Rome wasn't built in a Day... or even 72hrs!

We have had the kids in our care for about 72 hours and as I said in my last post they are changing before our eyes! We have defiantly seen behaviors that have come from spending almost 7 years in an institution. The biggest and post prevalent is feeding behaviors. There are many reasons why they act out at feeding time. We were told a few different stories of how feeding time goes, I am not sure which way my children were fed but you can tell that when they see food they now what it is and they want it. They will eat eat eat and when you think they are full they will still scream for fear of not knowing when food will come again? From having it shoveled in and not given time for them to actually swallow it so more of it ends up I the caregivers hand then in their tummy? From having to share one bowl with 2 or more other children? Take your pick, all I know is that now it is my job to show these kids that food will come every day 3meals and at least 2 snacks of their very own! Sounds easy right.... Luckily I have been down this road with Rorie and I expected it even so I have to remind myself that they are ok, they are full and that if I give in they will not learn and I will be having to feed them every 10 mins to stop a crying monster I have created.

Attention.... I have to remember that these kids got very little attention for the last almost 7 years so they have to get use to all my kisses and hugs and cuddles. (crazy to think that a little kid has to get used to something that seems it should come so naturally for typical kids) Silas has gotten a taste of attention and now he craves it, prolly for the same reasons as food, it will take time for him to see that beside Me and Fred there are so many people that want to give him attention.

Other things I have to remember... There is a language barrier, I am not sure what they are capable of because I don't know what kind of effort was put behind them (likely very very little if any) things a 7year old should know they do not know those are all things that we will learn together.

This is scary for them, it's all new. The last time they were prolly in a car was when they were transferred from the baby house to the institution. We have taken them from the only home they have ever known, took them on 2 very long car rides, a horribly HOT train ride and we have been cruzing around the BIG city the last few days. They are with people that on all accounts are new to them and DO NOT speak the language they are use to hearing that can be a scary thing.

Taking all this into account really helps me to be patient and understanding. I think the hardest thing for me to handle, that just breaks my heart into a million little pieces (even more than how under nourished they are, Bridget is nothing but a skeleton and Jasper isn't much better. Silas has a little meat on his bones but not much) Today Silas fell off the couch and bumped his head, not bad but enough to make him cry. Now when a little one falls what do they want from an adult, usually any adult will do but Mommies are the best at? Anyone.... anyone???? A cuddle, someone to pick them up and kiss them and tell them they are going to be ok right??? Not Silas that made him more upset, I wanted to hug him and sing to him and that scared him right into a complete melt down. Oh it just broke me to have to back up and give him space while we was processing. Finally after about 10mins of a pretty sad tantrum I grabbed his leg (he was laying on the linoleum floor on his tummy) and I pulled him really fast to me then pushed him away, pulled him to me then pushed him away! The dried the tears real fast. I am going to gain this boys trust if it kills me and he will know I am his Momma and hugging is what I do!!!!! He will learn if there is nothing else to depend on he can ALWAY depend on me and Jesus!!!!!

My point is to try and help give encouragement for new adoptive Mom's out there it might be a long hard road but in my experience it is worth it Rorie and Cole are my proof and the reason we are back here doing this again!!!

We leave to head back home Tomorrow morning, our driver will be here at 3:30am to take us to the airport. Our plan leave Kiev headed to Frankfort at 6am and we have a 2.5hr layover (just enough time to feed breakfast) Then we head to Chicago where we should land around 2pm. Praise God my big brother will be there to meet us and we will get home just in time to greet the kids after school. Oh how my arms ache to hold them!!!!!

Keep us in prayer that our travel goes according to God's plan!!! Thank you and my next post will be from my home in America!!!!!!!  

Can it BE?????

You may think I am crazy but I swear in the 48hrs these children have been in my care I have seen a change. The BIGGEST change is in Bridget for sure. She is WAY more alert and not so sleepy all the time. She is more vocal and I feel like she is stronger! Yesterday for the first time we saw her pick up a toy rattle. She actually picked it up and held it above her head (she was laying) and then shook it a little!!! Fred and I just froze, we couldn't believe it and we didn't want to look away so I of course did not get a picture... Bummer! Then today I was playing with a piano that she likes (She likes toys that light up and sing) when in the past I took her hand and helped her to press the button to show her what she is capable of she usually uses her chin or her tongue but today.... today she used her little tiny hand to make her toy go all by herself!!!! She is STRONGER for sure!!!

Silas is a true BOY. He LOVES to wrestle with his Daddy but sometimes goes a little too far. He doesn't know his strength yet. He just wants to go go go! He is not a fan of toys most times he tosses them, remind you of another little Karol boy anyone??? He will be up and running with Rorie before I know it so I am going to enjoy this time while I can. Oh and He LOVES to be outside. Today was the first time he actually did look interested in a little touch tablet toy but then he threw it!!! WE will get there. John and Silas were playing a rolling back and forth game this afternoon so I think he will love balls! I just can't wait to get to know him better everyday!... One more thing he HATES to go to sleep but once he is asleep he talks like Cole and he sleeps in very funny positions!!!

Jasper, he is so quite and lost in his own little world but when it is feeding time he sure wakes up and flies over to you! I think that will be my best window into his world! He let's me cuddle him and he LOVES kisses. He DOES NOT like wheat baby cereal. Him and Bridget are best pals, they keep an eye on each other which is so cute! He loves rattles, well he loves one rattle more than the others and will throw all of them until he found the one he loves!!! We are hearing a lot of sounds coming from him and we are slowing getting to know him. I always tell him he is going to be my diamond, I am going to take him home and polish him til he shines!!!!! (His name means my treasure or jewel)

In 48hrs we have seen highs and lows and I just can't wait to get them home! They are going to be so different in a few months you won't believe me that they are the same kids and I hope the orphanage feels the same way too! We do plan on keeping in touch and giving A LOT of updates!!!

So what happened today? This morning we had to go to the train station to pick up some paperwork and then find a copy machine to make three copies of each document before our embassy appointment at 9am. We just sat in the car while our driver ran around like crazy, we prayed so hard that God would get every thing done in time! Copies were done in the nick of time and we got to the embassy waited about 3mins and our number was called! Fred handled the paperwork while John and I handled the kids! We were done in about an hour at the embassy and we were done!!! We took the kids to the apartment and I sent John and Fred out to do some shopping and sight seeing!!! They had fun and so did I!!!

Tomorrow?... Tomorrow our driver will go pick up the kids passports (another answer to prayer) then pick up the kids medical documents and then then come pick us up for our second and last embassy appointment! After that we are cleared to leave this country!!! Fred is in the process of making travel plans home so stay tuned!!!!!

You can plan and plan....

But even if you think of "everything" you will miss something!!! I had this trip to Kiev all planned. Traveling with 3 kids isn't easy so I tried to pack light and have a plan. Nothing went to plan. I ended up have 3 extra bags that I did NOT plan on. Thank God the missionaries came with us to the train station. When we handed the conductor our tickets she wouldn't let us on right away, she was demanding court documents, birth certificates, and visas for the kids. Again good thing the missionaries came with us!!! We got on the train and settled in but it was the HOTTEST train car I have ever been on and there was no relief. I got the kids down to sleep which was not an easy task but little Jasper had no interest in sleeping so that meant Mamma didn't get any sleep. It was hard for all of us. We got to Kiev at 5:40am with no place to go our apartment wasn't going to be available until noon, the doctor office wasn't open until 8:30am. So we spent the morning sitting around waiting, waiting, waiting!!!! I fed breakfast as best as I could in the van and changed diapers then we sat!!! We had to print off some documents and then we were told we needed the original birth certificates to go to the doctor but we didn't have them Masha did and she was not in Kiev. I had copies and we decided we were going to try and go head with the doctor visits. Also the night before we were told they only do TB tests in Mon, Wed, and Fri so we were going to have to return Wed to have the tests done and then head back on Friday to have them read... Grrr!!! This day about had me in tears. We went in and the doctor agreed to see us despite not having the original documents!!! Praise God!!! It went pretty quick actually we were only in the Dr office about an hour and a half. So we were done by 10am with only 2 hrs to kill before we could get into our apartment. The driver that was with us spoke English and helped us in the Dr office. When we were all done he turned to me and said something has happened to the TB test, they will NOT be required for your children. I looked at him and  grilled him... why? you mean not at all? We don not have to come back? are you sure? He said Ukraine is out or there is a problem with the TB test so they are being waived! PRAISE GOD... I can't tell you how worried this test was making me and now at least in this country I do not have to deal with it, I rather our doctors do it!!!

So tomorrow will be another early morning we will head out at 7:30am to pick up our paperwork from the train station then head to the embassy to do paper work, I think this is the part that scares me the most... why? I do not know but I am very nervous maybe it's my fear of government building!!! Anyway, so we have the embassy tomorrow, then again on Thursday and we get the kids passports Thursday and that's it. We are looking at tickets either Friday or Saturday, there is a chance that we could even get a flight out Thursday night??? I guess that stuff is up in the air still but we are coming home!!!

LET'S GO Krivoy Rog!!!!

We had another great treat last night, we got to go to a professional European basketball ball game. It was REALLY fun and REALLY loud!!! We went to dinner at New York Pizza, then to the game and to finish the night off we went to McDonalds for ice cream. I think I posted that we met 2 American men that played on the Krivoy Rog team which was really cool but then when we went to McDonalds for desert the other team was there (South Dnep) and we got to met an American guy on that team! I can say I have met and talked to 3 professional basketball players!!! Moral of the story if you want to met a famous American you gotta go to McDonalds in Ukraine!!! LOL!!!

Here are some pics:

 

Leann has been such a blessing!!!

 

The White and Red team is Krivoy Rog and the Green and Yellow team is South Dnep

 

This was the opposing team's cheering section, the fans were almost more fun to watch than the game. It reminded me a lot of a college game. VERY LOUD!!!

 

Their national anthem

 

Number 4 is one of the guys we met!

 

This is 4 and 20 we met both these guys at McDonalds and they invited us to their game!

 

I think John enjoyed the game what do you think????

 

This was half time anyone that wanted to could go out on the court and shoot around! This guy in the white shirt LOVES basketball, he had a blast and was a lot of fun to watch through out the game!!!

 

I twisted my ankle for this shot but it was worth it!!!

 

After the game we went for desert and we met number 9, VERY nice guy he shook our hands and talked to us for a bit!

 

Again this guy was Awesome and his story is amazing!!! See here in Ukraine if you are born with any kind of "difference" more than likely you are given up. This man was born with a mild deformity, not anything that affected his mind but because of his difference he grew up in an institution. He never was allowed to learn to read or write or go to school. He was locked away until God's grace saved him. One of the pastors from Leann's church worked very hard to help prove he was able to live on his own and blend into society. He went through A LOT of testing and questioning and about 3 years ago he was freed!!!!! Now he can freely go and enjoy a basketball game, Praise God!!!

 

Krivoy Rog won 77 to 73, it was a nail biter, VERY GOOD game!!!

I'll Be Working My Way Back to You Babe!!!!

Ok so our trip with the kids to Dnep for passports was a JOKE.... We literally drove 2hrs, got out, each kid took 2 pictures and I signed 6 documents (this took about 20mins) then we turned around and headed back to KR!!! It was a difficult and frustrating trip for reasons that are better kept to myself, but we got through it and it's done!!!

Passports will be done by Tuesday or Wednesday so here is the plan of attack...

We will leave on the overnight train from KR to Kiev Monday night. We will arrive in Keiv Tuesday morning. We will go to our apartment and feed the kids breakfast then head out for the kids doctor appointments. Fred and I requested Wednesday morning embassy appointments so that will be the next step. We should have the kids passports by Thursday and we will go back to the doctor to have the kids TB tests read (Please pray they are negative). Friday we will do our final appointment at the embassy and either fly out Friday night or Saturday morning!!!! A lot to do but we will get it done, but please pray for Fred and John because at this point I am not sure if they will make it home... ALIVE!!! LOL!!!

We had a visit today that went very good, I did some cleaning and some packing and tonight we are going out for dinner and a Professional European Basketball game!!!  Tomorrow is our last FULL day in region and I hope to really enjoy the day; get both visits in and do a little shopping! Then on to Kiev!!! If we are aloud to take pics of the game I will post some!!!

We Have Come So Far... but we got so far to go!!!

First off I have a HUGE prayer request.... Our facilitator (Masha) her Mom is in the hospital with a serious health condition as of now she is stable but Very weak PLEASE keep her health in prayer!!!

As you know we were in Dnep Tuesday and ended up staying the night to get an early start on the day... WHAT A LONNNNNNG day! We went to 2 different cities and 3 different vital statistics departments to get new copies of our children's birth certificates. If you have never done this wonderful process it is just A LOT of waiting around, Ok got one done now rush to the next so we can hurry up and WAIT!!! We did this for 3 different offices and each office was about a 2.5hr wait. We got ALL three done and headed to the Tax office to request new ID numbers for each kids (this is like our social security number) you need both documents done before you can apply for a passport. We got to the Tax office with just enough time to spare. The office closed at 6pm and we got there at 5:40pm! This was a HUGE relief there was a little bit where I thought "No Way are we getting all this done today", but Masha is a superstar and got it all done!!!

Masha drove us back to KR, which is a 2hr drive if you are going in the right direction... we were not! We got turned the right way and got in town about 8:30pm, starving we headed for some pizza then back to our apartment!

Tomorrow will be very busy, there are a lot of documents that need to be done here before we can take the kids to Dnep to apply for passports. There is a very good chance we will not go to Dnep until Friday which puts us back 4 days... Once we get the passports we can head to Kiev for about 3 to 4 days then prayerfully we can finally head HOME!!!!! We need prayer that God's will be done!!!

Wait... Wait... Wait...

I think that is the Theme of this adoption... WAIT!!!!!

Fred got up and met the driver. They headed to the court to pick up the decree but of course they were not ready because the judge never signed them, so Fred had to WAIT for a judge to be free and willing to take time to sign all 18 copies. The judge grilled Fred with questions like what do you do for a living, do you have an American drivers license and have you ever driven in Ukraine. Fred said he was really nice but it was really weird.

Fred got back to the apartment at 11am and we headed to the bus station to take the bus to Dnep to get paperwork done. Masha drove to Dnep early in the morning to get things started. By the time we got there it was 2pm and none of us had eaten. Fred called Masha and she was in the other city so we tracked down a taxi to take us to McDonalds. We ate and walked around to WAIT for Masha. She finally called and met up with us at 6pm. Unfortunately she didn't get all the documents done so we had to find a hotel for the night. Masha was so exhausted she went to her room and fell asleep.

We were all checked in and settled by about 6:45pm and headed out for dinner by 7pm. We found a Café that had an English menu and actually really good food! After Dinner John, Fred and I went out for a walk. Our hotel is right on the river and it was a beautiful night out!

So tomorrow we will wake up early and get crackin on paperwork, We are praying we will get everything done and be back in KR tomorrow night!!!

Here are some pics from the day!!!

 

Fred ordering coffee!!!

 

Gotta get your Lenin Pic! Every city had a statue and we are collecting them!

 

This is the walking district, later in the evening there were a lot of street performers!

 

I asked these yahoos to take a pic and this is what they gave me.

 

Fred stopped us because the strap on his bag was twisted. It was making him so crappy and I (very stupidly) asked "Well how did it happen?" he answered "I don't know I didn't do it you must have!" I then reminded him that it was his bag and how could I have done it. You think the argument would have ended there... NO! He answered "Fine, then why did you let me twist the straps?!?!?" I can't win!

 

Fred just DOES NOT fit in Ukraine!!!

 

I asked John to take a pic of Fred and me and this is what he took. Not only did he take it but he said "YUP, Looks good to me!" then handed me the camera back!... What do you think?

 

These are from our night walk by the river, it was REALLY windy so some of them are blurry.

 

These two are my favorites!

Baby Steps...

Here is thing about adoption, there is no "For Sures"!!! Yes we know what needs to be done and sorta the order it needs to be done in but just because someone says yes you can pick up your court decree on the 11th day after your 10day wait that does not mean it will actually happen! We waited all to hear from our facilitator to find out when we can go pick up the court decree and guess what... We are still waiting! That's an adoption for you... HURRY UP and wait!!!!

We got up this morning and met the driver, he took us to pick up the kids to take them for their photo's. The weather here was cloudy but at least 55 if not warmer and they brought these poor kids down in the huge snow suits and under the snow suite they were wearing sweaters. A caregiver came with us which was a HUGE help!!! We took the kids in to the photo salon and the man was very nice! Fred took Bridget in to get her picture taken first. Poor guy, he need her to look straight at the camera but one of her eyes isn't very strong so when she looks straight so she can see her head tilts and when Fred would straighten her head then her eyes looks away from the camera. It took a lot of shots but he finally got her! Then it was Jasper's turn, first this poor little guy is afraid of everything so when we put him on the chair he spread his arms and legs out like he was flying. The photographer told me to sit side ways and hold him which worked out better but he sits with a hunch until he "feels" comfortable then he will loosen up and sit up straight... we didn't' have time to wait for that! So I held his body straight and Fred shook a hat at him, again it took a lot of shots but he got one! Last up was Silas he sat in the chair the man called his name and DONE!!!!

We took the kids back and then went to pick John up to go into the city to eat at McDonald's! It was really good and we met 2 Euro Pro Basketball players form the states!!! It was really nice to talk with them, they have a game Wednesday night so depending on how the day plays out we are going to try and catch the game! After McDonald's we went for a walk to show John around. We went to the evening visit which short but really nice, just a few more days and that's it we can spring them!!! After dinner we got a call that the driver will be here tomorrow morning to take Fred to get the court decree then off the to the bus station to head to Denep to meet Masha and get new birth certificates!!!

SORRY no pics today!!!!!

Day 10!!!!

Finally day 10!!!! John (Fred's daddy) got here safe and sound; Thank you for the prayers!!! The guys got a bit of a nap and then we headed to the morning visit for Papa to meet his new grandbabies!!! After the visit we walked over to the Ashan (grocery store) picked up some stuff and headed to our apartment for lunch. After lunch the guys fell back asleep for a little nap then up again for the evening visit!

I talked to Masha and we should be able to go pick up the court decree either tomorrow afternoon or Tuesday morning... PLEASE GOD we want it to be ready tomorrow afternoon!!! We have to go with a driver tomorrow morning to see if we can get the photographer to come with us to the orphanage to take pics of the kids (not exactly sure why we need a photographer to do it or even why we need these photos they are NOT the photos needed for a passport?) but we will get up and go with him to ask the photographer to come if he says NO we will need to go pick up the kids and bring them to the photo studio. I think Masha said these are for a check out picture for the orphanage??? I am prolly WAY off...

We will get original birth certificats and ID numbers from the orphanage to take to Denep where we will trade them for the new ones listing Fred and I as Mama and Papa!!!!!! We will head to Denep Tuesday and I think.... I think our Gatcha Day will be Wednesday!!! Fingers crossed and pray really hard!!! WE are READY to come home and our little ones at home are READY for us to come home!!!!

Here are some pics from today:

 

 

YES... that is my BOY in all PINK and a Minnie Mouse hat!!! It's ok Silas you wear it well!!!

 

Look at that face it just makes me melt!!!

 

Those I just can get lost in, I do anything to get those eyes to look my way!!!!