[momraine]

How is your summer going? Whats new?

[Jenmullett]

Summer is going well - we are enjoying our (hopefully) last months together as a quiet household consisting of just the two of us. We just got back from a great week-long vacation in Northern California and Oregon. We explored the wine country, redwood forest, Oregon Coast, Columbia River and Portland. What a fantastic part of the country!

We are still waiting for a referral. We submitted dossier to agency on 2/5/08, although I think it took at least 2 months for translation and authentication. I know it isn't as long a wait as some, but I can still begin to be impatient, right? :-) Well, I don't know if it is impatience as much as being eager and excited!

In any event...the summer is going well. We are working and having some fun times with family and friends. I would love to hear about others' summers and see pictures! Any fun vacation adventures? Or any BBQ, amusement park, pool visits or other fun times going on?

[Paskal]

Well, Jennifer, I can say that I completely understand your anxiety about the wait (just got over that phase ourselves) -- but it's definitely worth it! We're getting to know every playground (indoor and out), swimming pool, park, etc. here in Warsaw. One week left until our final hearing then we can hopefully go home to Krakow with our little girls. Things are stilll going very well - think it really helps that we can communicate with them in Polish. Happy summer fun to all!

[momraine]

I will say, enjoy your childless time too though. You and your husband will treasure those memories of times together. It will be harder when you first get home to find those moments alone together when you are not exausted, especially the first few months. Have fun and do all the things that you won't be able to do for a while.

As for our summer it's full of kids going to various camps, and VBS and the inflatable pool is getting a workout too. A lot of just down time. Our Polish son had a hard time with the transition from school to no school, because my sister and her kids moved out at the same time school ended and my older sons and husband went on a trip, and his sister went to camp. it was too much change in too short a time, so he handled it the way he always handles something he doesnt' like, by refusing to eat. So we have been working on getting him some weight gain this summer.

[lastpaige]

Well, our summer is going HOT, so the boys (8-yr old twins) have learned that yes, you really do have to prep an ice chest when you go to the grocery store, and yes, an hour at the pool in all that sun is really enough.

The girls’ academic year is almost over – 8 more weeks, so we’re counting down to a nice long break. Since the boys are 8 and can’t tell you what 3+3 is, they will continue studying math with me on a daily basis. Since we keep this fun and they don’t know any different, they won’t mind. Their English continues to grow every day and we have a great time teaching them odd words like ‘contrail’ and ‘quinoa’.

We had our first post-adoption home study. Our social worker continues to be something of an enigma and I’m just no longer curious as to why the ‘system’ is in such disarray. Anyway, the first one is over and we’re getting ready to ship it directly to Poland.

Last Wednesday was our court date to ‘finalize’ things here in AZ. While the adoption was final in Poland, we wanted to readopt here to have the benefits that come along with that extra step. The boys met a sheriff’s deputy there and are now junior deputies. The man was lovely, and the only thing the boys were disappointed about was that he would not demonstrate the tazer!

While the boys continue with great leaps and bounds in most areas, honesty still eludes them – one more so than the other. We have finally caught on to the underlying cause of fear. They have spent all of their lives in fear, and it’s the first ‘place’ they go when under any type of confrontation or stress. Then they lie about things to avoid any sort of discipline or trouble. So we’re trying something new. When we have to ask them about something that is pointing to trouble, we have them first cover their mouths to remind them to not just blurt something out (which is a lie 95% of the time anyway). Then before they can really answer, we ask them, “What do you need to tell me?” to which they respond, “I’m scared.” This encourages them to tell us about something with which we can help them. At this point we get the culprit snuggled in our lap and ask them to tell us what they need to do – to which they respond, “Be honest even when it’s hard.” At this point they are all reminded and loved on and in a more safe position to tell the truth.

We’ve only recently implemented this, so I’ll get back to you on how it’s working out!

On a more positive note, they are amazingly obedient. I have a neck issue that has me at the chiropractor 2x a week, and on one of those visits I have to get a 30 minute massage prior to the adjustment. [Yeah, that’s awful! ] Today my husband was unavailable, so the children went with me and sat in the waiting room while I was with the massage therapist for half an hour. When I came out the gal that runs the billing, one of the doctors (who reviewed the boys’ referral information months ago), and the office manager were all at the window praising and admiring the four of them. They really are amazing boys. With all they’ve been through they should be flight risks, food hoarders and deviants waiting to ambush their sisters at any given moment. And yet here they are, happy, reciprocating “I love you!”s in either language, and bringing joyful boyish sound effects that this home has needed for so long.

We are blessed, indeed, and for those of you in the throes of the never-ending wait – hang in there . . . it really is worth it. And, like labor pains, you really do forget once they are home.

[momraine]

It's so great to hear from everyone!

[aurika]

Greetings everyone. It has been a long time since I posted anything. Life has been busy :-) I just uploaded the beginning of our story on our new family website and will continue to post more over the next few weeks as we get ready for another trip to Poland (this time to visit family and celebrate my Grandfather's 90th birthday!)

www.haysmedia.com

[jessipea]

Well we are about to complete our first year as a family!

Summer has been so much fun...I did learn that three boys should be on a schedule, so after my two school age kids finished summer school...our day looks something like this.

1. Cartoons until we wake up fully
2. Clean-up
3. School Work *My kindergartner passed, but 1st grader is still working to catch up.
4. Outdoor playtime or activity
5. Individual playtime - on your own
6. Lunch
7. Free play
8. Nap - yes they all take naps...even the 7 year old!
9. Quiet book time
10. Mommy reads individually to each kiddo 15 mins. each - Other kids have stations to go to
11. Snack
12. Swim or activity
13. More individual playtime or free time
14. Dinner
15. Activities TBA

My friends think it is extreme...they don't have three active boys who need to catch up with school work...I won't say that we follow to the letter everyday, but it helps keep us focused!

I just posted new pictures of them on the blog from a few nights ago!

Check them out! jessilane.typepad.com

[lastpaige]

My 8-yr old twins are daily up at 7:30am, sleep solid from 3-5 in the afternoon, and go to bed at 8:30-9:00. There is so much they are still recuperating from, and so much they are doing/learning, they really need the sleep.

And two quiet hours a day - I'm going to milk that for all it's worth!

[taia]

Hi everyone! I haven't written in a long time, but we had a rough beginning, and I didn't know what to write.
Things are improving now. I just posted some pictures, and I'd like to share them with you.
Picasa Web Albums - Anita