Gotcha Day

As I sit here on this cold Alabama day my mind can't help but drift back to that VERY COLD day in Moscow, Russia one year ago.  I remember it like it was yesterday, and yet it seems so very long ago. Dad and I didn't sleep much the night before - the key lag is brutal - but even without the jet lag, I don't think that I would have been able to sleep much.

We had arrived the afternoon before and my heart was already beating a little too fast.  I had packed and prepared as much as I could.  I had two extra suitcases (other than the one with my clothes for the week).  One was filled with gifts for the orphanage workers and all the people in Russia who had helped us on our journey in Moscow.  The other was filled with clothes for Maggie and food, formula, diapers, etc.  I didn't know what would like to eat so I packed a variety of things - luckily she liked pretty much everything we gave her.

Dad and I met Vlad early in the morning and headed to get Maggie.  It had been snowing on and off since we got there and the snow only got worse the longer we stayed.  I didn't care how cold or snowy it was - I just wanted to get to that orphanage. I didn't know how the "handover" would be and it was storage - took less than 15 minutes.  We went into the orphanage director's office and I gave a caretaker the clothes I brought for her.  I also gave them all the gifts I had brought for them.  Before we knew it, Maggie was there.  She looked hysterical in the huge snowsuit that I brought for her - it was way too big but it was all I could find.

When I see that picture I can't help but laugh.  I had also brought her tights, a dress, a sweater (with a hood) and booties.  She had all that on under the red snowsuit!  And when I got her back to the hotel and started stripping her down, I saw that they had left on another layer of tights and an undershirt.  I guess they thought that she would be cold!!  But I am thankful that they left those clothes on her because I have them and I can show them to her one day.  

We left the orphanage almost as soon as we arrived and headed back to the hotel.  Maggie was probably very scared.  She sat in my lap ( there are no carseats in Russia) and was still and silent - a far cry from her behavior in the car now!!!!  Dad and Vlad were up front in the car and I just cuddled with my baby girl.  She was MINE and I would never have to leave her in that orphanage again.  

When we got to the hotel, we went up to the room to play and just hang out.  Dad took this picture as we were walking into our room.  It is still one of my favorites.

Right after that picture was taken is when she lost it.   She started crying uncontrollably.  I had never seen much of any emotion out of her.  She seemed scared of dad and didn't know what was going on. Dad decided that he would leave and let me handle it.  Within about 3-4 minutes I had her settled down and smiling - even laughing.  This picture was within 20 minutes of that initial meltdown.  

The rest of the week is somewhat of a blur.  I went to a lot of Russian office buildings - one to get her new birth certificate with Ted and me listed as "mother" and "father" and another to get her Russian passport.  I also went to the American embassy to get my big manilla folder with all the important documents I would need to get her back to the United States.  

So today as I think about what I am thankful for, I cannot get past that little girl.  I am thankful for her broth mother who gave her life.  I am thankful for the doctors and nurses in the hospital who took care of her before she went to the orphanage.  I am thankful to the orphanage director who did the best he could and ran a pretty good orphanage.  I am thankful for her caretakers who clearly loved her and taught her how to love back.   No the journey was not easy - and yes, we have our days like with any other child.  But she is MINE.  Always and forever.

Our latest bike rider

He's not 100% by himself but he's got the balance part down.  All that's left is starting and stopping.  It isn't going to take him long!

Snapshots

Here is what we have been doing this week in snapshots:

1.  Working with Ward on his spelling words.  Pretty hard for 2nd grade I think.  Hard work paid off!

2.  Working on my list of "activities" for these little fellas who will appear after we get home from Thanksgiving.

3.  My latest addiction.  I just can't stop.  They are too delicious.



4.  Advent starts the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  Gotta get the Advent calendar ready to go.  This one uses stickers and they kids got it from church.  Not nearly as elaborate as the one I usually use, but we may go with it this year!



5.  Indian headdresses.  Enough said there.



6.  T-R-O-U-B-L-E.

7.  Two of my little Indians who can't wait until Thanksgiving!

A few things

A few things from today:

1.  Mammogram - It was a total non-event.  I can't believe that I spent one minute worrying about it.  It did not hurt at all.  I should know the results within the week.  Praying all is well.  If so, I don't have to do it again until I am 40!

2.  I had a date with this little man.  He makes me happy (most of the time).

When I picked him up from school he requested Michael Jackson on the radio and sang "Billie Jean" at the top of his lungs.  I love him to pieces - even if he is my "hardest" child.

3.  Last night mom and dad came over for a surprise visit.  Maggie was so happy to see them and she loved having Cher Cher read to her.  It makes my heart melt.  And to think that she was sitting in an orphanage this time last year.  Oh how far we've come!

4.  Preschool pictures make me laugh.  The props are terrible and so are the fake backgrounds.  They are so forced and you can tell that the kids don't want anything to do with it, but for some reason I always feel like I have to buy a few . . . if just to remember this short time in their lives.  This year they did one of Sam and Maggie together.  It is priceless!  The face Maggie is making makes me laugh and Sam's hand around her waist!  And they look like they are sitting on an overturned wicker trashcan!  Too funny!!!

Ann Park's First Reconcililation

Ann Park had her First Reconciliation this morning.  For those of you non-Catholics, that's confession.  It is the second sacrament she receives (first being baptism) on her way to First Communion this spring.  She was very excited and it was a special day for all.

Right afterwards - giving her the "robe" just like the father did in the story of the Prodigal Son

Reading her a special prayer

Mommy going in for a kiss!

Getting a candle (this year they were smart and went with battery-operated candles!)

Sweet girl (I look soooo tired!  Depressing!)

Ward is pumped to be here, as you can clearly tell in this picture

It meant a lot to Ann Park that Grandmom was there for her!

TMI

As the title of this post suggests, there is going to be a little too much information in this post about me and "woman matters."  So if you are one of my 5 readers and you don't want to know stuff like that about me, just skip this post.  Don't worry, you're not really missing anything.  And it will be short.  I just need to vent . . .

Not really vent, but to get something off my chest (ha!) and say that I am soooooo nervous for Monday because I am having my first mammogram.  It makes my stomach turn a little bit just to type it.  To be honest, I should have gotten one last year when I was 35.  I basically came up with a bunch of excuses why I could just wait - because breast cancer has never been in my family, "they" used to recommend that you get your first one at 40 (now they say 35), etc.  But I know that I need to do it.  I feel like I hear that someone has breast cancer way too often.  And one of my friends (whose mom, aunt and grandmother have ALL had breast cancer) just found out that she had "the gene" and just had a double mastectomy.  Seriously.  Breast cancer is not a joking matter and I know it.

So I am going to have my breast touched by a stranger/nurse and smooshed until they are pancakes by a machine.  No, I am not looking forward to it AT ALL.  But I know that it could save my life.  And looking at the faces of my four children husband, I know that it is worth it.

Sunday fun

It was so gorgeous last weekend in Birmingham that we decided to take a trip up to Horse Pens 40 in North Alabama on Sunday after church.  The kids had been with Ted a handful of times but I had never been.  It takes about 45 minutes to get there and the ids were a little fidgety, but it was worth the drive.  Lots of fun places to climb on rocks, play in the leaves and just enjoy the beauty of creation around us.

Here is the trip in pictures.  (I know, it is lazy, but at least I am posting, right????)

I so wish Maggie's eyes weren't closed here!!!

Ann Park's hair is as ratty as the scarecrows!

Maggie trying to climb out of the backpack!

Sam fell in that little stream trying to cross on the log . . . always something!

Practice makes Perfect

Sam is a little late to the game in becoming interested in his ABCs.  Of course he can sing the song perfectly, but if you ask him what a letter is, the kid was in la la land.  I didn't push it - although I did bring out our set of Leapster Tad and Lily videos.  I knew that he would get there in his own time.  

And we are here.  He is obsessed with writing - especially his name.  And I came home to THIS (below) written on the garage door.  

Kinda reminds me of the time Ward wrote his name on the side of my car door.  Of course I use the word "wrote" loosely, considering he engraved it with a rock.  And, yes, it is still there.

Moving forward

Today marks a big day.  Today is the day that Maggie's time as a part of our family is GREATER than the time that she spent in an orphanage.

Maggie spent 344 days in some sort of hospital or orphanage.  We know that she spent the first few weeks of her life at a hospital in Moscow after her mother gave her up for adoption.  My guess is that they were looking for a place to put her.  She spent the rest of her time in Orphanage Number 7 in Moscow.  

This orphanage will always be a part of the story of her life.  

(on a warm day in September)

(on that cold day in November)

But it was only the beginning.  And I am so thankful that the story of her life didn't end there, like so many others who remain. Instead, the story of her life has just begun.  And her memories are going to be filled with love and hope.  Her future is so bright and I can't wait to sit back and see what all God has in store for her.  

But for now I will leave you with some shots that pretty much sum up what she has experienced in the last 344 days.

THE LOVE OF A FATHER . . .

THE LOVE OF A MOTHER . . .

THE LOVE OF A BROTHER . . .

AND ANOTHER BROTHER . . .

THE LOVE OF A SISTER . . . 

THE LOVE OF GRANDPARENTS . . .

THE SIMPLE PLEASURES OF SUMMER . . .

FUN WITH COUSINS . . .

EXPLORATION OF GOD'S CREATION . . .

AND SO MUCH MORE!!!

We love you with all our hearts, all our mind and all our souls Maggie.  I cannot imagine our family without you in it.  You bring me joy each and every day with your laughter and your smile.  You are LOVED!!