The second round name results are in!

Go to the link below to see the Sweet Sixteen names remaining!

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AutO_5oKf05TdFRpUE9EbFRuTzFQVHVuLWwtTnlRQUE&hl=en#gid=0

Bottorff Bracket First Round Results have been posted!

You can see the fully updated version here!

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AutO_5oKf05TdFRpUE9EbFRuTzFQVHVuLWwtTnlRQUE&hl=en#gid=0

What name suits this little munchkin best???

Good fortune...

...cookies!  The weekend before we traveled to Ukraine, Todd and I had some of our "lasts" for a while:)  We had our last date, our last dinner out alone, and our last movie together.  For dinner we went to Pei Wei and here are our fortunes from our fortune cookies.  Mine is the first one, Todd's is the second:

I decided to bring them along on the rare and most unlikely occassion that we would adopt a girl.  ha  We assumed I got the "mouth" fortune because I talk so much!:) 
In any case, I thought it was pretty funny and appropriate to share;)


A second "Little Bo"??
Many of you have asked so let me explain...
After meeting "Bo Peep" we quickly decided to proceed with the adoption.  Then, we inquired about boys available in our region so we could continue to visit her while we waited on the paperwork.  Only one boy at the time was available at the same orphanage.  I actually sent his picture to our facilitator after the Sasha and Sam visit to try to meet with him so I already knew a little about his diagnosis. 
It turns out he was born with only one kidney and that kidney is indeed "crumpled".  He will likely need a transplant immediately and it's possible he could be on dialysis and have a catheter for the remainder of his life.  Sigh...oh the tears I cried on the way to the orphanage as we had to make a decision that morning.  Could we handle both children and their medical needs financially, emotionally, and adequately for both of them? 
Options:
1.  put him on a waiting list for a kidney once in the U.S.
2.  check our blood types and see if we are candidates to give him our kidney
3.  don't adopt him and focus on Bo Peep
4.  adopt him and give him the best life we can

During our discussion, our coordinator came and suggested we decline meeting him and adopt only one special needs child.  She explained very rarely do they ever recommend adopting two children with great needs, especially to a family who does not have children yet.  He was also very delayed developmentally and would need a lot of therapy.

Todd was the voice of reason here because I was broken up.  We decided to follow her advice.  I would LOVE to bring home a brother and a sister, but with the upcoming surgeries and therapy "Bo Peep" will need, it's probably not in the best interest of her or our family:(

Technically, we still have one SDA visit and referral we could pursue back in Kyiv.  However, time and money are factors, therefore we have decided to come home as a family of three! 

Thank you for your continued prayers and support from home...we are praying for good news to share on Wednesday!!:) 
Even "Bo Peep" can't wait to get to Kansas...there's no place like home:)

Notice her ruby red slippers!?




We bought her a little backpack for some of her toys!



 

She ate tons of bubbles but she didn't seem to mind!



Happy Birthday Daddy!

***Note: For all those playing in the name bracket and are concerned we're giving away the name on the videos, we are using her given name while she is at the orphanage so as not to confuse her:)  Or are we...?  Find out next week! 

Little Bo Peep enjoys her banana while celebrating her daddy's birthday!  Since Mommy is a terrible wife and forgot Daddy's card AND gift at home, we made him a picture today for the fridge!  I covered up her name because of the bracket!

After walking to the mall, we decided to celebrate with a lunch from the grocery store...woowoo!  Todd decided to get a "grab bag" from the pre-made food section.  Since we couldn't read the Cyrillic, we just chose something that had a "3" and a "7" in the price because of Todd's age:)  What do YOU think it was?

Fortunately, it was a very yummy WHOLE chicken!  We will be having leftovers for dinner tonight. 



Also, we have created a talking machine!  Of course, Bo Peep wants to eat everything until it's gone.  We are finding that she will say "more" over and over and over again until all the food has disappeared.  I'm going to have to learn to say "no" to this precious face...I guess today's lesson will be teaching her what "no" means...oh the tears we will have!



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Daddy and Bo Peep on the slide this morning!  She was acting unlike her spunky self this morning...Todd thinks she may have allergies because she's been coughing, sneezing, and rubbing her eyes lately.

In the words of our translator...

...you did not have very good luck unfortunately...

Oksana, said this in response to the meeting about our court date.  We were hoping for the judge with a reputation of getting through international adoption cases quickly, however, we were appointed a judge who has NEVER had a case such as ours.  Oh my! 

Some positives are that she listened to Oksana's story about the time we've been here, the financial toll, and how much we love and want to take Bo Peep home.  The judge not only listened, but also told Oksana she will take our files home for the weekend and familiarize herself with the procedures.  Unfortunately, we will not know when the official court date is until next Wednesday.  Oksana pleaded for a Friday, May 6th preliminary hearing.

PLEASE pray that we are able to get that date!  Some unexpected financial things have come up...we are further from the orphanage than we thought, therefore we are spending $40-60 per DAY in taxi fees.  We walk three miles one way to a nearby mall in between sessions when Oksana is home for the weekends, then walk the 3 miles back to the orphanage for the afternoon session to save on fees. 

So far EVERYTHING has been according to God's perfect timing.  He has orchestrated so many "little things" that have turned out to be huge for us!  Even if we are here for longer than we’d like, we KNOW it is for a reason.  I'm continually amazed at God's goodness throughout this process.  A HUGE fear I have had since the beginning was that I would not fully love an adopted child, especially since we knew we would adopt a special needs baby.  But now I miss her!  I ache to see her and hold her and hear her sweet giggle. 

But I am beginning to better grasp the enormity of how much God truly loves us.  He DOES want the best for us and loves us so much more than we could ever fathom!  He promises to never leave us and He promises to be our strength when we are weak.

Luke 11:11-13 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?  Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?  If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

God gave us a wonderful gift and we're so thankful for her...she makes us wanting MORE...see video below!!!:)  We do believe she will be talking soon!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Videos and her name!!

Here are some videos that finally loaded!  They look great when I watch them on the laptop, but they look SO grainy and distorted on the blog:( Sorry...I hope you can get a picture of  how our visits are going!!!

This is the first tower we saw "Bo Peep" build during the first or second full day with her.  Todd thinks she's going to be an architect!

Bo Peep eating a banana...she cracks me up!

Reading her favorite book together!

This is "Bo Peep" crying when they put her into our arms.  I hate to say it, but I laugh when I see her poor little self crying so much!  Today, she didn't cry at all when she came to us:)  Yeah!!!

You'll hear at the beginning of this video, but I have been notorious for "taking a video" then it never being on!  This is at the tailend of a game we were playing.  I was in a small playhouse and "Bo Peep" would find me by opening the shutters.  She LOVES this:)  I just wish you could see her face better...maybe soon I will learn how to push the record button!!

This was right after nap time and they gave  her this giant cookie as her snack with a warm cup of sour milk. 

As you can see, she had no trouble eating it along with her cup of milk!  She sure can eat:) 

Now that you know a little more about her personality, we have made the decision to change her name from "Bo Peep" to something else:)  We have decided to reveal Little Bo Peep's name next week NCAA tournament style!  We have attached a 64 name bracket below.  Everyone can fill out their brackets and wait for our posts each day that reveal the results.  The final two names will be Little Bo Peep's first and middle names.  We will reveal first round results Monday, 2nd round Tuesday, 3rd round Wednesday, 4th and 5th round Thursday, and the final four and champion on Friday!

The printable version:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AutO_5oKf05TdFRpUE9EbFRuTzFQVHVuLWwtTnlRQUE&hl=en

Enjoy!

The verdict is in!!!!

It's a GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!

To be honest...we knew this little one was "our child" from nearly the moment we met her:)  In fact, we started the paperwork the following day.

So many of you are already connected to "Bo Peep" because you have been praying faithfully for her.  She is loved by many and is spiritually connected to you!  We are excited, nervous, and even a little scared, but mostly ECSTATIC!!!  Today is the "one week" mark and today was the BEST DAY EVER!!!!!!!

We have discovered her FAVORITE activity is the slide.  She climbs the stairs (with her favorite toy in hand) and slides down to Daddy.  Daddy throws her in the air and she laughs and laughs!!Then she RUNS back to the stairs for more...nearly 30 minutes!  She must be sleeping soundly tonight:):)
Here are some highlights of our week anniversary together:

* "Bo Peep" created her own game with a car she built with Legos
* She clapped!!
* She signed "more" and "thank you"
* She gives high fives with a solid slap!
* SHE began the game of "chase me around and catch me" (it was so, so fun...it was like we were in a movie, all rolling around in the dirt and grass and laughing 'til we couldn't breath!  Priceless moments and loving every minute of it;) 
* She initiated hugs with Mommy and Daddy
* "Bo Peep" saw Mommy and Daddy in pictures then pointed to us
* The BEST part...she spoke!!!  She "spoke" about 10 times and called me Mama twice!!!:)  YES! YES! YES!   

PRAISE GOD...I've been praying all week for moments such as these!  I am praying that she would recognize us and be excited to be with us.  I am praying for her to initiate and interact with us.  I am praying for verbal communication.  I am praying for her health and continuted progress.  I am praying for a QUICK court date with the "good" judge.  Tomorrow we should know...

I can't believe how this story is unfolding...awesome!

Beautiful smile!!!

First day with Daddy!

I just look at her and laugh!  She cracks me up!!!

Our "lil monkey" loves bananas!!!

The sun keeps getting in her eyes...we are looking for baby sunglasses but don't want to pay $15 for baby sunglasses...I hope that doesn't make me a bad mom already:)

Best picture yet...Daddy in one hand, monkey tail in the other:) 

Playing in the sand!  She is starting to play the "drums" with her sand tools and making "rattles" with rocks!



Our little woman:)  So tiny!

 We hope to post some videos tomorrow but do not have time tonight!  Yeah!!!