My cuties:)

Here is some latest pictures:) Last week we decided to do a little photo shoot at home, and this is what we end up with. Our little cuties:)

Happy 1st Birthday our princess!

We all love very much and thankful to our Lord for having you in our life!

Birthday present from us:) First doll in the house:) Hopefully she will play with this doll, because for now she is playing with cars, trucks, hammers, and all boys stuff:)

Daddy, mommy, Danik and Denny :)) We love you our princess

Elliana is almost one year old!

Yesterday we had a little get together party for our princess Elliana! In few days she will turn one. Happy Birthday Our sweet baby girl.

I can't believe it's a year from a day I had her.

Elliana's story begins in August 2009, story of our little miracle.

We had our son Denny in 2008, and when he was almost a year old we started to think more and more about having another baby in our home. When Denny was around 1

0 month old we started to plan another baby. By the time Denny was 1 year old we were sure that we still want to have another baby and also adopt. There is another story why we choose to adopt, and we I can just tell you that God did call us to adopt, to give love and family to someone who is already born, and in need of love.

So when Denny was 1 year old, we did have our first meeting with social worker, and also were planning to have a baby. When we were pregnant with Denny, I did promised my husband a little girl, and we didn't want our kids to have a big age difference so this is why we choose to have another baby so soon. :)

We knew that it will not be easy to have a baby and at the same time go through adoption, but we trusted God and His perfect timing.

In August 2009 we were almost ready to be submitted in Kiev and still not pregnant but very close to go to Ukraine and bring our child home. In early September I found out I was pregnant, we were so happy and we knew that there is no way we will stop our paperwork because we were waiting for our Ukrainian child to be home with us, all the paperwork chase, and just thinking about all the kids in orphanages made me cry, we knew that there was no way we can stop our adoption, or do it few year later. And again we trusted our God, but it was hard.

We had a lot of worries about going to Ukraine with our 20 month old, me 4-5 month pregnant and a new child who we all will need to attach and learn what is to be a family of 5.

We had our appointment in November, and were back to US late December, by the time we got home I was 6 month pregnant. God was with us the whole time we were in Ukraine, and airports and just every second of our life. My husband had to go home after court, so I was alone in Ukraine with our almost 2 year old, 6 month prego and our new 7 year old son. To say it was hard to travel back and be 15 hours in the plane with 2 kids by myself, it like saying it was easy, it was very hard. I was very worried about our baby inside of me because all of the luggage and our 2 year old was always wanted to be held but everything went ok and I made it through my pregnancy with God’s help.

Like I said our daughter was a miracle from the beginning. When I had her, her lungs did open for her to start breathing. Our baby girl was full term baby, but something happened during delivery, and even doctors couldn’t explain what happened, baby lost a lot of blood (no one knows where, how, and when). So our baby did have enough blood to carry oxygen to her lungs. Doctors didn’t give her to me; I couldn’t even hold her after 12 hours of labor.

I will always have a picture in my head, “doctors got a baby, room full of other people(in a seconds after delivery), I am crying and trying to make anyone talk to me and tell me what is going on with my baby, why she is not crying, and when finally I saw my baby, she was across the room from where I was , baby turned her head and was looking at me, the only thing I saw was her blue little, sweet body and dark eyes looking at me, actually she was looking in direction where she heard my voice, I was still asking everyone “what is going on, if everything ok, I want to see my baby””

Doctors took baby to intensive care, and we were allowed to go and see her later. She had IV, and mask to breathe, and doctors made me sigh papers to give her more blood, because she wouldn’t survive without extra blood. We were very scared to sign those papers, all the side effects, and big possibility that our baby’s heart might not accept new blood and other scary things that doctors were talking, scary stuff. After I sign the papers, we prayed and 30 minutes later we got a phone call from baby’s doctor saying that they will not give her any blood, because baby is fine and don’t’ need any extra blood, and also doctors could not explained how did it happen, they were saying that it was a miracle. We know it was, God did answer our prayers.

Two days later we were able to take our baby home and since then we have a happy, healthy baby. Elliana only stayed 1 extra day in the hospital. She is our little miracle, when I look at her I can’t believe we did go through all this trouble. I was concern about breastfeeding, because I couldn’t feed her when she was in intensive care. While I was in the hospital, Sergey would take me down to see baby and try to breastfeed her, but only during a day, at night and every 3 hours when we were not able to go down, nurses would feed her formula. But we are thankful to our God that till today I am still nursing her, and she is healthy.

Praising our Lord for this little miracle and thankful for every moment of our life. Anyone who looks at our baby would never thought that she did go through all this stuff. Elliana started to walk when she wasn’t even 9 month, she is very smart little princess.

Tomorrow she will be 1, and we love her so much, she always makes us smile.

Happy Birthday our baby girl, we love you! Daddy, mommy, Danik, and Denny

*sorry for all the mistakes, I know my English is not perfect

Last few week...

Last few weeks were "those weeks", baby is teething, somewhere, somehow Denny got some infection and got diarrhea, Danik got in-trouble at school and off the bus for a week, it means that we have to take him in the morning and pick him up after school. Fun times:) Also other "things" that I will not mention here.

We are trying to look beyond all this little things, and be optimistic. This is temporary, and teeth will come out, and baby will start sleeping through the night, and mommy will be less tired. Denny is much better last 2 days, so hopefully it's over. Danik is learning, and maturing and some day we will all remember this with a big laugh. Even now, I look at all Danik's "getting in-trouble" with a smile(he doesn't need to know this), I just love my boy with all my heart.

We don't have any big news, just every day stuff. We are open for another adoption anytime that God will call us. We might go to Ukraine for another adoption but not just yet, we are praying and waiting, maybe our child is somewhere here...... if not maybe in next year we will got to Ukraine to bring our child home.

A child needs forever family!

There is a 11 year old girl in California, her current family brought her home 9 month ago from Ukraine, she needs a family. If anyone interested please e-mail me or leave a comment for more info.

Thank you

And please pray that she will have her family soon....

Happy Birthday Daniel J!

Family/Movie/Popcorn time :)

DJ was very exited about a cake!
DJ has a little helper :))
Can you see this spoon, I think DD is ready :)
Daddy helping with candles.
Mommy cutting cake, and first piece goes to our birthday boy!
One of the Presents from mommy and daddy! (he also got photo album with his pictures from Ukraine, and a LEGO set)

Kids and a hats :)) Cute!

I am done with this :)

My handsome, loving son turned 9 year old today. Wow, we are so proud of him, and wishing him the best in his life. He is becoming a young men, and he changed so much in the last year, we love you! Thankful to our God for bringing you in our home, and giving us the opportunity to be your family. Love you Danik! Happy Birthday! It was just us all day long. In the morning Daddy took boys to get some donuts for breakfast, for lunch DJ choose homemade pizza, and we just relaxed, rented a movie and watched all together. Ok, not all of us was watching a movie, I was taking bubble bath. My awesome husband took care of the kids, and I was able to take a bubble bath....didn't have one in a long time. Feeling good now.

Late Happy Birthday wishes for DD!

Few pictures from his Birthday in January.

Mommy-this is for me?
Love blowing out candles, even now when my husband and I are in romantic mood, our candles don't survive :)
Everyone loves balloons(best present).
Playing with little sister, do you see her finger....she always trying everything, very gentle with one finger....cute girl

Present from mommy and daddy
I can't open this, please helppppppp!

Happy Birthday DD! I can't believe my baby DD is already 3. He is growing way to fast. We had a few people over, just relatives. Our baby sister not feeling too good, and her teething doesnt' let us do more :) It's ok, maybe next year our Elliana will be older, and we can do more fun things as a family.

More Christmas pictures

Few more pictures of my kids! Its' so hard to take a perfect picture of 3 of them :) Baby was keep walking toward camera.

My little princess!
Boys had a lot of fun,
Big brother with his favorite sister. My cuties!
They have a special love :)

Few pictures :)

Decorating cookies ! A lot of fun!

This was 1st experience for everyone to put together and decorate ginger house. It was a lot of funn!

Baby watching her favorite channel "sprouts" She is so cute!

Every time when I do dishes, I have a lot of helpers:) I don't know what is so special about dishwasher, but my kids love to play there with their toys! Usually it's Denny, but lately baby like to be there, and sometimes big brother too.

Busy, busy, busy

A little update on our family.

We are doing great, yes, we do have our ups and downs, but I think it's normal in every family, especially if kids are present.

Our 10 month old ElliAna is teething and it's not a good time for all of us. She is usually a good girl, independent and can play on her own. This time around, almost for 2 month she likes to be held, and crying a lot......:)) fun times! ElliAna started to walk on her own when she wasn't even 9 month, compare to Denny-with a lot of help he started to walk at 12 month. She is so much fun, and I can't believe that she is already 10 month, time flies.

Denny is fully potty train, and we are so proud of him. He is potty train for more than 6 month now, but still slept in diaper, but now for a month we are with out diaper during day and during night....good job Denny!

Also he started to like spending some time with books. He use not have interest in any books,maybe just pictures,and would not listen if I tried to read it to him, or explain what in the picture, but now he can sit and listen/comment what I have to read or say about book. Big progress!!!! Also he taught him self to count to 5 in English ! He loves to draw, pain and just be a kid!

My older son Danik, is getting so big, and I can't believe that he is almost 9 year old (in 10 day).

He is doing good in school, sometimes we have behavior problems but it's normal, and he is a boy, which explains a lot :))) My boys are very active, and likes to get into trouble.

I am so proud of Danik, he is trying to help me a lot, and love his brother and sister. He says a lot of thank you mom, and dad for adopting me, for taking care of me, and etc. Very sweet and loving boy. His English reading improved a lot and I am proud of him. Its harder for him to learn English because at the same time I am trying to help him and work on his Ukrainian. So he is trying to keep up with two languages at the same time. We are very proud of him, Danik is very smart boy and we are thankful to God for letting us be his parents!!!

I will try to write more later, not have to go.....

Praise God!

Sibling group that we were praying about did get their forever family! Very happy for them!

Every person deserves a second chance and be happy, especially innocent kids. Not always family and a kid can attach for a different reasons, but everyone deserve to be happy and not feel miserable. I feel really bad for families, who did go through adoption and something didn't work out for them. When family making a choice to adopt they are doing this with all good intention. Please pray for a family who lost their kids, I know this family did everything they knew, and they tried everything to make it work, but for some reason.... Only God know why!

It's not going to happen

Our adoption is not going to happen, we are not brining home two more kids, do to circumstances.

For us it would be a out-of-state adoption(Atlanta, GA), and we will need to find almost $20 thousand to complete this adoption, but there is no way we will have this money. If this is our kids, we believe God will provide but for now we did what we could.

We are still praying for forever family for this sibling group. Please pray, they need their family, this kids need new mommy and daddy!

No news yet...

The agency that taking care of this two kids, are really hard to work with. Kids are going trough disruption and current family and kids are straggling, but no one cares, sad...

Agency require some special home study, and they are concerning about placing this kids with us for few reasons:

1.Our financial situation(we will have to loan a money again, to bring this kids home), not a problem for us because God will provide, and with a time we will pay it off.

2.Us, having a small children in the house

3. and main is, this agency never placed kids in California homes, they are not sure what they are doing.

We are praying that kids find their family soon! Please pray for this kids so God will send a family their way (or we have ok to adopt them if they are our kids)

Thank you

More pictures... snow day for boys

Daddy took boys to the snow! They had so much fun.

Daddy took boys to the snow! They had so much fun.

Pictures...

Baby girl walking and she is only 9 month old, First Christmas
Daddy decorating ginger house with kids
Boys decorating their cookies, they had so much fun.
By Christmas tree at the mall
our little princess

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year to all of you! May God Bless you and your families in this 2011 year.

Our Christmas and New Year were not that fun. We all were sick(except Daniel J), and didn't even attend a church as a family. We stayed home most of the days. We did have a company over on Christmas, but I think this is it.

Because of the holidays there is nothing on kids yet. We are praying a lot and hoping that kids will have their family soon. Also we just found out about on more child who needs a family, and we are praying about these 3 kids.

Tomorrow Daniel J is going back to school, and we all will miss him in the mornings, I love having him home in the mornings.

Also we have a birthday coming up for Daniel D. He will turn 3 in one week, he is getting so big and smart. Will try post some pictures later. :)))

Next step...Please pray

Almost for a month now we been praying a lot, and trying to find out what Our God want us to do. What is God's plan for our family. It's been hard, and we still not sure what we will do.

We found out that there is 2 children who needs a home as soon as possible, and our hearts are open to help. We know that if it's already in our heart, God places them in our heart, then it's for a reason.

We been praying a lot and we do want to help this kids, but in our eyes it is not possible. We still trying to payoff our 1st adoption, and financially not ready to jump in another. God know how to provide if this is our kids. For now we are praying for this kids and with all our faith we are doing what needs to be done to start this process.

Please pray for our family, for our finances and also please pray about this kids, if we are not their forever family, that God will send them their family as soon as possible.

Thank you and God Bless you

I will keep you all post it about our process/kids

Time to blog

I am a really bad blogger, I can't make myself to blog at least 1 time a week, and again I will say that I will try to change and will work hard to start blogging more often.

Our family is doing good.

Sergey is working, and trying to spend as much time as he can with kids and me.

Boys are growing too fast.

DJ is in school, his disciplines improved a lot, and he is trying so hard to be a good boy home and at school. We still have our ups and downs, but lately everything was great.

Some things about our DJ I dont' want to share to the public, nothing bad, some health issues.

DJ is trying to help me in anyway he can. He is watching his daddy, and put sticky notes on cup a tea, make me a tea, and yesterday he just close door to his room, and vacuumed, cleaned , was trying to surprise me, such a nice, sweet little guy. We love you so much and very happy that you are in our family! Thankful to God for choosing us to be your parents.

DD is just a little 3 year old(almost). Most of the days he is happy, and a good child. "Terrible twos" is behind. He loves his brother and little sister. He is very funny, and loves his cartoons, and can watch same cartoon 20 times in a row. :))))

Our baby girl, Elliana, is getting big. She loves to follow her brothers, and I think soon she will be walking.

And me, I love GOd, I love my family.

The other day my husband asked me "what is happiness for you"? and he got me thinking. With out thinking I did reply,"It's God, who brought us together, you(my husband), and our family"! If my family is happy I will be happy.

And yes, I love to see my kids playing together, or playing with daddy, or just trying to be nice, and gentle with me. I love to watch them to grow, learn something new. I even enjoy when they get into trouble, don't get me wrong, I am not happy when my kids are in trouble, but if they are I know, and hope they will learn from their mistakes, and it's a new opportunity for me to teach them to be a better person. I love my family and I am happy.

Also lately I been thinking a lot, how can I serve God more, how our family can serve God, how do I teach my kids to serve God???!?!?! "HOW" is on my mind a lot lately. I think I will blog about it in a different blog, and will share my thoughts.

I would say i am not a blogger..........I honestly try to blog more often, but it just not happening. I was even thinking to write my last post here, and not worry about blogging but for now I will keep it.......

So here we go, updates of our family of 5 and +1(my brother)

Daniel J, is in school , and doing good. He had some behavior problems(not following rules), at school but now looks like everything getting better. He is still really sweet, loving and caring boy. We do have our ups and downs, but so far I can honestly say that we expected a lot more problems/attachment issues before we did adoption.
DJ is trying to change, and trying to do what needs to be done, there is still a lot little things that needs to be corrected in his behavior, action, and just the way he is, but nothing major. He loves his brother, and little sister. He loves helping me, and his daddy, he doesn't really like homework, but he loves school. He is smart, funny, bright. , He been home only 9 month, and already changed so much, he is different child now, my child, my little boy. Love you Daniel J, and happy that you are in my family. May GOd always be with you.

Daniel Dave is growing too fast. Last 3 weeks we been working on potty training, and for today we have a little boy who is wearing his underwear, and diaper only at night times. And a good thing is that his night diaper 90% is dry in the morning, so we been using one diaper for a week now! Goof job little DD, we are so proud of you.
DD going trough a terrible 2th, now, and it's hard. Sometimes his is sweet loving boy, helping his mama and brother, and next thing you know he doesn't want to do nothing, he is not following instructions, gets' in trouble, and wining. We love you DD, and we are really hoping that this stage will end soon.

Baby Elliana , is my little princess! Everyone loves her, and she is just so cute.
She is teething now, and we have bad days, but still she is my bundle of joy, my little girl. She is big, almost 6 month already.


We are doing great, and very happy. We do have our moments, bad moments as a family, but we are learning to change our selfs, to get smarter to seek God more. I am trying to read bible, kids bible, to our kids every night, and pray with them. And I think it will help a lot our relationship as a family, and our family will get stronger in GOd.

****will try to post some pictures later

School starts........

Thursday, August 12 Daniel started school, as a third grader. He is kind of happy to go back to school, where all his friends are, but we miss each other a lot. Denny miss his big brother, and I miss Daniel. I think over the summer, spending everyday together we attached even more. We are so happy to have him in our family.
We just came back from Portland, were visiting my parents. I will blog later about our trip, and will post some pictures of my babies.

We are still straggling with "putting things back where they belong" and how to take care of stuff that belongs to you(especially clothes). Did anyone had this problem? How did you deal with it? I am thinking it's every kid thing,