Just Hours Away Until We Are All Home Together

It's a cool thought that even though it is nightime our time, it is morning Ukraine time and Jason, Inna, & Vitali should have just arrived at the Kiev airport not long ago to get ready to board their plane to head to 1st stop in Prague (Czech Republic). Please keep Jason and the kids in your prayers for all of the flight time. He has a 5 hour layover in Prague and cannot leave the airport and then a long flight to U.S. He knows that it may be a trying day and says it is worth going through the long flight and long layover as long as he knows he will be at home in the U.S. at the end of the day. I can just hear the "Amens"! They will be arriving in Atlanta at 5:20 p.m. ATL time where we will meet them!

Overall, he has done well the past few days with the kids. He says their days have been filled with many ups and downs, some joyful moments and some challenges, which would all be expected. He shared some cute moments with us like when Vitali took a bath for the first time and he LOVED it! From what we understand, at the orphanages in Ukraine the kids normally one by one stand in the tub as the caregivers spray them down like a shower, so as far as we know, this was his first bath experience. Jason said he just loved his bath and Inna saw how much fun he was having so she came in and washed his hair to join in on the fun!
He also shared about shortly after he had gotten them out of the orphanage and he had given them some juice, which they drank in one gulp! They went to eat shortly after and he ordered them a big glass of water and again they drank in one gulp. So, knowing they must be really thirsty he ordered another glass of water and Inna finally said, "Faza, Faza...and went on talking in Ukrainian and Sergey translated that she was saying, "Father, Father if you keep giving me drinks I am going to pee in my pants". We thought that was funny!

Things have been going well at home, just very busy too getting things ready and setting up all appointments for the kids. A special thanks to Trish R. and Tiff who have been my painting buddies (or they might say slaves...just kidding~ they graciously volunteered) the past few days! Thank you also to all of you have checked to see if I needed any help this week, to those who brought clothes or let me know that you have some clothes for us, Claudia...love the sound machine and the video monitor...we have taken turns seeing who could scare the other person by hiding in the room and jumping out in front of the video camera (I know...not the intended purpose, haha!), and thanks to everyone who has hung on in this adoption ride with us all the way back to America...your support has meant so much!

Tonight, Grant and I had a special dinner out for just the 2 of us before everyone gets home and we had a great time! He is PUMPED about tomorrow and told me he has been waiting on a brother AND a sister since he was 3 yrs old and that sounds like the truth!

Well, we are very excited about Inna & Vitali coming home and our family finally all being together! In the adoption process before we left for Ukraine we spent a lot of time learning about orphaned children and adoptive parenting through our adoption agency, UAB international adoptive clinic, and many experienced professionals that work with internationally adopted children on a regular basis and other adoptive families. Through all of this we learned that there are some things about adoptive parenting that are the same as parenting a biological child and there are quite a few things that are different. They also taught us that it is important that our children have a specific type of environment and parenting when they first come home in order to feel safe and begin to learn how to live in a family. Beyond just the normal emotions of anyone who has experienced transitions, this can be an especially difficult time for orphaned children whose difficult past experiences normally impact their beliefs and behaviors once they get home. Please continue to pray as we implement the recommendations to us to help our children become a strong, attached, emotionally healthy family member. One thing recommended and that we feel is best also is to try to provide a more quiet environment(which is definitely not our norm) for a few weeks once we get over our initial celebration of coming home the first day. This will also give the kids a chance to get over jet lag, get used to a new time change, a new country, new foods, new everything, and will allow them time to learn about their new parents (and even what a parent is for Vitali) and new brother and for us to get to know them. So, we are doing our best not to commit to being anywhere for about 3 weeks (except, Jason's job and their medical appointments) If we feel that things are progressing quickly, we may begin to venture out sooner. We can't wait for them to meet all of their family and friends that have been praying for them for so long and all of those who have been on this journey with us!! We can't wait for them to experience the blessing that we already get to experience of so many AWESOME people that God has placed in our lives!!!! We love you!
Jason & Mel

Comments:
"Addicted to Blog"~ Yeah, I do remember Backyard Burger...although it does kinda feel like 20 yrs ago instead of 2, haha!

Tina~ I think you are right about Vitali talking.

Trish G.~ Thanks to you & Kent for keeping up and praying so much for us!

Yo Daddy~ Get the van ready...Grant's PUMPED and it gonna be a WILD ride there :)

Gasaways~ We love you...You're right...Prattville won't be the same...they told me at the school the other day, that Inna will make the 13th language represented here in our P-ville school system.

Leonard Family~ Thank you!

Ukraniac~ So cool about the plane! I hope ya'll are passing each other in the airport!

Kevin & Tammy~ Congrats on your appt date- in the summer...this should be much better than winter :)

Jennifer S.~ Thanks! Can't wait to bring em to church!

The Swinney's~ Your church has been an awesome blessing to us. Thank you!

The Taylor's~ I was just thinking today about how our time in Ukraine took the same amount as yours...2 mos...who would of thought?