The wheels on the bus go round & round...

Today was Andy's first day riding the bus to school, it was 'special' to say the least. I know you are probably thinking this will be a cute little post about how excited he was, how we all ate breakfast together and sat on the porch happily awaiting the bus...well, you are wrong. It didn't go that way at all...lets just say the eggs are still sitting cracked and waiting to be scrambled and the wheels on the bus, simply stated, weren't the only ones going 'round and round.'

Andy's been wanting to use an alarm clock and begging for batteries so he can get up on his own.
We finally decided to let him give it a try so today was his first (and last for some time) experience waking up to an alarm. We had set the station to a children's morning program--aren't we good parents? yeah actually that was just luck, Andrew thought it was on country haha but even with the good station waking him from sleep the alarm still had the same effect on him that it does on most people, he woke up a full fledged Grump. Oh yeah, he's my kid and I love him, but when he is bad, he is bad...today...he was bad.

'Round 1
I awoke to find him dressed and watching politics on the news, which really is enough to make anyone slightly grumpy in the morning. Seriously, why do they think we want to hear the worlds problems right when we wake up? Can't you just tell us the latest fashion or weather? But Andy can't even use that excuse because although he was indeed watching it, its not like he can understand it...so forget that.

He had on the wrong outfit, not that I'm so controlling I would pick out every outfit..ok I do, but really that wasn't the problem... he has to wear a uniform. Solid polo shirts only and he was in stripes. So we trudged through gettting that one resolved with about a million grunts and "fee's" (which is Russian for 'ew' or 'gross') along the way. Oh and when I say "we" I'm not referring to me and Andrew, I mean me...and my defiant 10yr old son. Andrew comes in later.

'Round 2
Next we move on to what is called 'brush a tee' in our house. That is what he calls brushing his teeth. Yeah, yeah, I know I need to correct it but its so cute...I can't do it yet. Either way somehow he thinks that 'brush a tee' is an option, not something that must be done at least 2xs a day. The funny thing is he actually likes to brush his teeth...he just also likes to win and had said no when he mistakenly thought I was 'asking' him to. Sigh, oh well, I guess I shouldn't say it so nice? jooooking...joooking.

To make a long story somewhat short he ended up laying in the floor crying after he refused to look at me, answer me and cooperate. He ended up losing his bike after he mocked me--that's where my patience started to wear thin. I now get the jokes parents tell about wanting to pull out thier hair...beat their children. Don't get me wrong I would never do such a thing, I'm just sympathizing--so don't send me weird emails about spanking--we aren't spanking him, so you don't have to worry.

'Round 3
Finally I had to get "Dad" to come help. He was greeted this Monday morning by me pulling back the covers and sighing with my hands on my hips--full out 'Mommy Mode.' "You better come help before I lose it, he is being very rude." Andrew comes to the bathroom to see Andy kneeling by the tub with his hands clasped in prayer crying--it really was sad. But before you start feeling too badly for the kid realize, he was trying to make it out to his Dad that I was confused and he really didn't mock me, ignore me and refuse to brush his teeth...see...he was praying. (Oooh how could I miss that? I grew up Pentacostal I should have known better).
"Andy, are you being rude to your Mother?" It was sweet but I had to laugh inside because what kid in his right mind would say yes to that? I mean come on...but, either way it had to be said. Once he saw we were in agreement he finally brushed his teeth...er I mean brush a tee'd. Battle over right....wrong!


'Round 4
Out on the front porch Andy sat on the steps and Andrew and I on the swing. I went in to get him a jacket because it chilly. When I asked him if he wanted it he leaped into my arms and apologized... oh wait no no he didn't thats what I wanted him to do...duh. No instead he scowled at me and looked at his Dad and said "No jacket." Cute isn't it? Yeah I know.... Ok, that hurts but oh well... no jacket, that's ok.

Insert devilish smile...now comes the good part....

You see all morning Andrew was calm while I was just flat out perterbed and a little hurt--I was hiding it of course but it was there. Andrew and I discussed it a little--one of the perks of Andy not being able to speak English fully--and even though he backed me up...etc it still hurts your feelings and your pride. But like I said....this is the good part...

In comes Andy's bad attitude towards his Dad...

I couldn't help but smile to myself when Andy started being just as disrespectful to his Dad as he had me earlier in the bathroom. I just couldn't help it...it was funny. I could see Andrew's bemused smile dissapearing. Again, Andrew is calm and collected as always so Andy has no clue he is getting to his Dad...but oh is he.

He wouldn't sit down to go over his homework and he wouldn't answer him or look at him. So Andrew took him to his room and took out an item, as a punishment. First the beloved radio/alarm clock (which is the evil peice that started this whole mess right?) then the radio/cd player. The first time Andy shrugged replying "harashu" (which is Russian for "good" as in "that's fine, I don't care." Oh and did I mention at this point he would not speak ANY English--it really was somewhat amusing). After Andrew took the CD player Andy threw himself to the floor in a fit and started crying/yelling. He didn't get the results he wanted as his Dad just left the room and let him throw a fit. So then he yells for Andrew to come back. He then had put a third of his favorite things on the nightstand and told Andrew to take it all...he didn't care. With defiance in his glare and his hands on his hips Andy waited to see what his Dad would do....
(wait for it....wait for it....)
Andrew calmly shrugged saying "Ok buddy, I will take it all while you are at school. Right now the bus is here."

Now I'm no mind reader but I have a feeling Andy was dissapointed in that reaction. Nevertheless our happy little family walked the lenght of the driveway to the bus... no camera and no smiling child... We hugged him and told him we loved him as he stiffened and refused to hug back. Then he got on the bus. And that was that. No resolution, no reconcilliation, no time to really even think about it.

Don't think we're leaving you out of an ending...there just really wasn't one. He got on the bus and we went to Chick fil A for a "Victory breakfast" (hahahah the joy of being the parent). Kidding kidding...well kind of kidding. We really did go to chic fil a and we really did enjoy it.
Of course we worried about him, but we also gave Allie (our dog) an extra treat for being so good and so easy, she never fights about brushing her teeth or getting ready :). But overall the remainder of our morning went fine because we know Andy's a good kid and we think he'll be fine. Of course we are also the adults and we know these things happen so we were just worried about him and what he may be thinking. We hoped he'd chuck his bad behavior out the window before he got to school so that it wouldn't carry over. But we just won't know until he gets home....

So there you have it. That was our sweet little boys fisrt day riding the bus. First bus ride to school, first temper tantrum in America and yet he still had to brush his teeth, change his clothes and go to school. In the process he lost ice cream and swimming for one day and the bike for 3--which losing the bike is just as much a punishment to us as it is him...but it had to be done.

So here I sit baring my soul to you all knowing half of you will agree with what we did and the other half, ok or at least my Mom, will think we were too tough :) But that's ok. I have Dr Dobson's Strong Willed Child right here next to me and between me, Andrew and good ol Dobson we'll get this straightened out. I just hope he has an ok day at school and that God doesn't strike me with lightning for silently cracking up at Andrew being snubbed as badly as I was. But hey, what can I say... at least I'm honest--it was funny.

There's no place like home...

"There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home..." If Dorothy can do it why can't I?

Well clicking my heels didn't work, and neither did the chant, but I'm pretty sure it's because I was clicking in flip flops not red heels--and we all know the power of a good pair of red stilletos (I knew I shouldn't have left those, so what if they aren't practical). But either way...we made it WE ARE HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We arrived home on Saturday night around 10pm. Yuri, who now goes by Andy (his choice) saw his Grandmaw (my Mom) and took off running. There in front of us just a few feet past the security gate stood good ol Nashville, TN and a handful of balloons one of which was a UT Balloon--which everyone who knows me knows I am NOT a UT fan...but that is how happy I was to be back, I have never been so happy to see that nasty shade of orange.

I grabbed Andrew's hand as we watched Yuri running with his back pack about to tip him over and with tears in my eyes I whispered "We're home." Andrew sighed and quietly replied "we made it."

So here we are 7 days later and I am just now posting...I know, I know what's my problem. Well if you really must know... Jet Lag.

Man I feel like I've been hit with a ton of bricks. I could sleep til Thanksgiving if it weren't for the fact that well, I'm a Mom now so I have to get up at dawn because frankly its hard to ignore the sound of toys falling from the top shelf and a 10yr old yelling "Mamma!" Even if you are tired and even if the sun has barely just risen... He wants to ride his bike, I mean it is daylight, is that not normal?

So here I am 7 days home, the jet lag slowly leaving and 7 days worth of stories to tell... We've been to the dentist, the grocery, and school--yep, he started school. So I promise if you will bear with me I have some cute stories to tell. I am just trying to find time to write them.

I promise to get to them if you'll promise to still be interested :) Because you've been with us on this journey so long, it just wouldn't feel right if you left. So stay tuned...there's more to come. And thank you for reading and caring and praying for us. You will never know how much it has carried us through.

We are so happy to be home, and so happy to have Andy with us the best way to sum it up is to say again that we made it, we really made it.

Hide and Seek

Last night before bed the 3 of us played hide and seek with Yuri. Actually only Yuri hid, Andrew and I took turns helping him hide. I must say that I was the superior 'hider.' Yuri's first hiding spot was just in a large closet space...although it did take me awhile to find him. But mine was even better. Andrew must have gone around that flat 6 times looking for him. I was laughing because Andrew kept saying "this is impossible, how am I missing this...the place isn't that big." I refused to give him away. Circling the kitchen, hall, bedrooms...hmmmm where could he be.

Andrew even tried yelling out funny Russian phrases hoping to make Yuri laugh--too bad the kid is good at hide and seek--it didn't work. He even started teasing him about liking girls thinking Yuri would crack up...nope. So, where did he hide.....wait for it...

Finally Andrew looked over to the end of our room and happened to notice a pair of his shorts, in his open suitcase, were breathing... up and down...ever so slowly. Ah ha there was little Yuri... in the suitcase!

After about 20 minutes (I kid you not) of searching "Mr. Vanderbilt Grad" finally found 10yr old Yuri curled into the fetal position in his open suitcase under a pair of shorts. Man Mom's smart hehehe. The funniest part was watching Yuri imitate his dad looking for him. He was walking around repeating the phrases and cracking up--fully body laugh--imitating him. It was really funny. I know perhaps it isn't the most interesting story, but it really was a fun little game.

Yuri begged to hide once more before his shower so we let him. However, this time it was Dad's turn to hide him. In trying to beat my awesome spot he put him on top of a wall unit type thing in the bedroom. It was good...I guess (jk)... I only found Yuri because I was calling out the lyrics of a song he sings--I was calling out the RIGHT lyrics which Yuri insists are wrong--it drives him nuts... so finally he couldn't take it anymore and yelled out the right lyrics to correct me (well right to him). Finding him wasn't the funny part--I have pictures to help paint this picture and will try to load them ASAP--it was the fact that he was covered, and I mean covered in dust.
He sat up and realized it and started laughing, I can't wait for you to hear his laugh. Its the cutest kid giggle ever. I guess we were all tired because at that moment it was the funniest thing we had seen in about a week. For those of you who know Andrew well you can picture him doing that funny sounding cry laugh thing--he rarely does it--it has to really be funny, I guess. So of course hearing it made me laugh. The joke was on Andrew though because he had to get Yuri down and Yuri took that opportunity to 'share' the dust with his Dad.
It's the simple things ...but it was a great night...the fun comes out wherever you are I guess.

3 Days later...

Three days later and I'm back in the internet cafe with Andrew and Yuri. Except now Andrew is playing the car game with Yuri...ah my two 'boys.' :)

My Mom has some crazy connections and I have to give her a big "Thank You" because somehow the woman managed to get our fingerprints cleared and back to the Embassy on Friday--INSANE--they weren't supposed to be back until the next Friday (7 days later). The only catch is that the Embassy here was already closed...and suprise...they are closed on the weekend and wouldn't you know Labor day is Monday. I'm actually laughing as I type because like I said, at this point getting home almost seems like a pipe dream. Sigh, oh well.



Amazingly enough the boredom has turned into relaxation...kind of. There isn't a lot to do if you make up your mind to stay around the flat, which like I said we think is better for Yuri...some sense of normal life... so we read, play, eat, walk around, go to the computer lab...and do it all again until bed time. Exciting huh? All in all though it's really not bad. We are going to the Embassy first thing Tuesday morning and hoping to get a flight back on Weds. So we have our fingers crossed...but I'm not getting my hopes up.



I will say Yuri has come into his own here in Kiev. I think he must be starting to relax a little and be more of himself. I don't really know how to explain this but it seems he is just more comfortable here than in Simferopal. Which makes us wonder if perhaps he thought he would run into someone he knew or something? I dunno, I mean we are talking about a boy who insists he is grown up, even though he still makes car noises when playing with his car toys :), and although we just introduced him to Jello a day ago thought he knew how to make it himself. We bought pre-made jello and then decided he'd get a kick out of making it...we were right. It was so funny because he kept telling us how we weren't doing it right--we couldn't possibly know since, you know he's smarter than us and all--have I told you that story? It really is funny.



I realize that I haven't filled you in on a lot of things about Yuri and what he likes, how he acts... so I am going to try to give you an update....Here goes...



Yuri loves all things cars--loves them. This is not something Andrew got him into, although of course Andrew couldn't be happier. They go around pointing out cars and saying which are their favorites. Yuri's way of saying he loves things is to either make a motion to show his heart pounding (learned from Andrew) or to say "I love you? No?" Which in his world means do you love that? He hasn't learned how to use the phrase "I love you" quite yet. I mean he knows "I love you" but he doesn't realize that you can say "I love that...car or toy" without saying the full "I love you." It's cute.



We've decided that if Yuri was on a stranded island with only 2 things available to him it would be his bike and ice cream. To him, those 2 items make the world go round. When we talk about going to America and what will be there he always makes sure we remember to add the bike and ice cream.



Yuri's English has improved more this week alone than the entire time we've been with him. We got a little pocket translator that can say the words in Russian or English (and it was actually quite reasonable) and it has been wonderful. Yuri loves to play with it. He is starting to communicate more in English and try to learn words. We are very pleased. He understands a lot more than he can say. For some reason he likes the word 'trashcan.' I don't know why--maybe because he just learned it? But he will walk around repeating it in a sing song manner almost..."trashcan...traaaashcan..then quickly trashcan..." We just shrug and smile, ok, so he likes trashcans...interesting.



Yesterday we were in McDonald's and he burped--it wasn't loud but he proudly smiled and said with outstretched hands "Excuuuse me whole McDonald's."

"Whoa! Good English buddy" Andrew replied. How did he learn that? We didn't teach him the word 'whole,' nevertheless it was great. It's the simple things :)

The Day After...

Well this morning I woke up and thought...oh well, so we are still here in Ukraine and our flight home leaves in a few hours...without us. And in my sleepiness it felt quite normal, we've been here so long that being here feels more real than leaving. Kind of like a mirage in the desert, that's what getting home is right now--haha.

I am better today, man I was a case yesterday. I kept crying, I was getting on my own nerves :)
But today I've accepted it and there are worse things in the world. So we have another week.... The flat is in a better location than the one in Simferopal only in the sense that we can walk to an internet cafe, grocery, stores and McDonald's other than that it's not so great in comparison. There is no TV/DVD and we can't hop on and off of a bus like we could in Simferopal. All things considered being stuck in Simferopal would feel much more like home. But, I'm not complaining...ok maybe a little, you would too.

Today we decided to try letting Yuri play kid games on the computer so he could come to the internet cafe with us, rather than us each taking turns. We were worried at first that this may pose a problem since over half of the people in here are playing violent computer games and some look Yuri's age or younger. However, so far it is working out very well, other than the fact that Yuri won't let Andrew help him when he is stuck nor ask a stranger--not because he is scared to ask but because he wouldn't feel smart. You think I'm kidding but I'm not. He likes us to know that he is smart--he says this.

Speaking of smart, yesterday Yuri informed Galya that he is smarter than us. She laughed but we know he means it...that makes us laugh. He is learning, slowly but surely. We have told him that although we may look like fools here we know what we are doing in America. I'm sure he is thinking "Yeah right." He is currently grounded from ice cream while in Kiev. This was due to the fact that he got off of the train at a stop (that was not ours) on the way to Kiev--after being told not to more than once. He thougth it was really cute and ran--he doesn't think it's cute now that he can't have ice cream. I will say that I didn't count on being in Kiev so long so it has now become a slight punishment for me as I don't want to eat it in front of him (which is amazing because I didn't even want it til I realized I couldn't/shouldn't). Yesterday he kept trying to say he would do things if he could have ice cream or he'd say he was tired because he didn't have his ice cream. It's cute...kind of...ok it is but it is bad. We love him but man has he got some attitude. It is kind of funny because he asked us through the interpreter "why ice cream? can't you take something else?" We had to laugh because it was a fair question. Unfortunately it has to be ice cream because the bike is already gone so we don't have much else to leverage... so for now....ice cream it is.

Stuck in Ukraine...

Well I was wanting to write more blog entries before we left and looks like my wish came true...yipee.... We were set to leave tomorrow morning at 11:45am and were so excited. All we had to do was go to the US Embassy today to get Yuri's visa. The plan was to "request" to get it back today even though you usually have to wait a day...seeing as we were held up with passport issues and having trouble getting out of Simferopal..etc

Getting the visa wasn't going to be a problem it appeared and I was about to do a little 'going home dance' until the Ukrainian at the Embassy said that we had a problem. GULP Our fingerprints expired while in the Ukraine. Due to the fact that we could have potentially committed a crime--in America, even though we haven't been there--we have to be re-fingerprinted. Oh no big deal, right? WRONG. The fingerprints have to be taken in Kiev at the embassy and sent to the FBI in America. Don't worry he smiles... it only takes 7 business days.
Waterworks.
Yep, I broke down crying right there at the kiosk.
So we won't be arriving in good ol America tomorrow as planned.

Pray for us and look for lots of blogs that have been saved up due to lack of time to post.

Oh and if anyone can get to the FBI put in a good word ;)

Bringing Yuri to the Flat

I want to start by saying that no matter how well I describe Yuri's first night with us, nothing will do it justice. My hope is that once we can post pictures (still trying to figure out..something at the internet cafe won't let us) you'll be able to better get a feel for how wonderful it was.

Of course after we left court we ate in Jonquoy--one last time...and may I say thank goodness because either my senses kicked in or the cook was having a bad day, because the food was awful. Then we hopped on the bus, with Yuri this time (yeaaah!) heading back to Simferopal. You'd think he would be a little nervous... but not at all. When we got to the flat and opened the door to let him in, bike in tow, he said "wow." Smiled at us and started running from room to room. He was really excited....so were we. Watching him take it all in was really rewarding to say the least. He just seemed amazed. He went into the family room and saw the tv and the cd player and just started dancing around--jumping doing handstands, flopping onto the couch and hugging us in between each. He loves music and quickly turned on the CD player and went nuts... just doing his little dance all over the house. It was really exciting.

Inga, the owner of the flat, has a few DVD's in Russian and English so we watched a kid friendly one. Pulled out the trundle on the couch and got Yuri set up with a pillow, stuffed animal and blanket. He snacked on raisins and a juice box (he likes healthy food) and had his little arms propped up behind his head. He looked so happy, so relaxed....maybe even a little relieved.

Since it was a special night we let him stay up for the whole movie. We carried him to bed and we all said our prayers together. He listened to his praise and worship CD from 'Babushka' (Grandmaw--my Mom) until he fell asleep. Before falling asleep he just looked at us and around his room, and smiled. He was still relatively excited and understandably so, and so when we heard him in his room just looking around we played dumb... Now I wonder, is that what my parents did too? Because my sister, Jessica, and I would play in bed for what felt like hours...giggling and talking and running around. Ah memories... Funny how having a child of your own makes you think back to your own childhood so often. I can say I definately have a new appreciation for my own parents and the life they gave me. There is so much to be said about feeling safe, worry free and secure. Now Yuri is beginning to feel that way and we are so unbelieveably happy. He told Oksana on the way to Simferopal that he was already a home child...and wasn't even home. It was adorable. A home child is something they call kids with parents and a home. The others are orphan childs--it's sad.
I have to admit we must have peaked into his room at least a dozen times watching him sleep. It was something I don't know how to describe, I'm at a loss for words...which is strange for me because...well I talk...A LOT :) Loving Yuri has come so naturally and to our relief he seems to feel the same about us. It's been just shy of 2 years since the first time I hugged this little rugrat and seeing him rest so peacefully in a decent bed with clean, warm covers and a full tummy is worth every penny, worry and stress in the world.
That night I hugged Andrew and we agreed--we made it, we made it. We are a family... we have a "home child" as Yuri would say.

Goodnight with love, from Ukraine