After 19 hours of flying and jetlag, we arrived on June 29th to our home in Northstone to a yard full of neighbors and friends welcoming home the boys. It was so much fun to see everyone and have to boys see their new "family." We all came inside for champagne toasts and Matt gave a wonderful toast to me and our boys! First stop that night was for Mexican food! The boys and I have settled in and gotten over the jet lag. We have been home almost 2 weeks, yet we are still trying to find the new normal in our family.
Ivan and Anatoliy have been adjusting great and we are so proud of them. They started ESL summer school through our school system and they both seem to like it pretty well. Honestly I think they enjoy the structure of it more than the actual school:) We went ahead and had them tested as well for grade level too. Ivan is going to start in 9th grade. Anatoliy is going to hopefully start in 7th grade, but the school system is pushing for 8th because of his age. So this will involve some more meetings with the principal of his middle school to "force" our views of putting him in 7th.
We celebrated July 4th with the boys and it was fun to sit there and watch the fireworks knowing that exactly a year ago was the first time that these two boys came into our lives. Little did we know then what a new year would hold for our family. Last year they both sat on the ground very still and just watched everything. This year, Ivan was up playing with his soccer ball, getting other kids involved to kick with. Anatoliy was running around and sliding into the sand traps on the golf course with his brothers. I love that they are finally feeling as if they are a full part of the family:)
We were able to have a friend of ours come over and do some translating for us. Really just basic stuff, family rules, about ESL school, doctors and dentist appointments that are coming up, etc. We were able to explain to them that we know they have the hardest job in our family: they have to learn a new language, make new friends, adjust to new siblings and new parents. But no matter what, we are there for them and whether things are going great or things get tough, at the end of the day we are still all family! Let me also say that Ryan, Alex and William are "in love" with their new brothers. The new novelty has not worn off yet. Ivan and Anatoliy spoil William and Alex like crazy, if either one of these kids need anything, Ivan and Anatoliy do it for them. Sadly it is making William even more spoiled rotten that he was before. Ryan and Anatoliy get along well, they both love to be inside and play some type of electronic device. I have to say to both of them, go outside and play!
The boys had their first doctor's appointment and there was nothing shocking to us or them. They are very underweight and shorter for their age, but we knew this. Hopefully with some good nutrition they will start to add some weight and height, but sadly the doctor said that the effects of malnutrition and environment may just mean that they will always be shorter and skinnier than most people their age. Not a bad thing, just something to keep in mind. The doctor did alot of blood work, so that will tell us a lot more about them too in the next few days. Their dentist appointment is on the horizon and neither one of them is looking forward to that:) Nor is our wallet looking forward to the bills:)
In the midst of all of the above, our upstairs air conditioning has been broken since the day we landed. Anatoliy had to get stitches in his leg for a cutting it on the bike chain of his bike. He insisted that he did not a doctor. He said in Ukraine, "me not need a doctor for this." We explained that in America, you need a doctor when you can see the fatty tissue inside of your leg!! He was a trooper through the whole process! And we continue to have mounds of paperwork to fill out and places to visit to get the boys registered with this place and that! So if you do not hear from Matt and I right when you email or call, please know that we love getting all of the emails and phone calls from everyone wondering about our new life. Ivan and Anatoliy have loved getting cards in the mail from family and friends welcoming them to America. They keep every card and envelope, they throw nothing away!
Only a couple of pictures this post. Homecoming, Ivan making pulled pork for dinner on the 4th and of course Anatoliy getting his stitches.
Ivan and Anatoliy have been adjusting great and we are so proud of them. They started ESL summer school through our school system and they both seem to like it pretty well. Honestly I think they enjoy the structure of it more than the actual school:) We went ahead and had them tested as well for grade level too. Ivan is going to start in 9th grade. Anatoliy is going to hopefully start in 7th grade, but the school system is pushing for 8th because of his age. So this will involve some more meetings with the principal of his middle school to "force" our views of putting him in 7th.
We celebrated July 4th with the boys and it was fun to sit there and watch the fireworks knowing that exactly a year ago was the first time that these two boys came into our lives. Little did we know then what a new year would hold for our family. Last year they both sat on the ground very still and just watched everything. This year, Ivan was up playing with his soccer ball, getting other kids involved to kick with. Anatoliy was running around and sliding into the sand traps on the golf course with his brothers. I love that they are finally feeling as if they are a full part of the family:)
We were able to have a friend of ours come over and do some translating for us. Really just basic stuff, family rules, about ESL school, doctors and dentist appointments that are coming up, etc. We were able to explain to them that we know they have the hardest job in our family: they have to learn a new language, make new friends, adjust to new siblings and new parents. But no matter what, we are there for them and whether things are going great or things get tough, at the end of the day we are still all family! Let me also say that Ryan, Alex and William are "in love" with their new brothers. The new novelty has not worn off yet. Ivan and Anatoliy spoil William and Alex like crazy, if either one of these kids need anything, Ivan and Anatoliy do it for them. Sadly it is making William even more spoiled rotten that he was before. Ryan and Anatoliy get along well, they both love to be inside and play some type of electronic device. I have to say to both of them, go outside and play!
The boys had their first doctor's appointment and there was nothing shocking to us or them. They are very underweight and shorter for their age, but we knew this. Hopefully with some good nutrition they will start to add some weight and height, but sadly the doctor said that the effects of malnutrition and environment may just mean that they will always be shorter and skinnier than most people their age. Not a bad thing, just something to keep in mind. The doctor did alot of blood work, so that will tell us a lot more about them too in the next few days. Their dentist appointment is on the horizon and neither one of them is looking forward to that:) Nor is our wallet looking forward to the bills:)
In the midst of all of the above, our upstairs air conditioning has been broken since the day we landed. Anatoliy had to get stitches in his leg for a cutting it on the bike chain of his bike. He insisted that he did not a doctor. He said in Ukraine, "me not need a doctor for this." We explained that in America, you need a doctor when you can see the fatty tissue inside of your leg!! He was a trooper through the whole process! And we continue to have mounds of paperwork to fill out and places to visit to get the boys registered with this place and that! So if you do not hear from Matt and I right when you email or call, please know that we love getting all of the emails and phone calls from everyone wondering about our new life. Ivan and Anatoliy have loved getting cards in the mail from family and friends welcoming them to America. They keep every card and envelope, they throw nothing away!
Only a couple of pictures this post. Homecoming, Ivan making pulled pork for dinner on the 4th and of course Anatoliy getting his stitches.
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| After a long 19 hours of flying and layovers, we made it! |
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| So brave! |
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| This boy loves to cook and eat! |
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