Gordon's Ukraine Adoption Journey

Don't forget...you can click on the picture and make it larger!

Whoa!!!  The children came home and ever since then we have been terrible with keeping up the blog!  My apologies for keeping you in limbo for so long.....those of you still left following us!
Have we ever been blessed!  The children (all 4) have really been doing well.  We have a trying day here and there, but overall things have been pretty smooth.
We tried from the very beginning to keep the new children's world very small.  We have stuck pretty close to home most days....with the exception of a few LSU games, weddings and showers, and trips to Wal Mart. 
After we had been home 2 weeks, we took Caleb and Madelynne to the International Adoption Center in Birmingham, Alabama.  It was a 4 hour drive for us, but felt it was definitely worth the drive.  The children had all sorts of labs done, testing for school done by a Ukrainian speaker, and we spent a good deal of time with a lady who was very helpful with talking to us about the children, expectations and attachment parenting.  It was all very informative! 
A few weeks after that, both went to the dentist.  Caleb had 5 cavities and Madelynne only had 1.  They have all been filled now.  They were really scared to go at first, but later told me they really liked the goofy gas (this was mainly in sign language...if you can imagine!)  One neat thing...our dentist (hello Dr. Brewer!) said that Caleb's teeth were perfectly straight and would never need braces.  COOL.
Some of the things that they suggested at the adoption center that we found helpful for helping to facilitate attachment were playing peek a boo and other baby games with Madelynne.  This past month she has really begun wanting affection and attention from us.  This is very different from the little girl I picked up at the orphanage that would barely look at me.  We have tried to be very consistent with insisting that hugs, kisses, "I Love You's" , food, help with anything "mothering" only comes from mom or dad.  It has been hard for some to understand, especially since all they really want to do is help,but in the long run it will pay off for us.  It has been tough to explain that only we should be doing these things for Madelynne and Caleb right now. 
We have had a few room sharing issues.  Christian was an only child until 4 years ago, and even when Mary-Ashlynne came along he really didn't have much he had to share with her.  Now he has a brother in his room that sometimes bothers things he shouldn't . 
Caleb and Madelynne are turning into little southern Ukrainians.  They both have learned that we expect a "yes, M'am and Yes Sir"   Madelynne gets confused at times and says "yes, Circle" instead of Sir..but usually corrects herself. She is doing great in picking up English.  Of course, her main influence is Mary-Ashlynne, so a few words have an extra syllable or two.  Caleb has stronger ties to Ukraine because of his age, and he has been going through some grief over leaving his home country, but overall, he is a very happy, hyper, huggable kid.  He tries hard to please us, and seek approval.  He has been working hard in math to get caught up, and loves to help take care of our animals.
Caleb and Madelynne both had a birthday on October 25.  Caleb turned 12, and Madelynne  7.  Even though we really wanted to do a huge party and invite everyone we know, we decided it best for them that we stay home, order pizza and open a few gifts here at home.  The children had a good time. 
I *thought* the paperwork would be over once the children were home.  wrong.  I've had to go get social security cards.  Their Certificates of Citizenship came in the mail automatically, I had to register them with the Ukrainian Embassy (they have dual citizenship until they are 18, so I have to register them there and send in annual reports since they are still "Ukraine's children")  and now, I am trying to find out about readoption in Mississippi.  Some states allow you to obtain a new birth certificate using your's that was done after the adoption.  Unfortunately, Mississippi is not one of those states.  Sure, we will probably be the last state to change that!  In order for me to get new birth certificates, the adoption has to occur here.  I need to hire a lawyer, use all the paperwork I already have, and get a judge to grant our adoption here.  Then the vital records department can issue a new birth certificate.   Why do we need new birth certificates?  Just so we have a record of their birth here, and can get copies if we ever need them.  Right now, if something happens to our copies, we would have to get them from Ukraine.  I can't imagine what a pain that would be.

Thanks to all of you who have kept up with us.  Thanks to all of you for all the phone calls, cards, gifts,words of encouragement, and especially for all your prayers.   (Thanks to you who have been pestering me to update the blog.)   We appreciate all of you.  Please keep us in prayer as we continue to adjust here, as we continue to influence these little minds and hearts that have been so graciously placed in our care, and as we ourselves strive to continue following in His will.