July 29th

Today Grego's good buddy from school called to take him swimming and do a play date. Perfect timing to give the boys a break from each other. It was acutally a peaceful day of no battling. I took Vadym and Giuliana to the pool and just relaxed. Vadym has become a great swimmer. He also loves jumping off the diving board but no deep end without the floaties. He may be ready but I'm not :0). He can just spend his time this summer practicing his strokes and swimming to the bottom in the shallow end. Sorry, call me a water freak. :0/.

After swimming Vadym asked for a "Cheese Berrrgerrr". I joked with him and told him he is going to get a big tummy and fat cheeks only eating Cheese Berrrgerrs. I then joked with him that he goes crazy over swimming and cheeseburgers and repeated it over and over and make crazy faces like I was Vadym. He thought this was hysterical. He loves when we play and act silly.

Vadym talked to Serg today and when Serg got back on the phone with me he told me Vadym told him all about my mom coming over with a load of gifts for him and how he got an electric airplane. He said Vadym talked about her and how sweet she was when the boys went to her house. You can tell Serg gets so emotional about how happy Vadym is. He told me he would never get so many happy things in his life being at an orphanage. :,( Oh, and he told Serg about all the ice cream he gets. :0). That is one of Gary's things a couple nights a week....the family trip to ice cream after dinner. It's not a lot but for him it is.

Later in the day I had to go shop for clothes for the kids for a our family reunion this weekend. Gary said Vadym just sat with him and rattled in Russian the whole time. He then took him and Giuliana outside to play. Vadym is really a "guy guy" and likes male figures. He is close to Serg and now Gary. You hear that sometimes the children come and get more attached to the "Host Mom". Vadym definitely does not have a preference. He loves us both the same. He will even climb up on our bed with our kids in the morning or sit on our couch at night when we watch TV. He has been up a little late the last few days because of his little naps after
swimming.

When I got back from the store I handed Vadym his clothes and he said "thank you" and took them in the room and put them in his drawers. I got the boys a new set of PJ's so he was tickled to see his new Spidy nighttime digs.

Vadym is also in the habit of getting up in the morning and brushing his teeth. I caught him using mouthwash though and had to tell him it's not good for little boys. He thinks he is suppose to and does his little arguing in Russian.

He still is not a big fruit eater. My mom brought over wonderful strawberries and cherries and he would not touch them. He likes watermelon, apples, and banana's but not a lot. Cucumbers and tomatoes are his favorite. He will grab a tomato out of the fruit bowl and eat it like an apple. He still does not like potatoes, except french fries.

More and more he walks around signing the alphabet and looks at us to see if he is doing it right. I found a leapfrog video on Netflix that had the alphabet. He sits and watches it and sings the songs and is practicing name of each letter. Gary was trying to teach him how to say R with out the "Russian Roll".  I need to find the leapfrog video that does all the sounds of the letters. I used it last summer on Gregorio to help him prepare for Kinder and it was amazing. I think I will use as many teaching videos in the car on the way to Disney as the boys will allow. I might even take the portable DVD so they can each watch their own movies so if Vadym wants to watch the alphabet ones he can. He still has a huge desire to learn English. He is a sponge. I am very impressed with how fast he picks things up.

I made sage butter raviolis and we had left over BBQ chicken. He eats the chicken legs down to the marrow I swear. He even sucks on the bone like Osso Bucco (sp?).

Grego came home exhausted and had dinner already and went straight to bed. He had a good day also. :0). I'm happy he was able to see his buddy.
Still no bad days

July 25th through 28th

Vadym has become completely comfortable with us. He even is starting to battle a bit with my six year old..:0). Finally getting sick of him saying "Mine" all the time. My mom had bought him some things to practice English alphabet and when Grego tried to take it Vadym said "MINE". You tell him Vadym! I think it humbled Grego a bit when I explained to him that he does that to Vadym. I understand it's hard to have a new friend living in your room and playing with your things but the mine thing gets old and I am always on Grego to think about what he is doing. I have to say, Grego has been doing better than I expected. Especially now that he knows how it feels. His response was, "well he is older"...lol. Me, "So that means you can't share"......No comment back.

Vadym is also battling for attention lately. When we swim he is right in there yelling "mom, mom, mom, mom" to show me his latest dance move or swimming stroke to get my attention away from everyone else. He still loves "good job Vadym"...big smiles.

He has now completely taught himself to swim. I still don't let him in the deep end but he IS swimming! Under water and freestyle. I took them earlier today and let them swim for hours so they are exhausted.

His new thing that is making me crazy is poking my face with some Russian game he does. At first it was a cute thing that he would do to me and Gary and then grab the nose while saying a rhyme in Russian. Only problem is now he does it to get attention away from everyone else and won't stop and his hands are all over my face poking and grabbing. Finally out to dinner last night I had to make him stop and tell him "no more face" and made faces like he was driving me crazy. He stopped and looked at me and nodded his head and said, "OK, no more face" with a big smile. I think he got it because it stopped. :0). Now that he is getting attention he wants more. 

Yesterday I told Grego to pick up his clothes and next thing I know Vadym had cleaned the whole bedroom and came out to ask me where the broom was. I looked in and told Grego Vadym was getting a surprise for doing work without being asked. Of course Grego freaked out and turned off his WII and helped Vadym make the beds. "Mom, I cleaned. Do I get a surprise?". I just hope this keeping the room clean wears off on him.

Two days ago we had good friends visit from Denver that we had not seen in a very long time. Vadym was in mine and Gary's face trying hard to get attention when we were talking. He grabs our hands and gets in our face and talks and tries to play games and dance. Or he yells "mom, mom, mom" and does something silly. Not much we could do about it but be sympathetic to his needs and deal with it and visit at the same time. I am not about to hurt his feelings and tell him to stop in front of everyone because he won't understand what he did wrong.

He is use to being introduced to people and does not act shy. He shakes hands and offers his big smile.

I have also noticed that he is getting more adventurous around the property. When we were with our friends having lunch at the winery the other day he disappeared and we were freaking out looking for him. I finally caught a glimpse of his florescent green shirt through the vines. We was out walking around the perimeter of the winery on the side by our house. He was just checking everything out. It's hard to tell him he can't just take off because he really didn't. He was there and not far just not in view. The one thing that got me was when I called to him he looked at me and then just kept walking. Not like him except in his sad times. I thought maybe he was having one and didn't make a big deal about it and just watched him make his way to me on his own time. Testing? Not sure. I really think he was just checking it all out, taking it all in, and just wanted to continue that on his way back.

It's all good. He is a good boy and ALL BOY!. We are all sitting around the living room now. Grego is sleeping and Gary and Vadym are seeing who can make the funniest noises with their mouths. Gary just showed him how to make his nose "pop". Vadym is trying to figure out why he can't do it. Hmmmm, tricky Papa.

I have been on my computer a little bit the last couple days and he get irritated with that. I am trying to find ways to raise more money for our Winter Host Program and he would rather me be focusing on him and playing.

I am cracking up right now because the "Upside Down Show" just came on. He is digging it. Not surprised. Even my son's friends in their 20's get mesmerized by these guys. Vadym keeps looking over at me like "are these guys for real." Too funny. I just also figured out that he is confused because he took a short nap when he got home from swimming and can't figure out why it is night time so soon. He keeps pointing outside saying "sleep". I say "yes sleep" and he argues "no sleep" with a confused look on his face. I guess he thought he slept all night. No wonder he asked for cereal when he got up. He is not getting it.

I think that is about it. I guess I should go to bed so he figures out it really is bedtime. Oh, yesterday he put 4 English words together. YAY! I can also tell he understands more than he can speak. Frustrating for him because he has so much to talk about. Doesn't stop him. He rattle off his Russian stories and I always agree and get excited about what he is saying. :0}.

July 24th.

Time to go home :0(. He was sad but fine with it. Dave Keegan has turned into "Grandpa Keegan" and spoiling the kids rotten. He rented them the mini bikes and they have played lots of video games in the arcade among all the other fun stuff to do there. Pancakes and Kielbasa for breakfast and then off to home.

When we got home he looked at me and pointed to the couch to ask in Russian if he could stay and sleep there. He got super sad when I said no. :0(. I hate that sad face when it shows once in a while. Breaks my heart.  He was fine though.

We went to Noni's at "5" and he is getting better and better at his swimming. Just a fun and great kid. I keep waiting for the day I report something bad. Not going to happen!

Still a good eater and no problems.

July 23rd

train ride



oh sooo much fun



Vadym climbing walls



Today we just did a bunch of fun things at the campground. Rode bikes, jumpy "thing", rock wall, playground tag, train ride, eat a huge breakfast. Just all day fun stuff. Vadym would also go take time for himself once in a while and shut down on my phone or take a bike ride. Grandma and Zio Gene showed up later and we had a great big camp dinner and he ate a ton. He also loves to play chess with the boys in the RV.

Nothing different to report except he is just still a great kid and we love him more every day. My hubby is getting very attached to him also. He is just that kind of kid. He is never in trouble and never causes a fuss about anything.

check out the fun pix so far

https://picasaweb.google.com/108914981901069890156/July252011?authuser=0&feat=directlink

July 22nd

Today we got up and took the boys to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk after they played for a while at the campground. We first went to breakfast and he kept picking at his back teeth and showed me he was in pain. Poor beebee. I told him on google translate that I would give him some medicine for pain and take him to the Dentist to fix his back teeth. We have been teaching him to brush everyday so I am not sure is it is aggravating his back teeth or not but they are pretty bad. I can see the pain in his eyes and he shook his head yes with gratitude.

When we got to the Boardwalk we first did the haunted house which he loved even though it was super scary for me and Grego :0). We took the boys on all the rides they were high enough for and had a blast. Vadym shows no fear of anything. He especially loved when I would scream like crazy. He would point to me and crack up so of course I did this on every ride. He is just super fun. Gary got him an ice cream dip and this was a big hit. We also played lots of games.

We got back to the camp and they rode bikes and played. The Keegan family showed up with their son and Vika the girl they are hosting and going to adopt. Vadym and Vika took off together and sat talking on the swings for a good 30 minutes or more. It was so cute how happy they were to see each other. They played close that night and talked a lot. We cooked a fun camp dinner and had smores and they played on the playground with flashlights. 10pm bedtime.

He is having less alone times but he does not like to lose at anything. He seems more hurt than anything. He will still take time out for himself when he needs to but it doesn't last long and he comes back with a smile. He is starting to sing a lot and do this funny belly dance. He also does his little air guitar which is also too funny. He wants to make everyone happy and smile and always likes to be told he is a good boy. He is really close with all of us.

July 21st.

 

Today the boys went to sports camp for a bit and I picked them up early to leave for camping. Vadym's coach (a teenage girl) ran out and hugged him goodbye and spoke Russian words to him. Big smiles.

When he got into the motor home he was a little light bulb. It was so cute so see him so excited. He kept putting his thumb up like Fonzie while he explored it wildly. I let them ride in it with Gary and I followed behind. When we got to the beach the boys jumped out and explored the playground and jumped on their bikes. We unloaded a little bit and then jumped on our bikes to be sure they were being safe. We had to tell Vadym to slow down a bit around the campground because he was a wild man. He understood, smiled and said "ok". Such a good boy.

We hung out at the camp and they slept well.
Another fun day of discovery for Vadym.

July 20th

I got a call yesterday about Vadym that was a lead from our host yahoo group. It's a support group the hosting company has that allows all the host parents an opportunity to talk (write), share, report, and keep up on all the laws. Just a great support tool and way to be connected. Makes it easy for the host company as well. Everything is posted on files, families post all their photos. It's so helpful.

She has been trying to adopt domestic for 5 years. Ugh! I explained the rules of Ukraine adoption and how she can have a child in 6 to9 months and connected her with others who can help her.

Vadym and Grego went off happily to camp today. He did seem a little sad when he left but Gary said he was fine and they ran into the gym with no problems. (I like to think he is just sad to leave me but I don't think so). I notice that with Vadym if he is not busy it seems to give him time to get sad. I wish I knew what was going on in his precious little head. Swimming is a must today! It is a great time for us to focus on the kids and play with no distractions. 

I confirmed with him this morning we are going camping. His eyes light up and he says "tomorrow" in Russian. I have figured that word out :0). I love his little voice and to listen to him speak Russian. We are communicating fine. Gary does really well talking to him to. It just takes patients and the willingness to understand. We all do just fine. I know this was Gary's biggest fear when we first talked about hosting. It is not a big deal. I feel like Gary does not even have a problem at all or notice he has to try harder with Vadym. It just come natural after the first couple days.

Today when we went swimming he asked me if he could take off his arm floaties. I told him ok but to stay in the shallow end. He then practiced and practiced swimming and started to do it right before our eyes. He is just amazing.