Our Time in Russia: Katya's Homecoming

After 4 days of living in the lap of luxury it was time for Olga and Katya to face reality and head home with daddy. Poor Olga, going from six meals a day to whatever we/I could make and whenever we could get it into baby K's schedule. For those of you in the US, that's right, Olga stayed at the birthing center for 4 days after giving birth...and there were no complications! Try to find that in the US! Don't they kick you out after two days there??

Pavel, a co-worker and friend of Olga's, was kind enough to take time out of his Saturday to take me to the birthing center to pick up Olga and Katya. I'm not sure how these days are handled in the US, but the Russians make a huge deal out of leaving the birthing center. We went to Olga and Katya's room to pick them up and then moved down to the first floor where Pavel and I were shuffled off to a waiting room and Olga and Katya went into a changing room where Olga put on Katya's coming home clothes.

As Pavel and I waited for Olga and Katya to make their appearance we watched the goings on of another couple that was leaving. First off, there were at least three cars in the procession and no less than 8 people there to take them home. Second, they had a professional photographer taking pictures and the staff of the birthing center taking a video of the event. Third, there was some guy outside holding two handfuls of balloons in front of the car that I assumed the child would be leaving in.

After all this, poor Katya was greeted by just her daddy and Pavel. No professional photographer, no video and no balloons. I'm not sure she cared too much (see the pictures). As you can also see from the pictures, I'm a natural at holding a newborn baby...NOT! In the end we all made it home safely and when we got there Olga and I sat on the couch and looked at each other and said 'OK, now what do we do?'. Still wondering on that question sometimes.