More random summer

Random Summer pictures

Trying to get all four kids in a picture anymore is just not easy!

Row, Row,Row your Boat

Sometimes it just feels like you row and row and get nowhere!Any of my friends will tell you I am very rarely down, but the last few weeks have just been crappy,I'm feeling like nothing good is working out for the kids and I right now,and I hate to feel this way because I never ever let things get me down.

Smile!

I love this song! it makes me smile when I hear it and hope for the best.You will have to pause the songs on the left side of the blog to hear it.

BFF's

My best Friend of the last 10 years has moved back to Cincinnati,I'm pretty bummed about this as she was my go to gal, we did everything together, and she knows everything about myself and my kids..lol and still was the BFF.
I have lots of friends and acquaintance's, but no one that I consider my best friend,looking back I don't even think Bob and I were Best Friends.I pray that if Im lucky enough to one day find someone that I want to spend my life with we can be BFF's, I thought I was working on that with someone, but somethings I guess are not meant to be or what they seem.

First day Blue's

Well the first day of school didn't go according plan, I should know better. I have always taken the kids to school and let them ride the bus home,this year the plan is to still take the boys but Ulia will ride the bus,since her school is a bit of a distance from us and logistically,just best thing to do. But this am since it was her first day and I was sure she would be upset I drove her.So off to drop Ben and Zack we go, then a quick stop thru Starbucks...thinking hey if I drove her every morning I could stop every morning! anyway off we go, walk in and all is well Ulia does great, no issues other then she tells her new teacher her name is Ulie and not Ulia and not to call her Ulia! OK hey whatever.Well as I'm talking to her new teacher I get a call from the boys school, Ben is on the line bawling his eyes out,doesn't want to stay and could I please come get him right now!well I talk to the teacher she calms him down all is well. Ben has been at this school for 3 years..lol and LOVES the teacher that he has this year,he tells me when he gets home he just missed me how sweet is he!
The boys came home on the bus which was running a little late and Ulia was to ride the bus home too,well time goes by no Ulia, call the school, buses left late ,first day issues etc.. well poor Ulia didn't get home until 5:30 tonight she is the last stop.The bus driver assured me it was just because of first day issues,gosh I hope so poor girl was exhausted when she got off the bus.
I on the other hand was left to wonder all day why do the days drag when the kids are home,yet when they are at school the day flies by?

Back to School

Well looks like summer is over for us. The kids and I have spent most of the summer out in TX helping my mom get thru her Chemo treatments.For those who didn't know my mom was diagnosed with Breast cancer in January.This month she has finished her Chemo and will start radiation,she has been a trooper,after seeing what the Chemo did to her I don't know how she kept up her spirits.
Lets see...in other news, Alex graduated! but has no idea what he wants to do so he will be sticking around here a bit longer.We have been back in our house one year at the end of August.Bob and I are officially divorced,the kids have adjusted well I think.
School Starts Tomorrow! Zack is going into 4th grade,Ben and Ulia into 2nd.I'm a little sad this year as Ulia will be attending a different school then the boys.This was an incredibly hard decision to make,but I'm hoping the right one.The new school is supposed to be better equipped at dealing with her needs.
As for me,I'm dealing..lol that's about all I can say.

Prom

Alex had his senior prom last night

please help

A new Year

I never seem to get to the blog anymore,so here is a quick run down.
For those that dont know Bob decided to move out this past summer and we are now in the process of a divorce.The kids and I are doing well and have adjusted to life.
Ulia is doing ok,she is in first grade and goes to resource a few hours a day at school for some extra help, she loves school and looks forward to going each day..lol something her brothers do not do!
Alex is ready for his senior year to be over and has plans to enter the military.Zack and Ben are both doing well.

November is adoption month!

Post Placement #3

Its so hard to believe that are last post placement report is due to the agency Dec 1st! that means that it will be 3 years since we adopted Ulia! and we don't have to report to Russia anymore.
So much has changed in the last 3 years in our life and hers.Who ever thought a little 4 year old girl could come to America and in just a few short years be as Americanized as they come!
I was just going back and reading the blog from Dec of 06 and looking at the pictures,WOW what a change she has made..lol still miss those big bows I might have to find her one!

Halloween

Ulia,Zack & Ben

Not so good

Well, all the test results came back for Ulia. Unfortunately we had hoped for some better info but didn't get it.Her IQ is in the Mentally Retarded Range, and they also think she might be on the Autistic spectrum(PPDNOS) so she is going to have more testing for that. We have been busy working on her IEP at school and working to get her more help then she all ready is getting in hopes to help her as much as possible.
She continues to be a challange at home but luckly has better behaviors at school so far.

More doctors

We have been running back and forth to Charleston with more Dr appointments for Ulia.Between her Eye Doctors and her appointments at the Developmental Peds office up there I feel like I'm always there. Ulia is going to be having some IQ testing done sometime in the next month or so to see if we can get a little more info on where her level is and were she needs to be, and how she might need to be taught.After talking with a few of her Doctors we have all decided she has some anger issues,I'm not sure if these are part of her FAS diagnosis or another problem,until we talked to the therapist and she asked us some questions I never really thought of her as angry...just more thought she was kind of a negative person/child.Unfortunately she always has some sort of issue with EVERYTHING! kind of one of those people that you know that are never happy.I'm not sure yet how we will start to deal with this,it is nerve racking because she seems to never be happy no matter what you do. I would love to hear from anyone who might have some in site.

Busy Summer

This summer we stayed busy with moving back into our house,Ulia had Eye surgery and running from here to there!

Ulias eyes seem to be doing pretty well since her surgery,they cut the inside muscle to try to correct her cross-eyedness,they look pretty good all though it seem like one eye might be turning out to much the other way they said this might happen so we will see.There is a chance she will have to have more surgery to "fix" them all the way. Ulia/we are still struggling with dealing with her FAE, we will see what the new school year brings and how much she is going to be able to comprehend I worry everyday that she is going to struggle with everyday life.

First day of school!

Ulia Zack and Ben

School is out

Well school is out and we are just kind of floating along waiting to get back into the house.We are supposed to be back in at the end of July.We are all supper excited and ready to get back into our own space and back to a "normal" life if that is possible. The kids are all doing well,Ulia and Ben will both be going into first grade.Ulia will get resource a few hours a week.We are still working on her best game plan,and honestly I'm worried about what she will and wont be able to do as time goes on.But we will hope and pray that she will be able to function to the best of her abilities whatever those my be.

A new Haircut for Ulia

A Before Picture

And after looking all Sassy