Most of you know that children available for international adoption from Ukraine have some "special need." Almost all children who are in an orphanage are diagnosed as mentally delayed. Well..Alex had definitely proven that he is not mentally delayed.
However, we knew before we met him that his birth mother had Hepatitis C. We were told at our SDA appointment that he had Hep. C, but that it could be just the antibodies carried from the birth mother. When we arrived at his baby house, we did confirm, after meeting him, that he was Hep. C positive. We were told that he had been tested in Dec. 2009 because another couple wanted to adopt him, but didn't believe that he was Hep. C positive. They chose not to adopt him when the test came back positive.
We asked for the test results and all we were told was COR =10. It didn't mean anything to us, but we are not doctors. When we got home, it didn't mean anything to our doctors either.
As you know, Alex has been to a specialist in Greenville. His doctor is Dr. LaCroix at Pediatric Infectious Disease Group at University Medical Center, part of Greenville Children's Hospital. We had our second visit on August 20th and blood work was drawn. I received confirmation of his test results today and the Hep. C test is NEGATIVE! He was first tested in May and they said there was nothing definitive to show that he had the disease.
I cannot explain how this happened medically, but I can explain that my God can heal any illness and that Alex had many prayers.
Thank you, my Lord for our wonderful son and for giving Your son, Jesus, that we may have everlasting life.
Love to all,
R & T & A
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Weekly Update
Alex was good at school all week, but that changed as soon as I picked him up on Friday. I guess he held it in all week and let loose on the weekend!
He back-talked, told stories, did what we told him not to do and didn't do what we told him to do, pretty much all weekend, but Saturday was the worst!
At lunch on Saturday, he wanted fish sticks and fries. So, I fixed both and gave him the amount he told me he wanted. Well, his eyes were bigger than his stomach and he decided that he wouldn't eat all of his fish sticks. When Tim asked him if he was finished with his fish sticks, he replied that he was. But, he was not. He took his remaining three fish sticks and hid them under his fries. So, he was deceitful and he lied. Now, looking back, I am fully convinced that this child has no mental delay as we were told by the SDA. I am sure we will laugh about this in the future - the grandparents already have. :-)
Alex is doing well at school. They are now working on the alphabet. This week will be C. He has to dress up as what he wants to be when he grows up. Well...he really can't tell me anything. The first time I asked him, he said that he wants to be Justin - his 16 year-old cousin. I just told him that Justin isn't grown yet. But it was really sweet! We decided that he will dress up as a Veternarian because he has a vet kit and we borrowed a lab coat from Grandma. We tried it on tonight and he looks really cute. I will post photos next week.
I tried to post photos of Alex in his cowboy outfit from school and our first professional family photo, but it won't work tonight. Will try again tomorrow.
As I always tell Alex, we still love him even when he is bad.
Love to all,
R & T & A
He back-talked, told stories, did what we told him not to do and didn't do what we told him to do, pretty much all weekend, but Saturday was the worst!
At lunch on Saturday, he wanted fish sticks and fries. So, I fixed both and gave him the amount he told me he wanted. Well, his eyes were bigger than his stomach and he decided that he wouldn't eat all of his fish sticks. When Tim asked him if he was finished with his fish sticks, he replied that he was. But, he was not. He took his remaining three fish sticks and hid them under his fries. So, he was deceitful and he lied. Now, looking back, I am fully convinced that this child has no mental delay as we were told by the SDA. I am sure we will laugh about this in the future - the grandparents already have. :-)
Alex is doing well at school. They are now working on the alphabet. This week will be C. He has to dress up as what he wants to be when he grows up. Well...he really can't tell me anything. The first time I asked him, he said that he wants to be Justin - his 16 year-old cousin. I just told him that Justin isn't grown yet. But it was really sweet! We decided that he will dress up as a Veternarian because he has a vet kit and we borrowed a lab coat from Grandma. We tried it on tonight and he looks really cute. I will post photos next week.
I tried to post photos of Alex in his cowboy outfit from school and our first professional family photo, but it won't work tonight. Will try again tomorrow.
As I always tell Alex, we still love him even when he is bad.
Love to all,
R & T & A
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Update August 21, 2010
Alex has been learning so much in school! He learned all his colors and shapes and is now working on the alphabet. This week the children in our county went back to school and Alex officially began K3 at the Learning Vine. He is in the same class, but the real work has begun! He has homework three nights and is learning to write the letter A. We got to have fun (not! - for Mama anyway) learning to use scissors. He had to cut out things that begin with A for a collage at school. Alex is very independent and as soon as I tried to show him how, he was taking the scissors and telling me - I do it!
He has been fairly good in class the last few weeks, but one day he did not want to sit down and listen and one day, he wouldn't pick up the toys, but all the children in that area got a time out because they wouldn't clean up. There is a new little girl in his class, Kylie and he says that she is his girlfriend! She is really cute with blonde hair and curly piggy tails, but I am not ready for my baby boy to have a girlfriend yet! We thought he was saying Katcha Kayle, but I after seeing Uncle Barry last weekend, we have determined that he was saying hot chick Kylie. We todl him not to say this at school! Well...Uncle Barry said that he will be the one to teach him bad things. LOL!
Alex had a followup with the specialist in Greenville on Friday. Grandma went with us and we had lunch at Stax Omega and did a little shopping. I put Alex in the stroller for the mall and he took a small nap. He is getting so tall, he is about too long for the stroller and it looks like I am pushing a five-year-old around, but it is really helpful when he needs a nap.
The other night, Tim was giving Alex his bath and he asked Alex if he likes his home better than the baby house and he said, yes and I love my daddy! So sweet! He has been talking about Mama and Daddy bringing him to America on the airplane lately.
One new thing - when we punish Alex, he melts down, crying and yelling, I love you! It is enough to break your heart. I wonder if he thinks that we do not love him because we are punishing him or if he thinks we think he doesn't love him because he has been "bad."
When we were at Stax yesterday, I a little boy was leaning over the booth, telling us hey! We were talking to him and Alex was trying to get him to give him five. I took that opportunity to aske Alex again if he would like to have to have a brother. He still says NO! I think he would be a great big brother - or little brother as far as that goes.
Love to all,
R & T & A
He has been fairly good in class the last few weeks, but one day he did not want to sit down and listen and one day, he wouldn't pick up the toys, but all the children in that area got a time out because they wouldn't clean up. There is a new little girl in his class, Kylie and he says that she is his girlfriend! She is really cute with blonde hair and curly piggy tails, but I am not ready for my baby boy to have a girlfriend yet! We thought he was saying Katcha Kayle, but I after seeing Uncle Barry last weekend, we have determined that he was saying hot chick Kylie. We todl him not to say this at school! Well...Uncle Barry said that he will be the one to teach him bad things. LOL!
Alex had a followup with the specialist in Greenville on Friday. Grandma went with us and we had lunch at Stax Omega and did a little shopping. I put Alex in the stroller for the mall and he took a small nap. He is getting so tall, he is about too long for the stroller and it looks like I am pushing a five-year-old around, but it is really helpful when he needs a nap.
The other night, Tim was giving Alex his bath and he asked Alex if he likes his home better than the baby house and he said, yes and I love my daddy! So sweet! He has been talking about Mama and Daddy bringing him to America on the airplane lately.
One new thing - when we punish Alex, he melts down, crying and yelling, I love you! It is enough to break your heart. I wonder if he thinks that we do not love him because we are punishing him or if he thinks we think he doesn't love him because he has been "bad."
When we were at Stax yesterday, I a little boy was leaning over the booth, telling us hey! We were talking to him and Alex was trying to get him to give him five. I took that opportunity to aske Alex again if he would like to have to have a brother. He still says NO! I think he would be a great big brother - or little brother as far as that goes.
Love to all,
R & T & A
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Link especially for Alicia and Dan
I Forget My Son is Black Until We Are in Public
Travis is a worship leader at a local church here in Greenwood, SC. I love to read his blog. Aren't those boys precious?
When I see a family such as his, I just get a big smile because I know how lucky that family is to have the love of each other.
Will update about our crazy lives later.
Rita
Travis is a worship leader at a local church here in Greenwood, SC. I love to read his blog. Aren't those boys precious?
When I see a family such as his, I just get a big smile because I know how lucky that family is to have the love of each other.
Will update about our crazy lives later.
Rita
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Not going to Ukraine in 2011
It was a difficult decision, but I will not be going on the mission trip to Ukraine in April 2011. I don't think I can be away from Alex that long and can't imagine going back to Ukraine without him and Tim. Also, Alex will most likely have his tonsils out and I will need to use ETO time for that. I would have to take 8 ETO days for the trip and it will take four months to earn those days back. I don't want to deplete my ETO bank in case of emergency.
I still feel compelled to do something in Ukraine and for the children, especially the Nikolaev Baby House.
If only we were wealthy, I would beg to go back and adopt several more.
Have a great week,
R & T & A
I still feel compelled to do something in Ukraine and for the children, especially the Nikolaev Baby House.
If only we were wealthy, I would beg to go back and adopt several more.
Have a great week,
R & T & A
Chicken Chicken Boom Boom
Chicken Chicken Boom Boom! (Chicka Chicka Boom Boom) That's what Alex has been saying the past week. He is in K3 and they are getting ready to start their "school work", so they have been working on shapes and colors and will be working on letters and numbers - all in August. The door decoration to his class h as been updated with a coconut tree with the kiddo's names on the coconuts. He is official. This is the first time his name has been on the door.
He had a good week in class although he did not get to go Friday. On Thursday, around 3:30, they director called me and told me that he had pink eye! They let him stay until the regular time since he had already been there all day and told me to call the doctor to get a prescription. He couldn't go on Friday because he was considered contagious until he had been on the drops for 24 hours. His eyes have only been matted once - at 2:00 am on Friday morning. He has been really good to not rub them and has only complained about them hurting once or twice. He looks fine now and is not complaining. So far, Tim & I have been able to avoid the junk.
We are having our family picture made on Monday for the church directory. Excited to have our first family photo, but I like more relaxed photos that are not so posed. My best friend is a photographer "on the side" and we have planned for some time to have an outside photo shoot, but it has been so blasted hot here, it has been impossible. Hopefully, we will be able to do it for the fall.
Within the past two weeks, Alex has begun to speak almost entirely in complete sentences. He is growing so tall too! I hope the 3T pants I bought for the fall will be long enough. They have adjustable waist, so I am not concerned about that part.
At work, we are having a "Top 10" celebration on Wednesday night. For the second consecutive year, we have been named in the top 10% by the UDS. Last year, only the employees and one guest could attend. This year, all immediate family can attend. We will have a cookout, a DJ and a bounce house for the children. I am really excited to take Alex because our night shift folks have not gotten to meet him yet and I know he will have a great time!
I have decided that I will not go on the mission trip to Ukraine in 2011. I really want to go, but it would have to leave Alex for 10 days and I just don't know if I could do that. Also, I would have to take 8 ETO days and although I have them, I would like to build my bank back up. I like to keep 80 hours in there in case of emergency.
Hope everyone has a great week,
Love,
R & T & A
He had a good week in class although he did not get to go Friday. On Thursday, around 3:30, they director called me and told me that he had pink eye! They let him stay until the regular time since he had already been there all day and told me to call the doctor to get a prescription. He couldn't go on Friday because he was considered contagious until he had been on the drops for 24 hours. His eyes have only been matted once - at 2:00 am on Friday morning. He has been really good to not rub them and has only complained about them hurting once or twice. He looks fine now and is not complaining. So far, Tim & I have been able to avoid the junk.
We are having our family picture made on Monday for the church directory. Excited to have our first family photo, but I like more relaxed photos that are not so posed. My best friend is a photographer "on the side" and we have planned for some time to have an outside photo shoot, but it has been so blasted hot here, it has been impossible. Hopefully, we will be able to do it for the fall.
Within the past two weeks, Alex has begun to speak almost entirely in complete sentences. He is growing so tall too! I hope the 3T pants I bought for the fall will be long enough. They have adjustable waist, so I am not concerned about that part.
At work, we are having a "Top 10" celebration on Wednesday night. For the second consecutive year, we have been named in the top 10% by the UDS. Last year, only the employees and one guest could attend. This year, all immediate family can attend. We will have a cookout, a DJ and a bounce house for the children. I am really excited to take Alex because our night shift folks have not gotten to meet him yet and I know he will have a great time!
I have decided that I will not go on the mission trip to Ukraine in 2011. I really want to go, but it would have to leave Alex for 10 days and I just don't know if I could do that. Also, I would have to take 8 ETO days and although I have them, I would like to build my bank back up. I like to keep 80 hours in there in case of emergency.
Hope everyone has a great week,
Love,
R & T & A
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