Week Five

Well not much has changed since my last post, just fitting in our regular routine.  We had dentist appointments this week and everyone had a good report except Kristina, but that makes sense because she is older and has had more time to "Wear them down". We also had a get together Saturday before last with Aunts and Uncles and cousins to celebrate my Grandad's 80th birthday.  It has gotten a lot better here than my last post and we are adjusting.  Other than that their is not much we have done, we are just trying to find our new normal.

SEEKING OUR NEW NORMAL (Our First Four Weeks Home)

For those still checking, here is our first four weeks home.  We have gone through some major changes, and as a friend of our's said "You're seeking your new normal," and so we are.  Fights abound and fun can abound as well.  We have made major breakthroughs, implementing techniques of punishment and blessings.  We have had fights that were tough, but my advice to anyone reading our blog that is going through adoption in the future, is to let them talk.  And if and when they say they don't like America and don't love you, just reassure them that you love them regardless.  No doubt they will retaliate with they still don't love you, but don't let it get you down.

Now back to our family.  For some information on major events, we all received new bikes! And so that served as our Christmas back in  the States.  We all like to ride our new bikes and playing games and such, but eventually we must get back into the swing of things.  We implemented chore charts and the schedule for school and the different days of the week.  We all have our duty's to fulfill, and we are starting to get used to it all.

We went to see the new Chronicles of Narnia movie, but really it's old to all of you it's just we were out of country and couldn't watch it.  Last Friday we had our Valentine skating party and had a blast.  We all enjoy skating and even Mom and Dad skated around.  I must say they cannot match my skill though, well... the skill that I posses anyway. We had our Valentine's day and are enjoying life in a big family environment.  I will continue to post weekly or bi-weekly or whenever I get the itch to blog, till then... Das ve donya.

New bikes.

Mine is the swanky blue Shwinn... I think that's how you
spell it.

Vladik likes scooters better, so we got him a new one.

Vladik also received a train set.

Kristina playing with Fuzzoozils.

We didn't get much, but it snowed here too.

At Sam's Club.

Home Sweet Home

The day we arrived at the airport in Jackson and got off the plane we were met by a crowd of people we never really expected to come at such short notice especially since our flight schedule changed.  We were all very happy to see everyone there and stayed at the airport awhile and visited.  Also a friend of ours that came in just before we did was surprised that all these people were there for him, but then found out the reason everyone came.  After everyone departed we got our luggage and headed home to see our home and our dog.  We were once again welcomed home by friends with gifts and more Mcdonalds gift cards! WOOHOO!!!!!!  and some gift cards from family from Christmas!  Everyone was excited that we were home and that we finally get to sleep in our own beds!  Here are some pictures from traveling on the last day. 

At Chicago Midway Airport.

Luba and Dad's glasses.

On the airplane home.

On the airplane home.

LUBA SEATBELT!

We're back!

Welcoming party.

Family picture..... Well, almost --}

Lera, Kristina and....... I'll let you guess.

The hunter's.

Uno, play-do and food!

Thanks for the gifts!

CHANGE OF PLANS

Well, if you went to the airport regardless of me forgetting to tell you the time we fly in, you made a trip for nothing.  Once we left the Macy’s we drove in our rental van to Golden Corral to eat, and once done eating headed to the airport, but on the way we programmed our rental van’s GPS to take us there.  We followed the directions it gave us and it took us to the wrong place.  Apparently it was BWI industries( That is just an example, it took us to a similar address is what I am trying to say).  I kept waiting for Dad to say in the van, and I quote as I heard in my Imagination, Dad: “Karen… can you hand me the GPS?” Mom then hands him the device and then imagine the window in the van rolling down and then hear the satisfying crash of the GPS on the side of the road, and then hearing the GPS in the distance saying, “Recalculating” but that didn’t happen, we kept the GPS and decided to use it to again to get us to the right place.  So we use it to get to the general area while it takes us through a downtown area that probably no one has ever heard of before and tries to take us to the airport.

  By this time we are about an hour and a half till our flight leaves, and we are doing everything we can to make it on time.  We still have to drop our van and take the shuttle from the parking garage to the airport and check our bags in as well.  and on top of all this it doesn’t help when you have 22 bags to carry around and two of the kids feel sick so they can’t be much help.  We check our bags and then It took us about 40 minutes to get through security and then we run to our gate for boarding. Everyone made on the moving sidewalk except Kristina and me, two guys that didn’t feel like walking on it got in our way so we couldn’t get past.  Now I thought about jumping  over the side but decided that we would just wait till the end of the sidewalk.  Once there we ran around the two guys and caught up to the others, but it was to late.  Our plane was sitting right in front of us but was already done boarding.

 We asked if we could get the next flight out but we couldn’t till the next day, and on top of that we were put on standby for that flight so we may not even get on it.  Also our bags were on this flight so we only have the clothes in our carry-on’s.  We don’t feel like trying to find a hotel by ourselves so Dad calls his work’s travel agent and we’re good to go.  We head towards the baggage claim area and Vladik decides to show off his Karate skills and rolling his drink bottle and himself around on the floor.  We don’t have a problem with him doing so so I remark that people probably think he’s a special needs child, and then I do my interpretation of Vladik.  Once the shuttle picked us up we headed to our hotel and then left again to eat.  We also had a really cool bus driver that drove us around (The hotel shuttle drives anywhere within a five miles), and once we ate we went back to the hotel and slept.

The next day (Today) we woke up at four in the morning and got ready to go to the airport for our standby flight at 8:05, when we got there we found out that there was a two way flight to Chicago then to Jackson and so we took it, we made the flight and now are waiting for our flight to Jackson.  Again, if anyone wants to meet us, please feel free to, it arrives at 2:05. 

The Last Few Days

Wednesday was spent packing so there wasn't much excitement that day, our flight was at 6:45 in the morning Thursday and the kids didn't feel like sleeping.  So we we went to sleep around midnight and got up at 3 in the morning and started our traveling.  We flew with our friends the Sanners and had to listen to Mr. Charlie's bad jokes (Just kidding, they were really funny and kept us awake too, two birds killed with one Sanner).  Anyway our flights were very smooth and enjoyable.  They were a lot nicer overall than the flights over.  Once we flew into Dulles we started to do some paperwork for the kids, and picked up our rental van.  We met up with our Aunt Sue Sue and headed to IHOP to eat.  Vladik was not in a good mood and everyone felt sorry for him except for me, But I have to admit he handled himself fine the whole day till now.  After a wonderful meal, even including Mr. Pibb,(Couldn't get Dr. Pepper) we headed to our hotel which is our friends house the Macy's (They let us stay at their house) now I have to end this quickly so here's most of the rest,we woke up and now we are heading back to the airport for our flight to Jackson.  If anyone wants to meet us at the airport please feel free to come. Kaden Signing off.

Five Days Rolled into one Post/ Friday- Tuesday Day 34,35,36,37 & 38

FRIDAY we were met at the train station by our Kiev facilitator Alexi.  He had a van waiting for us since our family has grown considerably since he put us on the train 30 or so days ago.  We loaded up the bags and kids and were off to the American Embassy for the 1st of 2 appointments.  (On arrival to the embassy we run into our good friend Melissa Macy.  She has her VISA for her son and is done.)  We delivered required documents that we had filled out on the train as well as our Court Decree and the children's birth certificates (both with translations by our facilitator) and the children's Passports.  These were well received and we were instructed to return Tuesday at 2 pm for our 2nd appointment.  The whole point of these appointments is to get the children's VISAs on their passport so they can travel with us into the US.  Before our 2nd appt. we have to have the children checked out at an embassy approved hospital.  So off we go to the Hospital for Oil Refining something or another.  They examine the medical documents from the orphanage, shot records, order a chest x-ray for Kristina, and do a simple examination of each child and we get a clean bill of health.  They give us a sealed envelope with the documents for the embassy that we will hold on to until Tuesday.  Now that we are done with the important stuff, Alexi takes us to the building he has arranged for us to stay in.  It is much cheaper for us to rent an apartment rather than a hotel and more comfortable, since you have different rooms for sleeping, watching TV, kitchen for eating, etc.  But apparently finding one large enough for our group was a challenge, so they found two apartments that are across the hall from each other.  So we have our homes for the next few days and we are quite comfortable.   Alexi shares information about the surrounding area and we are on our own once again.  Melissa joins us for dinner and tells us about other families she has met that are here adopting, maybe we will get to meet some of them.

SATURDAY  is movie day.  We head to the nearby Ukrainian Mall.  Melissa and Dennis will meet us and she has invited another family to join us as well.  The Sanner family has adopted a 14 year old girl named Lena from an area south of Kiev.  They are in the finishing stages of their adoption also.  We all go to see the Disney movie Tangled.  We got to see what is like to watch a movie and not be able to understand a word that is said.  It was good, but I'm sure we missed a lot, being in Russian.  Afterwards the children played video games outside the theater while the adults visited and swapped stories.

SUNDAY Steve walks with Kristina to Kiev's Wadzog Train Station.  (I'm spelling it the way it sounds.  I'm sure it's not correct)  Kristina found out the Ukrainian children that have been hosted for the Christmas hosting program are returning today from the U.S.  One of her caregivers from Severodonetsk orphanage is coming by train to meet the children and bring them back to the orphanage.  Before she has to meet them at the airport she has a few hours to kill at the train station before she is picked up and taken to the airport.  Kristina would like to go see her and visit with her.  There IS one more reason though.
STORY:  While the children were here this past summer for the hosting program, one thing we wanted them to have was a Bible to take back with them.   My granddad wanted to do this for the children as a gift.  So a few days before they left Mississippi each one was presented a Russian translation of the Bible that we inscribed a personal message in for each of them.  They treasured these and apparently the caregivers wanted to make sure they were well cared for so they kept them put away in safe keeping.  I don't know whether the children ever asked for them in the meantime but when we asked about them, the children went and got them from the caregivers.  Then they would take them back to be put away.

 Anyway,  all the children remembered to pack their Bibles, but Kristina had forgotten to get her's from her caregiver before she left with us.  Now this reunion makes for the perfect opportunity to collect the Bible.  Dad and Kristina enjoy their visit with Irena and in the meantime we are getting everyone ready so that we can also walk that direction and meet up with them.  We make it just in time for the younger children to give hugs and say good-bye to Irena.  Yes,  there was some thought put into walking to the train station in freezing temperatures for just a short good-bye visit.  There is a McDonalds across the street from the station and we had planned to eat lunch here.  This is our first American food in over 30 days and it tasted so good.  We even had an ice cream cone to finish off lunch.  Then we grab two cabs (Their are seven of us if you havn't counted) and head to Independence Square to meet our friends for ice skating.

MONDAY is an off day.  We have nothing pressing to get done (since it is an embassy holiday), so we plan another trip to the ice skating rink.  The children really enjoyed it (And I did too, I can't believe how much better I have gotten, can't wait to go in the states) yesterday and they wanted to get in some more time on the ice and get better.  It keeps them busy and time moves a little faster.  Today is a happy/sad day for us and our friend Melissa and her son Dennis.  They head back to the states to their family, but on the bright side it's Dennis's birthday! Happy Birthday Dennis!  We know their family reunion will be a happy one, but we are sad to see them go.

Lera.

Luba.

Vladik.

Kristina and the Sanner's.

Group picture.

The tree in Independence square.

Dennis.

TUESDAY morning, we get ready for the embassy appointment at 2 o'clock.  Our driver will arrive at 1:45, so everyone has to be ready.  This is a good time to practice for future engagements of getting everyone ready on time.  Yes, we did it.  (I know you're surprised, but we did.)  We arrive at 2, to find several families already there.  Apparently everyone who has an appointment is told their appointment is at 2 pm.  The three other families arrived before two and filled the waiting room that actually had a sign saying the maximum capacity of the room was 13, and we were over that.  The kids were smart though.  Luba brought UNO cards, Vladik brought a drawing pad and pencils, all of which was screened and made is through security with a few chuckles, but life was easy with them occupied and content.  I never would have thought to bring that stuff.
.
We are called back to window 17 where we sign documents before a notary.  She even makes Mom and Dad raise their hands and state as she states ....  .  Everything is complete.  We have the children's VISAs.  THEY CAN COME TO AMERICA WITH US!  WOOOOHOOOO.

Our evenings here in Kiev, back at the apartment, have been filled with time spent on the phone and computer.  The children like to call their caregivers and Kristina has enjoyed Skyping with friends and caregivers.  We have added cellphone numbers to our Skype address list of friends that we are leaving behind, and only one more day................

LEAVING SEVERODONETSK DAY Thursday - Day 33

Today was an overall great day, we woke up to go to the orphanage to pick up the kids.  We filled out a little paperwork and then said goodbye to their friends except Kristina's (her friends followed us to the hotel) and then we left for the train station in Lugans'k, once there we unloaded and ate, then hopped aboard the train to go to Kiev.

Vladik and his teacher Nina.

Ola and Rita

Dad explaing the gifts in the bags, well..... through Sergey.

Train compartment.

Vladik sleeping.

Hey! Who took that picture?!?!

LUBA... SEATBELT!!!  oh wait, this is a train, not a car,
we always had to tell her that when they came for
hosting.

Playing my DS

Kristina sleeping.