RUMORS

There have been some rumors circulating that I am blogging on the side! ;) The rumor is completely TRUE, but let me explain. Google will only allow 100 readers if you keep your blog private. We passed the 100 mark back in August so I created a second blog. We now host SPUDFARMERS and SPUDFARMERS2. The blogs are identical. The only difference are the comments posted (because of the different reader base). Sorry for the confusion!

FRIENDS

Today we were treated to two special performances at the orphanage. The first was for the kids that live on the other side of Tate's home. We were invited to watch as the kids (about 6 years old) sang and danced to a few songs about Fall. Tate was very patient and sat on my lap through the entire performance. He loved watching the kids. I can't wait for him to see the shows that the girls put on every night at home!

The second show was for Tate's group. The kids didn't really perform but they participated in the hand motions. They are a very sweet group of kids. I am so glad that he has been raised with friends.

Speaking of FRIENDS; do you have any idea how important each of you have been to us on this journey? The comments that you leave or the emails that you send are keeping us sane. There have been many moments that I feel like I cannot go on until I hear from one of you. Thank you for writing! Thank you for keeping in touch with us. My closest friends have been taking the brunt of it for sure. Thank you Krissy and Alyssa for letting me get on Skype just to cry. You have seen the good the bad and the really bad. Thank you for continuing to love me through it all. I LOVE YOU!

Daily Schedule

I thought it might be interesting to write a post to let you know what our days look like here in Ukraine. Every day has its own set of unique challenges so I will just highlight what generally happens.

Most mornings we are picked up at our apartment around 8:00am by our driver Andrae. Andrae drives a taxi that we use as transportation around the city and also to the orphanage. George, the guy who is assisting us, meets us at the same time. At this point we have probably had some cereal or an omelet. I have found that it is very important for me to eat a little something (although I don't eat breakfast at home) because the smells are too much for an empty stomach. EVERY single person in Ukraine smokes- this is not an exaggeration! Andrae is usually finishing a smoke when we get into the car- YUCK!

We always hope for a short visit with Tate. The drive to the orphanage is 45 minutes without traffic. Most days it takes us a hour. I like to lay down on the backseat during the drive(super carsick). The driving here is organized chaos. We don't understand what is going on but the drivers seem to. There is always a lot of honking, no individual lanes, lots of passing into oncoming traffic and the lights go red-yellow-green to green-yellow-red. Seeing Tate is always a highlight after the long drive to Vorzel. Most days we have a meeting here or there to sign papers, go to the US Embassy, or meet with the Social Worker. All of the meetings included a lot of waiting around- usually in the car with Andrae, smoking.

One funny story- Yesterday we were hoping the Social Worker would submit our application. She told George she would but she had to go to court first. So what did George do? He had us stalk her at the court house! After he pulled her from court (very weird!) she told us she could not print our documents because her printer was out of ink. George again came to the rescue and we were off to buy her a new ink cartridge. George went a step further today when we needed yet another paper from her. He bought her chocolates filled with cherries and vodak. He knows how to bribe!

Today our trip around the city included lunch with the guys. This was really our first introduction to typical Ukrainian cuisine. George ordered lunch for us after we told him what sounded the best to us. Reading the cold appetizer page I was worried! The first few items listed were- liver, tongue and lard! Mike and I were getting prepared for the worst and it appeared. George had asked for a full order of PEPPERED LARD. It is basically the fat part of the bacon, uncooked, with seasoning on the outside. They like to eat it with raw garlic cloves.
This picture was taken after Andrae had grubbed most of it. In very broken English he tried to explain that the 'salad' is really good too- the parsley in the middle. :)

After a full day of being out we are exhausted. I like to get on SKYPE as soon as we get back to see if we can talk to my parents or the kids. This evening we had a most interesting surprise when we got back to the apartment. Someone tried to break in while we were out. The screws on the deadbolt were falling off and the handle was loose. Thankfully they were not successful. Someone must have scared them off because they were close. Mike and I were both nervous and decided to pack up immediately. The apartment management company had someone meet us and take us to a new location. We are both thankful to be in a new place that feels more secure.

Dinner is usually whatever we can pull together at the apartment- Top Ramen, mac'n'cheese, pb&j. After our lunch today I think we are both happy to just have a little trail mix.

Mike spends each evening working from about 5pm to 1pm. We have been blessed with Internet access in our room which allows him to do his job from Ukraine. The apartment is so cold, however, that he has to bundle up while he is at the computer. I spend the evenings blogging, talking on Skype and putting our photos into online albums. I am almost done with our 07' family album.
Hope your day is as interesting as ours!

A Letter from Home

I not sure that I could have survived this long without some contact with the kids. SKYPE has been such an invaluable tool during our time here in Ukraine. I can't wait to get the computer each evening so that we can see familiar faces from home. Bailey, our long-winded daughter, loves to chat. She fills us in on every little detail from home. Yesterday she sent us a email- not as good as SKYPE but close. I have read and reread her email 100 times already.

This is what she wrote-
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MOM & DAD

I miss you so much.
We had a good breakfast.
Then we went to the beach for about 30 minuets.
Then we got itchy and had to go.
Then we went to the waterpark and played for about 2HRS.
Then we went home.
I miss you both.
LOVE BAILEY!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We miss you too, Bailey!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

My parents are celebrating their 35th Wedding Anniversary today. I forgot to purchase them a gift and a card before I left so this blog post will have to do.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

MOM and DAD,
Your marriage has lasted through-

The birth of 2 lovely daughters; a academic overachiever and the other more interested in socializing

A career in NURSING and a career in LAW ENFORCEMENT

Private School Tuition x2

A daughter with cancer and a daughter with too many dates

Back Surgeries

A BEAGLE that lived way to long

Private College Tuition x 1 1/2

5 Homes

2 Church Families

7 siblings and 7 brother/sister-in-laws

23 nieces and nephews

The death of your Fathers

2 Weddings

2 Son-in-laws

8 grandchildren (soon to be 9)

1 grand-puppy


I'd say you both look pretty darn good considering all you've been through together!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

We Broke Out Today!

Oh, the fresh air! It was so nice to finally get Tate outside to play for a bit. The tiny little room that we were visiting in was getting old.



The weather was on the chilly side so they had him VERY bundled up. His outfit included a lovely pair of bright pink boots! Brooklyn would have LOVED them. I can't wait to dress him myself.



He enjoys playing independently and can do almost everything at the playground on his own.




In this picture Tate is bending down to give me a kiss. He is already a heart breaker!

Medical Information

Prior to our first appointment here in Ukraine we had very little information about Tate. Our list of prerequisites for choosing a child included the following:
1. boy
2. younger than Emmett, 1/07 or after
3. yes to special needs/deformities

After talking it over and getting the facts straight we decided age would not matter to us. Especially considering the fate of children like Tate in several European Countries. At age 4 Tate was scheduled to be placed in a Mental Institution (REALLY BAD, think limited physical care if ANY) where he would spend the remainder of his life. We were fortunate to commit to Tate 4 days prior to his 4th birthday (definitely a GOD THING).

When we made the commitment we knew 3 things; We had a picture of his face, we knew he was nearly 4, and we knew he was in Ukraine- THAT'S IT!!! A few weeks later we were told his birthday is May 22, 2004 and we received a few more pictures. Our commitment to Tate is the same that we made to each of our children before they were born. We promised to love them, protect them and raise them to honor and serve the Lord- without exceptions.

Here is what we know about Tate now-
He was named Zhenya Oleskevish at birth. He was just under 8 lbs (the same as both girls). He has Down syndrome (which we obviously assumed from the pictures). He was born with a heart murmur and open window (which we also assumed because of the Ds). Both heart conditions seem to be repairing on their own but we will have him checked out at home. And finally, just like 3 of our other children (and our dog) he has an umbilical hernia- what a perfect fit for our family!

I am so amazed at the perfection of Tate and his unique design. We are without words to describe the gratitude we have for his birth mother and her decision to chose life. She has given us a gift beyond measure.

So much personality in such a little body!

Company

We were in the company of friends this evening but it was the first time we had met. Our journeys are similar- we have a common bond. We met up with Matt (adopting Dasha) and Paul and his daughter Elizabeth (adopting Lily). The meeting place was TGIFriday's. We were all excited about the American food. I have to say, however, the food was good but the company was even better. You wouldn't believe how comforting two hours of English can be!

Mike and I left dinner absolutely smitten with Dasha. She is a little light. What a blessing she is going to be to the Roush family.

Contagious Laugh

We are falling more and more in love with Tate every day.

Cooking in Ukraine

Mike and I are not super adventurous when it comes to food in other Countries. To be quite honest right now we just don't have the time either. Our daily schedule consists of a visit to the orphanage, some paperwork and lots of driving. We have been getting back to the apartment right around 5pm. Because of the time difference Mike has the opportunity to work during our evening (daytime in California). Therefore, our meals are pretty easy. They usually consist of something that we brought from home (mac'n'cheese, ramen, cereal, trail mix) along with something from the market here (bread, fruit, cheese, milk).

Right before we left for the airport my aunts shared a recipe that sounded like something we would be able to duplicate in Ukraine. I picked up all of the necessary ingredients on our first trip to the market.
Omelet in a Bag
It is super easy! Everything for the omelet is placed in a quart size freezer bag. We used 2 eggs, cheese, mushrooms, onions and bell peppers. Seal up the bag eliminating the air. The bag is then placed in boiling water for 13 minutes.
This is our new Ukrainian staple food!

Vorzel House of Babies

This is the front of the home that Tate lives in. The orphanage is called Vorzel House of Babies. It is basically a group of buildings that house the children. Each home has several different 'family groups'. Tate's home has 5 children with Down syndrome and 1 with Cerebral Palsy.


The outside is a wooded area overrun with foliage- very Lord of the Rings feeling. The entire space is surrounded by a tall wall.

A beautiful tree lined street leads to the orphanage.

Tate is a Daddy's boy!

What a big boy

Super Sweet

Our second visit with Tate was this afternoon. We had a really special time getting to know him. As we were approaching the home that he lives in a woman passing by stopped our Facilitator. She knew that we were there to visit Tate. She wanted us to know that they all think he is a wonderful boy. She said, "He is so sweet and cheerful and is kind with the other children." Her words meant so much to us.

Meeting Tate

How can I accurately explain our feelings today? Overwhelming would be about the best description that I can come up with right now. We feel so blessed to have the opportunity to bring Tate into our family. His caregiver describes him as 'full of joy' and we agree. He is just a tiny little guy. Probably about the same size as Baby M- 2T. After about 20 minutes of playing it was time for his nap- mine too! :) I was sad when they took him away but also relieved that this dream in our hearts is actually coming true. The experience today was quite surreal.

Here is another short clip of Tate playing-

Amazing Architecture

Here are two incredible structures that we passed in the city today-

SDA Appointment

The appointment got a shaky start because our Facilitator was 15 minutes late. The psychologist who conducted the meeting stayed around but the Director left for the day. We were approved but not officially until the Director gets in tomorrow and signs our paperwork. After that we hope to go to the orphanage(tomorrow). The meeting lasted 20 minutes. There was really no information on Tate's history other than the fact that he has lived in the orphanage since he left the maternity house at birth. There has been no parental contact. :( We showed the psychologist our family album as well as a few pictures that we have of Tate. She allowed us to swap one of our pictures for the picture she had of him!!!



Everything is going well but I am really missing my babies at home. Thank you for your continued prayers.

BTW, For those of you traveling to Ukraine- Try to find out as much information regarding your travel(in Country- taxis,trains) costs as possible. We were told to budget $1,000 and it looks like we will be closer to $2,000...kind of frustrating.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

TO THE LOVE OF MY LIFE!

Apartment

Here are two videos showing the outside and inside of the apartment that we are staying in. We are fortunate to be located in the Capital city, Kiev. We are about 10 minutes from the Department of Adoptions and about 45 minutes (without traffic) from the orphanage that Tate is living in. Our biggest complaint right now is that the apartment does not have heat! Someone is coming to check the heater in a few minutes. We hope it will be working soon. It was hard to sleep last night.






This morning we ventured out of the the apartment and across the street to a grocery store. We purchased bottled water, eggs, butter, milk, bread, mushrooms, bell peppers, apples, cheese, rice and pasta. The meat looks INTERESTING (its the only word I could come up with right now)!!!! Rotisserie chickens are sitting out on the counters-uncovered and not heated or refrigerated! I wish I had brought with me a tea leaf strainer and a small assortment of condiments. Other than that we have what we need.

We were also able to change our money at the store. BRAND NEW U.S. dollars (which we ordered from the bank before we left) are the only thing accepted. Anything but perfect will not work- CRAZY!

After we unpacked our groceries we went downstairs to the coffee shop/restaurant that is beneath the apartment. We ordered pancakes, coffee and hot chocolate. The pancakes were Crepes with powdered sugar- YUMMY! The Hot Chocolate could be described as warm brownie batter. I had to use a spoon to get any of it. Although it was tasty, a spoonful was plenty!

We just received a phone call from our Facilitator. Our referral appointment for tomorrow has been scheduled for 3pm. We were hoping it was going to be early in the morning. It is now unlikely that we will be able to go to the orphanage. We will probably get to meet Tate for the first time on Friday. The anxious feeling that I have is almost unbearable at times.

We miss the kids terribly! I am so thankful that we have our computer so that we can look at their pictures and watch videos of them. We will get to talk to the girls on SKYPE tomorrow afternoon. I don't think it would be a good idea to talk to the boys but my dad will let them play in the room with the webcam so that we will be able to see them occasionally. A small hug from each of them would be perfect right about now!

Traveling

Our travel plans took us from Los Angeles through Munich, Germany and then to Kiev, Ukraine. The first flight was comfortable. We were blessed to even have an empty seat next to us. Each seat had its own small video screen for watching movies or television shows. Mike and I decide to watch the movie 'Made of Honor'. The flight went rather quickly.

The airport in Munich is very modern and sophisticated looking. It was also EXTREMELY quiet. We had breakfast at very cute cafe. It was an extra bonus that the waitress spoke English well.





One very different thing about the airport was located in the bathroom. The bathroom stalls each had a dispenser filled with toilet seat sanitizer right next to the toilet paper. A picture on top the shows someone cleaning the toilet seat with a piece of toilet paper and sanitizer. I wasn't so brave!

Turtle and Kitty

We had a wonderful morning yesterday that included a trip to Build-a-Bear. We first stuffed a kitty for Mike and I to leave with the kids. It had the option of recording a personal message. It was pretty hilarious trying to record the message with Mike on the cellphone. I could hear his business partner, Justin, laughing at him in the background as he repeated the sentence over and over until we got it right. The kids also picked out a turtle for us to take to Tate. They recorded a sweet little message that can be played when you squeeze his hand- we love you brother, hurry home...


The last few hours before heading to the airport got a little hairy. I had planned to make the most of my time with the kids and therefore left a lot to the last minute. Thankfully my Aunt Karen came to the rescue! She was dropping off cookie bars and was able to stay to help me pack- Thanks Aunt Karen!!!

Mom and Dad dropped us off at LAX a few hours early so that we did not have to sit in traffic. Dad nearly lost his balance as he pulled our largest suitcase out of the car (I had it stocked with food). At check in we discovered just how heavy it was- $150 over the limit!!! OOPS! Thankfully the man at the counter was gracious and let it slide :)!

I was SUPER excited to pull out my passport the first time it was requested. Krissy gave me the CUTEST travel clutch you have ever seen!



The trip itself was very uneventful. I will post detail about our arrival in Ukraine tomorrow. It is 2:15am off to bed. Thank you for your prayers!

We have ARRIVED!

We arrived safely in Ukraine...more to come!

MONEY

The kids have been saving up for our adoption for nearly 7 months. On Sunday evening we took their jug to the Coinstar machine. Total amount saved- $442 dollars. Great job little ones!

*Congratulations Grandma*

Grandma Teresa, Mike's mom, was married this weekend to her friend, Hal. After Bailey's CC meet we drove down to Palm Desert to be a part of their wedding day. I would post pictures but due to a 'NO NAP BABY M' I had my hands full. We will have to wait for Aunt Susan to send them to us (hint hint). The quote for the evening came from Brooklyn. She turned to Grandma at a table full of Hal's friends and LOUDLY asked "Are you going to have babies now, Grandma?" PRICELESS!

CROSS COUNTRY

Bailey's final meet for Cross Country was on Saturday. I think it was her best race yet. She came in 3rd place out of 42 runners but more importantly she ran the race WELL. Bailey has learned to encourage her teammates, is gracious to the other runners and her attitude on the course is exemplary. We love you, Bailey, and are so proud of your accomplishments!

Substitute Mommy

SUBSTITUTE MOMMY IS HERE!!! Team McKay has expanded this week and now includes my Aunt Jo. She flew in from Idaho on Thursday evening and will be taking care of the kids while we are away. We are so blessed to have my Aunt and Uncle to look to for encouragement, counsel and assistance. The kids have enjoyed the past few days with Aunt Jo. She is over-qualified for the job having raised 8 children over the past 26 years (her youngest, Noel, is ten).



I received the following in a handwritten letter from my Aunt and Uncle a few months ago... We want you to know that we absolutely will make your trip happen. You are God's instrument in giving "one of the least of these" "a future and a hope" and we are honored and at the same time humbled that you offer us the opportunity to participate in such a miracle. We know that God is ordering your steps in this endeavor and will enable us to serve His will. If you want me to come, I will come and we will trust the Lord together.

I still get teary eyed when I read her words. We are BLESSED beyond measure!

PRAYER

My heart is really heavy tonight. The things on my mind are almost too many to name...at the top are MY KIDS, FINANCES and TRAVELING. I know it seems vague to write just three words but each is very complex. Please pray for us!

PACKING

Can you think of anything that I am missing?

BUSY

Mike and I are busy packing and finalizing details for our trip. The kids have a few jobs to do as well. Here they are working on a picture for Tate. The countdown has begun. We leave on Monday evening the 20th.

Interior Design

Brooklyn loves to redecorate my bathroom counter top with pictures and notes from she and Bailey. Maybe she will be interested in Interior Design as a profession some day!

True Love

If Baby M could speak (more than dada and mama) we are pretty sure one of his first sentences would be, "I Love Aunt Karen."

Stop and smell the roses

This is what I woke up to-



My days are speeding by right now...too quickly most of the time. I have to remind myself to slow down. Thank you, Lord, for beautiful weather!

CANCELLED

Due to unforeseen but INCREDIBLE circumstances (leaving for Ukraine) I will not be able to keep up my commitment to blog for Down syndrome awareness 31 days this month. I will however continue to update as our trip unfolds. Enjoy the journey as we bring home our SPECIAL boy.

Future Graffiti Artist?

In my attempt to keep this blog as true to life as possible I figured I must include everything- the good, the sad and the naughty. A few days ago Baby M made up a game to play with me. I was in my bathroom getting ready at the time. He would run into the the bathroom (SCREAMING) and grab my legs and then run back out (SCREAMING). I thought it was pretty cute so I played along for a few minutes. Little did I know that he was being VERY NAUGHTY when he ran out each time.


Yes, he had to do 'time' for this offense!