Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Homesick


This 10-day waiting period feels like a year. We are counting everything: how many more internat visits until we can leave, how many more miles we have to walk, how many more bowls of soup we have to eat and how many more times we have to squat in the bathtub to take a shower. The temperature has gone up again and we are shedding clothes, but the caretakers continue to send Aaron out dressed for a January snowstorm. In 80+ degree weather with strong sun, he wears an undershirt, a long-sleeved flannel shirt, a wool sweater, tights that cover him from his waist to his toes, long pants and shoes. He loves to kick his ball around, but he gets hot so fast that he doesn’t last long at it.


We would find the wait so much more enjoyable if Ben and Elijah were with us. As each day passes, our longing to go home and be with them increases. They have about reached their limit. There is little we can do except pray that after we get through our 10-day wait next Monday, we can move swiftly through the birth certificate, passport, medical and visa paperwork so we can return quickly.

Please don’t stop making comments on the blog or on Facebook. Those comments make us feel like we are not quite so alone in our village. It is so rare to receive a kind word from the natives here that we soak up whatever kind words we can get from back home.

Aaron has fallen on his face three times on our watch during the last few visits. He’s getting a little better at it-- he is able to thrust his chest out to catch himself, but he usually hits the ground with at least his chin. His poor little arms are no help at all in slowing his fall. Once he managed to fall on his backside, which is terrific. It is gut-wrenching to see him falling face first onto hard, uneven concrete, but it’s just not possible to stop him if we’re going to let him have fun. When we get home, we’re definitely going to find him a light helmet with a padded chinstrap.

The nurses cover his wounds with green medication, which makes odd make-up for his pictures. When this is combined with his non-stop runny nose, it makes for a bit of a mess, although you wouldn’t know it by his laughter. His new favorite activity is to have Rob carry him at a jog, brushing his little bald head all along the hedge. He can’t get enough of it.

34 comments:

  1. Hey guys,
    We sure hope you can get back home as soon as possible. The helmet sounds like a great idea!
    See you soon!
    Love,
    Sam

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  2. My 18 yr old son came home yesterday with a shaved head! He has the same colouring as Aaron. We are all following your journey with hope for the life you will give Aaron. 5 more days until you are with your new handsome!!

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  3. Oh Julia, I wish I could reach through and give you a hug! I am happy that you have your visits with Aaron to break up your days, and reading of your lonliness and boredom make me all the more grateful that we'll be in a "city" when we come for Timothy. I pray for you all daily. Only a few more days and this part will be over and you'll be headed back to civilization to finish up your business there. Hang in there Sweeetie, the end is nearing!! :)

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  4. Oh, that boy is too stinkin' cute. Even with the green medicine on his little chin!!! I am praying that these days go by so fast for you and your boys at home but the bonding between you both and Aaron only increases! I can NOT wait for Gotcha day and I cannot imagine how much more y'all are ready for it!!! I love your posts and get so excited when I see a new one from y'all!!! :) :) Galatians 6:9 Do NOT grow weary in doing good, for at the PROPER time you will reap a harvest (Aaron) if you do not give up!!! What an awesome harvest that will be!!!!!

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  5. I've been following your journey and wanted to send a note of encouragement to let you know that although we have never met...we have prayed for your Aaron and for your family. I also just have to tell you the post about 'soup' just made me laugh. I can't imagine being in a foreign country and made to eat a big bowl of soup before every meal. Reminds me of when my grandmother would cook and my mother said "eat it or you will hurt her feelings'.

    We will continue to pray, and count down the bowls of soup until you can bring your sweet Aaron home and be reunited with your boys.

    And in case you are wondering how I found your blog....My son Daniel has Down syndrome and we are supporters of Reeces Rainbow. My family is unable to adopt, but we raise money and advocate for RR.

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  6. Even if you were getting kind words locally, the comments on the blog and FB would probably still feel good. ;-) (BTDT, can you tell?!) We check every day on you . . . and pray for you guys--your sons included. I remember reading a book somewhere that told how parents taught their child to fall safely . . . don't remember the title anymore (it was years ago). Wonder if there is something more that Aaron could learn to help just a bit more to keep himself safe? Also, if you have *time* on your hands, check out Osteopathy . . . sometimes it can do amazing stuff for the body--I don't know if it would help with Aaron's issues or not.

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  7. Aaron is so incredibly beautiful - I love seeing his face as part of my "morning news" break before I go to school. I must say, your family story has me seriously wanting to adopt a special-needs child of my own (in the unforseeable future). He is SOOOOO lucky to have you! I'm excited to see what therapies and adaptive equipment he could be given to try, once home with you in VA. We have some amazing devices to help our special needs kiddos in my school district, I can only imagine the wonders he'll have to discover in his future. And man - his future is BRIGHT. :)

    Thanks for loving him so much, Rob & Julia!!

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  8. Oh, I remember counting visits, bus rides, stair climbs and such. It was enough to drive me nuts! That and all the signs in Cyrillic. I would have to close my eyes so that my mind would not be constantly trying to sound out the words.

    It seems to be a lot like labor. Once your baby is in your arms for good you will forget the pain. You'll even joke about it I'll bet! So, go make some more memories while you are at it. Suddenly you will be home and starting a whole new adventure.

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  9. is beatiful even with green face!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  10. I wake up every morning and check your blog. I love to see that smiling face and know you guys are a day closer to being a family at home with your other boys. I bet they just cannot wait to get you back. I feel sad for Aaron and the falling, it must just be heartwrenching to see him go down and not be able to help him - what a trooper he is. I wonder if there is some sort of occupational therapy that could help him with strategies to not fall on his chin/face. To help him turn himself or something like that.

    You guys are always in my thoughts and prayers!

    Catherine

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  11. Soaking up every word when you post and still praying for your family- those where you are and back home. Can't even imagine how hard it would be to be away that long. Keep hanging in there and remember what a huge, huge difference you are making for Aaron and hopefully other kids behind him. Your reunion with those back home will definately be very, very sweet!! God bless, Jennifer

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  12. Thinking of you guys!

    I shared the story of how you have to eat soup, soup, soup everyday... with my mom. Made out of faucet water non the less :)

    It won't be long now....:)

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  13. I've been inspired by your adoption journey. I am so happy for all of you. Having adopted from Russia ourselves, I can certainly relate (somewhat) to how taxing this journey is for your entire family. I am counting down the days with you! I am so excited for Aaron's future with his you, his new family! Hang in there, and may God Bless you all! --Lori

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  14. I have been praying, Julia! I check your blog almost every day. Can't wait to see photos of you and your enlarged family home together again!! Hang in there, the end of the waiting is near. "The Lord is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land. O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more" (Psa. 10) May these words comfort and strengthen you all!
    Beth

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  15. I have a sister with arthrogryposis (international special needs adoption) and after she had several visits to the ER to get her chin stitched up, one of her IEP goals was to teach her to fall without hurting herself. It worked, she now twists as she's going down and lands on her side. :)

    Joelle

    P.S. My sister is now 28, with an almost 4 year old little boy of her own

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  16. Hang in there! You are doing great. May God be with you and bless you on this journey. I pray His presence would feel real to you today.

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  17. God is so good! Before you know it, it will be Thanksgiving and you will have a new face sitting at your table. The holidays this year will be the best!

    "I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough place smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them." Isaiah 42:16

    Your time there is almost over and soon you will be home with your precious son!

    Blessings to you and your family,
    Hansina (Liam's mom)

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  18. Hi
    I found your blog a few days back and just can't stop reading. Aaron just has the brightest smile and lights up my day. You guys are awesome and have the biggest hearts and seeing what your "price" is(Aaron) is just divine.
    Best of luck and hopes for a speedy return
    Susanne

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  19. Finally a picture of Aaron and Julia!
    Nice!
    Love,
    Sam

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  20. Hi, I've been following your blog for weeks and just wanted to say, you guys are an amazing couple and Aaron seems to be one amazing little guy! You are in my prayers! Hang in there!

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  21. Aaron's smile just lights up your blog! I see Ben most days at Stroke Clinic, he looks fine. Some of the boys from BASS North have been coming down so there are other boys his age to swim with. Hang in there, the team can't wait to see you and your new son at Health Nutz.
    Laurie Hynes

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  22. You'll make it through. God will sustain you!

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  23. I think he is cute as a button! We have great affection for "Zelyoni" at our house.

    I wish I could take your place; I'd give anything to have some time in - well, Russia...and Ukraine - it's close enough! Too bad it can't work out like that.

    The bowls of SOUP!!!! Oh, I'd gladly exchange with our American food.

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  24. I meant to write 5 days until you are with your handsome son!!

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  25. Great picture of you and Aaron--he fits right in with your family beautifully! Keep hanging in there--the 20th will come soon even though it doesn't seem like it. You have been real troopers -- its been a long haul but it will be worth it!

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  26. I just love this blog and following your journey has been amazing... I wish one day I can adopt too :) By the way, I'm sure you already knew this, but "nalle" is a bear in Finnish (my native language) and probably the coolest last name I have ever heard. All the best! Love, another Julia.

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  27. I love love love you guys! and Aaron! My mom wants to knit him some toeless socks to keep his feeties warm in VA. Let us know if those sound interesting.

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  28. Oh goodness, he is just so absolutely precious.

    Hang in there, friend, you are so close to coming home. The next few days will fly by and before you know it, it will all be a very distant memory.

    That 10 wait has got to be the most ridiculous thing ever. :)

    Sending you a HUGE hug.

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  29. I've been following your blog for a little over a month now and it's the first one I check every day! You have such a beautiful family and hearts to match!

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  30. Hang in there. He will surprise you once he is home. Our son Dennis seemed so fragiel and clumsy at first and now he is a tank! This time will pass quickly.. try and make the best of it and pcik up some Seputchkas. He will love the candy-- all my Ukrainians do!

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  31. Wanted to say that I'm here too! I have been reading EVERYTHING you write, sharing your story with my family, thinking of you often, and sending you all of the love and light that I can. What a beautiful story of love you are writting. Hoping that your time goes quickly and that you are home by this time next week:)

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  32. He has changed even in the short time you have known him!

    I thought you might want to know about the green ointment,so you can tell Aaron about his green face later on, so I googled it. It's called "Zelenka" and is made of Mercurochrome "brilliant green" dissolved in alcohol. It's often used for kids because it doesn't sting as much as iodine and stays on for longer.

    http://aptecka.blogspot.com/2009/09/brilliant-green.html

    http://books.google.com/books?id=QRci4UlRI7EC&pg=PA324&lpg=PA324&dq=ukrainian+green+ointment&source=bl&ots=CpeHN_O0M_&sig=ETeAQkvIcmZ3cllJ-jR_yrwxod0&hl=en&ei=M5mSTKy6IMiO4AbateWVBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CBIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

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  33. Enjoying following your story. I am sure Coz is keeping Ben and Elijah tired...

    Poor Aaron falling. With skiing we taught the kids how to fall. Could you teach Aaron to roll his body and fall on his side? Painful still but less.

    I know the wait is hard but am sure God is using this time you have alone with Aaron to strengthen your bonds and to teach you patience and perseverance.

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  34. Hi Julia - Julie - your sister here - I love reading your updates on your adventures. I also can not wait to see you, Rob, Ben, and Elijah, and now Aaron at Thanksgiving. What a celebration our family will enjoy this year!!

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Loving words from kind people make our hearts glad!