Having a BLAST in Kerch..........

I typed up a long entry yesterday and it obviously didn't post, so here I go again............

Look at the previous entry for recent pics......

We have our whole family together now!!!!  It is so much fun, we are having a BLAST :)  Yeah, I know, this is the "honeymoon phase"  but for now, I am lovin' it :)  The kids are so great and I thank God so much for bringing us all together. 

We picked the kids up Saturday morning..........they were so excited to leave and to come with us!!!!  They left their lives there and didn't turn back.  I figured since they were older, they would be a little sad, but they were not at all!!  I was sad a little and even started to cry when Abby's caretaker hugged me and told me to have a good life with our children. 

Brayden............He is doing so well.  He is such a sweet boy, but is having some probems when it comes to not getting his way all the time.  Since we have a communication barrier, he doesn't understand why he can't play the gameboy ALL DAY, or watch movies ALL DAY.  When we tell him no, he will pout and then get over it a few minutes later.  Other than that, he is being so good!!  He reminds me of my nephew Dawson so much!! :)  I think they will get along great when we come home.  We have been letting all 3 children sleep in the same room, Brayden on a cot and the girls in the bed.  Last night we let Brayden sleep with us and he was so excited.  He is bonding more and more with us every day, and us with him.  He is so sweet because he has no problem helping me in the kitchen (he likes to set the table) and he says "Thank you Mama" after he is done eating.  He loves to play in the bath :)  You would think he has never had one before as happy as he is in the tub.  Yesterday we went to buy the kids hats (it is getting very cold) and while at the store we let Brayden pick out 2 toys.  We have so many girl things with us and I think he was getting bored.  He picked out a spiderman figurine and a remote control "Machina" (car).  He LOVES his car and plays with it all the time now :) 

Abigail...............She is just a sweetheart!!!!!!!!!  For those of you who know Alyssa, and know how sweet she is, Abby is the same way :)  She LOVES to cuddle!!!!!!  She is so excited because she knows that tonight she gets to sleep in Mama and Papa's bed.  We are going to take turns with all the children every night.  ALyssa and Brayden are a little shy, but Abby, she is FAR from shy.  She has the most beautiful smile that will melt your heart!!!  She smiles at everyone and will talk to anyone (which can be a bad thing sometimes).  This morning we were sitting by the ocean and there were older men out there fishing.  She ran up to one of them and just started talking to him about his fish and started picking them up and playing with them (yuck).  The whole time she was talking to him, she was grinning at him and he just smiled back at her.  I don't think that anyone who meets her wouldn't fall in love with her :)  She is just ALWAYS so happy and loving!!!  She has the sweetest little voice :)  She takes after me when it comes to allergies!  Our apartment is right above another that is being remodled and from all the vibrations, we have dust all over our bathroom.  I mean, it it a thick layer of white dust, it is horrible!!!  I clean it up as good as I can, but it is impossible to get it all.  Alyssa and Abby were taking a bath the other night and I guess from being in there too long, it was too much for her.  Her nose was running and her eyes were watering.  After she went through about 20,000 tissues, I gave her 2 benadryll.  Well, that knocked her out cold, but atleast it dried her up :)  The next moring her allergies were bad again and her nose was raw from all the tissues.  Also, her nose bled twice yesterday.  Does anyone know if that is normal??  We were thinking about taking her to the Dr., but today she seems to be doing fine. 

Alyssa................She is my little trooper!!!  She has done SO GREAT this whole time we have been in Ukraine!!!!!  She hardly ever complains and is loving having her brother and sister to play with.  Alyssa plays very,very,very well with Abby!!!!  They are great friends :)  So far there has been no fighting between them.  Brayden kindof does his own thing most of the time. 

Oh, and no more sleeping in for me :)  The kids are up bright and early every morning jumping on us and wanting to eat.  

Today we are going to take them on a hike up the mountian and then to eat pizza again.  We had it for lunch yesterday too.  They LOVED the pizza and Brayden asked if we could eat it againtoday. 

One more week and we should be headed to Simferopol to try to get train tickets for Kyiv.  I am excited about Simferopol..............there is a McDonalds there!!!!!!

Gotta go now, Abby is climbing all over me and the kids are hungry.  But not before I check e-mails and comments. 

Cindy...........Since I don't have time to e-mail, I will tell you on here...........Sveta talked to the director and he said we would have to ask the secretary since she should have the information.  She is on sick leave and will be back by Monday the 23rd.  She will ask her then.  Oh, and the director LOVED the pictures!  He said he remembers you and that your daughter was tired??  Maybe she was sleeping when he saw her??

Renee from FRUA............The director's name is different than what you told me.  Were they in the Kerch Boarding School on Apryl Street?  He looked up their names and didn't find them, but said the secretary will have the info for children who were previously at the boarding school.  I'll let you know what I find out Monday.

Love to you all and please continue to keep us in your prayers!!!
Chris, Julie, Brayden, Abigail, and Alyssa