August 1st

"What greater thing is there for two human souls, than to feel that they are joined for life - to strengthen each other in all labor, to rest on each other in all sorrow, to minister to each other in all pain, to be one with each other in silent, unspeakable memories at the moment of last parting."

I've been reading John Irving's A Widow for One Year, and the above passage from George Eliot's Adam Bede appears in it. In light of so much of what Alli and I have been through these last sixteen months, in consideration of the two little souls who have come into our lives in these past nine weeks, and while contemplating the journey ahead for the four of us, I wanted to save the words in the event I donate the book to "The Box" when we leave....

August 1st! It's hard to believe. Our time here has flown by truly: We've been made busy at times, kept ourselves busy at others, and we have enjoyed many, many more moments than we've despaired. We have not been bored, though in the last week or so it has been hard to muster much enthusiasm for dinner at the same handful of places. We have enjoyed our stay in Kostanai - we simply want to go home.

At the gym this morning, Bob wins the day 8-5 and widens his series lead to double figures again at 111-100. Alli and Beth's walk takes them to and around Victory Park and down to the river before a final stop at the pastry shop. The four of us meet on the street corner near the hotel @ 10:40. It's cloudy and cool and we decide to walk to and, we hope, home from the baby home. After breakfast and showers, we're off at 12:15.

Aidan is STILL in the infirmary. We thought he might be until a doctor had a chance to examine and release him. We're a little frustrated we have not been able to speak with anyone and get any kind of an update on his condition, and we're hopeful today will be the last time we find him there.

During our visit, Aidan is whiny and more clingy than usual, prefering Mom to everyone and everything. Molly gets her apple juice and is generally pleasant. At one point, I take Aidan for a walk around the halls - we don't want to take him outside until he is back in his regular room - and we bump into Alli and Molly along the way. Mom and Dad trade babies and continue on our separate ways (unlike walking outside, the hallways are too narrow and too dark to make strolling as a family feasible). Though I'm barefoot and Molly's underdressed by baby home standards - that is to say no coat or hat - we sneak outside for a few minutes to escape the warm conditions in the halls.

After our visit, we walk back to the hotel. The potential delay is the topic of conversation; the consensus is we want to know something firm sooner than later.

Back at the hotel, Alli crashes while I do laundry. Dana arrives @ 5:30 and we go to "The Rice Place" for plov & bread (with the dipping sauce we discovered on our last visit). It's delicious as always! While we're eating, the storm we thought might blow up at any time during the day materializes with thunder, lightning and steady rain. The five of us board a bus heading back to town: Bob & Beth and Alli & I depart at our stop and Dana stays on for the ride home.

Back at the hotel, it's movie night again: "Serendipity" with John Cusack & Kate Beckinsdale. It's more corny and less funny than I remember. We turn in around 11:45.