A few whirlwind days!

So far so good with the kids! Though they've only been home since Wednesday, it actually feels like they've always been with us. The kids are really settling in well and enjoying things, though they have been jetlagged. The first couple of days, they woke up pretty early - 4 and 5 am. Today was the first day they've been in bed until 7 am - a semi-normal time (we'd prefer 9 am on Sundays!! :) We have noticed that they get tired easily. I'm not sure if it's the altitude (we're at 6000+ feet here) or if they just don't have the energy because they're so thin. We've been getting them outside everyday to do a little something - a walk, playing soccer, etc - to build up their energy.

Their appetite has been great, they want to eat often, but they don't eat alot at a particular setting. They mostly want fruits and veggies, so we're having to force protein and carbs into them. Though, they do love eggs, so breakfast time is easy. Knock on wood, but we are having a really great experience so far. They are really well-behaved kids. Scott set the line early while he had them in Odessa for appropriate behavior, and they really do listen well. I'm amazed at the communication that we're able to do with them, without us able to understand each other's language. They may not understand what we're saying, but they "get" what we're saying. Whether we're telling them to make their beds or brush their teeth, to asking them if they're cold or hungry or want to play, somehow it's all been working out. There has been only a few times that they weren't able to tell us something or vice versa.

We had a busy day yesterday. Scott's family came over yesterday to meet them, and I think that was a bit overwhelming for them. Later, they met a few of the kids in the neighborhood, who have all been very excited to meet their new friends. I think yesterday was a bit overwhelming for them, but they handled it very well. We've had no blowups or tantrums, or really even any fights. Every now and then they'll squabble over something (usually over choice of movie to watch), but otherwise, they're great together, and we think, really good for each other. They will chatter on and on to each other in Russian, and I really wish we knew what they're saying. I'm half tempted to tape them and take the tapes to an interpreter. Right now, I'd love to be inside their heads to understand how they're viewing everything so far.

They do only like to go out for a bit at a time - one or two stores, then they ask to go home. We think they just want to make sure that home is still really there for them. Tomorrow I'm going to take them for their first day trip (to go tubing at one of the ski resorts), but so far we've just kept them around the house or neighborhood, except to go to a few stores. We think it's helping them with their comfort level - this is "our house", "our bedrooms", "our clothes". Neither one is particularly clingy, though Daria gives me lots of hugs and kisses and keeps saying "my mama" in Russian.

This week, I'll take them to school for testing and enrollment. They've actually had a lot of their vaccinations done at the orphange, so I think we'll be able to start them in school in a week from tomorrow. Logan is really looking forward to going, Daria not as much. Once she's made some friends though, that will change.

I will admit to being a little overwhelmed (mostly because I haven't had as much sleep as usual) with the suddenness of everything. But I know we'll get into our family groove here very soon. The good news is that the kids are completely comfortable with us, and seem to trust us. That will really help.

I still haven't had time to pull photos off my camera, but promise to do so very soon!