Saw this post http://aspecialfamily.blogspot.com/ on a friend's blog, and thought it was an excellent one regarding "Disruption." Not a popular topic among pre-adoptive parents. "We'd never disrupt our adoption..." but nevertheless, It Happens. I personally know of a handful of families who actually HAVE disrupted their adoptions, and it is not a pretty sight.
Since Ukie adoptions are usually for "older kids" and truthfully, most of those "older kids" have endured some degree of abuse - if not at the hands of their birth family, then perhaps at the orphanage where other children or "care-givers" have been abusive, I think this topic is way under-discussed in Ukrainian adoption circles, and potential problems of adopting older kids unaddressed in pre-adoption support groups. I know in my own adoption group the potential problems for artificial twinning are practically scoffed at. -It has worked beautifully for many families and those families are rather vocal about how dumb it is to be worried about. Well, uh, I do know of at least One family that adopted out of birth order, and that son was horribly abusive to their younger child. They disrupted that adoption for safety reasons.
I myself have a hard time talking about this because well, adopting our three at once who were all "older kids" - and who even have abuse in their backgrounds - has worked out just fine for us. I consider myself an advocate for adopting older kiddos, but I hate that this topic doesn't get more attention because, well, it happens...
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Lemonade
Last night we picked up a great big spout/beverage cooler from our church. It had a ton of extra lemonade in it leftover from the big weekend bash they had. So, all three kids watched as John marched it out of the church and packed the thing into the trunk. All three kids stood right by the trunk WATCHING John bungee-cord the trunk shut. This same cooler is one that the kids had gotten their lemonade out of all day both Saturday and Sunday.
As John was finishing up, Liana wanted to know what it was (after having been told already). We asked her to try to remember where she'd seen it before and what was in it and what we'd already said. She remembered, and we all got into the car.
Not a few minutes later she asked us again what it was that we had in our trunk. John had mentioned that the light on the dash indicated that the trunk was open. Again, we asked her to try to remember for herself instead of having us do her thinking for her. "Oh yeah, it's lemonade."
So, John and I, hoping to stave off any further questioning about it, repeated several times that it was lemonade, lemonade, lemonade. John asked her if she was going to remember now. She giggled and said she would. John told her that was good, because she needed to do her own thinking, and that she needed to make sure she was being a good listener and watcher when people talk to her or show her something.
And so, when we got home, John got it out of the trunk and put it on the kitchen table.
This morning, Liana walked into the kitchen, saw the cooler, and walked back into the livingroom and said, "Hey Mama, what's that thing on the table?"
I said, "Don't you know?"
"No, I don't."
And she really didn't.
And so. That's our Liana worry of late. Engaging mouth before mind, and when people talk, only half-listening and needing to repeat her question just minutes later because her mind was engaged elsewhere.
After talking things over with John, we're thinking it might help her if we had her look us in the eye when we answer her or when she asks us things so we know if she is listening or not, and then repeating back what we've told her so we know if it has registered. She's so impulsive though, that her mouth-before-mind situation is going to be a tough one for her.
A friend of mine also has a Ukie child, and he constantly asks "silly" questions. She has him get out a notebook and think of three possible answers for his own questions. I think she has him do this to curb "just to be difficult" questions since he already knows the answers, but I'm not sure that is really the case with Liana. I sincerely believe she doesn't know - at least not immediately... she just doesn't bother thinking things out by herself. Not with a warm body next to her that could do her thinking for her.
While Liana isn't always impulsive with her actions (unlike her big brother), she is extremely impulsive with her tongue, and it has gotten her in a load of trouble. She has grown a lot in this area, but our "Lemonade" conversations of late have really made it clear that we have a long way to go. In the meantime, as her parents, it's part of our job to help facilitate that growth somehow. Tough work sometimes!
As John was finishing up, Liana wanted to know what it was (after having been told already). We asked her to try to remember where she'd seen it before and what was in it and what we'd already said. She remembered, and we all got into the car.
Not a few minutes later she asked us again what it was that we had in our trunk. John had mentioned that the light on the dash indicated that the trunk was open. Again, we asked her to try to remember for herself instead of having us do her thinking for her. "Oh yeah, it's lemonade."
So, John and I, hoping to stave off any further questioning about it, repeated several times that it was lemonade, lemonade, lemonade. John asked her if she was going to remember now. She giggled and said she would. John told her that was good, because she needed to do her own thinking, and that she needed to make sure she was being a good listener and watcher when people talk to her or show her something.
And so, when we got home, John got it out of the trunk and put it on the kitchen table.
This morning, Liana walked into the kitchen, saw the cooler, and walked back into the livingroom and said, "Hey Mama, what's that thing on the table?"
I said, "Don't you know?"
"No, I don't."
And she really didn't.
And so. That's our Liana worry of late. Engaging mouth before mind, and when people talk, only half-listening and needing to repeat her question just minutes later because her mind was engaged elsewhere.
After talking things over with John, we're thinking it might help her if we had her look us in the eye when we answer her or when she asks us things so we know if she is listening or not, and then repeating back what we've told her so we know if it has registered. She's so impulsive though, that her mouth-before-mind situation is going to be a tough one for her.
A friend of mine also has a Ukie child, and he constantly asks "silly" questions. She has him get out a notebook and think of three possible answers for his own questions. I think she has him do this to curb "just to be difficult" questions since he already knows the answers, but I'm not sure that is really the case with Liana. I sincerely believe she doesn't know - at least not immediately... she just doesn't bother thinking things out by herself. Not with a warm body next to her that could do her thinking for her.
While Liana isn't always impulsive with her actions (unlike her big brother), she is extremely impulsive with her tongue, and it has gotten her in a load of trouble. She has grown a lot in this area, but our "Lemonade" conversations of late have really made it clear that we have a long way to go. In the meantime, as her parents, it's part of our job to help facilitate that growth somehow. Tough work sometimes!
Monday, July 23, 2007
Adam's "friend" and Bing Cherries
Big weekend. Our church celebrated it's 150th annversary this weekend, and it really was quite the extravaganza. One of the previous pastors from 50 years ago was even in attendance! Lots of food, visiting, etc. this weekend.
One of the people who was "visiting" with Adam was another 12-ish year old girl. Long blonde princess tresses, batty eyelashes, etc. She followed Adam around allllllll day yesterday, and they spent the afternoon talking, playing frisbee, etc. Another family brought this infatuation to my attention and I must say, I stood there for several minutes blinking with wide eyes.
I needn't have worried to much, though, because when we asked Adam about her on the way home, he didn't even know her name. Guess we're safe a little while longer... *shudder*
Spent the morning pitting cherries. I bought 20 (or was it 25?) pounds of Michigan cherries from the lady who got me my peaches and pears last summer. Well, the cherries are wonderful, but uh, what on EARTH do I do with that many of 'em? lol! I've never used fresh cherries for ANYthing, and I seriously am scratching my head on this one! (They sounded good at the time... but uh....) ;O) Anyone want to share a tried and true "what-to-do-with-fresh-cherries" recipe? *hangs head in total embarassment* shelly@johnandshelly.net
One of the people who was "visiting" with Adam was another 12-ish year old girl. Long blonde princess tresses, batty eyelashes, etc. She followed Adam around allllllll day yesterday, and they spent the afternoon talking, playing frisbee, etc. Another family brought this infatuation to my attention and I must say, I stood there for several minutes blinking with wide eyes.
I needn't have worried to much, though, because when we asked Adam about her on the way home, he didn't even know her name. Guess we're safe a little while longer... *shudder*
Spent the morning pitting cherries. I bought 20 (or was it 25?) pounds of Michigan cherries from the lady who got me my peaches and pears last summer. Well, the cherries are wonderful, but uh, what on EARTH do I do with that many of 'em? lol! I've never used fresh cherries for ANYthing, and I seriously am scratching my head on this one! (They sounded good at the time... but uh....) ;O) Anyone want to share a tried and true "what-to-do-with-fresh-cherries" recipe? *hangs head in total embarassment* shelly@johnandshelly.net
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Liana's 9-Patch
The fun part of having three kids, is that you never know what the day is going to look like. I had assumed that today was going to be a "yawner" of a day, with nothing special planned...
Well, wrong again!
This morning Liana asked me what a "9-Patch quilt" is... She is reading the Little House on the Prairie books by herself now, and wanted to know what it was that Laura was up to. Well, talk about a detour to the day! I got out some quilt pictures and then after she was done with her math and reading, I helped Liana make her very own 9-Patch pillow.
I must say, while I initially doubted her choice of fabric colors - (a red print and a pale pink), she did an EXCELLENT job and it really turned out beautifully! I know "Laura" didn't have a nice Kenmore sewing machine, but uh, that's what we used, and was I ever proud of how careful and precise she was.
Well, wrong again!
This morning Liana asked me what a "9-Patch quilt" is... She is reading the Little House on the Prairie books by herself now, and wanted to know what it was that Laura was up to. Well, talk about a detour to the day! I got out some quilt pictures and then after she was done with her math and reading, I helped Liana make her very own 9-Patch pillow.
I must say, while I initially doubted her choice of fabric colors - (a red print and a pale pink), she did an EXCELLENT job and it really turned out beautifully! I know "Laura" didn't have a nice Kenmore sewing machine, but uh, that's what we used, and was I ever proud of how careful and precise she was.
Mornin'
Mornin' everyone. Didn't sleep well at all last night, and tossed and turned. Hate that. Slept in, and the kids enjoyed a morning of playin' without Mama lookin' over their shoulder. Didn't break their hearts at all! lol! (Gotta enjoy this while I can! I'm afraid such freedom is on the way out the window come November!)
A few minutes ago, I looked out the window to see Liana's killdeer again, and as I announced that to her, I grabbed the camera, walked to the window, and snapped a perfect picture. Liana was Rather Annoyed that it took me two seconds when it took her TWO DAYS. lol! I told her it was all in the wrist. ;O) We really do need to get ourselves a nice birdfeeder. We have all kinds of pretty birds up here, but just a few fly past our window. I've seen what I assume is an indigo bunting fly through the neighborhood just a few days ago.
Yesterday the kids and I did a big bakin'/cookin' day. I wrote out simple recipes for each kid, and they each went at it (with a little help from Mama, of course.) Aleksa made meatloaf (she loves the squish-it-together part!), and Adam made Rice Krispie Treats. Liana made peanutbutter cookies. I musta done something more than just supervise, 'cause my back is killin' me. Oh yeah, I scrubbed the floor and cleaned up afterwards. Lots of sugar wound up on the floor. (Among other things!) Low-key day today. Probably vacuum and dust, and I have a load of laundry going, but otherwise, nothing major planned other than grocery shopping tonight.
A few minutes ago, I looked out the window to see Liana's killdeer again, and as I announced that to her, I grabbed the camera, walked to the window, and snapped a perfect picture. Liana was Rather Annoyed that it took me two seconds when it took her TWO DAYS. lol! I told her it was all in the wrist. ;O) We really do need to get ourselves a nice birdfeeder. We have all kinds of pretty birds up here, but just a few fly past our window. I've seen what I assume is an indigo bunting fly through the neighborhood just a few days ago.
Yesterday the kids and I did a big bakin'/cookin' day. I wrote out simple recipes for each kid, and they each went at it (with a little help from Mama, of course.) Aleksa made meatloaf (she loves the squish-it-together part!), and Adam made Rice Krispie Treats. Liana made peanutbutter cookies. I musta done something more than just supervise, 'cause my back is killin' me. Oh yeah, I scrubbed the floor and cleaned up afterwards. Lots of sugar wound up on the floor. (Among other things!) Low-key day today. Probably vacuum and dust, and I have a load of laundry going, but otherwise, nothing major planned other than grocery shopping tonight.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Killdeer!
On Monday Liana looked out the window and saw a bird that she assumed was one of our "Eastern Kingbirds" that has been frequenting our yard all summer. Then she noticed that it had a ring around its neck and decided it couldn't be. She HAD been in the middle of her math, but I love these kinds of educational sideroads, so I let her curiousity run full course and her math was ditched.
My scientific sweetie picked up our bird book that we keep by the livingroom window, and our binocs, and all by herself, she declared that it was a Killdeer. The picture in the book matched the specimen outside perfectly.
Well, what else could she do but then grab my camera and go outside to snap a shot of it. She and her little sis ran alllllll over the yard and neighborhood to get it. (I won't tell you how I laughed at her determination and lack of silent stalking!) It took two days, but she got one. In flight even!
She and Leks got out their new Nature Journals and drew pictures of it, and listed where they saw it, etc. I doubt they'll forget what a Killdeer is - (even though before Monday, I had no idea myself what a killdeer was!) http://www.birdwatching.com/stories/killdeer.html
My scientific sweetie picked up our bird book that we keep by the livingroom window, and our binocs, and all by herself, she declared that it was a Killdeer. The picture in the book matched the specimen outside perfectly.
Well, what else could she do but then grab my camera and go outside to snap a shot of it. She and her little sis ran alllllll over the yard and neighborhood to get it. (I won't tell you how I laughed at her determination and lack of silent stalking!) It took two days, but she got one. In flight even!
She and Leks got out their new Nature Journals and drew pictures of it, and listed where they saw it, etc. I doubt they'll forget what a Killdeer is - (even though before Monday, I had no idea myself what a killdeer was!) http://www.birdwatching.com/stories/killdeer.html
Monday, July 16, 2007
Happy Day!
Guess what?!!!
I found a onesie that has "Little Fish" written on it!
Even Fisher smiled and said we needed to put it in the cart. :O)
I found a onesie that has "Little Fish" written on it!
Even Fisher smiled and said we needed to put it in the cart. :O)
Proud New Bike Owner!
Tonight was Adam's Big Night... He's been waiting for this day alllllll spring/summer... the night he finally got to go pick up his new bike. He is one Happy Camper, let me just say!
He and Leksa have been out "racing" their bikes ever since we got home.
Very proud of my hard-workin' son. He trashed his old bike, knew he blew it, and worked hard to get another one. A good life lesson learned. He can't get over the brakes that work, the gears that work, the kick-stand that works, etc. Much happiness over here! :O)
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Fun Weekend!
Uff, what a busy, but FUN, FUN, FUN weekend!
Friday night we went to a picnic at a friend's farm "back home." As we pulled up to park along the side of the road, I notice a big ole snake in the road sunning itself. Wull, 'member my snake studyin' this summer?
I said to Fisher, "Uh, Fisher? There's a snake right there in the road, and I'm fairly certain it's a rattle snake."
"You sure?" says Fisher.
"Uh, it has a rattle!" says I.
The next thing I heard was Fisher locking everyone's cardoors so we could have a chit-chat with the kids before we sprung them loose from the car to "investigate the snake." So, while we tried to prep the kids I realized that a group of about 5-6 kids were playing not 10 feet from that snake, so I got out and told the kids to stay away.
Yeah right. One of them got awful close. Freaked everyone out.
We went and got the son of the man whose farm we were at, and he brought a rake with him (you know, the metal kind that could do some damage). Well, it really was a rattler! How 'bout that. I knew what I was talkin' about for once!
Fisher and The Farmer's son "took care" of the snake and got it out of the kids' play area. It turned into an insta-science lesson and the men opened Mr. Snake's mouth to show the kids the teeth and venom, the jaw that unhinges, and explained the rattle to them. (The snake was about 7 years old judging from the number of rattles it had, btw.) Fisher was the Hero of the night! (Well, really, *sniffs* I was, 'cause I knew it was a rattler and started the initial panic...)
The farmer (Randy is his name) said that was the first rattler he'd ever seen in the 15 years he'd lived there.
No, we did not barbeque it. ;O)
Then Saturday we got to see Dad in the morning and Adam got to mow his yard. That boy LOVES mowing! And! He now has his "bike money" in hand, and we will have a big night tomorrow as he actually gets to bring it home. Very excited boy. He's been doing odd jobs all summer for the neighbor lady and has been saving all the extra cash tossed his way in order to save up for a new and desperately needed bike.
Then we got to go visit Uncle Lyle and Auntie Sharon! SO. MUCH. FUN!!!! The kids got to go for a firetruck ride, (Uncle Lyle is a fireman!), and check out the inside of a few ambulances, (Auntie Sharon is an EMT!) etc. They got free colorbooks and pencils and etc. They got the grand tours at both places! Very, very cool!
They also loved playing with Auntie Sharon's doggies. Oh what a blast they had with the animals! (But! Liana broke out allllll over on the way home, so we're wondering if she's allergic to 'em? She was lugging around that puppy quite a bit, and the inside of her arm was especially covered with welts. She also had welts All over her tummy, back, legs, arms, etc. She's beside herself thinking she might not ever get a dog because she might be allergic. )
Beautiful day, and also very fun to see my sister's boys after so long. It must have been a year since I'd seen them/Sharon at all. Way too long. We instant message every day, so it isn't like we don't "talk" but sometimes a good eyeball-to-eyeball talk is what ya realllllly need to reconnect. THANK YOU Sharon, for the great day we had!
I'm being a little delinquent by not putting our stuff away after our trip and sitting here at the computer instead, but I hadda fill ya all in on what a fun weekend we had!
Friday night we went to a picnic at a friend's farm "back home." As we pulled up to park along the side of the road, I notice a big ole snake in the road sunning itself. Wull, 'member my snake studyin' this summer?
I said to Fisher, "Uh, Fisher? There's a snake right there in the road, and I'm fairly certain it's a rattle snake."
"You sure?" says Fisher.
"Uh, it has a rattle!" says I.
The next thing I heard was Fisher locking everyone's cardoors so we could have a chit-chat with the kids before we sprung them loose from the car to "investigate the snake." So, while we tried to prep the kids I realized that a group of about 5-6 kids were playing not 10 feet from that snake, so I got out and told the kids to stay away.
Yeah right. One of them got awful close. Freaked everyone out.
We went and got the son of the man whose farm we were at, and he brought a rake with him (you know, the metal kind that could do some damage). Well, it really was a rattler! How 'bout that. I knew what I was talkin' about for once!
Fisher and The Farmer's son "took care" of the snake and got it out of the kids' play area. It turned into an insta-science lesson and the men opened Mr. Snake's mouth to show the kids the teeth and venom, the jaw that unhinges, and explained the rattle to them. (The snake was about 7 years old judging from the number of rattles it had, btw.) Fisher was the Hero of the night! (Well, really, *sniffs* I was, 'cause I knew it was a rattler and started the initial panic...)
The farmer (Randy is his name) said that was the first rattler he'd ever seen in the 15 years he'd lived there.
No, we did not barbeque it. ;O)
Then Saturday we got to see Dad in the morning and Adam got to mow his yard. That boy LOVES mowing! And! He now has his "bike money" in hand, and we will have a big night tomorrow as he actually gets to bring it home. Very excited boy. He's been doing odd jobs all summer for the neighbor lady and has been saving all the extra cash tossed his way in order to save up for a new and desperately needed bike.
Then we got to go visit Uncle Lyle and Auntie Sharon! SO. MUCH. FUN!!!! The kids got to go for a firetruck ride, (Uncle Lyle is a fireman!), and check out the inside of a few ambulances, (Auntie Sharon is an EMT!) etc. They got free colorbooks and pencils and etc. They got the grand tours at both places! Very, very cool!
They also loved playing with Auntie Sharon's doggies. Oh what a blast they had with the animals! (But! Liana broke out allllll over on the way home, so we're wondering if she's allergic to 'em? She was lugging around that puppy quite a bit, and the inside of her arm was especially covered with welts. She also had welts All over her tummy, back, legs, arms, etc. She's beside herself thinking she might not ever get a dog because she might be allergic. )
Beautiful day, and also very fun to see my sister's boys after so long. It must have been a year since I'd seen them/Sharon at all. Way too long. We instant message every day, so it isn't like we don't "talk" but sometimes a good eyeball-to-eyeball talk is what ya realllllly need to reconnect. THANK YOU Sharon, for the great day we had!
I'm being a little delinquent by not putting our stuff away after our trip and sitting here at the computer instead, but I hadda fill ya all in on what a fun weekend we had!
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Aleksa Lu, Super Blondie
Aleksa, Aleksa, Aleksa.
This morning Aleksa told me at the breakfast table that she woke up in the middle of the night to find Liana sleeping next to her.
Liana interjects, "I wasn't SLEEPING there."
Aleksa looks at her all wide-eyed and says as seriously as can be, "Well who WAS that then?"
This morning Aleksa told me at the breakfast table that she woke up in the middle of the night to find Liana sleeping next to her.
Liana interjects, "I wasn't SLEEPING there."
Aleksa looks at her all wide-eyed and says as seriously as can be, "Well who WAS that then?"
Here's the deal...
Just got an email the other day that completely cracks me up. Apparently my "Top Secret" here on my blog has really really buggin' people more than I thought! LOL!
----
"Okay, it's serious bribe time.
Would you be willing to let me in on the secret of Little Fish's gender if I promised to knit you with my VERY own hands a yummy cashmere baby ensemble????
C'mon, I'm desperate, and I'm beyond pleading, I'm ready to play completely un-fair.
I PROMISE I'll keep it a secret!! LOL"
----
How could I possibly say no to such grovelling?!!!
Ok, here's the deal. If you *realllllly* can't stand being out of the loop, go ahead and email me. I'll spill it. Ya don't even hafta knit me anything. ;O) shelly@johnandshelly.net
You never know, though... sometimes the doc is wrong! I just read YESTERDAY a website http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/f/firstbabymckee/ (check the "My Journal" section) of a lady who thought she was having a boy, and delivered a little girl. BIG shock! Sometimes it's good to "not know" I guess!
----
"Okay, it's serious bribe time.
Would you be willing to let me in on the secret of Little Fish's gender if I promised to knit you with my VERY own hands a yummy cashmere baby ensemble????
C'mon, I'm desperate, and I'm beyond pleading, I'm ready to play completely un-fair.
I PROMISE I'll keep it a secret!! LOL"
----
How could I possibly say no to such grovelling?!!!
Ok, here's the deal. If you *realllllly* can't stand being out of the loop, go ahead and email me. I'll spill it. Ya don't even hafta knit me anything. ;O) shelly@johnandshelly.net
You never know, though... sometimes the doc is wrong! I just read YESTERDAY a website http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/f/firstbabymckee/ (check the "My Journal" section) of a lady who thought she was having a boy, and delivered a little girl. BIG shock! Sometimes it's good to "not know" I guess!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
No ALF for us?
Well, Fisher says the L name we picked is out. No Alien Life Forms for us. ;O)
While I thought the L sounded pretty nice with the A, I'm glad there won't be any extra reason for being teased. I was a SAP myself, and was pretty happy to be ditching that P once I got married.
It's lookin' like it'll be a K. AKF... there isn't any strange thing I should know about those three letters together, is there? I'm still lookin' though. Not getting anything engraved or monogrammed quite yet! :O)
While I thought the L sounded pretty nice with the A, I'm glad there won't be any extra reason for being teased. I was a SAP myself, and was pretty happy to be ditching that P once I got married.
It's lookin' like it'll be a K. AKF... there isn't any strange thing I should know about those three letters together, is there? I'm still lookin' though. Not getting anything engraved or monogrammed quite yet! :O)
Monday, July 09, 2007
Hyper
Sure had a fun day! My brother (you know, the one who I just posted a picture of), and his wife came for several hours this morning on their way into the Cities for a day of shopping. This was the first time they'd been here since our move, so the kids had All Kinds of fun showing them every they owned... including their rooms, their cool bike tricks, toys, dolls, games, the tomato plant outside (!) etc. Uff da. Someone definitely put quarters in their nickel slots.
While they were pretty good overall, they get to a frenzy point where they have a really hard time controlling themselves. Impulsive is an understatement... I poked my nose in the livingroom at one point to see Adam yanking on my brother's leg... Another time the kids were all in the girls' room and someone got crazy and slugged someone else. (That doesn't fly around here.) They just still don't seem to know how to manage themselves when they are excited.
Totally reminded me of when the kids were first home. They were so constantly over-stimulated by their new lives with us; our house, their stuff, our visitors, etc, that they were on perpetual high and couldn't bring themselves out of it. Not for months. They were miserable. And uff, were John and I exhausted. Happy, but Tired!
Thankfully, when my brother and sil left, the house got instantly quiet, but it was an eye-opener to me. (Evidently things have been rather low-key around here lately... haven't seen this much excitement in ages!)
While they were pretty good overall, they get to a frenzy point where they have a really hard time controlling themselves. Impulsive is an understatement... I poked my nose in the livingroom at one point to see Adam yanking on my brother's leg... Another time the kids were all in the girls' room and someone got crazy and slugged someone else. (That doesn't fly around here.) They just still don't seem to know how to manage themselves when they are excited.
Totally reminded me of when the kids were first home. They were so constantly over-stimulated by their new lives with us; our house, their stuff, our visitors, etc, that they were on perpetual high and couldn't bring themselves out of it. Not for months. They were miserable. And uff, were John and I exhausted. Happy, but Tired!
Thankfully, when my brother and sil left, the house got instantly quiet, but it was an eye-opener to me. (Evidently things have been rather low-key around here lately... haven't seen this much excitement in ages!)
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Friday, July 06, 2007
Mornin'!
This morning I got around to dusting the downstairs. (Not very well though... hate that job).
The excitement for the kids is that Liana had some ooze coming out of her finger and decided to see what it looked like under the microscope. They're fighting over who gets to look at it next.
*shrugs*
While they were doing that, I tried to sneak some of their broken toys/half-lost games out to the garbage can... I almost got away with it completely, but Adam sniffed me out and insisted that we at least keep the cool dice out of one game. Fine! :O)
Break time, then lunch, and then I imagine I should probably try to get the upstairs dusted.
*sigh*
Weatherman says tomorrow is supposed to be a scorcher. I think it's going to be a water-gun/sprinkler kind of a day...
The excitement for the kids is that Liana had some ooze coming out of her finger and decided to see what it looked like under the microscope. They're fighting over who gets to look at it next.
*shrugs*
While they were doing that, I tried to sneak some of their broken toys/half-lost games out to the garbage can... I almost got away with it completely, but Adam sniffed me out and insisted that we at least keep the cool dice out of one game. Fine! :O)
Break time, then lunch, and then I imagine I should probably try to get the upstairs dusted.
*sigh*
Weatherman says tomorrow is supposed to be a scorcher. I think it's going to be a water-gun/sprinkler kind of a day...
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
ALF
So we were just writing out our newly-decided-on name a few times (Ok, so I had a Word document open and was writing it out in about twenty different fonts...) and John said, ALF! The initials are ALF! And then he got this proud giggle and said, "My kid is an Alien Life Form!"
And then, as if he always wanted one of those, he said, "It's appropriate!" Then he wandered off. (Which was probably a good thing!) lol!
And then, as if he always wanted one of those, he said, "It's appropriate!" Then he wandered off. (Which was probably a good thing!) lol!
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Adam update
We took Adam to a neurogist in St. Paul a few weeks ago. She was really impressed with his progress! His left foot, which when he first got home would hardly flex at all, is now hardly noticeable, and she said it was really a "non-issue" at this point, and for us to just continue his stretches. He's been doing certain leg/foot stretches every day for a few years now, and thankfully, it seems to be doing the trick. He still walks without flexing his left foot completely, but you can hardly notice it. It was nice to hear a good report for him. She was optimistic about his left hand also... Adam can't do nearly with his left hand what he can do with his right, but he does have some use of it, and has learned to work around it well enough to call it "good enough" she said. John has given Adam "left-hand" projects to do whenever he thinks to, and one of those is that whenever he eats supper, Adam should use his left hand. He hates that, but he has made a lot of progress because of it, I think. He also does some daily exercises with 5lb. weights.
The big thing that he has against him now is his expressive language. The doctor didn't seem as concerned as maybe I would be. Thought maybe his issues with language might still be because of the switch from Russian, but my Mama Instinct says otherwise - though he has made amazing progress with that too. Everything comes harder for him, but they aren't impossible. He is doing much better in his math than he ever has before, but his speech is still tough.
It would also help if he weren't also a little on the stubborn side too at times... He sometimes gets irritated having to repeat himself, and he'll often botch what he's saying just to push our buttons. Like the other day he wanted more bacon, and instead of asking for it, he just said, "Ca I more dat?" (didn't finish the "n" in can, and didn't bother trying to say "have" or telling us what "dat" was, etc.) John and I just looked at him and said, "uh, nope. Try again."
Adam took a breath and said, "Can I have more licorice?" Ok, OBVIOUSLY he knew it wasn't licorice, but he wanted to push a button or two. It took him a rather long time to come up with the right answer, but eventually he said it... "Can I have more bacon please?" *sigh*
The biggest thing we're working on with him, though is his mumbling. He likes to only say half of his words, call everything "that/dat," or "stuff" or "thing." He will string three words together into one word quite often. John and I are CONSTANTLY telling him to try again. But, it has helped him so much. He's made a lot of progress, and is even saying his "r's" right when we ask him to try again. He doesn't say them on his own yet (without prompting, I mean), (that's a lot of effort you know), but he often he has come up with PERFECT r's when he tries, which always earns him lots of praise and high fives. Those American R's are toughies, you know.
The big thing that he has against him now is his expressive language. The doctor didn't seem as concerned as maybe I would be. Thought maybe his issues with language might still be because of the switch from Russian, but my Mama Instinct says otherwise - though he has made amazing progress with that too. Everything comes harder for him, but they aren't impossible. He is doing much better in his math than he ever has before, but his speech is still tough.
It would also help if he weren't also a little on the stubborn side too at times... He sometimes gets irritated having to repeat himself, and he'll often botch what he's saying just to push our buttons. Like the other day he wanted more bacon, and instead of asking for it, he just said, "Ca I more dat?" (didn't finish the "n" in can, and didn't bother trying to say "have" or telling us what "dat" was, etc.) John and I just looked at him and said, "uh, nope. Try again."
Adam took a breath and said, "Can I have more licorice?" Ok, OBVIOUSLY he knew it wasn't licorice, but he wanted to push a button or two. It took him a rather long time to come up with the right answer, but eventually he said it... "Can I have more bacon please?" *sigh*
The biggest thing we're working on with him, though is his mumbling. He likes to only say half of his words, call everything "that/dat," or "stuff" or "thing." He will string three words together into one word quite often. John and I are CONSTANTLY telling him to try again. But, it has helped him so much. He's made a lot of progress, and is even saying his "r's" right when we ask him to try again. He doesn't say them on his own yet (without prompting, I mean), (that's a lot of effort you know), but he often he has come up with PERFECT r's when he tries, which always earns him lots of praise and high fives. Those American R's are toughies, you know.
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