Whirlwind!
Thank you everyone for your encouraging comments and praises. We are so thankful for your prayers and support.
I've been very busy the last 48 hrs or so getting ready for our trip and I expect I will be all next week as well.
I sent all of our info for our visas on Friday. We should get them back on Thursday, cutting it close! I've also been spending a lot of time tracking down brand new cash from banks as Russia does not accept the slightly used kind. This has not been easy but I hope to have it all resolved by Tuesday. We have our flight itinerary and will have tickets by Monday. I'm so happy to be able to travel with another family from our agency. If any of you adoptive families out there have any travel advice, I'm all ears!=)
My sweet sister who lives in SC decided to take on the whole gift buying thing and I am most grateful. She is sending the gifts next week as well.
This week is either gonna fly by or drag on by. Which do you think? I hope it flies by! I can't wait to see our boys!
Please pray for safe travels and protection while we are there, that the airlines do not lose our luggage, that we are able to spend quality time with the boys and that we connect with each other.
I'll do my best to keep you all updated. Thanks!
posted by Chris Goeppner @ 4:52 PM
8 Comments:
I did not make any effort to get brand new bills. I told the teller I needed bills in very good condition with no marks and had absolutely no problems using them in Russia. She and I went through them bill by bill, looking at front and back. We looked through a lot of 50's to find the ones we both thought were good enough. Don't stress over this!
Take disposable cameras to leave behind, and put address labels on them.
A mini tripod camera stand is nice for the video so someone doesn't have to hold it all the time. You can just set it up in the corner and let it run.
If you can pack light enough to just do carryon, getting through customs in Moscow is a breeze. Trust me, it's SO worth it! Sounds like you have to take your gifts on trip 1 though (I didn't) so my strategy might not work for you.
Dress in layers! Everything you've heard about the inside of the buildings being unbearably hot is true!
Pack washcloths if you like to use them. I never saw one in Russia! Baby wipes come in very handy for lots of things.
Sleeping pills! The jet lag truly kicked my butt the first trip and I was totally not expecting that. Take one as soon as they feed you supper on the flight to Moscow, even though you won't want to because you're so excited. You'll be glad you did the next day.
I SO remember how exciting this time is! Can't wait to follow along your journey! I hope you can post from Kras.
Hugs, Lisa
I second Lisa's comment about new cash. We brought used money, but made sure it was in good condition. They will put each bill under an ultraviolet light when you exchange them. We had a few rejected, but it wasn't a big deal.
We took stuffed animals to our boys on trip one. When we took the boys home with us on trip two, I asked for the animals. That was all that they took with them from the dietsky dom. They very distinctly remember that we gave them to them and told us that they loved on them while we were gone.
I am still so excited for you. It was great to hear you say "our boys". You're going to love being a mom to boys! They are incredible. There's something special between a mom and her son(s).
You are going to be awesome parents! I'm thankful for Bethany putting a hint on her blog about what was going on with you all. Here's some tips from our trip to Russia:
One thing that we were told to do but didn't was to take home an outfit from her life in Russia. They put Regan in this really cute outfit to take her pictures and looking back I wish we had asked for the outfit. We probably could have traded it for some of the clothes we took for her.
ALso, don't take diapers and other kids stuff. You can buy pretty much anything you need in their grocery stores, especially in Moscow. We learned this the hard way and had a ton of stuff to cart around. We left a lot of it behind.
Obviously, only drink bottled water. Also, make sure you ask for "plain" water. They will give you carbonated water, unless you ask.
The Russian food was awesome. Though obviously my husband and Bethany's Dave grew up on the stuff so at least I had had it before. Ask to be taken to at least one nice Russian restaurant while you are there.
I've never been to Russia or adopted, but I have an idea for you. If I were adopting, I would probably go to Build-A-Bear at the mall and make a bear for each boy with a recorded message in each paw! Don't know if you've ever been there, but you can record a message on a small recorder and have it placed in the paw so when the paw is squeezed, you hear the message. That way, the boys will continue to hear your voices while you are apart. Thom did this for the kids when he left for Romania for 7 weeks and it was a great comfort. You could say , "I love you" in Russian and English and call them by their new names maybe too. You and Chris could each make a recording for each son! If you do this, take a camera to take some pictures of the process too! :) I'm so excited for you!! Can you post from Russia?
Hey, you have some great comments here!! I'll have to consider some of them- posted our pics on our blog tonight, too- may be easier to see- swingleadoption.blogspot.com
See you soon!
Deb
So happy for you guys, how awesome!If you have room pack bubbles for the boys that is always a hit during visits and toys that play music. Try to just pack essentials for you and your hubbie. The less the better:)Have a great and safe trip can't wait to hear all about it. This will be the most incredible life changing experience of your life. Treasure every moment!
Oh Penny I'm so happy for you! Isn't it crazy how you wait and wait and then bam it's hurry hurry!
Yes, definitely take disposable cameras to leave between trips! Then make yourself notes to remember and leave them! Take a measuring tape that's as long as your child at least (I was dumb and took one too short!)
Take something cute to trace their feet on. You'll want to keep that forever!
I think it's going to go fast, especially since today is already the 24th!
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home