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Gabby's Guinea Pig picture from kindergarten computer class made the Tots & Giggles website. She was SO HAPPY, she sent a note to her current teacher about it.

Gabby went on ADHD meds almost 2 weeks ago. She also developed a double ear infection resulting in 1 ear draining on her birthday (Oct 2) and the other bleeding the next day. Now that she's finished with the antibiotics & ear drops, I'm interested in seeing how/if the ADHD meds actually work.

Duncan has been "on red" (not good) 3 times in the last 10 days at school. Twice for hitting & once for swearing. I'm fighting the swearing one because it's something he's learned from other kids at school. I'm being told that "everyone swears" & "I'm sure you've said worse at home/in front of him." Uh, NO!! I, personally, NEVER, EVER swear. I learned that lesson many years ago when my dad heard me use the 'B' word & was informed that it was NOT to ever be used again. I have not. Steve & I have made sure to use "softer" words--"shoot", "Darn", "sheesh", "oh my goodness", etc. I'm annoyed that I had to explain that there are some words that are "bad". In the end, I told Duncan that if he hears someone use a word he doesn't know, to come & ask me if it's OK to use. I told him I would explain what the word means & let him know if it's a 'nice word' or a 'bad word'.

I think I hate having to let my kids socialize with the general public in school. So many kids are just SOOOOO MEAN.

On a good note, Duncan is now a Tiger Cub cub scout. First meeting is next week. We've been selling popcorn...please buy some! Here's the link:

http://www.trails-end.com/estore/home_alt.jsp?_requestid=67508

You KNOW you want some yummy popcorn & chocolate covered treats!!

Enjoy your day :o)

God doesn't call people who are qualified. He calls people who are willing, and then He qualifies them.

People ask me if I would have adopted Gabby if we had known about the FAS. I tell them yes because 1. God gave her to us 2. I prayed for her and 3. I could tell the moment I saw her picture that she had FAS...but we listened to God.
When we turned in our dossier, Russian adoptions were taking about 2 weeks for a referral; most people were home with their kids within about 3 months. As months passed, I had a special prayer I prayed everyday. God, if we are 'iffy' about either of the children (we had requested 2; one boy & one girl; the older at least 10 months older than the younger), please let that child be named Victor or Victoria. (in honor of my dad, who was the only non-living grandparent at the time.) From Late February till early September 2004, I prayed that prayer.
September 3, 2004 we FINALLY received our call. Our boy was 6 1/2 months old; his name was Sergi. Our daughter was born in October 2002, she looks very cute. "What's her name?" "Oh, it's Viktoria. I'll e-mail you the pictures." I go THUD on the couch & ask Chandra to repeat her name...then I tell her my prayer. She does her own THUD.
I could tell as soon as we met Gabby that she was affected by FAS but God listened to my prayer. God gave her to me. Every time I (we) have SO much trouble, I tell God HE has to bring me thru it because I cannot do it myself. He is faithful--tho at times I am pretty blind/deaf to His leading. When I pay attention to God, things go much better.

Once again, the year is flying by. Kids finished school on June 17th. June 18th we saw Toys Story 3 in 3D--excellent even tho it made me a little weepy. June 18 was also the 1 year anniversary of getting my BAHA implant. I can't believe my scalp is still numb after a year!

Nice 4th of July--the kids did sparklers with a family down the street and we watched some fireworks from the front sidewalk. People around us used to put on quite large fireworks displays...but they've cut back in the past few years. (Probably due more to lack of funds than more police presence...because the area has been HARD hit with jobless families and foreclosures.)

Went to a BEAUTIFUL wedding on July 10th--the oldest daughter of our pastor. I remember her & her sisters from 20 years ago. They have all grown into beautiful, Christ-loving young women. Left Gabby & Duncan at the Smith's house to play with Alex and Shelby while we went to the outdoor wedding. The setting looked like something from a magazine...just wonderful. A bit warmer than we were expecting but great just the same. (see photo at the top)

Had a very nice time with Steve's sister, brother-in-law & our nieces on the 14th of July. We drove back out to Davisburg to have an early dinner with them & then over to the 4H fair just up the road from their house. Gabby was enthralled by all the animals--mostly the babies, but even the older animals were oooh-ed and aaaah-ed over. She got to do a pony ride & was just GLOWING about it. :o) Yeah, that's our Gab!

Photo of the kids in the rain--There was a BIG downpour, so I told the kids to get into bathing suits & go dance in the rain...so they did! It was a few minutes of JOY on a steamy summer day.

The picture of all of us was from Mother's Day at church. I think we all look pretty nice. :o)

(Sorry, don't know how to move my pictures around. They've changed a few things here and I don't post often...so I forget how to do these things! Oh well...)

It seems like our adoption was SO long ago! It was 7 years ago this July that we decided to pursue adoption. From turning in the initial paperwork till landing back home with Gabby & Duncan took 13 months and one day.

Some day I would love to take the kids back to Russia to visit. Russia is a beautiful country. The people are, basically, quite friendly and helpful. The language is a hard one...between the different alphabet and the myrid of sentence structures, I'm wondering how English is harder?! (Spelling is harder in English but words are harder in Russian!)

I think of how different life would be for both kids, if they were still in Russia. I'm sure Gabby would be in an orphanage where she would learn basic skills--probably never really go to school. She would be MUCH smaller than she is now because she would still have bread with every meal, thus stunting her growth due to her celiac disease. Maybe she would have demonstrated her strength/gymnastic ability and gone to study gymnastics...but I don't know if they would have put up with her inattention.

Duncan would probably be in a school/orphanage situation. He's quite bright, but has a hard time focusing. I'm sure the Russians would have taken the 'play' out of him early on. His hardest thing is paying attention. He takes to reading, math and science quickly...but leaves them just as quickly when he sees others playing.

I think of what our life would be like without these kids--much more boring. I would not have met some very wonderful & nice people--Charisse, Melissa, Dr Marchand, Mrs. Melnechuk, Claudia, Donna, Deb, the kids in my (Gabby's) small group, etc. I wouldn't be volunteering in the school library once/week and having a good time with the 2 classes I help there.

Yes, life would be very different without our 2 little Russians. I thank God daily (usually many times/day) for sending these 2 kids to us. They are blessings from heaven. Adoption is good for both the kids AND the adults. It's not always fun or perfect but it's always a gift from God and a learning experience.

I'm hopeless...Not only do I forget this thing loads pictures backwards, I don't update the blog for MONTHS on end. So sorry...

To the left, the Dianna Shawl I knit for myself. I'm not really a Shawl-wearing person, but this one might change my mind! I love it & it was fun to knit.


Then, there's Duncan's second lost tooth (I also have a picture of the first one...just can't remember when he lost it, so I can't find the picture!)Told you I'm hopeless!

Gabby's 7th birthday...October 2, 2009. She got zhu zhu pets from Grandma & Grandpa! What a THRILL!!! She named the white one Snowflake and the brown/tan one Flower. They are still played with even after 5 months!! Amazing!

And, first day of school...last September. Gabby going into first grade and Duncan into full day Kindergarten! Both are doing well and HATE to miss even a coupe hours in the morning! Today (March 2) was Duncan's 6 year check-up. He missed school till 11 a.m. Check-up went well and the doctor is happy to hear he is a compassionate

kid who is now reading, writing and adding/subtracting. Gabby's holding her own in first grade--reading more, writing a bunch of stuff and doing OK in math. She loves singing, art and gym classes best tho! :o)

Planning to drive to Rochester, NY for Easter. The kids can't wait. I'm looking forward to it too.

I'll try to update more often. :o)