December 8, 2009 (no visit)

Well today Mary woke up at 5:00 am and I slept till about 7:30 am. I actually saw snow when I looked outside this morning. WOW!!! It snowed about 3 to 5 cm’s. We both had breakfast around 10:00 am. We then were reading our journal on “Dylan” and were adding some pictures. Christoph and Nathalie had to go see the Dr. at the orphanage to try to get a full report of their son Jacob’s operation, which he had in August in Astana. Vera and Medet were coming to pass by and pick them up.

I decided to shovel the snow outside. I then noticed that the dog that belongs to the owner was missing, his gate was opened. We weren’t sure if he was stolen or if the owner took him. When Vera and Medet showed up, I explained to them about the dog situation and Medet called the owner of the house right away to find out what happened. He spoke to the owner’s daughter Kundiz and she says she probably thinks that the dog was stolen but she would call her dad to find out what happened. At the end of the day we found out that the owner came to pick up the dog because it was too cold for him. We were relieved because during the day, 4 guys in their mid twenties kept coming to our house asking for someone and we kept telling them, “No We Don’t Understand”. So we were happy the dog was okay. We named him Buzz because he’s our alarm system and we cannot remember his real name.

Vera and Medet came in the house and spoke to us for about 15 min about having an extension on Mary and Nathalie’s Visa cause they want to remain here the whole trip, instead of going back and forth. They have decided that it would be too difficult to leave the baby at the orphanage and to say good-bye.

Vera said that it’s better for them to leave at the date we were told cause it would be difficult for them to stay here the whole trip because it will be long, boring and difficult for them to renew their Visa and Mary to renew her passport. But they said they would try anyways, so Medet asked for Mary and Nathalie’s passports and he would go to the police station and find out if it can be done or not. In Mary’s situation it was a bit more complicated cause her passports expires March 11, 2010 and she would have to renew her passport before she can get her visa done.

They left and Mary and I stayed home. I took out some snow again and Mary cleaned the house. Christoph and Nathalie came back home from seeing the dr. and told us that we couldn’t see Dylan again today cause he was still under the weather. This was bad news, another day without seeing our Dylan. Since Christoph and Nathalie were at the orphanage talking to the doctor regarding their son the doctor gave them a prescription for Dylan to give to us. They bought the medication on their way back home for us; thank you guys!!

Christoph and Nathalie left at 3:40 to go to the orphanage and brought the medication to give to them for Dylan. We then went for a walk and went to do some groceries. We got back home and Mary started cooking and I was trying to communicate with the Canadian Embassy in Russia to find out for Mary’s passport. Then I saw Nathalie & Christoph and they came back earlier. Their baby Jacob was sick with a fever so they had to come back home and were not able to see him. Vera came in and said that tomorrow they would take us to the museum at 10:30.

We then had supper around 6:30 pm. After supper Christoph wanted to play cards again (Crazy Eight). So we had a card game and yes Mary won.

On that note it's now 11:00 pm and I will check my emails and go to bed cause tomorrow is another day and sure hoping it will be a better day!!!!!
(we posted a picture of our Kazak dog "buzz" and a picture of our white house where we are living right now.)