I got nothin'

I hate to keep neglecting the blog, but there still isn't anything to report. I went and saw Patrick yesterday, and his chicken pox look much better. He is scabbing up nicely. i couldn't go today and I've been told I can't go tomorrow, but I'm not sure why. Nothing was done today, at least not by me and I've been told to stay in my apt. and wait tomorrow. I was told that I can for sure go see him on Wed. That's great, but I can't go Wed., because I have to switch apartments on Wed. My original lease has expired and they told me I could extend it but failed to mention that that meant moving. So, Wed. is moving day. So, hopefully I will be out of here by next Tues., or I have to move again. I'm ready to get Patrick and go home. I miss my husband and I miss my kids. I am tired!

Two choices

This e-mail was sent to me today, and I couldn't stop the tears as I read it. I had read it before, but now that I have Patrick in my life, it means even more than it did before. I pray Patrick has a community that will accept him the way these boys did Shay. I pray that this world accepts him and others like him with arms wide open and the purest of love in there hearts. The world would be a better place if we all acted as these children did for this one child:

What would you do?....you make the choice.

My question is: Would you have made the same choice?

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended.

After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.Where is the natural order of things in my son?'The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'

Then he told the following story:Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact...The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher...The game would now be over.The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game...Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!Run to first!'Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!Shay, run to third!'As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team

'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

No news is, well, nothing!

I haven't posted in several days. Sorry about that. The truth is, there is just nothing to post about right now. I visited Patrick on Tues. and he has the chicken pox. I couldn't go Wed or Thurs because my driver had to put his car in the shop. I went today, and he has more chicken pox than before, but the ones that were there have already started to blister and crust. This is good. I think I start the post-adoption paperwork on Monday. Other than that, there is nothing to tell you. Sorry for the lack of excitement. But, now ya know!

My Monday

I was super lazy today. I knew I wasn't going to the orphange today, so I didn't set my alarm. I slept until 11:30! (guess i was tired...I haven't slept much since Bill went home) Anyway, I got up, read a little, did some laundry (stop laughing Patti, yes, I did WORK!!!) and took my shower to start my day. About 3:00 I finally left to get some lunch. After lunch I decided to do some shopping. walked through another mall and of course, after eating lunch and an ice-cream, I needed to visit te ladies room. They charge for this...2 grivna. So, I paid my way, started to go in, and the lady stopped me and accused me of not paying. I tried to explain that she took my money and didn't give me my ticket, but I guess she thought I was lying. So, I paid her again....she still didn't give me a ticket and charaded that I needed to pay her more. This was crazy! I was not going to continue this, I was only a few blocks from my apt. So, I gave her my evil eye (yeah right), turned around and headed for home. On the way, I decided to stop at another store (okay, I didn't have to go that bad!) and look at these really cute jeans... one of the stores in town had a pair of really cute jeans that I really really want, and they were on sale for only 100 grivna (like $23). I went in to try them on and they didn't have my size....European sizes are much different, and after trying on a size 40 and them not going much past my knees, I knew this was not good on my self-esteem! The other pair I bought were sized s, m and l...much easier that way! So, I gave up on the cute jeans. Gillian called at this point and I headed to her place, stopping at my apt. to "freshen up".

Gillian met me at her metro stop and we went to her MIL house. I really enjoyed my visit over there. Her MIL and BIL were very kind and Elaina put on several entertaining shows for us. We had pizza for dinner (good pizza!) Evie started getting sleepy, so Gillian's BIL walked me back to the metro stop. It was a fun night and I really needed the company today.

Now, I am back in the apartment and am about to put in the first episode of Everwood (I think that's what it's called)...we'll see if it's any good. Heck, even if it's not, I'll probably watch it, I don't have any English channels, lol!

Tomorrow, I see Patrick!!!

Guy on the street

Earlier, I was helping another RR family find some souvenir shops to buy things for there kids back home (this particular family is/ was only in Kiev for a few days before going on to another region, so they didn't have much time for exploring!), we had originally planned on doing some siteseeing with another RR family, but decided to stay a bit closer to home. All 5 of us were standing, looking at a map, and this "kid" walks up to us and asks if he can help us find where we are going. We were trying to figure out where this one museum was so that the one family could go there and I could go shopping with the other family. However, the map didn't show this one museum. The kid had never heard of it, and went off to find someone who knew where it was. He spoke near perfect English and was so excited to be able to help, it was kinda cute. Well, the 2 groups went our seperate ways, but then we bumped into this kid again and he started talking about European football (soccer), hockey and some other sports stuff. He talked forEVER, he was so proud that we understood him. Come to find out he had taught himself english, he had never been to an "english class" or even university. He was completely self taught. I think he was watching American ESPN and picked it up, because he was really only comfortable talking sports, lol. It was just too cute not to share. I hope this kid gets a job where he will be able to grow his english skills and have a good life, he had a good heart!

Todays visit

Patrick was sweet and cuddly when I got there today. They took him in for his morning snack and he returned as "crazy kid". Heehee! He was really testing me today to see if I would be able to control him without papa around. I did, it wore me out, but he knows mama is just as tough as papa now. It's hard to set boundaries when you are always being watched, and you really have no clue what these people think of you or what they are saying half the time. We play outside, the weather has been nice and hot, and inside has no air, so outside is better! However, they have this belief that if you sit on the ground you will get sick. Have you ever tried playing with a 5 year old and only sitting on a bench? I sit on the floor at home, outside, at the airport, you name it, I sit on the ground everywhere! This is really hard for me, because they don't want me on the ground either! I tried sitting on the ground and letting him sit on my lap, and they come running with there hands flying like I have done the unforgiveable. It's kinda funny actually, but also so annoying! I'm still enjoying my time with Patrick and getting to know him and all his quirks. He is quite the little character and I think he and the other kids will get along just fine!

I will post more pictures later, I know I am behin dwith pics of both Patrick and Kiev, but the upload time takes forever and I never have that much time! Maybe tomorrow?

Anyway, all is well here, as well as it can be anyways...will update more tomorrow. I'm off to bed!

I'm not so tough after all...

Bill left this morning at 2:30 (Ukraine time) and I hardly went back to sleep. Today, I haven't left the apt. and am feeling a bit down. It's very hard knowing your ENTIRE family is on the other side of the world. I thought this would be no big deal, and here he's not even on US soil and I'm already feeling mopey. There are plenty of RR families here so I know I will be okay, but it's just not the same as having my hubby or kids here with me. I pray this time goes quickly and Patrick and I can go join the rest of the family. Today I couldn't even visit him, maybe tomorrow I can.....guess we'll see!