HOME - the first week

So here we are, one week in!  What a week it's been!  Our first few days were chaos but we managed, then the days got easier for a little where everyone played a little better, then it got hard again with everyone feeling the stress.  It wasn't "fun" anymore, and the last few days have been more difficult with whining and tantrums and grumpiness and sadness.  Gianna has had only a few outbursts, mostly just attitude.  She is generally sunny and compliant.  Logan has been the most vocal with lots of crying at night and temper tantrums.  Kian has been sad and felt ignored a lot.  We are honeymooning but everyone is adjusting in their own ways, too.  It's a strange vortex phase.  One huge praise - we hardly had ANY problems with jet lag.  It seriously was a non-deal.  The language barrier is obvious and difficult.  She is already picking up words like; stand, sit, please, hey wait, Logan/Kian don't, blue, kitty, puppy, "come here".  Those are the ones I can think of now.  Those are the ones she uses unprompted from memory.  She repeats a lot of words we say.  I'll be perfectly honest, I can't wait for her to speak English.  I ache so often to communicate with her.  There are times that she is telling me about her previous life with wide eyes and I just have to stare and pray that she tells me again later when I have a video recorder running.  Someday we'll be able to talk and think through things together and I can tell her about how God loves her - all of her, her difficult parts and her lovely parts.  Someday.  Sooner rather than later from what I'm hearing!  We're managing, learning, getting to know one another, figuring this whole thing out.  Day by day, little by little.  Next on the agenda - move to the new house!

the first morning - toys!

my bed!

this bunny!

shoes!

whatever this is!

the first breakfast

the first day.  it felt like babysitting.  "let's get every toy and every costume out and take it back and forth inside and outside and inside and outside!"

our schedule, helps me relay what the plan is for the day

finding things she likes to do

"quiet time".  lol.  welcome to America kiddo!

"Masha and the Bear" is a Russian cartoon and it has given her a welcome break from all the English.  I think it makes her feel comfort in stressful days.

helping Daddy cut strawberries

umbrellas are like the coolest thing apparently, even when it's not raining

learning to play together

"cupatzya"

balloons!

TRAVEL - Kiev

Test number two done successfully.  We played on the playground equipment and learned a lot about what she can and can't tolerate.  She has trouble with a lot of things other kids do with ease.  Her run exists but is awkward, she got sick after only a few minutes on the swings, and the slides were terrifying to her at first.  Our brave little bit learned that it's ok to try scary things with parents to help her and hold her hand.  Her favorite activity is "jumping" off of things into our arms.  It's not really jumping, it's more like a thrilling high hug.  She will be standing on a bench or something, and doesn't move until we are like an inch away, and then leans into our arms.  Hilarious.  She giggles like she just rode a ride at Cedar Point.  She's also very sensitive to tactile surprises.  If we tickle her leg and she doesn't expect it she yells like we hurt her.  Even just patting her back, she "ouches" at first like it scares her.  We bought her a little necklace and bracelet set today at the mall, and she was almost incapacitated with the choices.  She just looked at us like, "Um, what am I supposed to do here?"  The caretaker was telling her to pick one, and showing her some of them.  She just did not know what to do, until we picked four for her to look at and then she picked one of the four.  She has had such high structure for the last few years, that choices and independence overwhelms her.  She's a super trooper and we love her to pieces.