The good, the bad, and the ugly

There has been some of each during our first week home! I’ll start with the worst:

The Ugly: One word-poop
Yes, we have had some ugly poop issues. One of our first mornings home I went into Irina’s room to get her out of bed. As soon as I hit the door I could smell the problem, but as I approached her crib I could see it as well. Yuck! She had taken the contents of her awful diaper and smeared it everywhere. Luke apparently did not want to be outdone in this department. A couple days later, I went into the boys’ room and he had apparently removed his pull-up and pooped on the floor. Then he and one of his brothers stepped in it and tracked it all over the room, the bedding, everywhere.

The Bad: orphanage behaviors
Unfortunately, children who reside in institutions develop behaviors and “skills” to help them cope in that environment. These behaviors are challenging and can involve issues with food and eating, aggressive behaviors like hitting and biting, and self-soothing behaviors like rocking, head banging, etc. We have had a fair share of these issues as well, and we will continue working on them.

The Good! Saving the best for last
Yes, it has been a challenging week, but it has also been a very blessed week. Luke is quickly learning that he will be fed regularly, and that he doesn’t need to cram his food because no one else is going to take it. He has learned to sign “more”, “please”, “cookie”, “water”, “eat”, and he says “mama”, “papa” and “beep beep” (he loves to watch cars and trucks). He has the chunkiest, smooshiest cheeks, and he gives the best kisses with his little marshmallow lips. He has an adorable laugh and is super ticklish.

Irina smiles and laughs more each day. She already adores her big sisters, and puts her arms up for them to pick her up. She has learned to drink from a sippy cup, and she has also learned the sign “more”, and will now use it readily. She loves music, and she loves to dance, tickle, and be tickled.

We can’t wait to watch the changes that happen over the coming months as these two really start to understand that they are loved and cherished, and that they can trust us to meet their needs.

Home Sweet Home!

It feels so good to be home, although honestly I am pretty exhausted. I am having difficulty keeping track of the days right now, as Mr. Luke does not feel like getting his sleeping in sync with the US time zone! I am also still recovering from jet lag, as the trip home really took its toll. We traveled for 24 hours, and the best way to describe the experience was horrendously horrible. The kids did NOT do well. They pretty much took turns screaming and having temper tantrums for the duration of both flights, and most of our layover in Frankfurt, Germany. I can't blame them (I felt like having a major meltdown myself), but I know it was a miserable experience for the other passengers and there was absolutely nothing we could do but get through it. I wouldn't get on a plane right now for a million dollars or a trip to a tropical location. We will all be okay. We just need to get everyone on a good sleep schedule, and I need a little therapy for my PTSD!:) I will try to post pictures before the kids are 20...I just need a few hours of uninterrupted sleep.....

We're coming home!

Thank you, Lord! We are headed home first thing tomorrow morning! Yippee!! It has been so super busy and impossible to post updates, but I will catch up when we get HOME! Home- that word never sounded so sweet! Keep praying for our very long flights tomorrow! Finally we will be a FAMILY all together on the same continent!

Tomorrow is the BIG day!

Tomorrow my MIL and I will take our last trip to the orphanage, and we will pick up Luke and Irina! We are so excited, but they will probably be scared and nervous as we will be leaving the only place they have ever known. Please pray for peace in their little hearts, and a sense of safety, comfort and security with us. Please continue to pray for the next steps that need to occur for us to leave for home!

Who could resist?

We had a very busy visit with my 2 active pumpkins and it was challenging to get any pictures, but my mother-in-law did get 2 cute photos. How cute are these two?

Blessed...

Today was our first opportunity to visit with Luke and Irina since we came back, as we spent all day yesterday completing paperwork. I got to read/hear their new names many times yesterday, and it brought tears to my eyes each time. They are ours officially! It is hard to put to words how joyful I feel when I think about it. As we waited for them to come down for their visit today, I was choked with emotion. I could barely stand the wait! Then they appeared, and my heart skipped a beat! Oh how I love these precious new little lives that God has entrusted us with! Their grandmother also got to meet them for the first time today.

Please be in prayer for our process and paperwork. We are in the home stretch, and I can't wait to be HOME! We have decided to visit a couple more days before bringing them to the apartment, and hopefully make the adjustment a bit easier. I can't wait till we are all together as a family FOREVER! Please pray it is SOON!

I'm going back for my kids!

I am packed and ready to go! I can't wait to post that we are all HOME together! Please keep us in prayer for safe travels, for all to go well at home while Daddy plays Mr. Mom, for no glitches and smooth sailing for paperwork, and for Luke and Irina's adjustment. I am so looking forward to giving them both lots of hugs and kisses, and introducing them to their grandmother. My wonderful mother-in-law is once again going to accompany me on my travels. Oh, and just to clarify...I am NOT taking 2 car seats on my trip! I mentioned in my last post about my messy room and the 2 car seats, and I got an email asking if I was seriously going to lug 2 car seats to Eastern Europe and back! NO, I am trying to pack as light as possible, but it's more challenging fitting everything for 3 people (even 2 small ones)in one suitcase than just one!

Travel preparations...again!

If I find the energy, I might need to take and post a picture of my bedroom floor just so you can get a glimpse of the chaos of my life at the moment. I have an opened suitcase, which I have not yet fully unpacked, but have started to repack, 2 car seats, boxes and bags of clothes...Ugh. The very sight of it makes me flee the room. I have a bad feeling that I will be tackling the task of packing at the last minute this trip. I am headed back on Sunday! I can't wait, and yet the thought of boarding another airplane is not appealing! It will all be worth it in a few weeks when I step off that plane with Luke and Irina and we are all finally together as a family FOREVER!

Introducing....

Luke Jonathan and Irina Sherita!! Aren't they beautiful?

We are official!

PRAISE THE LORD!!! After a roller coaster day where we weren't sure we were going to have court, we finally did! We are now the proud parents of NINE kiddos! We are heading home tomorrow. I can't wait to see our kids at home. I have missed them terribly. At the same time, I am already missing my precious L & I! I can't wait to be back to bring them home! Happy 4th of July weekend! Thank you for all the prayers and support. We are so grateful!

In limbo still...

We need continued prayers! We had hoped to have a paperwork glitch worked out today so we could have a definite court date. It didn't happen. We are still hoping and praying that God will miraculously make a way for this paperwork issue to be resolved and for the judge to hold our court tomorrow so we can go home on Saturday as planned. Please pray for us! I miss the kids at home desperately. We have never been away from them for so long, and the strain is beginning to wear on all of us at this point.

In the meantime, we have been blessed by several other American families who are also here to adopt. We have so much fun when we get together! What an amazing group! Last night we hosted "dinner and a hair cut" at our apartment. Adam was complaining about needing a hair cut, and it just so happens that one of the adoptive moms is a beautician. She brought her scissors, and we provided the dinner! It was a lot of fun and good laughs. What a blessing to go through this journey with others who understand.