IRS :-)

Our tax refund has FINALLY been issued! It should post to our account on Friday.

Praise the Lord!

Just for you, Conethia

Alex loves his Chloe & Chloe loves him.

Yes, his head is on the floor.

Alex begins his K4 classes on Monday. He has been in the class since May, but they will begin their real lessons on Monday. This means homework begins again. They had lessons throughout the summer. A lot was review. He can identify all of his upper case letters and almost all of the lower case letters. He can count to 49. Yesterday he told me all about a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. He loves his new class.

Our boy just keeps getting taller. He is now at least 42" tall and weighs 35 pounds. Just three more pounds and he can move into a booster seat and out of harness in the car seat!

The other day, I told Alex that for his birthday in October, we will take him to the zoo and he can pick one friend from church or school. He said he would like to take Noah. There is a little boy named from church who also goes to The Learning Vine. I said, Noah, huh? And he said, yep, Noah. You know, Noah with the Ark! At least I know he is paying attention in Sunday School.

We got to see our good friends, Al and Susan Goff and their sons, Matthew and Joshua. They live in France and Susan and the boys had not yet met Alex. Their boys are precious and so polite. They said that they enjoyed playing with Alex.

We also got to see our friends Rhonda, Randy & Jackie. Jackie lives in Dallas and we try to get together when he comes home. We went to Grits & Groceries last Saturday for lunch. It was so good and such a fun place. Check them out. http://www.gritsandgroceries.com/

Alex got to go to his first movie a few weeks ago. We went to see Cars 2. He was anxious for it to begin and excited about eating popcorn. He was really into the movie and at the end, he clapped. So cute! Then, as I was getting everything together to leave, he burst into tears. I thought his leg was caught in the chair, but he was crying because, "I want to watch a movie!" It was over and he was heartbroken.

We hope that we will get to visit Vera soon. Vera was in Alex's group at the Nikolaev baby house and we fell in love with her when we were there. Vera now has a forever family and lives just 2 1/2 hours from us! She is the closest one to us from the baby house. I had planned to go see her several weeks ago and take dinner to the family, but I came down with a terrible stomach virus and didn't get to go. It has been so terribly hot here and just miserable! I hope to get to see her when it cools off.

We really haven't done much this summer. Alex has played in his kiddie pool and on the slip n' slide several times. We got him a new water toy that is a limbo or volleyball net that sprays water, but haven't had a chance to use it since we bought it. We may go to the water park this coming Saturday. Aunt Nanci would like for us to go with her and Jordan before school begins and Saturday will be our only chance.

We plan to go to the beach again in October. This will be our last October trip since Alex will be in K5 next year and will not be able to miss a week. We would also like to take a trip to Disney World before he starts school. Maybe we will get to go in early 2012. If we ever get our tax refund from the IRS. I am beginning to think this will never happen. We filed in March and sent additional information (all of our adoption receipts) in April.

Well... Alex wants me to play Lincoln Logs with him. Time to wrap it up.

Will update if anything exciting happens.

Love,

R & T & A

Family Beach Trip 2011 and such...

In the ocean

Next in line to stuff Tusk

"Bathing" Tusk

The finished product - Tusk!

Eating popcorn at the water park. He ate all morning!

This isn't from the beach trip, but it looks like Alex was trying to get his sexy on. For some reason and somehow, he twisted his shirt like this. Then, he had a hard time getting it off.

We had a great trip last week to Myrtle Beach with lots of family.

Alex had the following folks at the beach:

1 grandpa

1 grandmas

5 cousins

1 cousins' cousin

1 aunt

1 uncle

1 aunt's friend

1 aunt's friend's niece

1 Mama

1 Daddy

We stayed there Saturday to Saturday and had great family time. We mostly spent time on the beach or at the nearby water park (with the zero entry pool, 3 ft. deep bench pool, lazy river and an entire slide complex). Alex will not go on the slides. There is a huge bucket that dumps water and once it dumps, he is done for the trip. Aunt Nanci convinced him to go up the steps with her and thought they were safe from the dumping bucket, but they got drenched. Actually, Auntie got the brunt of the water.

Alex did not learn to swim last week, but he did make progress - learning to jump waves. He loved it! He also learned to hold his breath while Mama gently dunked him under the water. I just knew he would cry, but he laughed and was so proud!

We went to Tanger Outlets for a little while one night and on Thursday night, we went to Broadway at the Beach and Alex had his first Build-a-Dino experience. He made a Wooly Mammoth named Tusk. He also got to "ride rides!" He is a dare devil. He wanted to ride the Caterpillar and love it. Daddy got to ride with him. I have a photo, but it is really dark because it was really late. He wanted to ride the big swings, but Mama wasn't going to allow that! We did not get back to the condo until 11:15pm which was way past Alex's bed time.

My sister, two of her boys and her friend and friend's niece left on Thursday because one of the cousins had All Stars tournament. One cousin and his cousin (from the other side of the family) had to work, so they came down on Wednesday night.

Everyone who was still there on Friday night went out to Benjamin's to eat seafood. Alex mostly ate hush puppies, chicken and shrimp and he loved the coconut shrimp and fresh fruit.

Alex was very well behaved while we were at the pool, on the beach and doing any activity that he wanted to do. When we were doing something that didn't interest him, he acted out. I guess that is just part of being a four-year old. I was very proud of how he was in public most of the time.

It was a nice week and I really needed the break, but when I got back to work Monday, I had loads of work to do. I am still playing catch up. But, all is good and there have been some positive changes at work. I am so much happier now.

When I got home today, I had a message from our wonderful translator/facilitator, Olga. She is coming to the US later this month and will be in Florida for two weeks, then would like to visit Georgia and possibly South Carolina. We are making plans to meet up! I am so excited!

I am also excited because sweet Vera's family is hoping to have court on Friday. Please pray that their Interpol clearance will come in so they do not have to wait longer. We love reading their blog every day and reminiscing about our journey last year. Alex loves seeing Vera and asks about her almost every day. He says that he loves Vera and that she was always nice to him.

Love to all,

R & T & A

Sarah Palin's Letter to Family about Son Trig.

http://http://treeofmamre.wordpress.com/2011/06/13/sarah-palins-complete-letter-to-her-family-about-trig/

I tried and tried to copy and paste this onto the blog, but couldn't get it to paste. My step-brother posted this on facebook. He has a 38 year-old son who has DS.

No matter what your political views, this is touching.

God's blessing

Work has been rough lately. I have been stressed beyond belief. There have not been many accomplishments and lots of feelings of defeat. I am doing my job to the best of my ability, but there are some things that are beyond my control. I think this is part of my defeated feeling. I am so looking forward to vacation.

Yesterday I was hurrying down the hall and saw a patient with the blanket up over her face. The over-the-bed light was on, so I stopped in and asked her if she wanted me to turn the light off. She was so sweet, laughed and said no, she was talking on the phone with her son and she was cold, so she covered her head. After checking her thermostat, I offered to get her another blanket. She was thrilled and I went and got her two blankets, came back and covered her up. There was a storm and she may have been somewhat fearful of it. I reassured her that we have safety precautions and went over them with her, telling her that she would be protected in case of a tornado. She was so thankful and said that we are so good to her and that God sent me to take care of her. She was so thankful to the Lord, even though she was in the hospital and had recently lost a family member. Her spirit was contagious and just want I needed. God sent her to me at that very moment because He knew I needed her.

I love when God shows up when He is least expected. This sweet lady was just what I needed during a stressful day.

Thank you Lord for bringing this precious lady into my life. The people are why I do what I do.

Love to all,
Rita

Update on Children for Alex's Baby House

This is Sveta. She is has a family and I am not sure, but think they should travel soon
Lena has a family, but she is not yet available. They have to wait before they can submit.

This is Vika. Her Mama and Daddy just met her in person this week and are in the paperwork chase to apply for their court date. Vika was at Alex's baby house, but was transferred last year.

Sweet, sweet Vera! Her Mama and Daddy have their SDA appointment on June 2nd. They leave for her country in just four days! AND...they live close enough that we can visit!

This is Danil. His parents have an appointment on June 6th, I believe.

He is no longer at the baby house, but has been transferred



This is Virginia. Her parents have committed and are in the beginning of paperwork pregancy....and....they are also adopting precious Brigette, pictured below.

So cute!

This is Willow. She has been adopted, but we do not know anything about her family yet.

These children still need families.

Vincent

Ryland - look at that smile!

Nadia - precious!

Miley - would love to have a clearer photo.

Maxwell - look how handsome!

Karina needs a family now! She will not survive much longer without it.

Howell needs a family too.

Love to all,

R & T & A

Easter Photos and Alex update

I love this photo that my best friend took at our church's Easter Eggstravaganza!

Buzzed head

Last Saturday, we met two of my best friends in Anderson for lunch at Olive Garden. On the way home to drop my BFF off at her house, Alex got gum all over his clothes and the car seat. I told him NOT TO TAKE THE GUM OUT OF HIS MOUTH AGAIN! Not even half way home, I heard, "Mama I got it in my hair." Not only did he put gum in his hair, it was in the middle of his bangs and twisted in. I have him the riot act all the way home and tried to comb it out, but it hurt too bad and his hair was breaking. So...his daddy buzzed his hair. Alex cried and I cried. I think little boys with buzz cuts are so cute! But, I wanted his hair to stay longer because his hair was buzzed when he was at the baby house and I just loved it when it grew out. But, after all of that, I think he is very handsome and it will be terrific for the beach.

Alex with Granma and Kass on the train at the Eggstravaganza

Kass is the godson of my BFF's sister and he is also 4 years old. They don't get to spend much time together, but they play so well together and have just loved each other from the beginning.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Last year, Alex would not go on the slide, but this year, he had no fear! He did all of the activities with the exception of face painting. He would not do that for anything.

I have an egg!

Last year, the three year-olds were not allowed assistance with the hunt. My baby did not know what to do. He stood there looking so lost and he picked up an egg and handed it to another little boy. This year, we practiced! Parents were allowed to help this year, but after practicing and being reassured that he knew the drill, I didn't try to help Alex. He did find one egg - only one egg - and he dropped it out of his bucket and Kass picked it up and gave it back to him. At some point, he lost the egg and sweet Kass shared with him. I think he was in awe of all the children running and grabbing eggs. He still had fun though.

Alex moved up to K4 class on Monday. He loves his new class and it seems that he is busy all day. They have lots of animals in his new class and he loves Ms. Judy and Ms. Brittany. He gets to play on the big boy playground and has had three good days so far. :-)

This week, he has also started eating more. Hopefully since his tonsillectomy, his appetite will improve. He still doesn't weigh 35 pounds, but he is growing taller by the minute! We got him a new swimsuit this week and it is a 3T and too big. I am afraid it will fall down when it gets wet, so I am going to exchange it for a 2T if they have one like it. It has hammerhead sharks on it and they are his favorite, so it they have the same one, I will exchange it. If not, I will get him another one and save the 3T for next year.

Yesterday I took Alex by work to visit with my two Ukrainian friends who are nurses. They are both named Irina. They wanted to meet him and speak with him in Russian. I am not sure all they said to him, but it made him sad. He did nod once and shake his head once, but he was withdrawn and when I asked him, he said that it made him sad. He said that he does miss Ukraine sometimes - especially his favorite nannie, Inna. But, he is glad that his Mama and Daddy came to Ukraine to get him and he doesn't want to go back to live, but he will go back sometime with his Mama and Daddy. He even said it is OK that he was sad because he has his Mama and Daddy and he is happy. My sweet boy!

We go to the beach soon and I am counting down the days! I really need a vacation from work and can't wait for Alex to get to play in the ocean and the "big pool" with the zero entry. Lounge chair and sunshine, here I come.

I will update on the children for adoption at Alex's baby house soon. There has been a lot of activity since my last update! The best news out of the baby house is that Vera's family has their SDA appointment on June 2nd.

Love to all,

R & T & A