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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.

The First Day in the Apartment

I have good news to report. Andrey is doing very well. Addie said she can't believe it is the same little guy from this morning. He played all afternoon. I almost worried, he giggled and laughed for two hours straight. He loves to play and is extremely ticklish. He has now said at least four words including mama, dada, papa, and bye bye. He is working on Nana for Hannah and I think is calling Addie dada and Todd papa. Don't worry Papa Glen, we will have it worked out by the time he comes home. He will try just about any food. He ate ham and cheese for dinner. He has snacked on apples, cookies, and cheerios. He doesn't care for bananas and chocolate so far. He nicely spit it out and returned it to Addie. He hasn't had any temper tantrums. After dinner, he took a bath and then played with the broom. Bedtime went well. He loves to be rocked and cuddles very well. He just takes about 45 minutes to finally give up and go completely to sleep.

Our friends called and it appears they will release Jennifer from the hospital tomorrow in time for their 6:00 a.m. flight to Moscow on Wednesday. Please continue to pray for them as they travel and Andy tries to take care of little Brock and Jennifer.

Trip Home to the Apartment

Andrey was not so happy this morning at the orphanage. He screamed everytime he saw us. (He really knows how to make his new family feel his love.) We eventually left with him screaming. He was mesmerized by the car. He sat very still so still that he feel asleep for about an hour and a half. (Screaming also makes you tired.) When he woke up he was much happier, until he started vomitting all over him and us. He threw up at least four times. We then had to have his picture taken for his passport that is going to be one awesome picture. (NOT) He threw up once on the way to the apartment. Once in the apartment, things began to improve dramatically. Every few minutes he seems to be happier. He has eaten some macaroni and drank some apple juice. He has thoroughly checked out the TV and the washing machine. We have been playing with him for 30 minutes with him laughing. When he smiles we all go crazy. He seems to do a great job of imitating our actions and even some of the noises. He even said mama. I have gotten a couple of hugs. Todd and he are trying to figure out this bathroom thing with no luck yet.

Today is the day!

We will be leaving the apartment at 8:30 this morning to go downtown Krasnoyarsk to pick up Andrey's adoption decree and other paperwork. We will then travel to Aschkin's after stopping off to buy some gifts for the children at the Baby Home. The other couples that we have spoken to say that we will spend very little time at the orphanage. We will hand them his clothes, they will dress him, and hand him to us. I think we are all anxious. Yesterday, we spent the day just talking and relaxing. The girls have been awesome the whole trip. They are really growing up. Please continue to pray for all of us. I can't imagine how much all five lives are about to change.

Saturday

Today we went across the street to the Russian flea market. We found Drey a stroller. It's a blue one with circles on it. After that we found a taxi to take us to the Krasnoyarsk Arc leading to an island park. People were bike riding, roller blading, and taking wedding photos along it. Than we walked downtown to our new favorite restaurant called Mama Romas aka. by Todd Mama Mia's. We had a nice meal. Than we walked down the street to Travelers Coffee. Addie had a Donut and a coke. The rest of us had cappuccino. Hannah had six cups of tea and then a cappuccino. When we were done there we went back to the apartment because of the rain. One less day until we have Drey.

Sightseeing on Saturday

We're having Russian Computer problems with the pictures.

Friday's Visit

We made our last trip home from Ashkins without Drey. We are all so relieved. It is hard to leave each time. It is such a long trip and he was tired today. Hannah and Todd think he wasn't feeling well. The highlights for him included cookies and the box the shoes were in. His new shoes fit him well. He showed his temper again today as you can see in the one picture with Addie and I.
We stayed home for the afternoon and evening having both meals in the apartment. Today is Russian Independents Day so we didn't know how the crowds might be in the restaurants. There aren't too many people out and about that we can see from our window.

We have definitely started the countdown until we can be home again with all of you. We miss you!!!!

Friday's visit

Prayer Request

Our new friends who are from St. Louis need your prayers. When we went to dinner with them Tuesday, she became ill. She continued to feel poorly and her condition worsened until they had no choice but to take her to the hospital. After a thorough medical exam, they determined her appendix had ruptured. She required immediate surgery. In Russia, they require a person having that surgery to be hospitalized for 8 days. They were suppose to travel home on Wednesday morning. They are a wonderful couple and they really need everyone to pray this all works out and she heals quickly. Andy will go ahead and pick up their little boy on Monday.

We are doing well. We made it to the mall and Drey now has shoes to wear home.

English Club

Tonight, we walked a few blocks to the Krasnoyarsk University to speak to a group of about 20 young men and women ranging from 18 to 25 who meet twice a week to speak English. They were very friendly and many had traveled to the United States. It was a lot of fun. It was wonderful how well they spoke English. Several of the students have asked us to join them in sightseeing at Krasnoyarsk during the weekend. It should be an awesome opportunity to see their city from their perspective. Hannah and Addie had a good time too. They both shared openly with the group. It was a very good experience for them. They took a picture hopefully we will be able to post one on the blog. We have had a very busy day. We have only been in the apartment for 30 minutes all day.

Traveling to Ashkins

Drey on Wednesday

Wednesday Trip to see Drey

Drey was very moody today. He was laughing and smiling, then crying two seconds later. We gave him a cookie then he stop crying. Drey only wanted to ride or push the stroller. Today he kept us very busy. We all hope he isn't this way on the plane ride back home. We're planning on taking his little Elmo phone and a bag of cookies on the plane with us. Friday we'll visit him one more day. Then on Monday we take clothes and go get him. The whole two hour road trip for about ten minutes in Asckins. Then he's ours. The ride to Asckins is like a four hour roller coster ride. It's very pain full. Today We also went to a Russian Mexican, where we met another couple from Oregon. Tonight we're going to a Russian English Club, to answer questions about the United States.

Tuesday

We are really getting good at this taking a taxi downtown. We had cappuccino's and milkshakes at our favorite cafe. We walked around downtown. We ate at a real Italian restaurant. Todd had lasagna without fish this time. Addie and Hannah had a pizza and Tarimuso. I enjoyed a calzone. It was really good. Krasnoyarsk is experiencing quite the summer heat wave. It was 90 degrees today and very sunny. We enjoyed the day. I think we are getting accustomed to our temporary life in the middle of Siberia. Tomorrow we will be going to the orphanage. Hannah will of course be bringing cookies for Drey.

Monday Visit

Today, we left the apartment before 7:00 a.m. and made it to Asckins before 9:00 without any incident. We spent the entire morning outside playing with Drey. He was a little tired at first but work right up when he realized he was going to have four people at his beacon call. It was an absolutely gorgeous day. The highlight for Drey may have been the cookie Hannah gave him. He did get mad once and threw a little tantrum in the middle of the dandelions. I wish we could have gotten a picture. His tantrums only last a few seconds and compared to his older sisters is rather mild. He seemed to be even more comfortable today. We were able to trace his feet. We found some shoes at the mall yesterday and will take the drawings to try to match them to a shoe size. This should be very entertaining as we clearly don't speak Russian. Yesterday, Todd ended up with a salmon pizza at Sbarro's. He ate it without complaining but we all had a great laugh.
The Krasnoyarsk coordinator's daughter is taking English at the university and they asked us to go to class with them. I guess show and tell with the Americans. It should be interesting. We love and miss you all. We cannot wait to see you when we return!!!!

Visit with Drey

Downtown Krasnoyarsk