Where to begin?  It's been a while since I've posted.  Saturday was Nick's first birthday party!  He was BESIDE himself with anticipation and excitement all month (- grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! STUPID COMPUTER!  Just deleted EVERYTHING but the first line of this entry, and I was way far into it by now!)  All week he kept saying that it was his "first happy birthday!"  It was Red Ribbon Week at school, for alc/drug awareness, with activities each day, including special speakers, and a little carnival and bonfire on Thursday night.  He acted like it was all special just for him - really cute!  On his birthday, we took a couple of friends with us to Chuck E. Cheese's, then went home and let the boys play.  They shot basketball, played pinball, and threw the football around.  Then we had birthday cake/ice cream, and roasted marshmallows on a campfire.  We got him a bike, and let him pick out a new game for the Wii.
      Nick's behavior has improved dramatically since he's started learning to read.  His reading ability in only one month is incredible.  He's even volunteering to read in Bible class at church -- he's not embarrassed, or anything, which is wonderful.  Now, all his teachers at school, his reading tutor, and the librarian are convinced that "he's brilliant!"  I still think the math/science teacher expects far too much of him.  She clearly believes that his only academic problem is the language barrier.  She forgets that he never passed a class in his own language!  She's really expecting him to do on-level (5th grade) science and math, just with fewer problems worked.  Can you imagine trying to get a child who barely speaks any English to understand "mammal," "amphibian," invertebrate" versus "vertebrate," etc.???  He's supposed to learn the differences between these, and give examples of each (he can't even say the words!!!) -- HELLO????   Mama ain't happy.
     Anyway...  Nick's other excitement came in the form of Halloween.  Again, he was terribly excited at the prospect of getting a bag full of free candy; and all he had to do was dress up in a cool costume and go door to door, asking for it!  WOW!  What a country, huh??  He talked all week about how America is so much better than Ukraine.  He talks about how "a lotta people" there smoke, drink alcohol, and do "narkotiki."  I tried to explain to him that America is the same way, but he was having none of that.  He's convinced that smoking shrinks brain tissue, turns lungs black, and turns teeth first "orange, then black" before they get soft and fall out.  Good thing to believe, kiddo.
     Tyler had a great football game today.  He caught 3 passes in a row (the last one was down to the 10 yardline) on one drive that led up to a touchdown - the only touchdown his team scored today.  Two of the passes he caught were just beautiful.  He had to leap and bring the ball  down in a crowd on those.   He also dove for a ball that was intended for another receiver and knocked it down just before it was to be intercepted by the other team.  He's a very good receiver.  He's a good quarterback, too, but doesn't get many chances to throw because apparently the coach wants to let the 4th graders quarterback.  He didn't get many other opportunities to catch the ball, either, I guess because the coach wants to let everyone play.  Mama's baby can't do it all, unfortunately.  ha!
     Almost forgot something.  In the last week, both my boys have admitted to liking a girl!  Nick doesn't know it, but he got his first rejection the other day.  There's a pretty girl in a different class from his.  I asked him if she already has a boyfriend.  He said he didn't know.  The next day, he came home and said she didn't have one.  I asked him if he asked her if she wanted one.  He said no.  But, the next day, he asked her, and she told him she wanted to be his friend.  Some kids are teasing him about "liking" her, and rumors are getting to her.  The teasing is getting pretty hard for him. I'm afraid he's going to blow up and hit/kick someone over it.  She's apparently told a mutual girl friend that she's trying to decide between Nick and another boy who likes her.  I told him don't worry about it -- there are LOTS of girls in this world.  He said, yes, I know, pretty ones, too.  Then he said he "knows" that girls like boys who have a lot of money, thinking they'll buy them "lotta things" like cars.  ha!  Tyler has yet to fess up which girl he's been eyeing...
     Another boy from Nick's orphanage had his adoption finalized this week!  Sasha will be going home to South Carolina in the next several days.  God is good!  All the time!

I forgot to mention that we try occasionally to call the orphanage so that Nick can keep in touch with his friends there.  We have been trying to call for the last week, but the numbers we have aren't working any more.  Oh, we have a number for the orphanage itself, of course, but these are direct numbers to his friends' cell phones.  Last Friday, he told me one of the reasons he likes to call is to reassure the kids that he's still alive and well.  The girls, especially, believe the oft-repeated tale that Americans only want to adopt children from orphanages so they can sell them for body parts.  Sounds crazy to us, I know; but these rumors run rampant in Eastern Europe. I asked him if the teachers believe the stories, too, and he said that they don't.  The teachers try to allay their fears.

GOOOOO RANGERS!!!!!!!!!! GOING TO THE SERIES!!!!!!!!!  WOOHOO!!!!!!!  Oh, the Rangers just beat the Yankees to win the AL pennant!!!  Too cool! 

Tyler's been sick since about 4 a.m. on Wednesday.  Poor baby.  He's had fever going up and down (but not all the way down to 98.6) since then.  He's miserable.  He's had to miss football and soccer practice, tennis clinic, a field trip -- all sorts of fun stuff.     :o(

We've had a pretty good week with the boys.  Nick's beginning to read more and more, and he's encouraged by that.   Tyler's fed-up with him, though.   :o(     It seems Nick constantly feels the need to challenge Tyler:  e.g., "I'm going to be done first with my shower,"  or he just tries to boss Tyler around ...  He's constantly comparing himself and all his wonderful attributes to Tyler and his shortcomings, and Tyler has a major meltdown about once every two weeks.  The good news is that Tyler comes to David and me to tell us about his anger, instead of trying to get back at Nick.  So, we have a good talk with Nick, and Tyler feels better.  Family dynamics...

Tyler brought home a good report card today, and he started flag football at school (at which he also did very well).  He's looking forward to a little tennis tournament at our club Saturday after soccer. 

We went to USCIS for Nick's interview on his application for the citizenship certificate.  It was so cool!  When people are over 14 (or was that 16?), they have to take the oath of citizenship.  David asked the officer to administer the oath to Nick.  He had very little clue what he was saying, but it was an amazing experience, nonetheless!  They gave him the certificate, and we took the boys to school for the rest of the day.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WEEK MAKES!

The day after Nick kicked the boy in ESL class, he got in trouble again at school for slapping a boy in the face 3 times while lined up to go somewhere.  Now, let me back up just a little...  The day that he kicked the kid in ESL class, I told David that it was his turn to be the "bad guy" and mete out the punishment to Nick.  He did. 

The very next day, David was the one who picked up the boys from school, and a teacher walked to the car with Nick to let David know about the slapping incident.  David wasn't happy.  When they got home, he and Nick had a one-on-one meeting out in the barn with the doors closed.  The boy has been fairly angelic ever since.  He hasn't brought home a behavior slip, and we haven't received one phone call from a teacher, nor the principal!  Woohoo!  He has really been on his best behavior, both at home and at school. 

More success!  I bought Nick an "I can read" book at the bookstore last week.  The next day when he got home from school, I gave it to him to read for homework.  He read the whole thing, with only the slightest bit of help from me with a few words!  He was absolutely beaming!  He excitedly told me, "I want to learn to read fast!"  I assured him that he will, and reminded him about how much he's learned already.  He's really excited to experience some good things academically.  He's a good kid; he just needs to learn more social skills and the 3Rs!  Oh, and he scored 3 goals at his soccer game on Saturday -- he's doing pretty well.  We've had a very nice week, or so, with Nick.  :o)

Thanks for any and all prayers!

Today was Tyler's 5th Gotcha Day!  He was wound up and wild all day - ha!  I decorated a cake for him in camo and army men (as requested) and we sang Happy Gotcha Day to him.  He loved it, of course.  I gave him a pop gun, and David gave him a Saints football.  He also did very well at tennis today, playing one-on-one with another boy.

Nick had a pretty bad week this week.  He's getting in trouble at school.  The teachers have finally started calling me to let me know what he's been doing.  They've been trying to handle things in-house, and they've finally figured out that it's not working   :o(  

He's being disrespectful to teachers, and is having trouble making (keeping) friends.  He makes fun of people, and hits/kicks them if they do so to him.  His homeroom teacher is extremely patient with him, as is his ESL teacher.  This week, we had to take him out of tennis for a while for being disrespectful to the pros, and for being disruptive to the group.  He was so annoying that the kids were even fussing at him.  His ESL class was playing a game Thursday, and he didn't do well.  His friend was far ahead of everyone else in the class, but at the end, Nick finally scored a couple of points.  The other boy turned to congratulate him, and Nck kicked him.  When he didn't want to do an assignment the other day (because he wasn't one of the first with computer privilege for that day) and the aide told him to get his book out to work on, he threw it on the floor and refused.  Sheesh!  What to do about all his hostility???!!!

We all need your prayers!

Back to School

So much has happened since I last remembered to post to the blog...  Nick started back to school on August 9, and Tyler went back on the 19th.  I've been trying hard to get some intervention for Nick so that he can actually be taught on his level, which is around K-1st grade in all subjects, i.e., math, reading, and writing.  After much insistence on my part, we FINALLY got to have a meeting with the committee at his school this week to outline an approach to getting his educational needs met. 

I don't remember whether I've mentioned before that Nick never passed a grade level in his first country.  He went to the orphanage at age 6, started first grade (where he was taught a different language), didn't pass any subjects, yet was moved to second grade, etc.  He is now in 5th grade, and has never enjoyed any academic success.  We have a huge challenge on our hands!  He doesn't seem to believe that he's capable of learning like other kids do, so it's unfortunate, but we have lots of work to do.  He's also emotionally very immature, probably more like a 7 year old.  Orphanage life is just not conducive to maturity and self-assuredness.  Clearly, his emotional development was stunted upon entering the orphanage.  In Nick's orphanage, it seems that the kids who have contact with some family members have a leg-up on those who don't.  Apparently, it is typical for those who have visiting family members to receive gifts from them, and those gifts and relationships (many times including a little money) are very much coveted by the other kids.  Nick has a huge persecution complex and is forevermore looking for some injustice to be done him.  Luckily, he is very physically coordinated, and is very good at sports, so he has an outlet for self-esteem building!  Right now he's playing soccer and tennis, and he says he wants to play baseball again next spring.  :o)  He's a sweet boy.

Tyler's also playing soccer and tennis, and as usual is doing pretty well in school.

Randi started PT school on Monday, and she's having a good experience so far.

Lane started crawling this week!!! Wow-already!  He is such a cutie!  Oh, and Julie and David are doing well, too - ha!

When does school start???

Tyler's 9th Birthday Celebration

I am anxiously awaiting Nick's first day of school!  He goes back on August 9, and Tyler starts on the 19th.  I'm hoping that Nick just suddenly has a "click" of the light bulb, and starts learning to read.  That will open a whole new world to him, academically.  Now, if he could just remember 6x7, 6x8, and 6x9, which we drill pretty much every day, we'd really be going somewhere.  We told Nick that he can play soccer this fall if he learns all his multiplication facts this summer.

The boys are doing their last sports camp of the summer this week.  I signed them up to do full-day soccer camp, but they didn't have enough kids sign up, so they can only do half-day.  Bummer.  I was totally counting on having my "whole" days this week to get some work done.  Now, I'm just running the roads, again.  :o(

We had a family reunion in Tennessee over July 4th weekend. We made a long weekend of it, and had only 3 days at home before leaving for Cozumel (for another long weekend). Cozumel was a lot of fun -- all 3 of my sisters came, along with 2 husbands, 2 kiddos, a sister-in-law, a great friend, and my baby girl!

Cozumel was beautiful and very nice.  We had just the best, most relaxing time!

One of Nick's friends from his orphanage was hosted this summer by a friend of mine, right here in our town!  We were able to see and play with him a few times while he was here.  Actually, he hasn't yet left, but will be leaving this week.  I think -- sadly -- he has too many family members to be able to be adopted.  It's all the more sad because my friend and her family wanted to adopt him.  They said he's a great kid, very loving.  :o(