This morning was uneventful, we had breakfast and then Ally played in the room. Our Dr. Appointment was not until 12:00 so the translator and driver was not going to be picking us up until 11:45 because they stated that the Dr. Office is very close. Finally, it was time for the Dr. appointment and we went to the baby hospital where Ally was born and went around to a back entrance where there was a small clinic. Dr. Boris was a very kind man, around 38-42 years old I would guess. He was very good with Ally although the entire exam only took about five minutes. I stripped her down, which she didn’t mind and she was weighed, and her arms and legs were moved around to check for flexibility, also her tummy, ears, and throat. Then they listened to her heart and breathing. The doctor stated that the only problem we are going to have is keeping the boys away from her when she gets older. I told him that we had a shotgun prepared. :-) Anyway, he stated that she was very healthy with just the typical problems of orphan children. She has rickets in her legs evidenced by the growth, but expects this to be remedied with a good diet, and then she has a slight heart murmur, which we knew before, but we will have this checked by an American Dr. as soon as we get her home. I think that she was sad to go because she was playing with the toys in the office, although there were only two terribly old toys. Also an interesting note about the Dr. office, is that he has received several cards from families in the US after the adoption with pictures of the children and he posts them on the wall. I was sure to get his full address and name so we could send him a photograph of Ally when she is home and begins to get comfortable in her environment. Now Ally is down for a nap since we don’t have to be at the passport bureau until 3:30. I am hoping she will get some rest, she has gained one pound in the last two days according to the pediatrician and is 33 inches tall. This is great that she is gaining weight, but she does get heavy when she falls asleep in the car. One final note is that since she has been drinking regular fluids, she now sweats like crazy. She never did this in the home even with several layers on, but now if she is too hot she is drenched with sweat. I will take this as a good sign.
I will update after I get the passport bureau done.
Update
Well, the passport bureau was very simple, we showed up, I went in, the person at the desk verified the birth certificate with the passport and I signed stating I had received it. We were in and out in less than 10 minutes. It would have been 5 but the coordinator and the lady behind the desk were talking about the United States and Yugoslavia (those were the only two things that I understood in the conversation). Out in the foyer, the coordinator had us sign some documents for the Russian Consulate that we will be registering with prior to leaving the country, so I signed my papers and the other family that was processing through at the same time, signed theirs and they were finished. This was one of the times that would have been nice to have more than one person there for the process. The other family, only one person had to go, so the spouse stayed in the hotel with the baby, where I was the only one there, I had to take her with me. We were lucky because of the building and the offices located within, they normally do not allow children inside, but the guard said it was okay as long as she was quiet. Ally didn’t say a word the entire time we were inside so that was okay, otherwise we would have had to leave her in the car with the driver and I would have had to go into the building. I stopped at TGI Friday’s on the way home and got takeout. It was just as expensive as eating in the hotel, but it was nice to see an American menu in English (they had English and Russian Menus). Anyway, we returned to the hotel and Ally watched Monsters INC for the fourth time, I ordered an banana split from room service, and then I tried to get her to bed. She struggled with bedtime tonight, she needed a little reassurance, and was self rocking to soothe herself. She is also afraid to let me know when she needs to use the bathroom. I am working on that but I am sure it is because they had such a regimented schedule at the home that she was only allowed to use the bathroom during certain times, and so she is not used to having the flexibility to use the restroom more frequently (because of the increase in fluids). I have no doubts that in time she will be adjusted and using stall techniques to stay up late. Although, I must admit, right now she is an angel when she is sleeping.
