Schedules ;)

For me it is always a tad of a challenge to stick to a schedule as I seem to have two powers inside of me collide and fight a battle. One is my German DNA that craves order and reliability, which is fought against with the wicked Gypsy DNA that I somehow got and no one knows from where. My need to be free and impulsive, my desire not to plan ahead or worry about tomorrow.

So I am telling you this because yesterday I sorted through papers for our upcoming Social Security Visit and found the handwritten note that was handed to us when we picked up the boys from the Baby Home on March 26, 2005. They were just 9 days away from their 1st Birthday and of course where still catching up developing wise as they were born premature at 3 lb each in the 33rd week.

I smile when looking at that note as it shows me that in Siberia, Russia they were just as serious about schedules as it was in most parts of Germany when I grew up:

7 - 7:30 Wake Up, sit on their pots if they were dry through the night.

8:00.       Breakfast 1. milk porridge and a small amount of cottage cheese or grated cheese omelette 

                                   Or half boiled egg. 

                               2. A piece of bread.

                               3. Milk

8:30 - 9:30 active time (playtime)

9:30 - 11:30/12:00 nap

12:00     Lunch 1. Soup and piece of bred.

                         2. A cutlet with mashed potatos, rice or buckwheat with sauce. Or steamed cabbage.

                         3. Juice/ light green apple

13:00 - 15:00 active time (playtime)

15:00     Snack Kefir or Jogurts, plus small roll of cookies and some fruit.

15:30 - 17:00 Sleep

17:00 - 19:00 play, walk etc

19:00.   Dinner, Milk Portidge or something like second serving of lunch.

19:30 - 20:00 play

20:00.    Sleep

It truly brings back memories of the Baby Home and while we had to adjust the food since the boys had no teeth at that time I was so grateful to that schedule as both our dumplings napped twice a day without complains for up to 2 years. They slept through the night from 8 to 8 without issues and best of all I had boys who had tummies that never seemed to get sick or bothered by food. No throwing up or diahria in those early years ever.

Now the potty part was super funny however as both were not potty trained at 12 months so just thinking of sitting them on a potty made us laugh.

With everything politically going on in Russia right now it is heartbreaking for us here to watch.  We watch the news as a family and we are sad how backwards things seem to be going. Now Puttin was President when we adopted our boys and what a different Russia it was then. No matter what, we will always be grateful to this Country for giving us the ultimate gift of our boys. The women we met in the Baby Home and in tne Courts, Judges and Lawyers, where people with hearts of gold and who had a deep love for the children of Russia.

So THANK YOU Baby Home #2 for giving us this list on how to take care of the treasure you handed us. We all left a piece of our hearts in Khabarovsk, Russia, thanks to you and hoping for calmer years in Rusdia so we can return to visit!

Hugs,

R A C A