Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Six Months Today!
It is hard to believe that today is our six month anniversary of coming home. Everything is still so fresh to us. I have realized though, by reading the blogs and reports of others that are in Ukraine going through the adoption process, that the negative things go away fairly quickly.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
A Wish Upon a Star
Recently, Karina and I were outside just before dark. Karina saw a star and told me that if I made a wish it would come true. When I didn't agree whole heartedly, she said, "No Papa, it's true!" She went on to explain that she once saw a star and wished that she could have a family and now she has a family.....Take a minute to think how many children around the world have made that same wish and are waiting for that wish to come true.
We are hoping to be able to host our first little girl again. On our last visit to the orphanage, she told me she wanted to go with us. I don't think she knew what she wanted, but I promised her then that we would see her again. She is very immature and I don't think she knows what she wants. Karina is very compassionate and worries about her and wants her to be her sister so she can help her....Wow.
Papa
We are hoping to be able to host our first little girl again. On our last visit to the orphanage, she told me she wanted to go with us. I don't think she knew what she wanted, but I promised her then that we would see her again. She is very immature and I don't think she knows what she wants. Karina is very compassionate and worries about her and wants her to be her sister so she can help her....Wow.
Papa
Sunday, September 21, 2008
We survived Hurricane Ike!
Ike may not have been a very strong hurricane compared to others that have come through our neck of the woods, but he left a big impression. My husband and I are
both natives and even though Rita, which followed the devastating Katrina, was a strong hurricane there just wasn't as much damage that I remember or recovery time involved. With Rita, we were only out of power a short amount of time. I don't even remember losing power more than one day. But with Ike, we were without power for almost five days. The power outage reinforced our decision to have a gas stove and gas water heater. At least we could cook and have warm water since our water service was never interrupted. Our phone service was on at first, then off for a day or so, then back on again. I've never felt so isolated before. I couldn't call my older daughter, mother, sister or brothers. FEMA confiscated the cell phone lines for the first few days too, so if your cell was still charged you couldn't reach anyone anyway. Our daughter in another state could call our cell, but we couldn't call her.
The first two nights were so hot, I couldn't sleep, but then God blessed us with a cool front. I was almost at the point of thinking about washing a few clothes by hand before the electricity came back on. Hmmm, seems like I've done that before recently;)
We have friends in Ukraine right now and we couldn't call them or email them to see how their appointment went on the Monday following the hurricane.
One good thing, was that we got to know neighbors we've never met before. People were getting their grills out and pooling their food, that was going to go bad without electricity, together. Even when the lights came on, there were still some neighbors who really liked how things had been and still had their suppers outside:)
Little Miss Karina slept through the whole hurricane! The worst part for her was when it was dark and she couldn't see into every closet. She has quite an imagination.
Another thing that took backseat to Ike, was that Karina has been home for 5 months now!
both natives and even though Rita, which followed the devastating Katrina, was a strong hurricane there just wasn't as much damage that I remember or recovery time involved. With Rita, we were only out of power a short amount of time. I don't even remember losing power more than one day. But with Ike, we were without power for almost five days. The power outage reinforced our decision to have a gas stove and gas water heater. At least we could cook and have warm water since our water service was never interrupted. Our phone service was on at first, then off for a day or so, then back on again. I've never felt so isolated before. I couldn't call my older daughter, mother, sister or brothers. FEMA confiscated the cell phone lines for the first few days too, so if your cell was still charged you couldn't reach anyone anyway. Our daughter in another state could call our cell, but we couldn't call her.
The first two nights were so hot, I couldn't sleep, but then God blessed us with a cool front. I was almost at the point of thinking about washing a few clothes by hand before the electricity came back on. Hmmm, seems like I've done that before recently;)
We have friends in Ukraine right now and we couldn't call them or email them to see how their appointment went on the Monday following the hurricane.
One good thing, was that we got to know neighbors we've never met before. People were getting their grills out and pooling their food, that was going to go bad without electricity, together. Even when the lights came on, there were still some neighbors who really liked how things had been and still had their suppers outside:)
Little Miss Karina slept through the whole hurricane! The worst part for her was when it was dark and she couldn't see into every closet. She has quite an imagination.
Another thing that took backseat to Ike, was that Karina has been home for 5 months now!
Monday, June 23, 2008
Day off.
Today I took Karina to the community pool. She can beg me for hours to take her. She jumps off the diving board with the rest of the kids. I could tell she wanted to make friends with some of the kids there.
She is still very small and skinny. She remembers her birth mother and has shared some memories with us. I think they are typical of a lot of Ukraine children. There is more physical and mental abuse than I would have wanted her or any child to endure. I think she understands that it is all part of the past.
I talked to an old friend today that adopted a toddler from Russia ten years ago. I still remember picking his daughter up ten years ago and thinking how small she was for her age. It was good to hear from him and good to talk to someone who understands.
Papa
She is still very small and skinny. She remembers her birth mother and has shared some memories with us. I think they are typical of a lot of Ukraine children. There is more physical and mental abuse than I would have wanted her or any child to endure. I think she understands that it is all part of the past.
I talked to an old friend today that adopted a toddler from Russia ten years ago. I still remember picking his daughter up ten years ago and thinking how small she was for her age. It was good to hear from him and good to talk to someone who understands.
Papa
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Changes
Karina went to the doctor this week just for a check-up. The doctor that did her examination in Ukraine, said that she detected a heart murmur. Well, our doctor didn't. They also measured how tall she was. They had a chart on the wall and she was 55 1/2 inches tall. That means she has grown over three inches in two months!
I was recently looking at pictures while we were in Kiev waiting on the passport. There is really a difference in her looks. I'm wondering how tall she'll be and how much she'll change in a year.
She's picked up several English phrases. 'That's a great idea', 'Very good', 'Put your clothes on'. Can you tell some of the things she hears around here? lol She uses 'put your clothes on' when referring to clothes in any context. Yesterday, we went out to eat with some friends. The husband said something and Karina responded 'Oh, well'. She opened the ketchup bottle and said 'Open the door'. Oh, well, she had the idea anyway. I wish she would understand 'that doesn't match' though. It seems like she pairs her clothes in like colors. Or colors she 'thinks' are alike. I can't get across the idea, yet anyway, that pink and orange don't go together!!
PS - 'put your clothes on' just means change out of play clothes or pajamas. I started worrying that someone might get the wrong idea:0
I was recently looking at pictures while we were in Kiev waiting on the passport. There is really a difference in her looks. I'm wondering how tall she'll be and how much she'll change in a year.
She's picked up several English phrases. 'That's a great idea', 'Very good', 'Put your clothes on'. Can you tell some of the things she hears around here? lol She uses 'put your clothes on' when referring to clothes in any context. Yesterday, we went out to eat with some friends. The husband said something and Karina responded 'Oh, well'. She opened the ketchup bottle and said 'Open the door'. Oh, well, she had the idea anyway. I wish she would understand 'that doesn't match' though. It seems like she pairs her clothes in like colors. Or colors she 'thinks' are alike. I can't get across the idea, yet anyway, that pink and orange don't go together!!
PS - 'put your clothes on' just means change out of play clothes or pajamas. I started worrying that someone might get the wrong idea:0
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Good Nutrition
This is a subject I haven't seen discussed on adoption blogs. How much good nutrition affects our adopted children (and others). Yes, people talk about how much their child grows once home, but I've noticed even more. It may be because I was a hairdresser in my pre-stay at home days, but I've really noticed a big difference in Karina's hair. When we were in Ukraine, she wanted to put her hair up, mostly in pigtails. (I don't know what it is with Ukraine orphans and pigtails! lol) Well, I talked her into letting me braid her hair. It looked much better than plain pigtails. At that time, her hair was thin and sparse and almost fuzzy behind her ears, but now, what a difference. Her hair is thick. I never thought her hair would be. It helps a little that I've cut her hair twice since we've been home, but the fuzzy, sparse hair behind the ears is history. This may not be common knowledge, but I learned that when the body is lacking nutrients, it takes them from the hair. The hair needs every nutrient and amino acid that the body needs. Oh, the things we do to our hair!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Too Old for Baby dolls
I told Karina that she needed to clean her room because it was getting so bad you couldn't see the floor. When she cleans, she reorganizes everything. It's kind of funny, I do that too! I like to know that every bit of room is clean. Getting the time to do that is another story!
Anyway, she was going through her toys and decided she didn't need any of the baby doll stuff anymore, the baby, carrier, dishes, blankets, etc. She is twelve now and doesn't play with dolls. Well, she's been twelve ever since March 5, so I didn't understand the sudden change. When Dad got home, she told him the reason. Her fourteen year old friend, adopted from the same orphanage, might come over soon. Karina can't let her friend see her with baby dolls!
Anyway, she was going through her toys and decided she didn't need any of the baby doll stuff anymore, the baby, carrier, dishes, blankets, etc. She is twelve now and doesn't play with dolls. Well, she's been twelve ever since March 5, so I didn't understand the sudden change. When Dad got home, she told him the reason. Her fourteen year old friend, adopted from the same orphanage, might come over soon. Karina can't let her friend see her with baby dolls!
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