the Life of Olena

Well, one MAYBE vote and one YES! Looks like I am on the right path :) thanks for both Jennifer and Tonya's invaluable advice. I think the both of you made great points. It doesn't take much to prepare yourself for such a journey but yet I have met so many families who are truly clueless at what to expect during there process. Some people are willing to take the time to learn what is necessary and really try to understand the entire adoption but then there are others who really leave everything up the agency who may or may not give them the education they need. There are some awful stories that have come to light in the adoption community over the past few months and personally I feel that they are due to nothing more than 1. a social worker/agency not doing their job properly and 2. a parent who was NO WHERE near prepared to handle an adopted/institutionalize child. I chose not to share these stories on a public blog for the fact that it will not do anything accept ...

I am reaching out to all of you friends out there. I have had a strong desire to be involved with adoptions since completing our adoption of Olena . I loved our experience. It was a challenge to me, and I fully educated myself about the entire process. I firmly believe this, and prayer of course, was the main reason we had such a wonderful adoption experience. Over the past 2 years I have read hundreds of blogs, met lots of adoptive families and still have managed to read just about everything I can get my hands on that is adopted related. All of this and we still don't even know if we will ever adopt again. For some reason, the idea of adoption gets my adrenaline going. I can sit at this computer and blog, check email, do a few things and be done in 15 minutes, BUT if I decide to start "adoption surfing" I end up sitting here for hours reading my heart out. One of the dark sides to adoption is that sometimes things go wrong - we all know it happens and it happens...

First and most important Congratulations to the Kissacks. Looks like a baby girl is going to be joining their family soon. Big (((hugs))) to all of them and I cannot wait to meet her in the fall! Also HAPPY FOURTH BIRTHDAY LYRA! (I know I am a few days early but I probably won't post again for a few days) Gene (our friend/translator) and his wife will be having their baby girl any day now' Ms. Theresa (Olena's OT) is due with her little girl - Addison - on Feb. 3 and then there is Aunt Jenny, who's baby girl will arrive in May. There is lots of Sugar and Spice in the air these days. babies babies every where. Some more great news, later this month Ukrainian Angels will have 'helped' 1000 families find their forever children! That is amazing! Cathy and her entire team are amazing and I know that many of us would not have been able to complete our dreams without her. Seems chores are on the mind, I thought today I would share Olena's new chore list and tal...

1st birthday home - Age 2 1/20/07 BLOG POST FROM HER 2ND BIRTHDAY: 1/20/2007Finally after the long weekend, I sat in her room Sunday night rocking her to sleep and thinking about the events of the previous days. There were lots of things that we did that were "firsts" in her life. I watched her face light up with joy as we sang Happy Birthday to her, I seen her curious eyes explore everything while we were in the pool, and I heard her squeels of joy when we went down the slide. These are all things that I will remember in the years to come, and the things that will warm my heart with each passing birthday. Then I kid you not, at that moment she sat up kissed me and said "LA LOU" (which is her way of saying "love you") that was it - right then and there- it hit me. I love my daughter, she was mine, and she is perfect for us. She is here with us learning how to be part of a family...she is learning how to love and to be loved. She is learning what it is li...

Well since J lost his job we figured it was time to cut costs and lay off the chef. We figured we could just use O as a substitute for the time being :) The Little Tykes kitchen was her BIG bday gift from mommy, daddy, Grampie and my parents. She loves it, especially the washing machine. That was the selling ticket for me on this kitchen. I have to mention J and I were amazed at the quality of this toy. It is actually made of real wood...can you believe it? It is a bit pricey and more than I was willing to pay (thats why several of us chipped in) but it is very sturdy and very well built. Well worth the money. We bought her a small kitchen in 2007 but it was plastic and kinda junky she barely played with it. Since we put this together she is constantly playing house and cooking food for everyone. She is very good at multi-tasking too. She cooks and does laundry all at the same time.

I thought you guys might get a chuckle out of this. These pictures are from the INSIDE of our house last week during the deep freeze. From looking at them you would think we lived in an igloo. The frost "art" was so cool the pictures don't do it justice but as night fall came and it got even colder you could watch the designs form. This is formed on the glass of our screen door. The bathroom window...again this is inside the house. Imagine how cold our butts get when we sit on the toilet ?

Today we had a birthday party for Olena. Family and some close friends- and we had a lot of fun. Her birthday isn't until Tuesday and she will be very happy to learn that she gets to celebrate 2 times! She was very excited about her birthday party and has been asking about it all week. After a long decision in Party City she decided on a jungle animal theme. For her it is all about singing Happy Birthday. You will see her just gleam with delight in the video below. Lovely Michigan blessed us with absolutely freezing weather this week and a ton of snow today, blizzard all day and the roads were awful...not exactly a great day for a party. Aunt Jenny couldn't make it :( We missed you! but other than that everyone we love made it. It couldn't have been better. Believe it or not, only the closest people to Olena came and it still made a house full of 12 people but the food was great and everything went smoothly. She got lots of (unneeded) toys and a new kitchenette ...

I am such a slacker. The worst part of it is that I have promised myself every night for the past week that I was going to update this blog. So tonight I am finally keeping that promise to myself, however I will have to keep it short being that I am in total pain right now. I am in dire need of a visit to the chiropractor and I am praying that I will still be alive in the morning. It is a strong possibility that my neck just might snap like a chicken bone and my head will go rolling onto the floor....at least that is how it feels. We had a marvelous Holiday. The whole family, especially O was blessed with lots and lots of gifts from the family. With Jason losing his job, everyone has started to worry so many of them went above and beyond to help us out with gift cards for groceries and things like that. We are very grateful and would never be able to survive without our wonderful families. O got way more than she ever could need but I have to admit she got some really great stuff and L...

Taking Otis for a ride in the new wagon! The new Schwin Quad Steer Wagon from Grampie...every toddler's dream? or every man's dream?? The get up was her idea. I just love the rudy slippers. She told me that "Santa Claus bought this outfit for her and she works at the pole making toys with teeby tiby peoples" enjoying a cupcake...or should I say enjoying some frosting