Andrey's First Month Home

Time really does fly when you are having fun. Everything is going so well. Andrey is sleeping, eating, and having so many new experiences. We have visited St.Louis zoo, Grants farm, and have hosted countless swim parties. Of course, Andrey is Adelaide's biggest basketball fan. He even cheers when she misses her free throws. He is an amazing swimmer and enjoys playing outside. Todd can't mow without him or so he thinks. Andrey has really stolen all of our hearts. His sense of humor, cute little laugh, and facial expressions that light up a room. His receptive language is growing exponentially. He is making progress in expressive language and is going to speech weekly. The best news of all is that he has grown. He has gained almost five pounds. That is amazing since he only started at 21 pounds.

Home

After the long adventure from Moscow to Atlanta to St.louis we are finally back. Drey was so happy during the flight. He was little party animal. Drey did wonderful on the flight. Drey is now a United States Citizen now and most important a member of the Ballard family. We got back Tuesday night around 9 o'clock. Then we came back and Drey got to play with all his new toys. He has done great so far.

Heading to Moscow!

Today, we will be headed to Moscow at 7:00 p.m. Krasnoyarsk time after we pick up his passport. (I can't wait to see the picture of him crying. It was hardly fair to take his picture after he threw up four time but anyway.) Funny thing is we arrive in Moscow four hours later at 7:00 p.m. Pray for safe travels and no vomitting on the plane. Once in Moscow the interpreter will meet with us to complete paperwork for our first embassy appointment on Friday. We then have the weekend to explore Moscow some more.

Internet access is very very expensive in Moscow so I am not sure if we will be able to access our blog to make updates. Hannah has her cell phone and we think if you really need to reach her texting cost about $.50 per text.

We may attack the McDonald's worker. We really really need cheeseburgers!!!

Andrey did awesome at the mall yesterday so we are hopeful this will continue so we can sightsee.

On Monday we go back to the Embassy. Tuesday, we leave Moscow at noon. We arrive nine hours later at 2:00 p.m. to Atlanta. Then home to St.Louis at 7:30 p.m.

Words can't express how much we appreciate your being part of our journey. The blog has become our life line to you. God has been so good. He has honored your faithfulness in praying for us. We can hardly wait to see everyone!!!!!!!

Drey is a Party Animal

Drey poses for the camera with Addie.

Day Two with Drey

Things continue to get better and better with Drey. Eating, sleeping, playing, communicating and bathing all went so much easier today. Oleg and Sveta were amazed to hear how much progress he has made. Todd and Oleg went to pick up his birth certificate and apply for his passport. They should be ready on Thursday. We stayed here at the apartment with the exception of a walk with Drey. We were able to complete all of our laundry today so it can dry. We packed up everything else. Tomorrow, we plan to go back to the mall. There are some playplaces for Drey. We all have our eyes set on coming home as soon as possible. One little inconvenience we are dealing with is no hot water. It appears there is centralized hot water in Krasnoyarsk and they are making some updates. Therefore, we have not hot water. We have been heating water on the stove for bath and dishes. It just adds a little more appreciation for home as if we needed any.

They released Jennifer from the hospital and then get to head out tomorrow. We sure wish we were going with them.