More Updates

It is hard to get a picture of Vitali without movement, so this one is a little blurred, but I didnt want to crop it.

Let's see...it has been an action packed week :)
One of us had an appointment everyday this week and some pretty long appointments too! I somehow actually "no showed" an appointment too when it just completely slipped my mind even after I had seen it in my planner that morning but with the events of the day, forgot...oops!

We had our UAB Adoption Clinic 6 mos evals done again by pediatrician, speech therapist, and psychologist. They are just great to work with us on all areas needed and they are so knowledgable. Vitali has some knots in his neck in lymph nodes and actually some swollen lymph nodes all over with some other minor symptoms and has been waking up in the middle of the night with bad leg pain, so he had to have lots of blood work done and THANK GOD the blood work was normal.
I will not bore you with all the details of the day (It was about a 4 hr appt to get everything done)....all of the ones that evaluated the kids that day are going to get together and let us know the results soon. It is great to know we are good hands with them (they are medical professionals, but also adoptive parents also with lots of experience :) They are specifically trying to help us with Inna and school as it has been a very difficult challenge for all involved this year. It has been a challenge for her to do well in school coming from the background that she has(there has been behavioral issues at school) and then starting off so behind academically. She is a very smart girl, but had only been taught to a 1st grade level academically when she arrived here and she is the age of 5th grade, but the developmental specialist felt that we should try her in 4th grade this year. So, now the adoption clinic are using their professional knowledge and experience with internationally adopted children(they see this happen all the time in school) and putting all this together with my "mommy sense" and Jason's "daddy sense" and we are all going to try to come up with the best plan for her in school. Please pray for us if you think about it as we make these important decisions.

We have had a fun week too! The Christmas parties have begun! The kids will have a Birthday Party for Jesus at church wed night and they are looking forward to it. Jason and I went caroling this past wed night with our church at a nursing home here in P-ville. We just walked through the halls and sang and it was so sweet seeing the residents in their rooms as we walked by singing along with us. Then, we went to my grandmother (Meme's) retirement home for the Christmas Party there. It was lots of fun and they always go all out on the decorations. We always look forward to all the great party food there. We did not get to the parade this year as Grant had a birthday party to go to for a very special long time friend of his that he had not seen in a while. Saturday, I was able to go to the Christmas Breakfast at Christ Community where I was asked to give testimony and speak about our adoption relating to a different topic each month. I have had the honor of doing this since June and December was our last one. It has been a great opportunity to be able to share so much of God's faithfulness in the midst of so many adjustments.


Sooooo...I have asked the kids if there is something special they would like for Christmas and everyone had let me know, except for Inna who always has a long list of wants and couldnt decide...you know, the list gets larger with every commercial and every store trip (Try taking someone who has never been in a store to Walmart...we havent gotten brave enough to do Toys R Us yet :) Although, we have gotten Vitali to stop trying to give the Target employees kisses goodbye, haha! So, this week she was brushing my hair and I asked her if she could narrow it down to one thing that she would really like and to my surprise she said, "Well, I have been thinking and my present for Christmas is my family...that is what I REALLY wanted". I agree, that is my present too! With her saying that, it reminded of the Stephen Curtis Chapman song, "All I really want", so I added it to the blog this time.

Hope you are enjoying this Christmas season!

Comments:
Mederma~ Good to talk to ya on the phone! We miss ya'll too. Come on over to
P-ville when you get a chance! Luv~ Prep H

Kathy~ Thanks for the comment! Looking forward to reading more about your family!

Alan~ Wow...4 girls and not far apart in age...I am impressed! You are right about the stories being heartbreaking! I am so thankful that I can always take comfort in like the old song says, "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands"...it is a child's song, but so comforting when hearing things that are out of our control.