Yeah Babies, We Got You

Masha was first. But even before we could go get her, we had to stop by the director’s office and sign some papers. The building was dark and quiet... no lights or computers running... no electricity at all. It will be off until winter to save money. Times are tough in Vorzel.

Masha was napping. I had asked if I could go into her living room to take pictures for her scrapbook and I was told that I could. So while I was snapping pics, they woke her up and brought her in and put her on the changing table. I took her outfit from my bag and began dressing her.

No no wait... it is cold outside... Masha will catch cold. You must keep her warm. And with that they brought me tights, an undershirt, a long sleeved shirt, and a white button up sweater... to go with the undies, socks, shoes, dress, and wrap I had for her. I politely declined the shirt but layered on everything else. It was so much stuff that I could not get her dress zipped up!

She looked beautiful and all her nannies were ooohing and ahhing and telling her she is a princess. Masha was very cooperative while I dressed her. She can practically dress herself. Once she was all ready, she charmed everyone by twirling around and showing off. Then we told her to go show papa and she zoomed out to the sitting area to find daddy.







Everyone came to say goodbye to her... all the caretakers and the doctor. Masha was very excited but when it came time for the actual goodbye, she got scared and clung to her doctor. I gently pried her away and began walking her down the sidewalk toward the car. She did not like the seatbelt and did not want to be closed in the car. I was sad for her that she was so terrified but she calmed down once she snuggled on mommy and we started driving.







Next stop, baby house #2 to pick up a nurse from the orphanage who would accompany us to the hospital to help secure Autumn’s release. The orphanage lawyer had already stopped at baby house #2, to make sure that there would not be an issue on the orphanage side seeing how Autumn’s usual doctor was on vacation, so I thought things would go smoothly... I was wrong.

At the hospital we went to a nurse’s office and asked to get Autumn. Suddenly the orphanage nurse was having a back and forth with two nurses from the hospital. Our facilitator tried to negotiate a solution and our translator ran back to the car to get our court decree. I asked her what the problem was and she explained that the orphanage nurse wanted the hospital to write up some paperwork saying that they were releasing Autumn directly to us. The hospital was insisting on releasing her to the orphanage nurse who could then transfer her to me. (Hubby and Masha were waiting in the car.) It took about 30 minutes to get the orphanage nurse to go along with the hospital’s wishes, and she insisted on seeing Autumn to determine if she thought she should be released at all.

You would all be very proud of me for sitting there patiently waiting without yelling at anyone to just give me my baby because, hello, SHE IS MINE. I did ask our translator if we could get her dressed in her gotcha outfit while they wrapped up the skirmish. Nadya asked permission and learned that the orphanage nurse, who was in “checking out Autumn” was actually dressing her to go. Two minutes later she came back with Autumn stuffed into a winter snowsuit complete with the hood pulled up over a hat that was tied down tight. I almost burst out laughing. My poor hot baby.



The orphanage nurse, holding Autumn, was waiting for us just outside the office door. As we walked out she made no move to hand her to me. I was done waiting and being patient. I asked Nadya to tell the nurse to give Autumn to me. The woman did not flinch or change her expression or anything, so I walked over to her and smiled at her as I reached for Autumn and then extracted my child out of her grip. She hovered as if she was waiting for me to give her back, but I didn’t because I am never giving Autumn “back” to anybody.





There is more, lots more to tell, but that was gotcha and the rest will have to wait for another post because you know, babies only sleep just so long...