Got this quiz link from my friend Angie Poole (so far away, but still cool!). You can tell me if you think this sounds like me…..
| You Are Coffee Ice Cream |
 You are most compatible with chocolate ice cream. |
For some reason the link is not working, so to take your own quiz, check out quiz here.
SLEEP!
Don’t really have too much to say and I still don’t have time to upload pics, but I thought an update was in order!
Work went very well – it was great to see everyone again and get back to some sort of schedule. I work with some wonderful people who are truly friends that are very loving. I thank God for them!
I hit the wall about 4pm as expected, but was able to take a 20 minute power nap before class (I was in the car!). My test at school was fairly easy, so I was out of there by 7:30 and I headed home. I pretty much went straight to bed and am so happy that I slept through the night! THAT IS SO AWESOME! So I hope today is a bit better on the tired front.
The kids are doing wonderfully. Kenny, Josh, Zack and Sophia came to work yesterday with Deana and Stephanie. While the peering crowds added a little hyperness to Zack especially (although Sophie can certainly hold her own!), it was a pleasant visit. I love them.
I know I’ve said this before, but I cannot express enough how much Deana appreciates the love and support (and prayers) she’s received from so many of you! All of it has truly blessed her life.
Okay, Lucky has missed her Mama so she is pretty much laying across my arms, which makes it difficult to type (plus, she really wants me to pet her!). So I will see you later!
Hello! I hope everyone had a blessed Easter!
Today I go back to work after being off two weeks to help Deana bring home her beautiful children from Russia! As usual, I am anxious to get back as I love my job. Still off due to jet lag, but I’ve made progress and hope to stay awake at work. More difficult will be my Sociology class tonight (7-9pm) plus the fact that we are having a test! So I might be living off a Grande Mocha Quad (one pump mocha, no whip cream)!
This weekend was fun! Deana is still very sick and I’ve had the same cold, although not as bad as she gave me some medication (over the counter) that Wanda had suggested some time ago. Can’t even spell the name, but it is similar to Airborne and it helps reduce the symptoms. I am a walking example that this is true! But physically I still feel a bit puny.
Okay, enough of the whining! The kids are doing GREAT – mine included. Kenny, who accepted the Lord about 3 years ago, did something amazing yesterday! We went to Mary’s church (Deana’s mom, who I also call Mom) so everyone there could meet Zack and Sophia. It was a pretty good service (which is very nice to say since I usually rip her church!) and very pleasant. During the service he invited anyone who was a Christian but who had never been baptized to come forward – how wonderful to be baptized on Easter! Well, there goes my son! Fortunately I had the video camera and D had her camera for Easter so we were able to record the event! He was so jazzed and it was even more special to him because I told him I had been baptized on Easter as well (many moons ago!).
I don’t have time now, but I will post pictures later!
Have a wonderful day!
Yep, today has been a blur. I was awake from about 5am until around 11am, then took a “nap”. I woke up at 4:30pm, closed my eyes “for a minute”, and then again at 5:30pm! I feel much better but still have that weird “I just woke up” feeling. As I type, Deana fell asleep on the sofa so I am glad for her. Zack fell asleep on the sofa a few hours ago and he is still peacefully sleeping. In fact, I tried to wake him up to eat dinner and he ended up sleeping at the table. Sweet boy.
Even with the sleepiness, we were able to have some fun today!
Everyone has been getting along very well! The boys LOVE Zack and Sophia and love being older and helping them out. Kenny feels a strong sense of setting a good example for the kids and seems to be more mature almost overnight. He is also very loving and affectionate to both the kids (although Zack is more macho and would rather growl.) Josh has done a wonderful job of showing the kids around, sharing toys, playing with them, etc. As I type, Josh is playing with Sophia in the living room as they got penguins in their kids meals from Carl’s Junior. He sometimes gets frustrated, like when he told Zack “we don’t wear our shoes on the carpet” and then Zack walked into the living room! He needed to be reminded that the kids don’t really know English……LOL.
Okay, the boys and Steph are going into the jacuzzi now…..D and I are way too tired to walk all the way upstairs, change, and go outside! LOL we are so lazy right now! To be fair, D is still fighting a cold and I have something too although not as bad as D. So I feel okay that we are being out of character today because we’ve had fulfilled our “sentence” in Russia. I can’t say enough how wonderful it is to be back in AMERICA! I think everyone should go to another country like Russia to really appreciate how good we have it here.
Okay, I must go now…..to do nothing! What a concept!
Yeah, I have internet access again! How I missed it and sorry for those of you who were experiencing withdrawals. We found another internet point – OUR LIVING ROOM! That’s right, WE ARE HOME!!!!
You see, when we went to the US Embassy on Tuesday to get the kids’ visas and paperwork to become US Citizens, Olga #3 told us we could probably go home on Wednesday and register with the Russian Government from home. We were like, really? But I didn’t get my hopes up – I warned Deana that we shouldn’t get too excited until we were sure there were seats available, etc. So after the Embassy (which was very nice and where we met several adopting families) we went to the Aeroflot office to exchange our tickets.
Long story short – we got seats and we arrived yesterday at about 5pm! Sorry to Wanda – my cell was dead and also we really didn’t arrive home until around 10pm as we went to eat and stopped by Babushka’s house. Then we had to go in the big pool right away, see the house, etc!
But I am getting ahead of myself. D and I are all caddywambus with the time difference. I about fell over around midnight because I really wasn’t able to sleep on the plane (freaking loud, obnoxious Russian women who do not know how to observe the freaking entire plane was trying to sleep – but I’m not bitter). I pretty much passed out but then woke up at 5am California time with horrible heartburn (okay, so I had a Zinger and Hostess’ Cupcake late last night…..). So I am sure I will hit a wall shortly (as will D, who also woke up not long ago) but as of right now I am wide awake.
The kids did GREAT on the plane! Of course, it was very exciting – especially for Zack who was beside himself – and they slept well for most of the flight. There were plenty of empty seats so the kids were able to spread out and get comfortable. They also did very well when meeting the Rivera clan at the airport (sans Manuel and Julia – we missed you!) as well as Kenny and Josh and got along splendidly with everyone despite the language barrier. They also loved the following:
There is so much to chronicle that its difficult for me to write it all down here and now (remember, I have only slept about 5 hours in the last 48 hours…..). But I will try to catch up in the coming days.
Also, I want to assure you that Tex and Lucky were very glad to see their mama! Tex went crazy (more than usual). Lucky was in hiding for some time after we arrived home but when I sat down on the sofa with my laptop she came running and has been basically attached to me since that point! She has been constantly purring and its very sweet.
Okay, hope y’all are doing well. God Bless America – it’s so so good to be home!
I am currently in “McCafe” a McDonald’s wanna be Starbucks in Moscow. The good part is FREE INTERNET ACCESS!
We only have 30 minutes and I want to give the bulk to Deana, but wanted to say we made it here safely, the kids are doing great, and there is SO MUCH to tell you! I am having a blast but almost as anxious as Deana to get home and back to reality (and American food!) McDonald’s is good but not what we are used to so it’s a so-so situation. Deana has been able to eat more so that’s good. We also have a refigerator in our room so went to the market to get food, too.
Okay, hope you all are doing well. Will try to post more later too.
G
SPECIAL NOTICE – WE MAY NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS IN MOSCOW SO WE MAY NOT POST VERY MUCH, IF AT ALL. PLEASE TRY TO COPE!!!
Special Instructions – if you want to leave a comment but don’t have a Google or Blogger account, NO WORRIES! Just click on the COMMENT at the end of any post and you will go to the comment screen (as well as see what comments have already been posted). Type in your comment and remember to include your name in the body of the message. Then select ANONYMOUS and click PUBLISH (or POST, I can’t remember).
Well, first of all, SUCCESS! Deana and I slept through the night! I was shocked when I heard Zack whispering this morning and realized it was 6:30am and I wasn’t wide awake at 1 or 2 in the morning! I feel much better today (I was nauseous and dizzy all day yesterday) and even put some make-up on!!!! I think the receptionists in the lobby probably didn’t recognize me! LOL
Yesterday, despite my feeling gross, was filled with precious moments. If you’ve seen Deana’s blog, you would have seen that Zack did his circus performances, including standing on my shoulders! Before getting there, you need to realize that he JUMPED onto my shoulders as I was sitting on the bed (legs over my shoulder, etc.) He is very agile, doing somersaults on the bed, standing on me as I lay down, standing on my shoulders – I can’t imagine what he will be capable of once we get out of this tiny room!
But that isn’t best part! As many of you know, I am addicted to sunflower seeds. Yes, I mean addicted! I was sitting reading on the bed, eating my seeds, spitting the shells into a brown bag I brought for that purpose, loving life. Zack came over and asked for some too. While he is not as proficient as me, he knows how to eat seeds! So we sat on the bed, me reading and Zack watching TV, eating seeds. When he was finished with the seeds I had given him, he would show his hands to me and Deana to receive praise. Let me tell you, it seems very silly with me typing here, but it was a true bonding time for me and Zack.
Later, he also reclined against me, which is a huge improvement. He is not as physically receptive as Sophia, so the fact that he touched me and relaxed with me was very special.
The other huge thing with Zack as that he has begun calling Deana MOM (not Mama). While previously he would acknowledge that Deana was Mama when we would question him, he never called that. But especially when he wants to show her something, he screams “MOM!” It is so cute! And it is from him – I have never referred to her a Mom up until that point and I don’t believe I’ve referred to anyone else as Mom in his presence. Today, he even asked for a kiss from Mom when she kissed Sophia, another huge deal!
He is also cute – when you say “you are so handsome” in Russian, he says “Nyt!” and acts all shy. He also ALWAYS shares! For example, the kids had been dying for more goldfish crackers all day. Trying to protect their little tummies, we have been careful about letting them eat. Finally, Deana said okay and joy abounded everywhere. Therefore, it was very endearing to see Zack offering me some of his cherished goldfish! He did the same thing with his rice crispy bar today – he took one bit and immediately offered me a bit. He does the same thing with Sophia – he always shares and makes sure she has food, etc. It is so very precious.
He also is getting very good as thanking us (spiceeba!) for things. If Deana is not in the room when he does it, he proudly tells her that he said thanks to me for something! He is really beginning to like when we praise him for doing something good.
Sophia is amazing with words! She copies words all the time, even when we are not trying to teach her English. She already calls her brother Zack, calls Deana mama, although Gina is difficult for her to pronounce. (I think it sounds more like Xena, but hey it could be worse. NO RONA, this is not your cue! LOL) She is amazing – already she knows where her nose is, her belly, and we are working on the foot (all the time I was teaching her, she thought I met my sock!) While her personality seems to be a bit more stubborn than Zack’s, she has a very sweet spirit. She is much more physically affectionate – she loves to kiss us. She also tries to be a circus entertainer like her brother but lacks the coordination so she often gives us heart attacks. They both love for me to throw them around and/or tickle them. Sophia loves it just as much as her brother and I have been happy to oblige them both!
Okay I will go now and I don’t have pics because Deana is hording them so there you go!
Deana and I are commenting on how surreal this experience has been! We have gotten into our routine here in the hotel with the children – wake up, potty, get dressed, go to the café for breakfast, come back, watch TV and interact, go outside to play, come back, dinner in the restaurant, baths, bedtime.
Except today, Zack begged to take a bath and Sophia concurred, so right now they are in there having the time of their lives together! This bath experience is so different than what they are used to – they would be hosed off in the tub and not everyday. So they are really enjoying the bubbles and the warm water. This is the first time they’ve bathed together and they are really having fun with each other. They DO get a little overly excited at times and I hear Deana telling them to sit, but overall they are being very good.
So, back to my first comment – this is still very surreal!
Our “friends”, the couple from South Carolina, go to court today at 11am Russian time for their daughter. I am praying that it goes well for them. This is different from their first experience when they adopted their son – that time, only the father could speak. NN is very women driven – most officials seem to be women. So the wife was a little nervous because you have to name all your siblings, all their children, including their ages. While Deana had a very hard time with this and even stumbled a bit, this couple has like 28 nephews and nieces! I pray that it goes well for them.
We also met another couple this morning – we saw them in the café and then Deana met them in the lobby. They are adopting a 1 and 2 year old (not sure of gender) and are also going to court this morning. Deana was able to give them some advice about not feeding the kids too much food even though it seems like the right thing to do. We learned that the hard way! Zack and Sophia are doing better in that area and were able to eat some cereal this morning, which was especially exciting for Zack. They are also already learning that water is our friend (as my boys have already learned!).
One interesting thing – I have mentioned to several others, including Anastasia the translator, that I need to fight the urge to speak Spanish to the children. Every single one of them were amazed that I speak Spanish (although I told them I speak very little). All assumed it was because I live in Southern California, which seemed to be a logical explanation for all of them. Wow, I’ve never even thought about that! It just seems so natural that, when you learn another language, you choose either Spanish or French. Those were the two that were prominent when I was growing up. But I guess that is not the case in other parts of our country, huh??? Como no!
Zack is funny though – during the night when we can’t sleep, Deana and have our “fourth meal”, although really we haven’t eaten on schedule (especially Deana). We eat fig newtons or maybe some chips. This morning Zack saw the evidence – the empty packages – and wanted some of his own! He cracks me up! I will have to do a better job of hiding the packaging!!!!
I’ve mentioned this before, but I am amazed and how very much they have stolen my heart! I am completely their slaves, heart and soul. I would die for these children and I am so thankful that I can see them blossom under the love and care that Deana is giving to them. I pray for the day when they meet Christ as their own Savior and walk in His light. I look forward to them growing and learning – becoming accomplished young people that know they are loved completely by their mother and extended family and friends. I look forward to the day when we reminisce about this trip – looking over the pictures and videos with smiles and amazement. Zack and Sophia have changed my life completely and I am a better person for it!
Okay, I have been multi-taking while writing (helping with bath time, doing homework, sending emails, answering the phone, sending laundry, playing with the kids, and otherwise being the silly one that I am) so it is now 10:15am Russian time. I pray that you have a wonderful day (or night, as the case may be). Thanks for reading this blog and continuing to pray for Deana!
….who I’ve been told have religiously checked the blogs each morning and upon getting home from school! YOU ROCK! But the rest of you, who have done a great job as well, can benefit too!
Zack is doing well in the “Gina’s School of Silliness”! Here he is licking his balloons.
(He did it especially for a picture!)
Here is Sophia right after getting dressed in the morning. First thing, must get backpack!
Having a blast here, although it is the middle of the night and we are wide awake! We are becomming a nightly fixture in the lobby – I come down around this time to get updated internet passwords and Pepsi Light! Fortunately, I am not the only one with this problem – I have made a few friends at the lobby “bar” where they sell the sodas. Seems like the time change is hard for all who are visiting Russia!
I must say, the service here is stellar! Tonight I asked about how to handle the laundry, and one of the receptionists came back to my room to get it from me! Very cool. (Well, I WILL need to wait about 24 hours to get them back, but still…..)
Wanda, let me know if these pictures help satisfy the masses! I know that Deana is working on her blog now to get some more out there, too. Thanks to everyone at home who has read, prayed, and encouraged!
Just Rambling 