Loving Alina

Please Come Visit

2010-10-02T14:14:00.003-04:00

She Remembers

2010-09-25T22:27:00.000-04:00

Many people have asked whether Alina misses the orphanage, and whether she remembers the people or her time there.

Alina is becoming more verbal, but she doesn't have the words to tell us what she remembers about her groupa or her life at Solnishko.

Tonight Chris discovered a few pictures on his Blackberry that we had taken while we were there. He showed one picture to Alina. Her face lit up. She started pointing to the faces, one by one. I asked, "Alina, can you show me Sasha?" She moved her index finger to Sasha's face. "Katya?" She moved her finger to Katya.

When we got to a picture of the sweet, little dark-haired girl who took special care of Alina (we still don't know her name), she leaned forward and kissed the screen.

She remembers.

First Week of Preschool Re-cap

2010-09-07T14:00:00.050-04:00

From the preschool teacher:

The girls are doing GREAT! Both of them have really surprised me. Bridget is such a different little girl than she was last fall - following directions, using her words, I can even have a conversation with her... I LOVE IT! Alina has adjusted so well, too. She is a bright little girl. I am amazed by how well she seems to understand and follow directions. She LOVES circle time and is very attentive to what is happening in front of her. All in all, they are off to a great start! The girls had a WONDERFUL week - you would be so proud of both of them! You are more than welcome to pop in any time or even just watch through the window. They are doing great things!

First Day of Preschool 2010-11

2010-09-04T16:56:00.001-04:00

On the Bus - Bridget is Happy :)

Alina Waves Goodbye


Bridget: "Yippee!" - Alina: "What on Earth?"

Sitting Together


Walking in - Ready for the Day!

An Orphan No More (Loving Alina)

2010-08-29T12:46:00.005-04:00

From LOST to LOVED, watch the transformation in our beautiful Alina in just four short months...

Sisters & Sunlight

2010-08-09T19:54:00.001-04:00

A Glimpse

2010-07-24T10:06:00.003-04:00

...of life over here :).

More soon...I promise.

Official Pause

2010-06-26T14:30:00.001-04:00

We're going to take a little break to spend our first summer together as a family of eight.

I am needed--now more than ever--in the home, but not on my computer ;).

I want to take this opportunity to say Thank You So Much for Everything :). We are so grateful for all the interest, love and support from family, friends and the blogging community.

A new blog is in the works, as we merge Bridget's Light and Loving Alina into one. We'll be back with pictures and stories as summer comes to a close.

I won't be completely out of the loop. I just won't be actively posting. I hope to check in on other blogs and catch up with friends when the house is quiet at night.

I am always happy to answer questions via email about Bridget & Alina, or about our experience with Down syndrome or our adoption process.

Wishing you all a summer filled with love and light,

Lisa

Popsicles, Pools, and Pedicures

2010-06-21T20:00:00.004-04:00

Summer is here :)...
Bridget and Alina both have pink toenails :)...They are enjoying popsicles and the little baby pool in our backyard...
Emmy is a great helper with her little sisters. They both adore her!

Alina is always making this face:

And this one :)...I have so much more to say, and so little time...now that summer is here and all the kids are, too ;).

New Pictures of Anne Marie (20)!

2010-06-19T21:43:00.009-04:00

In January, I posted about two girls in Alina's orphanage. Nadia (known as Nadine on RR) is already with her forever family.

Anne Marie is still waiting, though, and she is four already. She is in desperate need of a family. If you have had your eye on Anne Marie, don't wait any longer! If you are just seeing her for the first time, look closer ;)...could she be yours?? She's darling, and she is very close to being transferred. Someone, please, GO GET HER.

**There are a handful of families who have recently adopted from this orphanage, and we have loads of helpful tips and information for the family who commits to Anne Marie :)! Plus, there is a family at this orphanage right now who has seen Anne Marie in person and will answer questions about her! **

Anne Marie (20)
Girl, Born November 25, 2005

Look at this beautiful princess!! She is blowing you KISSES! Anne Marie has been waiting far too long for a loving family of her own. So many of her friends from this orphanage have already been adopted, and she continues to watch each of them leave with their new "forever family". Hope someone will consider Anne Marie! Miss Anne Marie does have a heart murmur that should be checked once home. From an adoptive family who visited with her in June 2010: "Anne Marie is a happy child, she is aware, interactive, and very sweet! She will do so well in a family. She has the most striking blue eyes!"

I have $1075 in my grant fund
towards the cost of my adoption!

Happy Anniversary to Reece's Rainbow!

2010-06-09T14:57:00.020-04:00

Today, Reece's Rainbow is celebrating 4 years of finding homes for orphans with special needs.

It isn't a secret that we feel strongly about the worth of people with Down syndrome, and about the important work that RR is doing. The number of children with disabilities that are hidden away overseas is staggering.

We know firsthand the beauty and promise that are being tossed aside in the many, many children waiting patiently for someone to find them and bring them home. Reece's Rainbow is the voice for a growing number of these children. But there is still great need.

Here is just one example: This precious little girl needs a family. She's captured my heart, but the most I can do right now is advocate for her. Who else loves her? Who will be her Yes? Who is going to go get her and help her find her smile again??

Jessie (Jessica) (23)

Girl, Born October 22, 2007

Jessie is darling!!! Brown hair and brown eyes, and totally healthy. Perfect age to benefit from early intervention, and to join her new family!

Here is another picture of Jessie, when she was little (look at this smile!):

**Jessie's birthday is the same day as our Sara's :). She is in an orphanage in Eastern Europe just waiting for someone to love her and tell her she's home for good. If she is not adopted before she turns 4, she will be sent to a mental institution. Jessie does have Down syndrome, but is otherwise healthy.

If you would like to be Jessie's mama and papa, or if you would like more information on her, contact Andrea (you can find her contact info on the RR website). If you are not in a position to adopt, but would like to help Jessie find a family, please follow the link to her page on Reece's Rainbow (Children 0-2 with Down syndrome--you can donate at the top of the page, or scroll down to Orphanage 23 to find her profile). To contribute to her adoption fund, give directly to RR via Paypal or check and specify Jessie (23).

Toddlers Gone Wild

2010-06-07T09:45:00.001-04:00

Who would think that the two little girls pictured above would be such trouble :)?

These two monkeys decided together that nap time is overrated, escaped from their beds (Bridget from her crib and Alina from her PeaPod sleeping tent) and trashed their room this past weekend! (Alina is in the sleeping tent because she had already figured out how to get out of the pack and play and the crib.)

We are not sure who instigated the whole event, but both took part equally.

Bridget emptied all of the drawers and Alina shredded an entire 500-piece box of tissues. When their plot was foiled, Bridget was sitting on top of the dresser, and Alina was back in her sleeping tent covered by enough torn-up Kleenex to fuel a ticker-tape parade.

They are both now the proud owners of matching (blue camouflage, the only pattern available when we purchased the first one two years ago) PeaPod tents tied shut with pink and white ribbons ;).

The girls can see each other through the mesh windows on the tents, which they love. And the Dynamic Duo is safe once again.

A Choice?

2010-06-01T20:00:00.010-04:00

Last December, when Chris and I told the kids about Alina and her need for a home, they were shocked that her parents were willing to "give her away"--in particular because they are aware of the stereotypes about Down syndrome and how Bridget defies them.

Chris and I did not truly understand, until we traveled, that people with disabilities do not have a place in the world in Eastern Europe. Scratch that. They do have a place--and unfortunately, it is behind a closed door. There is no support for parents wanting to raise children with special needs, and society does not condone raising them in public.

I am not making a value judgment. Twenty-five years ago, it was the same situation in the United States.

When we had court, we heard details about Alina's parents--their names, their address--that they were married when she was born and that they are still together. We saw their signatures on the abandonment decree they signed in the presence of a notary when Alina was two months old (per Ukrainian law--they had left her at the hospital when she was two days old, but waited until the last minute to sign, after blood tests came back confirming that she did have Down syndrome).

I sobbed in the quiet of the court room as we heard details about them.

Alina's full name was absolutely beautiful. Her middle name was the female version of her dad's name.

Her parents were both in their mid-twenties when they had her, and her mom had two miscarriages before Alina was born (full term, weighing about 7 lbs and measuring 22 inches).

They wanted her. They did. We are sure of it. I should clarify. We are sure they wanted her before they knew she had Down syndrome. We have no idea how they felt when they found out--but it meant that they could not keep the baby they had wanted--and we can guess that they were devastated.

We ache for them. As a mom, I can only imagine the pain her birth mom feels having her gone. Even if she was able to rationalize the decision to release Alina for adoption, and even if she would never want to raise a child with Ds, her mom has to feel the physical absence of her daughter.

And she has to wonder what happened to her little girl.

We look at Alina and we see a child who is so worthy of love, who would have surprised and elated her parents on a daily basis. We see a little girl who would have made a great big sister, a great daughter, a great grand-daughter.

We have to assume that her mom and dad would have been as blown away with her as we are...

Q & A on Transition and Assimilation

2010-05-31T13:00:00.024-04:00

There have been some great questions from readers on how Alina has adapted to life at home. This is a long post, but there are many things in it that I have been wanting to write about here for the past several weeks. I am happy to answer any other specific questions or to provide more detail on the items below (or others, should anyone have different questions). This should be a pretty good start, though :)...

I'm really curious how Alina is doing with English & your family with Russian.

Alina appears to understand much of what we say in English (she definitely understands gestures, tone of voice and facial expressions). We learned some key words and phrases in Russian (the kids even know a few)--which we used a lot at first, always along with the English word or phrase. We started adding signs to very basic words (thank you, cup, sorry, tired) while we were still in Ukraine, and have continued to use signs on a limited basis when appropriate. She seems to pick up signs quickly.

Are there are any distinct characteristics/habits Alina (still) has that reflect her upbringing in the orphanage? How much of a snuggle-bug :-) has she become (or not)?

We have been surprised that the orphanage environment has not been more of a defining influence on Alina. She has such a survivor spirit. In her, we see a person, separate from any diagnosis or label or circumstance. We see that underneath it all, she is a little girl becoming who she was always meant to be. She has so many interests and abilities and, like all children, is full of potential. (All of the kids in the orphanages, even the ones with significant needs or those who have been otherwise strongly affected by their environment, will develop and grow with love and a chance at life on the outside--and all of these children deserve the chance to fulfill their potential within the safety and support of a family.)

We have not noticed "orphanage behaviors" (such as teeth grinding, hoarding, banging, rocking, etc.) in Alina.

She does not have attachment issues that we can see, though she has definitely had to learn how to be loved. She was at first really confused by affection (especially little kisses on her cheeks or forehead and snuggling). She has always been happy to lay her head on someone's shoulder or be rocked when she was sleepy. But she is really starting to work the consolation love--if she gets hurt (or gets her feelings hurt), she milks it for all it's worth--with all of us.

She's so very busy, that catching her for snuggles has become an art. But she is starting to come to us more and more for consolation and for general closeness. Within this past week, she has started sitting on the couch when we watch the news in the morning or watch t.v. as a family at night. She will climb right up and sit right next to someone, trying to cuddle in under their arm. (She doesn't stay there for long :), but she is starting to initiate contact, which is a great sign).

Each day she is changing and coming into her own. She has been in a very restrictive environment on a strict routine. Her upbringing in the orphanage is sure to have had an impact on how she relates to the world.

She is a child unleashed. Having seen the walls of two or three rooms all her life--and not being encouraged to explore and experience life like a child should be--she seems to be making up for lost time. She wants to do it all--often at once :)...which means that we have had to step up our child-proofing and monitoring!

She seems to prefer a firm touch to a gentle one--even with hugs and such. In Ukraine, parents tend to praise and scold loudly. People move more swiftly in general, and with purpose...sounds familiar. In Ukraine, people work hard. They are often on the move, busy doing something. Again, that sounds like our little girl. As we learn about Alina and the things that make her unique, we see links and connections every day to something else, something we are not familiar with. So some things we see in her may just be how she is, but they also may be related as much to being from a different country (and obviously to her biological parents--how they are) as much as they are to her having grown up in an orphanage thus far.

From orphanage life, in particular, we see:

-A somewhat atypical image of food/eating: she eats like it is a business, or a race to the finish. We assume this is because there was only a certain amount of time--and food--allotted for meals in the orphanage. Alina laughs when we put more food on her plate or tray and cries briefly when we take the plate (even after she has to be stuffed!). Again, likely because she was rarely (or never) offered more food once her portion was gone. She wants to eat as soon as she sits down in her high chair, and she fusses until we bring the food (with a sad little face and her palms up, like, What? Am I going to get any?).

-Pieces and parts of daily life there: washing up, for example. Alina has no idea what to do in a bathtub. She loves to splash the water with her hands and also wants to stand up and march in it. She needs many reminders to sit down ;). If we give her a wash cloth (or a diaper wipe), she washes herself. She's thorough. She gets her feet, behind her neck and ears, under her chin. We assume she was given a cloth to clean herself sometimes, or that she was studying closely while she was cleaned.

Bedtime routines, also: she started off not wanting anything in bed with her. She didn't want or need comfort items, although she is learning to like them. Initially, she tossed everything out of bed (blankets, soft toys, pillows). She has started wanting to put her head on a pillow and to be covered up. She will also hold a teddy bear or doll at naptime...if Bridget has one also :). We assume she was put in bed in the orphanage without toys or other items.

-At the orphanage, most everything Alina ate or drank had been warmed. She prefers food and drinks warm, but will not refuse anything. She just makes a funny face, like, I don't know how I feel about this, but I'm not going to complain too much--they might take it. Alina and Bridget have been enjoying tiny kid-sized ice cream cones after dinner, and Alina practically inhales hers (always finishing before Bridget has even made it down to the cone), but she makes a funny face the whole time!

-She thinks she has to do literally everything on her own. She pats her own back when she is having trouble swallowing something, wipes her own nose and dresses herself. She lays herself down and takes off her diaper when it is time for changes. She puts herself in time out when Bridget cries, even if she had nothing to do with it :).

How does Alina relate to you as authority figures?

She knows, without a doubt, that mom and dad are the authority figures in the home. She responds quickly when we ask her to do something, or to quit doing something. She will also listen to the kids, well, other than Bridget :). It is clear to us that she very much likes to be praised, and does not enjoy being scolded. She tests the boundaries once in a while (tossing her cup from her high chair or grabbing Bridget's hair, for example), and a firm No is usually enough to illicit a sad face and moment of silence from her. When we first tried to discipline Alina, she would stop and smile. That morphed to stomping her feet with a grin or a giggle. But recently, she has been full-out crying when she is put in time out (i.e., removed from the situation--whatever it is that is causing trouble--and asked to sit in one particular spot on our couch for a very short period of time). She knows when she is doing something she is not supposed to do.

Does she cry or ask for the caregivers from the orphanage? Does she seem to miss the orphanage?

I'm curious about how much you reference back to her home in the Ukraine with pictures/stories/songs/etc. & how she responds.

We only visited Alina at the orphanage for 5 days, so we did not get to see much of what her daily life was like there. We did notice that her caregivers seemed to enjoy her very much. While they were firm with some of the other children some of the time, they were fairly patient and would often smile or giggle when they "redirected" Alina (when she tried to get into the shelf full of shoes, or when she made a mess while eating, for example). There were a few of the women who were very nurturing with her and seemed to like her very much. They called her "Alinka" (pronounced Uh-LEEN-kuh).

We have a memory box for Alina, which includes pictures we took while we were in Ukraine, a few items we purchased there (a painted box, a small metal plate like the ones she used at the orphanage, a Ukrainian flag, a few books); the one picture we have of her when she was little, and the Angel Tree ornament we received for donating to Alina's grant fund on Reece's Rainbow.

The green dress--the one she wore every day we were there--is also in the box. (It is ripped and missing the buttons on the back, but we traded a new dress so we could take it with us. The day we left the orphanage, one of the caregivers brought Alina out to us in a diaper. That's what we had to leave with--a little girl in a diaper. Other than the baby picture from her SDA file, that green dress is the only thing we have of her childhood, and it was a shared item...she had nothing of her own.)

When we walked out the doors of the orphanage, it is like she never looked back. She was already starting to look to us for comfort by the time we left Zaporozhye.

She does love it when we speak Russian to her, though. She always smiles when I say "good job" or "I love you" or "thank you" in Russian. Unfortunately, we don't know any songs or hand rhymes in Russian. She is beginning to enjoy the English versions of things like "The Itsy Bitsy Spider", "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and "Head, Shoulders Knees and Toes," especially if Bridget is right near her enjoying them, too. We suspect that either her hearing is not great, or she did not get a lot of exposure to music/songs/fingerplays at the orphanage.

We have really enjoyed learning about Ukraine, and have already included many things from our time there (including food items, music, traditions) in our lives here at home.

While it is hard to grasp that there is no place for Alina in her society, we treasure her Ukrainian heritage nonetheless. We understand that her parents didn't have much of a choice in whether or not to keep her, and we have to assume that they agonized over their decision to place her in an orphanage. We also believe they knew that it was her only chance at a better life.

I only wish they knew that we made our way to her, that she is now safe, and loved and cherished--and that her future is so bright...

Life at Home Since Alina's Arrival: Thoughts from Her Siblings

2010-05-30T09:00:00.008-04:00

Emmy, almost 8

What is it like having a new sister?

I'm glad to have a new roommate in my room! It was lonely when I was by myself before Bridget was born. Then once she was there, it was better, but there was still space. It is more crowded, but now it's like a big party in our room :)!

It is exciting having a new sister because we had never seen her before. We had no idea what she would look like and be like.

Tell me about Alina...

Well, she's playful, sweet and loving...and a big eater! She does things that a lot of little kids might not know how to do, like dressing herself and pretending to pour tea into a cup. She just knows a lot. She's my sister and I love her.

Brian, 11

What do you think about having a new sister? What is it like having her here with us?

It's fun and exciting to see the new stuff that she does (like exploring, showing her imagination). It's sort of crazy times two--with Bridget--and a lot more humor.

What is good about Alina?

How much she knows right now, how fun and cute she is to play with.

Have things changed at home since we added another child?

Nope, not really :).

Kyle, 13

Tell me what you think about having Alina home...

It's awesome. She's cool and she's funny and she's sweet. And it's good to know that we saved someone's life. It's good to share {with others} that people with Down syndrome should get a chance. And Bridget has a buddy now.

What has been hard about the adoption?

It was hard that my parents had to leave and be gone from us, but it all paid off. I don't see a downside {to adoption}.

Sara, 14

What is it like now that Alina is finally here?

Having her home has been really smooth. It's like she fit in right where she was supposed to. Having her here didn't completely change our schedule. And it is a really good thing for her. She really needed us.

How do you think she has changed since she's been here?

In the beginning, she seemed unsure in her new environment but she's adapted to us really quickly--and in this short amount of time she's a part of our family.

What do you enjoy about Alina?

I love her smile and her laugh. Some people give a half-hearted smile or laugh. But she doesn't waste them. Every time, she means it.

Alina & Bridget

2010-05-29T11:00:00.004-04:00

Many people have asked how the two little girls in our family are adjusting to each other--and how they interact. So here it is, a post devoted to our dynamic duo :)...

Sisters:

Bridget and Alina went from not knowing each other to doing everything together. For a three year old, that has to be confusing--and for two little girls who have been forced into a forever partnership overnight, they are doing exactly what we had expected--and hoped for. They are busy being kids, and in the process are learning about being sisters.

When we first brought Alina home, the two girls were very much in their own individual worlds. They played side-by-side, rather than together, were sometimes amused by the presence of the other and sometimes seemed to be simply tolerating each other.

Within the span of one week, they were already beginning to expect (and enjoy) that they would both be doing whatever we were doing, that they would both be going wherever we were going.

Surprisingly, there has been very little jealousy, if any.

We've had our moments, as you would expect, when one of them takes a toy, pulls hair or pushes the other. We have our squabbles that would be typical of any toddlers permanently inhabiting the same spaces, playing with shared items, interested in getting help and attention from the same people. And yes, that mop has been used as a weapon--by both girls.

But our two youngest girls are working it out.

Bridget has figured out that Alina (while she usually means well), is rough. She tends to take a wide arc around her little sister and gives Alina the Heisman when she needs to get by her. She has been saying, Nee-yet, Nuh-Nuh! (No, Alina!), which is very funny to hear. (She is also often overheard saying, Nuh-Nuh, CUTE!)

Bridget and Alina take care of each other. If one is out of Cheerios or crackers, the other will usually share willingly. They point to each other's empty bowls. They offer each other sips from a cup and wipe each other's noses. Bridget has a delicate touch, and Alina seems happy to be "helped" by her. Alina, on the other hand, comes at Bridget with an intense expression, and Bridget looks stunned as Alina firmly presses a sippy cup to her lips or wipes her nose with vigor.

But Alina coughs and Bridget shouts, CUP! Okay? If Bridget wakes up before Alina, she tells me, Mommy, Nuh-Nuh...check! (check on Alina!).

And when Bridget is in school and Alina goes somewhere with me in the car, she points to Bridget's carseat, saying Buh? (where's Bridget?).

When they are playing with each other, Bridget and Alina like to take care of baby dolls, spread out a napkin and dishes on the family room floor, and "clean" house :).

They are double trouble, for sure :). They're also double the LOVE.

Up next: Notes from our family discussion on Alina and answers to questions about Alina's transition and assimilation process.

ALL ABOUT ALINA

2010-05-28T21:00:00.002-04:00

We have enjoyed getting to know Alina over the past six weeks! Here is what we have learned about our newest little girl:

Alina is self-assured, adaptable and good-natured. She is curious and active, with definite ideas and seemingly boundless energy.

She is alert—and very observant. She smiles and laughs easily. She’s interested in people and enjoys social interaction. She likes to give “fist bumps,” and “fives” and “high one’s” (with her index finger). She waves at every. single. person. she sees at the grocery store.

Alina likes to try to do things for herself. We believe she began walking just over 6 months ago, so she is still really a “toddler” and can be wobbly at times. That does not stop her from trying anything. She does not hold back—she’s on a mission, and does literally everything with purpose.

Alina is very sharp--she is a quick study. She understands how to play with toys (which buttons to push, how they work). She is a little Houdini, and has figured out how to get out of her crib and how to take her Onesies off by slipping them over her shoulders and down. (Notice the ribbon tie on the picture above...it works! For now.) Chris keeps saying, Don't show Alina how you did that! (unhooking a safety latch on the cabinet, or getting her out of the harness on her carseat, for example). She watches once, and it is over :).

Alina is an interesting mixture of active and content. As seen in the last post, she plays with gusto. She works hard at playing. She plays for long periods of time (by herself or with others), and has a very good attention span (if, of course, the object or activity is something she is interested in!).

Like most children, she likes to be praised and does not like to be scolded.

Alina is expressive. (Who knew, from her profile pictures??)

She enjoys: eating, books, phones, pretend play (baby dolls, cleaning, kitchen), things she can carry (purses, bags and buckets), and playing “dress up” (i.e., dressing and undressing).

Her speech is delayed (though we are not sure exactly how much since her native language is Russian!), but her total communication is quite good. She not only understands much of what we ask of her in English, but she is also beginning to communicate some of her wants and needs using a variety of strategies (facial expressions, sounds, gestures, signs). She is beginning to repeat sounds for us as well.

Since Alina has been home, she has learned to say: book, more (“muh”), cup (“puh”), mama, hi, and “Buh!” for Bridget.

She is signing: more, apple, gentle, sad, and cup. She waves “hi” and “bye-bye”.

Alina keeps us running...and smiling...and giving thanks on an hourly basis.

She is a delightful child, who is so full of life and potential. She is a wonderful daughter...

...and we feel lucky to be able to call her our own...

Up next: Alina & Bridget--how they are adjusting and NEW PICS :)

Whistle While You Work

2010-05-25T20:30:00.000-04:00

So we have discovered that Alina is a little "worker bee"--she works/plays hard.

She loves the cleaning set I got for Bridget last year (Bridget likes it, too). And she is thorough. When she mops, she gets underneath and behind the furniture. She moves stuff to clean under it, too.

We sat down as a family tonight to talk about life with Alina, how things have changed (or not) since she arrived, and how we feel about her.

I have pictures, details, descriptions and stories to share over the next few days. I'll answer the questions people have asked about her assimilation process and about how the rest of the group has done with a new little sister.

Feel free to ask any questions through the comments section here or via email. I'll try to get to each request :). Please stay tuned...

These Two Little Girls

2010-05-23T20:13:00.002-04:00

...are keeping me busy :)!

Video--Gotcha Day

2010-05-12T12:41:00.007-04:00

While we were in Ukraine, Chris took several short videos with his Blackberry.

I hope to share more of our trip, of what we did and saw while we were there. But as I was looking over the videos Chris uploaded onto my computer last night, the following seems like a good place to start, even though it is not at the beginning of our trip.

It is the beginning of Alina's new life.

The day we took Alina out of the orphanage...forever:

Two Weeks In...

2010-05-06T11:00:00.016-04:00

Tomorrow, we will have been home for two weeks. Alina and I will celebrate by going to the International Adoption Clinic for her comprehensive check-up :). I have spent the past few days writing out all the important details that we have learned about Alina's health history and development in preparation for the appointment. I will also take along her vaccination record and notes from the head doctor at the orphanage where Alina had been living. I will post a re-cap of her appointment here sometime next week.

It is hard to believe that we met Alina less than a month ago. We feel like we have known her forever.

This little girl is so busy and curious. She is such a bundle of love.

She is very sociable and giggles easily. She has had nothing of her own, yet she willingly shares her food and toys. She is a sturdy little girl who craves affection and gives it right back. When she comes in for a hug, she lunges toward you, grinning with her arms wide open. She rarely cries, but when she does, she is easily consoled.

A few details that several people have asked about:

Alina was confused at first by physical affection. We gave her space to start, and when we first began to hug and kiss her, she looked at us like, what is that? and moved slightly away. Within a few days, though, she realized that having people love her felt pretty nice. One day at the orphanage, she scratched her arm and I came right over to ask if she was hurt. She looked up, appearing to be a bit confused by me kissing her arm. She paused, then smiled, then went right over to Chris and lifted her arm to his mouth so he would kiss her boo-boo, too. She's all about the love now. Instead of leaning away, she leans toward us. Loving a child who has been abandoned and hasn't known love, and having them love you back--it feels like Heaven.

Alina is eating, drinking and sleeping well. She seems to like most everything we have fed her, except Brussels sprouts (not a surprise) and mashed potatoes (a surprise). She does prefer food and drinks to be warm (everything was warmed in the orphanage), but she won't refuse items that are cold. She is drinking apple juice, water and rice milk from a sippy cup. (She can drink from an open cup, but needs supervision because she tends to play in it, or pour some of it if left unattended. She wasn't given milk in the orphanage, as far as we know, so we are introducing dairy slowly.) She naps once a day, for about two hours, and sleeps soundly from about 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Alina doesn't love diaper wipes. Scratch that. She loves diaper wipes, just not when we are wiping her bottom with them :). We don't know what they used in the orphanage (maybe a warm cloth?).

She doesn't mind baths, although we assume she had never had one until she got here. She really likes to splash the water, so her baths are quick :). We also assume she did not have any sort of dental care in the orphanage. She cleans her teeth with her tongue when she lays down to sleep at night. It is sweet and sad. She has let me brush her teeth right from the start, which is crazy. I have no idea why it doesn't bother her. Her gums bled a little at first, even though I was super careful. They are not bleeding anymore. And yes, the pediatric dentist is on our list of visits to make soon.

Alina doesn't watch t.v. (although she likes the remote and knows exactly how to use it--they had a t.v. in her groupa's room), but she does seem to like one show: American Idol. It's true. I have no idea why Dora the Explorer does not hold her attention, but American Idol does. (Dang, I wish I had the whole season recorded!)

The staff at the orphanage was able to tell us two things about Alina (in English): Alina clever.... and Alina messy. Holy cow, were they ever right on both accounts :).

Alina is doing so well developmentally. She is very sharp and able. Her spoken language is her largest delay as far as we can tell, although she is making lots of sounds (like Boo, Woo, Oof, Ha Ha, Huh!), and she has started to say some words in English, too, like HI! and more ("muh"), which she has also learned to sign. Alina understands much of what we say to her in English and is fairly compliant :). She loves to hear Russian words--she smiles when she hears them--and will do everything we ask of her in Russian. She's lucky our Russian-language skills are limited ;).

Bridget and Alina spent about a week sizing each other up :). Bridget realized quickly that Alina tends to stumble and will squash her when she falls, so Bridget would gladly wave and smile at Alina, but kept a safe distance from her "little" sister. For the first week or so, I would say that the girls tolerated one another and were amused by each other. They both seem to know that the other one isn't going anywhere, and they seem to be happy with that :).

They are really beginning to enjoy each other. They will wave to each other and smile. They like to hold hands, or touch their index fingers together. They "share" food items and cups (which is lovely, in truth as well as in sarcasm). Bridget tries to help Alina by making sure we are aware of her apparent needs and status on a moment-to-moment basis.

Bridget calls Alina sissy and nuh-nuh, but it is usually uh-nuh-nuh. Things I hear often: uh-nuh-nuh...mess; uh-nuh-nuh...cup; uh-nuh-nuh cryin'; uh-nuh-nuh cracker...me, cracker.

There have been some very funny moments already with the two of them. On the way home from dance class last night, Alina and Bridget were in their carseats, both double fist-pumping to AC/DC "You Shook Me All Night Long". It was classic.

Bridget and Alina are very similar in some ways: they both like dolls and books and food and being around people. Despite very different body types, they are also almost exactly the same height and weight and wear the same size shoe.

Our three-year-olds are also polar opposites in some ways. Bridget tends to be very dainty and gentle. When she falls or drops something she says Oopsie in a sweet little voice. Alina is a bit of a bull in a china closet. She is not the most gentle creature, but then again--neither am I :). When she falls or drops something, she says OOF! It is hilarious.

Bridget likes to be clean and gets grossed-out easily (she is often heard saying Ewww! for one reason or another). Alina is a disaster half the time. Bridget keeps a napkin beside her yogurt in the morning and wipes her mouth throughout. She isn't always clean, but she tries.

Alina, on the other hand, eats her yogurt with wild abandon--just how she does most other things :). She has it everywhere from her eyebrows to her elbows.

Yesterday, Bridget looked over at Alina (right when I took the above picture) and whispered, mess. Yep, she's a mess alright :). A beautiful, busy mess, who we are lucky enough to call our own.

Tired & Happy

2010-05-05T12:45:00.000-04:00

I have so much to say...so much on my mind and in my heart. And I promise that I am trying to put words and pictures together to share some of it here.

At the moment, I have just finished cleaning the kitchen up after lunch...is it bedtime yet :)?

We've jumped right back into life at home. I shouldn't be surprised that things are busy, now that we have six children under fourteen. Chris is already back to traveling for work and all of the kids have been sick at one point or another since we have been home.

It took at least a week to shake off the exhaustion of the trip overseas and back. And now, what we've got is just plain old exhaustion :).

So, I am going to put the youngest girls down for a nap and take one myself! Tonight, I will write (and post) all about Alina, and how she is doing at home.

I'll end with an image (in words, though I wish I could have safely photographed the moment): Last night, on the way to take Sara to dance class, Bridget and Alina were in their car seats behind the passenger and driver seats in our minivan. I looked in the rearview mirror to see their little hands stretched toward each other, index fingers touching. They were both smiling from ear to ear.

It had been a hectic day, but a split-second glance--seeing the two of them like that--was all the reminder I needed that we are living exactly the life that was meant for us.

Watching the Girls Outside

2010-04-29T17:29:00.001-04:00

Am I Dreaming? (A Family of Her Own)

2010-04-28T18:26:00.005-04:00

Happy Girl

2010-04-28T10:29:00.002-04:00

Sisters

2010-04-27T09:16:00.001-04:00

Q & A

2010-04-25T07:09:00.004-04:00

I didn't get a chance to answer everyone's questions while we were in Ukraine, so I will try to get to some of the questions left in our comments section. Please email me or leave comments here with anything else I can answer for those who are interested in knowing more about our adoption process or experience with Alina.

Q. I tried to follow your time line you have listed and wanted to ask you, did you only have to make one trip to Ukraine for Alina? If so, wow...how did you guys pull that off?

Q. Please give me your secret.... things have gone so well for you hope I have the same luck. Will you have to wait the 10 days?

Q. Are you kidding?!?!? That was the fastest court ever! And the 10 day wait will be waived?!?!? Is Marina your facilitator?

A. Since there have been many questions about our quick timeline, I'll try to address several issues at once.

I am happy to answer questions about our adoption process. Each family's experience is different. Even families traveling to the same orphanage can have wildly different experiences based on many factors (such as specific facilitators, judges, groupas, etc.). Even slight adjustments in adoption policies or requirements, or the political climate in a country can have large impact as well. Things that are out of our control, such as power outages, national holidays, a particular person being on vacation--or a VOLCANO (!)--can come into play in any adoption and make a difference on timeline and cost. Flexibility, creativity, determination and faith are all key.

The disclaimer: Please know that whatever I write about refers specifically to our experience which may or may not be similar to what others have experienced or will experience.

With that said...we were in a VERY FAST region and had a lot of good luck while in country.

We made one trip and were gone for exactly 18 days. We were in region for only 6 of those days. We had a few extra days in Kiev at the beginning (because our SDA appointment fell on a Thursday afternoon and we couldn't get the referral paperwork/travel in time to get started in region on Friday...so we had to wait until Monday to begin there). We were in Kiev an extra few days on the back end because of the volcano and difficulty getting a flight out.

Once we got to Alina's town, we did not have to wait for any of our documentation or appointments, which is unusual. We were also fortunate to have received our Interpol Clearances, which are done in batches, exactly when we needed them. Alina was actually born in Zaporozhye, so that made things easier for us as well.

In addition, many of the officials were sympathetic to our cause. The 10 day wait is often waived where we were, and the "old" passports (the red as opposed to the blue) are still available and are produced locally, so they can be done very quickly. Our wait was waived and we were able to get the old passport for Alina.

I cannot say enough about our Rock Star facilitators (Serge, Yulia, Marina) and what they did for us. They ran the show and know exactly what they are doing. We just went where we were told to go and did what we were asked to do. They handled everything else.

Q. I should know this, but can you remind us how old she (Alina) is?

A. She turned 3 in March. Bridget will turn 4 at the end of July.

Q. How did you raise funds so quickly? Do you have any suggestions for us? We have not made any commitment yet because the cost of the adoption process is a bit daunting. Any suggestions would be great. I know you are very busy, so whenever you get a chance that would be encouraging to hear how you dealt with the cost.

A. We had money set aside for something else, which we applied to Alina's adoption instead. Fundraising is often one of the most daunting aspects of International Adoptions. We do know several families who have been very successful in raising money for their adoptions. It seems like the most important things are creativity and persistence--and being willing to ask anyone and everyone for help.

Q. You will be on the look out for Tanner, won't you? If you see him, tell him mommy and daddy are coming?

A. I feel so sad that we couldn't get to see the other kids we were looking for! We tried many times to see the other RR children, with no luck. The kids are just so spread out, and they are behind closed doors. The groupas do not interact as far as we could tell. The orphanage also has several buildings, and there is no way to know who is where. Access is very limited, even within the rooms of your child's groupa. Paperwork is required to enter any room at the orphanage, and we only had paperwork for Alina's room.

Q. Are there any kids with Ds in her groupa?

A. There were no other children with Ds in Alina's groupa. We only saw one little boy with Ds outside being pushed in a stroller by a visitor. He was little--maybe 1 1/2 years old. We did not recognize him. (The kids were all in snowsuits and hats when they were outside, which is the only chance we had to see other children, so it was very hard to get a good look at them!) We recognized "Bella"--other angels--though, in Alina's groupa. We were able to observe and photograph her for the family who is coming for her :).

Q. Lisa, the picture of Alina doing your hair reminds me of you doing mine as a little girl! :) Did she yank it very hard? HA!

A. Ah, paybacks Marcy :)! Alina LOVES to brush hair, and she is so sweet when she does it. She is very careful. She did decide that she likes to try to pull my hair at other times though. It is not in an aggressive way...it happens more when she is excited...like wow, we're having fun now! Yippee for me and my way-too-long hair. Guess who will be wearing lots of ponytails and buns for a while ;)?

HOME

2010-04-24T11:36:00.005-04:00

We had to take planes, trains and automobiles, but we made it home last night and are so happy to be here! We are all doing very well!

Alina was such a trooper on the long trip back. One of the flight attendants said she could teach some of the adult passengers how to behave on an airplane :).

We flew from Kiev to Amsterdam on Thursday night (a 3 hour flight), stayed overnight in a hotel at the airport, and left early yesterday morning for Detroit, MI (an 8 hour flight). Rather than wait out our scheduled 7 hour layover in Detroit, we rented a car and drove home from there (a 3 hour drive). We were so ready to get home!

Alina slept the whole way from Detroit to Columbus!

The kids were already home from school and anxiously waiting to meet their new little sister.

Here are a few photos of Alina's homecoming:

Alina seemed very happy to meet her siblings. She was full of smiles and was very relaxed, even though she must have been a little overwhelmed--she was surrounded by all the kids on the kitchen floor.

Alina figured out that the kids think she is cute and funny--and she was enjoying all the attention.

Bridget and Alina seemed to recognize one another. They are adorable together! They're about the same height and weight, although Alina is almost 9 months younger than Bridget.

Their hands and feet look almost identical, except Alina's are a bit more chubby :).

There was one point last night when I had them both on my lap, which was overwhelming in itself--it is a moment I will never forget. I keep thinking about the two of them together. They are a unit now. My almost-twins, born apart but raised together.

When we were in Ukraine, someone asked us why we think God gave us four healthy children and then Bridget, a child with Down syndrome. Chris and I have a long answer to that question that we may write about here someday. The short answer, though, may be that Bridget arrived in our lives so that we would save Alina.

There is so much more to share and say. Please stay tuned for more on the end of our stay in Ukraine and on our transition home.

Thank you for all of the genuine support and well wishes. We are feeling the love...

Leaving Kiev

2010-04-22T05:20:00.003-04:00

We are leaving tonight! We'll fly to Amsterdam, stay overnight, then fly to Detroit in the morning. We should be home Friday afternoon :).

Sorry for the lack of posts the past few days! We have spent all of our time doing two things: (1) trying to make alternative travel arrangements--our flight was canceled yesterday morning and were re-booked for the 29th--and (2) learning about Alina and trying to keep her safe :). It has been interesting managing a busy and curious toddler in a tiny flat in downtown Kiev! She has a new nickname: "Hands" :). This little girl does not telegraph her every move, and she is as quick as a cobra striking when she goes to grab something! We have had to move all items from the lower cupboards and drawers in our small kitchen space and have turned the bedside tables with the drawers toward the wall. The free-standing mirror now has a sheet over it, and we have created a suitcase barricade in front of the phone and internet wires. Alina can open the doors in our flat, which includes the one to the bathroom--and she is very interested in (trying to play in) the toilet. Yippee!

Alina is as busy as they come, and as sweet as they come. She is a little love bug! She is sleeping well and eating well for us. She seems to know that we are mama and papa :). And we feel like she has been ours forever. The bonding has been very natural.

We have learned some words and phrases in Russian, and she is listening to us :)! She followed direction very well at the orphanage. When we first brought her home, she would grin and look at us like I have no idea what you are saying! I don't understand English, people :). So we are trying to speak to her in Russian and in English. It seems to be working.

Alina is saying "Hi" and waving. She is also starting to sign more and thank you. She has figured out how to drink from her sippy cup, which has made life easier and less messy :).

We are so looking forward to getting home and introducing Alina to her siblings and extended family.

She is more than deserving of a life full of love and happiness. We are thrilled to be able to offer her that chance, and to be able to experience life through her and with her!!

More when we return home!!

She SMILES...

2010-04-19T11:27:00.006-04:00

We have known Alina for one week. Look what love can do...

Leaving Zaporozhye

2010-04-19T01:59:00.001-04:00

We Have a New Roommate...

2010-04-18T04:02:00.017-04:00

...and she is supposed to be napping, but she is busy trying on my high heels and hauling a huge jug of water around like it is a purse.

Sorry about the ambiguous post yesterday! We did not realize that only the title had been posted!

Alina is doing great, and yes, she is here with us!

With each moment that passes, we are learning more about our amazing little girl.

We have realized that she does not like orange juice, cheese, or salami ;). By the healthy physique on this child, you would think that she does not turn anything down. However, when we offered her these items off the breakfast tray this morning, she was not shy about expressing her opinion. She spit them out with a disgusted look on her face. She chucked the cheese after trying to spit it out, then grabbing at it like we had put a bug in her mouth. We had to giggle. This little girl knows just what she wants and what she doesn't want.

And, who knew that Alina LOVES Eskimo Kisses and that she giggles. A lot.

Other things we have discovered:

She puts on all pants she finds. Including Daddy's jeans.

She likes to dab her mouth with a napkin while she eats.

She thinks it is hilarious when she falls over.

She puts her shoes on herself. On the right feet.

She is easily soothed.

She pats herself on the back when she begins to cough.

Her skin is as soft as velvet.

She likes girly things, but she also likes matchbox cars and sticks.

She sounds just like Bridget when she sleeps.

Some photos from Gotcha Day yesterday:

We had an especially difficult time coming up with what to say yesterday. It was an exciting and emotional day.

And it all hit us at once last night. We have saved a life. This precious little ruby, this innocent child, has been hidden away since birth. What if we had not come for her?

Our hearts are so full and grateful for her and for this journey. At the same time they are aching for the life she has missed out on for three long years, and for all of the other little ones we had to leave behind yesterday--especially the ones with no families coming for them.

At this point, it is all too fresh to write about clearly. We are honestly moved beyond words...

We leave on the train tonight for Kiev. We have a few days of Embassy paperwork and will head home as soon as we can get a flight out :).

There are no words...

2010-04-17T16:00:00.008-04:00

...to describe the feelings in this room tonight...

New Life

2010-04-16T16:04:00.010-04:00

When we arrived in Zaporozhye this past Monday, it looked like late winter. In less than a week's time, the trees have started sprouting leaves.

There are cherry blossom trees all over this town, and they are in full bloom right now. They are gorgeous and have become our symbol of this new life--for Alina and for us.

There is a new blossom on our family tree...

Alina Caroline
Adopted into our Family
April 16, 2010
Zaporozhye, Ukraine

Our Little Cherry Blossom

A New Day

2010-04-16T02:18:00.008-04:00

We are getting ready to leave to visit Alina, so this will be short...but here are a few pictures from the past few days. We have so many more pictures, of all kinds of things. It takes a while to upload and edit, so we are doing the best we can in keeping everyone updated :).

Yesterday, we realized Alina can put on--and take off--her pants and shoes by herself. She even unties her shoe laces and the string on her hat.

When we came inside after our morning walk, one of her caregivers saw me trying to help Alina get undressed. She motioned to me to let her do it. She gave instructions, and Alina listened to them. She did EVERYTHING the woman asked her to do, including placing her little shoes in her locker.

Her caregivers want her to try to do everything by herself. She does need extra help sometimes, but they realize how capable she is, and that she needs to be encouraged to try things herself. They expect a lot of her, but they are patient with her and help her readily when she really needs it.

This little girl is AMAZING. And someone has done something very right with her. She gets dressed and undressed by herself (with a little help), she puts all of her things away, she eats by herself (with a little help), she blows her own nose. She likes to play with toys and pretends to talk on a phone, put on lipstick (she is using her aquadoodle pen as lipstick), and fill her purse and say "Paka" (goodbye). She is a trip!

Looking at her bracelet with Daddy

Feeding Mama yogurt

Pretending to eat out of the empty yogurt container :)

Outside on the grounds of the orphanage

An Orphan No More

2010-04-15T08:16:00.006-04:00

Solnitchka

Alina's locker and orphan shoes

This is brief...but EXCITING developments here...

Alina will only spend one more night as an orphan. Tomorrow, she will officially be ours!! We will be in court at 2 pm tomorrow (Friday)!!

We should be in Kiev early next week and should be HOME by the end of the week if all goes well...maybe even sooner.

Love to all. Thanks to all for following, for believing in us and in Alina, and for the thoughts and prayers.

To say we are elated is an understatement. We are so grateful for this experience, for this child, for the opportunity to offer her life outside an orphanage--and to get to spend every day with her from now on.

She is a little treasure--a sparkling jewel no longer hidden away--who will be loved and cherished by a family of her own and all who choose to see her beauty and worth.

Going to get Alina's passport photo taken

More tomorrow...

Day 3, Afternoon Visit

2010-04-14T12:17:00.004-04:00

When we arrived this afternoon, the same woman who was helping Alina eat earlier came to the door to greet us. She said, "Alina cry when you left before". Oh my goodness, she is starting to really get attached to us. She reached for us both at different times today, and when we were outside walking, she held out her hand for Chris to grab it when he stepped aside to take a picture. And she kissed my nose. Each visit gets better and better.

She seemed apprehensive at first. She made little noises (like she was thinking, "oh no, what is going on here? Where are my people? And who are these people?). We heard some of those sounds the first two days, but not today.

She laughed today, and smiled more. She giggled when I tickled her back. She is super ticklish!!

We stopped at a market and bought shoes for her today. The ones I brought were way too small (we took them with us anyway and donated them to the groupa...and when we arrived this afternoon they were already labeled on the bottom and a little girl was waving them in the air...they have been reassigned!).

When we took out the shoes we bought for her, Alina saw them and kicked her old shoes off immediately. She tried to put the new ones on herself. She was very proud once she was wearing them and didn't want to take them off.

The little girl who has the pair of shoes we brought is the most adorable little creature. I would scoop her up in a minute. She really likes Alina. She pats her cheeks and kisses her forehead as she says, "Lina!!" with a big smile. She looks out for Alina, too. When another child grabbed a book from Alina, she came over, took it and handed it back to Alina. She said, "no, Alina's" to the other child. It was so incredibly sweet. Chris and I were teary watching the interaction.

All of the children wave to her when they pass through the locker room where we have been playing with her. They like to talk to us, so we are a distraction, which we feel badly about. But man are they cute!

We are only approved to bring home one child, but we would be in major trouble if we had asked for permission for more!! These children are precious...

Day 3, Morning Visit

2010-04-14T06:33:00.017-04:00

Remember this picture on the left? It is the initial picture of Alina that grabbed our hearts. Our instincts told us to look deeper than what was on the surface. And we are so grateful for that moment of insight, that moment where our experience with Bridget intersected with love and hope for a little girl we did not know. Our hearts must have known her, as we were firm in our commitment to bring her home from the minute we set eyes on her.

Nowhere does this picture say that this little girl is clever (as her Russian-speaking caregiver said to us today in her best English), or determined, or strong, or sweet. Nowhere does it say that she is full of potential. She looks blank here.

And yes, she will blossom even more with the love of a family. But we are learning that if you could look below the surface of the photo on the left, you would she that she has been given opportunity here, and she's been cared for with good intention. Now that we are here with her in person, we can begin to see the whole picture. The picture below is the beginning of the story of her life outside the orphanage. The bleak, expressionless part of her life is fading away as her new life with a family begins.

We are grateful that someone picked up on Alina's value and potential. We do not know how she came to live with typical children, but we are grateful. She has been given a chance to grow and develop alongside children who unknowingly encourage her to reach higher and go farther than she would if she had been underestimated from the start.

We realize that Alina's situation might not be the norm, and while we are relieved that this is her reality, we are sad for all of the children who are not encouraged, who have less of a chance to reach their full potential...especially the ones without families coming for them.

Switching Gears...

This morning's visit was awesome! Alina (wearing the same green dress, new tights--red with ducks) came out ready to have her picture taken for her passport :). We were asked to play with her for a few minutes in the area by the lockers and wait for the photographer. A few of her caregivers speak a tiny bit of English--enough that, combined with gestures, we are able to understand (fairly) clearly what is being said to us. The staff are all very patient with us, and with Alina. They have allowed us to do most everything we have asked. We are keeping our requests simple and within reason, but they have indulged us when we have asked to take her to the music room, or to go outside, etc.).

Here is video of Alina eating lunch. The woman who was helping her to eat was really good with Alina--you can see in the video. We are so thankful to have been able to sit with Alina while she ate to see that her caregivers have been helping her and encouraging her, even though she needs extra assistance with eating. We know that it takes time and focus when both of those things can be in short supply with such a large group of children to watch over and care for.

We were able to take Alina outside for a walk, which she liked very much. She was getting tired, so Chris snuggled her in and she fell asleep in his arms. It was precious. When we took her back inside, she found the sunglasses I had set down by my bag. Hmmm. Another child who loves sunglasses, purses, bracelets and such. Maybe Bridget and Alina are genetically connected after all...

More soon...

Details, Details, Details :)

2010-04-13T13:24:00.013-04:00

So catching everyone up a bit...

It is hard to believe that we arrived here in Alina's hometown yesterday morning! It seems like a week has already passed. We have been busy!!

We took the overnight train from Kiev on Sunday night, and got into town just after 6:30 a.m. yesterday morning. We had about an hour after we got to our hotel to shower and eat a quick breakfast, and then we were off for a marathon day which included making a quick visit to the orphanage to meet Alina and meet with the head doctor there, going to six different places to gather paperwork, documents and signatures, then going back to the orphanage for afternoon visiting hours.

Meeting Alina

After retrieving the necessary paperwork from our social worker to get permission to meet Alina, we headed straight to the orphanage. Our facilitator stopped in the main office to let them know we had arrived and to sign a few more papers. Before we knew it, we were climbing the staircase to her groupa's room. We were both a little dazed and confused at that point. We had been planning the meeting for months, and it seems like we have waited so long to finally travel. But as soon as we boarded the plane out of the States, everything began moving in fast forward.

As we rang the bell outside the door to Alina's room, our translator realized which room she was in--she said, "This is very good news. The children in this groupa are all typically developing!" We were surprised by this and elated. It means that someone sees her abilities and her potential. It also means that her delays are not as significant as they could be, given her diagnosis.

We were greeted by an older woman--speaking Russian, of course, so I have no idea what she actually said, but our translator told us we should wait in the small room just inside the door where the children have their little lockers.

I had just looked at Chris and squeezed his hand, "This is it. We are going to meet our little girl" and then we heard her coming--clip, clip, clip. A moment later, we saw our little blondie heading toward us. One of the caregivers was standing in the doorway behind her, encouraging her to move along--she said, "Alina, mama...papa" and sent her on her way. Alina was all dressed up, with a bow in her hair. I put my hand to my mouth. "It's her. Oh my...here she is..."

"Priv-yet, Alina (Hello, Alina)!!"

She came down the small hallway by herself, whimpering a little as she made her way to us. She seemed apprehensive, but she was really, really cute. We looked at each other with tears in our eyes. It was a moment neither of us will ever forget.

We saw some very neat things in Kiev, but the real show was here, in the middle of Ukraine, when a little girl with Down syndrome walked down a dark hallway and right into our life.

As Alina came into the room, she stepped around us and moved toward a caregiver who had walked in just after her. She seemed intimidated by Chris, or a little scared of him (there are rarely men in the orphanage), and we both wanted to give her some room. So we quietly watched her for a few minutes as we tried to soak in the significance of the meeting.

Our translator began speaking to her in Russian and Alina went right to her. She said, "Do you have a toy or a cookie to offer her?" We didn't--we weren't sure we would get to see her for more than a minute that first morning. So our translator pulled out a pen from her purse and a notepad, and asked one of Alina's caretakers to bring a toy for us to give to her. She was interested in both things, so we were able to interact with her right away. She seemed to prefer anyone speaking Russian over either of us :), which makes absolute sense.

She did discover her daddy's Blackberry--hmmm...sounds like Bridget :). You can see her holding it in many of the pictures from our first couple of visits! She LOVES phones.

We were able to spend about 15 minutes with Alina before we had to leave to visit with the orphanage doctor, who gave us the full report on Alina's medical history. We learned that she has a very strong immune system and recovers quickly from colds and such. She has a small atrial septal defect (ASD) according to her file--which is the defect Bridget had. Without going through all the aspects of her medical records, it is clear that she has been very healthy and is well cared-for.

Our translator asked the doctor about Alina's personality and nature. The doctor, who had been very nice--but business-like--got teary-eyed. "She is calm. She is not aggressive. She is not a cry baby. She is our little teddy bear...." And with that, we were all in tears. She then added, "She is so funny. When she gets her check-ups, she lifts her shirt and pats her belly." This woman has an obvious affinity for our little Alina. It was very reassuring for us to be able to visit with her and see that she has had thorough medical care while at the orphanage, and that the staff like her very much.

After the meeting with the doctor, we continued our paper chase for the documents which need to be submitted before we can receive a court date for her official adoption.

We finished shortly before evening visiting hours, so we were able to go back Monday night and spend a full two hours getting to know our new little girl.

Our evening visit was wonderful. We began to understand how able she is, and how much she understands. Alina is very sharp and very determined. She was interested in all of the toys we brought (we came prepared this time!).

We handed her the little photo book we had made with pictures of her immediate family. She didn't let it go the whole time we were there--even when she was interested in another item. She put several things down to grab another, but not that photo book. It was darling. She can turn the pages very well!

Tomorrow's post will include more details about our little girl--yes, our "little tank''--she is solid!! I am guessing she weighs 10 pounds more than Bridget and her feet are 2 sizes bigger than I had guessed. She is so incredibly cute and sweet.

A few pictures from today...We brought a little comb, and discovered that she likes to have her hair brushed...and to brush other people's hair...again, sounds like her sister, Bridget :):

More tomorrow...

Be Still My Heart

2010-04-12T16:13:00.012-04:00

Please be patient with us...we are trying to get information and pictures out little by little :).

We already have over 100 pictures of Alina! We saw her briefly this morning (green dress) before we completed A LOT of paperwork. We were able to go back and spend two hours with her this evening (pink shirt and pants).

I have details to share tomorrow, but what I can say briefly is that we met a little girl today who melted our hearts. We met a little girl who is full of potential. She is busy, and sharp, and curious and adorable. While she is not talking a ton, she understands everything that is said to her in Russian! (She did say "book" for us, though.) This is the first picture of us with her, taken by our facilitator, Marina:

Here are a few other of the many photos we took today of our "little tank":

Alina LOVED the photo book of her new family. She kept wanting to go back into the room and show it to her groupa and caretakers. Actually, she wanted to show them all the toys we brought along. She LOVED the phone and her daddy's Blackberry--she tried to take off with it :).

She carried the photo book, though, with her wherever she went. Her caretakers let her keep it with her overnight :).

When we were leaving, one of the women asked her to come back and give mama and papa a hug goodbye. She turned right around and stretched her arms out to me and gave me a huge hug. She then gave Chris a huge hug.

We can't wait to see her tomorrow! We will post more as soon as we can!

From dad....

2010-04-12T14:20:00.004-04:00

Well, here Lisa and I sit after one of the most incredible days of our lives with no internet connection! It appears that my blackberry is our only lifeline out to our world. Now Lisa can type faster on a computer than just about anybody, but she's lost on a blackberry. She's asked me to attempt to "thumb" something interesting and I'll try my best, but trust me, I am not even close to being half as good as Lisa at capturing a moment so well with words (especially pecked with thumbs!). That being completely the truth, I'll be short until we re-establish communications.

Today was simply an amazing gift of a day! I've seen all 5 of my children born and today I just saw my 6th. It may have been a bit different, but it felt the same. This time my little girl came running around the corner and just stole my heart in the same way each of my children did the day they were delivered into this world. I'll leave the exciting details to Lisa, but I have learned many years ago to 100% trust my wife's instincts. With our little Alina, Lisa is still batting 1000! Alina is happy, healthy, loving, funny, playful, and already an important part of the Peele family. Lisa was 100% correct that day she told me "that terrible picture just doesn't show who that little girl is or who she could become". The story behind our meeting is great and will be best shared by my amazing wife. I better get working on the internet connection!

A Little Show and Tell

2010-04-11T11:16:00.018-04:00

I know many of you are enjoying hearing about all we are learning about this area, so I wanted to share a little bit of that today. I will post more pictures as we go, but we are getting ready to board the overnight train to Alina's hometown, so I don't have as much time as I would need to cover this topic in depth.

Yesterday we toured a thousand-year-old monastery complex here in Kiev, as well as a few other historic churches, war memorials and museums with our driver's daughter, Olena. We had an amazing day, and learned so much about this country and its rich history.

Olena is fluent in Russian, Ukrainian, German and English. She speaks English very well, and we really enjoyed learning about WWII, Stalin, Lenin, The Red Army, the Orange Revolution, and the history of this country’s religion, architecture and culture from a Ukrainian perspective. It was a priceless opportunity.

Some things we learned: While the eastern part of the country is heavily Russian-influenced, the western part (including the Carpathian mountains) has a distinct Austrian influence. The western part of Ukraine is also predominantly Catholic. The eastern part is predominantly Christian Orthodox.

There is really an interesting mixture of architecture here in Kiev. Some of the buildings are opulent with intricate detail (designed to show the greatness of the Soviet Union), some are utilitarian Stalinist structures, and there is also some very modern architecture—all mixed together. The older area of town by the new Parliament building is very beautiful and established, with lots of old buildings and big trees. The crocus are blooming here, and I am guessing the trees and bushes will begin to flower in the next month. They are just beginning to bud. The monastery we visited had a courtyard which will be full of roses this summer and lots of magnolia trees. I bet it is gorgeous here in late June.

There are a lot of parks and other areas for leisure. Everywhere you look there is something interesting!

Yesterday, the main street that runs in front of Independence Square was closed to cars (as it is every Saturday). This huge street, and people just strolling or skipping right down the middle. It was so great.Here is a statue which symbolizes victory from WWII:

And check out this gorgeous display of hand painted eggs:

More to come of Ukrainian culture, food, architecture, history, religion...

And ALINA!

A Song in My Heart, Feathers in My Hair

2010-04-10T00:45:00.014-04:00

We had the most amazing experience last night. There are truly no words to describe what we saw and how we felt as we stood in historic Saint Sophia's square and watched the open-air performance of a circus troupe from Marseille, France.

The experience is beyond description--we will never be able to fully capture with words or pictures, the sights, sounds and emotion of the night when acrobats dressed like angels emerged from the cathedral and flew across the square on high wires. What you see in the picture below are feathers, not snow. They were gorgeous, and people reached up, smiling and laughing, trying to catch them as they fell.

I had to choke back tears as we stood in that square, tucked in among thousands of Ukrainian nationals, trying to take a mental snapshot of this incredible, once-in-a-lifetime night. The people here are proud, and they should be. This is a beautiful and vibrant country. There are many intersecting layers to the past, present and future of Ukraine. There is a very rich history with both tough and uplifting aspects.

This is the life our little girl comes from. It is a life that--unfortunately, for some reasons--is not in her future, but is part of her nonetheless. And now it is part of us. We will take her home with a great respect and appreciation for both her country and ours. We would never have had these moments, these deep and incredibly meaningful moments, if it were not for her and this journey.

We are so happy that so many of you are taking it along with us. We are all enriched through it...

Pieces of Life Here

2010-04-09T17:00:00.000-04:00

We picked up the official referral paperwork today which allows us to meet Alina! There are street vendors right near the SDA building, and we asked our driver if he could wait a few minutes so that we could to do a little bit of shopping. We found a few items to take back home for the kids and for Alina's memory box.

Small Ukrainian flags and colored pencils in the style of the traditional Matryoshka dolls are a few of the items we decided on yesterday. Bartering with the street vendors was interesting. In the end, we got a small discount...not a substantial one :). We had a wonderful time browsing items of particular meaning to this country and it's rich culture. I plan to take more pictures of some of the shops and vendors so others can see what we're seeing. This is a beautiful, fascinating country!

Cost of food in Ukraine

2010-04-09T05:38:00.006-04:00

An interesting look at groceries here:

Huge bottle of water (6 liters): $2.38

Large bottles of beer (16 ounces): 52 cents each

Pepsi Light (12 ounces): 61 cents

Small bottle of Evian water (16 ounces): $2.50

Small container of instant coffee (Nestle): $7.50

Imported products are expensive in general. But groceries are really inexpensive.

Eating out is much less expensive than eating in the larger, metropolitan areas in the States, like NYC or Chicago. Dinner here in Kiev, for example: A whole pizza; salad of tomato, basil and fresh mozzarella cheese, 1 large beer, 1 glass of pinot grigio and 2 cappucinos...$35. Drinks are very inexpensive, compared to in the States. Maybe that is why many, many people drink beer with meals (?). You can also find meals for much less than this example.

The news is good on this front. There are plenty of great options for food in Kiev...and the price is right :)! Be patient and adventurous with your food choices. You will find foods you enjoy here!

From Experience

2010-04-08T11:14:00.031-04:00

This post is for others coming to Kiev as part of the adoption process. While it is fresh, I wanted to jot down a few quick tips based on what we have experienced. This is very stream of consciousness, but hopefully it will be of help to some of you :)!

Each family will have a unique experience, but some of these things will be the same for everyone...

Have a contact person and phone number in case your flight plans change for some reason! Ask for one if it is not offered to you!

Don't be surprised if your accommodations here are not exactly what you were hoping for :). If you are really concerned about where you stay and have to have lush accommodations, you could always book a room at the Hyatt downtown...it is $550 a night!! Our apartment is not upscale at all, but the bed is comfy, the view is gorgeous and the location is good. It provides exactly what we need--a place to stay while we are here!

Toilet paper is not always available in restrooms, and when it is, it often feels like a paper towel. Just sayin'. Bring some if you need soft tp. Bring a couple of travel-sized rolls regardless for emergencies.

Tap water is not for drinking. Or for brushing your teeth. There is no ice (but most of the apartments have a small freezer, so pack an ice tray to fill with bottled water if you feel you must have ice). Many drinks are served warm and bottled water is often carbonated (if you are ordering in a restaurant, especially).

This city never sleeps. Everyone smokes. Everyone. (Okay, maybe not small children, but most everyone else.)

Kiev is BIG--around 3 or 4 million people! It is a little intimidating. It is also very beautiful and there is lots to do! We have found it to be relatively safe. Speak English quietly though, and behave conservatively. In other words, don't draw attention to yourself and shout "I'm not from here?!" Most people will know that anyway...there aren't a lot of foreign visitors...and apparently we stand out :), but it is wise not to be obvious in ways you can control.

Don't carry all your money with you and do not get into your money pouch in view of others. Carry a few hundred grivna with you at a time in your pocket or bag. Any other money or essential identification should be concealed.

For those wondering what to pack: The women here carry ornate or embellished bags and wear jackets with lots of detail. Their clothes and accessories are not plain or simple and are generally very fitted and feminine. People here like to dress up.

The women are wearing boots and trench coats or leather jackets--no flip flops or sandals or white sneakers (fashionable, European style sneakers, flats or comfy shoes are being worn but they are always dark and subtle). Bring at least one pair of comfortable shoes...you will be walking quite a bit...on uneven surfaces, etc. All of the women wear nylons or black tights with dresses, skirts or shorts and boots or very high heels. If you plan on having bare legs, bring nylons or tights. Black pencil skirts and black slacks are very common. A pop of color (yellow, purple, red, fuchsia) in a coat, bag or shoes seems to be in fashion. As is dyed hair...platinum blonde, dark black, red-red. If you are trying to fit in, I wouldn't suggest capri pants or jogging suits. **This changes as the seasons change! In the summer, women wear all kinds of clothing and shoes. Nylons are part of the dress code in the office, but nylons are not worn all the time in warm weather.

Men wear very similar clothing to what men in the States wear. They look more European, though...not a lot of running/gym shoes or sweatshirts, but rather stylish jeans, sweaters, button down shirts...that type of thing. We have seen zero shorts. On anyone. We have seen tight leather pants on many people...men and women...but that is another story altogether ;).

People seem to care about their appearance, but wear the same clothes over and over. When you look around, everyone appears to have worked at getting dressed. People are not sloppy. For sure.

You should be prepared to "pack light" but don't skimp on your essentials (like medicines and items absolutely necessary for comfort--a particular pillow or pair of shoes for example).

While you can purchase many things here, it might be tough to locate a store in which to purchase the item, and it is tough to read boxes/communicate with people. The facilitators could help you in a pinch, but do try to bring plenty of whatever you always use! I tried to pack travel sizes of some things and I should have known which things I did not want to run out of.

Consider cutting down your clothing items rather than other essentials. If you are packing gifts, pack small items.

Carry on a small bag that you can store under the seat in front of you with essentials, including Aleve, Advil, Tylenol, whatever works for aches and pains. Pack eye drops (it is dry in the plane), lip balm and gum or mints (your mouth will feel nasty, trust me!) in your carry on. Pack important papers, a pen, contact info. and passport in your carry on.

Make sure you buy a bottled water once you get past security and put it in your carry on as well...plus a few heavy duty snacks (like Clif bars), because it is easy to miss meals and you don't want to be hungry or thirsty. An eye mask and iPod or something with headphones is awesome for the long trip (the lights come on/people come over the P.A. and keep you awake otherwise).

carry-on essentials:
Travel toilet paper
Melatonin (or another sleep aide)
Tylenol, Motrin, Alleve or Excedrin Migraine
Eye drops (with redness relief and without)
Concealer...Lots of it ;)
Food/Water
Gum, mints, Colgate wisp disposable brushes
Notebook/Pen
Decongestant
Downy Wrinkle release
Hand sanitizer
Documents
Passports
List of important contacts
Sleep mask/travel pillow
iPod
adaptors (and an audio/video cable for an iPod)

Wear comfortable clothes for traveling! You will be in them for 24 hours! If there is space, bring an extra outfit in your carry on bags (yoga pants and cotton dresses are good choices for women--they roll well and take up little space).

A few other important tidbits: You will be given an "immigration card" on the plane on the way into Kiev (pronounced "KEEV' here). This is for customs. They have more at the airport if you need one for any reason, or if you don't get one on the plane. Don't stress about customs...it is easy and quick. The card you fill out is very basic. We did not fill in the line about Visas (they ask what type and for how long), but I don't think that applies to people who are adopting. It seemed to be fine. We put our facilitators address as our location in country. (We had no idea where we were staying!) They did not count our money or check our bags in the airport here. (Neither was checked at home, either...other than the usual security screening.)

Once you get your bags at the airport, you will exit through another set of doors toward ground transportation. That is where the driver will be waiting for you. (The customs and baggage claim areas are restricted.)

Have your driver write down the address of the hotel or apartment you are staying in. That way, if you should get lost or tired of walking, you can take a cab back!

If you go to restaurants, ask for an English menu right when you walk in. We have found that many places have these.

A few good links to have:

currency converter

sight-seeing

wood fired pizza--Pizzeria Napule on Mechnikova Street (yummy, a nice experience, also has a menu in English...and no mayo on the pizza! Very reasonable prices in a nice setting).

It is important to try to learn a few basic words and phrases in Russian. Even if your pronunciation is incorrect, people will appreciate your effort...and even a few basic words will greatly help your interactions here.

Words you should know (for sure...there are others to know, but these are a must):
One - "ah DEEN"
Two - "dvah"
Three - "tree"
This - "eh-tah"
That - "eh-tah"
Hi - PREEV-yet
Thank You - "spa-SEE-bah"
Please/You're Welcome - "pah-ZHAL-uh-sta"
Yes - "da"
No - "nyet"
How much? SKOL-ko"?
Coffee - KO-fee-ay
Water - VO-da
Goodbye - DAS-vee-dan-ya
Excuse me - iz-vee-nee-tee
Kiev - "KEEV"

A note about the markets...they are everywhere and most have a place to change money for you. You will only buy a few things at a time because you need to be able to easily carry your items to your apartment or hotel. If you see this item:buy it!! Our driver talked me into buying one and I wish I'd bought 12. It tastes like strawbery cheesecake, but is a frozen treat. YUM. If you like chocolate, you will love the selection here in the markets and elsewhere. If you drink Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi, look for Coke Light or Pepsi Light. There are plenty of beers and spirits in all the markets--way more than any other beverage by far :). Cheeses, pastries, and smoked or cured meats are all particularly good.

When you first go to the market, be sure to get a couple of large bottles of non-carbonated water. You will need it for drinking, making tea or coffee, and for brushing your teeth. Plan on purchasing at least:

-Milk ("moloko")
-Juice
-Items for sandwiches (lunchmeats, cheese, some type of bread)
-Fruit
-Yogurt
-Toilet paper--a few rolls
-A few snack items (chips and crackers are easy to find & cheap)

It is time for bed! I hope that helps...and I will add to this post when I think of other things!

**New:

Be careful on the streets and sidewalks! Watch where you are walking. It is easy to focus on looking around. You will get hit if you do this in the street or on the sidewalk. Trust me. Cars fly by and everyone walks pretty fast. The sidewalks and stairways are uneven and there are potholes and cracks all over the place. And people park (and drive!) on the sidewalks.

Other Packing Essentials (I will add to this as we go):

Beyond whatever clothes, toiletries and medicines you plan to bring, you should consider also bringing:

-At least one pair of very comfortable shoes
-For women--a season-appropriate scarf (to cover head if planning to visit churches, and to use as a scarf or wrap if needed)
-A large Ziploc bag with smaller baggies, a few rubber bands and paperclips
-Tape, scissors, gift bags, tissue paper, ribbon, pen, note cards and other wrapping items for small gifts
-Small food items that you may really appreciate having while you are away from home: Tea bags, oatmeal packets, soup packets, microwave popcorn, peanut butter, breakfast/protein bars, packets for water (Propel, Chrystal Light). We did not bring peanut butter, but many people do. I don't think you can get it here. I do wish we had brought microwave popcorn!

April 8, Post II

2010-04-08T08:09:00.008-04:00

We have been busy trying to find our way around Kiev and taking in some of the sights of this amazing city. It is huge! I have lots of photos to share later today (and some information for families traveling here), but the big news for now is that our SDA appointment is finished! Here is a picture of the SDA building:

And a picture of the side-door entrance we were taken through:

Our meeting was very quick. We sat down at a small round table with our facilitator and the representative from the SDA. Our dossier and Alina's file were on the table. We were asked to show our passports, then asked about our family (if we have children of our own already) and why we would want to adopt a child with special needs. We showed a few pictures of the kids, our house, and a few of just Bridget. The woman with the SDA smiled and said (through our translator), "It looks like children with special needs are well cared for where you live." It seems like she understood right away that Bridget is a valued member of our family. We also told her that Bridget and Alina are less than 9 months apart, and that we think having each other will be very special and important for them. She smiled again when she heard that.

We were then read some information from Alina's file: Her parents abandoned her at the hospital when they realized she had Down syndrome. She has no siblings and has a very small Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), which incidentally, is exactly what Bridget had. (Bridget's ASD was tiny and had closed by her first birthday. We do not know if Alina's is closed yet.) That was it. The whole meeting took about 5 minutes. We go back tomorrow afternoon to pick up her official referral paperwork.

It does not look like we will be able to meet Alina until Monday. Many things are closed on Saturdays, and social workers are not working, so we cannot have our first visit at the orphanage until the beginning of next week. We will leave on Sunday for her town. We still do not know if we will travel by train or car...all of our arrangements are made for us. We just wait for the call :).

Although we're disappointed that we won't get to see Alina this weekend, the extra few days means that we will have a little bit more time here in Kiev to explore (and there is way too much to see in the short amount of time we were originally scheduled to be here!). We need to do any sight-seeing now--next time we are here, we will have a toddler :)! Kiev is a unique combination of historic and modern structures. It is an international city and is very vibrant and interesting.

Today on the way to the SDA, we passed the Parliament buildings and Saint Sophia's cathedral (which is over 1,000 years old). The SDA is next door to another beautiful, old church. Our facilitator took this picture of Chris and I in front of it:

I've saved the best for last. It is a BABY PICTURE OF ALINA!! For other families coming here, bring a wallet-sized photo of your child and they will trade you for the picture in your child's file (most often a baby picture). This is a picture of a picture--so the quality is not great, but we are thrilled to have it! Here is our little sweetie when she was tiny:

Big Day Today

2010-04-08T08:00:00.001-04:00

Our appointment with the State Department of Adoptions (SDA) is today at 12:30 pm. Our driver is picking us up at 11:30, even though the SDA is not too far from where we are staying. It is imperative that we are not late :)!

We will get to see our complete dossier as well as Alina's file (including her baby picture), and will get to hear more about her background and the circumstances which left her without a family to call her own. We may get information about her current condition and any health or developmental issues...or we may not. We have no idea what to expect in that regard...all we know about Alina is what is listed on Reece's Rainbow.

We will get our official referral hopefully by Friday afternoon, and then will head to her region to meet her!

The Adventure of a Lifetime

2010-04-07T02:03:00.008-04:00

We woke up this morning and can see clearly that we have been dropped right in the middle of Kiev :).

We arrived in the dark late last night. After a good rest, I can finally see straight enough to post here:)!

I can say already that this is (by far) the craziest thing I have ever done. I am feeling very much out of my element and comfort zone, but I'm excited. I very much like having a plan, and an idea of where I am and what to expect. Chris, on the other hand, loves all the unknowns and flying by the seat of his pants. He is having the time of his life.

I will try to post a couple of times each day with some interesting details of our trip. For the other families on their way over here--this part of the process is exhilarating and exhausting, fascinating and humbling. All I can say is: be prepared for an adventure :).

Details from yesterday:

After being in transit for over 24 hours (including a 1 1/2 hour flight from Columbus to Chicago; an 8 hour flight from Chicago to Munich--with 2 extra hours on the runway due to a weather delay--which caused us to miss our connection in Munich, hence the ensuing 6 hour wait in the Munich airport; and a 2 hour flight to Kiev), we landed at 11 pm Kiev time. Getting through customs was fairly quick and easy.

Our driver, who was waiting for us at the airport, gave us a cell phone with pre-loaded numbers for our contacts here in Ukraine. He took us to the market (a story in itself!--where we bought a little bit of fruit, cheese, lunchmeat, yogurt, Coke light, juice, bottled water and beer), then brought us to our apartment(s). (He actually brought us to the apartment we were supposed to have...and there was someone already in it...which we discovered at 1 am, after climbing 5 flights of stairs with all of our bags. After some calling around--and waking our facilitator--we found another place to stay. The great news is that Plan B has an internet connection...the other unit did not)...and we were able to connect via Skype with Jennie, Sara and Bridget before bed. We hope to have a video call with the rest of the group today.

Here is the view out of our top-floor window:

We are waiting for a call from our facilitator with our plan for today and tomorrow. We are hoping to take a walk down the street and check out some of the shops and restaurants nearby.

Nancy--we have the same cell phone and apartment that you used :). Nikolai says hi to you and Sveta!

Kristin, Jen and others traveling soon--I have written a list of essential items for the flight and important details to know for the beginning of your stay here. I will try to get that to you today or tomorrow.

We miss everyone! We are feeling good overall, though, and are ready to get this show on the road. I'll post again later today...

Getting Closer

2010-04-06T12:13:00.001-04:00

We are in the Munich airport on our way to Kiev, Ukraine! Our appointment with the State Department of Adoptions is on Thursday, April 8th, and then we will travel by train to Alina's town. We hope to meet her on Saturday :).

Leaving Soon :)

2010-03-24T18:31:00.004-04:00

We found out today that we will be leaving in less than 2 weeks for Alina's country! Our appointment with the State Department of Adoptions is on Thursday, April 8th. We are thrilled and overwhelmed at the same time. There is so much to do!

It is hard to believe that we are so close to meeting our new daughter.

We are enjoying a few quiet and relaxed days at the beach before we come home to finish preparing for our (even bigger) trip.

Please keep us in your thoughts as we move forward in the final phase of our journey to Alina...

Making a Difference

2010-03-19T09:30:00.003-04:00

The Starfish Story

adapted from The Star Thrower
by Loren Eiseley (1907-1977)

Loren Eiseley was an anthropologist who wrote extensively. This story has appeared all over the web in various forms, usually without credit given. Sometimes it is a little girl throwing the starfish into the ocean, sometimes a young man, once even an elderly Indian. In any form, it is a beautiful story and one that resonates with people all over the world.

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."

Nesting

2010-03-17T12:38:00.001-04:00

How many rolls of toilet paper can I cram into my laundry room cupboards? It looks like we are going to find out!

I can't seem to shake the nesting instinct, and I am stocking my house as though we will be unable to get supplies of any kind until next Christmas :). I even pulled out--and used--the steam cleaner that has been sitting in our upstairs hall closet for the past two years gathering dust. (I knew there was a reason I purchased that thing!)

We are only 3 1/2 months into our paper pregnancy, but we're already within weeks of meeting our newest little one. In a typical pregnancy, I am just beginning to get over the morning sickness.

I may not be posting much over the next couple of weeks, although I will certainly post any big news, such as a travel date ;).

We are headed south for a family vacation, where we'll spend most of our time building a huge sandcastle, enjoying the sunshine (and each other!) and collecting seashells. Just what the doctor ordered :)...

Our Little Blondie...

2010-03-15T12:00:00.002-04:00

...needs us. Soon. Look at this sweet little face. We are lucky to have a new picture of Alina. Her head is still shaved, but from the little bit that has grown out, it appears she is a blonde...something new for our family :).

Pictures of orphans are functional in nature, for the purposes of documentation. I can't wait to photograph her through a parent's loving eyes, taking care to capture an expression that reveals a little bit about who she is. (I hope she doesn't mind having her picture taken, because I am sure it will be like having the paparazzi over here when she comes home.)

Right now, Alina is an orphan, with nothing of her own--no family of her own, dressed in someone's old clothes. She hasn't known what it means to be able to trust that someone will always be there for her. She hasn't known what it means to be valued as an individual. It breaks my heart to see that in this picture, even though we already knew it.

We cannot wait to hold her and love her and tell her she's finally home. We cannot wait to get her into our arms and begin to restore her to the child she should always have been.

We are ready to begin our new journey. I hope she is ready for us :)...

Now, the Wait Begins...

2010-03-11T06:37:00.003-05:00

I woke up to find a message from our facilitator in Alina's country saying that our dossier has been officially submitted! So we are just waiting to hear a travel date, now :). It will be several weeks before we know when we will get to meet Alina, but still, we're over-the-moon happy to reach this huge adoption milestone.

Thank you so much for all the prayers and well wishes. We are so blessed!

2010-03-10T08:49:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday Alina! We're coming for you soon...

Blink

2010-03-08T22:00:00.005-05:00

It is amazing how much a person can process in the blink of an eye. When we react quickly to something, we often say we are acting on instinct. We also use the word intuition. But it's more than that.

When you blink something, your subconscious mind assesses, calculates and concludes something, and then alerts your conscious mind to a decision--thoughts, emotion, knowledge and experience all come together to give you direction, or to give you an answer.

We've been asked how we came so quickly to the decision to adopt Alina.

Did we fall in love at first sight? What was it about her that tugged so strongly at our hearts? Did we thoroughly discuss all aspects of adding another child to our family before committing to adopt her? Did we mull over the pros and cons of international adoption? Did we consider what impact adopting another child with special needs would have on our family, and on our other children?

I knew as soon as I saw her sweet little face that we were going to be Alina's forever family. I couldn't imagine having her ornament on our Christmas tree each year, always wondering if she was healthy, or warm, or smiling, or feeling loved. Chris was drawn to her, too. But the short and most complete answer to the question of how we arrived at our decision: we blinked it.

Without sorting out each issue individually, Chris and I both synthesized a large amount of information in a very short period of time. We knew our hearts--and our instincts--were telling us to bring Alina home to us. Luckily, we came to the same conclusion and neither of us felt the need to consider our options for an extended period of time. We both knew that the blink was right.

We have talked since about all of the things which we both knew when we decided that we would be Alina's yes.

Her picture--the only one we have of her, still:

The version on the left is what we saw on Reece's Rainbow. It is not a good picture, quality or otherwise. Alina's expression is blank, her head is shaved and her little lips are really chapped. But through that picture, we both saw a diamond in the rough. We took that picture and mentally dusted it off. And what we saw beneath was a beautiful, amazing and able little girl.

It was an absolute blessing that the picture looked yellowed and grainy. It made us stop and notice her.

This little girl needs a family and she will be overlooked because of this picture, was all I could think when I first saw it, so I went to work right away on color correcting and lightly editing the photo (version #2, on the right).

Chris and I were looking at a picture of a little girl who is considered "severely disabled" in her society simply because she has Down syndrome, and we know that she was most likely abandoned because of that diagnosis. We both saw so much potential in Alina and know that she deserves opportunity and happiness as much as anyone else. We have the desire and ability to offer her the chance to pursue her dreams.

We have no idea what she is able to do at this point in her life, and it really doesn't matter how independent she is, or how she is limited. We aren't looking at her thinking, What can she do for us? We're focused on what we can do for her. We know she will add her own light to our group and enrich us all in ways we could never imagine. Love adds--it never takes away. We both firmly believe that.

We have a first-hand example--in Bridget--and know that people with Down syndrome have many abilities. Alina is sure to have her own set of challenges and skills. We all do.

Alina is just a little bit younger than Bridget. We have researched therapies, medical care, financial planning, education, nutrition, etc. for Bridget and have already found our way through many aspects of having a child with Down syndrome.

We have a wonderful pediatrician and school system. We are surrounded with people who care about our family and who believe in us--and in our commitment to living a life filled with love.

We already have a house full. What is one more :)? And we already have a child with Ds. That's no big deal for us.

We have the benefit of knowing that having Bridget as a sibling has only enhanced the lives of our other children. They adore her. They all quickly agreed that Alina would be welcome and well-loved here, with us.

In the blink of an eye, all of these things came to mind. We knew right away that we we're taking a gigantic leap of faith.

We know now that it is also a giant leap of love.

En Route to Paris!

2010-02-27T10:00:00.001-05:00

...our dossier that is :)! We were able to mail it yesterday to Alina's country!

In the package: 32 documents--including our completed homestudy report, verification of employment, proof of home ownership, medical certificates, marriage certificate, copies of our passports, police clearances, Power of Attorney documents (3), 2008 tax return, copies of licenses for professionals who signed our forms and several other petitions and forms--each one notarized, then certified by our county, then certified by the State of Ohio.

In the past two months, it seems like we have not stopped moving. On our way to get our new daughter, every day counts. We can't get to her fast enough.

There have been many days recently when we have truly felt like contestants on The Amazing Race...and I have the best partner.

Chris was in South Carolina yesterday morning and was due home in the afternoon. His flight was delayed--and he had hoped to be home in time to finish a few last certifications and mail our package by the end of the day--so he had a friend drive him 1 1/2 hours to a different airport and caught a flight that would get him home in time (THANK YOU, JOHN!). Chris did not give me details until he was already home, but apparently there was nowhere to stop for gas and their car was on EMPTY for the last 10 miles of the trip. Chris got to the airport just 20 minutes before the flight left, but he made it home. (Alina will never have to wonder if her daddy loved her right from the start. He has done everything he could possibly do, without once questioning or hesitating, to get to her as fast as we can.)

If it were up to us, we would have boarded a plane the day we committed to be Alina's family. But there are plenty of steps in the process that we cannot control.

There have been many people who have helped us along the way, and a few who have unintentionally held us up. There have been things that have gone in our favor, and also some things that have created hurdles. But our paperwork is on the way--finally--and we are thrilled!

As I tried to get a picture of our dossier leaving for Alina's country, Bridget jumped into the picture. She knew that there was a huge flurry of activity and lots of excitement over here yesterday, but she has no idea how the package behind her is going to change her life :)...
Alina, your wait for a family is almost over! We'll be there before you know it :).

A Leap of Faith

2010-02-25T17:30:00.012-05:00

Having a child is always a leap of faith. We never really know what the future holds for any of our children, whether they are our biological children or adopted children. We can't plan for future diagnoses, illnesses, accidents, surgeries, and so on. We also can't plan for the untold joys and rewards of knowing, loving or raising any child.

Granted, there are some things we can do to reduce our risk of heartache, but the reality is that we either live in constant fear and uncertainty of the unknown and unwanted, or we can choose to live in peace, understanding that there is good in every person and every circumstance--even when we might not first see it there.

We have not yet met Alina, and we have been asked a few times whether we think this process is worth the risk. Chris and I both feel that she is absolutely worth the risk. We are not just offering Alina a life with a loving family, we are saving her life. We are not concerned about facing uncertainty and don't fear hardship in bringing her into our family. We don't need to know all the details of the future to know that every person has worth and much to offer--and that we are absolutely prepared to care for Alina and to welcome her as our own.

What we do know is that Alina is almost three years old and has Down syndrome. We know she was most likely abandoned because of her diagnosis. We know very little else about her. We have just the one picture we first saw on Reece's Rainbow (RR), where her head has been shaved and her sweet little face shows no expression.

We don't know details about her parents yet, or why they chose to give her up. We don’t know anything about her personality or habits, or what condition we’ll find her in when we arrive in her country in a few months.

We are hoping for the best, but are preparing for every possible scenario.

We know that Alina needs the love, comfort and security of a family. We know that she will need good medical care and good nutrition when she comes home. She will most likely also need extra developmental support.

We know that she should be somewhere where her hair is never again shaved for convenience. We know that she deserves opportunities, and that she should be smiling, and laughing, and safe in the arms of her family.

We realize that we will be meeting Alina in her “raw” form—without having had the benefit of a loving home, early intervention, good nutrition, etc., and that her potential is huge.

We have loved learning about Bridget and getting to experience life through a "different" lens. Her Ds diagnosis means that some things are unique to her because of that diagnosis, but parenting Bridget is very much like raising any of our other children.

When we found RR and saw all of the children who have been abandoned because of a diagnosis of Down syndrome, our hearts broke. We see so much potential in ALL of these children. Knowing what we know now (through Bridget) we see diamonds in the rough in every little face on RR.

We are not expecting that Alina will be just like Bridget. We really have no idea how healthy she will be, what her personality is like, or what she will be able to do. As is true with life in general, there are no guarantees for us in the adoption process.

And while we don't know what we will find when we finally get to meet Alina, we do know that while others may sell her short because she has Down syndrome, we will not. She is a human being with dignity and worth. She deserves to have the same opportunities and care as anyone else--and we plan to offer her the world.

WE ARE APPROVED :)

2010-02-23T13:45:00.004-05:00

The fact that I have not updated my adoption timeline (on the sidebar) for a few weeks does not mean that things haven't been happening. It does mean, though, that I have not been able to write about those things. (I'll explain more on that in another post.)

Our big news is that we are very close to being able to mail our dossier to Alina's country. We have received our approval from USCIS (Citizenship and Immigration) to adopt internationally. This means that we are one (giant) step closer to traveling to meet Alina and bring her home :)!!

We will be very busy the next several days getting the appropriate certifications and approvals on the remainder of our documents for our dossier packet to send overseas.

Thank you so much for all of the good wishes and prayers. We are so blessed...

Heroes Among Us

2010-02-16T17:56:00.003-05:00

Reece's Rainbow founder Andrea Roberts will be featured in this week's People Magazine, in a section called "Heroes Among Us". The edition will be available Friday, February 19th. This is a wonderful opportunity for others to learn about Andrea and all she is doing through Reece's Rainbow--and to get the word out about the plight of orphans with special needs in Eastern Europe. Please check it out!

Where There is Light, There is Love

2010-02-11T15:00:00.003-05:00

***

And where there is darkness, there is also light.

There need only be a tiny sliver of an opening

for the light to enter and envelop all in its path.

***

A Home for Sofia :)!

2010-01-28T12:30:00.006-05:00

We are so excited that the Sanchez family will be joining us in the International Adoption Process :).

They have just announced that they'll be bringing beautiful Sofia home!

Please stop by their family blog and their adoption blog and check out the story of how they found Sofia and made the decision to be her forever family.

Sofia is currently living in an orphanage in the same country we will be visiting to get Alina. She will turn one on February 21st of this year. (Her birthday was initially listed as 2/21/08 on RR, but was incorrect.) She was born in 2009, which is wonderful as it means more time for early intervention and for her family to love her!

Please visit their blogs to hear the rest of the details, to shower them with good wishes, or to sponsor their adoption journey.

I Need to Buy Stock in Maybelline...

2010-01-22T19:00:00.002-05:00

...or stop wearing mascara altogether.

I've had my moments of calm in the past month since we committed to adopt Alina, and I've also shed more tears than any other month on record. That doesn't mean that I'm not happy and hopeful, it just means that many things have touched me very deeply.

I realized recently that Alina has not only spent her whole life without a family to love her, but also that she very likely has not one earthly possession--no clothes, no pictures, no special toys of her own.

Not that it is important to have "things"--but to not have anything--well, it really puts things in perspective.

This little girl has no idea how much she is already loved. She has a bed waiting, already dressed with special, new, pretty bedding just for her. Her Grammy and Papa got her a soft toy to cuddle, and we've bought a few new velvety soft, satin-trimmed blankets to wrap her in. Cute and comfy outfits have been lovingly tucked in packing cubes to take on our journey, along with small toys and books to entertain and (hopefully) keep her attention. Russian-language lullabies played in Bridget's bedroom while she slept today, as I recorded the track numbers of songs we'll load on an iPod to bring and play for her new little sister.

Most importantly, a family--and a lifetime of love--awaits her arrival, here, half way around the world from where she was born. We'll honor her heritage, and we will cherish her. Our hearts are full of joy and hope as we prepare to bring her home.

Spring can't come soon enough.

Nadine's Family!

2010-01-18T15:56:00.003-05:00

I'm so happy to introduce Nadia's (Nadine's) new family! The Ferguson's also have an older daughter with Down syndrome, plus two boys :). Please go check out their blog and follow their journey to get their beautiful new daughter.

Baby House 20

2010-01-12T12:00:00.005-05:00

There are two other precious little girls from Alina's baby home who were listed with her on Reece's Rainbow.

NADINE...has a forever family as of 1/10/10 :)!!!

ANNE MARIE...is still waiting :(

Anne Marie (20)
Girl, Born November 25, 2005
I have $1075 in my grant fund towards the cost of my adoption!

Here is her write-up from the Reece's Rainbow website:

Oh someone, see past this little bald head! They shaved them for the summer months! Blonde hair with dark blue eyes, this muffin needs a mama of her own! Miss Anne Marie does have a heart murmur that should be checked once home. But I can't wait to see her with her long blonde hair, and a sparkle in her beautiful blue eyes. Contact Andrea directly for more information.

I have not yet heard who has committed to Nadine, but I am waiting patiently to find out. We are so thrilled for her and hope we can meet her family!

So who is traveling with us to go get Miss Anne Marie? She will be five in November, and she is in desperate need of a family to step forward for her. There is already $1,075 in her grant fund, plus the incentive of a $12,700 tax credit (yes, that is credit, not deduction) for 2010 special needs adoptions. We are already well into our adoption process for Alina, and I promise to provide guidance and information to whoever commits to bring Anne Marie home. (We already have tons of valuable tips and suggestions, and will know even more about travel to this specific location soon.) Look at those eyes and that sweet little face...someone go get her!

Merry Christmas, Alina!

2010-01-07T23:00:00.000-05:00

Today is Christmas for you, Alina, and we are celebrating by mailing the first document to your country to let them know we are coming for you!

Your Daddy and I are literally running to get everything done that is being asked of us before we can travel and bring you home.

We are making progress every single day.

We are so excited to travel, to meet you and learn all about your country.

There are also lots and lots of other people here in the United States that are waiting patiently to meet you and to love you :).

You are in our hearts and plans today and all days.

Merry Christmas, sweet little one. We'll be there soon...

**Christmas in Alina's country is celebrated January 7 according to the Gregorian calendar, as in most of other Orthodox Christian countries**

Our Special New Light

2009-12-25T20:15:00.000-05:00

You're half a world away, and yet
Your little light has led us straight to you.

Can you possibly know how much you are loved
and wanted
Or how we ache to hold you
and soothe you and enjoy you?

Our hearts are full, overflowing with hope. The sting of your absence will soon be gone, filled with--and replaced by--you.

We're learning all about your country, your language, and the types of food you may enjoy. We look forward to beginning some new family traditions in your honor. Soon, the little girl in our dreams and prayers will be part of our family, part of our lives forever. We can't wait to learn all about you.

Merry Christmas, sweet Alina.
We're working as fast as we can to get you home.
Next year, we'll look back and remember how we waited
to hold you and to shower you with gifts and love.

Tonight, on Christmas, we send up a humble prayer:

Thank you, Dear Creator, for our special new light.
Please keep her well
Until she is here,
smiling, content and safe in our arms.

Ready. Set. Go!

2009-12-19T13:00:00.000-05:00

We've been busy this past week (and I've updated our sidebar with an Adoption Timeline which shows some of the things we have been doing)! We know that there is a little girl out there who needs us, so we hit the ground running. I feel like a contestant on the Amazing Race!

Since we had not considered adoption before finding Alina, we were not at all prepared for the mass amount of paperwork and details which are part of adopting internationally. We are getting acclimated quickly, though, and have found incredible support within the Down syndrome and Reece's Rainbow communities, and from friends and family.

We firmly believe that we were meant to find Alina--and to welcome her into our hearts and home--and are touched that so many others feel that way as well.

We are looking for current pictures and updates on Alina, and hope that we will have more information soon. We have finally figured out where she is living (and therefore where we will be visiting!), and have been in contact with other families who are adopting from the same orphanage.

Our home study is scheduled to begin when we return from our holiday travels. We have a lot to do in the next few months, but we are excited and ready to do whatever is necessary. I'll post here with new details and updates.

~Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season filled with peace and love~

Welcome!

2009-12-12T11:00:00.000-05:00

This post marks the beginning of our journey through international adoption to bring Alina home! We are so excited :)!

We have a large and close family with five children already: Sara (14), Kyle (12), Brian (10), Emmy (7), and Bridget (3). Bridget was diagnosed with Down syndrome at birth. Although the diagnosis came as a shock, we have found that Down syndrome itself is not something to fear. We adore Bridget. We see her potential and hope to help her share her special light with others.

We were not initially looking to adopt a child, but wanted to make a donation to Reece's Rainbow for their annual Angel Tree fundraiser as a part of our holiday giving and Down syndrome advocacy efforts. We found Alina's picture and began to feel as though our lives were about to change. We soon realized that we were a perfect match for her, and quickly made the commitment to bring her home as soon as possible :).

We know that there will be challenges along the way, and that our path is full of uncertainty. We also know that what's most important is worth fighting for, and that there will be untold rewards. We move forward with hope and joyful anticipation of Alina's arrival.

Here is our family profile from the Reece's Rainbow website:

Chris and Lisa met at The Ohio State University in the fall of 1988, on the first day of classes during Lisa’s freshman year. Chris was a senior at the time. They married four and a half years later and now have five children ranging from 3-14 years in age.

Their youngest child, Bridget, was diagnosed with Down syndrome at birth. Although they were previously unaware of Bridget’s diagnosis, they quickly came to understand that she is truly perfect, and perfect for them. Bridget is now three-and-a-half years old and is thriving. Lisa wrote a chapter for the book Gifts, 2, about Bridget and all she has brought to their lives. The entire family is involved in Down syndrome advocacy efforts. Lisa also writes and manages Bridget's Light, a blog about life with Bridget.

The Peele family was not initially looking to expand, but rather visited Reece’s Rainbow to donate for the Angel Tree fundraiser. They came across Alina’s picture and noticed that she looks a lot like Bridget. Lisa and Chris were immediately drawn to her. Lisa looked up the meaning of “Alina” to discover that her name means “light”—a major theme in their lives thus far.

They also realized that Bridget would benefit from having another sibling with Down syndrome so close in age, and that the whole family was entirely prepared to welcome Alina. Together, they decided that not only could they manage another child, but that Alina herself was meant for them, and they for her.

Chris and Lisa both feel that the events of the past 15 years have prepared them for Alina and for their journey of international adoption.

They were ready to commit to adopting her, and wanted to make sure the rest of the kids were in agreement.

The older Peele children are sensitive and compassionate and excited to welcome another sibling with Down syndrome. “This little girl needs a family, and we are the perfect family for her,” said Kyle (12). A show of hands at the dinner table was unanimous to make Alina part of the family and bring her home as soon as possible.

As a group, the family has decided to keep her name. They think “Alina” is beautiful and meaningful. They also know that she will need to adjust to many new aspects of life soon, and would like for her feel some comfort in being known by her given name.

“Alina” is a variation of Eileen, which is particularly special, as it is the middle name of Lisa’s aunt Denise, her mom’s sister. Alina’s middle name will be Caroline--after another very special family member who passed away in 1997.

Alina’s arrival in the United States is greatly anticipated by immediate and extended family and a large network of friends. She will be loved, cherished, and offered every opportunity to live a full, healthy and happy life.

Her adoptive family is committed to giving her everything she needs to fulfill her potential and her hopes, whatever each may be. They look forward, with happy hearts, to learning more about her and helping to make her dreams come true.

Alina \a-li-na: means “light”. Origin Meaning: Arabic Noble, beautiful; Celtic Fair, beautiful; Chinese Big Bright Eyes, Yes definitely beautiful!; Dutch Outgoing; Gaelic Bright, noble, smart; German Diminutive of Adilene, From the Old German "Athal" meaning noble; Greek Light, beautiful; Irish Beautiful; Latin Of the nobility; Polish Beautiful, Bright, kind; Russian Scarlet (color, connoted in Russian with hope and anticipation of happiness); Slavic Noble, Kind; Teutonic Noble smart; Romanian To heal.

Caroline: “Joy. Song of happiness.”

Please keep us in your thoughts. Prayers and good wishes are welcome and appreciated for Alina: for her continued health, safety and comfort; and for us: for energy as we work through the details of her adoption, and for patience in waiting to bring her home.

We invite you to follow along and share in our joy as we become a family of eight!