Week 1

What a crazy, busy, wonderful week. We are all so exhausted. We've been running here and there and everywhere. Now, every time the kids get into the car, they groan. I can't blame them! We finally spent a couple of days at home, doing nothing. Yelena has been a joy, her presence has already changed our family, in a good way of course. Jeremy has a buddy, which has helped him a lot. They have had their battles, him going in her room and touching her stuff, hiding her dolls, etc. But it is great to see the sibling rivalry. Her personality has remained the same, very spirited, very sweet, very funny.


The other day she watched a Sponge Bob episode that we have on DVD called, "Where's Gary?" It is about Sponge Bob ignoring his pet snail Gary because he is playing video games. Gary runs away and Sponge Bob searches for him, regretting that he forgot about him. We were watching it all together and I looked at Yelena and she had tears running down her face. She didn't want anyone to see. The next day she watched it again twice and tears again rolled down her face. I told her not to watch it because it made her sad, but she insisted. It is times like this that it is so frustrating that we don't speak the same language, but I just hugged her and held her and hoped that was enough.


We also find that Yelena makes friends very easily. She best-friended my nieces in a matter of 10 minutes. We also found that she can count to 11 in English and say the English alphabet. Her vocabulary is growing more and more each day, as is my Russian. Craig says that she and I have some type of inner connection because she'll speak to me and him, I totally get what she is saying and he is like, "How did you get that from that?!"

We also find that sharing food is a sign of affection and love for her. Especially the good stuff, like ice cream and donuts. I am going to get so fat!!! But I can't say no, because it comes from her heart.

We took her to the eye doctor and the drops he put into her eyes burned. She was so mad a me (see pictures). The doctor said she does need glasses and thanks to the Gift of Sight program, they cost us $10! I told Yelena that I was sorry (I had no idea the eye drops burned) and that I loved her. Her face lit up, she smiled and took my hand, told me she love me too, and then kissed me.

Our first week is over and I wish I could stop time.