Sharing the love

Isabelle went on a daughter-daddy date with Daddy just before Valentine's Day. She was absolutely delighted. (And I think it confirmed for her that she's daddy's precious girl even though there's a boy around now!)

We try to share the love with the four kids daily according to their needs and the way each of them was created. They are each so beautifully different, one from the other. We do draw the line though... For one, "special orders do upset us" in the Holland kitchen. It's tough beans if you don't like beans! Nicky eats everything though. It's a delight to watch him gorge and we're still saying "smaller bites" and "slow down." He's grown over 4 inches and we're due for another run to Target for some longer corduroys since it seems Spring is still a long way off here!

Christmas and snow

Though the pictures are worth a thousand words, the blessings are worth a million words of praise. Christmas for Nicky below, opening Leapster (his own, rather than borrowing Isabelle's), his remote control "machina" (car) and a s'mores and snow evening on the patio (Katrina pictured).

A cowboy, a princess, a mummy, and one of the three blind mice!

Halloween was amazing, running house to house for candy? This country ROCKS!

Running barefoot, eating ice cream, learning to swim

Our 4-Square!
These are just a few of the fun things we've been watching Nicholas learn to do! It is so amazing, crazy, strange even at times to see a boy this big actually doing some of these things for the first time. Everything thrills him. His eyes open wide and he gets this very Nicky-esque smile. Each day, it seems, he does something new. Today he went on a trampoline for the first time; and a merry-go-round.

He's also getting used to some routine things like going to the "Y." He does great in the kids club with Isabelle, so I'm able to work out a bit. He loves our regular babysitter, Lauren, so I'm able to get some work for WHO done still. Everything is really going better than I ever expected. I mean there are the regular sibling tug-o-wars for Mommy's time or a certain toy, and the busy-ness of summer definitely leaves me ready to collapse into bed, but it is just so amazing that Nicholas is finally here! He's grown an inch, and although his blood work came back with a high level of lead (20), we should see that go down. The health dept does have to do an inspection of the house though. What an awesome country we live in, yes, inspect my house for lead! They will also send a letter which I plan to forward on to the orphanage since it's likely that other kids there are being exposed and have high levels.

I'm including a bunch of photos...out of chronological order because the ones of our last days in Kaz were on the memory card that sunk to the bottom of the pool. The card was fine although the camera drowned.

Lastly, my suitcase arrived back here on my doorstep on July 12th, some of the stuff moldy, including my Russian Phrasebook for Children which I mailed to British Airways with my receipts, as a symbol of the inconvience they caused me. Unreal. I will never fly them again with checked luggage and avoid London at all costs. The terrorists have succeeded in destroying 'normal' life at Heathrow airport. Oh, and they lost my Kaz-purchased stroller on the way home too!

Signing off now. I may post again sometime in the fall. Thank you to all for your love and prayers and support. Oh, along those lines, I memorized and repeated Psalm 23 to myself hundreds of times in Kazakhstan, especially on the flight from Almaty to London. Let's just say Nicholas doesn't fly well. Ok, "hell on wings" might be used to describe the experience. Just before embarking on the London to Chicago flight, I visited the prayer room at Heathrow (big windows looking out at sky and runway) and was practically bawling as I prayed 23 again. I was so excited to go home and suddenly felt so full of God. It was really surreal, a most cool feeling, just before going to our gate. Got to our gate and looked at the big sign "Gate 23" and it struck me that what had sustained me thru so much, was the same gate thru which I was passing to the future, to our lives together, reunited with my family, back home finally, again, after a difficult, but unforgettable time. It was awesome. Thanks for taking the journey with me. (tons of photos below...)


Nicky at the Hyatt in Almaty, one night reprieve and first glass elevator ride.
Nicky at the Hyatt pool, just before drowning camera!
Lines, lines, more lines on the travel home
Finally reunited with the family at O'Hare. Me crying in what has come to be known as my Kaz dress.

First haircut
Lunch time! Goosna (yummy)

At the pool

All smiles

Coming to America

Stephanie and Nicky arrived in Chicago safely late Saturday afternoon. Steph's lost bag never caught up with her and we're hoping that British Airways will reimburse us fully for all the items in it. Nicky was a terror on both legs of the journey, which we're chalking up to all the change he's been through and the long flights.

Here's a shot of Nicky at the International terminal, looking sporty in his warm-ups. We spent Sunday at Church and the pool (Mom skipped swimming and took a nap with Isabelle).


Nicky also got his first US haircut, took his first ride in a convertible and hit the car wash with Dad. Here is photo of Nicky at his first Holland dinner (he slept through last night's dinner).



Stephanie will have a more complete post with her thoughts some time soon... after she's caught her breath from a long and harrowing journey. Thanks for all your prayers and words of encouragement, they really helped pull us through this long ordeal.

Coming Home!

Quick post because I have to get to sleep to make an early flight. Success at the U.S. Embassy today. Nicholas' visa was issued in his Kazakhstani passport and he will become a U.S. citizen upon entry! Next stop: London.

All is well with Nicholas. Tonight he pulled his blankie over me, making sure it was tucked nicely under my neck--it's blue and silky, a gift from Grandma Barbie, sent for him on the first trip. Nicky had it on his little cot for a month at the orphanage before I came back. He's very attached to it and his "sabatchka" (stuffed doggy) that Katrina gave to him from her collection.

We've been playing with Elena, his little friend from the Dosky Dom (orphanage), who will soon be leaving for California with her new Dad. She has not been feeling well, gets terribly carsick, and Nicholas is so sweet to her. It's nice to see that he can get really wound up, but can also be quite gentle.

Here's a photo of cousin Cole. Isn't there a family resemblance? Well, I can't wait to get these good ol' boys together for a little 4-wheelin' and skeet-shootin' at the cabin. Actually that may have to wait. But Aunt/sister Deb is planning to visit with Cole and big sister, Marissa, in August. I can't wait to see the two little guys together!

I miss my girls terribly, just terribly. I'm going to be a bawling mess when I see them, and my dashing, handsome husband, at O'hare. The worst thing about how long adoption takes is the children left at home. Today at the Embassy I met a woman from Salt Lake, adopting a severely handicapped, but very happy, six year old girl. She has 5 kids back home waiting for her. She got the visa today too, so the journey is almost over for them as well. And the best is ahead! Cheerie-o.