Yuri lost his front tooth

Yuri has now lost his first tooth since becoming a Passanita. It's only his second tooth lost all together so it was a big to do. I gathered from his reaction that the first one was pulled out by someone and it wasn't pleasant. He did want me to do it, but wanted to make sure I wasn't going to yank it out all in one fell swoop. Soooo we jiggled and pushed and twisted for about 10 minute s before I gave it a little jerk and it it came out. Since his teeth are so spread apart he has a hug gap in the front of his mouth. He has another one loose on the bottom but was in no big hurry to work on that one although it is preventing the other one from coming in straight. We better start saving now for 3 sets of braces. I think they will all need them.

Yuri was very excited about the tooth fairy and seemed to understand the concept. It was so cute to see his expression when he woke up and found his dollar under the pillow where his tooth had been and watching him explain it to everyone who would listen. I could see Victor at the breakfast table trying his hardest to loosen any teeth he could so he too could have the tooth fairy come. The tooth fairy might go broke with all the teeth she has left to collect. The excitement it brings is priceless though.

We have now nicknamed Yuri "toothless in Williamsburg"

The fog is beginning to lift, I think

Well I think the fog is beginning to lift at the Passanita household. I almost feel human again. We certainly haven't solved everything but we are on our way to figuring things out pretty well. The boys are starting to speak some English and are understanding most of what we say. They are still a little obstinate but what kid isn't. It is now a little more comfortable letting them go outside and play knowing that they are aware of cars, and know a few more of the limits we have set as far as where they can go and where they can't. For the most part they will do what they are asked.

The whole concept of being brothers is still a challenge. We know it was like putting strangers together expecting them to like each other like brothers but we could probably use a few less hollering matches about who hit, stepped on, sat on, pushed down, grabbed from whom and for what reason. Sometimes they will do things for one another but only if it happens to benefit them indirectly. Since we still can't really explain things in details they would understand we have simply rewarded the good behavior we see. They seem to respond to that pretty well.

This week they will be getting their immunizations so I'm sure there will be lots of prayer needed (for us and the nurses as well as the boys). We have decided to send the older 2 to school next month and will see how that goes. I'm hoping that will immerse them in English and they will start to pick it up more rapidly. All of the Ukrainian kids who are here in Williamsburg just love the boys and enjoy coming over to play with them and babysit when we need it. I think the boys enjoy it as well. It's probably a relief to be able to speak to other kids who understand them.

Listening to the boys talk to one another and laugh while chasing bubbles still makes me feel so grateful that the Lord has chosen us to be their parents. What a blessing they are! They each have their own way of filling my heart to overflowing. Vanya's giggles and hugs, Victors smirks and smile and Yuri's kisses and excitement about everything all make for really special things about each of them. They still come into our room in the morning and crawl in bed and usually fall back asleep but sometimes we turn on Baby Einstein for a little while. That is such a neat time. They all try to be the first one up so they get the best spot in the middle. It's pretty cute. They are pretty competitive when it comes to sharing mama and/or papa but I think all sibling are that way naturally.

All in all at the end of the day I can still say I love God, my husband, and my children (in that order) more than can be imagined and feel extremely fortunate and blessed to have such a wonderful life. I wouldn't trade the experiences (good and bad) we have had in Ukraine and here for anything.

Signed,

mama mama mama

Busy busy busy boys

Well we have survived the first full month home with the 3 boys. They are adjusting fairly well and probably better than mama and papa. We had forgotten how busy little people are all day long. The noise level has increased 10 fold and there are time we feel like we have 9 kids instead of 3. We have had some absolutely precious times with them and we have also had some very frustrating time them. The one thing I can count on almost every morning is a great big hug from all three and at least one who gets up early just to snuggle with mama in the morning. I wouldn't trade that for the world.

Yuri continues to learn new things sometimes at the expense of his brothers but is getting much better at the whole "big brother" thing. He isn't quite interested in learning/speaking English but is being tutored once a week to at least get the hang of doing school type work. He does pretty well and listens most of the time. He loves to be praised and always wants mama to himself whenever he can pull me away even if it is only for a few minutes. I wish I could have more individual time for each of them but the fact is that with 3 boys there is always someone having a crisis (someone got hit pushed pinched or is hungry tired thirsty naked dirty or has to go to the bathroom). We both try to spend some time at bedtime with them to say their prayers and rub their backs for a little while. They really like that and when it is has been late and we have had to get them to bed more quickly you can tell they miss that time terribly.

Victor "Veecha" is a great helper and loves to be around anyone who will give him any individual attention. He has become much more affectionate with Rob and I and has started to be nicer to his brothers and the other neighborhood kids. He still over reacts to most things but hasn't had any real meltdowns for a while. Whew! Those were rough. The kicking screaming yelling thing was hard to deal with. He does OK at the tutor but only really pays attention for the first have of the time and then she lets him play since he starts to become disruptive. Even though we were told he doesn't recognise any numbers or letters even in Russian he has come along well and knows a few of his colors and can count to five pretty well in English. There are 5 other 5 year old boys on our street who will go to kindergarten with him so hopefully that will encourage him.

Evan "Vanya" is starting to speak English in 2 word sentences (Vanya do, shoes on, go outside, ride bike, go swimming, please mama, Vanya good boy, kiss me) and has absolutely gotten mama wrapped around his little finger. His hugs and kisses still erase my frustrations and anxieties and puts a smile on my face when I feel like I'm just not getting through to any of them. He knows his colors and numbers and will repeat everything you say. He loves to talk on the phone and will say "I miss you babushka" " Pappy come here" " Vanya funny boy" "Bye bye".

We have been extremely blessed by so many people and I know I have left people out and not gotten a chance to thank others but I hope at some point I will find my brain again and be able to function properly. Our friends Rick and Fran have been so great to us and have brought over food and taken the boys the park and for dinner and have even brought over cut up fruit just because they knew had company. All that in addition to arranging the welcome home party they had at their house when we returned. What a blessing. Other people have donated clothes and given the boys things. Our neighbors gave us a big slide set and our pastors kids (they live ON our street) have been so nice to the boys and have invited them over and they just dote on them all the time. The boys just soak that up and the morrow boys get such a kick out of helping them and talking to them with the new Russian words they have learned. I'm glad the boys are making friends because we aren't real popular most of the time wherever we go. These boy are very loud and don't quite get the inside voice thing nor that you can't just take someones toys and keep them and you can't splash the other kids and adults at the pool nor can you just go and get in anyone's car to turn on the windshield wipers. These things are highly frowned upon however after they figure out the situation they are very understanding. These little guys do wear me out and since I'm not the morning person and still have to get up at the crack of dawn I have found my patience level to be less than what I had thought. I have to rely on the Lord's strength for so many things now hope that at some point I will be able to share the Lord with the boys and tell them how great He is. That will be a cool time.

Well that's it for now. If I don't go to bed now I will not make it tomorrow.

One tired but very happy mama