Pics - just because...

these are some cute shots taken in the last couple days. 

Ana looking ever so serious as she decides what to color next, Sasha with the giant Mishka (teddy) at the dentist office and Ana this morning. Sasha and Papa were still asleep and Mama was getting some work done so she decided to read quietly. I caught her on the couch in this pose and thought it was too cute and took a quick shot. Adorable!

Things are going well, the kids had their first dentist appointment yesterday and after full check ups and yucky flouride treatments it was determined that they have no cavities! This is absolutely amazing considering the dental care in the baby home and we are super happy (especially because dentists are not covered by our insurance) and the kids did so well- no tears at all! 

Other than that we are just chugging along- this weekend Mama and Papa are going to an auction/dinner and the kiddos are going to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa. This will definitely be the longest we have left them for and the first time they will (maybe) fall asleep without us there as we probably wont get back until pretty late in the evening so fingers crossed. :) 

More later. 

SKB

Sasha's Surgery and other random January happenings

Hi All-

So Sasha's surgery was last week. It went really well. I will try to post some cute post op pics but my laptop died so I am rolling a new one and need to get all the pics together on this one so I can post them... 

Anyway, he was a total trooper. At first he was really not sure at all- very nervous and scared but the doctors gave him some sort of 'giggle juice' and he went to town, drunk as a skunk and giggly as all get out. He basically skipped to the OR after that. The surgeries went well - about 1 hour total in surgery and then 3 hours in recovery before we could see him. That was the hard part- waiting to see him! We had a great private room though and had brought all sorts of things from home- his blankie, teddies etc and we set the room all up for his arrival. He was pretty out of it and upset all night but he survived with Papa by his side. I went home and stayed with Ana because she wasnt able to sleep with someone else- which was totally fine. She did great with her first 'alone' babysitting with first Anya and then Beth. She was an angel.  

The next day we went and picked up Sasha and Papa and we were all happy to get the heck out of there. His recovery has been pretty seamless- he did have pain the first few days but was pretty much himself the whole time, just a bit cranky. I think the 'pika' surgery was harder on him (and Papa) than the tonsils for sure. But the drs said we had to do it and he is happy that his pika looks like Papa's and baby Will's and baby Harley's now- he is very into being like the babies in the family... Right now he is running around in his new Frog boots (they look like frogs) and pretending to be a frog dinosaur so I would say he is better. :) 

Both kids have some jealousy of the babies that are around- Ana even told us she was "mad it took so long for us to find them" which was sad but pretty cute. It started a good conversation anyway about how we had been searching for them for a long time and that we were so happy when we found them and came as fast as we could. She seemed to get that. She really likes talking about the baby home and what it was like and what is different here and how this place is better because it is a home and she found her mama and papa etc. Supposedly this is all good in terms of attachment so we help by showing pics of the BH etc. I am not 100% on if this is the right plan. Sasha seems to care less about the past- he seems to have forgotten most of it but maybe he is just too young. He is also less sensitive in general than Ana so it may be that. 

Also, we had our first post placement (6 months) the other day and that went well. The kids were nice to the lady and other than showing off for her (which they do for new people sometimes) it was just fine. They were upset after it was over because Ana was worried the lady was coming to talk about sending them away but once we got that all cleared up we were all fine and happy again. I wish she wasnt so worried about stuff like that but I guess it is normal and a phase. 

Other than that we have had a relatively quiet January. Lots of indoor play due to rain and surgery and cold but the last couple days have been nice. My laptop dying has been big in my world but I am mostly over it. 

Other milestones this month: 

-Sasha learned to ride his tricycle. He had been having pedaling issues and they are over- he is speed demon. 

-Ana is staying dry through the night (99%). We are planning to move her to no pull ups at night very soon. This is exciting on many levels. 

-Sasha is also staying dry most of the days so he is going from pull ups all the time to underwear FT! This is sort of less of a big deal as he is pretty dry all the time so the pull ups are not a big deal really but still it is exciting!

-The kids survived their first babysitting and survived. And Mama and Papa got to have dinner together for the first time since we came home. We had Anya over and the kids were great- they got to watch Calliou and stay up till 8:30 when we came home and it was great all around. Apparently they were good and we got 3 whole hours to just talk to each other and be together which was amazing and so very very needed. Six months is a LONG time to never ever be alone for a meal together. We need to plan 2 of these a month I think! Now our plan is to get them more comfortable with more than just Anya or Beth- we cant just have 2 people we rely on constantly, that is not a feasible long term plan but for now it is awesome. 

That is enough for now, I will try to post soon. :) 

SKB

Happy New Year!

Hi Everyone-

It is officially a new year - YAY! I have high hopes for 2009 and lets all just believe and hope really hard that with some hard work, a lot of luck and some better government we can turn this recession around and everyone can be prosperous again!

Anyway, we are back from our Whistler adventures. Above are a couple pics for you...Aaron rallied on the 27th and we made it up there just fine. It was sooo nice to see Demian and get to spend time with him- we see each other far to rarely and so it was really great to spend time together. He and the kids got along super well too so that is good. Hopefully we will see him soon in Careyes!

The kids just loved the snow and especially the horse drawn sleigh ride we went on- definietly the high light of our time up there. They think Poppy Nick's chalet is nice too but were bummed that the hot tub was broken (oh yes, they are so my kids, very high standards). But they really liked the home theatre and watching Kung Fu Panda in surround sound with a giant screen is an experience. Now if only they got Caillou in Canada....

The trip back was hellish. 2 hour wait at the border, long drive in general, tired cranky parents, kids and dog. Ugh. We survived though and are getting back in the swing. Today was my first day back at the office in over a week and the kids were none too thrilled but they understand -i think....

Anyway, I am super stressed about Sasha's upcoming surgery- i cant believe it is on Monday! That is too soon!!! Grandma Marta and Beth are both coming in to help with entertaining Ana so we can both go to the hospital and I am nervous she will be a total handful too but mostly worried about my baby Sasha. Positive thoughts please. I know this is supposedly not a big deal surgery but I am sorry - any surgery where they put you under and you have to spend the night is a big deal- especially when you are my baby!

Gotta go - the kids need to sleep and are fighting it out a bit this evening!

SKB