And They're In.....Glasses or No Glasses (edited new photos)

Ok. So what do you all think of my big boy now? We just picked them up today before dinner. So far, so good. He seems to like having them on. I did order a strap for them as they seem a little big and they keep falling down his nose. But I think my baby boy is all gone and my big boy is here. The "before" photos are from Colby's birthday. We had a nice family dinner and gave him a few presents. A Mater and a Lightning McQueen, "Cars" pjs, and a soccer ball. Saturday is the big family party with my family and Sunday pizza at Mike's grandparents'. Another busy weekend.

But tell me what you think! Is he handsome or what?

April 28. 2010 Happy 3rd Birthday Little Man!

April 29, 2010 First pair of glasses.

(Colby tried to block this photo but I love how it came out.)

After his new big boy haircut! Wow!

Mystic Aquarium

As promised, pics from the aquarium this past Saturday. Colby really enjoyed it, although at first he was very overwhelmed. I think he was amazed that the animals in his books had come alive and were right in front of him. He didn't want to touch anything, and that is HUGE! But we walked around and then saw the sea lion show. Then we walked outside adn saw the penguins and returned inside. Then Colby walked around like he knew the place and wanted to touch everything. So, the second time was the charm. He is still talking about the whales. I think they were his favorite.

Happy 3rd Birthday!

Happy birthday to my favorite little man. You are now 3! What a difference you have made in our lives. We are truly blessed to have you as our son.

(And yes, photos will be posted later but now it's time to get dressed and visit Grandma and "Igoo" Uncle Lou at work for lunch.)

Busy Few Weeks...and the Eye Doctor

Ok. We have been quite busy. Our little man is soon to turn 3, on Wed the 28th. I can't believe it. We have a small celebration tomorrow at the library where Colby and I go every Tuesday for story time. So cookies, a craft, and books for his friends tomorrow. Wed we will have his favorite dinner and a little cake just the three of us. On Saturday my family will be coming over to celebrate all the April and May birthdays. Colby, my brothers Chris and Keith, my brother-in-law Jeff, and mine. Last Saturday we brought Colby to Mystic Aquarium for part of his birthday present. We went there and then walked in downtown Mystic to see the boats on the river. He loved that! And yes, promise a post on that with photos!

Today however, Colby and I spent the morning at the eye doctor. When we adopted Colby we were told they thought he was nearsighted. Ok, we promised to check it out. I had noticed, and a few family memeber also noticed, that his left eye seemed slightly "lazy". When he looks at you sideways, it seemed to almost disappear. I wanted to wait a little while to check it out, at least get him a little older and a little more cooperative. So we went today. So...how did it go?

Mommy was a little nervous to go. I knew there was a slight problem but I didn't know what we could do to fix or help it. After 2 hours at the doctor....yes, there is a lazy eye.... his eye muscles didn't develop, part of being a preemie. He will need a patch to help strengthen his left eye. That won't be for a month though. First, eye glasses. Yup. His eyesight is really not good in his left eye so we need eye glasses to help correct that. However, the weak muscles and poor eye sight are most likely due to the scarring on his optic nerve. Not sure what that means but I think it is from being a preemie also. As a preemie, the eyes aren't fully developed and there may be a problem with the eyes. His scarring can't be fixed but hopefully with the eye glasses, a patch, and yes...surgery was mentioned somewhere down the road, my little man will be ok.

It is truly amazing though how he has adapted already though. He points out things far away in the car. He has used that right eye amazingly well. Now I just hope we can get that left one working well. So, nervous mommy is now a little sad mommy but hopeful that the doctor can help us. They were great with Colby and he was a real trooper. He sat so well for all the exams. My big boy! But he will definitely look like his Daddy now. I'll post some before and after and let you judge for yourself when we get the glasses. But does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep them on his face? He likes his sunglasses and playing with mine or Mike's but only wears them for a second or two. Ugh! Here come the battles. How do glasses stay on 3 year olds?????

Our Story....An Adoption Story With a Happy Ending

I always knew I wanted children. I can remember telling my mom when I was little that I wanted to be a mommy just like her. When I was a teeneager, that dream almost ground to a hault. I was told I couldn't have children. Perhaps, one day, with medical help, but unlikely. When I met Michael, I knew we would have a happy life together and we wanted to share that life with children. He was the first to bring up adoption. We knew it wouldn't be an easy journey but on Sept 22, 2007 we began that journey together with our first informational meeting with Wide Horizons For Children. What a rollercoaster ride we were in for!

We were assigned a social worker, whom we now consider a friend. Together we all worked through the countless papers and meetings. In January of 2008 our "dossier" was completed. A few more papers later, and I had completed the first round of paperwork. I was thrilled to send the 5 pound package of paperwork to our adoption agency in March. A few months later we received our referral and in June of 2008, we were on our way to be introduced to a child. A child unknown to us at the time, but a child who has forever changed our lives.

We were headed to Yekaterinburg, Russia. Yeka what? Where was that? Oh, Siberia! Well, at least it was June. All we knew of Siberia at the time was that it is cold, desolate, and very remote. Boy were we in surprise. After 33 hours of travel we landed at the airport and were met by our Russian coordinator. We were brought to a nice hotel and everyone there was nice. The city of Yekaterinburg is absolutely beautiful. Clean, nice parks and walkways by the river. Nothing at all like we were expecting. Yes, we had language issues but everyone was so nice and we managed to go shopping, buy souveniers and even diapers, and have some nice dinners. That week we spent in Russia in June was full of emotion as we travelled the 2 hours south to another city, Kamensk-Uralsky to the baby home. We were met there by welcoming caretakers and a director who was happy to see our son get matched for adoption. No one there spoke English but it was obvious that they loved the children in their care. They told us about our son's background and let us play together. Those two visits were all too short and soon we headed home.

For the next 7 months we updated paperwork as requested by the judge, we met with 8 different doctors, including a psychiatrist and psychologist, and we waited. Family and friends questioned when we might return to get our son. We questioned it as well but all we could do was wait and continue to update more and more paperwork. I can never describe the emotions we had during those 7 months, not knowing how he was doing. We knew he was loved and cared for but he wasn't with us. We had met him at age 14 months and didn't see him again until age 22 months. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and a new year came until we finally had word. We received a couple updated photos and thankfully we could see he was happy. His baby face was already changing and he had more of a toddler look now but he looked healthy and happy. Then the good news came just after the new year. Our court date! We were headed back.

On January 28th, 2009 we left for Russia once again, this time knowing we would return with our son. This time we stayed in Kamensk for the first few days, in a small log cabin house which our son now refers to as the "gingerbread house". Then we spent the last few weeks in Ekat. And yes, Siberian winter is really cold! We spent much of February in Russia. We had court of Feb 4th, 2009 and waited out the 10 day court stay. We spent Valentine's Day with a nice dinner at a Scottish Pub overlooking the river. We even took long walks on the frozen lake and around the city. I may not have enjoyed the cold but the opportunity to experience my son's culture is one I am very thankful that I had. We now have memories, and many photos, that we can and do share with our son. We left Russia after a short stay in Moscow and were home on Feb 21, 2009. That is the day that Michael and I knew we became a family! Today a family of 3!

We have now been home a year. Yes, we have had our troubles but our adoption agency, family, and friends have always been there for us. We have met many other adoption families and will remain in contact with them. We enjoy playdates with 3 other WHFC families that have also brought children home from Russia. Our son has grown 5 inches and gained 8 pounds since coming home. He is happy, healthy, and the joy of our lives. Together we have experienced many firsts as a family and hope to enjoy many more. He has rode in a horse drawn carriage, gone swimming in a lake and in the ocean, experienced many family holidays, gone to an ice hockey game and we are now planning a trip to the aquarium, just to name a few of our adventures.

We now have our son, Colby, and a ton of memories to hold onto and share with him. We not only learned about a new culture but we gained friends whom we would never have met. The women who took care of our son will forever remain in our hearts. Tatiana and her staff helped mold our son into the person he is today and for that we will always be grateful. Our lives are forever changed for the better and they will always be a part of our adoption story.

I can't imagine our lives without Colby. We were meant to be a family and an international adoption with Russia helped fullfill that dream. I wanted to share our adoption story so that you can see the positive side of adoption. We are horrified by the actions of the woman in Tennessee. I can't imagine how she can go through the adoption journey only to return the young boy. Please do not allow the actions of her and the few others overshadow the amazing families that have been created through adoption. Do not let them affect so many other couples longing for a child to love and to affect the children waiting for their forever families and a place to belong. Please look to the positive side of adoption, not the negative. We need the media to see the joy and love that adoptive families ahve and to show the amazing, loving adoptive stories, not only the horrific. We have already discussed another adoption to bring home one or two siblings for him. I would love to have my children share a common cultural background and I would love the opportunity to return to Russia again to make that dream come true as well. Please don't end international adoption between the US and Russia.

Shocking News

I am so disheartened by this weekend's news. I am sure many of you have heard the story of Artyem and how his adoptive mother returned him to Russia via airplane with a note attached. I was shocked. Going through the adoption process is not for the faint of heart. Mike and I went through such scrutiny by many doctors, including a psychiatrist, psychologist, and a social worker. The wait alone could have ended the process for many. We fought bouts of doubt, fear, anxiety, and even depression while waiting the 7 long months between trips to bring Colby home. I do not know this woman's adoption story but all are quite similar while dealing with Russia. I can't fathom how she could go through all of that and then just send him home. The news shows a scared child who now has such an unknown future. What will happen to him? Where will he live? I can only hope that he finds a loving home and a forever family.

On the down side, the actions of this one crazy woman are now affecting so many more lives. Children are waiting in orphanages and baby homes in Russia and throughout the world and now sit by while men in power try to sort this out. These men have no ties to the children or the parents waiting for children. Parents waiting for court will now wait even longer. Couples waiting for a referral may now not receive one. The whole process has ground to a halt and may become closed. I can only pray that it will not. That would be a shame. The actions of one should not affect so many. That woman shouold be ashamed.



The media needs to tell more of the positive stories. Show the amazing families that have been created through adoption. Without adoption, I would not be the mom I was meant to be. The following link is a website that tells a few ways that we can help adoption with Russia remain open. Please check it out and at the very least, sign the petition. Let Russia know that we are good people and we ahve created great families for the Russian children we have adopted. I would love to return to Russia again to adopt a sibling, or two, for Colby and if this woman's actions make that impossible it will be the biggest shame imaginable.

Please visit this site(http://betheanswerforchildren.wordpress.com/2010/04/12/we-are-the-truth-a-call-to-action/), and forward to your friends interested in the futures ofthousands of waiting orphans in Russia.

Artyem's story...Just shocking http://rt.com/Top_News/2010-04-08/adopted-russian-child-returns.html

What a Long Weekend

Well, thankfully this weekend is over. Perhaps we will get back to our routine now. I was not looking forward to this weekend much at all. I spent all Fri, Sat, and Sun at my grandparents' house at the estate sale. We lost my grandfather, Poppy, 4 years ago and just last Sept we lost my grandmother, Mamie. My mom has been busy, with the help of my Aunt Doone, to organize their house and horse farm for the estate sale since early Oct. I have helped when I could but it was a huge undertaking. The sale was Sat and Sun. We did ok but there is so much more stuff. I am not sure what will happen now. I think my mom and her brother and sisters are going to hold another sale in May. Not sure. Whenever it is though, I will be there to help. That is what my grandparents always taught me, to help family and friends whenever possible.

My grandparents had such nice things. Hummels, Norman Rockwell plates, beautiful rugs and furniture, and of course all the miniature horse harness and tack. Everyone who came through the sale was amazed at all the stuff. I hated to see it go. I hate to see the farm go. I have so many memories of that farm andmy grandparents and things we did together. It is hard to see things change. I wish that Colby could have seen Poppy. I know they would have been great buddies.

These two photos are of Colby with miniature horses at the Memorial Day Parades in Woodbury and Naugatuck last year. Poppy loved his horses. These horses now belong to my Aunt Doone.

Easter 2010

Well, this was our second Easter with Colby and we had a great time. Our first Easter came pretty wuickly after we came home from Russia. We had not settled into a routine yet and Colby still had many new family and friends to see. He also was young and I don't think he quite understood the whole Easter Bunny thing. But this year, he was waiting for it!

We had brought him to see the Easter Bunny the weekend before and he asked for some jelly beans and carrots. I know, strange request but true! The bunny brought him the jelly beans, some chocolate, a small kite, and some Matchbox cars. We left the carrot out for the bunny and he ate it! All he left were the ends!

Saturday we had Easter with Mike's family. And Easter Sunday was with my family. Thankfully the holidays work out and Mike's family celebrates the day before (except Thanksgiving). We had an Easter egg hunt at both houses and ate way too much. Everyone loved the Pizza Gain Colby and I made. Colby loved playing with all his cousins. On Saturday he rode on his Gator with Jake, Julia, and Logan. They all took turns driving. Colby kept changing the gearshift so they would go forward and reverse over and over. They were very cute together. On Sunday he played with Max, Alex, Teddy, and Keith. Even Mommy and Grandma played soccer! At one point Max and Teddy were playing a version of kickball and they were using sticks as bases. Colby followed them around and pulled out all the sticks. He was marching with them singing "Hi Ho, Hi Ho!" And my parents' dog, Patches, was chasing everyone around. Both days were bright, sunny, and absolutely gorgeous. After all the rain we were having, it was nice to have a beautiful weekend outside. Colby was exhausted after all the running around.

So, Easter was nice here. It was a little sad not having Mamie with us but having Colby really changes how I see the holidays. I love how excited he gets when he sees our families. And finding those eggs and Easter candy was a blast. What did you all do for Easter? We hope it was a good one!

Easter Preperations

This is now our second Easter with Colby. Last year at this time he was only home about a month and a half. Mike and I were finally over our illnesses and we had settled into a routine. The Easter Bunny came and we had two Easter candy hunts and Colby was overwhelmed. I am sure he had no idea what was going on. He was still meeting new people and everything was so new. This year is quite different. He loves reading Easter books and keeps asking when the Easter Bunny will come and bring him jelly beans. It is so darn cute.

We have been busy with Easter preperations. Yesterday my little helper donned his chefs apron and helped me make Pizza Gain. For those non-Italians, Pizza Gain is a meat, cheese pie. Somewhat similar to a French Quiche and definitely not good for you, but oh so delicious. It has about 3-4 different cheeses, 4-5 different Italian meats, and a whole lot of eggs. While I cut up the meat, Colby put it into the bowl that we had mixed with the eggs and cheeses. He did so well, only a few pieces of meat were eaten! He loved the ham and salami but not so much the capricol or prosciute. (Boy my spelling is bad!) Then last night we dyed Easter Eggs. He really enjoyed seeing the water change colors and then seeing the egg change to blue especially. The kit had stickers too and he loved putting those on. Only 1 egg was dropped!

Today Mike and I brought Colby to the mall to see the Easter Bunny. We did the same thing with Santa at Christmas time. I think Colby liked Santa better, maybe because he talked to him. The bunny doesn't talk. It is a little strange but he was cute. The photo came out cute. This will definitely become a yearly tradition. And now tomorrow we begin our Easter celebrations. First with Mike's family tomorrow and then my family on Easter. I can't wait for the Easter Bunny to come....can you? Colby is ready! Bring on the jelly beans!