What A Year!

It’s been three months since our return to a family of six. It is really hard to believe that Jenna and Eddie have only been here for that short of a period of time in our lives. It feels like it has been forever.

I remember making lunch for Jacob the first Monday as he was getting ready for school – the shift of Jeff and Justin had just left – the kids were crying and wanting to eat, the dog was going crazy, Jacob was taking his sweet and precious time as he does in the morning. I just felt as if any minute I was going to turn into a sobbing mass of helpless goo. Well, since then things have taken a remarkable turn, albeit we have a regime now, too. Mornings can be a bit crazy, but nothing like that anymore.

Christmas morning was truly a magical morning for Janna and Eddie. The boys got up a few times before 4am and 6am (they may have never even went to sleep for all we know). We got up with them, then, I went back to bed and heard them stirring on the monitor. When we brought them down and they saw the gifts and music and all the look of pure joy – not just, “OOOHHH presents” but joy was priceless. They were so sweet. They were even visited by Santa Claus two nights before (thank you Danny for such an awesome and thoughtful thing). He came right up to their bedroom as we were tucking them in. They had met him at the mall a few days before and I think that Jenna was not completely convinced. However, when he actually came over to see them it was definitely the clincher. Also, luck would have it that when Jeff and I had to use the “Santa is watching card” for various reasons it was certainly taken to heart over the following days. Friday they had Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Andy, Corinne and Christopher over night which they loved and then Christmas Eve at my moms with Uncle Rob, Aunt Olga and Nichole and a very special surprise of my brother Dave, Cathy and Janel. Sunday it was off to Nanny’s with all of the Brooks clan. They did not know what to do with themselves on Monday! But, all in all, it was a very blessed time for us.

Justin and Jacob are continuing to show their commitment and love and just genuine sweet love for these two. Jacob is always playing and laughing with them while Justin is shooting pictures or movies of the silly things they do. They have wiped their faces, taken them to the bathroom, and gotten up with them in the wee hours if they cried out – I could literally go on and on. Our two older boys are the two most courageous and committed boys I have ever known. If it was not for their love and support and constant stepping up to help I know this would be a difficult time. But the fact is, it really isn’t. It’s true we don’t have a lot of adult conversations. We are limited to our coming and going and some shopping but besides that, life at the Brooks house is pretty much the same. Yes we have lots of plastic toys and sippy cups and a few incredibly stinky diapers. But we also have four of the greatest most incredible kids to love and share our life with. What could be better than that?!

Jenna has just about mastered the English language. Her favorite words are “please”, “no” and “Jenna Leeza do it”! (Does she sound three or what?) She kisses a lot and loves to be kissed and hugged all day. She loves to swing and play with her baby. She laughs a lot and squeals and screams (I had to verify with my sister that this was completely normal for girls) and squeals and screams some more. She sits forever and paints her nails and everyone who has any in the house (Lilly, watch out, you’re next). A very independent girl – she wants to do EVERYTHING on her own and EVERYTHING for anyone else who will let her. Eddie is not too fond of this character trait but sometimes he knows if he just lets her have her way it will be over quick. She really is beginning to show her personality and we can see that she is comfortable with being herself. That has been a really cool metamorphosis. She can walk around and giggle to herself and talk to her dolls or pretend without looking around to see who is watching her. I guess she is learning to be the little girl that God intended her to be.

Eddie is a little love. Shy and quiet and sweet at least for the first few minutes. He loves to play with his cars and his tools and wants to hold your hand or be picked up a lot. This is a very cool thing as he was not so easy to pick up a month or so ago. When he wakes up and you go to get him, he is always smiling and laughing. He has a big stuffed brown bear that he is convinced is really alive. He wrestles with him like he’s on WWF. He is making lots of attempts to catch up in the language department. He has not met a dog he hasn’t liked – at least the ones he has caught up with. He loves to chase his sister around the house with a toy (like a horse that barks like a dog) while she runs from him screaming in my shoes. When he looks up at you with those big brown eyes with three inch lashes and smiles, or a tear falls, it makes your heart melt. I am glad no one else had a chance or he would have been swooped up long ago.

Both of them are really just fitting in like they have been here all along. That is the only way I know how to say it. They have come so far in so many ways that when Jeff and I have a minute to catch up and go back in time it is incredible to compare them to the time when they first became our children. We have four children. I still can hardly believe it. I hope that all of you know what a blessing you have been to us. A comment was left on this site a few days before Christmas from someone who had actually considered adopting Eddie and Jenna. I have since written back to her and was so amazed at God’s planning and timing. I was in such awe by that knowledge. And the fact that God gave us the gift of knowing and confirming that we were meant for them and they were meant for us. I cannot tell you how much that touched my heart and Jeff’s. God bless you all. May 2006 be full of God’s peace and many, many blessings.

Thanksgiving, Just around the Corner (New Pics)

The kids are really coming into their own. The sense of security is starting to settle in and it is really allowing them to blossom. They each have such unique personality traits (with uncanny brother and sister similarities). Eddis has the most wonderful sense of humor and he just "gets it". He loves music and understands everything we ask him to do. He is literally changing before our eyes. He loves his brothers Justin and Jacob, there is a true connection between the 3 of them. Jenna is having the chance now to be the little girl she was always meant to be. The freedom from whatever held her back is allowing her to have fun, be curious, be loving, be innocent, and just enjoy all her family and new found friends. The difference that 6 weeks in a loving attentive environment is truly amazing. We have been blessed!!!

Also, another family that we have been in contact with that you can follow and pray for is HERE

A Couple More Pictures Added

Still archiving pictures for the website. One day, it will make a wonderful gift for each of them. Also, we know another family there right now that is with our facilitator, Kostya. Their site is HERE in case you want to keep up.

Over a Month Later! (w/ Pics)

It is hard to believe that we have become a family of six and it has only been a little over a month. All four kids have been settling into their respective places and they truly seem very content where they are. The boys have been absolutely wonderful. Yes, Barney drives them running out of the den holding their ears. The “talking toys” are a bit much first thing in the morning (moms have a way of tuning that stuff out) but it has been good. Jenna is learning English so quickly that it is fantastic. She asks what everything is and how to say it. When she takes a nap she runs through all the words she heard for the day over and over until I think she feels she really understands what they mean and how they are used. I went out with the girls the other night and was telling them some of the silly stories. My sister in law was laughing about how we tend to talk louder to people when they speak another language. I had to laugh because Jenna Leeza does that all day long. It is precious. She asks if this is, Jenna Leeza’s? She has had a few moments. We are really trying to stay structured and as consistent as possible in all situations, which can be difficult. It sure has seemed to keep things together though. It is almost as if she tests us to see if we are going to be consistent and the same. We have sweet moments too like when she is getting ready to take a nap. She snuggles next to me and kisses me with butterfly kisses, cat kisses (I guess that is how they do it), and doggie licks. She laughs and squeals at all new things. I see child like innocence in her face that has just become more permanent (at least 75%) in the last few days. There is a certain serious look that will come across her face. It makes me sad to think that any child should have to protect them selves this way. It outwardly shows in both children in certain times. The good thing though is that I see it less and less. Her funny self is coming back. She loves to pretend, wear my shoes, dance and she cannot wait for Papa to get home. “He’ll be back, it’s okay,” She says each morning. When he comes to the door in the afternoon you would think he had been away a month in Ukraine! Papa! Papa, squeal, squeal! She loves Jacob and Justin and I see the adoration when they come home and she watches them and then attempts to do something that they do nonchalantly. She is also quite the kisser. It melts my heart to see the boys ask her for a kiss and she does it with a proud grin. Cute, cute.

Eddie has come a great distance in his own right too. We have been working with the Child Development Center and they have already seen such progress in him. They were a great help in getting us started on some things we could do to help him catch up. I know that it is by the grace of God that he has come so far. He is babbling and copying and mimicking everything. He is so silly. We felt this when we met him but I have lots of really silly cute stories about that little boy. His lips, when he puckers up, are just the most precious thing a mother has ever seen. He initiates kisses and hugs and love constantly. He has gained about 6 pounds in the last month. His hair is getting lighter and longer and more full. His eyes are shiny now – I mean a noticeable difference from when we first got home. He loves his new sandbox that a great neighbor/friend gave to us. When it is time to get out I am sure people think I have hurt him or something because loud yelling can be heard for miles. He loves music and has the beat immediately when something is playing. I almost hate to admit this, but once in the car when he was upset, Justin put his Ipod in his ear to the tune of Guns and Roses. Do you know he stopped crying at once and started to bob his head like he had been doing it for years.

Together, they seem to be bonding. They have had a few moments. Like when he accidentally put his leg on her arm while riding in the car. She said no and moved it. He put it back with a grin and so on until things got a bit loud. If she has a hissy fit he walks by her and shakes his head while making a “psst” sound and waves his hand. Kind of like, girls, who needs em’. I am not kidding. Jeff and I could not believe it the first time. There are many sweet times. Like if one gets hurt the other comes over to see how they are. When one goes down the other will ask or give a kiss. When they are in the jogger or the car they are content being with each other. That is pretty cool. God is so good. I look at them when they are asleep and tears just flow at how much my heart loves them both. I look at their faces and wonder why any child doesn’t have a warm shoulder, or a hand to brush their tears away. I think about how much their lives have changed in the last two months. I hear a lot how lucky they are. Yes, I know that. But so are we. And although they are lucky I see in them at times that they are still unsure, they still must grieve what they knew, and they get really frustrated when we do not understand. That is hard on them. What we may consider hard cannot ever match what they have known and experienced. All I know for sure is God gave us His best in this treasure. A month? It has only been a month. Wow!

Let me take a moment also to thank a special group of friends who are awesome. My supper club, Sisters in Christ, had a shower for me last Friday. It was a very special night and it felt so odd to be showered and loved as much as I was. It is hard to be on the receiving end. I feel that Jeff and I have been here since we returned. It is such a humbling experience. Believe me, we do not take being humbled lightly. It is amazing. These sisters also gave me a double running stroller. I was so happy! I could not believe they would all pitch in for such an extravagant gift. Every one of them has already done too much. To me it is like gold! Those who know me know how much running means – and for the days I can’t drag my bum out of bed at 5, well, now it’s okay. I love you girls! I hope you know what a special night that was for our family and me.

I also want to thank my church for their special shower for us. Oh my was it a sight to see a little girl and boy dancing with squeals of delight in the midst of flying paper, boxes, cards, clothes, diapers, cups, hats, gloves, gift cards…. I could go on. I just sat in the middle in awe of all of it. Never in my wildest dreams have I felt the immense love and support given to our family by so many loving, dear, thoughtful people. We are so filled with gratitude and awe in all of this. Thank you all at All Saints!

So that may give you all some idea of what things are like here. Lots of dirty diapers (Jeff thinks we should just put the food there instead). Lots of meltdowns before/at dinner time just like every other kid in America, lots of being late for this or that. Lots of schedule changes to accommodate naps and sometimes too much fun from the day before. Many grocery bills. I still am having trouble figuring meals for 6. Lots of kisses and hugs when you may or not expect it. Lots of adoring looks and sweet little faces taking in a new world. A lot of putting things in this world and at home in perspective. Many friends and family who have embraced us and held us up daily! All in all the Brooks clan is doing very well. I would have never thought things would fall in to place as well as they have. We could not have done it without our Mighty God and all of you who helped us along the way. Thank you!
Jen

Getting Settled In (New Pics)

Okay, okay, all you BLOG junkies……….. Here is the latest and greatest from the Brooks clan. We are tired, we are a bit stretched, but we are so very happy and so blessed by this experience. Let me give you a few instances. Jenna has started to play with her doll. She will swaddle it and put diapers on it (with my help). She has begun to talk to it, etc. The other night – after a lot of not so good bedtimes- we put baby to bed. Baby started to cry because she did not want to sleep. Jenna kissed her and said, night night baby. Go spot (sleep). Well, then Jeff and I said, good job! Now it is your turn to spot. Her face said it all (OH NO! I have been had!). It was very funny. But what could she do but spot at that point. Since then it has become much easier. Eddie is becoming quite the hunter. Our dog Lilly has been squeezed poked, stuck, etc. She has been a good sport. Today I have to say he was the most animated I have seen. We went to the beach with a friend and it was such an awesome experience. To see it from their eyes was amazing. He got to the bottom of the steps and sat with his shovel and bucket and started shoveling like a kid in a candy store. I had to go back and pick him up and move him to our stuff. I do not think he budged the two hours we were there. Jenna, on the other hand, well, she was a bit over whelmed by the enormous waves and icky sand. She got very worried about her shoes and feet getting sandy. She grabbed her own towel and set up her own spot. She did come around eventually, but not like old pro Eddie. She threw the sand, he filled the buckets, he ate the sand and he slammed down every castle I made with gusto! That’s our boy! Jenna did go with me to find shells. She learned they don’t taste good and are a bit crunchy, but she has a pocketful right now.

The household is good. Justin and Jacob have really seemed to be champs. It is amazing really. I have to confess I miss being at their schools, eating lunch with them there and being able to take them in the morning, but I think that maybe later we can do all of that. The kid’s behavior has been great. They test us a lot – but we know it is more of them understanding how we set our boundaries. That has been interesting. I had to get out my James Dobson book again. It really helped me understand their need for these boundaries and our need for sanity! I have also got some amazing friends who have been through this journey to. They have been such a great resource for Jeff and me. It’s like having an infant for the first time and not wanting to mess up. I was telling a friend about how Jenna gets upset when she has dirty hands. One day I told her to lick the jelly off her finger and she glared at me as if I cursed her. Duh, then I realized girls don’t lick stuff off their hands. Watching her dress up is a blast too. One day she put on her dress up outfits and asked if Babushka was coming. I said, no, not today. What about Deydushka (gramps)? No, not today. Poppa? Is he coming home? I laughed and I hugged her tight because that was so sweet of her to want to show them how pretty she was. When we have told her that before she has told us that she is not pretty or smart, etc. Just this week she has began to agree with us.

My sister stayed a night here too. Having her here with the kids was a great experience for the kids. They saw that another woman treated her kids like we do. Having Aunt Mary around the corner has been a great thing too. She is their teacher in a Bible study class. They love to go. I know it is because she is their teacher. With all the family around sharing their love and sweet, sweet hugs and kisses – wow – what a blessing these kids are living. Many people have said, you’re doing a good thing, or you are such a blessing to them. I hope that everyone can see from Jeff’s and my perspective – to us – they are the blessing. They have changed so many things in our lives. This journey has strengthened our family in so many ways. It has also helped us realize just how precious life is. How precious being content with what you have – and not want you want, is. It has also made me realize that I don’t have to have a clean house. I know I am a freak about that. I confess. I can wear something in a week more than once. I can save money on hairspray and just put it up……. I could go on and on. Can you believe we have made it this far? We could not have done it with out all of you. Thank you for that. Keep on praying though, we still need them! God bless.
Jen

Pictures Added

First week at home!

Recap - The Week that Was

Sep 26-29

I had mentioned before that there were extraordinary efforts made by our friends last week that we want to acknowledge. It is still hard for us to wrap our minds around exactly what happened and how it happened, just know that the following words probably won’t do them justice, but we wanted to get them written for posterity’s sake. Here goes…

First thing Monday morning, we’re (Ira, Kostya’s partner went with us also) off to the courthouse in Donetsk to pick up the court decree because we can’t proceed without it. As you may remember, after our court hearing on the 16th, the court secretary told us she would have it ready first thing on the 26th. Finally, around 10:30 we heard those “lovely” words everyone loves to hear, “Come back tomorrow”. We were obviously thrown for a loop because everything (our flight home!) was predicated on getting that piece of paper. Kostya tried everything and the best they would offer was to have it ready by 4:00, however, it would be dated effective on the 27th. This meant bad news for getting birth certificates, passports, and the children in order to catch the train for Kiev Monday evening. Stressed and in the lurch, we were at a loss for what to do knowing changing our flight plans was going to be tough (we’d already had to buy new ticket$ for me and Jennie), but this is where Kostya really came through. Mind you, he had caught some sort of flu bug and wasn’t feeling well, but he pressed on with the best we could do. We went to the birth certificate place and asked if they could just get started on the paperwork with the promise of the forthcoming decree. Reluctantly, they would do enough that would save us some time when we brought the paperwork. Then it was off to find a notary that would agree to do the paperwork requesting passports for the children. Amazingly, Ira found one that would do it! All the while, we were calling Leeza’a orphanage director to see if he would release her in order for us to make our schedule, he would not. Also, we were getting awesome help from Lora in order to get a flight from Donetsk to Kiev since it became obvious we would miss the train. Our heads were spinning as you could imagine. After we got the paperwork from the notary, we took it to the “passport place” and the lady knew Kostya, within an hour, we had their passports!

Then it was back to the courthouse to wait, it was around 3:00 at this point, Kostya decided to ask for it anyway and they actually had it ready!...but it was dated effective for the 27th. We decided to go to Joseph Edward’s orphanage to see if by chance they would release him (Leeza’s was still a ‘No’, and that’s the one we needed most because it was so far out of the way). It was a hurried goodbye, but we dressed Eddie in the outfit we bought for him, signed what we needed to sign and we actually walked out that gate with him (we had pictured this moment many times during our visits)! Meanwhile, Lora had reserved a 12:50 flight for us on Tuesday. At this point, Kostya decided to go ahead on to Kiev via the train as planned and we would meet him there. When we got back to the apartment in Gorlovka, all the babushkas, Lora, and Ira were waiting to greet and meet Eddie. It was so incredibly heart warming that they would do that for us/him, we will never forget their genuine kindness. So that night, we got to know Eddie a little bit better, he was so sweet and such a trooper through all the frenzied travel.

Tuesday morning, we met Ira and it was off to Donetsk again to get the birth certificates so that then we could go to Torez, get Leeza, and get back to Donetsk in order to catch our flight. The timing was crucial, because we had to get everything done in Kiev to still make the flight home. The clock was ticking, the birth certificates were a little slow, but we got them – off to get them notarized – done – and the “passport lady” actually met us there to pick up a copy as a favor (unbelievable). Now to Torez, and I mean the taxi driver knows the time constraint. We’re on the phone often with Lora to update our status. She and Ira actually took part of our luggage (the BIG part) to the airport to meet us (hopefully) when we got there. By the time we got to the orphanage (took an hour and a half), it looked like there was no way we would make it back in time. But we did another hurried goodbye at the orphanage (we hated that because they were so nice there and we sensed a real attachment that they had for Leeza), dressed her in the Director’s office which by the way is where she and Eddie met, signed the paperwork, and we were off for the race. Talked to Kostya (who was in Kiev now) and we were convinced to try the shortcut back so I talked the taxi driver through it and we were on our way. Constant calls from Lora to update and at 12:30, we confessed there was no way we would make it. But we pressed on, nothing to lose, as we fell out of the taxi, we ran in with all we could carry and Ira was at the counter changing our tickets and Lora was at the door (with our luggage) pleading with them to hold the flight. It was one of those surreal scenes, running, everything we could carry, kids included, etc. They hurried us through security, somehow we crammed all our stuff (2 strollers, 2 big suitcases, 4 carry-ons, 2 kids, and us) onto the shuttle and out to the plane. We didn’t get to hug Lora and both Iras to death like we wanted to, and I still don’t know how we did it, divine intervention is the only way to explain it (all of it for that matter). So we were off to Kiev.

We were in contact with Kostya, his plan was to have 2 drivers waiting for us at Kiev. One immediately took Jennie and the kids to the hospital to get their medicals done
and the other took me and the luggage to the US Embassy. I refused to do the conversion of 170km/hr, I would save that for later. Started the forms at the Embassy and Jennie, kids, and Kostya got there about 5:00. I took all the paperwork in (very eerie feeling in there, high security as you could imagine) and the gentleman was very helpful, however, his superior was none to happy about the late request (our original appointment was at 11am). I explained our flight situation and he said he would do the best he could. So it was back first thing in the morning. So that night, we stayed in the apartment we did when we first arrived in Kiev. The kids “slept” in our room which meant this was the 3rd night in a row Jennie and I had virtually no sleep.

Wednesday morning, back at the Embassy. When we arrived, there was a huge line and our hearts sank. However, we went right in because we were there for US citizen services. The lady who helped us was wonderful, we were the only family there at the time and they did everything they could do to get us out of there for our 1:50 flight. We couldn’t believe it, but their visas were done at 10:30, wow! So we hurried out to get to the airport, we were going to make it home tonight!...but, of course, Lufthansa had other plans. Jeff E, you know the drill, they delayed our flight long enough to cause us to miss our connecting flight in Frankfort. When we got to Frankfort and they said there was nothing else going to the US that night, we almost lost it, we were already wrecks at this time. They said we would have to spend the night there and they would put us up in a hotel. But just to make it more “fun”, we had to get German visas for the kids since we were leaving the airport. More waiting, more paperwork, more fun. But we made the best of it, we made sure we ate as much as we could as the food was very good at this hotel. Kids slept well and it was back to the airport first thing in the morning. The 8 ½ hour trip to Philadelphia was way better than expected and we got into Raleigh about 6:00 where Aunt Char and Cori met us. We changed clothes at her house, ate a piece of pizza, got some coffee (it was about 2:00am to us) and then headed out to Swansboro. The kids slept most of the way and when we got home, the boys, Mom, and the neighbors were all outside waiting for us! It was so incredibly good to be home, we couldn’t quit hugging the boys and they made fast friends with the new additions.

…So here we are, a week later, still in awe of the events of last week. Indelibly etched on our hearts and in our minds are the efforts of Kostya, Lora, Ira (Lora’s translator), and Ira (Kostya’s partner). We are forever grateful and forever humble to you all and we thank the Lord He put you in our paths and in the paths of the lives of our children.

Getting in the Routine

I know a lot of you have confessed to being Blog “junkies”. That is such a cool thing to confide (to us) in. I have to let you all know that I took both kids to Kinder Music today. Eddie impressed the teacher with his musically inclined motions and ability to keep up. Jenna was a bit shy at first but caught on quickly and had a ball. She did not want to leave. Edward, on the other hand was still suffering from jet lag and life in general. I think that he gets over stimulated very easily. Just looking around at the abundance of things and stuff must throw him for a loop, Jenna, too. But girls seem to deal with frustrating things a bit different than boys. That has been a new thing around here. I thought I was the princess! : )