Life's a Journey.... here's a glimpse of ours.

I promise we are still here. I have taken the last few weeks to regroup and get used to all the changes in the house. I am not quite sure I was ready for all of this. ;) Changes are good and we are adjusting well.  I have been homeschooling my kiddos for nearly 8years now. My oldest and youngest started school this year at the local Charter school which I absolutely love and both Isabella and Keegan do too. They didn't have an opening for Abigail since they only allow a certain number of children in each classroom. I didn't mind though; that meant she would be home one more year with me. Each day Abigail talked about going to school but only wanted to go if she could go to Chatfield. Finally the last Monday in January they called with an opening and of course we were thrilled to say "yes" she would attend Chatfield. Now I have no more kiddos here at home to school. I will miss it but I have to admit I am enjoying one less thing off my plate.  Although we just added two new babies so I am not sure my plate is any less full. God has a way of working these things out which I am so thankful I don't have to worry about those detials.

 Abigail got her hair cut and colored for her first day of school. ;)

Isn't she just beautiful?? We think so ;)

OK, now for baby updates :)

 I know they aren't really babies but they are my babies since ever other child in my house just insist on growing up!  So for now they are the babies.

As far as adjustments go things are going well. Matvey is just blossoming, he is a totally different boy since the day we met him. Rarely could we get a smile from him and now rarely do I walk in a room and he doesn't smile. He is a big mamma's boy. I don't mean to brag but I think I may be the light of his life :).... at least for now. His favorite place to be is on my lap. He is learning new things everyday. He gives me hundreds of kisses over and over and then lays on my chest with a big smile as if to say this is where I longed to be for so long.

"Yep Matvey you are exactly
where you are suppose to be."


So as you could imagine we are not worried about attachment issues with him. He turns away from stranger who talk to him and hides his face in my shoulder. Yeah for that!!! We are still working on some of his orphanage behavior such as yelling and rocking non-stop as soon as you walk away from him. He isn't yelling to complain he is just plain yelling. The first few weeks it wasn't too bad dealing with it but now that it has been just over three months it drives you a little batty. So we either gently say "shhhh" or lay him on his back to break  his rhythm.  Sometimes we are a little less patient and tend to sound irritated with him but everyone really is trying their hardest to deal with it.  He is doing well and we try to keep him occupied so he doesn't tend to do it so often.  He is really getting around the house now and getting into things which is so good to see. When we first got home he just sat in one spot unless you moved him. Now, he is on the move getting into the dog food, following me to the bathroom, pulling up on the tables and throwing everything on the floor and all sorts of other mischief ;) He is starting to act like a little boy.

Varvara is growing leaps and bounds with attachment. I am so proud of her. She is asking to be picked up more and will initiate sitting on our laps. She is bringing books to me so we can sit and read them together.  She really has such a big heart and it is beginning to open up and accept the love of a family. Not only is she accepting it she is asking for it and wanting it. Bonding with her has been much different for me. What I thought would happen has been totally opposite. I would love to share all of my thoughts on this but unless you are here in the situation or have brought a child home it can be difficult to understand. So for now I will keep these trials to myself and when I feel ready will share them with all of you. Have no doubt I love her dearly. She is a beautiful little girl who has blessed our family. In time we will grow into the family we are meant to be. Most all of the other things have dwindled away. She enjoys every bath now which has been such a relief..... to my ears :D! She is eating way slower with only one bite. My husband started having her put her spoon down with each bite and reminded her only one bite.  Now with out anyone reminding her she takes a bite and puts her spoon down. She still has to have things such as bananas or granola bars cut up since she thinks if it fits in she must be able to chew it. So one bite equals a half of banana or the whole half of granola bar.

Next week we will start evaluation with our  local ISD (intermediate school district) I am so excited to start moving on their care. I will post about that after we find out what we will be doing. From what I do know, Matvey will receive speech therapy, PT/OT (physical and occupational therapy), and Varvara will receive speech therapy. Her motor skills are right on so she will not need any PT/OT. After all the evals we will come up with a plan for their early education. The best part is they will be getting what they need here in our home which I love.

Enjoy some photos of the past couple of weeks.

Winter Wonder Land

We live on almost 7 acres and most of the time we are not able to walk through it since

it floods in the spring, it is full of misquitos in the summer and oh yes floods in the winter and fall too!

That's what you get when you live on protected flood land.

But there are times when we can so we take advantage and take walks through the woods.

Lucky for us it flooded in January so we got to enjoy a huge area that was frozen over.