August 9th

Big Day! We got to Disney land early and I was like a little kid. All I wanted to do was be on the rides and see the reaction of the boys. Disneyland was a nightmare by 11am and hot. Too many people and they boys actually wanted to go home. Don't get me wrong, the rides were amazing and they loved them it was just too much with the hour lines and heat.

So we got back to the condo by 2 to rest and got back to meet Gary's niece and her kids at 6pm. We rode a few more rides at California Adventure and then had dinner and headed back to Disney. Gary went home around 10pm and I stayed with the boys until midnight. It was so much better with less people and no heat. The boys could care less about the fireworks they just wanted to ride. They didn't want to do any baby rides either. It was all about the big ones and roller coasters.

In one of the lines Vadym was telling me that Ukraine did not have roller coasters. All of a sudden I could see his face completely change like he went into shock. He looked me in the eye and said "Me no go back to Ukraine Mama,  Please, Please". It was like all of a sudden he realized it was going to happen and he was thinking about being home. I just about died because he had never said anything like that before. He said it over and over and I was devastated. I didn't even know what to say but just hugged him. It's so hard to write this stuff and relive it. I just cry.

He has completely become part of our family. It's like he has always been with us. It's so hard to imagine he will be leaving soon. I can't even prepare for it. It is too heartbreaking. I got back to the condo and told Gary what he said and it broke Gary's heart also. We just love this kid so much.

I have been getting emails about him and talking to people and my coordinator in Ukraine told me there are many families interested in him and his siblings. I was not prepared for that either. I thought for sure it would take a while and I could get him at Christmas but I guess there is a good chance that won't happen. They are so young...I am finding that many people are interested in sibling groups. It's a blessing but hard all in one. I guess this blog has helped a lot of people get to know him and fall in love with him and I am so happy about that. Doesn't make it easy for me to lose him though. I just hope I can stay in contact with him. I cant' imagine not knowing where he will be.

I have been working with the coordinator for my trip to Ukraine in September for our winter host program. I am going to visit 2 or 3 orphanages and Cara will visit 3 other ones. We are hoping to collect enough donations to bring the children winter jackets and shoes. They have it planned for us to go different directions so we can meet lots of kids to find good matches for our host families. Very exciting! We are hoping to visit the orphanage where our current host kids live also if they are not adopted by then. (Vadym and Bogdon). Bogdon has a family going back for him. They are in love with him. This hosting program is an amazing and life changing for everyone.