Valentines Day

What a great day Valentines Day has become in the Passanita family! Two years ago today Rob took me out to dinner at Guiseppe's Restaurant (great Italian place) and gave me the best present ever. He announced we should start the process of adoption from Ukraine! And now here we are two years later with the most special gifts we could have been blessed with in our three new sons.

Getting those valentines that each of the kids made in school that say "I love you mama, Happy Valentines Day!" just made me absolutely melt. I didn't know I could love someone so deeply as I do these children. Don't get me wrong, the love I have for my man is the best and will always come first in my life; but this kind of love for my kids is different and touches a whole different place in my heart. These little guys just make our lives so much brighter and the things they do and say keep us in stitches regularly. Their hugs are genuine and with one little look you can make their eyes sparkle with happiness. Just to be able to be a part of that has been such a gift from God at all the right times.

Valentines day itself was very interesting. Mama decided it would be so nice to make chocolate chip pancakes for the boys since they had never had them. (first mistake) Of course they loved them and gobbled them right up. Since we had gotten a little snow the night before and they already had all their valentines ready for school and were all dressed, they wanted to go out and play a little in the snow before school. (second mistake) After getting our SLOW eater finished and snow pants on I went out to find the boys jumping on the snow covered trampoline. (third mistake) As we looked at the time we knew we would have to hurry to get the snow pants off and school jackets on to get to the bus on time for Yuri and Veecha. We accomplished that however we did have to jog a little to get to the bus in time (fourth mistake). I got them both on the bus and hurried back to the house. Since I had volunteered to help in Vanya's class for his party that day I needed to take a shower before his bus came which gave me about 20 minutes to get ready. (I am getting rather adept at getting ready in a flash these days; no lengthy hot showers for this mama :( ) As soon as I got all the shampoo in my hair I hear all kinds of commotion coming up the steps. My thought was that Vanya finally did decide to roll down the stairs but alas it wasn't that at all. Yuri rushes into the bathroom and spouts off something so fast I couldn't even understand it. Here I am buck naked with soap in my hair and my 7 year old is standing in front of me in hysterics. We have a glass shower so privacy is unheard of now. When I finally get what he is saying I have figured out that Veecha has gotten sick on the bus and the bus is now in front of the house waiting for me to come and get him off! So much for 20 minutes to get ready. I told him to tell them I am on my way but that I have to get out of the shower. I quickly get the soap out of my hair and dry and throw on my robe and run outside with no shoes and my hair standing straight up only to find that Veecha had already gotten off the bus and was in the house. The bus driver handed me the towels she used to clean him off and wished me a happy day. What a way to start the day. After getting inside I ask Veecha what happened and he said "me eat, me jump, me run to get on bus, me get sick". Yep, I think I'll get the mother of the year award for that one along with my OJ run to bus in my bathrobe in the snow in front of all the kids on the school bus and half the neighbors.

The balance of the day got better and Veecha felt much better after having cleared his stomach of the "special breakfast" has had. He was able to get back to school and join his class for their party. Vanya and Yuri also had parties and they all probably ate too much candy but they had a great time.

That evening we went over to our very special friends house, the Rahns, to share a great valentine meal with Rick, Fran, and Yana. Fran had gotten balloons for all the kids and had a red tablecloth and all the fixing's for a wonderful meal. Just spending time with them is always a lots of fun. Stressful because the boys chase their dog all over the house and use their highest decibel voices to talk but all together a fun evening.

What a day!

All I can say is that Valentines Day is a day to show those you love that they are special. I felt incredibly special and I hope I was able to make those in my lifefeel special as well. To God be given all the glory!!!!!!
mama mama mama

Fun in the freezing cold

The boys continues to melt my heart even as the cold weather freezes us all. The boys don't seem to mind the cold and have often come home without their hats or gloves or jackets only to have to go find them outside somewhere. Boys! They did really enjoy the one snowfall we had that accumulated enough to make a snowman at the Rahns house. They had just returned from Ukraine with their wonderful daughter Yana who is 15. Their house is one of my boys favorite places to be. We often hear them plead with us to go see Giny (their dog). Rob thinks we should get a dog because they love them so much. My answer, "Family closed!" Taking care of the FOUR of them is enough for mama right now. The dog would probably learn how to say mama too and then I would be mama mama mama mama. Aghhhhh!

Yuri is doing very well in school and enjoys his time playing outside after school with the neighborhood kids. He tends to be a little shy at times and a little mischievous at times as well. He is usually the instigator of either of the others getting in trouble. We still have a way to go with some of the abandonment issues and his competition for our attention and love but he loves to help with anything and everything we are doing. He is very good at building things and is interested in cooking as well which is to the delight of papa. We are trying to get him to talk more and pronounce things correctly so he can express himself.

Victor (Veecha) is always (well, almost always) happy and smiling and is by far the most obedient one of the bunch at this point. He still has a stubborn streak about him but is so eager to please that it only takes a little prompting and a kind word for him to happily do whatever we ask of him. He is becoming much more accepting of giving and receiving affection. A kiss from him really means you have arrived because he is very selective about who gets them. He enjoys school but the learning is a little slow going. He gets frustrated easily when he doesn't understand but enjoys being able to accomplish things he does get.

Evan (Vanya) is just as funny as can be and frequently makes us laugh with his new phrases and actions. His "pink pinks" (pancakes) are one of his favorite breakfast foods and "pixie doo" (scooby doo) is a favorite video. I'll have to make sure to write down the other ones as they escape me right now. (Lots of things escape me right now). He loves preschool and is learning up a storm. He corrects his older brothers on many things which is not very well accepted by them. Unlike Yuri, Vanya talks ALL the time. He is speaking all English and loves to talk on the phone to anyone and everyone.

Mama has gotten the opportunity to get away for a night with a girlfriend and go to the Amish stores in Western VA. That was a blast but I did my miss little boys (and the big one) and their kisses at night. They did very well knowing that mama was coming back after only one "sleeping". Then to give papa a little break the rest of us went to Uncle Brian's house and explored Washington DC for a few days. What a hoot to watch them as they got on the Metro subway (the "choo choo train") and her them giggle with delight to look at the animals at the zoo. We also went up in the Washington monument thanks to Uncle Brian standing out in the cold at 7am to get us just the right timed tickets. They chased birds on the mall and saw a 3D movie at the air and space center. They enjoyed being able to sit in one of the planes and pretend to be flying it. It was also nice to come home to a boquet of flowers and welcome home balloons for the boys. I think papa missed us :)

School visits have been the highlight of mamas days recently as I have been able to go in and help with different projects in all the classes. It is great to see them with their friends but the best part for me is when they notice I have arrived and they light up with excitement. There is no better feeling than that! (other than the love of Christ that we carry in our hearts)

Mama Mama Mama

And a Happy New Year!

What a year this has been! I can't think of any other year we have seen God work so mightily in our lives. The way our adoption process worked out and so many other things that we have been able to participate in and witness have blessed us tremendously. I hope we can live up to the trust God has placed in us to raise our boys to be great men of God.

We finished up the year with a few more firsts! We are fortunate enough to still have my grandmother with us who turned 98 in November. She told us she would only travel up as far as Myrtle Beach so if we wanted to see her we would have come down there. Well of course we wanted her to meet the boys and they had never been to the beach before so off we went the day after Christmas for that 7 hour drive. The boys did such a great job on the trip. They brought some of their favorite toys in the car and they got their fill of movie watching. Our cousins have a condo at the beach that is close to where they live so we got to stay there with my mother (the famous babushka) and my grandmother (matriarch of babushka's side of the family). We also got to see our other cousins from Ashville, NC whom we hadn't seen in quite some time. Their children are 17 (Django) and 13 (Lucy). They had a ball playing with the boys and the boys were equally as happy to have other kids to play with. The highlight for Vanya was going for a ride on Ama's (great grandmother) walker. He thought that was a hoot! Yuri had a great time learning how to play the dominoes game "chicken foot" and he was became quite good at it and even won a few games. Veecha, as usual, was our little social bug whose smile could light up any room he entered. The beach was obviously the most exciting thing for all the boys. They had never been to the ocean and thought it had soap in it because of the breaking waves. They squealed and giggled for as long as we let them stay out there. The water was ice cold but that didn't deter them one little bit. Below is the very first beach experience to share with everyone.

We had wonderful company, great food, and fun entertainment. What a good mini vacation to end a blessed year of first activities for all of us. Below is the gingerbread making activity with cousin Carol and babushka and Ama(while mama and papa got a rare opportunity to go out to dinner together. Thanks guys!)

When we got home we rang in the New Year with some friends. We found some great sparkling apple, pear, and cherry cider. The kids loved it! They all made it except Vanya who konked out in my arms at about 11:30pm. All in all a great year.

We hope you all have an incredible 2008 as we see what God has in store for us this year!

Mama mama mama

Merry Christmas

All that can be said is that we are extremely blessed

to have been given the greatest gifts of all in the birth of Jesus and the birth of a new life for our sons! Merry Christmas to all our family and friends who have showered your prayers on us throughout this year. We wish you all a happy and prosperous new year!

Santas Helpers

Well this Christmas will definitely be busy at the Passanita household. My little Christmas elves have been hard at work making all kinds of gifts for everyone and have gotten the ho ho ho down pat. It warms my heart to hear the laughter and joy that comes form each of them as they discover the wonder of the holidays. None of them have ever had a Christmas before and when asked what it meant to them the only recognizable answer we got was from Yuri who said that it was the day you get candy in your socks. It almost made me cry. And then to ask Victor what he wanted for Christmas and to have him reply, "A banana, an apple, and a big glass of milk" that just completely humbled me. They are so excited just about some of the simply things we take for granted. When putting up the tree Victor went out and gathered up all the neighborhood kids and paraded them through our living room to see the tree. The other kids were going "Yea, its a Christmas tree" but to Victor it was the best one he had ever seen and he got to help put the ornaments on so he was soooo proud. Vanya, of course, is just happy about everything but doesn't really understand most of what is going on other than he gets to wear a Santa suit that he just loves! The other boys got shirts and a Santa hat to wear as well since they don't make the full suit in their size. If it had come in their size they would have worn it. Other kids their age might not have wanted to be caught dead in a Santa suit but these guys would have gladly donned it and had grand time. It truly reminds me that they are really the best gifts (after the Christ child of course) I could ever have been given. Jut watching their expressions and seeing that they have a spirit of giving already when they haven't really ever experienced the receiving side until recently is quite impressive. Victor has tried to give his gifts to other people for about a week now. Anyone who comes over he wants to give something to and he is the one who probably experienced the poorest treatment of the three. Mama and papa took each of the boys out to get a present for their brothers and it was neat to see what they picked out. They really put thought into what they thought the other ones would like. My heart is just overflowing with joy to watch them run around (and around and around) the house laughing and playing and being happy. The hugs and kisses are a bonus too. Victor is really warming up and and now loves to be held and asked for extra kisses and gives them out a little more liberally as well. Yuri still reserves his for just mama and papa but one day he might get there as well. Vanya loves everyone and you will be able to tell what mood he is in by how many hugs and kisses you get. The lights on the houses are still an amazement to all of them and the ooohs and aghhhs are tremendous and the smiles are just as precious. They have done artwork, baked cookies, dressed up, gotten their picture with Santa, and bought presents for the first time in their lives. What a privilege it is to have been given these precious gifts from above. They remind us continuously of the wonders of the Christmas season and how absolutely blessed we are.

We wish all our friends and family the merriest of Christmas's and a new year full of God's blessings. Be ready to look for them in the most unexpected of places. Just as Christ gave us his one and only son on that Holy night so must we give to those whom He puts in our path.

One very overjoyed mama mama mama

Victors surgery

Before, After, and in the car on the way home

Today we had Victors herniated belly button operated on and he came through like a champ. What a great kid. He was all smiles beforehand and very cooperative. Not a nervous bone in his body. The blood pressure had to be done twice since it wasn't used to registering one so low. It took a while before the "lala land" juice kicked in but they waited until he was out to do his IV and such so he was fine. The surgery went well and there was nothing protruding through that needed to be fixed so they tightened up the skin after removing a little tissue that was in the way. It was really great to be able to pray with the doctor prior to the surgery. The doctor that did the operation helped with the Shoemaker performance at one of the churches this past weekend and is a close friend of one of the couples in our Heart for Orphans group so we knew Victor was in good hands. Coming out of the anesthesia was a little difficult since mama couldn't go back right away because Vanya was with me. When they let us go back he was crying and obviously in pain but he said it was the IV that hurt and not his belly. Understandably so since his arm is so little and they were giving him some pain medicine through it. I guess that feeling scared him a little but after the medicine got through he calmed down a little and was even smiling before we got him up and ready to get dressed. Overall he did a great job and we are very proud of how brave he is. Way to go Veech! The nurses were wonderful and so kid friendly it was great. They gave Vanya a ride in the wagon and one of the nurses even held him a while while I was holding Victor. They both got to go to the hospital in their PJ's and slippers so they thought that was just really cool! They both got coloring books and surgery hats and and ankle bracelet. They even sent one of each home for Yuri so he wouldn't feel left out.
Yuri still has some fairly significant separation anxiety when mama goes somewhere without him. We really pray that he is able to overcome this fear of being left somewhere. We explain it to him every time and sometimes he is OK with it and other times he has what amounts to a panic attack and it is pretty scary for all who are involved. Thank goodness for our neighbors the Morrows who watched Yuri this morning before school. Once he got settled in they called and said he was fine so I felt better then and was able to focus on Victor.
SO far the recovery is going well but Victor hasn't even slept a little since getting home. They expected that he would sleep the rest of the day but he is already asking to go outside even though his incision hurts a little. What a trooper. Even though I can't let him go outside he is enjoying getting to watch movies and have whatever he wants to eat and drink. He has come such a long way from the little boy we met in Molachansk. Always trying to please and behave and such a joy to watch play and smile.
Tired but loving all my boys (even the big one),
mama mama mama

Thanksgiving, Dedication, and Shoemaker

Well we certainly had a lot to be thankful for this year. Our 3 little guys are just coming along wonderfully every day. Challenges still abound but they are happy and full of life. Yuri's class made pilgrim outfits and Victors class made indian outfits with a turkey made out of a hand print on their shirts. Their friend, Ryland (2nd grade), was a settler. Vanya's preschool class made turkeys hats and they paraded quietly around the whole school as if they were a group of turkeys. It was sooo cute to see them all with their floppy ears (feet) of the turkeys.

When we asked them at the dinner table what they were thankful for it was pretty interesting. First we had to explain what "thankful" meant and that it was similar to "happy about". Yuri said "the swimming pool" and Veecha followed that up with "the car to get to the swimming pool" and last but not least my little one gave the thumbs up to, yep, you guessed it, "the swimming pool". I think we got the point that we should sign up again for pool membership again this summer. Mayra was thankful that it was her last year in college and Travis said he was thankful for good food to eat. Evidently college food is not to his liking. Brian, my brother, came to join us for the feast as well and was thankful for his daughters and family. Rob did a wonderful job, as always, with the bird and all the trimmings and we were both thankful for all of our children. We all had our fill and I even made a pumpkin pie! Not as good as Babushka does but at least we had some. Altogether a wonderful thanksgiving day!

DEDICATION DAY

We had the boys dedicated at church on Nov 25th. We thought since November was National Adoption Month that it would be cool to have them dedicated then. It was particularly nice that Mayra and Travis were here as well. Another special treat was that Yuri Safonov was here with us from Ukraine and was able to be with us and interpret everything. Even thought the boys understand english pretty well and have lost a bit of their native language it was great for the Ukrainian kids that were in the audience who were here for the Old Russian Shoemaker play. The boys received a special Children's bible and I got 3 roses, one for each son. It was a special day and we know the Lord will continue to give us the strength and wisdom to raise these boys the best way we can.

OLD RUSSIAN SHOEMAKER

The play that inspired our whole adoption journey once again came to Williamsburg. This time I was able to pitch in and help as our Heart for Orphans group sponsored the trip along with Emmanuel (CBN's Operation Blessing in Kyiv). It was great to see this group of kids who came from the Kherson region of Ukraine to perform with the Shoemaker play as well as do some individual songs and they even had a bell choir. There were 17 kids who came and we hope that this round of performances will be as inspiring as the last time which produced about 26 new adoptions. Many host families really enjoyed the kids and would love to have them as part of their families. Obviously they still have to go through the long tedious process if they truly wish to actually adopt. Many people have asked questions about the process and we hope to be able to be a resource for those folks and and encouragement that orphans are really at the heart of God and it is a commandment that we care for them. Not everyone is called to adopt but for those who are we hope to help them along. Yuri was here to answer some of those questions as well and now it is up to the Lord to speak to those who He has called to follow through with the process. We pray for all the kids we had to leave behind from our trip and can see the faces of those kids that were here that they too want to have family. I don't think it is too much to ask for kids to have someone who cares about them forever. These kids will not be forgotten.

Mama Mama Mama

Big day for Vanya!

Today was the first day that Vanya got to ride the school bus and go to preschool without mama! I never thought I would be one to get emotional about putting a child on the bus for school and never really understood when other mothers cried after putting their kindergartner on the bus the first day. NOW I understand. Seeing that little face in the window of the school bus after he got on brought the tears right out but I held them back so he wouldn't see them.

He was sooo excited about being a big boy and riding the school bus right up until the time came to actually get on the school bus. He didn't cry or make a scene but his expression told the whole story; apprehension, uncertainty, and little scared. I knew he would fine and I had to resist just getting on the bus and taking him off and keeping him at home. He took his "baby" with him and was holding on tight so I knew he was a little unsure of the whole bus, school, no mama deal. One he got there the teacher said he was happy when he got off the bus and did fine all day. I'm waiting for him to get home now and trying to get this post finished before going outside to great my little man with a big hug and kiss.

It was touching to see Victor take Vanya's hand and walk with him and talk to him on the way to their bus stop. My oldest, Yuri, isn't quite the touchy feely kind so he was content to just watch the other two and get in a picture here and there. Victor and Vanya seem to be getting closer to each other and can now play nicely as they horse around instead of really trying to hurt each other. Yuri, on the other hand, still enjoys scaring the other two and playing keep away since he is bigger. I know one day they will all get along (hopefully) when they realize that mama and papa love them all equally and they don't have to fight with each other to get our attention. I know a little of that will always go on but it will hopefully be a little scaled down from the knock down drag outs they have now. When they realize having brothers is pretty cool and they start to stick up for each other I will jump for joy. Won't be today or tomorrow but I look forward to that in the future.

Gotta go,

mama mama mama

Planes, Pumpkins, Preschool and PT

What a whirlwind of activity the past few weeks at the Passanita house. The most recent highlight was that of the Babushka visit! Yes, the great babushka came to visit even after the trauma of going to Ukraine. We thought we might not see her for a few years after that experience. The boys talked about her coming for weeks and a little girl in Victors class even told me that she is going to start calling her grandmother babushka because it sounds so cool. Her mother told me that as well. How funny. We got a family photo taken and babushka got have a few shots of her with the boys as well. We did it in Colonial Williamsburg and it was great because the photographer is part of the Celebrate adoption group who does some free photo shoots and then you get a discount on the pictures. That was a nice blessing.
Babushka got the full gamut of activity that goes on here regularly. The good, the bad, and the ugly were present on most days from all 3 boys. We did soccer, school, preschool, bedtime rituals, baths,etc.. Babushka even babysat a few times and did a smashing job. Not so sure she will volunteer that again though. The boys can be a handful when they have an audience. Their cuteness and hugs make up for all of the "not so acceptable" behaviors. We still have a way to go but the boys have been making tremendous progress. They enjoyed Babushka's prayer bear and all the goodies she brought for them. PJ's , umbrellas, and hats & gloves and all kinds of other good stuff. They particularly liked when she showed them all the different shells she has found on "her" beach in Sarasota. We have gotten to get them out a few times since she left as well. Uncle Brian also came down for a visit for hte day nad hte boys enjoyed playing light sabers and going to soccer games. It was nice to see him as well.
Halloween was a fun time as well. We got some pumpkins and carved them and then we went over to our wonderful friends, the Rahn's, to have dinner and sit by the campfire. We don't believe the devil should even get 1 day of our attention so we don't do the whole trick-or-treat thing. In fact the kids didn't attend school that day either so they wouldn't be exposed to all the costumes and such. They love going to see Giny (the Rahn's dog) and visiting and we are so thankful for them. I think with the activity level of the boys we stand a chance of not being invited anywhere else anyway. Love you guys, Rick and Fran!
BIG news on the preschool front. Vanya was accepted into the Bright Beginnings program at the same school where the other 2 boys go. Woohoo! He will probably only go 2-3 days a week but he loves it so far. Mama has gone with him a few times and tomorrow is the big day of getting on the bus all by himself. We'll see how that goes. I'm a little nervous about that one myself but I'm sure he will do fine once he sees his teacher. His teacher's name is Ms Laura and she seems to be great with him and he is greeted by all the kids very nicely. Both the girls in his class want to see by him all the time and he just loves all the attention. He can say his ABC's pretty good and is still working on some other things but seems to be right up there with some of the other kids in the class.
Travis came home for the weekend and got to enjoy the boys soccer games (at least I think he enjoyed it, it was pretty cold) and Papa's cooking and he even said he was going to model his PT outfit. I'll post the picture when I get one. I think he would like to make the boys do some PT to settle them down a little. It was nice to have him home for a weekend and I'm sure he liked being able to do laundry and eat and sleep and such. I think that what college do most of the time.
We are looking forward to a group of Orphans coming from the Kherson region to perform the Old Russian Shoemaker play all around the Hampton Roads area. Heart for Orphans along with CBN is sponsoring the event and many of the families here are hosting the kids. We hope this Thanksgiving will be a wonderful blessing to those kids as well as the families who host them.
That's it from the home front for now. More later after the demolition crew is in bed.

Mama Mama Mama

Nicky, ABC's, and Luf Luf

We had the pleasure of having a friend of ours, Nicky, stay with us recently and a good time was had by all. The boys love playing with Nicky (13 year old from Ukraine) and he is just sooo good with them and is a joy to have. We actually got to go out on a Saturday night with friends of ours while Nicky watched the boys and put them to bed. Great kid!
The boys are learning so many new things all the time and the most recent accomplishment is singing the ABC song. Vanya has it almost perfect followed by Yuri who gets most of the letters but runs a bunch of them together and then Victor, who just loves to be part of the singing and gets the letters in there between smiles and giggles. The leaf frog refrigerator gizmo works great and the kids ALL love it. It sings the ABC's and you can put different letters in it and it tells what sound the letter makes. Vanya will sing AND dance in front of it when no one else is home of course. I'll have to get a video of it at some point. It's pretty funny.
The neatest thing was that I had been playing a CD in the car most of the time we are in it and hadn't changed it for quite some time. I didn't think they were really listening but one by one they started to request songs and they actually sang the words to them also. Jesus lifted high is a favorite and we sing it almost every day and every car ride. Then it was hilarious when Vanya wanted to request another song and I had to play each one to figure out what he was saying. He was requesting Luf Luf. I was familiar with all the songs on the CD and none of them sounded like that to me. Finally mama got it (track 12) and it was "Jesus, lover of my soul". Not only does he know the words but he like to sing it loudly in every store we go in with the emphasis on the first JESUS. We do get some strange looks but I would rather him be singing that than anything I have heard on the radio lately.
All the neighborhood kids just dote on the boys and they continue to be the center of attention. They just love it. Veecha has regular visits from some of the older boys who come to play tag and such, Yuri has made a new friend down the street, and Vanya is the attraction for all the girls and most of the younger kids alike. They all still love to ride their bikes and Vanya loves his time at home with mama. He turns into a gremlin when the other boys get home but then chills out by the time Papa gets home. He will start preschool in a few weeks so I think he will be tired enough by the time he gets home to already be chilled out and possibly even happy to see his brothers. (I can hope, can't I?)
Babuska is coming to visit next week and the boys all love to talk to her on the phone. It will be nice to have her come and get to spend some time with the boys. Yes, I will post pics.
Feeling very blessed and amazed at my little miracles,
mama mama mama