It has been two and a half months since the boys came home.  They are doing remarkably well. 

James is learning more and more words.  He really doesn't seem to have much of his Ukrainian language left.  He had a very limited vocabulary when he was in the Orphanage and has replaced almost all of the words (except "porsha"-- "later".....it's THE magic word to get him to move from one thing to another or one thought to another)  He is doing very well in school.  He can count to ten and has begun to understand adding.  He is learning his alphabet and how to spell his name.  He loves to play his learning games on the computer.  He also loves to go for rides in the car....especially with Daddy.  He is just adorable when he says his prayers at night - with Mom's help.  We are reading Charlotts Web for his bed time story.  His chores are setting and clearing the table and vaccuming his bedroom once a week.   He has a face that just lights up when he smiles and his brown eyes sparkle.  He is beginning to give hugs instead of just endure them.  He has somekind of Asthma that we are trying to control.  We have been to the Doctor several times for him.  Next week we are seeing an allergist and pulmonary specialist.  We also have to see a Gastro Dr. for his hepatitis.  To spite the fact that it seems he always has a runny nose and some trouble breathing.....between breathing treatments he has the energy of a typical five year old.....never ending!!! 

Charles' language skills are really amazing.  He and I communicate very well.  He has not lost his Ukrainian language - but has certainly learned English at an amazing pace.  We are working on reading - which he is --- of course --- still struggling with, BUT we are also working on 4th grade math and he is doing very well.  He actually told me that in Ukraine he was only in the third year but he is doing very well in 4th grade math so I have no intention of going backwards!!  He has started Boy Scouts and actually had a part in the last pack meeting.  We worked all weed on his memorization of..."I have a Canadian joke.  Give me an A....thank you"......  He was great!!  No really - he WAS.  He was well understood - didn't mumble - had great timing and even took a little bow afterwards!!  He has more chores than James.  Jennifer is very happy that part of his chores include helping with the dishes at night.  She and Charles actually split them.  He is a good artist.  We have a big poster on the wall of the school room that he has drawn of a snow scene in Ukraine.  He is having a harder time with the hugs and feeling loved.  Any time he does something that he feels he is being scolded for - he retreats - and tells us he is bad and he is going back to the Internat - that I'm not his Mom and I don't love him.  Of course we hold him close and assure him I AM his Mom and he is never going back tot he internat - but it takes a while - sometimes 45 minutes to an hour of very intense love to get him back to his bouncy animated self.  He has been able to tell me more things about his bio Mom and Grandma and his life before the internat.  Not much of it really matches what we were led to believe in Ukraine.   You can tell he really wants the love and hugs and attention that he is receiving - he is just not trusting it yet.  It is better than when we arrived - but we have a way to go.  He is a good boy though.  He did some things around the house - including helping Daddy mow the lawn - and earned the money for his bike.  He also got to go on an airplane ride with Daddy in a Cessna last week.  He  had a good time to spite getting a little air sick and being a little scared.   He did get a few pictures of the ground and one really good picture of an airliner in the sky.  I am happy to say that he likes GOOD music....classical - jaz - blues - big band/swing!!!

Well ----- off to give baths and say bedtime stories........