Home at Last!

The four of us are now home. We did take the opportunity to tour Moscow on a very warm, roomy tour bus. It is an amazing city. Lots of history reflected in beautiful buildings constructed during very key moments in Russia's history. The Kremlin and Red Square should be seen by anyone who has an opportunity to do so in their lifetime.

We were blessed with a cancellation that shortened our return from Moscow from three plane trips to two. Kirill had another tantrum on the plane, but it lasted only twenty minutes this time. We are convinced that he is just terrified of having to return to Russia, even though we feel he received excellent care by the orphanage system. Kirill doesn't express his feelings much at all. Even when we are in the company of people who speak Russian and English, as we were on the ten hour flight home, he clams up and sulks, or cries and screams. We just hold him, stroke him gently, let him kick and scream and tell him we love him, and all seems to settle down just fine. Several times he asked "dome"? (home?). When we had to say "not yet", he would frown. When we finally did arrive in Des Moines, he asked if we were home. When I said yes, he smiled, then began repeating many words back to me in English. It is as if he had to be truly "home" on American soil before he felt 100% sure he was not going back to Russia.

We enrolled Kirill, now David, as he insists on being called, at Wallace Elementary School. We were again blessed, as we have been many times in this adoption experience, with an ESL teacher who is Bosnian, but who also speaks Russian. David took to her very well. We can easily tell he wants to start school now but will be starting in three days. His school is a relatively small one, with ESL students from about 9 different countries. At this time he is just getting adjusted to his new home, getting to know his grandparents, and exploring the house in its entirely. He opens all doors, turns all knobs, and pushes all buttons--most physical, some metaphorical (!). Our chihuahua sits on his lap often, which we consider a very good sign, since dogs are very good judges of human character. He has taken to his grandpa, and appears to feel at home. He tried on a couple of cowboy hats Billy, a very nice boy from California, had sent to him as gifts. They suit him well. David is on his way.

We look foward to seeing Nastia this Saturday night, the third of the Camp Hope group to arrive in Iowa. The Des Moines based Russian adoptee community is growing little by little.