I am going home Yay!!

I am finally going home, I can't believe it! I am so so so happy. I cheered all day.

We are a little nervous for our 24 hours of travel with Will. We packed him lots of special food and toys. Let's hope it is enough to get us all home smiling. Alina is a gem and hasn't given me an ounce of trouble. It helps that she loves Lena and does whatever she says.

Some pictures of our last days in Kiev.

Cheri is such a trooper and has been a big help. Her positive attitude is infectious. She loves Ukraine and constantly points out all the beautiful and wonderful things she sees. She has been good for my last week.

She is constantly dancing, singing and making the kids laugh. I wouldn't have made it without her and am grateful she came clear across the world to help me.

We took this suitcase to the grocery store so we wouldn't have to carry the groceries home. The handle broke and it was a hilarious nightmare trying to get it home. It came off once right at the top of the subway escalators and all the Ukrainians were tripping over the suitcase and yelling at Cheri. She just smiled back. It was so so funny.

She continues to smile at all Ukrainians even though no one smiles back. It is cute.

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2 More Days in Kiev

Tomorrow we get the Visa's for the kids and then Wednesday we are headed home. I can't believe I have two days left in Ukraine. Feels like I have been counting down forever.

We laughed a lot the last few days with Will. Mary brought him this little pink electronic bug. We thought he would love it. When we turned it on, he screamed and ran. He cried until we turned it off. It took him a few days to warm up to it. First he would ask me to turn it on and he would watch it from the bed, then he would hit it with a spoon, eventually he dared to touch it and now he loves it and asks to sleep with it. We laughed so much about it.

Will has warmed up a lot to us the last few days as well. In the orphanage he would never let me touch him, and the few times I tried to pick him up he screamed in terror. He clearly was not used to being picked up. The first few days in Kiev I kept holding my arms out to him, but he would not let me pick him up. One day he was standing on the bed and I held out my arms. He looked terrified, but he held out his arms and let me pick him up. The poor kid was shaking. I tried to walk but he squeezed me so tight and screamed. He was afraid I would drop him. After that first experience he wanted to be held the rest of the day. He remained a little scared when I picked him up but he snuggled up to me and smiled every time despite his anxiety. Now he always wants to be held. We call him my little leach. Cheri has been a lifesaver and helps carry him when I am worn out. Alina and Lena tell us to make him walk, but he is so cute when he holds out his arms and says,"please Mama," in Ukrainain that I can't help it.

Alina has warmed up too. She and Lena are hilarious and always make us laugh. She likes to wrestle and laughs hysterically when tickled.

It was Women's day last Thursday. In Ukraine all girls are supposed to get flowers on this holiday regardless of age. The girl's surprised us with flowers and chocolates so we got them flower balloons. There was a big party in the square. We had lots of fun walking the streets and watching the going ons from our window that over looks the square.

Will loved the carousel.

Cheri wanted a picture with this tiger since her son's nickname is tiger. Turns out the tiger was creepy. After two regular poses he started getting a little close for comfort with some crazy poses. Cheri was dying and I was laughing my head off. She banned me from putting them on my blog. These two were approved. Ha Ha!

Will trying sprite for the first time. We laughed and laughed.

Last Day in the Orphanage

We picked up Cheri Monday afternoon then took a train that night back to Will's town. We arrived Tuesday morning and went to Will's orphanage. He was happy to come with us, but kept asking if he could bring his friends too. We had to get him dressed in our clothes, he was embarrassed and told us all to look away. It was hilarious. His caretakers and the director cried when they hugged him goodbye, but he was all smiles. I was so relieved he wanted to come.

We then had a 2 1/2 hour car ride to Dnipro to pick up their passports. He was such a good sport. He kept telling us in the car that now he had three sisters and kept asking about Alina. We told him we were going to pick her up.

About two hours into the car ride, Zhenya started saying he had to pee. Well, we were far away from a bathroom. We asked if he could hold it, he said no. We told him he would have to go outside, he did not like that. He said it was too cold, it was and snowing. Being his new mom I had to help him. He cried and spoke upset words at me in Ukrainian as I pulled down his pants. Both of us being rookies, we ended up with pee all over us.

We picked up the passports in Dnipro and then drove the 45 minutes to Alina's orphanage.

Zhenya had only met Alina once before, so I was super surprised when he ran and gave her a huge hug. He held onto her legs and wouldn't let go. She was surprised too, but she loved it.

He stayed by her and kept hugging her legs as she introduced everyone to her little brother. It was super cute. He told her he loved her and she was beautiful. What a sweet kid.

On the car ride to Alina's orphanage Zhenya kept asking to go back to his orphanage. We kept telling him he couldn't but didn't know why he wanted to. He started saying it again at Alina's orphanage so we finally asked him why he wanted to go back, he said, "Because they have a toilet."

We laughed so hard but didn't realize he still had to go to the bathroom. He asked an older worker at Alina's orphanage if they had a bathroom and she showed him. I went in to see if he was ok and he had fallen in the toilet because it didn't have a seat. This is me dying lauging with my head out the door so he wouldn't know. He so embarrassed. Rough bathroom day for Zhenya.

Alina bid a very tearful goodbye to her best friend and teachers. They cried and she cried but in the end she came with us. I put my arm around her in the car as she cried all the way back to Dnipro where we caught the night train, back to Kiev. Both kids were super excited to ride the train and even Alina was laughing and smiling by the time we were on our way back to Kiev.

They are both sweethearts and I am officially one lucky mom of two more.

Another sleepless Night

I can't sleep and couldn't figure out why until I was emailing my friend Carlin. I realized I am so nervous for this week. We are leaving tomorrow to get the kids out of the orphanage.

One more day and I will officially be the mother of two more. I am nervous about how they will act and about how difficult they will be. Lena and Sara were pretty rough at first, so I know it won't be easy.

Mostly, I am worrying about being the mother they need. Alina with a life full of heartache and disappointment. She is so sad to leave. Will I be sensitive enough to her feelings? Will I be patient and kind enough? Will I be gentle enough? Will I know the right things to do to help her?

And my sick little boy. Can I keep him well and make him feel safe? Can I handle all the stresses and changes with patience and love? Can I be what he needs me to be?

I am tired and worn out and not at the top of my mom game right now. The kids are all going to need me to be the best mom possible as we go through this change together as a family. It feels daunting tonight.

I guess Heavenly Father will have to make me more than I am.

Back to Kiev for the Changing of the Guard

We are back in Kiev to take Mary to the airport and pick up Cheri. Mary has been such a huge help. The ten days with her have flown by. I am blessed to have such amazing friends and family. Cheri is coming but I had many other offers. I have been overwhelmed by the love I have felt from everyone. Thanks to those at home helping with Sara, taking dinners to Jeff and Sara, watching Cheri's kids so she can come and shopping for stuff for my new kids and translator. I am continually grateful for the comments and emails. I don't know what I would do without all of you. Could a person be more blessed?

Mary made us laugh.

Took us on walks.

She helped me buy boots for Alina. Her socks and shoes are unbearably stinky.

She reminded me of the good things about Ukraine, like their hot chocolate and chocolate.

We did baptisms at the temple together and took the Sister missionaries to dinner. Lena especially loved it.

Both of my shoes cracked on the same day, my feet got sopping wet. Mary duck tapped them for me. It lasted a few hours. Oh well, 10 more days. They will have to do.

Mary spoke Spanish to everyone, especially Alina and Will. I kept reminding her it was Russian. He He! Funny how she defaulted to Spanish when someone couldn't understand her. Her Russian with a Spanish accent was hilarious too.

Thank you Mary for coming to my rescue. We love you!

Alina and Will Finally Meet

Today we had to take both kids to the passport office for pictures. Luiba brought Will from Krivyi Rih and I brought Alina from Dnipro. We met in Dnipropetrovsk. When Will saw me he smiled and actually gave me a hug. Yeah progress!



Alina was shy, of course, and wouldn't talk to Will but I have never seen her smile so much. Who can help it around Will. He was singing and talking to me and eventually he warmed up enough to Alina to show her animals on my phone. She couldn't help but laugh at him. She was happy to see him, I could see it all over her face.