[58grace]

Actually I have several little horror stories but this one sticks out.

Myself, my DD and my neice and another couple with their baby were taken from the hotel at about 6 pm in the region to the airport. Moscow was fogged in so we waited there about 2.5 hrs ( no heat in the hanger in December) Finally with no time in sight to leave we were taken back to the hotel lobby to wait. By Midnight still no go and the hotel was out of rooms. We were taken to a little room with cots in it and told to be up at 4am to see what was happening. The cots were so narrow I had to sleep with one leg on the floor so Laina had room.

By the way, my neice had a major headcold and I had bronchitis. We were both miserable. At 4 am, no change in the weather so we decided to take the 16 HOUR train ride back to moscow. We left at 9am and after rushing to the store to get baby food, discovered as we were pulling out of the station that it was spoiled.

Laina would NOT sleep and occupying a 11month old crawler in a tiny sleeping cabin for 16 hrs was not fun. To top it off, must of been 95 degrees in side. I had nothing light weight so ended up wearing my neices wife beater and had a huge cold sore on my upper lip. Such a pretty site, I thought some one might take her away just based on that. Laina was also sweating and so I didn't have a coat on her as we walked up and down the narrow hall on the train. Got lots of backlash for that from the Russians.

Laina slept a total of 3 hrs and me - none. Running water, but with no sink , so bottles were a challenge. Too sick to eat and we ran out of kleenex.

FINALLY arrived back at Raddison in Moscow, got settled into the room, into bed and crib and after 30 wonderful minutes of sleep the knock came -- it was the Embassy doctor to examine Laina - had to wake her up and take off her clothes.

The rest of the two days continued in the same vein. Finally got home and was diagnosed with Pnemonia.

Well I still can't laugh but thank god its over!