After many requests I will try to blog again!

Many friends and family have asked how we are doing and the answer is that we are fine. Does that mean everything is smooth - NO!!

Yesterday, after a couple of hard days, Dan gave me the whole afternoon off. I did not know what to do. I went to Target, ran some errands and then went to a movie - Percy Jackson, etc. I was very tired, depressed and deeply depressed. I was wondering what we had gotten ourselves into, was I going to be able to make this, my love for the kids was there but the desire to be with them was not there. Then I lost my keys to the car. After much searching and calling Dan, the customer service desk at the theater had them. Driving home after a half day off, I was almost in tears of depression. I had been praying all day off and on but I was praying with great despair. God brought to mind the verse that I have the power of God, the power that raised Christ from the dead, within me. Not me, not my positive mind, not all the pep talk, but the Holy Spirit. I realized that Satan had been lying to me all day and I had been listening. I greatly rejoiced to hear and realize anew that God was the power, He is the only way I can make it and He has been the One doing it all this time. I had taken my eyes off the cross. Immediately I felt a lightening of my chest and my depression was gone. I returned home still tired but with a joy in my heart.

After all that you may ask what has been happening, well, here is the truth. Adopting 2 is harder than adopting 1. We knew this going in but still it is hard. But as I sit here, which one - Christina or Kolya - would I return?!??? The answer is neither. They are my children - good or tough times.

The first week was a breeze. The honeymoon time. Having fun exploring their new lives, family and environment. Even school was new and fun.

Second week- the limits were tested, rejected and tested again. Phones were put up, keys to cars are now put up, passwords on computer, etc. It was like 2 toddlers trying out all the limits at once. What can we do, touch, explore and what are you going to do about it! School was no longer new and the old orphanage school was forgotten. No school was declared many times this 2nd week!

3rd week - was the week of rebellion - nothing held back. Spitting, biting, opening doors on moving cars, no seatbelts, etc. This was a very tough week. Many positive going forwards after the testing but each battle was so draining.

Dan finally verbalized what he was seeing. Christina's default is to say "no!" and say it loudly. That is like a red flag in my face. But if I do not react and just move forward then generally she will do what I ask. This is not how I work with kids. This IS now how I work! It is working and today was much smoother. In fact there was not one major behavorial issue. There were several no's but we just went on. This is not giving into her but working around her. She needs to be gently lead to obey. I was trying to shove her to obey.

Kolya was even beginning to act the same way as he saw that Christina was getting all attention. So we started showing more attention to him in good ways. Making sure he had all our attention at times. He has certainly responded positively to this.

As you can tell, today, Sunday, has been a good day. Tomorrow may not be good but we will move forward. I know that Dan and I can do this, love Christina and Kolya, bring them into a family relationship and share the gospel of Christ with them. We can do this because God is so big, so good, and this is His plan. How delighted we are that He has allowed us to be part of their lives.

So far we have had a 4-5 hour visit at the International Adoption Clinic - lots of lab work done, good results, pediatrician visit with H1N1 shot, Tb test - negative, and then meeting with the specialist at UAB for their first visit and flu shot. The test shows that their immune systems are doing so well that no change of medication will be made at this time. This week we have dental visits. Jake is having his check up first and then Christina and Kolya will have their dental visits. We also have a eye doctor apt. and an hearing test apt. Then on the 22nd of Feb we will be doing developmental and speech testing for over 5 hours. With 2 it is takes longer. So we are keeping the medical community busy.

Our friend, Anya, has gone to all the appointments so far as our interpretor and friend. She has really made it less frightening for the kids and all the visits have gone well.

Thanks for continuing to pray for us. We need it every day! There is so much that is going well: sleeping through the night - no nightmares, no bedwetting! Bonding - they love to be held and cuddled, rocked and loved! Both kids love Jake and seem to be adjusting well to family life. Eating: they both like a lot of foods - no spicy foods yet but they are trying. Anya has given me some hints on favorite foods so that has helped also. They love our dog, Haley! That really was a concern that they would be scared of her, or mean to her. However they love her, play with her, feed her and argue over whose room she will sleep in at night.

In Him Alone,

Leslie