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!

We have now been home for 5 days! Lots of pix!

Things are getting better everyday!  It was such a blessing to get home!  AHHHHHH!  We can settle in~finally!  What a blessing to get to see our lovely girls after being away for so long.  I didn't realize how much I missed them until we got to see them in person again.  I love our girls soooo much!  The boys were out on their feet when we finally made it home on Tuesday, so the greeting wasn't exactly what you would like to dream about.  We had travelled for roughly 22 hours, and they each slept a total of maybe 3 hours the whole way, so yeah, we had some really tired little fellows.  They slept the whole time we were being greeted at the airport.  Then finally, when we were loading up the van, and getting them in their car seats, they started to perk up a bit.  We drove home, and got stopped by a train, which they loved seeing~~so many new experiences for them every time we turn around.  (And, now dad was behind the wheel.  It was wonderful after being in car rides going 80-90 mph endlessly on 2 lanes road.)  We got home, and Mallory had gone grocery shopping, and made dinner for us, so we ate dinner and time for bed. 

A couple of notes here.  Poor little Roman, so tired, and not in his elements, got sick all over himself as we were landing in JFK.  Seriously, the plane is descending onto the runway, and I hear Diester behind me say, "It's okay, I'll get those clothes off of you."  I just knew what had happened.  So, Diester first goes to pick him up, and gets the mess on himself before he realizes -not a good idea!-and sets Roman back down.  Poor guys~~He takes the clothes off of Roman, and since we had another whole 7 hours before we were actually home, Diester decides to rinse out the clothes in the airplane bathroom.  Well, you get about 1/4 cup of water with each press of the faucet handle.  So, he was in there a while with this tedious chore.  In the meantime, I am trying to get Isaac together to get off of the plane, console Roman as he is laying there totally wiped from no sleep and now no food in his belly.  I had told myself that we were going to be prepared this time when we landed, so everyone did not have to wait on us, however, Isaac had fallen asleep finally 15 minutes before we landed, so then I had the whole ear issue going on with him as we were landing.  It was taking us a while, and finally, the Russian flight attendant asks me if I can hurry Diester up.  Okay, thankfully, he was just coming out of the restroom.  So, he dresses Roman with clean clothes~Thank goodness I had thought to bring them.  And we are loaded down getting off of the plane.  So it is with kids. 

We spent about 3 - 4 hours waiting for our next flight.  It wasn't too bad, however, Isaac was not exactly living up to his name when we had to wait towards the tail end.  He was crying and screaming, and just as tired as they come.  So, I am holding him in the sling, and swaying back and forth, and continue this as we get on our next flight.  We were some of the first ones on so that we could get settled with the boys.  As people are walking past us, (we were in the first row of the economy class -yeah, right behind the first class passengers) I wasn't stressing myself, but I was really more concerned about what everyone else was going to be thinking as Isaac continued to cry and scream.  The Lord really blessed me.  Several moms commented,  "I travelled with 3 of them under 4 yo.  I know what you are going through."  or "I've been where you are.  I know how hard it is." or "I understand-I've been through that before."   One young fellow stated so sweetly, kind of to Isaac, but really for my ears.  "I know how you feel buddy, I've been on planes all day too." So, people were very understanding.  Thank you Lord for blessing us with the comments.

A story that I will share with you is that when we were taking the boys on their second wagon ride, we took them to the park, and they enjoyed swinging for quite a bit.  I think they enjoyed just the easy down time.  In the meantime, there are houses that all look very similar to ours, so on the way home, I stopped the wagon in front of our home (from across the street), and I squatted down, and put my arm around Roman.  I wanted him to take a good look at our home so that he could differentiate or pick it out in the crowd of our subdivision.  At that moment, I pointed to our home, and said, "Papa's dohm (spelled only the way it sounds, which means home), Mama's dohm, Hannah's dohm, Mallory's dohm, Roman's dohm, Isaac's dohm." When I looked down at him, he had gotten the sweetest smile on his face.  It was like he understood somewhere in his little mind that this is his home, and he belongs in our family.  It was a precious moment for sure! 

Here I go with the mundane.  You know, life has started with our little guys.  The girls were totally surprised too, as we were also the first couple of days, reeling in the fact that life is non-stop with little ones.  It was a bit stressful for the girls, but things are calming down.  The boys are very good at cleaning up their toys, they are starting to understand their routine.  They are learning basically learning their boundaries.  They are loving just playing in the bathtub, or jumping all over Daddy, or taking a piggyback ride on mommy's back, or when Isaac is letting me stretch him out when he gets up from his nap, or play with his toes, or Pat-a-cake.  Roman loves the pool and the water.  Isaac is still getting used to it.  The boys are getting used to us, the kinds of foods we eat, the things we do, and we are learning daily which battles to pick.  :-)  Life is life.  But in this life, we hope to raise these little guys to have a relationship with our Heavenly father, and be blessed by it, and to bless Him with their lives.  We know that God knew what he was doing when he put them in our family, so we are trusting that he will follow through on the work he has started.   

In closing today, I will try to add some pictures.  Pictures can sometimes tell a bit more of a story.  And, we are much busier even now that we have gotten home.  There are gardens to maintain, um, floors to mop, girls to spend time with, lawns to mow, etc.  (I haven't known my girls to be 'shoppers', but that was something they requested the other day, and so we went clothes shopping.  I think it was more about just getting away for a time.  Bless them.  They are such a help, but these changes have been huge for all of us.)  I now also have a ton of post adoption stuff to make sure I get taken care of, and we have school starting just around the corner.   Blessed by, and looking forward to that. 

Thank you to all for blessing us with your prayers and love on our journey!  Sincerely, Michelle

view from Moscow apt~shows part of the size of the city

Mallory introducing her guitar to Isaac

Roman taking a ride on the quilt G'ma made for him.  No disrespect meant~makes it more fun for him!

Ditto above caption~fill in Isaac!

I think this says it all!

First wagon ride~the weight together is a bit hefty when your not used to it!  Good exercise for Mama and Papa!

Roman experiencing the pool for the first time~can you say 'NO FEAR!?!'

Now Isaac isn't too sure of all of this!  but willing to try!

Isaac is trying to put the blocks back~they like to organize things! 

Roman's past time~flipping the lights/stereo on & off, on & off, on & off~~you get the picture.  He will get tired of it soon enough!

ps If you would like updates, let me know, and I will only send them to the ones that ask.                

YEAH! We are leaving Moscow for CVG (via JFK) tomorrow morning!

Yes, we are excited!  Can't wait to get home and hug our girls, officially introduce them to their little brothers, hear all about their time with the wonderful Oestings, and go HOME, HOME!  I want to take a moment to truly thank all of you who have been reading this, AND praying for us that we have been so blessed by all of the prayers that have been offered up.  Today, while reading from Luke chpt 10 or 11, Jesus is instructing his disciples, and telling them that if they go to a friend for some loaves of bread, and the friend isn't too excited to open his door to help him out, but in their persistence the friend finally rises and gives him as many loaves as he needs, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.  "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened."  Everyone knows those verses, but it is so applicable to our lives, our daily lives.  We are so dependent on our Father in heaven.  We are nothing, and would have nothing without him.  So we ask, we seek, and we knock!  You all have been asking for us, you have been seeking God's face for us, and you have been knocking on his door for us, and for that we are ever so humbly thankful.  Your persistence to our Heavenly Father on our behalf has certainly provided what we have needed, we have found what we came to get, and many upon many doors have been opened.   Our need for prayer will not end after we arrive home tomorrow.  Our journey with these little guys is really just beginning, so some more prayers humbly asking the Father to help us train them up to be Warriors for Him are desperately needed.   Honestly I know that you will not want to know all of the boring details of everyday life, which is what it is going to be when we get home.  (Maybe that's why I don't like FB too much!~hehe)  So, unless something huge happens or I think there are milestones, we will not be blogging as frequently as we have been. 

In light of all of this, we have a hugly long flight tomorrow.  Our flight from Moscow to JFK is 9 1/2 - 10 hours long, and you know, you are always on the plane forever before you even take off.  Not that I am complaining, but it is hard when you are 2 and 3 yo to be seat-belted in (when that has never been anything that you have had to get used to).  Please pray for Diester and I~~we will be whining the whole time! ! !   Seriously here, we need some BOLD (stealing from the Borden's prayer requests while in the Ukraine adopting) prayers to our Father for this trip home.  We are asking that you ask the Lord to cover this trip.  Our day is going to last forever.  When we leave the apt. here at 5:30 a.m. Tues., it will be 9:30 p.m. on Monday evening at home.  We do not make it home until 7:30ish our time on Tuesday evening, so in one day 22 hours are going to pass all the while we are making it home.    That is one LOOOOOONNGGGG day for anyone!  So, yes, we humbly ask that you pray for us if you could before you go to bed, and when you get up.  Please pray for patience for Diester and I, for sleep for the little guys, for their ears not to hurt, for the seat belts to be a non-issue, that they can calmly rest when they are tired,  that Roman will be able to use the potty chair when he needs to, for a safe airplane ride, and prayers for the pilots.  Ask the Lord to change me if there as there are certainly things I need to do better.  I know it is a lot, but just like the loaves of bread, our Father does like to give to those of his children who ask.  Praise the Lord!   

Finally, as we move on in this journey, if you think about us, please pray for us to train them up in discipline and love to be strong warriors for Him!  He is worthy of all!  Praise Him!

Love to all of you, and my prayers go out to you that the Lord may bless your lives beyond your wildest imagination!  He has done that for us!  We have renewed lives, and we have two beee-yoo-tiful boys! 

Michelle