In which little boys grow up so quickly.
A thick snow fell on Almaty today. It was the sticky, wet kind you dream about when you're 10 years old, the kind that makes a satisfying splat when you pack it into a ball and lob it at someone. Barely cold enough to snow, the temperatures couldn't touch Kokshetau's icy chill. It was a nice day to kind of do nothing but watch the white against the gray.
Despite a pleasant laziness, however, we did make it out and about. Our first stop was Owen's medical appointment. At the SOS International Medical Center we met Doctor Karen, a lovely young Brit anesthesiologist from London serving five weeks in Almaty while the regular doc was on holiday.
She took one look at the medical diagnoses from Kokshetau and pronounced it all, "Nonsense!" While we were, of course, relieved to find that our son was quite well, I'll admit to a mild disappointment. You see, in Kokshetau we'd been told that Owen had several grave illnesses that could only be cured by Robin's and my love. (I'm not kidding here-- check previous journal entries to jog your memories!)
Anyway, I can't speak for Robin, but if it had turned out that my love could cure the incurable, I had big plans to quit my job and sell that love internationally. Sadly, there will be no career changes in my future. But, speaking of work, click here to see the shocker we found in the cupboard of our apartment. Will those people NEVER leave me alone?
End sidebar, return to Owen's check-up. The doctor tried to stand Owen on the examining bench. He politely refused. She laid him down and asked him to rollover. He politely refused. She handed him a toy to see if he would pass it between his hands. He politely refused.
Had we seen him do these things at home? Yes! And brilliantly! Good enough for her. He did allow her to test his strength in pulling up-- he's massively powerful-- and consented to a listen to his heart and an inspection of his ears. Nothing nasty discovered.
We did, however, find that he now weighs 7.5 kg and is 65 cm long. For those of you who have been tracking the details, you're correct: He's gotten shorter and fatter. If nothing else, this proves he is my son.
Sidebar number two: Dad hopped on the scales when the doctor wasn't looking and is happy to report that, while he hasn't lost any weight, he hasn't gained any either! Bring on the Kracks!
End sidebar and return to SOS International. Approximately 20 minutes later and $75 lighter, we left the office with our official embassy papers tucked neatly under our guide's arm. That's tomorrow's business and then we're done with messy officialdom until we hit Detroit and immigration on Sunday.
Because Owen had behaved so well and since we had nothing else planned for the day, Robin and I decided that this might be the perfect time to test our little boy on the dining out experience. You'll be amazed and delighted to know that, yes, we did find another Irish pub here in the middle of Kazakhstan-- the Guinness Pub.
The Guinness Pub, to my knowledge, had not been mentioned by any of the previous travelers from our adoption group. Let me here give it a highest recommendation! While the place lacked Mad Murphy's English-speaking wait staff and charming host Chris, it did offer salads with actual lettuce, and the best fries I've yet had in Asia. We didn't have cheeseburgers-- twice in a row seemed excessive even by our culinary standards-- but the calzone was delicious and the buffalo chicken wing... er, legs were good if un-spicy.
Owen was perfectly cooperative. He fell asleep on the way into the pub (which, interestingly enough, shares its space with a sushi bar) and didn't stir until we had finished eating. You gotta love this guy! After waking, he was just alert enough to have a pint with Dad. You can see our picture at left.
Back at the apartment, Robin and I read our books madly-- we're not lugging them home!-- and Owen, after a failed nap attempt, passed his toys back and forth and rolled all over the floor in complete mockery of Doctor Karen.
Robin and I took turns going for long walks in the neighborhood. You can see several of the shots she snapped at left. The snow was really beautiful! Owen did manage to slip in the long denied nap after a puckered lip hissing episode where he refused the bottle I was trying to give him. It was the first time I'd seen him appear angry. I don't think it helped that his anger made me laugh...
Upon returning from my own walk, I found Owen watching television-- a documentary on Samurai warriors, to be specific. With additional disdain for Doctor Karen, he showed that he can sit-up quite well, thank you!, in the little baby chair we found. In complete disdain for me, he completely ignored my "Hello, Baby!" and remained completely entranced by the television.
Underage drinking.
Complete disrespect for authority figures.
Utterly glued to the television.
Can you be a teenager at seven and a half months?
