First Post Placement!

It is hard to imagine that it is already time for our first post placement report to Russia! Ava has been with us for four months now and it is remarkable to see the changes that have taken place in this little girl .She no longer is a baby. When we first brought Ava home my family was shocked at how little she was. She was wearing a size 6 months and it was big. I had even gone in and bought some onesies in a 3-6 months! She now is filling out and is wearing a 12 month size in most brands. When we first picked her up she weighted about 14 pounds ,Height 27 inches at 14 months old. Now at 18 months old she weights 18 pounds and is almost 30 inches. She eats great but is in constant motion! When kiddos hit the toddler stage they certainly can burn up the calories!She now is walking and into everything!Ava also has developed quite a vocabulary. She was not talking when we picked her up but now has a vocabulary of about 20-25 words.The only issue that has come about is her eye is wondering. She has been evaluted and we found that Ava has a slight stigmatism. The doctor said that we are going to recheck this in one month and then make the decision to wear glasses or eye surgery. If this is the worse case senrio we consider ourselves so lucky!!!! The lord has truly blessed me with a child that loves to wear glasses of anykind! So hopefully, if we need glasses she will leave them on!
We just finished our first post placement vist and our social worker was so pleased with Ava attachment to us. The social worker said Ava returning to me for saftey and comfort several times during the meeting was a great sign.Ava wanted to work on the blinds in her office . When we told her "no" she stuck her bottom lip out and got really sad. She headed right over to me ,crawled up in my arms and laid her head on my shoulder. She said that Ava attachment is really good for such a short time with us.As she could tell we are equally attached to our little girl. She showed S how she feeds her baby doll and then Ava would come and get back in my lap.It is such a great feeling to know that Ava feels secure with us . S told us that Ava must have had someone at the orphanage that she bonded with. She said this would make it easier for her to bond so quickly with us.She also said not to focus so much on the developmental side of this that focusing on the attachment side is so much more important. The other will follow.These are all things that we had read about in preparation for this adoption but it all feels quite surreal when it is your child. I was glad to hear that all of the staying home and keeping her world small is paying off. At times you can feel like you just need to escape the walls of the house. But I have learned that when you slow down a bit you see things that you did not notice before.Through this adoptin we have learned alot about parenting that we did not know before.
Well, thats all for now!If Ava needs glasses I hope they do not show her frames like these ! These are her favorites! We will be in serious trouble!
N

My name is Vava?

It is hard to believe that the holidays have come and gone! Once again it blew by so fast. Last year around the holidays we were so caught up in the paper chase and dreaming of our precious little girl. When I looked at her over the holidays it was hard to believe that she was sitting right here with us! What a great Christmas we had!Ava brings so much perspective everyday to my life but especially around the holidays.I spent a great deal of time thinking about all of the children that are left behind. I found a program through Adoption Ark that you select a child and send cards for their special occations. Just think how wonderful that would be to recieve a card on your special days from somewhere around the world. Just a little note to lift up their day and let them know that someone cares.For a child that has nothing this could be life changing.Please check this program out. I cannot think of a better way to start out the new year!!!!
Ava is doing so great!She is learning new words everyday. She has all of the basic mama, dada, but when asked what her name is she calls herself Vava! I think we will leave her name Ava on the birth certificate for now. She is continuing to make great progress on outings and defintely becomming more comfortable with large groups of people.We still are continuing to keep her world small. She is happiest when at home surrounded by familiar faces and things. She has been home with us for almost four months now and the changes that we see are so incrediable.Ava now looks for us for comfort when she is hurt. She also is developing a healthy fear of strangers and looking for mom and dad. These are all such good signs of attachment.She defintely has a determined spirit . Some might refer to this as stuborness but I think determination sounds so much better! She is a girl that knows what she wants . Like the pink tutu that Ana sent her. Ava believes that it goes with everything! In fact she will led you all the way upstairs,hand it to you and lay down for you to put it on her. Then she wants to be chaferred all over the house in her dolls stroller with it on! Go figure! She must think she is some sort of Princess!... I wonder where she got that idea?!?!I am posting a couple of photos of the tutu princess in action. As you can tell she was not to fond of the bicycle helmet! She thought it was okay after we got moving.I am also posting two photos of Ava in the same outfit. One was taken our first week home the second taken almost 4 months home! We barely fit the little hotdog in the outfit!
N

Merry Christmas!!!!!

This is the best Christmas ever! It is so wonderful to have our little girl home with us this year.Last year I spent a lot of time wondering who she was and wondering how her day was spent. This year we are so blessed to have her with us! I am wishing everyone safe travels and a wonderful Christmas! I am now off to rub down with some bengay , take some Tylenol and tackle the new trampoline! Pray that the safety net holds!!!!!I will leave you all with some photos of Christmas eve and Christmas morning. Notice I am posting this before any photos of me on the trampoline surface!
N

Update!

Just a quick update about Ava's test results. Her CBC and the screening for the coagulation disorder all came back normal! Yeah! We have once again been very blessed! Please pray for Karen's little girl Darya who is having sugery today.She is in our thoughts and prayers .
N

Count down to Christmas

Well, Ava has been home with us for almost three months now. It is amazing just how much progress she has made. She is attaching to us so well. In Russia ,she would cringe when you would lean into kiss her. She now leans into every kiss and gives the sweetest hugs.I wondered if she would ever embrace our affection and she has surpassed my every expectation.She is such a sweet girl . She can be head strong too.I do not believe that to be a bad thing. I see such determination in her little spirit . I think that combination will make for a very well rounded young women!Look out boys!
We really have felt so blessed with her health . All of the reports from Russia have either checked out OK or cleared up with time. Which brings me to our next hurdle. She has been having pretty severe nose bleeds. They are really scaring for us but she just goes on like it is no big deal. We did some bloodwork yesterday to screen for Von Willebrand Disease. It is a coagulation disease. It is not as severe as Hemophilia. The worst type of this disease is classified as the mildest case of Hemophilia. I have to admit I have been concerned but I still feel extremely blessed with whatever we are dealt.When my doctor first said this He told me do not start worrying.Yeah right!I told my pediatrician just go ahead and write it down and save me some time searching for it.I am a bit tenacious . One thing that I promised Ava that she would never be in a hospital again or face anything alone. From the moment I became her Mommy I became her biggest advocate. I believe that God gives you only what you can handle. We have watched our sweet neighbor battling for his life against cancer. He is nine years old and had his leg amputated this past week. What a lesson that we can all learn from this brave young man!Please pray that Ben continues to heal and that his strength never fades. So, I look at what we are facing and say I will gladly take this if it is his will.We will find out the results next week.
We celebrated Jake's 6th Bday this past week! It seems like he was born just yesterday! What a sweet and silly little fellow he is.We continue to count the days till Christmas. How exciting to share Christmas this year with Ava! How truly blessed we are!!!!
N

Happy Turkey Day!

We had a great day celebrating all that we have to be thankful for.This year we have a lot ! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings. Ava ate everything ! You name it she ate it! Two days before Thanksgiving she started taking her first unassisted steps! Before we know it she will be into everything! No need to go to the gym ...she is going to supply me with her own version of a workout routine! Here are some photos of Thanksgiving Day. Nick had not combed his hair so he restricted any photos of him!Jake looked distessed in one photo. We think sister was extra heavy after eating lunch!
N

The Sweetest Little Hug!

We are still here! I have been the worst blogger in the history of mankind! The days of simply checking my email have been replaced with a very busy and active little Goldilocks! It is amazing how far this little lady has come in such a short period of time. We have our appointment to set up Ava's plan with early childhood intervention. Since they have been here for their initial evaluation Ava has been moving forward in her development. She watches everything and just absorbs it like a sponge! Her list of vocabulary has grown quite a bit. When we first met her she did not say a thing . Nothing. Now she is picking up words very quickly . She is still eating everything you give her. Yesterday, she had a whole grill cheese and a bowl of ice cream after lunch! The girl can really put away the groceries . We have not found anything that she does not like!She is standing up alone and we feel that our days before she takes off are numbered! All of the development stuff is really great but what she did yesterday was the greatest milestone yet. I had a lady come to my home to give me a quote about cleaning our home 2 x's a month. I had told her that we have a new baby and I do not have time to chase the dust that is slowly suffocating us all! When she arrived she expected a newborn baby and then Ava's story unfolded. When went through the house and discussed what I wanted and looked at all of the rooms. Ava is on my hip like a little monkey. The women asked me a couple of more questions about Ava. Ava and I were looking at each other and it just happened. Ava put her arms out and hugged me and patted me on the back as she put her head on my shoulder. She then looked up at me so sweetly and did it again. It was the sweetest moment we have had together. It was so wonderful to see her do this on her own. When ECI came out they asked if Ava shows affection. I had to pause and say I guess not. She is climbing on you , time in the rocking chair and being carried around so there is constant human touch. I guess I had not really thought about how she is the recipient of tons of affection but she has yet to return it on her own.What a wonderful feeling it was to see that she had felt enough love and trust for me to shower me with such a sweet moment. I will cherish that moment forever.
Well, we are approaching Thanksgiving and we have alot to be thankful for.I am so grateful for each one of my children . They each are such a blessing! I cannot help but think of all of the little children who will not have a family to spend the holidays with. As crazy as life has been lately around our home If asked would I do this again I can honestly answer in a second!I have a feeling that we are just not done yet. I think God will let us know if and when we should do this again. You just have to follow your heart and he will led the way!
I will leave you all with pictures of Ava and one example of how well she shares with ALL of her brothers!I promise her picture was taken first!
N