First ER visit

Well Ulia had her first ER visit the other day! she was playing around with Ben and they were being silly and she slipped and cracked the back of her head on the fireplace.The Er Dr. put in 4 staples and sent us on our way. Ulia is doing fine, she cried while they did it then stopped and wanted my cell phone! The girl is obsessed with the cell phone!
IN just a few days it will be one year that Bob and I left to meet Ulia! We left the States on Dec 5th and returned home Dec 31st, a month in Russia seems like so long ago.

riding the scooter

Almost a year!

We have had our visit from our social worker for our one year post palcement report,it is so hard to believe that Ulia has been her almost a year. The other day she decided it was time for a haircut and gave herself one, it was not to pretty! so now she has some supper short bangs and we had to take the back up some.So much for the 1 year home pictures.

Update

Ulia has been home with us now for 9 months! its hard to believe she has been here such a short time and has for the most part become Americanized. Ulia speaks great,is super smart and a little spitfire.She has her own mind that is for sure and is not at all afraid to voice her thoughts. She is loving Pre-K and doing great.She and Ben are best friends until one is mad at the other then we here "you are not my bestest friend Ben"! and she walks away its very funny. She has had some good old American Botox! no not on her lips but in her calf and thigh to help stretch her muscle.It seems to be working well and helping her walk a bit less on her toes.

Sad Day

Today I heard from our friend Roma in Russia. They have closed Ulias orphanage due to the salt mines and shifting/sinking ground. The kids have been moved to other orphanages around the city of Perm. I feel for all the children and caregivers,for the children who will most likely go to an all ready over crowded orphanage and the caregivers who have probably lost there lively hood. They try to do the best for the kids that they can with very little assistance or money.

One year ago

Almost a year

It is so hard to believe that almost 1 year ago I made our first trip to Russia to meet Ulia! I was there the last few days of August. Wow how our lives have changed! From that trip we gained a daughter, made a friend in Russia(Roma) who we hope will some day visit us,we can't even express how much we appreciated Roma while we were in Russia.I look back at the pictures of Ulia and can't believe how she has changed.

Well all the kids are in school now! Ben & Ulia go until 11:30 Zack and Alex are all day, I must admit I LOVE THE QUITE HOUSE for 2 1/2 hours each AM. So far everyone seems to be doing well and liking school. I am amazed at how well Ulia has done,she loves to go each morning and keeps tabs on Ben.
This summer has flown by, for the most part not much going on. Unfortunately we had to go to Pittsburgh, my father past away on July 22, it was not a good week for my family as my dads brother died 3 days before my dad.

Ulia & Ben first day of Pre- K

New Job

I am now a Tastefully Simple Independent consultant!
www.tastefullysimple.com


Let me know if you would like to place an order or host a party.

This song sums up our adoption

2nd trip to the beach

Ulia's second trip to the beach went much better then the first. She totaly was into it and had a great time playing with her brothers and sitting in the surf.

Happy Out of the sand

A Day at the Beach

Well with good intentions this Am we headed out to the beach.ONly to find out once we got there that our little Princess does not care for sand AT ALL!! she got into a wading pool since the tide was out and once she realized that sand was getting on her she flipped out.She ran out striped down and screamed for a shower. We washed her off with some bottled water and got her dressed and she calmed down and wanted to go home.We managed to get her to stay a little longer as long as she didnt touch the sand.

4 months home

Well we have been home 4 months already ! Ulia has been accepted into the Pre -K program at the Elementary school so she will be starting in July ( we are in year round school here) She currently goes to the school a few hours a week for therapy and Loves it! I think she will do so well in school. She is so vocal and has no problem fitting in,her English is so great. Ulia is a very outgoing, loving, funny girl. She is very much aware of the fact that she is the princess around here,especially with her 3 brothers.

Ulia the shadow

Juliana (Ulia as we call her) is doing great.She has learned so much English its unreal.The newest pictures our of her in her new black shirt.She wants the same color clothes as me everyday,so we had to go out and buy her a black shirt since I seem to wear a lot of it. She is truly my shadow.

Home almost 12 weeks