to get her VISA and immigration paperwork done.  She is sleeping peacefully right now.  She needed a couple hours of naptime.. she was a little cranky.. to say the least.  Papa played music on her SCOUT dog (stuffed animal) and she went to sleep.  GREAT JOB PAPA... I wanted her to call him daddy.. but I think it will always be papa (Russian for father).. she is quite attached to him and him to her.. :)  I am very happy to report.  She is stirring now in her sleep.. she just took off her shoes.. and is trying to go back to sleep.. but I don't think it is going to happen... daddy just picked her up... and is rocking her... but she might be awake now.. that was only 1 hour 15 minutes... not good...oh well - that was the nap... better than nothing at all.. at least I hope so...she is not happy now... so I'd better get over there and help...
talk again later..
Train to MOSCOW tonight - get on train at 8:00p.m.  - 5 more hours in this hotel..
ARRRGGHHH!

Day 2 in hotel with Olesya

The hotel is not an easy place to raise a 2 1/2 year old.. We again have her to sleep it is only 7:45 p.m.  WOW - 2 nights in a row...She was so exhausted.  Larisa brought some balloons and she had a fun time with them.  I forgot how just the simple things are the most fun for toddlers.

She's been good - considering we are in a hotel.. She's been eating well and getting better at understanding us and we are getting better at understanding her.  She has quite a vocabulary for a 2 1/2 year old... she can carry on conversations with the Russians in the hotel.  She is a flirt...

Well - gonna get some rest.
Tamra Stephen & Olesya

She's here! and she's Ours! OLESYA DAWN LEWIS!

So, we finally have our little Olesya.. She is ours.. we will pick up passport on Monday....get to Moscow on Tuesday and leave Moscow on Friday the 9th...

She already went and sat on her little potty as soon as we put it on the floor... she didn't do anything - but it's a start...We watched her go yesterday - all by herself!  I was impressed.  OMG - as I am writing this she went to the bathroom... pulled down her pants and peed!!! whoo hoo... a momentous occasion!  Papa watched her the whole time.....

It is nap time per her schedule... but - no sleep is happening... Steve is flipping channels on the TV and she keeps telling him NYET... until he gets to cartoons...  Too funny!  Now she is getting fussy!  oh no.. it begins!

She does love her papa...

Here is our AMERICAN GIRL!

She pouts!

so this afternoon we had some snacks with us.. and we let her have a few and then we put them away for later... SHE POUTED!  went to a corner and stood and pouted... then she went to Steve, because I had to be the mean mommy...2 year old tantrums and pouting... forgot all about those... SO MUCH FUN!  she is testing us already... so see how far she can go...I'm going to post a picture of her looking into mirrors... it looks like there are 4 of her....OMG... no thank you!  She's sweet... but 4 would be way too many !!! LOL

This one will wear us out!..
Tomorrow at 12 we pick her up!
YEAH!
Tamra Stephen & Olesya

Thursday's morning visit..

Today the visit went well.  We brought crayons and coloring books... I don't know if she's ever seen them before or not.. we colored a little bit and she bounced on the ball with papa (father in Russian)

We will head back at 4.. - 2 1/2 more hours until our next visit.

More later.. Stephen & Tamra & Olesya