From VERY Cold To Nice And Toasty

I have tried really hard in the last 6 days to not think about the waiting and focus on trying to enjoy our time in Kiev. We have been to many really cool things and we have spent very little money on anything. We have done well. We have vacationed and waited patiently for our second appointment with the SDA. We had hoped that today we would hear something from Sasha about our appointment, but alas, we have heard nothing. That means that we most likely wont get to see them tomorrow.
I am not sure how much more waiting I can stand.

I got a little emotional this morning after reading another family's blog. They had stories to tell about spending time with their kids, getting to know them and moving their process forward. I just kept thinking "that should be us! We started this process at the same time and now we are just stuck while they are moving forward!"
I could have let myself fall into a depression about it, I almost did. But instead of letting it beat me, we decided to get out and see what other things we could do.

TJ resting

Breakfast of Champions

Mike doing the dishes in our little Kitchen

After a really nice sleep in we headed out in search of a Rinok. IT WAS FREEZING but be decided to brave it anyway. We took the metro and found the huge one that we wanted to visit yesterday. After walking around for a little while and looking at stuff, I couldn't move my hands anymore. They were so cold I almost cried from the pain. We had to step inside the metro to try and warm up a little. Ironically, that is where TJ found his gift for Deb!! After emerging from the warm we realized that a lot of things were more expensive than the mall.  That is not how a rinok is supposed to work! We (really just TJ) ended up speaking to someone that told us that it was in fact the most expensive market around. He told us about another one that happened to be at our metro stop. We have walked past it a hundred times and never noticed it!! So we headed back to look for some souvenirs for our kids and TJ's kids. It was quite the experience trying to haggle in Russian!! We found a couple of cool things, But TJ scored a pair of men's hot pants and an awesome wool coat for $11.

Stores in the first Rynok

This was just a small amount of the books that this man had for sale. We found Pride and Prejudice in Russian for Olena and a children's book for Mike and I to try and read

My hands hurt so badly, I couldn't even get the gloves on properly

This man helped us by telling us to go somewhere else!

Fruits and Jams at the second market

Furs for sale

Fresh spices. They smelled so good

all kinds of stalls and things to choose from

Meat! My favorite was whole chicken with the feet still attached

my new boots. They cost $3.50

We headed back to the apartment to thaw out and then thought it might be fun to try and relax and take our minds off everything by having a swim. I know who would have thought, but you wouldn't believe the cool water park they have on the top floor of the mall across the street.
Since we have been trying to save money, we were worried if we could afford this excursion. But it turns out it only cost us $30 for both of us to spend the day in the park and have a massage and saunas! Oh the saunas were so great. They were toasty warm :)
It was so great to be able to forget about our troubles and get out of the freezing cold and spend some down time in the heat of a sauna!

map of the water park/spa

TJ in his new swimming hot pants (Very European! He fit right in. mike looked like the odd one out)

The sign says Didgeridoo restaurant

The men

The men Kaila-ing

Mike decided to Tebow

Ping pong tables

Not sure why, but  giant spider!

wake board pool

One of the many water slides

We came out of the water park all relaxed and renewed. I know I will feel sad again, especially if the waiting continues for much longer. But just for today, I was able to forget about it and enjoy a cheap date with my husband.

After the pool we headed to the Big train station to drop off TJ. He is headed home.

Last meal before leaving. Cereal.

Getting his big back pack on and checking how it looks with is cool new coat!

navigating the metro

so many people

this restaurant is just outside the big train station. Mike joked that it looks like its called Crap dogs. So now that is its name!

Getting ready to board the sleeper train

the sign on the train says "The black sea" Its going to Odessa. Maybe we will be there too soon!!

Bye TJ. Dosvidanya

We have had a fabulous time having him be here with us. We are so grateful that he was so willing to come to Kiev to help us out and teach us some things. What a great friend. And to his wife Deb, THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts for being so willing to sacrifice your husband for a week. It was so helpful to have him here. You are amazing.