We Made It !!!

We left Albany at 12:30 on Monday the 7th. We arrived in Almaty at 3:00 am on the 9th. Just a quick trip around the corner of the world. The trip was taxing, the first time we got to sleep was in Almaty. Note to future WPA families, if you go through Amsterdam you must make a reservation at the day hotel in the airport. We had a six hour lay over and needed a nap and a shower, but no room at the inn. It is the Hotel Mercure at Schiphol Terminal, email: mercure@hmsc.nl. With no rooms available, the first sleep we got was 34 hours after the start of our journey.
Customs in Almaty Airport wasn't too difficult, they did request to see our cash, which were sealed envelopes with the amounts written on each. Not fun when your money is packed in money belts and leg stashes. They did keep asking us if we had any more money in pockets or coats, ie; give us something for our troubles. But we got through and met our driver Vitaly and Dilnoza, our coordinator who took us to a hotel to sleep for a few hours before the meeting with our attorney, Gulzan.
That done, off to the airport for the ride of our lives. This was scary. Thirty two people line up to get in the tail of an old Soviet era jet. We were at the end of the line and noticed there were no more seats together. You may as well throw out your seat assignment cause its first come first sit. Luckily, a kind gentleman moved so we sat together. Our travel partners, the Stannards, weren't so lucky. Don't drink any liquids prior to flight time, it is a three hour flight with no bathroom. We weren't worried about crashing - just turbulence with a huge pile of luggage stacked next to us with no straps or anything holding it in place. For Michael, Mark Frank and Andy, the only thing missing on the plane were chickens hanging upside down. After we landed in Kokshetau, it was like an obstacle course dodging luggage that had shifted during flight. Once you get out of the plane your about 100 yds. from the terminal. Don't bother looking for a Sky Cap, you tote your own luggage off the plane, accross the tarmac and into the terminal. Bring a hat, gloves and scarf for this event, the plane was 90 degrees in flight, but that first step out brings the tempature down to a balmy -20 degrees. We were picked up by our Interpretor, Sveta and our driver Sergei. Very nice and welcoming as we made our way to the hotel. Our room is spacious and we have russian tv. What more could you ask for. We tried to sleep but knowing we would be meeting Ryan the next day made it difficult.
The next morning we drove one hour to Shcuchinsk. The tempature was getting better,it was only -19 when we left the hotel in the morning.The roads were a bit rough and passing other cars, buses and trucks at 70 mph was the norm for our driver. That just meant that we got to the babyhouse (orphanage) quicker. The babyhouse is hard to describe. We had a very different preconception of what it would be like. It turned out to be nice, clean and everyone we met who worked there was smiling. We were asked to wait in the music room where 4 adorable toddlers were having a dancing lesson. Too Cute!!
We were taken to a small room adjascent to his "group" or where he sleeps, eats and spends time playing with his buddies. The door opened and out came the cutest, cuddliest, bigest 8 month old boy you have ever laid eyes on. You forget everything that led you to this moment. No thoughts of infertility, paperwork, waiting, traveling etc. - nothing but love for this beautiful boy. We had the best two hours with him that went by too fast. We can't wait to see him tomorrow. Enjoy the pictures, see you tomorrow.