The Day is Finally Here!

What a day! As I write this, I have to admit that the day still seems somewhat surreal.  Dylan asked me at one point if he was dreaming and then wanted proof that I knew this wasn't a dream!  Maddie just kept saying, "I can't believe today is today!" I am very glad we made the decision to make them part of this trip.  It is proving to be a great bonding experience for us all. 

Nikita is now ours! Brent and I just put three kids to bed.  He was a bit upset about being in a new place once bedtime came but has settled down and is falling asleep. I just poked my head in to check on him and he blew me lots of kisses! I love him so much already.

Our day began, in typical fashion of this whole experience, with an hour delay in leaving to get Nikita due to "worse than normal" traffic.  We arrived at the orphanage around noon.  After unloading Maddie and Dylan, we were told they couldn't walk into the orphanage with us. A nice but non-English speaking nurse quickly appeared to watch them.  God was with them for sure, because they rose to the occasion and stayed with her without the panic I would have expected at being separated from us all the sudden with a stranger in a foreign country. 

Brent and I were rushed into an office to get paperwork and Nikita.  Sadly, there was little in the way of formal "good byes" for Nikita.  In fact, little time was given to us to reconnect. He was pretty much handed to us and we were told to hurry to the car because it was "better for him" (and our driver, who was running behind schedule due to traffic).  I felt so sad for Nikita. It was emotional for him and tears were shed.  While a home and family is better for him, saying goodbye to the only home a 3 year old has ever known is heartbreaking. 

Nikita calmed down in the car after being offered some candy and had the chance to meet Dylan and Maddie for the first time.  He began to warm up to them and play with them. Unfortunately, this was cut short by a bad case of motion sickness (thank goodness, I brought him a second pair of clothes!).  We had been warned of this with him, as it is unlikely he has been in a car more than a few times in his life.  After getting cleaned up, he fell asleep in my lap for the long drive to a passport office to get his Russian passport.  Maddie and Dylan were troopers in this. The events of the day, mixed with traffic, did not allow time for lunch or bathroom breaks. They hung in there and were great in the car, especially considering we didn't have car seats (or seat belts!) for them in the van we were riding in. 

When we arrived at the passport office, I woke Nikita from his nap and the real connections between all of us began.  Now that he was feeling better, he seemed more ready to really meet his brother and sister.  The three of them were all giggles!  I was amazed at how quickly they connected. Dylan, very responsibly, has taken on a "big brother" role with Nikita and Maddie has been taking awesome care of him too.  After getting the passport, we drove to the apartment (and, unfortunately, dealt with another round of motion sickness).  Nikita took a bath, the kids played, we ate our first dinner as a family.  It was the perfect evening.  Nikita was already repeating English words and phrases and speaking more than I have heard him at any of our orphanage visits.  He also has been smiling and laughing more than I have ever seen.  He calls Dylan "brat" (Russian word for brother) and refers to Maddie by name. I am Mama and Brent is Dada. Nikita is full of love and is a very brave boy to be facing all the changes he is facing.  We love him already. 

We have a "free" day tomorrow while his visa and citizenship paperwork is processed at the US Embassy.  Then, we go Wednesday to get paperwork there before we fly home on Thursday. I will continue to post pics and update on our next couple of days. Prayers are appreciated as we continue to adjust and bond.  My biggest concern now is the motion sickness, especially with a 12 1/2 hour plane ride ahead of us.

God is good and we are in awe at his faithfulness to Nikita and our family in this journey. 

"Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness."  Psalm 115:1-3





Introducing: Peter Nikita Bowen! He is one VERY happy boy full of smiles
with his brother and sister!  We are overjoyed!

Maddie and Dylan at the orphanage

Two very special women who love Nikita and are telling him
goodbye.  The woman on the right said she has cared for him
since he was 6 months old.  They helped him
pick flowers to give to us. 

Tears were shed as we were hurried into the van to leave...

But a grin quickly emerged...

 

And then, Nik started to feel a little sick...

And fell asleep in my lap. 

Dylan kept trying to think of ways to help Nikita
feel happy. He is going to be a great big brother!

Feeling happy with "Dada" at the passport office.

I LOVE these kids! I get tears in my eyes looking at this picture
of them holding hands. God is good!

Brent and the kids looking at a book the orphanage nurse gave
Nikita before we left the orphanage. 

Fun in the bath!

Putting on PJ's after cleaning up!

Coloring in the apartment kitchen while I cooked dinner!
Nikita LOVES hats and is currently in bed wearing this
one that I brought for him.