Bulgaria day 5

Wow. It feels like a really long way from home for me to be just taking the boys for a walk and to play at the park every day, but then I realize I'm doing this in EUROPE!!! We walk along the Danube every day. Talk about a FAST flowing river. There is no way David or I would paddle this thing with kids. The water is very swift. It is also a working river. We have seen a number of barges heading down the river with tons of cargo. There are fisherman out there daily bringing in fish with super huge poles and nets. Last night, we ate at this beautiful restaurant on the river. The woman spoke no English and we speak no Bulgarian, so she pretty much ordered and brought us what she wanted. It was a great choice! She also brought out pictures of the fish we ate. One of them is a type of bottom dweller...catfish type fish...that she had pictures of. The ones in the picture weighed at least 95-115 kilos!!! HUGE, and very ugly, but yummy.

We had to figure out how to do our laundry, so I took a paper with translated questions on it. The ladies were very confused and quickly found a translator. They were trying to get us to dry clean everything, but then they mentioned the laundry we were wanting was only for sheets. After much talking back and forth, they agreed to wash our laundry this way, with no ironing. It is all very modern here, with everybody on cell phones, iPhones, on computers, etc...but at times, there is a throwback to the regimen. Communism ended in 1989. I think it is safe to say that while we would never have imagined we would come to Bulgaria, let alone the small city in the middle of nowhere - Silistra - we are LOVING it!!! David is already planning an ECS here.

View from the fortress at the top of the city. Across the river along the top of the picture is Romania. I didn't get to do the hike since the boys were sleeping.
David met this Bulgarian at the top who was claiming that DB is his lost lost Jewish son. They boy have roots in the same countries with similar stories. He is having us over to his house on Tuesday to give us a blessed symbol for our house.
One handsome little man getting ready to head out for a walk.
War statue.
Don't shoot the ducks (roughly tranlated.)

Little monkey man playing at his favorite park!
Ship wreck.
Eating at the awesome fish restaurant. Abers refused to have his picture taken.
Coke shack in the middle of the park. The restaurant was next to a customs and immigration building, so maybe this is for when ferries come in...open in the summer?
Ancient ruins, the city of Durastar.

Bulgaria days 2-4

Things we've done so far:
1. Go the the Billa - grocery store and buy water or ride the train outside, at least 100 times.
2. Figured out how to order hot chocolate so Aber's could have special nummies.
3. Were the only mama and kids out since the weather was colder than 40 degrees. Everyone looks at us, no matter where we go. If it is at all cold, the moms here don't take their children outside. Many grandmothers have come up to us to tuck Abraham's blanket around him tighter, pull his hat down lower, and just to look at the babies. They aren't used to the baby carriers we have. Vessi said that while it isn't the mothers that choose to stay in on yucky days, it is the grandmothers reprimanding them for going outside.
4. Played at the playground and "tashed" or crashed cars off of park benches, many of them.
5. Walked to school and had an awesome yoga class with the peace corps volunteer and 2 Bulgarian teachers. We worked out in the weight room which is painted to very bright shades of green.
6. Took LONG afternoon naps, at least once.
7. Hung out with another mom and her 9 month old. Women here get 2 years PAID maternity leave. It isn't full pay, but still!! If only we were so lucky. There is also a government run program that allows moms to buy baby food fresh daily for super cheap. The mom today got 4 really big jars, at least the size of bonne maman jelly jars, for $1.85.
8. Ate Chinese food.
9. Walked to the Bulgarian version of wal-mart and had a blast! We understand nothing of the language, even the letters, so trying to figure out if food is gluten free is always interesting. We did find packages of rice cakes in English cleary labeled GF!!
10. Chased pigeons in the "center."


So thirsty, must drink water, while standing in the window sill.

The art museum in the town center.
Super old Roman mosque by the high school where David is doing his work.

Solly and I in the center.
The beloved train and handsome conductor outside the grocery store.
Bulgarian bus like the one we rode for 7.5 hours where we were forced to watch terrible Bruce Willis movies...yuck!
Flash back to the 70's. Looking down an alley at a row of flats.
A tired boy and his mom drinking milk after a no nap day. I really wanted to head to yoga, so the big guy had to miss his nap. He did fall asleep in the stroller and wake up dry!!!

We are having a blast. It is sometimes hard to believe that we are in Europe, until I see the old buildings and history of the city.

More tomorrow!

Flights over and day 1 in Silistra

We have arrived in Bulgaria!! After 3 flights and one 7 hour bus ride later, we got to town about midnight. That meant, our little super trooper travelers had been up and on the road for 39 hours. Both boys were awesome on the flights, very little fussing, whining, or complaining. They managed to charm the flight attendants each time!! Abraham started feeling better and better as the time progressed. Clearly the penicillin helped! He is now in top shape. We got a brief tour of the city on Monday from Vessi, and then went to dinner with teachers and home. So far, so good. The grocery store has all of the basics that we might need. The only trouble is that there is no English. Most people don't know any and we clearly don't speak Bulgarian.

We are very much enjoying it.

Sunset over the Danube, looking at Romania.

Playing on a playground in the town center.

Driving a coin operated car! It's a favorite activity...and in English!

Ancient Roman ruins, right in the heart of downtown. Dates back to 300 AD.

Downtown Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.

About to touch down in Paris. Notice the bassinet in the bulkhead wall. Solly slept in that for 6 of the 7 hours!

The big guys just waking up with a sunset over the wing as we head into Paris.

Hanging out in his bassinet.

Touching the nez nez. Aber's felt well enough to hold his little baby for the first time in a while on the way to Atlanta.

Stress throat, round 1

Abers got his first bout of strep throat last week. He had been feeling a little under the weather with a runny nose for a few days, but then started running fevers around 104. He had nasty breath and a muffled sounding voice. We took him to the doctor since we were leaving in 2 days and got the answer. Poor guy, gets it from his mama. We had him get the penicillin shots as there was no way for us to keep his amoxicillin cold. Not only did he have a sore throat then, but legs that didn't work. He kept saying he wanted them to go bye bye. After another 24 hours with fevers of 104-105.5, he finally started to be on the mend.

Resting in bed, post shot day 1. He couldn't move, drink, or talk. He didn't even want milk!

Deciding he wants to watch Curious George and was directing dad from his "throne."

Voluntarily laying on the couch since his legs didn't work.

Glad to say he turned the corner halfway to Paris and is back to his normal self again! First blog of our trip to follow as soon as this mama gets some sleep!

Love
us

Solomon's Baptism

Talking to oma and bapa.

Hello all!

Solomon was baptized 2/26/11 at our Lutheran church we go to here in town. It was a busy night as both David and Grandpa were on flights out the next morning. So glad that our good friends Jen and Scott were there to be Solomon's godparents. Uncle Jake and Aunt Kandin even came down! Solly looked awesome in his gown. It is close to 100 years old, worn by his brother, all his uncles, his grandpa and great grandpa. Pretty special! He did great during the ceremony, not a tear was shed or a peep was made. He, like a true Benson boy, woke up shortly thereafter to fill his drawers...loudly at that.

Hanging out in his gown.

All of our support and witnesses to the promises made.

Gotta love my boys.
Jess

Little of this and that!

Hiking in Mueller State Park

Just a quick post of photos mainly. Life is going well here. The boys are healthy and growing. More info after we go to the doctor on Wednesday!

Just a mom and her boys

Giraffe had a serious injury that required delicate surgery. His tail was loosing stuffing. Abers was very concerned for his best friend.

A SMILE!!!

Doctor visits!

Abraham has a favorite giraffe that needed to get dressed and come with us this past week. Good thing we brought him along as we literally needed the pants and shirt off his back...the giraffe that is. Aber's got into a bit of a mess and I hadn't restocked the diaper back. Giraffe saved the day!

We took the boys on Friday for their 2 year check up and 1 month checkup. Each was healthy and very well behaved. Both got a shot or two and tolerated them well. These guys are growing well and are so much fun to have around!

The stats...

Abraham weighed in at 29 lbs, which is a total gain of 21 pounds 13 ounces since birth. He is 35 3/4 inches tall, up from his birth height of 20 3/4 inches.

Solomon is up to 9 pounds 7 ounces, a gain of 1.5 pounds since birth. He has grown an amazing 2 inches and is now 22.5 inches long!!

The boys hanging out in the tops they wore for family pictures!

Love,
the L-Bs.