Some fun pictures for you to enjoy!

Okay, so I kept trying to insert this picture in at the end, but for some reason it is ending up on top.
This is Diester and myself on Valentine's Day~

We have been having fun here.  These little guys are just a wonderful addition to our family.  The girls have just fallen in love; and we are watching the boys grow more accustomed to their home every day.

Mallory 

Hannah

Hannah with Isaac, and Mallory holding Roman

Daddy making Isaac laugh while trying to get pictures.

I wanted you to see the pictures we took of the kids the other day.  The girls were getting ready to go to a Valentine's party, and well, the boys were just hanging out with us.  I have a couple of other pictures that show you the sweet heart of Roman towards his brother Isaac.  All 3 of these pictures are things that Roman initiated doing on his own to help his brother.  I thought they were so sweet, I was snatching my camera as quickly as I could to get the picture.

Roman made sure both of them were cozy under the blanket to watch their show.

Roman giving Isaac a ride in the strong stock pot I got for Christmas.

Here is Roman helping Isaac with his shoes.  He can't tie them , but he was quick to help Isaac get them on.

All of these pictures were taken in one day.  This shows you the love that Roman has for his brother, and his heart for helping him.  I thought that it was precious.  They get along fabulously, getting into trouble together, playing, fighting, and wrestling all the same.

Another picture that I wanted to include was just too cute.  Mallory had made a wreath when out hiking with a bunch of kids, and Isaac ended up with it on his head one night.  We thought he looked like a little cherub.

Mallory holding our little cherub Isaac.


We are blessed to have a bigger family~~always hoping for a life that pleases the Lord.  We hope you have enjoyed the pictures that were recently taken.  And, I thought it was time to update the blog a bit.

Live is getting a bit easier here!

At the zoo!

The steps are bigger than our little guy!

Roman lovin' the swing!

Okay, so he LOVES the sprinkler!

Isaac isn't sure he wants to get close~

Isaac standing back watching his big brother indulging!  Should I try it?

The typical after dinner giggles and lovin'

The indoor shower (necessary this day for particular reasons) was a lot more fun. 

Today anyway!  Yes, we have our moments, but I have to say that we are really enjoying a lot more moments.  Roman is really starting to relax in our family a bit more, and so am I.  Any correlation?  Seriously, he is starting to laugh more, and be more playful, initiating play, and wanting to be hugged and hugging.

So today I took the boys to the park so that they could swing there.  We have swings here, but I do like the walking part, it takes longer, and we all get more exercise that way (even though I pulled them in the wagon).  So, today I am pushing them, and they are requesting that I push them higher.  So as I start to push them higher (once again), Roman says to Isaac.  "Hold on tight, Isaac.  Hold on tight.  Yes, mamma? Yes, mamma? -pause- Spaseba Isaac! "  So Roman decided to give instruction to Isaac to hold on, then he made sure that Isaac knew and responded to his instruction, hence the Yes, mamma? (which is what I say that they have to respond to when they are being given an instruction), and then Roman added a thank you for Isaac~~how sweet!  I just listened to him as I was alternating pushing them higher.  Quite impressed that Roman was looking out for his little brother.

That reminds me~~we went to the park last night too, and I hadn't been planning on it, and didn't have as much time, so I took a shortcut which meant I was pulling them down a hill (actually trying to prevent the wagon from getting away from me on the way down) and then pulling them up another.  It was obviously a bit of an effort both ways on this part of our walk to the park, and Roman noticed.  Out of the blue, Roman says  "Strong boy, Mamma! Strong boy!"  I guess he was trying to compliment me?  Very impressed that he noticed~~I could've done without the 'boy' part though.  hehe

We took them to the DDS on Monday morning.  Roman did fantastic with the hygeinist, and then with the DDS.  I can't say the Isaac warmed up to them easily.  We did what we could.  The one thing that was great was that the DDS was able to check them both out, and their teeth look great!  I have to say that we owe that one to the orphanage where they were fed really healthy food so their teeth are in great shape.  AND, Diester is really good about making sure their teeth are brushed after every meal when we are home.  So, between the two we are very blessed that they have good teeth.  Now, we just have to keep them that way.
Praise God! 

I will try to add some pictures on here in just a bit.  Our neighbor says they have grown so much since we have gotten them home. I guess I haven't noticed, since it has happened right under my nose. He loves seeing these little guys out and about, and is impressed with their dexterity.  

Oh today it was so funny!  We were talking, and I said to Roman.  Your name is Roman Andre Diesterhaft~you know, trying to teach them their names~and then I said to Isaac, you are Isaac Artem (sounds like Artchyom) Diesterhaft.  Hannah then asks Isaac, "Do you remember being called Artem?" and Isaac responds saying "Arrrr-chyoo" as if saying it in a sneeze.  And then he did it again, "Arrrr-chyoo!  Oh my gosh!  Talk about funny!  I am thinking the new name we have given him is sticking, you think?    He thinks of his old name as a sneeze!

The girls are falling in love with their little brothers.  It is such a blessing to see them enjoy these little guys so much.  We have been really careful about what we let the girls do.  They don't feed them, bathe them, change their clothes, change the diapers, etc.  It has been very important that Diester and I do all of the personal things, and the girls are allowed to play with them.  It has worked very well.  Now, we are having to kind of encourage the boys to greet and be nice to the girls.  That is not fun~to think that they are getting so attached to us that they don't want to greet them.  Other than that, they will interact with the girls okay.  But these little guys are so cute and fun that it is hard not to fall in love with them. 

I had a woman come the other day from First Steps (a program to help if a child is not developing very well) to talk with me about possibly having Isaac evaluated, and while she was here, she got to see me interacting with Isaac; and as she was leaving, she said, "It's seems like you have had him all of his life.  I am reallly suprised he is doing so well for such a short time of having him."  Well, my heart was touched.  It is nice to see someone from the outside look in, and share what she sees from her experience in the field with children.  What another blessing! 

We do have our moments.  We are not perfect, and we continually work on their character and behaviour, and learn how we should be doing things better.  Roman does like to try and distract us when he has done something that he should not have done.  It is not something that I fall for anymore.  Roman does like to touch the computer and the CD player when no one is looking.  He does not like to get caught.  Isaac is a real poke when it comes to cleaning up, so we have to help speed him up.  As you can see, they are adjusting well, with a few 'normal child' issues.  I have always had to remind myself with the girls, and now with the boys that if they were perfect, they would not need me.   We are needy people, aren't we?  I know that I could never make it without help from our Father.

Okay, you want to hear a funny?  We were looking for some 'Russian' songs online for the boys to listen to.  Mallory finds one that we know that Roman knows.  He has sung it before.  So, she plays that, and then she is hunting for another one or two.  Well, we found one that the boys liked a lot.  So Mallory would play it over and over again.  I thought I would ask the missionary (Iris  :-)  ) to translate it for us so that we know what the words are meaning, and then we could learn it with the boys.  In the meantime, Mallory found a Google translator, and we got the translation for the song on our own.  So here is what the gist of the song is:  Life is merry in the city with vodka and marajuana, chunga chunga!    OH MY GOSH!  We are letting them listen to this???????  Seriously, there is a cute little cartoon with it and everything! ! !  Seriously! ! !  We have decided not to let them continue learning it or listen to it.  :-)  And, I don't think I will ask Iris to translate it for me.

On to other things~~The boys decided to jump on Roman's bed just a few minutes ago.  I went back to check on them, and they were taking their shoes off.  I asked them what they were doing, and Roman said "JUMP".   I let them jump.  Normally they are really pretty safe, and it is a way for them to get their energy out.  So, I was not surprised they were going to jump.  What surprised me was that they thought enough to take their shoes off before they jumped.  What sweeties!  So they both took their shoes off, and in just a few moments, Isaac jumped and hit his head and needed some loving, but then he was back at it.

They are really starting to play together, and I think they will certainly get into trouble together as time goes on.  Roman has already convinced Isaac (by moving Isaac's arm closer) to touch the buttons on the CD player when they both knew they that it is a no-no.  Life is fun with these two little guys!  I am enjoying so much of their play, and just observing what happens when their minds start to imagine, or ponder, or plan, or scheme.  We'll watch as life unfolds.

A moment with Dad holding Isaac (such a cuddly little guy!)

        

We been home 3 weeks! update We have now been home 4 weeks!

Hello all who are following our blog! We have been home for 3 weeks now, and as I write we are headed as a whole family to drop the girls off to spend the night at the Oestings, their second family. Talk about a blessing! Hannah is driving and has about 30 hours of her 60 required. Visiting with the Oestings gives them a break and they can have a little fun with their friends. We are driving, and Roman is singing to us in Russian as Mallory is clapping. Love to hear him singing some of his little songs that he learned. We get “VWEEEEE” every now and then when they feel their bellies drop when the van hits dips on the road. I think that Isaac is a bit more introspective when we are driving. He will just sit and ride, and sometimes he just does the sucking motion with his mouth that he does when he is calming down before sleep. It is sweet!


They have learned what a semi is, and so whenever they see one, we hear “SHEMI” from Isaac. It is precious. And then Roman will say “I SEE ‘EM”. Another thing Roman does that is a big game is that we will go through a tunnel, and he will holler out “STRASHNA! ! ! “ which means scared! And we look back at him, and he has the biggest grin on his face. So we respond with “STRASHNA” and laugh with him. It is a way he likes to connect in a funny little game we play.

We have gotten over the ‘machina’ phase, and now it is the excitement of an airplane whenever one flies over, and we are outside. And since we live so close to the Cincinnati airport, they have many opportunities to see flying airplanes. A couple of helicopters too, and I have been able to point those out to Roman.

We have had some challenges, and a lot of fun with our little guys. What different personalities they have. They are both sweet in their own way. Isaac certainly has that baby giggle, and I want to just eat him up every time he is giggling. It is one of the most precious things I have enjoyed since having him home. He is really blossoming. It is so wonderful to see his personality flourish more each day. Roman is one who just loves for us to play ‘suboka’ with him. “Mamma bodeet subaka” Roman instructs. That means Mamma will be the doggie. He loves to have me crawling around and barking, and pretending I am a doggie, but he is really quick to give me a sweet hug so that I will not be a mean doggie. Then I will bark slightly fiercely, and he jumps back in total shock, and looks at me, and I grin, and he starts laughing! And then he wants to do it all again. When Pappa is a subaka, Isaac comes up to him, and is just the same height as Diester is on his hands and knees, and he will put his arms around Diester’s neck, and hugs the subaka, and then he climbs under Diester and rolls over on his back, and lays there. It has happened 4-5 days in a row, and we cannot figure it out, but we do think it is cuter than heck!



Roman also loves to play tag as does Isaac, and we have a little circle from our kitchen to our living room, and back around again into the kitchen, and they love that when we turn around, and “get ‘em”. Isaac loves to give a little blow to one of us, and we pretend he blows us over. I get back up, and act like I am going to get him, and he anticipates it, and starts to giggle and he just loves that little game. And then I do tickle him, and he just is so cute when he is giggling and laughing. Notice I like his giggles! And he likes our games. I will be adding a lot of pictures on here, but live and in person is where you see the real joy!

So, some stories of what has been happening: Roman loves the sprinkler, and loves to run in it, and he loves to use it and spray everything (except his brother). Isaac HATES the sprinkler! ! One day I decided since I was outside by myself with them, we would do the sprinkler instead of the pool. So, I get it set up, and turn it on. I have Isaac in my arms. Roman is ready to run into it, and I will run through with Isaac in my arms so he won’t be so scared. So I take off, and start running into the sprinkler gently, and Roman runs right in front of me. I trip over Roman, and he falls down, and I fall right on the ground with Isaac hitting the ground first, and then me on top of him trying to catch him and myself. Well, that was the end of the sprinkler for Isaac. I think it about scared everything out of him. Now, he won’t even enjoy the misting stations at the zoo. We have been to the zoo a couple of times, and Oh my! Diester thought the boys would enjoy the misting tunnel. So he starts pushing our double stroller over to the misting station to get cooled off. They didn’t even make it to the tunnel when Isaac realized what was about to happen, and he made it clear that he wasn’t going to go through happy, and he would scream the whole way if he was made to endure it. So, being the compassionate father he is (and hating to listen to screaming), he turned the stroller around, and headed back foregoing the misting station. So, the sprinkler is a total bomb for Isaac. He finds other ways to keep himself entertained, avoiding the sprinkler at all costs. Roman on the other hand can’t find enough things to spray with the sprayer nozzle on the hose.

One of the things that Mallory thought of is how the boys found a vent in the hallway and started touching it. Isaac touched it, and then he squealed. So then Roman touched it and squealed. It became a big game for them to take turns touching it and squealing. Mallory found that quite humorous.

Yesterday, I decided to trim Romans hair. Okay, it was a full blown haircut. And I found out that that is something either he had trauma with, or just hates. So, it was not easy for anyone. Isaac was in the kitchen as all of the drama was taking place and decided from his spot that he would try to console Roman. Isaac is all of 32” high, and Roman was up in his booster seat on the chair. So, Diester and I, thinking this is soooo sweet, allow Isaac the time to hug his brother. That means that Roman has to bend way over to receive this hug. So, they are embracing, and Roman stops crying, and all I see is a little Isaac face looking up as Roman is hugging him back, and we are thinking this is the sweetest little embrace. Then all of a sudden, Roman falls forward out of his booster seat, and knocks Isaac over into one of the kitchen chairs, so now we have both of them crying. What a fun time that was! We made it through the tears, and the drama, and have a cute little haircut! Hannah later referred to it as a ‘bowl’ cut, Diester chimes in “yea, a little bowl”. Yes, the bangs ended up a bit shorter than I had hoped! Hopefully, over time we will both get better at this, or come up with another plan.

What else is going on? I did take them to the Doctor this week on Tuesday. She got to see them in action. She was actually kind of surprised at how healthy they were. She was really good at not oohing and ahhing over the boys, nor making much eye contact, because she knows how important it is for the boys to get any and all of their attention and affection from us. Things are really looking up~~she just called, and they do not have to get some of the immunizations because they already have the antibodies to it! That’s a PRAISE! ! ! !

So, facing reality in this blog, I have to admit that it has been difficult when I have to take them from their daddy so he can get something done that he is wanting to work on, or leaving for work. I am the one putting them to bed after he has done it for 2 nights. Oh, the tears and the crying! They absolutely love their daddy! Can you blame them? In their eyes, he is their everything, the greatest hero! So, I am the one who gets to try to calm them down. So falls the lot right now~

Finding a turtle was another interesting activity we had yesterday. So, Diester finds this turtle, and brings it home for the boys. They are just beside themselves wanting to touch it, AND not wanting to touch it. You can just watch it and see how that works! They get close, and then they jump back if there is any movement from the turtle. The squeals and excitement are just too much! Add to that a frog, and then you have double the fun! So, that entertained them for a while, but after their nap, Diester decided to set the turtle and frog free. (I on the other hand, would have kept them for as long as we could.) So Diester is trying to figure this out. How does he take the turtle down to the entrance of a wooded area, and not have to carry it while pulling Roman in the wagon behind him? He decides to put it in a box, and set the box on the other end of the wagon. Well, as he starts to leave, Isaac then decides he would like to go along, and so we agreed to just put the closed-up turtle in the base of the wagon so that both boys can ride, and hope the turtle stays that way for the wagon ride. Now mind you, the turtle is not in the box any longer. It is a free-for-all! So, away they go. I have a picture of that, but what I missed was when they got around the corner and were heading down the hill, the turtle decided to come out of his shell. So Roman notices and starts freaking out! We truly are not trying to traumatize these boys~we just thought it would work. So Roman is scared to death~Diester does not think that Isaac even saw it, because Diester snatched it up right away so as to get it away from the boys. So then Diester asks Roman, “Te bear straschna?” which means “Are you scared?” and Roman continues to say, “NYET! NYET!” He is trying to show he is brave, but the screams showed Diester otherwise in this case. It was funny when he came home, and said to me, “You set me up. I no more than got in front of the Eidson’s house (1st house around the corner), and the turtle started coming out of it’s shell and scared Roman to death.” Boys YES, but not too thrilled with the wild creatures yet!

One story that Hannah mentioned was that of when we were trying on a little dragon costume that we have on the boys. Roman first, but he wasn’t too hip on it. Then along came Isaac, and before he even had it on, he was roaring, and he loved walking around and showing everyone as he roared. So cute, not that we are partial or anything.

Roman also loves to play with the on/off of everything that we have. Starting with the light switches, the toilet, the lamps, a hair dryer, the vacuum (he vacuumed his bedroom today with a small vacuum I have, and was so proud of himself), and then there was a fan. So, he tried turning it on, but then the fan started to go, and he would run from it, and then come back. It does seem like a trend here of wanting to see how things work, and trying to get hands on it, but then backing up to protect themselves from whatever it does.

A couple of other things that I will mention is that when Roman goes to give us kisses, he started kissing one cheek and then the other. Weird! None of us do that~seriously! I do not know where he gets it from, but I am thinking maybe something from his past?? Do they greet each other in Russia as such? Funny thing, I don’t remember. I was thinking that I had seen that or heard that, but as I write I am doubting myself. It is just a sweet little special thing about how Roman gives kisses!

So we were riding home from some errands yesterday, and all of us were in the van. We had just picked Mallory up from work, and coming home for the evening. On the way, I don’t recall exactly what prompted this comment, but Isaac did something, and just had the happiest little smile giggle going on, and Diester says, “I think Isaac just hit the lottery in babyland.” Oh, how true! He just seems to be so happy!

Praise the Lord as we continue on this journey! God is blessing it, and keeping us as we enjoy many moments, and struggle in other moments.

UPDATE: Now we have been home 4 weeks!

And Isaac actually got in the sprinkler today! WOOHOO! I knew he would come around. Mallory was instrumental in getting a little tub that Isaac likes climbing into right near the sprinkler, and he started out slowly, but then warmed up to getting wet from the sprinkler when it was hitting the little tub! And in no time, he was soaking wet! And filling up buckets! And running around it! Praise God! He is no longer afraid!

And, another wonderful thing happened today! Roman got hurt when he was trying to empty the tub near the sprinkler. I couldn’t figure out what got hurt, and he wouldn’t point to where it hurt, so I didn’t know what to do, but then he actually held up his arms, and wanted me to pick him up and hold him, and he melted in my arms. Now, I have to say when just days ago, he would get painfully obviously hurt on something, and then try to get away from me when I was right there, and could comfort him, this was a HUMONGOUS stride that we made today! I just keep seeing the Lord work in this! WOWSA! He keeps surprising me~~Thank you Lord for what you have in store for me and my family! We are thankful that you have brought us this far!

Now for the pictures!

Isaac loving the slide into Dad's arms!

Roman waiting his turn on the slide into the pool, and lovin' whatever Dad is doing at the moment with Isaac knowing he will be next!  :-)

Going down the driveway by himself~~

A little kiss from big brother!

Just a taste of Isaac's giggle!  Lovin' it!

On the way with the turtle in tow!  Just for a few more seconds anyway!

Roman loves to use the sprayer nozzle, and waters everything for me! 

Isaac helping Dad hook something up on the computer!  Adorable!

Isaac enjoying the big wheel!

Roman pushing the wagon as he likes to do!

A beautiful close-up of our little Isaac!

The boys helping dad take down the fence to bring the fort back!  So sweet!

Roman getting into his work!

Roman pushing the dollie around the yard!  Who needs toys when you have a dollie?

Faithful friend Tom Brungs helping Diester out with the fort!  Strong and solid!