Update of Day 5-7 - going strong!

Sorry, no posts over the weekend. Sunday the Internet was closed and Saturday we moved hotels.  Can't remember if I let everyone know but we had a really tough time getting a hotel room for the whole stay.  The hotel we were at last week was sold out for a few days and they only had 2 rooms available. ( Sold out to the Russian rock band). We decided as a group that we would bunk in together...Me, Barb (the other single woman) and one of the wives of a couple in one room, the family and the husband of the couple in the other room.  It was cozy, but we all handled it great, sharing snacks, supplies, computer equipment, etc.  We moved to a hotel more central to town.  While no quite as nice of a hotel, it is walking distance to everything and we each have our own rooms. We've all enjoyed seeing more of the city, picking new restaurants, the parks and just wondering.  Nice to stretch my legs.   Samuel is WONDERFUL!  It really is a peaceful feeling.  WE've had quite a few hotel problems, delays, questions unanswered, but I am so relaxed now that I've met Samuel and spent some time with him.  It looks like we will be in Kaz until June 29th or so...many steps to still accomplish and many potential delays, but I'm going with the flow.   Saturday, we were free at last from isolation.  It was great to having the floor of the playroom to spread our wings.  Unfortunately, Sunday and today (Monday) we were back in isolation and will probably be for a few more days.  Yesterday was the only day he seemed a little sick...just groggy (I think from some cough medicine) and he was content and peaceful in my arms nearly the whole visit.  He even fell asleep for a few minutes and it was a wonderful feeling to know that he felt safe enough to curl up in my arms and sleep.  Today, he was much more chipper, but a bit snotty and coughing a bit, so we were back to our 2 by 2 play area.  It is no coincidence that I'm the one to have all the isolation play time...perfect practice for the airplane and me flying home solo.  I was told that he weighs 6.6 kilos (about 14.5 lbs), but that is a good pound gain in the last few weeks.  I think he is growing with all this love and attention.   He really isn't fussy at all...just a tiny bit towards the end of our visits, headinginto nap time.  He loves to hold on to my thumbs and pull himself up to standing on my lap.  He also seems to discovered the mirror and he is constantly cracking himself up by looking at himself in the mirror.   Yesterday afternoon, we toured the city vs. going to the orphanage.  We finally got the lay of the land and realized that we are no more than a 15 minute walk to everything in the main part of the city.   I've got a few photos posted in the journal...picture 1 is me trying to take a picture of us in our little isolation play area.  Pic 3 seems to be a miracle meeting of Ruby and Samuel.  Just let it be known that I have an Adobe Photoshop expert in my midst.   Lots of love and feel free to email me back...it takes a really long time to sign on to AOL mail (about 15 mins), but it is worth it to receive the emails.   S&S