Yes Tummy, We Have Been in Kazakhstan for Two Weeks

You will have to forgive me, as there are not many pictures today. My stomach finally realized that we have been in Kazakhstan for two weeks and is being funny. Nothing disastrous, but worrisome. For some reason, Mom could just not get up this morning, so I went to the a.m. visit on my own.

Anelya was more subdued today, but playful in a different way. Today she wanted to play while sitting on my lap, which was just fine with me. It looked something like this for most of the day.

We played with her feet. She loves to have her feet massaged and also loves it when I clap them together. She totally digs her new stacking cups, and today I showed her how I can clank two together and she did it right after me. She is really working hard to do things I do. She also did a bunch of raspberries (see the video) and some Nyet! head shaking.

We are still in the baby room, as the kids are REALLY sick right now. They wouldn't let me take her outside today, which is fine. There never seems to be any logic as to when I can take her out or not, but I just listen to what they tell me to do. There is A LOT of crying in the baby room right now, as the new babies are really vocal when they are hungry and our visits are scheduled around feeding time. Anelya doesn't seem to be phased by any of it and just goes about her business. Baba, however, is a wreck.

About twice a visit, a young skinny Russian girl comes into the room in her nurse outfit and administers 3 medications - GOD KNOWS WHAT - to the babies. It's a hilarious scene actually because her entrance with her uniform and the way she looks and her bucket of medications is kind of like one might expect to hear some "Bow chicky Bow Wow" music or something. I will try to get a picture. She's very good with the babies.

Ok onto feeding time which is always a craps shoot. Anelya ate her whole bowl today and fussed a bit, but I told her in Russian, "I am your mama and you have to eat. We cannot play all of the time" She promptly spit in my face, giggled, and then ate the rest of her breakfast with only a few screams. Oh the joys of feeding in Kazakhstan.

After the visit, our translator informed me that the doctor had asked for another bottle of some other kind of medication. Again, I went and bought five. She REALLY appreciated that I bought so many the other day and it really is not expensive, so it is my pleasure to help however I can. So, off I went to the bazaar again with Tammy, Bob, Sarah, and Veronika. We are on the hunt for our final traditional souvenirs. We have found them, but didn't buy them because we were price shopping. Luckily, their family and I both find pleasure in making "bazaaring" a game, so the haggling and finding stuff elsewhere is half the fun. I bought mom an ugly square bag that she wanted that they sell everywhere and some LETTUCE(!!!!) and other veggies and some Aktivia for my tummy. We also stopped and bought the meds for Anelya.

When I got back to the hotel, Mom had fallen asleep again and the electricity had been out since 10a.m. She prefers no electricity to no water, while I prefer to keep in contact with the outside world and use Wet Ones for a day or so. Tomato/ Tomaaato.

When we went to wait for Pasha for the afternoon visit, there was all of this activity outside. Igor's blood pressure is up again because now we have no electricity and he had had it. So, he had called his son Ilya to come run the hotel, while he goes away for a night to go fishing and hunting and drinking vodka (great for blood pressure I hear). So, we watched this flurry of Russian cars and SUVs come in and out of the driveway with huge Russian men doing this that and the other. Then a boat arrived. We were just laughing. It was really quite a show. Igor takes everything SO SERIOUSLY. Judging from the flurry of activity we saw today, I am pretty sure that Igor is very "connected", shall we say.

Pasha picked us up and we went to the baby house, along with Ella's escort! YAY! Ella will go to her forever home this week! I got there and fed Anelya. She gave me some trouble, but is starting to catch onto the fact that I am toughening up a little, at least while the caregivers are watching. When they're not we make noises and jump and laugh. Great parenting, I know, but I love to watch her laugh. So, she ate her whole bowl of potatoes and all of her compote. I had asked Mom to wait behind door #1 because Anelya is already so distracted with me feeding her. If Baba is there she just wants to have a dance party.

So, Anelya gave me a nice burp and we went into the baby playroom. This afternoon, she really wanted to play, but sitting on my lap again. I loved it. She was playing smack Baba's stacking cup with my stacking cup and loved it. I also got some smiling leverage out of sniffing her on her neck. She loves that.

After about an hour she started to get tired again so I grabbed her squeaky block and laid her down on my chest. She was very happy there and played with the block, and my mouth, for the rest of the visit.

As you can see, she was ready for a nap, but also ready for snuggles.

After the second visit it was back to the bazaar and I bought Anelya 5 pairs of warm, good quality tights for a total of about $10. I have been on a bit of a tights binge and think I may have filled that void now. God I hope so. I also bought her a red velvet baker's hat like the white one I first met her in. I LOVE. Mom has gotten bold and now that Danile is no longer our translator/body guard, she's started marching around to the beat of her own drummer. So, Bob runs after her to make sure she is ok. I have to say, Caesar girls can spot the goods! She was like, "Tights up on the right! Baker's hats on the left!" She's a monster, I tell you.

Bob started to look flushed again. He passed out with Pasha in the Russian Banya last night and woke up to 12 naked Russian men staring at his face and slapping him. That's another story, but we figured we should get the poor man home. BUT FIRST! Pasha wanted to take us to the supermarket. I feel like all we do is visit Anelya and buy food and yurts. I bought more Aktivia. Mom bought more cookies. Priorities. We almost bought a horse sausage by mistake, but I caught the mistake when I looked at the package and saw a lovely equestrian imagine on the wrapper. Nyet spacibo!

We got home and the electricity was back on. I ate a salad and am feeling a little woozy still. I started taking natural antimicrobials every two hours this morning, so that should do the trick. If not, I have Cipro to put out any fires which may arise. I am going to watch a movie now and go to bed early. I'm sure I won't have to twist Mom's arm to go to bed early either.

It's now looking like court will be mid-late next week. We will know for sure tomorrow. Or maybe tomorrow she will tell me we will know for sure... tomorrow... Roll with it...