Kazakh Independence Day!!

December 16, 2009

Today is Independence Day in Kazakhstan. This morning we got a call from Antonella as I needed some information and she was very helpful as usual - thx Nene!! We then prepared Dylan’s toys and diapers etc… Same routine like any other morning.

We got at the orphanage and Mary asked Irina if she could have gone upstairs and pick-up Dylan with her and she didn’t even hesitate and said yes. It was really nice of her, usually we're not allowed to go get our baby but because it was a holiday their Director of Orphanage wasn’t there so she allowed her to go. Mary said that Dylan was there all alone in a very big park playing, it is very clean, organised and it showed that they really take care of the babies.
Mary then came down and we started to play with him. He wasn’t as active as yesterday. He seemed like he didn’t get enough sleep. He yawned about 7 or 8 times,we tried to play with him and tire him out as much as possible. We gave him his multivitamin, which he really loves.

Around 11:15 Vera and Medet came and we had to sign documents and Dylan fell asleep on me. It was hard to sign cause I had Dylan in my arms sleeping. I then gave Dylan to Mary and he slept a little bit more. I’d say he slept for about 15 minutes plus it was close to noon and that’s when the babies are fed. So we woke him up and he seemed ok. The caregiver then came to pick up Dylan for feeding time and she stayed with us and we asked her some questions about Dylan on what he eats & how he is. The caregiver then said that Dylan is her favourite baby and she really loves him a lot. She told us that they feed him porridge, mashed veggies & meat and formula. She was really really nice answering all our questions and Dylan was really happy to see her. That makes us feel better seeing how he reacts to her.

We got home had lunch and then Nathalie, Mary and I went for a long walk. It was a little windy. We went inside an Orthodox Church and I went in a Mosque Church cause no women are allowed. It was pretty interesting. We arrived at home and about ½ hour later our neighbour which we don’t know her name, she’s in her low twenties came knocking at our door. I answered and she had a tray in her hands and she then asked for Maria. She told Mary happy Independence Day and gave us some kind of “Kazakhstan little fried breads "Scarpelle” with two types of sauces, a sweet fig sauce and a salsa sauce. We were SO TOUCHED by this gesture that even if she did not understand what we said she really saw it in our faces how thankful we were. Mary met her only once and this gesture she did was just indescribable. We are realizing more and more that Kazakhstan people are cold if you don't know them but once you know them they are ABSOLUTELY THE NICEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD!!!By the way those fried breads "Scarpelle" were amazing and we ate them all right away. (picture is attached)