Well, here I am, alone in our apartment. As you can see by the title, it is very quiet. It almost reached out and hit me the moment I opened the door tonight. Right away I had to put on the CD Jamie made for me. Right now I am enjoying Shania's "Men are like shoes!"
Anyway, Michael got away okay. We got to the airport around 8:45, got him checked in and then had a Fanta with Aliya while we waited for his flight to be called. It was on time and he went through security at 9:35pm. I am very nervous, sitting here waiting to hear that he got home safely.
Now I am going to back up a little and blog about the last couple of days. I was in denial that Michael was leaving right up until we started to wheel the bags out the door today. Even while packing and talking about what to send home with him. Reality has now set in. We got together with everyone at some point over the last few days so Michael could say good-bye. We had lunch with a very tired Maegan and Tony and a crying Taylor (who put the fear into the eyes of us parents who will be bringing our own children home in a few weeks) as well as Rolando and Denise. Then we had supper with Annette(who has invited me to her apartment and told me to sleep over if I felt scared - isn't that sweet! She knows what this is like since she has been without Marwan since they went to court), Seriah, Rolando and Denise. Since Peter and Marin have had different visiting schedules, we only caught up with them today when we managed to get the 2pm visit so Michael could have one last visit with Matthew before he left. Speaking of last visits, yesterday, Matthew managed to make Daddy's eyes leak when he kept "seal flopping" over to him without Michael coaxing him over! He just kept giggling and going to him, almost as if he knew something was up. Today we had a good visit. Matthew was very vocal and enjoyed singing to us. He also watched me very intently as I babbled, mommommomdadadadada at him. Don't know if he was trying to figure out how I was doing that or if he thought I'd just lost my mind! Matthew also has made friends with a little boy who just started the bonding process with his mom. He belly flopped his way over to them where they had a bonding moment where Maxim reached out his slobbery fingers and patted Matthew on the head. Then they laughed. It was great! Aliya was taping for us then so we even got it on the camcorder. (What is funny is that when we got back and watched what we had taped, we realized that at one point I forgot to turn off the camcorder and we had 15 minutes of blanket vision! Good thing we could erase it!)
Michael and I were good right up until it was time to take him back for his nap. We both had tears running down our faces and Michael had to pick him up out of bed for one last hug. One of the caregivers saw us and asked Aliya what was wrong. Was Matthew sick? Aliya told her papa was going home and she nodded understandingly. Michael was so torn. He is excited to get back home and get into harvest mode, but at the same time can hardly tear himself away from his son. Matthew really is Daddy's boy. All the caregivers say he loves his papa! No one can make him laugh the way Michael can. Yesterday when there was a new caregiver who wouldn't let Michael into the bathroom while Matthew was being changed, Matthew kept looking around for his dad! It was pretty cute.
[(Great, Alan Jackson's "Remember When" just came on. It always makes me cry, especially now.)] [(Had a little break there, but now "Redneck Girl" is on and I'm okay - I LOVE this song!)]
I feel like I am really rambling, so sorry about this everyone. I am going to quit while I am behind and post some pictures which is what I know you are all waiting for anyway!
PS- from now until I get used to the idea of Michael being half way around the world from me, I am pretending that he is having a VERY long game of basketball with his Kazakh buddies!
PPS- We know it is half way because we went to the very interesting museum across the street from us and figured it out on a giant globe. I will have to go back with Sarah because we didn't pay to be able to take pictures that day!
Anyway, Michael got away okay. We got to the airport around 8:45, got him checked in and then had a Fanta with Aliya while we waited for his flight to be called. It was on time and he went through security at 9:35pm. I am very nervous, sitting here waiting to hear that he got home safely.
Now I am going to back up a little and blog about the last couple of days. I was in denial that Michael was leaving right up until we started to wheel the bags out the door today. Even while packing and talking about what to send home with him. Reality has now set in. We got together with everyone at some point over the last few days so Michael could say good-bye. We had lunch with a very tired Maegan and Tony and a crying Taylor (who put the fear into the eyes of us parents who will be bringing our own children home in a few weeks) as well as Rolando and Denise. Then we had supper with Annette(who has invited me to her apartment and told me to sleep over if I felt scared - isn't that sweet! She knows what this is like since she has been without Marwan since they went to court), Seriah, Rolando and Denise. Since Peter and Marin have had different visiting schedules, we only caught up with them today when we managed to get the 2pm visit so Michael could have one last visit with Matthew before he left. Speaking of last visits, yesterday, Matthew managed to make Daddy's eyes leak when he kept "seal flopping" over to him without Michael coaxing him over! He just kept giggling and going to him, almost as if he knew something was up. Today we had a good visit. Matthew was very vocal and enjoyed singing to us. He also watched me very intently as I babbled, mommommomdadadadada at him. Don't know if he was trying to figure out how I was doing that or if he thought I'd just lost my mind! Matthew also has made friends with a little boy who just started the bonding process with his mom. He belly flopped his way over to them where they had a bonding moment where Maxim reached out his slobbery fingers and patted Matthew on the head. Then they laughed. It was great! Aliya was taping for us then so we even got it on the camcorder. (What is funny is that when we got back and watched what we had taped, we realized that at one point I forgot to turn off the camcorder and we had 15 minutes of blanket vision! Good thing we could erase it!)
Michael and I were good right up until it was time to take him back for his nap. We both had tears running down our faces and Michael had to pick him up out of bed for one last hug. One of the caregivers saw us and asked Aliya what was wrong. Was Matthew sick? Aliya told her papa was going home and she nodded understandingly. Michael was so torn. He is excited to get back home and get into harvest mode, but at the same time can hardly tear himself away from his son. Matthew really is Daddy's boy. All the caregivers say he loves his papa! No one can make him laugh the way Michael can. Yesterday when there was a new caregiver who wouldn't let Michael into the bathroom while Matthew was being changed, Matthew kept looking around for his dad! It was pretty cute.
[(Great, Alan Jackson's "Remember When" just came on. It always makes me cry, especially now.)] [(Had a little break there, but now "Redneck Girl" is on and I'm okay - I LOVE this song!)]
I feel like I am really rambling, so sorry about this everyone. I am going to quit while I am behind and post some pictures which is what I know you are all waiting for anyway!
PS- from now until I get used to the idea of Michael being half way around the world from me, I am pretending that he is having a VERY long game of basketball with his Kazakh buddies!
PPS- We know it is half way because we went to the very interesting museum across the street from us and figured it out on a giant globe. I will have to go back with Sarah because we didn't pay to be able to take pictures that day!
Our last family photo for a few weeks.
I know it looks like it, but I'm really not into scaring babies!
Michael entertaining a sad Taylor!
Bayan, Michael and Aliya at our apartment just before we left for the airport.
Michael and our driver Oshut outside Astana airport. You wouldn't know it from the picture, but Oshut is very funny and joking around!
I'd say Matthew has things pretty well figured out!
6 comments:
Our hearts are full for you and we don't know quite what to say. you are such an adorable loving family. our prayers are answered. We love the pictures and we too got quite leaky eyed looking at them. I feel for you Jennifer, seeing Michael off at the airport, having said Goodbye to unc;e Elmer several times, I get teary thinking of you. On a happier note you will soon all be in your own cozy home. May God continue to Bless the Michael Sanders Family . With much love Uncle E & Aunt B.
Our hearts goes out to you two. Must be very hard to see Michael off and yet I know Michael is leaving his two most important people to follow in a couple of weeks. Hope Michael has a safe trip home and you are able to follow shortly. Love the pictures. You are a beautiful family. God Bless and bring you together again soon. Aunt K & Uncle G
Ha! Ha! Matthew has already figured out how to get dad's money; just wait til he is asking for the keys to dad's truck!! It's so nice to hear that you have met people you have come close to; inviting you to stay with them if need be. If rambling on to us helps pass the time, we sure don't mind. The way you write, it's as though we're hearing your voice.Take care, thanks for keeping us informed, Love, the mcs
Here's hoping that time will pass by quickly until you break Matthew out of the baby house. We just got back from Astana in Jan. 07 and have enjoyed following along with you'll. Sleepovers came be fun, even as an adult! Take her up on that one. It sounds like you have a had a great time with your new friends so far! Poor Taylor, she is just going through so much. Our son and plenty of others went through the same and the night terrors he had we he got back here gave him and us a run for our money but now all is well and he sleeps and naps beautifully for the most part. Matthew is adorable and I love his eyes. I see you have the same blanket as our son, Berik, the fleecy one with the zoo animals. Have you gone to the book store across from the cinema yet? They have books for children in English, Russian and Kazakh all in one book. Thanks for blogging and sharing. Sincerely, Gena Lloyd, (Berik's mommy) jaimiegena@yahoo.com We are from Texas.
David and I will be thinking about you Jennifer until Sarah comes. We are also excited to visit with Mike, I know Ethan was asking about him the other day. Kendra can hardly wait to help Matthew rip into his Daddy's wallet to buy some baby treats!! What a precious little boy you have. Keep safe and keep up with the adorable pictures of our new cousin/nephew. Take care
Tracy
Gosh, this post made me a bit weepy. Here's hoping the time just flies by and you can keep on blogging whenever you're bored/lonely because you have a rapt audience here. I hope Michael gets back safely and that you continue to have wonderful visits with Matthew.
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