Saturday, June 26, 2010

Good times

We've had a couple of days to visit with both kids and overall things are going great. I think Joseph might be a tad bit jealous that we have added Zoya to our little private play group. :)

The cultural and language differences are really getting to us. Yesterday when we arrived for our visit, all the children were sitting on benches watching a puppet show. We thought it would be less disruptive for us to sit with them and watch the show with the kids but the caretakers indicated that they preferred we take Joseph away from the group. Remember all this 'communicating' is happening with signs and body language, not with words. By now all the nannies know that we are here for Joseph so as soon as they saw us they dismissed him to come play with us, but poor little Zoya saw us too and she seemed very confused as to whether she was supposed to come with us or stay for the puppet show. She stood up and started making her way towards us but the nanny yanked her arm and put her finger in her face, and shouted ZOYA!!....etc...and put her back on the bench. Then the other caretakers started talking, and told her that we were here to adopt Zoya too, and next thing you know someone is grabbing Zoya's hand and bringing her to us after all. We were all so confused, and Zoya was clearly confused. Suddenly after they handed her to me she burst into the most pitiful cry I have ever heard and they motioned for me to get her out of there as she was disrupting all the other kids. My heart was so sad at her sadness and I held her and she cried and cried and cried. It was really a sweet time of bonding for us and she eventually quieted down in my arms. I wasn't sure if she was heartbroken to have missed the puppet show, or heartbroken because she had gotten yelled at. Later the music teacher who was witnessed all of this and speaks some broken english told me that "Zoya is very sensitive and feels too much" and said that she was cried because she wanted to go with us and she was sad when she thought she had to stay for the puppet show. How I loved to hear that she wanted us so badly. What a sensitive, sweet girl. I can certainly relate to 'feeling too much'.

A while later, while we were still talking to this music teacher, the orphanage nurse walked by. Zoya lit up to see the nurse, and showed her all her scrapes and bruises, even lifting up her dress to show her something on her back. :) And then she proudly introduced me as her 'mama'. I thought of how long she has been waiting for a mama, and now she has her very own. This made me smile.

Remember how I said I didn't know if Joseph said any words? Well today when we arrived, he spotted us, grinned, and said, "PAPA, PAPA, PAPA!!!"....and ran to John! Oh, I can't tell you what that did to my heart! He is definitely more bonded to John and Zoya is bonding more to me. Although John says that on the airplane ride home he wants to be in charge of Zoya and he wants me to be in charge of Joseph. ha ha!

We have had a blast with the White family, who is here adopting three children from the same orphanage. We 'met' on Reece's Rainbow, so it is nice to be here with them in person, meeting each other's kids and taking family photos for one another. They are adopting three kids- two little girls with Down syndrome and a boy with clubbed hands and feet. They took these photos for us:



We asked the director of the orphanage if there were any pictures of the kids that we could take home with them, for their baby books. And these are the TWO photos, one of each child, that we got. They were the only ones they had. Can you imagine having only one photo representing your first 5 years of life? Something about these photos make me smile: Two russian-speaking orphans with completely different birth families and ethnic backgrounds and histories, now brother and sister and on their way to be Oklahomans.
Zoya is a little uncertain about John still but she is warming up to him.
Today he picked some flowers for her and told her to bring them to me, which she very sweetly did.
Then John told Joseph to bring me some flowers...


What a stinker!

Here is a game that nobody gets tired of....except for the dads. When it was Zoya's turn, Joseph would shove her out of the way, and when it was Joseph's turn, Zoya was 'helping' him up on John's legs. These kids are as different as night and day but we are pretty sure they will fit into our family just perfectly.




21 comments:

Gretchen said...

You guys are great!!! Your kids are adorable!
Blessings----and get home, would you!?!!?

Jennifer said...

What wonderful additions to your family. I am so happy for you. Praying you get home with those beautiful children.

Julia said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE THE PICTURES... Love the info - the blog - am so happy to follow your adventure!

Delahne said...

Charissa,
Your updates are the highlight of my day. It's going to be so much fun when we get our families together! Remember when Kristi, you, and I had only 7 children together, and now you have 7! We definitely need to gather the troups again!

Jo's Corner said...

Zoya is so so Special. I can't put my finger on it, but there is something about her that brings me to tears and makes my heart sing...at the same time. She is so tiny and fragile looking, like a sweet little Hummingbird. Just Precious. I am so Happy that she had a Mommy to carry her and comfort her when her feelings were hurt. I Love how HE placed her in a family that will be there to love and Protect her from the pain of this world. I will be Praying that ALL goes well during the adoption process and that both she and Joseph will have a peaceful transition into their new life. Please, give Zoya a little kiss on her cheek from someone in MN. USA who is saying lots of Special Prayers for her, okay? God Bless your growing family. JO

Pan Cratius said...

Looks like a good beginning.

junglemama said...

I love all the pics! You guys look great together!

Anonymous said...

She's a lefty!!!!

Love the pics and the story of today!

Jan

Lisa said...

Yes, these two children are perfect additions to your beautiful family! And I agree, Zoya is like a little hummingbird...she is just too sweet for words. I love the baby pictures of both kids. How cute!

Holly said...

Oh those precious treasures!!! They are for sure going to bring more to your life than you can even fathom! I am so happy that you are coming home with BOTH of them!!

markay714 said...

Wow - Zoya is a tiny little one! What is their age difference? I'm so glad you have some pictures of all of you!!

Anonymous said...

what adorably sweet pictures! how precious that you were able to comfort her. these kids seemed to mold right to you guys. God is awesome....

Unknown said...

Liesel says." My favorite picture is the one 4 pics. down with Zoya handing a stick to Dad. I am so excited to fix her hair!"

Unknown said...

Jude says," I like it when Joseph tore up the flowers and threw them on the ground! And whenever Joseph pushes Zoya out of the way of the game! I think he is related to me with the water hose and stuff and Simeon too!"

Unknown said...
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Unknown said...
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Unknown said...

Simeon says, "Joseph is a stinker but I cant wait to see him he is so cute! Zoya looks like Joseph's baby sitter!"

Unknown said...

Hope says," I love all of Zoya's pictures and I love Joseph's too and Mom and Dad. I know how to knit, I love you more and I love the whole family! We are having fun with the dogs that come over to visit Leyla, like the one who looks like a lion and is very cute". I love and I miss you. It is almost my birthday"

Unknown said...

Oma says, Sorry I had to delete a couple of repeats! The kids all wanted to say something and I pushed the button and they posted double. We are so happy when we get a new blog and can read it together.. The kids enjoy taking turns reading about their new brother and sister and laugh about the funny things they do! Love you and praying for things to go quickly!

ArtworkByRuth said...

What a wonderful first word for Joseph! Praying for you and as you bond as family. Praying also for the children that will be still waiting for their parents after you leave...

Anonymous said...

Oh my....I'm here at work, reading your blog during lunchtime and tears well up in my eyes. How blessed we are to witness this beautiful union. Your family back home...well, home and in Mexico, can't wait to see you and hug you and meet their new siblings. God bless you both for what you're doing, and God bless Oma and Opa and Marlita for all their help.
Love, Aunt Sharon