Some of the new things that we have seen with the kids.
They have never played by themselves. We have about an hour after lunch for rest time. They play quietly in their rooms. Mostly they listen to music. Kolya has discovered how to play without anyone. He has learned to play and make things with legos and built a garage for all the match box cars that he has inherited from Jake who inherited from Jim and Stuart. It has taken awhile. At first he would just rearrange his room. Then he started playing with all the cars. Now the legos came out and he is playing. Even though he always complains about the rest time, he is the one that truly plays by himself.
Christina started to play with a lego play house. This was one that was in the attic from Erin. She said that she did not have anything to play with during the rest time so one afternoon I got it down and showed her how to play and set it up. I would ask her where to put the sofa or the sink. She could name the room it belonged in but she did not know how to pick which room to make into the kitchen. It took us the full hour to clean and set it up. Then she and Kolya played with it for another hour. Kolya loved it and got out the other legos. He then built the garage. Christina then lost interest. She has gone back to listening to music and eating sunflower seeds during rest time.
She has wanted to skate since we were in Odessa and the kids ice skated. I looked deep in the garage and found Jake's old inline skates. Perfect fit and she is off! She did not do well on the scooter that Kolya is zooming up and down our street on. But now she is zooming up and down the street on skates. She does the best on the walking trail around the baseball fields. The walking track is level and we went around and around for about 1 hour today. I walk with Haley, our dog, Christina is on skates and Kolya is on the scooter. They have to stay within eye viewing of me. They like to get ahead and hide but I had to explain that it is dangerous for them if Mama can't see them. Today they were great and stayed within sight all the time.
School is slow but sure. We try to do at least some school every day - Mon-Fri. There are so many doctor visits right now that some days we only do one or two things.
Stuart saw the kids when they first arrived over 1 month ago. He came to visit again yesterday and could tell the difference with the language. Their command and understanding of the converstations is great. They just cannot always communicate to us.
Just tonight after I had prayed with Kolya, was trying to tell me something about blue sky, sun, clouds, face, Jesus. Around and around we went. He even drew a picture of the sun, blue sky with a cloud and a face in the cloud. The word sounded like neighbor, or neighbook. Finally I figured out that he was saying that Jesus was up in heaven. The word was the Russian word for heaven. He knew that Jesus had ascended into heaven and that Jesus is in heaven!!!
If it is really serious and important to them and after several frustrating attempts to understand we call our friend, Anya. But normally we can draw, act it out and use the Russian dictionary to figure out what is going on. On medical details we get together with Anya.
We went to the dentist, which could have been a great time of fear. Most dental care in Ukraine for orphans is pulling teeth without anesthesia. So I followed Lauri Taunton's suggestion. Jake went in first and the kids watched everything that happened to Jake. Then they got their teeth cleaned, xrayed and examined. The results are that all 3 went to the orthodontist. Kolya needs 2 baby teeth pulled - the teeth are half the correct size because of decay -and 2 adult molar filled. Then will need spacers to hold the teeth in place until his adult teeth come in. He is having them out next week and then the spacer the next week. Christina has 1 tooth to be pulled as it is a baby tooth that is in front of an adult tooth that has already come out. She also has 2 baby teeth that have small cavities that will need to be filled not pulled. Jake has crowded teeth and needs braces!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!!
After the dentist appointment without Anya, we went to her house so that I could tell Christina and Kolya what was coming up. Both seem fine and loved the orthodonist, who is from our church and had already met the kids. We will see how the teeth being pulled next week goes :) !
Many, many people have brought us food. Thank you, thank you! After a particularly hard day of dealing with school and behavioral problems, I am so thankful NOT to have to think about what to cook for dinner. I thank you all so much as I know many of you are also praying for us daily!!
In Him Alone,
Leslie
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