tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84322016209274127562024-03-13T21:43:49.672-07:00Grace NotesMelaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588596555735670176noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432201620927412756.post-63013632956016933192013-01-19T04:55:00.001-08:002013-01-19T04:55:49.041-08:00Millie Update<div align="center">
<span style="font-size: large;">Millie Update<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Pt. 1</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We've been encouraged by some growth in our youngest daughter these last few weeks and thought others might like to hear how she's doing. As a reminder, she has severe childhood apraxia of speech. This basically means the signals for speech have a hard time making it from her brain to her mouth, so her mouth doesn't know how to form the sounds. There is no known physiological reason for this. Basically, the experts, in most cases, don't know why this happens. Millie is 4 years, 4 months ago and speaks maybe at a 16-month level, judging her by where my oldest daughter was at that age.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> She has been attending speech therapy for about 2 years now. At first, it was only once a week through Early On. Once she turned 3, she became eligible for school-provided speech therapy which she receives 2x a week. We also pay for private therapy 2x a week. Or at least we used to. She just received a grant through United Healthcare!!! Whoop! Whoop! The recommended treatment for apraxia is one-on-one therapy 4-5x a week. Throughout all this time, she was making minimal progress. We were always assured that one day it would happen for her. She would hit a burst of speech like most kids with apraxia do. We kept waiting, just didn't seem to be happening.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, for the good part.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One day, I received an e-mail through an adoptive parents' yahoo group. It contained this link:http://itsalmostnaptime.blogspot.com/2012/08/feingold-diet-update-part-1.html</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I read this post about a kid so similar to my Millie and I knew we had to do this. Because apart from her speech delay, Millie was that kid that I felt clueless about how to parent. Discipline didn't work with her. She was extremely impulsive. I was thinking future ADHD diagnosis. I had to give the Feingold Diet a good try. So we did.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I cleaned out our cabinets. Gave a bunch of stuff containing the bad stuff to others. (Felt a little weird about that." Here's a bunch of food containing harmful preservatives, dyes, etc. I don't want my kids to eat it. You give it to your kids." ) Even got rid of our fragranced home/beauty products. Began a whole new way of life, really. Feel a bit counter-culture, actually. We can't just go out to eat anymore. Mommy has to cook - every night. Okay, we usually have one take-out meal a week at places we know we can tolerate. Anyways, I digress. Back to Millie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This was the beginning of a turn-around for Millie. Did her speech explode overnight? No way. but did it begin? Yes, just enough to give us hope. Little by little. Sometimes by spurts. Sometimes there seemed to be nothing. But now, 5 months later, Millie is becoming a new girl.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">First, there is the overall personality/cognitive change. Her preschool teacher told me she was so much more "with it" this year and that she was really worried about Millie at the end of last year. Several other adults have said she seems to be following what's going on so much more now. Yes, there's a maturation factor at work, I'm sure. But this Momma knows it's more than that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">She will sometimes sit and snuggle with me now. She never did that before, unless she was sick. She will look at me. She will answer my questions with 'yeah' or 'no.' She is "all there" now. She wasn't before. She's still a handful, oh yeah. But she doesn't exhaust me now. She plays for longer periods of time. She's not constantly asking for something or getting into something off-limits. She still has those moments, but it's less frequent. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And my girl is talking. She got off the schoolbus yesterday. I greeted her as usual, "Hi, baby, how are you?" She replied, "Good." Okay, there was no final "d", but that doesn't matter. She said "good." Never happened before. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">To be continued...</span><br />
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Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588596555735670176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432201620927412756.post-66551129977599599452012-10-18T11:11:00.000-07:002012-10-18T11:13:46.341-07:00Vika's 1st Year<div align="center">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Happy 1 Year Anniversary, Victoria Faye! Here's some random thoughts on our first year together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The adoption process is kind of like a marriage ceremony. It's exciting, fun, and okay, it can make you a nervous wreck, too. Then comes the marriage or real-life. Living with a new little person requires adjustments and learning on every one's part. I think her parents have had to grow and change just as much as Vika has. And that's a good thing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">First morning waking up to a new life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What can I say? She is amazing. In the past year she has learned to eat and chew normal food, hold her own in a house with 3 other rowdy kids and a dog. She can now communicate some of her basic needs through sign language and oh yeah, learned to understand the English language. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Having her has shown me what compassionate kids we have. All 3 have welcomed her,love her, are proud of her, and sometimes fight to play with her. I gotta admit, that warms my heart and I think it's extremely good for them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Millie still thinks she's Vika's mother/teacher/caregiver. Honestly, I don't know if I'll ever break her of this. Fortunately, V. has learned to tolerate Millie's fussing over her pretty well. Many times I go up to their room to see what they're doing and find Millie holding a learning session with V. her captive audience. Most times of the day, you can find them together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Vika has really blossomed, particularly these last few months. Attachment issues? Not this girl. Sensory issues? Nope. Institutional autism? Uh-uh. As Gabe and I like to say, 'we got a good one.' She does have a good amount of spunk and naughtiness thrown in for good measure, as it should be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This little girl has brought so much </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">fun, laughter, and opportunities for growth into our lives. She is possibly the world's best cuddler. She has turned into such a happy, smiley, loveable child. Sometimes I wonder how we got along without her. I marvel at our Lord's graciousness in meeting our needs along the way. So many times, I thought "What are we doing?! Should we really be doing this?!" </span> <span style="font-size: large;">We are about the most flawed people you could find, and yet, He blesses us with such a darling of a child. Praises, that's all I can say. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We love you, Viccola.</span> </div>
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Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588596555735670176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432201620927412756.post-7843931037245863172012-10-11T11:49:00.000-07:002012-10-11T11:54:39.891-07:00An Apple a Day? No, Thank You!<div align="center">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Strange title for a blog post, aint it? Well, here's why. As some of you know, we have becoming devotees of the Feingold diet in our family. We've been on it for several weeks now and have seen some really wonderful results from it. On FG, there's Stage 1 and Stage 2. We are, naturally, on Stage 1, but I'm chomping at the bit to go to Stage 2. The only real difference in the two deals with something called 'salicylates.' Don't ask me what this is exactly. I haven't a clue. All I know is this is found in many natural foods: apples, grapes, tomatoes, berries, certain spices. All good stuff, right? For some people, though, salicylates can cause health and/or behavioral/learning problems. This is why FG has you avoid these foods on Stage 1. During Stage 2 you can slowly and carefully re-introduce these foods, one at a time, to test for any possible reactions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Me, being the inpatient person I am, decided we were ready to try some apples/applesauce. Of course, I could have been influenced by my two preschool daughters' teachers, who are asking if I can send in appleasauce for snack. I'm already the crazy mom to them, I'm sure, who's asking that my children not use fingerpaints, lotion, or hand stamps. (If you do FG, get used to certain people thinking you're a nutjob). So, yeah, I admit I rushed into Stage 2 a bit. And besides, they're apples, for pity's sake! Surely my kids won't have a problem, right? Here's what I observed after a day or two of eating the stuff.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Vika, who had gotten to be such a happy, bubbly, laughing little thing the last few weeks, became, well, grumpy again. Easily irritated, crying over trivial things. I swear it's true. Could apples really cause this? I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't lived it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And then there's Millie. Prior to our apple experiment, she was amazing us daily with new sounds. She was able to sit still for longer periods of time. She was becoming a new child. For real. Enter apples, the sounds stop. she's back to her pointing and grunting for everything. The familiar frustration of driving with her in the backseat returns. Hearing her little sounds of wanting to tell/show me something but only being able to guess what it is. Before I was at least getting a beginning consonant or vowel. How weird is that? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On the behavioral side of things, now I would tell her to do something and she would cross her arms, shake her head, and make sort of a 'nnnnn' sound. That's 'no' for her. The tantrums returned, along with the screaming. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mommy had made a big mistake. Fortunately, I was able to almost immediately link these behaviors to the apples. Problem is, apparently, this evil potion, chemical, whatever it is, salicylate, takes a long time to completely clear out of your system. It took 5-6 days until I noticed the kinder, gentler, happier, smarter children returning. And yay! they're back!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Let me tell you, I am dying to be able to cook with tomatoes again. Hands down, the hardest food to do without. No spaghetti sauce, tomtao sauce, regular pizza sauce. Ugh. No fun. Or let me rephrase that, we're thankful to have enough food to fill our bellies, but it sure would be nice to have regular pizza with tomato sauce again. Please, Lord, someday? But, after the failed apple experiment, I'm not in that big a hurry. Pleasant, teachable, vocalizing children are far more valuable. </span> </div>
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Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588596555735670176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432201620927412756.post-60599497247725220322012-10-02T14:03:00.001-07:002012-10-02T14:03:47.025-07:00Reason #1<div align="center">
<strong> <span style="font-size: large;">Reason #1 why I love the Feingold diet</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Quiet children! I am often amazed these days to look up and see my children involved in their various pursuits and I didn't even realize they were in the room. Homework gets done, chores get done, play goes on and peace is maintained. Did you think that today's children were capable of being quiet? I'm not sure I did. Don't get me wrong, they can be loud. I wouldn't want children who weren't capable of getting a little rowdy, but overall, I am discovering a quietude in them that's new for us. And I love it!</span></div>
Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588596555735670176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432201620927412756.post-12692054507805176062012-10-01T07:54:00.001-07:002012-10-01T07:54:55.909-07:00<div align="center">
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's been a long, long time. I thought it was about time to dust off the old blog and share some things that have been going on with our family. I should probably give a rundown of everything that's been happening the past few months, but that is way more work than I have time for now. Instead, how about some pictures of some things we did this summer with no particular theme, just Summer '12. Here ya' go!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Checking out Lake Superior. So so beautiful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Visiting some of the waterfalls around Munising, MI. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My boy. He looks so much like my dad here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We took a boat ride to view some actual shipwrecks in Lake Superior. And we got to steer the boat!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Dutch Village, Holland, MI. The highlight of the dance was definitely when one of the dancers' wooden shoe flew off and landed in the nearby pond. Exciting stuff.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Taking a break to cool off with Dad's soda.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Eva and I visited the Dunning Historical Museum in Plymouth, MI. They have a Lincoln exhibit with an actual lock of Lincoln's hair!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Another famous couple.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Eva, Eli, and I toured the Jiffy plant in Dexter, MI and we got free stuff!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Millie and Vika at the Detroit Riverwalk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Gabe and I went on a whole weekend date. We took in a Tigers game.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Visited the Detroit Institute of Art. An awesome place to visit. We couldn't see it all in a few hours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Visited Belle Isle. Honestly, the aquarium was really sad. Maybe one day it will be restored to its former glory. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We cruised the Detroit River on the River Princess! The Motown show was good, but we did not do the Soul Train line but did enjoy watching others with a little alcohol in their system do it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">General Motors world headquarters shot taken from the boat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now for some odds and ends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kensington Metropark - When toddlers attack.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My super-duper-garage-cleaner-uppers. Guess which one is not as eager to do his work?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And now, another sad installment of "what happens when dads dress kids." Truly a noteworthy entry. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our Russian sweetheart loves the water. Can you tell? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I hope you all enjoy these few snapshots into our family's life this past summer. Another entry soon!</span></div>
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Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588596555735670176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432201620927412756.post-85304786482525399292012-07-18T04:34:00.000-07:002012-07-18T04:34:19.175-07:00<div align="center">
<span style="font-size: large;">Good morning, friends. I promised a little more detail on why we decided that we would not continue with our adoption of "Spencer." Well, better late than never. I guess our hesitation all started a few months ago when I became very unexpectedly pregnant. A few weeks later, we found out it was a miscarriage. 3 weeks after that, I had a very scary, traumatic trip to the emergency room. All is well now, but these events left me physically and emotionally drained. I guess they took the steam out of us. This was one factor in our decision. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The other, and really more important one, is the needs of our current children, particularly our 2 little ones. Vika, who came to us through adoption last year, is doing very well. Yes, there are areas where we are all still adjusting since she came. We are still learning the best ways of parenting her. She still gets overwhelmed by too much commotion. We are trying to teach her more appropriate ways to ask for what she wants/needs. But overall, she has done very well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is our youngest bio child who is causing us the most concern right now. She has some needs/behaviors that consume most of my energy daily. If you know us or have followed this blog at all, you are probably aware of what those are. We are exploring the best ways of helping her. But honestly, she is the child that causes me to feel like I'm a new parent. Like I don't know anything about raising children. She is a mystery child to me in many ways. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The decision that we made to not go forward with the adoption was exceedingly difficult. What would happen to Spencer? It took us a while before we had the courage to make that call. To back out because it really seemed best for our family. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But we did. And here's the good part. The very same day we notified RR of our decision, another family had already stepped forward to adopt him!! Did that make our decision easier, oh yeah! Spencer will have a beautiful family that has loved him for a long time. And it really did confirm to us that we had done the right thing, for him and for us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So this story really does have a happy ending. Spencer will have a family. And our family, well, we will be busy with the 4 blessings we already have. We are looking forward to doing some things that we've put off for a few years. With saving for adoption, the almost 2 years our last adoption took, paper-chasing, etc. our lives have kind of revolved around adoption for the past 3 years. We've put off doing lots of things with the kids because we didn't want to spend the money or couldn't take the time. So, we're going to try to kick up our heels a little bit, maybe get some things done around the house. God led us to Vika and has really blessed us with her. We are looking forward to what He has in store for us next! </span></div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588596555735670176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432201620927412756.post-78759946079368077682012-07-05T05:46:00.001-07:002012-07-05T05:46:23.658-07:00<div align="center">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hello all. I am writing with some sad news today. After much wrestling and prayer, we have decided we can no longer continue with our adoption of Spencer. We have some definite reasons that have led us to this decision. We are currently on vacation, so I must be very brief here. I will write a longer post when we return fully explaining how we came to this decision. Thanks for your understanding.</span></div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588596555735670176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432201620927412756.post-26639739717980459752012-05-22T11:42:00.000-07:002012-05-22T11:42:26.939-07:00<div align="center">
<span style="font-size: large;">Someone's been a baaaaadd blogger! I know this update is way overdue. Somehow organizing my thoughts with 4 kids is way harder than it was with 3. And by the time the kids are all asleep and I have the time to write, well my brain's asleep too. So with that apology out of the way, here's where we stand. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last week, we were finally able to get our application (and check!) off to USCIS. For those of you who don't know, that is the federal agency that must approve our family to adopt and bring an international child into the country. We should be getting our fingerprinting appointment in a couple of weeks or so to complete that process. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our dossier is almost complete - we just lack a couple of documents. Maybe by the end of this week we'll have those in hand and I can take the whole pile of documents to the Secretary of State's office and get them apostilled. After that, we'll ship them off to a certain Eastern European country. After that, well, we wait for an invitation to travel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We don't know much about the place where "Spencer" is (not his real name, btw). No one from Reece's Rainbow has ever adopted from there. We have no idea - is it a institution? - which usually means a place that's not very nice to put it mildly, or possibly an older children school-type setting, which would certainly be preferable. We know one thing, this little boy needs a family and a real home. He was almost certainly abandoned because of one thing - he has Down Syndrome. A pretty sorry reason, but that's the reality in his country. So as we wait, we pray that God would already begin to prepare his heart to blend into our family. And our hearts as well - to love him and accept him as one of our own. Thank you so much for your prayers and support toward that end, as well. </span></div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588596555735670176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432201620927412756.post-89519473599733983412012-04-03T08:34:00.002-07:002012-04-03T11:50:09.650-07:00<div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Good Tuesday morning to you all! Here in SE Michigan it is a stormy, cloudy morning. The sky is the kind that fools me into thinking we might actually get some real thunderstorms, aka the Oklahoma kind, but that never happens :(</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">On the adoption front, we are scurrying around collecting documents for our dossier. I had forgotten what a headache (not to mention time-consuming) it can be trying to convince various officials to give you exactly what you need or else you cannot bring your child home. We are making steady progress, thankfully, and I'm relieved to discover that this Eastern European country is not as nit-picky as a certain other Eastern European country. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps the most exciting development of the last week, though, has been Vika starting school!!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Really?! Yes, really!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's her on her first day with her wonderful, capable teacher.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The last year I've truly learned to appreciate those special-education professionals who understand and accept my little girls. I've always thought of Millie's school as "the happiest place on earth" because the teachers and staff seem so positive and excited to be there.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In other news, a kind fellow-RR-supporter has offered to run a Pampered Chef fundraiser for us to help us with the costs to adopt Spencer. Here is the link to the site where you can go to purchase some items with a percentage of every item going to our adoption. You know Pampered Chef is good stuff, so go check it out: <a href="http://www.pamperedchef.biz/marysnooks">www.pamperedchef.biz/marysnooks</a> Just enter my name - Melanie Jim for host at checkout.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Many thanks!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588596555735670176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432201620927412756.post-11775541264905549882012-03-24T11:51:00.000-07:002012-03-24T11:51:58.284-07:00<div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">I know, it's been a long time since I've written an update. Life around here is full, to say the least. But we are making good progress in bringing Spencer home. Our home study update should be finalized this week. We will then begin collecting our dossier documents. I admit to being a little unclear on the process, since this is a new country for us. Things work quite differently, I'm told. So, luckily, we have very competent people to help us along and so I'm confident we'll be fine.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Now for the good part (pictures!)</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Someone had a birthday! The chocolate frosting was definitely a hit.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlp2zPtk-kZYnzWs-ez3D_UY0DyjBY3y1XGfIHqTYzmviVSaQhs-l-Oy90F9Q2zE-P7mke929CxcbKaQUmY2UwVeeTnJslqoFv5Rbber1ifT8do8ExyjaoUq6Z8anViju9oMHlgEDt_wZh/s1600/DSCF3579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlp2zPtk-kZYnzWs-ez3D_UY0DyjBY3y1XGfIHqTYzmviVSaQhs-l-Oy90F9Q2zE-P7mke929CxcbKaQUmY2UwVeeTnJslqoFv5Rbber1ifT8do8ExyjaoUq6Z8anViju9oMHlgEDt_wZh/s320/DSCF3579.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Looking like a regular American kid.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dyI4CxALmka9MldfzWefM_n_4WFy1wzjJJi-ITIAODxnlk-RNupOaEZMSc9T9Zbov1icRYmtOZwIK5AM8v8A1VzfJJA90UjX4VRtB-7A_GiDgj9OMJXIN2c2mxexpBV1ZVSZDIJOkv7a/s1600/DSCF3468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dyI4CxALmka9MldfzWefM_n_4WFy1wzjJJi-ITIAODxnlk-RNupOaEZMSc9T9Zbov1icRYmtOZwIK5AM8v8A1VzfJJA90UjX4VRtB-7A_GiDgj9OMJXIN2c2mxexpBV1ZVSZDIJOkv7a/s320/DSCF3468.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">My attempt at a picture of all the kids. As you can see,Vika does not the enjoy the posed picture. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYKaj2S-uFTsBkSKl5M5WUVt5BLwLtoQ6eva4WlR2MbNeqT59h7mFM0Hcl_O1NHAtiGXp9omE3z8QJAOVG3i745II9QAarhCZTm4ZNbd4uKVPBbELUmIp06z2QQIzvEvNSsPsnH5qwBNn/s1600/DSCF3596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYKaj2S-uFTsBkSKl5M5WUVt5BLwLtoQ6eva4WlR2MbNeqT59h7mFM0Hcl_O1NHAtiGXp9omE3z8QJAOVG3i745II9QAarhCZTm4ZNbd4uKVPBbELUmIp06z2QQIzvEvNSsPsnH5qwBNn/s320/DSCF3596.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">My boy. We bought him a new helmet, and oh-yeah, a new bike. I think he's much more excited about the helmet. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">One preschooler - 2 hairstyles. Too cute for her own good.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pEImiz586wW1eqZbuWEwZZhJ4FrTpBh5E1nUtXCdF7jo36HRIMANotZFB-VsVUsADCV4x299nKjHWHegSAUTySVjhL1FrLeawK6qzRoiZFi2AYfaScm658anlsnQuZpqHpZUAkORzZYs/s1600/DSCF3636.AVI"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http://v5.nonxt5.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D6e1dde27cf1abcf0%26itag%3D5%26source%3Dpicasa%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1332636267%26sparams%3Did,itag,source,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D804D97FF7132C53DF72D5BAE544E01C856DBB4E1.6305DEDC1D7B5ABEDD4E84AA91C3F3AF93916674%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http://v5.nonxt5.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D6e1dde27cf1abcf0%26itag%3D5%26source%3Dpicasa%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1332636267%26sparams%3Did,itag,source,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D804D97FF7132C53DF72D5BAE544E01C856DBB4E1.6305DEDC1D7B5ABEDD4E84AA91C3F3AF93916674%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Getting in some practice before she starts school (this Monday!).</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16E5C_jF29jSKrbh9J1ClDfSla7OJrB_LsrCh3cfxzHimZqWIa2gnfHBSU1QWXqyh2p8nTtrFbf3CXGVcyTzvkX1Bgc2AnpEoQ8Sq2UKCRrZ_pLpwrk6ZTmD7GsapzgPHwzaZmXN4f0ci/s1600/DSCF3640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16E5C_jF29jSKrbh9J1ClDfSla7OJrB_LsrCh3cfxzHimZqWIa2gnfHBSU1QWXqyh2p8nTtrFbf3CXGVcyTzvkX1Bgc2AnpEoQ8Sq2UKCRrZ_pLpwrk6ZTmD7GsapzgPHwzaZmXN4f0ci/s320/DSCF3640.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh my goodness, how much do we love this little sweetie!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for reading! I'll try to do a much better job of keeping up with things here. If you're able to, we really could use your prayer and financial support to bring Spencer home. </span></div><div align="center"></div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588596555735670176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432201620927412756.post-820094036008434562012-02-22T10:03:00.000-08:002012-02-22T10:03:02.361-08:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">So sorry to those who have been waiting for an official announcement of an important upcoming event. And I've been searching for the inspiration to write just the right words. Something touching, inspiring, witty, anything fitting for the occasion, but such words allude me just now, so I'll just say it: <strong>"We're adopting again!"</strong></span></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">I can hear some of you saying, "Didn't you just bring a child home late last year?" Well, yes, we did, and yes, we're just crazy, brave, big-hearted, whatever enough, to do it again. It's really hard to forget sooooo many children that are essentially locked away in an institution. We can be a family to just one more. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">So,we are excited to introduce you to the little guy who, if all goes according to plan, and it pleases the Lord, will become the newest member of our family:</span></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4jJbiuyhqz7gs4on3wxr7RoBBOi7hBH3j73KHvM9YpdKvRketdKIvSlhmcIQNoGvqhjOXnRvpW195vMxLyod1EtdyXHhDEufH_I-69G0JLw8737OH7uhCB9Q67-gA6kHZ9nVCbnsPg8t/s1600/spencer.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4jJbiuyhqz7gs4on3wxr7RoBBOi7hBH3j73KHvM9YpdKvRketdKIvSlhmcIQNoGvqhjOXnRvpW195vMxLyod1EtdyXHhDEufH_I-69G0JLw8737OH7uhCB9Q67-gA6kHZ9nVCbnsPg8t/s320/spencer.bmp" width="290" /></a></div><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Spencer! Well, at least this is the nickname he's been given on RR. We don't know his real name at this point. But, isn't he so cute? The long-hoped for brother for our only son. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">He is also in Eastern Europe, but a different country than last time. We can't state what country publicly, but if you're curious, you can certainly ask us personally. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">He's almost exactly a year younger than our son. He's now 5-and-a-half. He was recently transferred from the baby house where he spent his first years. We don't know exactly where he is now. It could be the institution or it could be an older children orphanage. Hopefully we'll learn more details as we go along. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We now begin the paperchasing all over. But, I'm assured this dossier is much less detailed and time-consuming than the last country's. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We're excited. A little disbelieving that we're actually doing this again. We have a much better idea of what we're actually taking on this time which takes much of the fear away. Now I just have to figure out how I'm going to take 5 kids to the grocery store and how I'm going to fit them all in our car. It's going to be an adventure! </span><br />
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</div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588596555735670176noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432201620927412756.post-7397524876189302452012-02-16T12:01:00.000-08:002012-02-16T12:01:02.158-08:00The Last Time I Was Here......<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">I promised you all a big announcement. This is not it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But it occurs to me that I haven't posted any updates in a while, so here goes. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Several people have told me they were praying for us, especially in regards to my post about Millie. Let me say, I have been noticing some changes in her in recent weeks. She doesn't have any new words yet, (only just Momma), but she does seem to be producing some new sounds more frequently. More verbalizations overall. Mind you, she still can't imitate someone else when you ask her to, but still, new sounds are good.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Still trying to get some private therapy for her. I was quite naive in dealing with insurance companies, never really having much experience in that area. After how many conversations, I was finally told they will not pay for apraxia treatment. Sad, frustrated Momma. Not done fighting and praying on this front. Just taking a break while I muster up some more strength to re-enter the fight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Still, Millie just seems happier overall now. She has not been constantly into mischief the past few weeks. Maybe she's just maturing. Whatever the reason, I'm so thankful. I feel like I can relax more. She's also really accepted her new sister now, I think. We're not seeing the jealousy we saw at first. So often now, I'll catch them just happily playing together. Of course, Millie sees herself as the much older sister and is often trying to mother Vika. It's not extreme like it used to be, though. For instance, check out Millie and Vika's little dance number. Can you just see the enthusiasm on Vika's face?</span></div><div align="center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlsi4K2Plyc3nHeqA6UluqKHdM8wix_Cssi20sIdvjR94sZ0LEp2LAHAI5jJ__vdNkPiQQGmU-gKQVlWRJ3eQeuyLX13Z6w51PpBgAgtSMNhmJ7SlltCGfQLV3Gob3to2Rcdn8_9IQkxc/s1600/DSCF3408.AVI"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv8.nonxt7.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D7ef7dc5a081961bb%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1329441336%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3DDE415EC863726E58EF641CD9CFC2CB0D14E6C5E.B16C5D029FC83E84CEAB7370339D67AF2EE11233%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv8.nonxt7.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D7ef7dc5a081961bb%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1329441336%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3DDE415EC863726E58EF641CD9CFC2CB0D14E6C5E.B16C5D029FC83E84CEAB7370339D67AF2EE11233%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGKLiap4hqRXrwXnrwBynG4jHmUrWWk_hDxRJPKpCa_9L-w0tujrXmtbRVkyRjnlsjI__d06dDeIxYZ8D4B3c0fyEI0K1k82YO9EKhzNDcivvRKRbUq8q3aduNxorhOf6CeZdhkX8s0C6/s1600/DSCF3438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGKLiap4hqRXrwXnrwBynG4jHmUrWWk_hDxRJPKpCa_9L-w0tujrXmtbRVkyRjnlsjI__d06dDeIxYZ8D4B3c0fyEI0K1k82YO9EKhzNDcivvRKRbUq8q3aduNxorhOf6CeZdhkX8s0C6/s320/DSCF3438.JPG" width="320" yda="true" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A quiet moment with my littles.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">I love my little Millie! She has the cutest habit now of blowing kisses when she leaves a room. Especially when she's about to do something naughty! </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Both little ones are still in diapers and whenever I suspect Millie has a dirty one, she always points to Vika as the culprit. Every time. It's kind of a joke now. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">BTW, anyone have any surefire ways of interesting a 3-and-a-half year old in using the potty? Our checking account would appreciate it. I felt sure she would be the one to train a little bit earlier. I'm kind of a fail in that department. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our little Vika continues to do amazingly well. Today is her 4th birthday! We're celebrating tomorrow though. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> The last week she's had the most horrible cold. In all my years of mothering, I've never seen so much mucus come out of a child's nose for so many days. Poor little thing's nose is so red and raw from so much wiping and suctioning. Finally, today it seems she's getting better.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uBwj_oAmC6Kx6E9Ifil2j6VYWeIOg1c88xGUyU2fVGmcsnRgW_QLg8cnBqsFFDFIW409FgQlUdGPmrBfbU4kIgvuKGqOxjrcBwpks3Cmb6hWHyL6-4Zr1vGUzwdsxw70y0WvEQsIm_H_/s1600/DSCF3433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uBwj_oAmC6Kx6E9Ifil2j6VYWeIOg1c88xGUyU2fVGmcsnRgW_QLg8cnBqsFFDFIW409FgQlUdGPmrBfbU4kIgvuKGqOxjrcBwpks3Cmb6hWHyL6-4Zr1vGUzwdsxw70y0WvEQsIm_H_/s320/DSCF3433.JPG" width="320" yda="true" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">She doesn't usually nap, but I guess with her sickness this week, she was just so tired. Anyways, caught her taking a little snooze on the floor.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">We have her surgery scheduled for getting tubes in her ears in late February. So </span><span style="font-size: large;">hoping that will help with the almost constant drainage and improve her hearing, as well.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">And may I add, she's just about the cutest thing around? Sometimes when I pick her up and feel her squishy little body, I can hardly stand. I just want to eat her up! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">At this very moment, I notice that she's managed to get her pants and diaper off and is trying on her sister's shoes. Now, she's going for a stroll, sans diaper, but wearing one boot. Excuse me for minute, I'll be back!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Now where was I? Oh yes, V. will also be starting preschool soon. At least I think she will. We have already been there 4 times to get her evaluated. Four! Really? And we're not done yet. Honestly. In the school's defense, I guess they're not used to dealing with Russian-speaking, post-orphanage-dwelling, preschoolers with Down's syndrome. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Okay, that's it for now. Check back soon for some good news. I promise.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588596555735670176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432201620927412756.post-16533502624451658572012-02-16T07:44:00.000-08:002012-02-16T07:44:48.615-08:00Big News!!<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Stay tuned for an exciting, crazy, wonderful </span><span style="font-size: large;">announcement. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Coming very soon!!</span></div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588596555735670176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432201620927412756.post-33194177424510836022012-02-03T11:39:00.000-08:002012-02-03T11:39:59.564-08:00Why?<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I see the question in people's eyes, even though it's rarely spoken -only by one acquaintance (bless her heart) who rather rudely blurted out, "Why?" when she found out we had adopted Vika. The unspoken question is "Why would you want to take on such a responsibility? Don't you have your hands already full enough with 3 children? Isn't she a lot of trouble?" Most of the people we know well are actually very nice, Christians, in fact, and probably understand already the value that God places on all human life. Regardless of IQ, appearance, national origin. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Still I know the question is there. So, just for the record, here goes. You may think we're a bit crazy for spending tens of thousands of dollars and much more in energy and time to adopt a child with Down's Syndrome. Truth is, I think you're a bit crazy if you don't. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not necessarily a child like Vika, but any child. I mean, really, what could be better? You've gotta to spend your life on something. You know what makes me happy? Seeing Vika "get" something, like a new sign or sort of saying a new word or learning how to give a kiss. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Especially when I consider where she would be if she were not here. She would be clamoring for the attention of one or two caregivers and left to herself the vast majority of her waking hours. Rocking on the floor perhaps or staring vacantly at the ceiling. And when she leaves the baby house, the conditions would probably be far worse. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We get to be a part of changing her life. That's so exciting to me. And yes, fun. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Goodness knows, adoption is not for everyone. If you have zero desire to adopt, you probably shouldn't. But if the idea of adopting a little one who really needs <em>someone</em></span><em> </em> <span style="font-size: large;">tugs at your heart, maybe you should give it serious consideration and prayer. Maybe you should consider turning your life upside down and allowing chaos to reign for a little while until everyone adjusts. Maybe you should say goodbye to your fear and hello to faith that God will supply all your needs when you go where He sends you.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you are intrigued in the slightest, go now to <a href="http://www.reecesrainbow.org/">http://www.reecesrainbow.org/</a> Maybe, just maybe, there's a kid there who really needs <em>you. </em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588596555735670176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432201620927412756.post-23567119705384468962012-01-19T12:34:00.000-08:002012-01-19T12:34:14.696-08:00Welcome To My World<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">In my world....</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">I get LOTS of attention!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnz2sYI4YvZd2G2WTEb8bHTmd7j7BHxSdPegNs4js8qdPZp36Qbje82BYC9fb-PFFOiFQaq1Mcga5W6eG0lrfrqz1gLu6EUnAZ5SHzirpFOBHpPSvywelBenLB0BWhrqr31aTm5uosZfoD/s1600/DSCF3053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnz2sYI4YvZd2G2WTEb8bHTmd7j7BHxSdPegNs4js8qdPZp36Qbje82BYC9fb-PFFOiFQaq1Mcga5W6eG0lrfrqz1gLu6EUnAZ5SHzirpFOBHpPSvywelBenLB0BWhrqr31aTm5uosZfoD/s320/DSCF3053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">I can go around naked all day if I want to.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbRw5yEVGzP4jNOcw4crkcft7X-oDaNbnUQDLiWfDzyzl0Ql6MSSw4-Oj4tqhhC9IRk0W-OrJDAbBPxO3JD0_tdm2yMMvXQDSb7mDcSl9qAoolbpLztHkl9psuvVtOOjbn_sroH5Jkcm0/s1600/DSCF3253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbRw5yEVGzP4jNOcw4crkcft7X-oDaNbnUQDLiWfDzyzl0Ql6MSSw4-Oj4tqhhC9IRk0W-OrJDAbBPxO3JD0_tdm2yMMvXQDSb7mDcSl9qAoolbpLztHkl9psuvVtOOjbn_sroH5Jkcm0/s320/DSCF3253.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">In my world, I get to eat ice cream for dinner! (well, once or twice a year)</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilK4YRGO-erPwmqUI7uQEHT2BxNUshFuPYeYCduFcbBE9_WPCJdEML35wwUZ651LurDju1hqMV_2G01JIodeaBfEtYcmZzsN99ssL9Zyk_t4oiPm4IGK53TIJ6CooweiapPZL0_rxlgL_h/s1600/DSCF3103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilK4YRGO-erPwmqUI7uQEHT2BxNUshFuPYeYCduFcbBE9_WPCJdEML35wwUZ651LurDju1hqMV_2G01JIodeaBfEtYcmZzsN99ssL9Zyk_t4oiPm4IGK53TIJ6CooweiapPZL0_rxlgL_h/s320/DSCF3103.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">In my world, I get to express my emotions.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzJ_4Z_s3zZjSH7R9xuJaFzPjJtxcrweXe572t5H8OI6OyM2liZfZYRDkwKdtxwcsVcE4CVnvSDqkEz-8pO-tOvc4T4Rcisx_pupICgs1_y5JB_Y-Rzz5kZMKAQldw5qSB0wCBGy2Feh6/s1600/DSCF3323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzJ_4Z_s3zZjSH7R9xuJaFzPjJtxcrweXe572t5H8OI6OyM2liZfZYRDkwKdtxwcsVcE4CVnvSDqkEz-8pO-tOvc4T4Rcisx_pupICgs1_y5JB_Y-Rzz5kZMKAQldw5qSB0wCBGy2Feh6/s320/DSCF3323.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">I get to lay around as much as I want.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQafxchrgavr_UL35h6qfKFwCKA9EeIRGt_cKJmxndFGY8i7Ft2M-YXjY7834nrRRI8L8ys1FheiqnQAdsvUximmyu3f6A8T-bKtSjYHGDvlEiO5Jkva2CUw10liNqkfm0eE75yi7Xwes/s1600/DSCF3333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQafxchrgavr_UL35h6qfKFwCKA9EeIRGt_cKJmxndFGY8i7Ft2M-YXjY7834nrRRI8L8ys1FheiqnQAdsvUximmyu3f6A8T-bKtSjYHGDvlEiO5Jkva2CUw10liNqkfm0eE75yi7Xwes/s320/DSCF3333.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">I get to travel to exotic places, like Oklahoma!?</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ibdteaqAeBa5XgansMNNX1s2T5h_hrVlNLzbUOCThFqHxPkku5xkpK7QyDmQyfZNRJwmns8Noh0YpfHKC2X-NJy_u35mqyedMUaqMiRdMyhU8r8-cGrrv1U4mzYH7ahEM7QV4-WB9BuD/s1600/DSCF3223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ibdteaqAeBa5XgansMNNX1s2T5h_hrVlNLzbUOCThFqHxPkku5xkpK7QyDmQyfZNRJwmns8Noh0YpfHKC2X-NJy_u35mqyedMUaqMiRdMyhU8r8-cGrrv1U4mzYH7ahEM7QV4-WB9BuD/s320/DSCF3223.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">I get to be reunited with old friends (that's "Ivan", now Samuel from my groupa). If our friends could see us now! Pretty cool!!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6QsGaTK6PKy1AR6FMXamp_oBem5X2-e7oUPy1E1agTqmTKY39pJSzDO8YJHib50PYDrF7R4He8M0w6RpRaMGc8ODMh2R9-tIhrs5qh-uaTPLKrD6ps_fCrdQaNIaEUmtIQPfbAvXp4c6/s1600/DSCF3388.AVI"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http://v17.nonxt4.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3Dfc7a1f5f72a33eb9%26itag%3D5%26source%3Dpicasa%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1327026371%26sparams%3Did,itag,source,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D6503A7B50E9279EC729FA4C7D7792B2A7261FA13.579CF9BD29887F786A26706952368ED5D4C675AD%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http://v17.nonxt4.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3Dfc7a1f5f72a33eb9%26itag%3D5%26source%3Dpicasa%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1327026371%26sparams%3Did,itag,source,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D6503A7B50E9279EC729FA4C7D7792B2A7261FA13.579CF9BD29887F786A26706952368ED5D4C675AD%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">I get to "push people around." Sorry, for the lousy quality, a videographer, my mom is not.</span></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggB7FlFEL3N16buRhd7qFpvVxpGrFXJPlil7ytUWZRBjdiwIOTg4b9rOC6D5BUw4ISbrqnmqNFbb2Z7nEegjdLnhdNxvCceZELL9-2fGaKVaQ_qoRWwgJhCYXG-RdtgrDfN0Ku7ur-kyRV/s1600/DSCF3386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggB7FlFEL3N16buRhd7qFpvVxpGrFXJPlil7ytUWZRBjdiwIOTg4b9rOC6D5BUw4ISbrqnmqNFbb2Z7nEegjdLnhdNxvCceZELL9-2fGaKVaQ_qoRWwgJhCYXG-RdtgrDfN0Ku7ur-kyRV/s320/DSCF3386.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">But mostly, I get to make Mom and Dad's day with smiles like this. My life is good!</span></div><div align="center"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">I also get to see lots of doctors. Lately, I've been to the cardiologist. My heart looks perfect! Yay for me!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And the ear/nose/throat doctor. Looks like I'm gonna need tubes in my ears. Boo for me :( But if it will help me to hear better, it will be worth it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm also getting evaluated to get ready for preschool. Lots of people are interested in helping me grow and be all I can be. I love this place! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I still have trouble chewing my food, my mom is working on getting me some help with that. Maybe one of these days, Dad and I will get to have a burger together. He would love that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I can't say any words yet, but I'm so smart I've already learned how to sign "more," "eat," "drink," "all done," and "good." I am a master imitator. I can play the "tickle game" with the best of 'em. I even know how to "shoot off my little-big toe." Don't ask, it's something my Daddy taught me, he's funny like that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've been blessed with a family of my own, but so many children are still waiting. Please visit <a href="http://www.reecesrainbow.org/">http://www.reecesrainbow.org/</a> and consider being a family to a child listed there or helping another family bring their child home. Then you can help make another child's world a whole lot better.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588596555735670176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432201620927412756.post-42497888471992705842012-01-05T05:27:00.000-08:002012-01-05T05:27:43.030-08:00How Do You Solve a Problem Like.........<div align="center"><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">MILLIE!</span></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3ifsJmAVvCY/TwWRgx_NUAI/AAAAAAAAAWc/bszN38l-4c4/s1600/DSCF2131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3ifsJmAVvCY/TwWRgx_NUAI/AAAAAAAAAWc/bszN38l-4c4/s320/DSCF2131.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, maybe not a problem, really, more like a mystery. Let me describe her for you:</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Almost 3-and-a-half</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Has verbal apraxia. For more on this go here: <a href="http://www.apraxiakids.org/">http://www.apraxiakids.org/</a> </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Sensory seeking. For an interesting blog post on this go here:</span> <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.hartleysboys.com/2010/08/sensory-seekers-and-sensory-avoiders.html">http://www.hartleysboys.com/2010/08/sensory-seekers-and-sensory-avoiders.html</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Extremely active; does not do well with boredom. She is the child that causes me to be always vigilant. If she's not into something she shouldn't be after I leave her for a few minutes to put away laundry or something else, well, that's unusual. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">STRONG-willed</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Am I leaving out anything? Oh yes, has a newly-adopted sister, also 3, that she has a mostly-love/but sometimes hate relationship with. She is still excited Vika is here, but she's definitely not too thrilled about sharing Mom and Dad with her most days. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have yet to find the manual on raising this type of child. You can find books on apraxia, books on sensory-seeking, you can find books on strong-willed, but all of them together, hmmm.... no. The apraxia complicates everything else. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Her apraxia is, in this layman's opinion, severe. The only sounds she can produce consistently, on purpose, are 'b', 'd', 'm', and 'p'. She can usually say 'momma' and something close to 'dada', often 'papaw.' That's it. Other approximations of words will sometimes come out, almost on accident, but she is unable to produce them again. Her speech is basically at the same place it was when she was 12-18 months old. No progress, words spoken and then lost - signposts of apraxia. And it's not for lack of desire. If there's one thing I'm sure of, it's that Millie wants to talk! I have had so many people tell me that she'll talk when she decides she wants to. Uhhhhhh.....no. Millie is one of the most social beings I've ever known. She wants to communicate. Trust momma on this one. </span><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">She's been in speech therapy since last summer. Has it helped? Well, yes, and no. Yes, it's helped me to know how to elicit some kind of communication from her, even only a sound or a sign. But has her speech improved? not really. Hate to be so blunt, but it's the truth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> As she gets older, it gets harder for us both to deal with. I know she has more to say. She is very demanding, not really in a bad way, she's just always wanting something. I get so weary trying to guess what she's after or telling her 'Sorry, but Momma doesn't know what you want.' </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I think, and I've read this too, that a lot of her behavior problems are the result of her apraxia. Because she can't express herself normally, she acts out just so she can communicate something. So, I struggle, how much to discipline, what kind of discipline. I told her yesterday in her bedroom, after I had taken her there because she was pushing and hitting her siblings, that I knew it was hard for her because she couldn't talk and one day she would be able to talk to us and tell us what she was thinking. She suddenly got quiet and looked at me and nodded her head in understanding. Oh my goodness, *tears*. Just knowing your kid knows they're different is hard to take. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Still, lest you think that life with Millie is terribly bleak, let me mention a few things I left out: Millie has tons of personality; she makes friends and wins people over so easily; she has an incredible enthusiasm for life; she's a performer (future piano player? or maybe dancer). Just see for yourself.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-eAmEd_m-klA/TwWbRdTf67I/AAAAAAAAAWo/vwj_XD9Sc24/s1600/DSCF2140.AVI"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv5.nonxt1.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Dc800f6bf4f9b9770%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1325789093%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D818981056BAF0E620F6EDDBC1C38A30CBF7D2462.26FD13D3AB6DCF7AFA34376BC3C418C9BAAF1D34%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv5.nonxt1.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Dc800f6bf4f9b9770%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1325789093%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D818981056BAF0E620F6EDDBC1C38A30CBF7D2462.26FD13D3AB6DCF7AFA34376BC3C418C9BAAF1D34%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Talent needs no words," said the proud mom.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">People are always, understandably, asking us how Vika is doing. And really, she continues to do very well. Of course, there are problems. She is pretty moody, laughing one minute, crying the next. She gets stressed at times with all the activity in the house. She still doesn't chew. She grinds her teeth, a lot. But overall, we've been very fortunate with how well she's done. Millie is the one who keeps me on my toes. Vika is a pleasure to parent most of the time. Millie is extremely loveable, as well, but oh my, is she a challenge. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">If anyone reading this has experience with a kid like Millie, I would love to hear from you. I have read lately how fish oil has been reported to help kids with apraxia, so I plan to give that a try. It's a little bit of hope. The only other thing I can do is to go to the One who knows all about little Millie and cry out for help, because I for sure don't have any more answers. </span></div></div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588596555735670176noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432201620927412756.post-74195347532453778692011-12-14T07:13:00.000-08:002011-12-14T07:13:04.908-08:00What's Going On?<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">These days life around here just doesn't seem to slow down. I sound like a broken record, but that's the reality. Even so, it's a happy time, a growing time, and learning time (esp. for Mom and Dad).</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Oldest daughter Eva turned 8 recently and I broke down and booked a party at Jungle Java. Overpriced, chaotic, totally not something I'm in to, but it's within walking distance from our house and required almost no preparation on my part. I think the kids had fun, though, so I guess that's what matters.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Vika loved this little crawly thing. She laid on it for a long time like this.</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Once again, we are amazed at how adaptable she is. She kind of liked the chaotic atmosphere. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">So, being the mature 8-year old she is, Eva requested to get her ears pierced. Well, I got my ears pierced in 2nd grade, so I figured it was okay. So, off to the mall we go. Turns out, it was a popular day for ear piercing, so we had to wait awhile. It didn't help that there was a newborn (5-7 weeks, maybe) right in front of us getting hers done and wailing at the top of her lungs. Eva's not the bravest when it comes to pain, but of course I used the old "do you know how much pain I went through to have you? and I survived" bit. I like to think it helped.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6YuJuWDKLNBRXYq-_a8j7ez7jhqNWMsXIi13EmhIBaMQjsfCElxSF-C0j92JNKfBR8iRsAbsuV0q4ZFAZ9CE4KWaEqX8r6RYJhgpEwq-p4KAK9yL5e-k4ZYYX70xPeFd_WB9w9pTwowK/s1600/DSCF3177%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6YuJuWDKLNBRXYq-_a8j7ez7jhqNWMsXIi13EmhIBaMQjsfCElxSF-C0j92JNKfBR8iRsAbsuV0q4ZFAZ9CE4KWaEqX8r6RYJhgpEwq-p4KAK9yL5e-k4ZYYX70xPeFd_WB9w9pTwowK/s320/DSCF3177%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Ice packs - her idea. Smart girl.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9PJc1YsNrM-rRi1P-0R9Eu6Wi-vh1cU4_Po4tois5sFEUqgK0b9WvlHQ8UG2ayLeCzmiodd0465I7yLFUf3AvdCC_IOcrjEbpIeDjRcvLZ7Sv5byHp7-wahVRJJn458IqyD3XHMuEOpC/s1600/DSCF3179%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9PJc1YsNrM-rRi1P-0R9Eu6Wi-vh1cU4_Po4tois5sFEUqgK0b9WvlHQ8UG2ayLeCzmiodd0465I7yLFUf3AvdCC_IOcrjEbpIeDjRcvLZ7Sv5byHp7-wahVRJJn458IqyD3XHMuEOpC/s320/DSCF3179%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">She went with the timeless "Hello Kitty" design. Very chic, don't ya' think?</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">In other big kid news, only son, Eli is looking a bit snaggle-toothed these days. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm so glad the tooth-fairy is back at work, the last time she failed to come 2 nights in a row, forcing the parents to pay double her rate out of guilt. But really, the whole jig is up at this point, especially after oldest daughter found several baby teeth in my jewelry drawer. They're just playing along now for the dough.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">And in big people news, I (mom) have been doing too much of this lately. It's just that time of year, I guess,when some desperate choir director will beg me to play for them when their accompanist bails out at the last minute, so of course, I do.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BWwX7IRMfKiJogXwm0IeZd5AFlESH2JS-CAHr451_IB2d206626Ye1BOsKgGdjVVcF1DsUW9jK7mdcA4HTEgcrCzOO6FpQjdz2eiJKOFa2tbgDwzlNk2R1Jewif3A6m13GBGP55tCxOa/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BWwX7IRMfKiJogXwm0IeZd5AFlESH2JS-CAHr451_IB2d206626Ye1BOsKgGdjVVcF1DsUW9jK7mdcA4HTEgcrCzOO6FpQjdz2eiJKOFa2tbgDwzlNk2R1Jewif3A6m13GBGP55tCxOa/s320/054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Sightread Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons?" No problem! As long as you don't mind a few (a lot) wrong notes along the way.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhPST_maUVNucJtR2zDVdckcGmAMvkALWnLIkUZUUKxoKBzxlXzfk_nF04UNCU7ytSc_46_8SgBULXUh5DW54sdcSFz5dAcOiqKa4H0B1XRNs27C8h19Br_is6f2SD8ZDpWj6AcCnxMwG/s1600/DSCF3201%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhPST_maUVNucJtR2zDVdckcGmAMvkALWnLIkUZUUKxoKBzxlXzfk_nF04UNCU7ytSc_46_8SgBULXUh5DW54sdcSFz5dAcOiqKa4H0B1XRNs27C8h19Br_is6f2SD8ZDpWj6AcCnxMwG/s320/DSCF3201%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">That's really not that impressive, let me show you the most genius thing I've done lately.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj210IKthjSLruMTlBRog3uGdJqnJ2VvX6Ea-wyk3vI0t5gR8Wts4kk_EncDCC1PESwTiIP9yuPDFnsfKdD1CHTTdaHMHlQqb3MtlpaMETu6gaILkdkTgIJoMORAfE5ZGGirrxnPmQ3enNz/s1600/DSCF3205%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj210IKthjSLruMTlBRog3uGdJqnJ2VvX6Ea-wyk3vI0t5gR8Wts4kk_EncDCC1PESwTiIP9yuPDFnsfKdD1CHTTdaHMHlQqb3MtlpaMETu6gaILkdkTgIJoMORAfE5ZGGirrxnPmQ3enNz/s320/DSCF3205%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">A humble list, but oh, what magical results! I got tired of getting upset in the morning as I tried to get Eva and Eli ready for school on time while they dawdled, enjoying how stressed Mom was getting. Now, they know exactly what they have to do without a thousand reminders and what time it has to be done by. If they get it all done on time, they get 30 mins. of computer game time in the evening plus a checkmark. 10 checkmarks = a special treat. We are so much happier in the mornings. I don't have to get upset and feel bad the rest of the day. They like having something to work for and knowing exactly what the expectations are. They are even working together.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNuwydslWQKcDL-fOUYOBiE1uGnEXOrgYjU8g6S6aPoyA3SAywkCY2oeHOhgpWwrcz3W6h-2jedXyJOcNE3Fdyr0ApzWuyDd5iiDKhNvncXcTwujkbpvx5oCeqviePp8pWtxMZVvveRsP/s1600/DSCF3200%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNuwydslWQKcDL-fOUYOBiE1uGnEXOrgYjU8g6S6aPoyA3SAywkCY2oeHOhgpWwrcz3W6h-2jedXyJOcNE3Fdyr0ApzWuyDd5iiDKhNvncXcTwujkbpvx5oCeqviePp8pWtxMZVvveRsP/s320/DSCF3200%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">It's a beautiful thing. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Lastly, in newest American news, we visited the ear/nose/throat doctor and I'm so glad we did. Vika has had almost continuous nasal discharge and congestion since we've had her. It gets worse, then it gets better, but it's always there. The dr. put her on an antiobitic and nasal spray and within a few days, the drainage is almost completely gone. I love a clean nose!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">They also did a hearing test. She has a hearing loss probably due to the fluid built up in her ear. She can't hear quieter sounds. Her right ear drum did not vibrate one little bit and her left just a little. It's usually kind of noisy in our house so she's probably been missing a lot. So glad we found that out. Once the fluid is gone, hopefully her hearing will come back and her speech will begin to develop. So thankful we are able to get her help with that. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Next up - the cardiologist and opthamologist. Also looking into a feeding study. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Vika is absolutely blossoming. She has a rosy color to her cheeks and the dark circles under her eyes (probably due to dehydration) are almost gone. (Gabe does a great job making sure she stays hydrated).</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZfZm4B7gHxvm2b-pr3WjKW7w-XMXq4qrmMUL4On_sjfgTEGn_sj_Ju5asKE4PSwiysMEruEx9Ny7zhcLyS7b9NCOrSumYpOQkTmmGXpT9zpHyWQOI81B9E7r1wcxZLCelBvPw31PGUkQ/s1600/DSCF3128%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZfZm4B7gHxvm2b-pr3WjKW7w-XMXq4qrmMUL4On_sjfgTEGn_sj_Ju5asKE4PSwiysMEruEx9Ny7zhcLyS7b9NCOrSumYpOQkTmmGXpT9zpHyWQOI81B9E7r1wcxZLCelBvPw31PGUkQ/s320/DSCF3128%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">She now gives the best hugs and is just the most affectionate little thing. She has done so well. We are so thankful the Lord knew just which child to place in our family and has blessed in this transition time. It's all because of His great mercy.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Until next time, Merry Christmas! Which reminds me, I should probably go shopping sometime soon.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588596555735670176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432201620927412756.post-29761910751271268322011-12-02T11:49:00.000-08:002011-12-03T13:31:13.727-08:00Welcome to the Jungle<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Busy, much? Yup, you might say that. Here's a sampling:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Musical rehearsals.</span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Making time for physical fitness</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thanksgiving - Gabe makes a mean bird, for which I-cant-cook-huge-portions-of-meat-Melanie am so grateful. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Lots of cuddling</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Thanksgiving leftovers - you've got to give them credit, at least they went for the good stuff.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mommy-Eva date at the Bee's Knees in Northville. I went for my standard dot design, extremely good and fail-proof for non-artistic people like me. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLB7Q252VOzbxT8rG-lFMjqLlFrs4iFGoNJRgXpTYdGfuQxEWIellV-rXwO3gkCGqGfvNp2fEbspmo9-LFI9ugA_RzEdb6iwMBqh8s7DaLzJWQlC5q1M1Au9nOi4ny3afGNXZRro-3NPU6/s1600/DSCF3053%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLB7Q252VOzbxT8rG-lFMjqLlFrs4iFGoNJRgXpTYdGfuQxEWIellV-rXwO3gkCGqGfvNp2fEbspmo9-LFI9ugA_RzEdb6iwMBqh8s7DaLzJWQlC5q1M1Au9nOi4ny3afGNXZRro-3NPU6/s320/DSCF3053%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Plenty of general cuteness</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">And still more</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sisterly love</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Extremely cool-Ninja-guy scariness (He really did scare me with this by suddenly appearing in the kitchen - a fact that pleases him immensely.)</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Sharing of snacks - "orange you glad we're sisters?!" Yay, I finally got to work that one in - I've been looking for an opportunity to use a bad pun.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">And naughty little children. No lie, as I'm typing this, Millie and Vika are supposed to be napping, instead who do I see coming down the stairs in this get-up? I think I will be mourning the loss of the afternoon nap very soon. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Lastly, further evidence of the crazy things that happen around here. During my shower this morning, I was chagrined to notice that my new bar of soap had disappeared. I was forced to make due with Gabe's which consisted of 2 measly little scraps pressed together to form a slightly larger scrap. I knew I had just put in a brand new bar, but it was nowhere in sight. Well, as I was putting the girls down for their nap, this is what I saw:</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">At least it doesn't have teeth marks in it. </span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Something else weird I found today.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">A parting shot (Millie forgive me) "Could someone grab those buns out of the refrigerator?"</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtYLlohVK4KvEiyp0ZSkO43IiC9g8Kmr-Q6wN2SdLVFdx0eTdfU0LuGPk1Sws2FYd5gXfNJ4Gy_wR3_tQYeT6xuv7zQTMGe-LQjk56trEB7DvpE0_p84pwzBN9EiJuqGtlwsEePnyqn5t/s1600/DSCF2881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtYLlohVK4KvEiyp0ZSkO43IiC9g8Kmr-Q6wN2SdLVFdx0eTdfU0LuGPk1Sws2FYd5gXfNJ4Gy_wR3_tQYeT6xuv7zQTMGe-LQjk56trEB7DvpE0_p84pwzBN9EiJuqGtlwsEePnyqn5t/s320/DSCF2881.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, we do clothe our children daily, but sometimes things happen. In this case, Millie is starting to think she wants to use the potty, so sometimes she will pull her diaper off, sit on her potty for about 2 seconds, and then walk around for a while like this. </span><span style="font-size: large;">You can't deny the cuteness factor.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">As you can see, Mom and Dad need lots of prayer for the stamina to keep up with these wee ones. </span> <span style="font-size: large;">In the midst of it all, I often forget to be thankful for all my treasures, because that's what they are. Have you thanked God for yours lately?</span></div><div align="center"></div><br />
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</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588596555735670176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432201620927412756.post-65415840693990834042011-11-22T07:26:00.000-08:002011-12-03T13:37:41.224-08:004 weeks home!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">4 weeks ago today our little lady stepped off the plane in D.C. and became an American citizen. To say time has moved swiftly since then is putting it mildly. It's really hard for me to believe it's been that long. We all were extremely tired and emotionally overwhelmed by everything, I think. But after the jet lag and the newness has worn off, I think we've all adjusted rather nicely. Let's see, in those four weeks, little miss V. has:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Learned to LOVE the bath (please excuse the duplicate videos. you know my computer skills are very limited and the other part of my brain - Gabe- is not here to fix it).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Exhibited her amazing flexibility</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Been showered with sibling affection and attention. My kids all love her. We are so blessed. I just love seeing what adopting a special-needs kid brings out in our other kids. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Tried lots of new foods ("This shoe is delicious"). Her favorites: yogurt, applesauce, oatmeal, anything with meat. She's slowly getting used to bananas, berries, citrus. She still can't really chew, so her food has to be very soft and easily swallowed.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Mastered the sippy cup ("yeah, I've got skills.") And she's learning to like water and milk. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Had lots of parties with my BFF Millie in our room</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcG25gxAt41MmZSXZLcC26aqmQDB9u-5-FxVfQEBIOH_7GkRnb57_U8qzHglPZVKSFrabrI8-cyN9W3LZdx3WbWmgxIeFZ41ATrGkDSZ7jb_LUlUmEJJG8U950U8_5cvI6wtuX8rQYETx4/s1600/DSCF2883.AVI" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv19.nonxt2.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D8e2e8d0ff62ab2a2%26itag%3D18%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1321994105%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3DA30C6DFA513DA59518DCDE0480FB0833680C33FA.A7B0B337A54AB4C7464B8F6ACA7B3E32A4F1D130%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv19.nonxt2.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D8e2e8d0ff62ab2a2%26itag%3D18%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1321994105%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3DA30C6DFA513DA59518DCDE0480FB0833680C33FA.A7B0B337A54AB4C7464B8F6ACA7B3E32A4F1D130%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYgJ6sgh9MVw4bgmA2lNtwVasI1K4VCuTZ3FwVlc6YFLBNXM-ZOV7Nmv5u-H_76IlSY2oi7PnaTSv_4gLeZwB926B5C6PJ3UuNeSdfp3jOmtUfneqbMcpx8uSPp3ras0KkzuNTWG-kESC/s1600/DSCF2883.AVI" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http://v8.nonxt7.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D8e2e8d0ff62ab2a2%26itag%3D5%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1321994247%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D3369F809969D9FBB5C981ACCFBF429978B831677.5CE81985EAE653A62D4AB98FC185095E15D1DA9B%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http://v8.nonxt7.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D8e2e8d0ff62ab2a2%26itag%3D5%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1321994247%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D3369F809969D9FBB5C981ACCFBF429978B831677.5CE81985EAE653A62D4AB98FC185095E15D1DA9B%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcG25gxAt41MmZSXZLcC26aqmQDB9u-5-FxVfQEBIOH_7GkRnb57_U8qzHglPZVKSFrabrI8-cyN9W3LZdx3WbWmgxIeFZ41ATrGkDSZ7jb_LUlUmEJJG8U950U8_5cvI6wtuX8rQYETx4/s1600/DSCF2883.AVI" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv19.nonxt2.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D8e2e8d0ff62ab2a2%26itag%3D18%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1321994105%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3DA30C6DFA513DA59518DCDE0480FB0833680C33FA.A7B0B337A54AB4C7464B8F6ACA7B3E32A4F1D130%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv19.nonxt2.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D8e2e8d0ff62ab2a2%26itag%3D18%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1321994105%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3DA30C6DFA513DA59518DCDE0480FB0833680C33FA.A7B0B337A54AB4C7464B8F6ACA7B3E32A4F1D130%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Really honed her wrestling skills</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXqKWdfSaW_dz7nHh-WbtVtd9bz8J9g663DvdZ56cMYNNUyjpHSAxUs8MKXnGlmG5ViYYqBUoLWMSD8Tl63xROyS1yMed8X6VVrshbBR2aNOzwDAc5zd2VMsFbDPD-THmbPLRjmDPkpUO/s1600/DSCF2834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXqKWdfSaW_dz7nHh-WbtVtd9bz8J9g663DvdZ56cMYNNUyjpHSAxUs8MKXnGlmG5ViYYqBUoLWMSD8Tl63xROyS1yMed8X6VVrshbBR2aNOzwDAc5zd2VMsFbDPD-THmbPLRjmDPkpUO/s320/DSCF2834.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Been to church, a Mexican restaurant, the mall, and the zoo</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Helped my siblings makes LOTS of messes. See that cabinet full of pots and pans? She and her sister (in the proud tradition of children of all generations) have twice pulled them all out to use as noisemakers. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Bj6pvGaI7TmX8Uxt7mOabqAKKHcVKvJan4hoL03oAXZQd29EHRig9SbzDqO9CYORRb9LPkF6RvsTcLFI23sUlr3oF27XAe7-l3TEXMHJKeFW0Kd0dP7fot7-5cd2HI8rP57CgkIs8Sj-/s1600/DSCF3001%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Bj6pvGaI7TmX8Uxt7mOabqAKKHcVKvJan4hoL03oAXZQd29EHRig9SbzDqO9CYORRb9LPkF6RvsTcLFI23sUlr3oF27XAe7-l3TEXMHJKeFW0Kd0dP7fot7-5cd2HI8rP57CgkIs8Sj-/s320/DSCF3001%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">And completely stolen our hearts with her extreme cuddliness and sweetness</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2avKaro5_ki1KuRo_9RtpsYkbsfOHu-3lYZQgGnhQP5JIw7-8I7xI_4BnztvLRcr6lBIWY0bHXS5ivn5ptIGpCXrV8f-kZZlcQgLDpdznjGlTWrDcpHSUj-FUG0SHGtGrt-klqWYq2JL/s1600/DSCF2769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2avKaro5_ki1KuRo_9RtpsYkbsfOHu-3lYZQgGnhQP5JIw7-8I7xI_4BnztvLRcr6lBIWY0bHXS5ivn5ptIGpCXrV8f-kZZlcQgLDpdznjGlTWrDcpHSUj-FUG0SHGtGrt-klqWYq2JL/s320/DSCF2769.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCp-cMkP6G7bki1ThaI5uaZaQCy0XoEIJvAEIS86XmsLHla2wtKKmU563OiD1-eQzs880TZiAnywI1PVOXkZRjsseCOOI_94YGrfOIEB9klkFf-y0kr8FRCMGuFbKgH1cwlHhGVWXcdB3/s1600/DSCF2794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCp-cMkP6G7bki1ThaI5uaZaQCy0XoEIJvAEIS86XmsLHla2wtKKmU563OiD1-eQzs880TZiAnywI1PVOXkZRjsseCOOI_94YGrfOIEB9klkFf-y0kr8FRCMGuFbKgH1cwlHhGVWXcdB3/s320/DSCF2794.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEBfmUJSum34wAKxoUryDuX9sKTR2mPfh6JPxuKmIvRaGpEjzatcQEmyjVKUaPwCuGXWtSriRXPK69zqU9RNauLxcBqC0uDq5_N3hTRtCiAssbBEe71zOofspCT_xCMJAPw-Gkrl2T-42/s1600/DSCF2990%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEBfmUJSum34wAKxoUryDuX9sKTR2mPfh6JPxuKmIvRaGpEjzatcQEmyjVKUaPwCuGXWtSriRXPK69zqU9RNauLxcBqC0uDq5_N3hTRtCiAssbBEe71zOofspCT_xCMJAPw-Gkrl2T-42/s320/DSCF2990%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">She also had a 2-hour! doctor's appt. with the international adoption specialist. Really helpful for us and Vika looks good. She also has to see a cardiologist, an ear/nose/throat specialist, opthamologist and an occupational therapist for a chewing/swalloing study. After the 2-hour appt., she had to have her blood drawn. Poor thing, her veins look non-existent to me. So after the vein in her arm dried up, they had to stick her in the hand. I couldn't watch. But they finally did get all the blood they needed. The blood will tell the doctor lots of things. One of the things they will check for is what's called "tighters"(spelling?). This will let us know if the vaccinations she received in her country need to be repeated.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">The doctor also told me it's best for us to feed her at this time. It's part of that whole attachment/bonding process that's the most important work right now. And I thought I was empowering her by encouraging her to feed herself! Vika missed all those things we all do with our infants so the idea is to make up for as much of that as we can now. It's also important for Vika to be with me or Gabe pretty much all the time. Although at times, we've had to briefly hand her off to someone, it's something we're trying not to do now. All she's known are paid caregivers, not mama and papa. She's got to get used to that whole concept and know that we're the ones who will meet her needs. just so you know.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">And here's that crazy video again. Reruns are good, right?</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYgJ6sgh9MVw4bgmA2lNtwVasI1K4VCuTZ3FwVlc6YFLBNXM-ZOV7Nmv5u-H_76IlSY2oi7PnaTSv_4gLeZwB926B5C6PJ3UuNeSdfp3jOmtUfneqbMcpx8uSPp3ras0KkzuNTWG-kESC/s1600/DSCF2883.AVI" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http://v8.nonxt7.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D8e2e8d0ff62ab2a2%26itag%3D5%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1321994247%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D3369F809969D9FBB5C981ACCFBF429978B831677.5CE81985EAE653A62D4AB98FC185095E15D1DA9B%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http://v8.nonxt7.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D8e2e8d0ff62ab2a2%26itag%3D5%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1321994247%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D3369F809969D9FBB5C981ACCFBF429978B831677.5CE81985EAE653A62D4AB98FC185095E15D1DA9B%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">One more thing that Vika is doing more and more of is looking in our eyes. VERY good thing. As I mentioned before, previously her eyes would just dart around the room, particularly at the ceiling. She had a hard time focusing on us very long. Now when we sit together she makes good eye contact and really seems engaged with us. She is a little bit difficult to get to sleep, so often after everyone else is asleep, I will get her from her bed and rock her for awhile. It's such a sweet time for us both. I think she's starting to expect it a little bit. I don't mind for now, she's got a lot of catching up to do. What else can I say? We love her! Crazy? Hectic? Stressful at times? Oh, yes! Next time I'll do a post about those things, but for now, I don't have too much to complain about.</span></div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588596555735670176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432201620927412756.post-22520597011935164362011-11-12T16:27:00.000-08:002011-11-12T16:27:18.174-08:00Zoo Day<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">We are enjoying some wonderful fall weather here in SE Michigan so we decided to take advantage of it and head to Toledo, Ohio! What's the big attraction in Toledo? Well, there are several noteworthy ones, but the only one we really care about is the Chick-fil-a. It's the closest one to us, unless you count the one in the Student Union at Oakland University and I don't. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJVBlDbW3TfTgFvWPQyJyGV47o5bqM60QVWlzpyUE_nL6guJ0bE7icsu-f4mkw1Hv6AHIdWyI92F1vgvJGzpSJRcuTnkc2z-HDm0G-GjN4Vo8axs4-YBQVttwgzEz1L5XqA_iicEEJB3e/s1600/DSCF2886%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJVBlDbW3TfTgFvWPQyJyGV47o5bqM60QVWlzpyUE_nL6guJ0bE7icsu-f4mkw1Hv6AHIdWyI92F1vgvJGzpSJRcuTnkc2z-HDm0G-GjN4Vo8axs4-YBQVttwgzEz1L5XqA_iicEEJB3e/s320/DSCF2886%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">We all enjoyed our chicken and waffle fries, except for Vika who sampled their yummy chicken noodle soup, and Millie, who mostly dined on their yummy ketchup. I think some of the potatoes ended up in her belly, but not much. We love that place! It doesn't take much to excite us.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">The other main attraction in Toledo is their wonderful zoo. We've gone there many times with our three and thought it would be a great day to let Vika experience it. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdmXOk02QT27QvKMrppVOlBE_cqp4K93un_35njh1RrWqkdhV0M2mAL-bhoLhWaB4Q0D6dYkFNqWD9feAvIoabVGe3kwJtwir14_N4Pw4onYis4M-5RaMihABxQICJ6X8MqubzSBdifyY/s1600/DSCF2887%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdmXOk02QT27QvKMrppVOlBE_cqp4K93un_35njh1RrWqkdhV0M2mAL-bhoLhWaB4Q0D6dYkFNqWD9feAvIoabVGe3kwJtwir14_N4Pw4onYis4M-5RaMihABxQICJ6X8MqubzSBdifyY/s320/DSCF2887%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are Eva and Eli in the parking lot demonstrating how they can walk backwards. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are the two little ones securely fastened in the stroller - for now. They will soon break free.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrkqm0jRWkuN_NMhFFfh1JANhsrXxPOeNxd2mTgvnAin1iPAXJeem6iag-4wnU2FrNJQMxvgqJd9Lhaj2A428hBI9ZQPOAt9Y1wVhqWofwvfxRNYZAoDbH-ASFYycyWo7BSlVtBflklOo/s1600/DSCF2910%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrkqm0jRWkuN_NMhFFfh1JANhsrXxPOeNxd2mTgvnAin1iPAXJeem6iag-4wnU2FrNJQMxvgqJd9Lhaj2A428hBI9ZQPOAt9Y1wVhqWofwvfxRNYZAoDbH-ASFYycyWo7BSlVtBflklOo/s320/DSCF2910%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Vika enjoying her walk. She really didn't pay much attention to the animals. She did really like the whole atmosphere, though, the sunshine, the breeze, the leaves. Lots of smiles from her today.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">I just love the ensemble Eva put together for going to the zoo. I had nothing to do with this, just so you know.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">I think Eli is occupying the Bird House here.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">That's just sweet, that's all I can say.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">I just like this picture.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Vika enjoying the bird house. The aquarium was also a big hit with her and I got to use the russian word for fish, even big fish - "arriba balshiah". I'm sure people standing near us were so impressed at my fluency. </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0rREMBa48da6i-6eZZYGQAh-EdcXtChT9rvPIZZ2Ia5z0LEt2cCfFyW7jqxzmI7elgaA959fOFav57W7Ilxzxu0BS53QlHUBRElDXKJAhWsgsh-6mmz5bHGO9tVQ9w8o6yA-PxIRx4wP/s1600/DSCF2944%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0rREMBa48da6i-6eZZYGQAh-EdcXtChT9rvPIZZ2Ia5z0LEt2cCfFyW7jqxzmI7elgaA959fOFav57W7Ilxzxu0BS53QlHUBRElDXKJAhWsgsh-6mmz5bHGO9tVQ9w8o6yA-PxIRx4wP/s320/DSCF2944%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Here we are at the playground. Millie's getting ready to throw this big pile of leaves on this kid. Fortunately for him, he's quick and got away just in time.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTb6eWGkvQ_G6cgWKcCJLViigdrV_siVNxriWuo3A45QxHfWxaOtt8lyGIEx5PxqDv37Ur7g8QwtcelLmympaiAOehMFTvkbG1No1Bvt4CURAaNR5J7PiHTvoBWWKwqmNsmAz6GNyliwqp/s1600/DSCF2950%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTb6eWGkvQ_G6cgWKcCJLViigdrV_siVNxriWuo3A45QxHfWxaOtt8lyGIEx5PxqDv37Ur7g8QwtcelLmympaiAOehMFTvkbG1No1Bvt4CURAaNR5J7PiHTvoBWWKwqmNsmAz6GNyliwqp/s320/DSCF2950%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">My silly boy sticking his head in a fish's (arriba!) mouth.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq68G_8f_1RvlvcN6qNzZZ6IpObTaBMCKk-9eQSREnkpyWhqx-OHyDfxRtClbApooeMMCtZ4FtJwGRbGw5b1KSqw2bDv13dDLY32s1EB4SZxwTzbfMqTTwTGMgugpEUt8H3auPDgP1VR-M/s1600/DSCF2951%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq68G_8f_1RvlvcN6qNzZZ6IpObTaBMCKk-9eQSREnkpyWhqx-OHyDfxRtClbApooeMMCtZ4FtJwGRbGw5b1KSqw2bDv13dDLY32s1EB4SZxwTzbfMqTTwTGMgugpEUt8H3auPDgP1VR-M/s320/DSCF2951%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Vika chilling outside the reptile house. If I could only have someone push me around the zoo, life would be so wonderful. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">This photo has no relevance. We just saw this sign on the way out and it made us giggle. We're not above potty humor in our family.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDh7zrBM6JjjMpbL1NeE6NTV-vZSDiWSlz55KCgEmolfvQE8BmfxlIzT4y7wBLDIbOTAMGVxZ5bDTSkfJgQfUrSmUzWYKAbg4KhCdLSt1Btx-Kc_WtxuAejVL1Wv5C-gnug7RnxV5h4we/s1600/DSCF2955%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDh7zrBM6JjjMpbL1NeE6NTV-vZSDiWSlz55KCgEmolfvQE8BmfxlIzT4y7wBLDIbOTAMGVxZ5bDTSkfJgQfUrSmUzWYKAbg4KhCdLSt1Btx-Kc_WtxuAejVL1Wv5C-gnug7RnxV5h4we/s320/DSCF2955%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">How do you define a successful family outing? 3 out of 4 children sleep on the way home! Yes!</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Eli, meanwhile, was playing some kind of game that looked like to me, "Kill the big stuffed chicken." Yes, there was a stuffed chicken in the backseat. Doesn't everyone carry one in the car?</span><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Yay! We all survived and dare I say, enjoyed, our first big outing since Vika came home! Happy Fall everyone!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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<div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588596555735670176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432201620927412756.post-42722214256607328412011-11-04T11:05:00.000-07:002011-11-04T11:05:25.718-07:00So, how are we doing?<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I've been getting that question a lot these days. We've been home about a week-and-half now with Vika</span> <span style="font-size: large;">and life is definitely different - a little. I'm still busy - only a little more. I still change diapers, chop up food into little bites - only a little more. And I still pry little fingers from places they shouldn't be and remove objects from little mouths - only a little, okay a lot more. But other than that, life goes on in pretty much the same way. I guess the thing that has surprised me the most is how seamlessly life has gone on and how well Vika has transitioned into our family. The biggest adjustments for us just seem to be mental and emotional ones - realizing this is our new family. Coming to terms with our new normal. But let me assure you all, that we are completely in love with our newest family member. She is the cuddliest, sweetest thing. How could we not love this little Buddha baby?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now for some specifics on the growth we have seen in Vika these past two weeks she has been in our care.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Food!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> We believe Vika was used to mashed up food being shoveled into her mouth at a fast rate. She didn't know what a finger food was and if we didn't spoon her food into her little mouth fast enough, she let us know about it. 2 weeks later she can feed herself most of every meal with her hands and yes, sometimes she does get quite messy.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">She still has no use for traditional toddler snack foods such as Cheerios or puffs. The whole crunchy thing is still foreign to her. We definitely will keep working on that. I practically raised my other 3 on Cheerios.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Bathtime!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"> Many adopted kids have a hard time with the bath at first. Vika was no different. She was scared the first couple of times we put her in and refused to sit, but now - oh boy, does she love it and gets upset if I don't give her adequate play time in the tub. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Eye contact</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"> Vika has made big strides in this area. Early on we noticed she would often be looking up, sometimes at lights, or just at nothing in particular. This is one of the main things I remember from our first meetings. She would often seem like she wasn't really focusing on anything.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This behavior had me mildly concerned for a while, but now I'm pretty sure it is more of an orphanage behavior, a result of not having a lot to focus on for the first years of her life. Now she is making all kinds of eye contact, often looking at us when we talk to her, and in general, showing signs that she will be able to relate to people in an appropriate fashion.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Siblings!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So much to say here. Eva, Eli, and Millie all love, love, love their new sister. I'm really proud of them for the way they have welcomed her and are willing to share their things as well as Mom and Dad. They are anxious for all their friends to meet her and Eli wants me to bring her to his school.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDuqcEELywg9fSt9GDClC4FfjNFFQXbLKjksp_Ge3taA3e_ayPrFqtZE-ETIEJQ7cElaxXIfhrdytQV4khvo5PDi3vTdmlM9YsBuAsGHzzBx-rMtVyLJWj8TFmY6hXs5hyRXLVzhxCEcl/s1600/DSCF2684%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDuqcEELywg9fSt9GDClC4FfjNFFQXbLKjksp_Ge3taA3e_ayPrFqtZE-ETIEJQ7cElaxXIfhrdytQV4khvo5PDi3vTdmlM9YsBuAsGHzzBx-rMtVyLJWj8TFmY6hXs5hyRXLVzhxCEcl/s320/DSCF2684%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Can you tell Vika is just a little tired here? Poor thing, we had just arrived home and I'm sure she was more than a little bit overwhelmed by all the attention. For Eli's part, that's him trying really hard to give his best camera smile. He is so protective of Vika. It's so sweet.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">And then there's Millie......</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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<div align="center"></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She's pretty crazy about her new sister. Ever the little momma, she must think we brought Vika home just for her to take care of and play with. If given the chance she will attempt to feed her, clean her up, change her diaper, pick her up, correct her when she's into something that's off-limits. Pretty much everything she sees me do. This is our greatest adjustment issue right now. "That's a mommy job, Millie" has become my new mantra. </span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are times, though, when they just play together, which is nice.</span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">And lo and behold! just today, Vika apparently decided she had had enough of Millie's manhandling and decided to fight back. It was rather amusing to watch.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52ejCbCtOyqLAeJ5F6YGowWveNAxrVCWiSRIedHBs3WoxOZZr-uFY1clTPPruC_6XER44R5N5PUtMb3M2WjwUdSi90u-pRHb2j8VswuoQ51mK7nO0uAldaJA_Q7uqFD5Lee9aWrBRIrqU/s1600/DSCF2827%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52ejCbCtOyqLAeJ5F6YGowWveNAxrVCWiSRIedHBs3WoxOZZr-uFY1clTPPruC_6XER44R5N5PUtMb3M2WjwUdSi90u-pRHb2j8VswuoQ51mK7nO0uAldaJA_Q7uqFD5Lee9aWrBRIrqU/s320/DSCF2827%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5f3y6x_9y7vKA6rzO7j66m4kYt56PrRrQtgdukLDaxT9oCQj3l1zxWQkHjvPhGTQoAxp-0VtzoDMkmJEtLlR-fNlvliBMaYi912tUcs1rQe-rCqbRVgz4MBeFGE0zATIywmmnc-tzQ-eV/s1600/DSCF2828%255B2%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5f3y6x_9y7vKA6rzO7j66m4kYt56PrRrQtgdukLDaxT9oCQj3l1zxWQkHjvPhGTQoAxp-0VtzoDMkmJEtLlR-fNlvliBMaYi912tUcs1rQe-rCqbRVgz4MBeFGE0zATIywmmnc-tzQ-eV/s320/DSCF2828%255B2%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">I think Vika won this one.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">So, in general, life's a little bit crazier, a little bit busier, and a lot more interesting. But it's fun - really. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"> People will sometimes makes comments to me or Gabe about what a wonderful thing we're doing or what a big job we've taken on. A few people even make remarks that make us think they think we're nuts. All such remarks make me uncomfortable. The main thing I wish people would understand is that a child with Down Syndrome is really just a child. Parenting Vika is not scary. Our 3 bio kids have always been more than a handful. We've always had active, active kids, so I guess that's the only kind of life we know. Vika adds to the craziness, but not in a way that seems daunting or undoable. She's a loveable little girl who's absolutely so ready to learn and grow. Don't misunderstand, life's not all sunshine and roses now. There are problems and issues to face and work through, but there were before. But the imagined problems and uncertainties that I had before we brought her home were greater than the reality we're now living. The reality is, well, pretty darn good. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588596555735670176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432201620927412756.post-72681035224578230142011-10-28T12:14:00.000-07:002011-10-28T12:14:18.541-07:00Coming Home<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">We are home! We made it into Detroit Tuesday about 6:30 and boy were we tired. I can say without hesitation that the journey home was the most difficult, even traumatic part of our trip. Shall I give you a rundown? Oh, why not. We arrived at the airport around 10 for our 12:30 flight. By the time we made it to passport control I think we had already shown our passports 5 times to various people along the way. Sounds simple enough, but with a 3-year old and various carry-ons, it gets tiresome digging in your purse so often. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">At passport control the lines are long, as expected. V. is doing great at first, then of course, she gets fussy the longer we wait. Then it gets interesting. We see 2 men casually walking up to the line, the front of the line, like where we're at. They actually edge in front of us. Excuse me! We've got a fussy little one here and we're in front of you. Well, if I've learned nothing from my time here, it's you've got to be a little pushy sometimes and this was one of those times. So, like a protective mama, I emphatically said 'nyet, nyet' and pushed our stroller ahead of them. That was not gonna happen. As V's cries got louder the nice lady in the booth called us to come up ahead of a few people, for which we were thankful.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Then through security and we're done. Now we wait. The thing about being here that, even though I was warned about, I still wasn't prepared for was being the focus of attention wherever we went. Because V. has Down's syndrome, people felt very free to stare at us/her. And I mean stare, not a brief look, but a prolonged stare. This was especially noticeable in the airport as we waited for our flight. I guess since people had nothing better to do, they focused on us. I got to where I would stare back until they met my eyes, then I would smile. But you know what was behind my smile - a momma-bear instinct that says 'stop staring at my kid!' </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Finally it was time to board our flight. V. actually did great for about the first half or so. She played quietly in her seat and appeared to enjoy it, especially the take-off.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Then things got quite difficult for a while. There's nothing like trying to soothe an exhausted, tired-of-sitting child who doesn't speak your language, and is not completely comfortable with you in a confined space surrounded by strangers. I have such bad memories of that trip that I don't even care to go into much more detail than that here. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"> Finally we touched down in D.C. Yay! we're back on American soil, and people aren't staring anymore - but we're not home yet. We got out as quickly as we could because last trip we missed our connecting flight and we really wanted to get home. But, immigration was <em>much </em>longer than last time. Things were not looking good. Probably 45-60 minutes later we made it to the front. We gave the officer the necessary papers then sprinted to pick up our bags. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">We found them but hold up, we're stopped by another officer. 'Are these your bags?' 'Uh, yeah.' 'Our dogs sniffed something on your bags. What do you have in there?' 'Uh, clothes.' 'Anything else, got any fruit?' 'I don't think so, just normal stuff.' He questions us a little further until I guess he's satisfied that we're not some kind of smugglers. Then when he finds out we're going to Detroit, he wants to talk about the Lions! We're trying to be nice, but inside we're thinking, 'Holy cow! We're going to miss our plane.' </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">He finally lets us go and we sprint to security. Thankfully the line there is not too enormous and we're soon at the front when another person tries to cut in front of us! My normally extra-accomodating, super-courteous husband flatly refuses. We're moving at lightning-speed throwing our stuff in the bins. We're through - the officer tells us 'Good job.' I just love the words of affirmation after they run you through the wringer. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Now we're literally running to our gate and hear them paging us. They will shut the doors in one minute. We make it just in time. Oh my goodness! We're tired and so stressed and my muscles are shaking from the exertion. Gabe even drops his passport going down the walkway to the plane. Thankfully, the United agent brings it to us.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">We find our seats and settle in for the quick flight home. Gabe makes the comment, 'I feel something warm. I sure hope her diaper holds.' He checks. He's, ahem, damp. We both just start laughing hysterically. A fitting ending to a not-so-pleasant trip. So, I, at least enjoyed the last leg of our trip when V. slept soundly half of the way. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">So, I say all that to say, everything you've heard about the post-adoption trip home is true. Of course, we thought we were somehow going to have the best trip ever. We had prayed, after all. But sometimes in adoption and life you just have to tough it out and wait for things to be over. And if you can laugh about some of the bad things that happen, you'll be much better off.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588596555735670176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432201620927412756.post-69593107616016154262011-10-22T10:22:00.000-07:002011-10-22T10:22:43.991-07:00Sights of the City<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hi, ya'll! Just some random pictures today. Since all we've done adoption-wise these last two days is Vika's embassy medical exam and met with the lady who is helping with our embassy paperwork, we've mostly been relaxing and exploring a little. We can't venture too far or for too long, though. Our little lady can only handle so much.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3x2sTgg9m0XlRB9LvSgleExDoDjupSLuayNE7-v0TdEhd_cbdUvEnqwQDpMSdaUJEw08UrArhBryHGPeLKTxNGBMTPgO5yq-gO92NyL2DvaOpThrEZxChdavfzYTP5Sr3xOaxpTdQ7Mp/s1600/DSCF2540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3x2sTgg9m0XlRB9LvSgleExDoDjupSLuayNE7-v0TdEhd_cbdUvEnqwQDpMSdaUJEw08UrArhBryHGPeLKTxNGBMTPgO5yq-gO92NyL2DvaOpThrEZxChdavfzYTP5Sr3xOaxpTdQ7Mp/s320/DSCF2540.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Our hotel - it caters mostly to business travelers, but is also used to serving adoptive families. We like it. Some very famous people have stayed here: presidents of U.S., Russia, and other countries, Sec. of State Hillary Clinton, actors, sports figures, models. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAERf9I2Xo-pl3jJeUS-dHryJ7-beXjALVtO7KEzX1JeVEPIW_24sOB9V-q3X9fspQS4aSs-TCBOXeW1ts9cYcQK0ntvzZCCyXDkShMxreN5V2aG6PIPLL_lycJhqfnr1CiRLtS8jZsa0/s1600/DSCF2576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAERf9I2Xo-pl3jJeUS-dHryJ7-beXjALVtO7KEzX1JeVEPIW_24sOB9V-q3X9fspQS4aSs-TCBOXeW1ts9cYcQK0ntvzZCCyXDkShMxreN5V2aG6PIPLL_lycJhqfnr1CiRLtS8jZsa0/s320/DSCF2576.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The view from our hotel window. The Moscow River runs by our hotel. There is a Metro station, shopping mall with a food court and grocery store, and a McDonald's all close by.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMq4pZ1kModbHp372aWi1vaguzdwAgJUvZvVhAlK39fGBHLGmrPdJ5L-I61Tm4AYvCuRT6Te9DPOaaRf4iiylUGw_sOsyKTU0LhlfhZmmLqIeLsNqRaPSyZUMEvuvY55z9v1y83Qnoax2j/s1600/DSCF2536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMq4pZ1kModbHp372aWi1vaguzdwAgJUvZvVhAlK39fGBHLGmrPdJ5L-I61Tm4AYvCuRT6Te9DPOaaRf4iiylUGw_sOsyKTU0LhlfhZmmLqIeLsNqRaPSyZUMEvuvY55z9v1y83Qnoax2j/s320/DSCF2536.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Vika admiring the view. It's so fun seeing her experience things for the first time. She's really taking it all in amazingly well.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfqsNuQv05GGCZeDMhwCCrBuWxGfhC14M7theiHMyeahBx5yfEgV6O56Jnzi928jffr7JLU5w7h7MQJmlWehrZqo4VpWMMfoYYCOJP2Stn4EbVFpLV6fNN-mCvv7xkAWBtFrusnFuut-0/s1600/DSCF2556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfqsNuQv05GGCZeDMhwCCrBuWxGfhC14M7theiHMyeahBx5yfEgV6O56Jnzi928jffr7JLU5w7h7MQJmlWehrZqo4VpWMMfoYYCOJP2Stn4EbVFpLV6fNN-mCvv7xkAWBtFrusnFuut-0/s320/DSCF2556.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Sleepy girl. When she wakes up you can see her looking around at her surroundings like she's trying to understand where she's at. Then she seems to remember and begins her usual exploring. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTs-OQxSshjcwmxrhywmHOU9jUEEnGFcO2So7PSSGdn4ZRDzXj4SZg7jEl_jYa5yyHdlXTT__GiZ3fgUzLNV96O0bphMqMS0HYRB2YS_3vTBTsxl8OvrgU-8DOjBRJeYk8xxJA_tJfyEXD/s1600/DSCF2554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTs-OQxSshjcwmxrhywmHOU9jUEEnGFcO2So7PSSGdn4ZRDzXj4SZg7jEl_jYa5yyHdlXTT__GiZ3fgUzLNV96O0bphMqMS0HYRB2YS_3vTBTsxl8OvrgU-8DOjBRJeYk8xxJA_tJfyEXD/s320/DSCF2554.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Moscow at dusk. This city is absolutely stunning. Everywhere you look there are magnificent buildings. Traffic, though, is horrendous; you've got to keep your wits about you all the time if you want to avoid getting hit, especially if you're on foot. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQC14vNELseGe1wlQd0SSJ6q9O9ReaTbS6SRJpxEtDKLEFJUm8fB8HKExQB6a8frI3O6hMgL7QopcK-nLume82mvIAmO2RsZ9JKMiQWcQ0NpCWLowPWvZtG_J0yv1qInT5m60w7grVHbOT/s1600/DSCF2591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQC14vNELseGe1wlQd0SSJ6q9O9ReaTbS6SRJpxEtDKLEFJUm8fB8HKExQB6a8frI3O6hMgL7QopcK-nLume82mvIAmO2RsZ9JKMiQWcQ0NpCWLowPWvZtG_J0yv1qInT5m60w7grVHbOT/s320/DSCF2591.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Vika rides the subway. Such a trooper. It's a bit freaky at times, even for me. I got a little queasy on the ginormous escalators that go on for what seems like forever. So many people, and the noise. She did amazing.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNM5nvyA25eDsMFQoBBtsPZL5CEt-PrYpMxy2q_KaY97OcZO_4yG644Lxtn9WvYd-mQnYMXffhfr0lz0seIFLdVnRD3f3UkrAlvB9y-njP7wTx6t0GlC4pI9sU231uZCjmABxJZZLom0Y/s1600/DSCF2545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNM5nvyA25eDsMFQoBBtsPZL5CEt-PrYpMxy2q_KaY97OcZO_4yG644Lxtn9WvYd-mQnYMXffhfr0lz0seIFLdVnRD3f3UkrAlvB9y-njP7wTx6t0GlC4pI9sU231uZCjmABxJZZLom0Y/s320/DSCF2545.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">State library with an impressive statue of Dosteovsky. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSecDO5J-HEsl6mGKQjySG9uhhNi2igXnuD5AzDVn3ohxi6lFIzI4Z3gV3pzidP9FdAdFqP0lZ_r8JMhxTCKQMH6wK0MjZZApUWmAAzrk_A4p-CUdHka_1_TDJgFVTRufHMgrYjRwitLV/s1600/DSCF2546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSecDO5J-HEsl6mGKQjySG9uhhNi2igXnuD5AzDVn3ohxi6lFIzI4Z3gV3pzidP9FdAdFqP0lZ_r8JMhxTCKQMH6wK0MjZZApUWmAAzrk_A4p-CUdHka_1_TDJgFVTRufHMgrYjRwitLV/s320/DSCF2546.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">These are the scariest birds ever. First of all, we had never seen any like them. But the really scary thing is that they're big and two times they came flying at me and just swerved in the other direction at the last second. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtxHOfkrkZNrkMWJARviV46F1rVA8BbLoGuuTT35z-YELZGKgDsyAB_C0B8PHT0Bga6ITGEoLl5Kdpy-Ng8aMSiBAhll3z-KU4oBZpz05F1yLaTe-M0zTceClsuksU8OXdduXRqhofE3m/s1600/DSCF2584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtxHOfkrkZNrkMWJARviV46F1rVA8BbLoGuuTT35z-YELZGKgDsyAB_C0B8PHT0Bga6ITGEoLl5Kdpy-Ng8aMSiBAhll3z-KU4oBZpz05F1yLaTe-M0zTceClsuksU8OXdduXRqhofE3m/s320/DSCF2584.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The roof of the famous department store, GUM. Since Red Square was blocked off today - totally bummed about that- we went for a walk around the block. Some very fine (expensive) shopping here. Places I can't even afford to look. Btw, did you know that this city has more millionaires than any other city in the world?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIiQTM39t693leT990iAhZ4e-toqUuNtCoL7tVKNazJDzMbZMjVQL20BvbmpdEBPcowQPpVbClq3RKlGpDT9ZI-uhz9ficHvP9P41dfAHoYj1rCzKPHTLcHBks3q2ZPsK4pEEe9MrpWcs/s1600/DSCF2582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIiQTM39t693leT990iAhZ4e-toqUuNtCoL7tVKNazJDzMbZMjVQL20BvbmpdEBPcowQPpVbClq3RKlGpDT9ZI-uhz9ficHvP9P41dfAHoYj1rCzKPHTLcHBks3q2ZPsK4pEEe9MrpWcs/s320/DSCF2582.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Bolshoi Theater</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FHCLNE5zmQ2NAiyFuxsYa30tDlKc6gS_xsDVeTEp4pR8Gut490yJGXqSKe-7sq_smwj5KWo57ok4wLZH46IeaVSApdp8pvo7miIIzgOkzEv-T0DpVgKKrEDop6ON4uuUV0zymMzxEWWo/s1600/DSCF2538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FHCLNE5zmQ2NAiyFuxsYa30tDlKc6gS_xsDVeTEp4pR8Gut490yJGXqSKe-7sq_smwj5KWo57ok4wLZH46IeaVSApdp8pvo7miIIzgOkzEv-T0DpVgKKrEDop6ON4uuUV0zymMzxEWWo/s320/DSCF2538.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Back at the hotel - elevator ride. Is Gabe a proud papa or what? He loves Vika so much. We both do. Can't wait to see what the future holds in store for that little girl. </span></div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588596555735670176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432201620927412756.post-81195124361113051382011-10-21T00:04:00.000-07:002011-10-21T00:04:33.987-07:00A Beautiful Day<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today was a gorgeous day in our daughter's city. Temps were in the 50's, the sun was shining, and very little wind. Perfect.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjystUSKTum0wo4biLZKErKmrFekWd-E7pOT2DIrGcZvnmu94aPdknfezZ10OqDedLsSSeBkuSWKQqBcl-c05Z7CvPh_MGYgqikHnig_XBISbDBTEfeUBM_F54Tfb6x_rSK5GH5brICW7nB/s1600/DSCF2449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjystUSKTum0wo4biLZKErKmrFekWd-E7pOT2DIrGcZvnmu94aPdknfezZ10OqDedLsSSeBkuSWKQqBcl-c05Z7CvPh_MGYgqikHnig_XBISbDBTEfeUBM_F54Tfb6x_rSK5GH5brICW7nB/s320/DSCF2449.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We enjoyed a stroll around the neighborhood</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hQoHVD3uPXvHnA9VLzpT3yY5r7erMf315FJ5vBUHY3tJL8HGsjsNiz2rsMzr1wng-5B6x6vFQqvx83jOwhG2FJyuhCyrCBQHF0KdZIHkV6C_uzIyaxVBzUfDoy3QwDnUEUumQFiDwtko/s1600/DSCF2453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hQoHVD3uPXvHnA9VLzpT3yY5r7erMf315FJ5vBUHY3tJL8HGsjsNiz2rsMzr1wng-5B6x6vFQqvx83jOwhG2FJyuhCyrCBQHF0KdZIHkV6C_uzIyaxVBzUfDoy3QwDnUEUumQFiDwtko/s320/DSCF2453.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We had one more meal at our favorite restaurant.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJXAufyfb5s6CTP-3bub_vM0cGqG_P81yM6b4c2VDjp1qXmFwwi60rS7qVhGV4AFkGzPQhb1OlZDlDN-WfLPH2WCMXnblSpmcqPqSoQKG8H-xkVYpRBqUmSqwJDfVlV_ulhjOgn7U237R/s1600/DSCF2456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJXAufyfb5s6CTP-3bub_vM0cGqG_P81yM6b4c2VDjp1qXmFwwi60rS7qVhGV4AFkGzPQhb1OlZDlDN-WfLPH2WCMXnblSpmcqPqSoQKG8H-xkVYpRBqUmSqwJDfVlV_ulhjOgn7U237R/s320/DSCF2456.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We admired the trash cans that look like little cannons.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilksE_JuiXvkKIG8mwhBkucoXxbIuNMc0H24UM-P9OyL9DNLuPYXGFEEjsfoYG3D4Z8FUJIBoAtv7Nzd1DqwHGFFIqykE3oN8X07Y4-so86z8ApfwtQdYr6ybZWbg49WYPKX4GvRo-WT3F/s1600/DSCF2457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilksE_JuiXvkKIG8mwhBkucoXxbIuNMc0H24UM-P9OyL9DNLuPYXGFEEjsfoYG3D4Z8FUJIBoAtv7Nzd1DqwHGFFIqykE3oN8X07Y4-so86z8ApfwtQdYr6ybZWbg49WYPKX4GvRo-WT3F/s320/DSCF2457.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We visited a monastery.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But...the absolute best part of the day came later when Vika got to make her escape from the baby house. It was a hectic time as we signed her out, received some instructions for her, gave gifts to the director and workers, and dropped off diapers and a whole suitcase full of clothes courtesy of my MOPS group. (Thank you ladies! They really needed them).Then it was time to go so we could finish up more paperwork before the offices closed. So we got her dressed and you would have thought we had never dressed a child before. All thumbs, both of us. We were a little excited. But between the two of us, we got it done.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3IC08cvKy4_61BkwEAWooAE9X2iBFxnQXHzHmSbU3YyIW5cnMUWzbh41yAKaAvhMNc2D3bU73eSklnfcmQTYfCOdB3OHvrJHQMF6-0XwaIgl4jjH3QXYwXsZTCMFdtQqWvcznHfDg-pa/s1600/DSCF2477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3IC08cvKy4_61BkwEAWooAE9X2iBFxnQXHzHmSbU3YyIW5cnMUWzbh41yAKaAvhMNc2D3bU73eSklnfcmQTYfCOdB3OHvrJHQMF6-0XwaIgl4jjH3QXYwXsZTCMFdtQqWvcznHfDg-pa/s320/DSCF2477.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Before we left we also got to visit with her special caregiver which was wonderful. This lady loves these kids and is so happy for another of her little ones to have a family. And there are some more kiddos in Vika's groupa who need families.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And we're off! See ya!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lUNdy6poMfL4TW1KHe1wwiCip0Ed2-CYZN3CrCioZSiH_Peq3FAVimrljFOGZVFIJwIOnOzhvIDt-plraH5ZtvktOSdE4nVLkp7N5cWmP9vVsVP6lnt4gcnJh6mmLbCQc5sTMzN7_6nh/s1600/DSCF2480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lUNdy6poMfL4TW1KHe1wwiCip0Ed2-CYZN3CrCioZSiH_Peq3FAVimrljFOGZVFIJwIOnOzhvIDt-plraH5ZtvktOSdE4nVLkp7N5cWmP9vVsVP6lnt4gcnJh6mmLbCQc5sTMzN7_6nh/s320/DSCF2480.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Vika taking in the sights of her city, maybe her only car ride, except for going to the hospital. She was so curious. So cute!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS0FlBfvSEk1o7HV0SxpmfqgxvolZz9P42ap8QAgK5ijebGBGb-UiEaUyvNTqsJBzrGxTk0eQsKZT0UjOyUlXcT8lNgpggEbmvrBINzP6j6ndxELxUtZ5zUA9er-dOpOSOQit-5KPI5mlK/s1600/DSCF2508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS0FlBfvSEk1o7HV0SxpmfqgxvolZz9P42ap8QAgK5ijebGBGb-UiEaUyvNTqsJBzrGxTk0eQsKZT0UjOyUlXcT8lNgpggEbmvrBINzP6j6ndxELxUtZ5zUA9er-dOpOSOQit-5KPI5mlK/s320/DSCF2508.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Vika and I had some good bonding time while we waited in the car so our staff and Gabe could get paperwork done. We played a kissing game. I gave her a big kiss on the cheek and said "kiss." Once. Twice. Just an intense, inquisitive look on her face. The third time I did it, a big smile spread over her face. You know the kind of smile where your whole face gets involved? We did that a few more times with Vika smiling and laughing. So fun.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6a06W9unkfOPZphwXwMYOpZRPJPSZ_N7POj_G7mPhn_BdIDiSMBM1kneeJCIbg-HWLM92Fsp1QcncmTpubY4VRz9G1c-45Jzjh7rzRFmxauPZjyJOuvrmfFOE4IWDXVlMxau4yITpbJ3K/s1600/DSCF2495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6a06W9unkfOPZphwXwMYOpZRPJPSZ_N7POj_G7mPhn_BdIDiSMBM1kneeJCIbg-HWLM92Fsp1QcncmTpubY4VRz9G1c-45Jzjh7rzRFmxauPZjyJOuvrmfFOE4IWDXVlMxau4yITpbJ3K/s320/DSCF2495.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This little girl is a quick learner! She has started imitating many of the things we do. She's just so ready to learn. I was tickling her feet in the car last night. She loved it. She kept taking my hands and placing them on her feet so I would keep doing it. And may I say she's mighty flexible, too.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She only got scared once that we could tell. We were driving and it was getting dark. The car headlights kept coming at us and she began to cry. You can imagine she has never experienced anything like that before. So Gabe quickly grabbed her blanket from the orphanage and we prayed for God to comfort her. Within a few minutes she was calm. God's been good to us.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Thank you God for your overwhelming provision for us on our trip thus far. And thanks to you all for praying us through. We have felt your prayers!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think this last picture says it all. Happy Vika, happy parents.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KvmBvbJ-vQSuu3dkemGsshSXWaSWitnbBS-OmT0Q6gRttoKqhmnq-PtMnLInWzNmcwPZgOES8ZpT_mgSe-EZoI8Vi0OVnnoz8IJTjSlrLVL7PHJ19tjYkUlQWknelXzjt-WprMie2l2_/s1600/DSCF2520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KvmBvbJ-vQSuu3dkemGsshSXWaSWitnbBS-OmT0Q6gRttoKqhmnq-PtMnLInWzNmcwPZgOES8ZpT_mgSe-EZoI8Vi0OVnnoz8IJTjSlrLVL7PHJ19tjYkUlQWknelXzjt-WprMie2l2_/s320/DSCF2520.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588596555735670176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432201620927412756.post-58459685580316975442011-10-19T10:45:00.000-07:002011-10-19T10:45:31.944-07:00And the verdict is...........<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Adoption approved!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">10-day wait waived!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We'll be picking up Miss Victoria Faye Jim from the baby house tomorrow afternoon and whisking her away to the capital and a new life. Court went really well which was a huge relief. We'll be bringing her back to the States next Tuesday if all goes according to plan. Thanks for your support and prayers! We certainly felt them!</div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588596555735670176noreply@blogger.com2