Party!

Fun day yesterday! Friday night Uncle Jared stayed overnight. What a nice uncle! My kiddos sure had him busy! Liana asked him to watch her make bread and I thought, "oh, no, poor guy, he's gonna want to watch that about like he wants to watch paint dry!" But, he did it anyway! What a sweetie! Lots of tickling, reading, chatting, joke-telling, etc. It was so fun!

Yesterday the rest of the Fisher Clan came over. Big birthday dinner, nasty "little girl" cake. (You know, the "fun-fetti" kind with the canned frosting.) (*shudder*) But, the girls liked it, so *sigh*, that's all that mattered, right? lol! I'm going to have to work on their tastes for REAL cake from scratch... we've been making a few lately, but I guess they just aren't "pink" enough for a birthday cake request! ;o)

Grandpa and Grandma spoiled them rotten with dollies and hair thingies and clothes and, and, and... :o) They had an awful lot of fun opening presents! Auntie Cara got them fingernail polish. Their favorite thing in the world! This summer I've been the victim of multi-colored toenails from my polish-lovin' girlies. Good thing I don't much care - my summer shoes are toe-less. lol! Just another badge of motherhood, I guess! When my girls are older, my toes will be one color again, but for now, I enjoy looking down at my tootsies and seeing two layers of smudged, over-the-cuticle purples and pinks. It means my girlies love me!

Back to the usual routine now though. This week has been lots of fun, but I'm looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow!

Birthday week update!

Leksa's birthday today. *sniff, sniff* How can my baby be SEVEN????? She has officially spent half of her life with us now. Wow. And my Liana is NINE? Uff da. She's going to be married off before I can blink.

I've been so busy this week. I'm exhausted. I mentioned VBS in an earlier post... We've actually been directing it... Lots more things to think about than I had imagined. Hopefully if we ever do this again, (read: If we're ever asked!), we can do so a lot more smoothly. Very stressful. I was also teaching the little ones, and John was the MC/song leader. Last night was the big "bash" night where the kids could spend the "VBS Bucks" they earned all week by saying verses, attending, bringing visitors, etc. We had a family give $400 toward "Cool Prizes" so, whoa, were there prizes! Liana wound up with a doctor kit, Adam got a cool flashlight that has a compass, radio, alarm, etc. on it. (And best of all, it doesn't need batteries; you crank it up to charge it up!) Leksa got a new Bible and bible cover. And on top of all the prizes, there was a Ton of Candy. We had carnival games, and pony rides. I asked Leksa how many times she rode the ponies, and she giggled and said she had no idea, she had ridden them so many times! I don't think she played even one carnival game - she was too busy over by the ponies. I had a feeling that would happen! ;O)

For the girls' birthdays, we woke them up early so John could see them open one of their presents (the rest will wait for their party on Saturday.) Liana got a watch she's been hoping for, and Leksa got a toy horse and carriage. Two very happy girlies.

You should see Adam with his flashlight though. Talk about giddy! He hasn't put the thing down since he "bought" it last night! (It's only 7:38am right now, but they've all three been up a while already)... "Mama, this is East! Did you know this is East!" "You want the baby to hear my music?" "Watch me crank it up, Mama! Can you believe it, Mama? No batteries!!" "This is so cool!" Looks like the prize buyer - (John!) did good! ;O) (He said he "might have" had Adam in mind for that one...)

I'm ready for a vacation. But! That's not to be for a few more days. Lots more excitement ahead of us this weekend with the girls' party and all our company. Tomorrow also marks the three year anniversary of our court date in Ukraine. The whole Fisher crew is headed this way today and tomorrow.

*edited to add that I do know the difference between a horse and a pony... There were mostly ponies and this one token horse... Had forgotten about the horsie until I saw my pictures! lol! (Jiss be quiet, I've had a long week! lol!)

My Letter to Zhanna

(This is my letter to Zhanna, slightly edited to make it ok for public eyes, but I thought it was newsy enough about the kids that you all might enjoy it too.)

August 7, 2007

Dear Zhanna,

What a nice surprise to hear from you! I have been wanting to write you for many weeks, and I’m so sorry for leaving you waiting and wondering about your sweet babies. I hope you can please forgive me for that.

Yesterday was Valya’s birthday! She is so proud to be a big 9-year-old girl! She has become such a sweet young lady… I know you would be proud of her. Her newest interests have been sewing and learning to bake bread. She made a quilt square into a pillow a few weeks ago, and sleeps with it every night.

She is right this moment making bread in the kitchen all by herself! (Bread machine bread, for you blog friends reading this). She’s a smart girl, Zhanna! She has been growing up right before our eyes, and many days it makes me teary to see her getting so tall and mature. She loves most of all to be with her friends and family. She loves people and makes friends immediately. I wish I myself had such a gift with people! Her hair is getting long… She has been growing out her shorter front bangs, and they are finally long enough to tuck behind her ears. It drove her crazy to get them that long though! She is becoming such a beautiful young girl.

This week we are having special children’s meetings at our church, and as I was in the hallway talking to another mom, Valya could be heard singing loudly from inside the bathroom! She actually could be heard all over the church! She then came out of the bathroom dancing down the hallway. That’s our girl! She was extra-happy because it was her birthday, and told everyone all about the new watch she got as a gift. She is very proud that she can tell time all by herself.

Friday is Zinochka’s birthday. She is very excited to be a 7-year-old. We are planning a big party for both girls on Saturday. John’s parents and brother and sister and her children are coming. Zina is getting so tall! One of the reasons we had asked you what height you and Misha were is because, the children are getting so tall so fast! We expect that they’ll all be very, very tall when they are fully grown… I myself am quite short, so it won’t be long before all of them are taller than me! (Misha already is!)

Zina loves horses and ponies, and is thrilled that she gets to have a horse ride on Thursday this week. She loves to pretend she is a horse, and crawls all over the place making horse sounds. Her little knees get quite black, and she has stained many, many play clothes that way! She also loves playing dress-up, and pretending to have tea-parties. She loves “pretending” things more than the other two do. She has quite an imagination! She also loves to read. The other two do also, but Zina is very far ahead in school because of her love of reading. It makes us so proud and happy that she is doing so well.

Her hair is getting long too… We had wondered if it would darken, but she remains our little blondie. She still has her sweet little chubby cheeks, and those dimples melt our hearts. She has a way of charming everyone she meets with her friendliness and smiles. As you know, she’s just adorable! She now has three of her permanent teeth on the top, and the fourth one is on the way. She looks like a big girl now!

The biggest thing she is excited about right now is also the biggest thing that is happening in our family this year. Surprisingly, after ten years of marriage, John and I are expecting a baby this November! Zina can’t wait to finally be a big sister, and of course Misha and Valya are anxious for the new baby to come also. They will all be great helpers for me this winter, I know. They are so eager to help with this little one.

I hope I don’t need to tell you, but you don’t know us well, so I’ll reassure you anyway. I want you to know that just because we are going to have a biological child now, that it won’t at all affect how we feel about our Ukrainian sweethearts. We love them with all our hearts, Zhanna, and I hope you always take comfort in knowing that.

That leaves me to tell you about Misha… He wants me to tell you how strong he is, and smart, and what a good bike-rider he is. (He is standing here making sure I write that!) He bought himself a brand new bike this summer with money he earned doing jobs for neighbors. He did yard work, did painting, wood projects, and other things in order to buy his new bike. Misha had ruined his old bike, and so, John and I wanted him to learn a lesson from that, so he had to earn a new one himself. The lesson worked, because he has been taking excellent care of his new bike.

He also wants me to tell you that his pet fish “Bubbles” died a few days ago. He had a hamster for a long time too, but it died this winter. He is very tender-hearted boy, and made both of them little boxes and buried them in the woods by our house.

You asked what we’ve been doing on vacation. We have had a fun summer! There is a big park near our house, that we have visited many times this summer for picnics, swims at the beach, and also hiking along the trails. We have seen many wild animals like deer, snakes, and many different kinds of birds. The kids love our trips to that park! We’ve also made a few trips to see family members. My sister lives several hours away, and we went to visit her. Her husband is a fireman, and my sister works in an ambulance, so we brought the children to look at the fire trucks (they even got to go for a ride!), and got to look inside an ambulance. They loved that! My sister has a little puppy that the kids loved to play with, though Valya broke out in a rash afterwards, so we’re wondering if she is allergic to dogs. We hope not, as we were hoping to get the kids a dog next summer.

I think of you often, Zhanna, as do the children. They talk about you all the time, and I encourage them to do so. It is so hard that your deep loss was our richest gain. All three children would love to see you again, and while I don’t have any idea how we could afford a trip to Ukraine any time soon, we can pray that one day they will see you again, and that John and I can finally meet the woman who gave our children life. We love you, pray for you, and only wish you well.

Shelly, John,

Misha, Valya and Zinochka

Letter from Zhanna

It's been a big last few weeks around here. I had my birthday on July 28, an Liana's was yesterday. Leksa's is Friday. Plus, we have had VBS at our church all week this week (except Friday). I'm exhausted already! lol!

This morning tapped me emotionally though... We got an email from the lady who did our birthfamily search this winter. She was sending me a letter from the childrens' birthmother. Talk about emotional. I was really glad she wrote, as she had been really caught off-guard by our PI before, and didn't have a whole lot to say this winter. She had written the children a very short note, and you could see from her writing that she was pretty nervous. This time, she sent a lengthy letter and expressed a lot of things that I'm so thankful that the children will have from her. She begged me to write her and tell her all about the kids and to tell her what the girls' hair was like, and what kind of people the kids are becoming, and what they're doing for the summer, etc. It was the "perfect" letter to receive from a birthmother, and I can't wait until the postman delivers the hardcopy. What a treasure for the kids. It did have a little bad news, but it was news that we needed to know concerning the family, and I was thankful for the extra insight.

Anyway, I sat right down and wrote her back. Three long pages of letting her know all about how wonderful the kids are. (Of course, I could hardly think of a thing to say about 'em!) *wink, wink*

It was really emotional though, because here I was bragging up OUR kids. Not just mine, but hers too. They are part of her heart as well, and while bad things happened while under her charge, she still loves them, and I appreciate that more than I can express. Very strange to be telling someone all about your kids to someone who is ALSO their mother. Different kind of mother, but I respect her position in their lives too much to not acknowledge her as such. (But knowing it WAS their mother I was writing to, I got to really lay it on thick how wonderful they are without fear that I was bragging too much! I can't talk about 'em like this to just anybody you know. Well to you all, but you don't count, right?) ;O)

I hope the open lines of communication with her will help the children deal with any future "issues" that may arise because of their "adopted" status. I worry most about my Leksa Lu, who doesn't remember hardly a thing from before we adopted her, and nothing at all of "Mama Zhanna." Leks had very little to say about hearing from her, while the older two were firing suggestions at me as to what to tell her in the letter I was returning. Leks just sorta sat there and let it fly over her head.

Hope tomorrow is less emotional - I know it will still be busy, but I can take only so much... My girls turning so old this week (9 and 7!!) is hard enough on me to begin with!!!

Extra Ethnic Today

This morning the girls are running around with round red stickers on their foreheads...

Liana announced that she was a "Ukrainian Gypsy American Indian Hindu."

Now I know!

(That certainly explains a lot, let me tell ya!) *wink*

Bridge Collapse

I'm sure by now you've heard about the bridge in Minneapolis/St. Paul collapsing. Talk about too close for comfort.

While that bridge isn't "John's bridge" to come home by, it is awfully close...

Yesterday was not a good day to have misplaced my cellphone, and to stay offline because I wasn't feeling well. My poor sisters were pretty frantic with worry about us.

Very thrilled to not be personally affected by that tragedy, but I'm so sad for those who are.

Difficult topic

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...

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!

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

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.

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.

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

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)

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)

Pictures from weekend

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!

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?"

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!

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)

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!)

Blessed

Stepped out my patio door the other day to take this picture. I get teary sometimes watching them like this... Sights like this are like God reminding me how good life is and how thankful I should be for His blessings.

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...

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!

My big bro

Ok, this post is for Tami, whose hubby could be my brother Tom... Whaddaya think???

(And Tom, if you're out there, hope you don't mind...) ;O) Love you!

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.

Ultrasound

Had our big ultrasound on Thursday! Little Fish is developing just fine, and all is well in the world. Even though I didn't get really great pics from the ultrasound to take home, I'm beyond relieved that everything is a-ok so far! (The doctor did tell me that since the 3D/4D machine was new, that they might drag me in to practice on me for future appointments... I think he felt bad that the pics weren't great... Little Fish was just not cooperating in what position to be in.

We also found out what the gender is, but the more I think about it, the more I think I'll keep that tidbit of info to myself. Enough people in real life know what it is that I want it to be a surprise for SOMEbody, and it might as well be you!! :O)

(So, all you who already know what it is, please keep it quiet, ok?

Nice Weekend

Had a nice weekend back home. Was fun to see my dad, my brother and his wife... The kids got totally spoiled on icecream treats and Auntie Gina's loot stash... (you should see the kites and super-soakers the kids wound up bringing home!) We also refilled Dad's freezer to the hilt, so he should be set for a while.

Also saw all the Fishers. John's brother's birthday was Friday night, so Saturday night we went to the Olive Garden (yum!) to celebrate. Stayed overnight with John's sister and her family. Stayed up way too late talking, but it was fun (even though we got to chatting about her horror-story labor... oy.)

Got to also see our "third" family back home this weekend too - our old church family. Love those folks. Sunday there was a big "sending off" celebration for a team going to Thailand on a missions trip. John's brother Jared is also going, so we were pretty excited for them. Though, of the eight people, four of them still don't have their passports in hand... And they're supposed to leave tomorrow! Eek! Two are going to Chicago to stand in line and see if they can have their passport handed to them, and the other two were told they were be delivered by today at three. Should be interesting to hear the final report... (John's brother has his passport already though... had it expedited.)

Still early... We got in late last night, and the kids are still sawing logs - gonna let 'em sleep in... they'll need it after the big weekend and the late night. Might just crawl back in bed myself.

***Edited to add: Woo-hoo! The last four passports have come in just under the wire! Horray!

Ukrainian?

This morning out of the blue, Aleksa asked, "Is the baby going to be Ukrainian?"

I told her it wouldn't.

She was a little upset.

She said, "Well, will it be my sister then?"

"Not if it's your brother," said I.

Not sure which mortified her more - that the baby wouldn't be Ukrainian, or that it Might be a brother...

(Heaven help us if it turns out to be both non-Ukrainian AND a brother.... oy... how will we ever accept such a child into our family!? *gasp* lol)

More of my favorite video clips

Uploaded a few more videos last night... Enjoy!

Here's my favorite Liana video... She wrote in Curtsy for the very first time! 2/3/06, age 7, home 1 1/2 years.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=841592545235980042

Here's a clip of Aleksa about her day... "Adam the fish" was dying, and she had gone through an entire roll of tp that day in one "sitting." 3/24/05, age 4, home seven months.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7918005512626766713

One of my favorites of Adam, taken at suppertime this winter... He started telling me about a book he was reading, and he was speaking so well and clearly that I HAD to grab the camera. This one really shows how far he's come... Taken 2/24/07, he's 12, home 2 1/2 years.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4650970945895709857

Adam Videos

Adam, Adam, Adam. This guy has had the toughest time with English. He's still a work in progress, actually. Language has always been hard for him - even in his native language, he struggled. He's come a long way, however, and I'm super proud of the hard work he's done to get this far. Adam crashes when I video him reading nowadays, so while I do have some, I don't think they're really a good judge of his ability. I'll post some "just talkin'" clips instead.

November, 2004; Adam is "reading" Dr. Seuss' "ABC" Very tough for him...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2949442193072297753


March 24, 2005; Adam is retelling the story of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." He's just newly 10 years old, and home from Ukraine 7 months.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-378670622141624474


Can't post Adam videos without reposting Adam remembering our "Metcha Day." I still get teary watching this one. And yes, Aleksa DID bite her brother when he tried to pick her up, and he does have scars on his shoulder to prove that she did so at least a few different times...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-876976978358705861

I still need to take a video of him this weekend, and when I do, I'll edit this post with another addition.

Liana Videos

Here are a few before/afters of Liana reading "The Three Little Pigs" too...

First one is taken the same night as Leksa's in 11/04. Age 6, home almost three months. I'd almost forgotten how tough those "r's" were for her way back then. *sigh*

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4862203685817400075

Here's today's version. She's 8, and home 2 yrs, 10 mos. So grown up... :O(

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-232506499317265329

Aleksa Videos

Someone recently brought it to my attention that pictures and video clips from when the kids first came home from Ukraine aren't showing up on my blog. Bummer!

So, I'm reposting a few video clips as I upload them onto the internet - it takes a LONG time to do this, so I'll post 'em as I do 'em. Here are a few to start us off....

Aleksa's November 2004 (home almost three months) version of "The Three Pigs" http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2288837970286810893

And now, here's one I took of her today reading the same book. She's been home from Ukraine 2 years 10 months... http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5447418898577135070

Oh, and here's another one from today... My favorite book from my childhood was "Caps for Sale" and when Leksa reads it, she has to dramatize it too... She's definitely our little actress. Here ya go... http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8134069185174227675

Birthnames

Last weekend when we were at the park (pre-deluge), I asked the Mrs. if she ever used her daughter's birthname with her. (Her son actually goes by his birthname). She said her daughter gets mighty huffy if anyone ever calls her by it, so, no, they only use her American name.

I've been thinking about that ever since. I use my kids' birthnames with them alllllll the time. Probably half of the time with the girls, and fairly often (usually mornings and nights) with Adam. Perhaps they like to hear their birthnames because their siblings called them that, and the "bad association" with Ukraine isn't as acute? Or, maybe since I use their birthnames as terms of endearment? "Zina Ballerina" or "Valentina Ballerina" for example, and of course there's "Princess Liliana Valentina" or "Princess Aleksandra Zinaida." Adam is my "Misha bear" and has bear pajamas and bedding to go along with that theme. (Mishka evidently means "little bear.")

I have heard so many stories of Ukie kids not wanting anything to do with their birthnames once they are home in America... I just wonder if my kids always having each other takes the urgency out of "needing" to fit in to their new lives in America by using an American name.

Who knows.

That said, I am glad we changed their names. Well, we didn't totally change them, rather we moved their birth names to their middle names... It was a right of passage for us as their parents to give them new names, and also a gift to the children to give them names that wouldn't make them stick out like sore thumbs as "not from here." But, I also feel like, as long as the children LIKE their names, that I should use them. (Besides, I love their birthnames, and they are fun to say!)

Grounded

We have such a pathetic child here today. Adam went and got himself grounded this morning, (don't ask!)

Since his neighbor friends have come home from school, he's been glued to the window like a little puppy dog. One of his friends (his best friend, actually), came to the door asking for him, and Aleksa told him that he was grounded but that SHE could go out and play with him.

(I didn't see it, but I'm fairly certain she had to have batted her eyes about right then. She Looooooooves "Robby!")

This did not make our sad puppy any happier, lemmetellyawhat, and I have been seranaded by a loooong string of heavy sighs for the past half hour.

Life is so hard sometimes.

Papa Birds

Don't know if I've mentioned our "Pa-pa!" bird... It has been driving John CRAZY this spring.

We've been having to sleep with the windows shut :O( because this dumb bird screeches at us in the morning almost right outside our window. And it doesn't just screech... John is quite sure it is saying, "Papa! Papa!" And it makes him NUTS.

We haven't ever seen this guilty bird in action to identify it, but I decided to do some poking around on some audio-clips of birdies today, and have discovered that it is most definitely a ring-necked pheasant. We've seen them around, so it isn't surprising...

I'm thinking John just might just be persuaded to become a hunter! lol!

Fun Day?

And so today we had a wonderful picnic/get-together time with another Ukie family in the area... It was a beautiful day, and we had a great time.

Well, check that. It was a beautiful day until we were Just about to leave. Then it dropped a thunderstorm on our heads and completely drenched and froze us all. Unfortunately we had wound up parked about as far away from the zoo as we could possibly be, and therefore had a nice 15 minute walk, er, run through the torrents (yes, torrents) of rain.

John led the parade, and several times I had no idea where he was because he was so far ahead, and I couldn't remember where we were parked. Talk about a panic!

Leksa was crying. Liana shivering. Adam loving every adventuresome minute.

Me? Well, I am now sitting with my foot propped up with ice. I twisted my ankle *twice* in the process of the mad rush to the car.

But we had a good time, and I'm quite sure not a one of us will ever forget this day. If and when our camera dries out, perhaps I'll post a picture or two. But I've been wanting a new camera anyway, right?

Now we're getting ready to go to some friends' house for supper.

We plan to bring an umbrella.

Poor Liana!

Liana was all geared up for No Math today (finished her book yesterday).

She got "all done" with her schoolwork when who should knock on the door but the postman delivering a package.

"That's NOT my new math book, is it, Mama?"

Her only consolation was that her new book is Pink.

*tee-hee*

Strawberry shirt

This morning Adam was going through his clothes, and pulled out a yellow shirt with a nasty stain down the front of it.

I asked him if he wanted to pitch it.

He said it was one of his favorite shirts, so no way. I asked why he liked since it was so gross.

He said that the stain was from when we had strawberry pie (must be two years ago, since I didn't make it last year...) and that he didn't want to throw the shirt away because it made him happy that he got to eat such yummy things here in America.

Couldn't believe he could remember what he ate two years ago!

We kept it.

Nice day!

We had a nice, nice day at Willow River State Park. They have waterfalls (a dam, actually), nice river to canoe/kayak/fish in, a beach, a playground for the kids, nature trails galore, etc. Super weather, and everyone was feeling well. How 'bout that! Just a fabulous day together relaxing and having fun skipping rocks, wading in the water, playing in the sand, taking extra time to notice caterpillars, bugs, birds, etc.

On the way out of the park we passed (and then turned around to take pictures of), a really long Western Fox Snake (hadda Google it when we got home!) It was sure pretty! Yellow body with brown spots. Huge. After that fun discovery, I'm half-tempted to up and do a unit study on snakes with the kids this summer. That might be kinda fun. Evidently there are 20 species of 'em in WI, so that would give us a nice and tidy number to look up and learn about. John thinks they'd be more interested in a botony unit, so we'll have to see. Adam likes to ask what different plants are, and what they're used for, etc. Really need some nature journals. Haven't found a good one yet, but I suppose we could just as easily make our own. (So much for only "math and reading" this summer) - but the more I think of it, the more it makes sense to continue doing science in the summer when we can actually be out and about. (I'm becoming SUCH a homeschool mom!) lol!

Happy Memorial Day!

Well, this weekend's plans have really flown out the window. Saturday we had rain, rain, rain, which ruined the picnic idea. John took us out to supper instead. Which was good because I was having lots of different cravings, so we opted for a buffet-style restaurant. We came home stuffed and happy. (I think I ate more than Adam!)

Saturday night Liana started really coming down with a nasty sore throat. She woke up Sunday with a fever too. So, she and I layed low while everyone else went to church. Kind of a ho-hum day. I read her a pile of books, popped in a few library videos, and she guzzled juice.

I'm HOPING we get to do SOMETHING fun today! lol! The sky looks clear, and Liana has perked up. (She is currently singing at the top of her lungs in her room... Her throat must not be bothering her TOO badly! lol!)

Hope you all are having a nice weekend!

Mornin'!

Bright and shiny here after a few days of rain. We had really needed it, though. I'm hoping the weekend stays nice. The rain sure made everything nice and green up here. It could still probably use another day or two of it, but we'll take what we can get. (And hope it doesn't spoil everyone's weekend plans!)

Tomorrow we're headed to a State Park here in town, (just right down the road, really). Not planning to camp overnight, but we'll plan to spend the day. There's a beach, nice hiking trails, a waterfall, etc.

Not sure yet what to do on Monday... Nice to have a "free day" to not already have penciled in. I'd kinda like to head down to Osseo and have a slice of pie at the Norske Nook, and poke around the little shops. (It is a little Norwegian town). Not terribly kid-friendly, but *sigh*, maybe there's a park there to hit also. Need to see what John thinks about that idea. Haven't run it past him yet.

Next weekend we're getting together with another family that adopted from Ukraine. We call them our Ukrainian cousins. Hopefully the weather will be nice then too - we're meeting at the Como Park Zoo in the Cities. (Anyone else out there adopted from Ukraine/going to? Would you like to join us?) (Email me! shelly@johnandshelly.net)

School is winding down here. The older two have finished their language stuff, and Liana has just one more week of math before she finishes her book. (Poor girl doesn't realize though, that I'm buying her the next book to get started with right away... we do reading and math all summer!) That's about it! Hope everyone has a great day!

Video clip

Ok, you all need to head over to Tami's blog "Finding Maddie" and watch the short video clip she has on there. Don't forget the kleenex... It's about Ukrainian orphans/orphanages.

http://findingmaddie.blogspot.com/

Tagged!

Groan! Someone just tagged me on their blog and I'm supposed to write 8 random habits/facts about myself, and then tag 8 more people to do the same. I won't say who, because she is very private about who knows/has access to her blog.

But I have a confession... I don't read a lot of blogs... so I'm not sure I can come up with that many! And to think of 8 people who read MY blog to KNOW that they're tagged... uff, it's a stab in the dark.

So. Lemme think. Uh. I must have some random facts or habits around here somewhere...

1. I must, repeat must fall asleep with my right arm thrown over my eyes. Really bad for my eyes, and I've tried to break the habit, but alas, I've been doing it too long. And while my right arm is slung over my face, my left hand rests on my tummy and my feet are crossed at the ankles.

2. I'm much more shy and reserved in person than you might think by reading this blog. I can rarely think of anything to say in person... and social gatherings tend to stress me out. Much rather write than speak.

3. Oh, here's one. I have hazel/green eyes, but alllll growing up my mom always bought me blue pajamas "to match my eyes." It drove me batty. She had blue eyes, and several of my siblings do, but mine aren't. But she swore they were. So, in college, I bought myself a set of GREEN jammies. And threw away my blue. !. (I was such a rebel, lemmetellyawhat!)

4. I'm the youngest of 7. Well, actually 9. Two brothers died as infants. I was the "whoops" baby of the family - Mom and Dad were "done" having kids for 14 years when I strolled along. So, really, I was an only child with a bunch of siblings that were up and out by the time I could remember much. I guess that's why I've always wanted a big family. I missed a lot, and was frankly rather lonely... (though all my sibs think I lucked out instead.) (The grass is always greener, isn't it?)

5. I don't really like "Stuff." I don't have any fancy collection of teapots or ceramic birdies, or whatever. (Do you know you have to DUST that stuff?!) The things I have that don't "do" anything but are just for show are few and far between in my house. Just a few keepsakes - precious few, and boy, they'd better be Pre-Cious. Pictures on the other hand, aren't "stuff." They're treasures. "Stuff" just has too much of a tendency to take over my life and swallow my house. So, I'm extra careful on what I bring into the house. Not having a basement in anyplace we've ever lived has really been a valuable lesson for me. I can't "hoard" stuff because there isn't room, so I only keep things that are meaningful (VERY meaningful!), or useful.

6. I hated, was freaked out by, and refused to learn for the longest time, anything about computers. I figured I'd poof them if I touched them. Avoided them like the plague. Then I married John Fisher, Computer Geek Extraordinaire. Fought it for a year or two, and then he plunked me down in front of ours and made me learn on my own. Grrr. And I was hooked in no time. And he had to buy me my own. :O)

7. I'd love a garden. Veggie garden. I'd love to have a root cellar full of canned goods (not tin cans, I'm talkin' the glass quart jars Grandma always had...), and fruit trees galore. And a strawberry patch. And maybe a couple chickens in the yard. Or more than a couple. (For the freezer). ;O)

8. And last but not least.... I have a perfect record in Skeet Shooting. I was dragged out with a shotgun once and told to smash a clay pidgeon. There was a big group of us and I was mortified. (See Number 2). But, being a good sport, I followed the directions and did what they said. And I smashed that clay pidgeon in a million pieces. Best shot of anyone there. And after my turn, I handed back the gun and declared that I'd never do it again - didn't want to mess up my perfect record! lol!


Whew, glad that was over with. How stressful! ;O)

I tag Ruth, Missy, Kate (though I KNOW you're swamped, so don't worry about it!), Jodi, Julie... and isn't that sad, but those are the only blogs that I read and have a feeling I'm being "read" in return... I don't get out much, I'm tellin' ya.... (or else not enough of ya tell me that you're out there reading...!)

Update on the Carpet Ride

My sister was asking me where Leks finally decided to go on her magic carpet. So I asked her.

She decided on India.

I asked her what she did there. She said she adopted 14 kids.

"Wow," I said, "That's a lot of kids!"

"Yeah," she said, "and I already have 12 at home. That's like a hundredy-one kids!"

I guess so! lol!

Freaked Wits

I keep forgetting to write about the new phrase Adam coined... The other day I told Adam something that surprised him or shocked him. He said, "Mama, you're freaking my wits!"

Don'tcha hate when your wits get freaked? lol!

Mother's Day Comparisons

Thought it would be fun to do a little compare/contrast... The top pic is from today... My tummy is pooching, though you can't really see it in this pic... It was fun to wear something that proved I was expecting... I still cringed at the part of the church service where the pastor asked "All the moms" to stand up. A part of me wanted to stay seated out of protest for those sweet ladies (including our own pastor's wife!) who haven't ever been able to have children and who feel horrible not being in the "in" crowd on Mother's Day...

The bottom, is 2 years ago, my very first Mother's Day. I'm frazzled there... Not only because my trio was rambunctious and uncooperative, but also because I was still recovering from surgery and dead tired... I had just had an ectopic pg a week or so before... While it was a bummer that I'd just lost a little one, I remember that the sting wasn't nearly as bad as the previous loss... This time when I came home from the hospital, my house was full of laughter, energy, and lots and lots of legos on the floor to step on! Coming home from a hospital after a miscarriage to a house that still didn't have children there was much, much harder for me. An extra sting, if you will.

I'm only 13 weeks right now, and everything is fine as of right now, but ya know, if this pg doesn't work out either, it will be ok. My heart is very full with my sweet Ukies, and I am truly content. It has been a blast being able to share my Pg News though so far, and so, even if something horrible does happen, I'm so thrilled to have been able to have such joy in the days I have had... Last weekend when we did our announcing will always be a delicious memory no matter what happens to Little Fish. Hopefully I'll be able to carry this one the full nine months, but ya know, sometimes we forget to smell TODAY's flowers. And TODAY, the flowers smell wonderful!

(I just heard tonight that a friend from home lost a baby today - Mother's Day - at 11/12 weeks... so this stuff is heavy on the brain...)

Anyway, I'd appreciate your prayers... for me, but especially for my friend... Losing a child is rough, but on Mother's Day? :O(

Happy Mother's Day!

Mothers

This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, "It's alright honey, Mommy's here."

Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can't be comforted.

This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse.

For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who don't.

This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see. And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.

And for the mothers who lost their baby in that precious 9 months that they will never get to watch grow on earth but one day will be reunited with in Heaven!

This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors.

And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at football or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of their cars, so that when their kids asked, "Did you see me, Mom?" they could say, "Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world," and mean it.

This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead, but realize how child abuse happens.

This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies. And for all the (grand) mothers who wanted to, but just couldn't find the words.

This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat.

For all the mothers who read " Goodnight, Moon" twice a night fora year. And then read it again. "Just one more time."

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.

This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.

This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls "Mom?" in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are at home -- or even away at college.

This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomach aches assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there,only to get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick them up. Right away.

This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can't find the words to reach them.

This is for all the step-mothers who raised another woman's child or children, and gave their time, attention, and love... sometimes totally unappreciated!

For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14-year-olds dye their hair green.

For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting. For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war.

What makes a good Mother anyway? Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time?

Or is it in her heart?

Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking t o school alone for the very first time?

The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby? The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when you just want to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in your home?

Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?

The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation...

And mature mothers learning to let go.

For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers. Single mothers and married mothers. Mothers with money, mothers without.

This is for you all. For all of us.

Hang in there.

In the end we can only do the best we can.

Tell them every day that we love them.

And pray.

Magic Carpet Rides

Aleksa just came out of her room dressed to the 9's declaring that she was going to Kenya, Africa on her magic carpet.

"Well, cool!" I said. She hasn't talked about going on magic carpet rides for many months now, so I was tickled she still "liked to do that." :O)

Off she went, outside in her dress-up shoes and necklaces... Fifteen minutes later she came in saying, "Mama, there's a war going on in Kenya, but I just shot right through them and had a fun time anyway. Now I'm going shopping in Mexico! Bye-bye!"

She left again and came back in. "Well, Mama, I got a bunch of stuff in Mexico. Now I'm either going to India or Minnesota. I can't decide which."

Tough choice! LOL!

Mr. Toad

The kids found a toad the other day. I could tell they found something from all the screaming and squealing coming from the woods. They brought it home and "played" with it (which means touching it, and screaming, running around the yard and in and out of the house) for a while, and then things got pretty quiet....

Found out the next day that they had killed the toad. Evidently its skin got dried out and it died. That's what they said anyway.

And then they buried it.

And later that day, Liana dug it back up.

It wasn't dead. *gasp*

So, she put it in a box in the garage and kept it overnight.

As Liana excitedly related this amazing story, I turned a few shades of green, but calmly made her go out to the garage, and set Mr. Toad free in the woods where he belonged.

Oy.

Big Announcement!

Been holding out on you.

No clue why, but evidently God has decided to give us a baby in my tummy that would actually stick around. Which is weird, because I've been pregnant many other times and it has always ended quickly with an ectopic or an Abandon Ship.

I'm 12 weeks now, however, and the doctor says things are hunky-dorie. Heard the heartbeat on doppler, seen the heartbeat on ultrasound; the whole nine yards. We are floored. And amazed. And in shock.

We got to tell John's parents the news this weekend. My family already knew because I had to spill the beans to my dad as to why we couldn't drive down and do "Cooking Day" to fill his freezer with meals for so many weeks. And since I know my dad can't keep a secret, we had to quick tell the rest of my siblings before he did! ;O)

The kids are thrilled, but they have not enjoyed seeing me so sick, and frankly, it has stressed them out in many ways.

Aleksa is my official bucket-holder. I start gagging, and she runs to the garage for my mop bucket. She has been the most excited and least traumatized by the whole "new baby" idea. She's thrilled with the prospect of being a big sister. She wants a baby sister Big Time. And she wants to name her Bonnie! The weeks before we told the kids "the news" she saw the movie Rigoletto whose main character had that name. She also read a book where a horse was named Bonnie, and once she heard there might be a baby girl in the house, she has declared that it should be named Bonnie. Which is funny because that was my mother's name. But I didn't tell her that. Leksa is the one that has always reminded me most of my mom, so I find it interesting that she has such strong ideas about that name.

Liana has been sucking those lips, as you already know... especially after seeing the movie Sarah Plain and Tall which is about a father and two kids, who lost their wife/mother during childbirth. It really messed with Liana. She has already lost one mama in her life; it really shook her to the core to think she might lose another. She has needed tons of reassurance that God knows what is best, and that whereas the family on the prairie didn't have a doctor or hospital, that we have both, and they are excellent. She has not liked that I've been so sick, and haven't had the normal energy levels. Unfortunately it has come out with some control issues. We've gone round and round a lot more than usual over her need to control and be in charge of everything and everyone. Her big brother especially has not been impressed. Frankly, her mama hasn't been that thrilled with it either! She has needed lots of extra snuggles and reassuring, but also lots of correcting and reminding.

Adam has had a hard, hard time with my constant need of snacking or smaller meals spread throughout the day instead of three main ones. He still has a major food "Thing" that makes him irrationally furious with me when he sees me eating something that he doesn't have. Even if he has JUST had a snack or large meal, if I grab something different - even if it is a couple crackers, he will come into the kitchen and really start an attitude. I'll ask him what he wants for a snack, and when/if I choose something different, he will insist he deserves that too, on top of what he already has, and if I don't agree, he fumes.

I've tried waiting until he's off playing outside or in another room, etc., but if he hears the fridge or a cupboard, he will literally drop everything to come into the kitchen to see what I'm doing, and will stomp off seething because I haven't included him in my snacktime. (And yes, he has been getting lots of extra snacks; he's on a big growth spurt, and we've definitely indulged him. But he has some major heart-hurts in the food department, that have been tough to deal with with all of this Mama Snacking business.) If we let him, he would literally have something in his mouth allllllll day long. And not necessarily because he is hungry. Those food issues run right down to his core.

The other day at John's sister's house, the kids were all outside, and while they were, she passed out some chocolate chip cookies to us adults, explaining that there weren't enough for all the kids. I made sure to hide mine when Adam came back in the house for a minute. It would have really hurt and angered him.

All this food stuff has been revving up many of his old food behaviors. Like licking out the container of honey-mustard from Burger King on our trip home this weekend. He *must* lick every drop of everything he is eating. We've been having to watch him with his plates, because he has been licking them, and licking crumbs off the table. We haven't seen this behavior for a long, long time. I will never understand hunger like he has known.

We have some neighbors that have been giving the kids snacks whenever the kids stop by. Like bakery cupcakes with toys stuck in the top, and Little Debbie Snack Cakes, and candy, etc. That kind of stuff we don't really keep around here except on Very special occasions, and the kids have been looking for excuses to go visit those with the best treats. We eat healthy snacks of fruits and raw veggies, boiled eggs, sandwiches, yogurt, cheese, baked goods, etc. So. I have some major competition, and I'm thinking it might be time to go talk with the neighbors about "feeding" the kids. Unfortunately, most people just don't have a clue about food/attachment/adoption issues, and we parents just come off as Big Overprotective Psychos. I'll probably chicken out. *sigh*

Because I've been so sick, I haven't been able to do extra baking/cooking. I hadn't really realized how big of a deal that was to Adam for me to do so, though really, I should have. This last week I've finally been feeling "ok" and before our trip back home this weekend, I did a bunch of cooking to bring to Dad for his freezer meals. Adam was my right hand in the kitchen all week. He didn't much like that I was packing up so much for Grandpa and not him, but we did make doubles of most things for our own freezer also, and that took some of the sting out of it. Looking forward to being completely done with this morning sickness stuff so we can get back to normal with our cooking routine.

So, anyway, that's our news! Good news, and while the children are thrilled with thoughts of Little Fish, they've had some adjusting to do, and it has obviously resurfaced some old insecurities.

Matching Noses?

My big sis sent me this picture and wanted me to show off their matching noses...

I PROMISE, she Wanted me to post this!

LOL!

Thankful to be adopted

I was going through some old family pictures recently, and came across a picture of my great-grandmother. She was no beauty. !. Liana happened to come into the room curious what I was doing. She looked over my shoulder and asked who that was.

When I told her it was Grandma Mable, she asked me if I was going to look like that when I got old. I told her it was a possibility... That we were related, afterall. She grimaced, feeling sorry for me. (I even got a hug).

Then I explained that sometimes being adopted is an extra blessing... There's no chance she'll have Grandma Mabel's nose and ears unless her birthgrandparents looked like her too. I reminded her of how beautiful Ukrainians were. She was visibly relieved! ;O)

I think she now has a new appreciation for being adopted... LOL

Kites and Chatter

Been kite-makin' season here... John has tried several kite patterns/designs and has finally come up with the "perfect" kite... and he's made several. Evidently tagboard and dowel rods are the best combination. He's tried garbage bags, tissue paper, wrapping paper, plastic bags, etc. But, tagboard is the winner. We've had lots of kids in the yard watching us with the kites, and asking to take turns. It's been really fun!

Yesterday John had one of the kites flying and a bird actually landed on his kitestring! We couldn't believe it! It didn't stay there long, since the string was too mobile for its liking, but we were all pretty amused.

Liana has been sucking her lips lately and has clown-red lips. A friend recommended Udder Balm, and though we've slathered it on her, it still hasn't deterred her from sucking them anyway. The more irritated they get, the more they drive her nuts and she has to suck them. Any suggestions how to get her to stop? Or how to heal them quickly? The spring winds haven't helped her in the slightest, plus if she's remotely stressed out, she really goes at 'em. The last photo I posted of the kids shows her sore lips, but it wasn't as obvious that day. (Come to think of it, they were also sore on Easter). She also sucks/nibbles her fingertips. Any ideas???

Adam has been enjoying his new stature, and has been on a "lets shake hands as hard as I can" kick. The elderly folks at church are not impressed with this new trick, and one has even asked me to ask him to stop. We have. But he has the memory of a gold fish, and his impulsiveness takes over when he thinks of something "fun." So, I guess we just keep reminding. He's also gotten to the point where he doesn't want to hang out with just other little kids any more. He's been preferring talking to adults lately. Fine with us, though he is a chatterbox and has a tendency to uh, wear on peoples' patience with his non-stop chatter.

Speaking of chatter, there has been a lot of talk recently on my "older kids adoption support group" about how chattery our kids are. I hadn't really connected it to being adoption-related, and perhaps it isn't in our kids' case. All three of our kids are extroverted people-persons, which are chatty anyway, but Adam is our nonstop chatterer about anything and everything.

Someone in our group mentioned how many questions their kids ask. Adam isn't really our question-asker, just our chatterer. Liana is the Question Queen. She will ask questions about EVERYTHING. The example on the Older Kids group was that their kids will ask who is driving in the car in the other lane, and then be frustrated when their parents didn't know. That's Liana. She has asked us countless times who "those people" are in those other cars. She seems completely floored when we don't know.

Part of her constant questioning I'm sure has to do with her love of attention; if she's asking us questions, then we have to be talking to her. Doesn't matter what the thing is she's asking about... She just needs to be in control of the conversation. She's had very few things in her life happen to her that have been within her control, and I suppose this is one way of taking some of that control back. Someone else in our group said that their psychologist told them that as the kids are adjusting to their new life/reality, they are getting bombarded with gazillions of "error" messages in their brains, and need constant clarification and reinforcement of their new reality. Maybe that's it too. Probably it's a combination of all of the above. Who knows.

Whatever it is with the older two, Aleksa seems to be spared the brunt of any chatter/question problems, even though she too is an extrovert. (How did two mega INtroverts like me and John wind up with such EXtroverted kiddos?!)

Anyway, that's what's been going through my head lately!

Pic

Thought you'd like to see this one. Well, at least Grandma will! ;O)

Enjoy!

Icky

Well, she might have been driving me nuts today, but I have to admit, she's a riot. Here's our most recent conversation:

Liana: "Mama, look, I gave myself an icky!"

Me: "You did what?"

Liana: "I sucked on my arm and I gave myself an icky!"

Me: "That's icky alright..."

Number 2 Problems

Oops.

So, school hasn't run all that smoothly today, and after lunch I had to vent to John on IM that I've been having a rough time with one of the kiddos...

But, instead of asking him if he was there first, I just launched into my troubles: "Fisher, I've been having problems with Number 2 today." And then wrote a bunch of lines about what our Number 2 has been doing around here...

Well, John was actually having a meeting at his computer. He said all they saw was my first line.... Which they may have taken as me having diarrhea.

Great.

Keeps me humble.

Happy Easter!

Fun day! We've got a little sugar high from our Easter candy, but we're happy! ;O)

John's mom made the girls some Easter dresses, and saved the hemming for me, since she couldn't make the "hem" decision without the girls in front of her. She mailed the dresses this last week, and as I've been extra tired with all the goings-on around here, I put it off... Until 5:00 a.m. this morning! (I'm extra tired now today too! Wonder why!) ;O)

It was worth it though... The girls looked great, and Grandma came through with a new shirt and a "real" tie for Adam too. This is his first tie-it-yourself tie. Very proud boy over here. Had to grab the video camera as John gave the first "here's-how-you-tie-a-tie" tutorial.

There was a scrumptuous breakfast served at church this morning... Absolute gourmet delight. De-Lish smorgesborg of yummies. Praline french toast, two egg casseroles, cinnamon rolls, caramel rolls, fresh fruit. Num. (Yes, even the eggies were yummy. Since I'm a mommy now, I've had to learn to like 'em. At least the kinds that aren't "straight" eggs!)

It was nice to have extra visitors today at church too. Interestingly, one of our visitors was Jewish! We had a communion service too, so on top of hearing a Resurrection message, she really got to see a lot. Hope she returns... I'd love to pick her brain on a lot of things. I love talking to different "types" of people... (You've probaby picked that up about me by now!) We midwesterners tend to be rather, uh, plain. (You know, crock-pot cooker types who only use salt and pepper for seasoning!) (*yawns*)

We spent Easter dinner with a few other families from church. Those of us without family in town all got together. There were probably 15 of us, and was it ever nice. It was a bummer for us to be away from our families "back home" today, but it was really nice to still have a big shin-dig to go to today. I think today was a record-breaking day for the number of recipes I wanted to and/or did ask for! Everything was delicious all day long. (Speaking of good ones, I found a yummy banana pudding dessert recipe that I brought to dinner: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Banana-Pudding-IV/Detail.aspx (Don't you just love the All Recipes website?)

Ok, I've totally rambled and wandered off topic, but that's the day, and I don't want it lost! If I don't write it down, it's Poofed in three days flat; right out of my memory banks!

Oh bummer. That totally reminds me of something else I don't want to forget, but don't want to mortify my daughter about some day... Big stuff though, nonetheless... *debates with herself whether or not to post this, but remembers that Liana said, "Oh, Mama, ya gotta put this on your blog!"*

*debates some more knowing that Liana really has no clue what my blog is all about, but just that I write stuff in it that I don't want to forget, and that Grandma can read it...*

Well, here we go.

This weekend I bought Liana her first um, You Know What for under her shirts. She was SOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited. We came home and she marched right in her room and tried it on. I found out later that she had it on backwards. It wasn't doing her Any Good At All where it needed to, but her shoulder blades were completely discreet, lemme tellya. *wink* I won't tell you how long and hard I laughed at her when she showed me that. (Don't worry, once she realized it, she was laughing hysterically too!)

And then this morning, I found out she even slept in the thing. I'm sure that affinity will wear off Fast! Such sweet mother-daughter memories made over that! But alas, she's growing up way too fast... :O(

April Showers

Liana and Leksa were talking about the rain the other day. Liana was pretty convinced there'd be flowers poking up from the soil any second... She told her sister, "April showers may bring flowers."