Two Sweet Kids and One Lucky Family: April 2013

So hard to believe that Peyton and Caleb have been home from Ukraine six months or that we have been away from there that long. I still remember things so vividly and some days I wish I were still there. I have truly changed since our time in Ukraine and there are days that I have to fight to keep focused on what I am doing because my mind wants to drift back and I wonder how this kid or that kid is doing.

Peyton is doing so well with her English, at least I think so. She has embraced this life and says she does not miss Ukraine.  She is doing as well as can be expected in school and she enjoys going everyday. Her classmates are so nice to her and they even nominated her to represent the class for the Super Cougar Contest. (Cougar is our school mascot.) One boy and one girl from each class, grade 3 through 5, were nominated based on exhibiting the character qualities of respect, honesty, confidence, etc. This contest is a fundraiser to help the school raise money but Peyton is so excited that her classmates voted for her. Win or not she really is a super kid!  She was thrilled recently when someone spoke to her and she was able to answer their questions. When the person left, Peyton said, "Mama, me talk to her English." Oh sweet girl you have come such a long way. I couldn't be more proud of this daughter that God has so graciously entrusted to us.

Caleb, sweet, smiley Caleb, English is coming along slowly for him. He will say 2 or 3 words together sometimes. He is getting better at naming his colors, recognizes most letters on the flash cards and he can write some of the letters in his name. He is so curious about the world around him and so that presents a problem at preschool when he needs to be sitting at the table working on his assignment instead of playing with the things on the teacher's desk or around the room. He has just started wanting to sit on our laps to have books read to him so that is a step in the right direction. Before he just didn't know how to sit on our laps and he would squirm and wiggle around and really showed no interest in the books. He had his first t-ball practice on Saturday evening and he was so funny. He didn't seem to want to be out there at all.  After his turn at bat and running around the bases his coach told him to get his glove and go stand in the field while his teammates batted. The next thing I know he is back up at home plate putting his glove in the pile ready to bat again before everyone else had batted. The coaches got him back out in the field and then he started running the bases with the other runners. Finally I guess he had had enough and he headed for the dugout and put his glove down.   He has also had a rough time with wearing glasses. I have taken them 3 times to get them fixed and this last time they were not repairable. He popped one lense out and was chewing on it and well, that lens can't be fixed, bent one ear piece way out and broke the other off, and folded the glasses in two at the nose piece. All of this while he was supposed to be taking a nap at daycare. Oh, my, goodness.  So yeah, things aren't always sunshine and roses but Caleb is such a sweet boy. Over all, even though he seems to be progressing slower, I think that in time he will catch up.

We went to the dentist a couple weeks ago. There is going to be ALOT of work ahead. It is too much to even go in to but Peyton's dental work will all be done at one time, under anesthesia for 3 hours because she is just a little afraid of doctors. After that all heals, then will come the discussion about braces. Caleb will have 4 separate visits because of the amount of work that has to be done.  I am really not sure how these kids are not screaming out in pain with the holes that I can see in their teeth! I realize complaining did no good at the orphanage so why would they say anything about the pain. My poor babies have suffered way too long and yet they still have smiles on their faces. I just want to say it again how incredible these kids are and how very blessed we feel to have them call us mom and dad.

For those that are still following, if you have any questions I would be glad to answer them, even if you want to ask anonymously.

And, at last, here are some pictures.

~Tina