Julia and I went off to Childrens-Boston this morning for her appt with the Psych Dr. We get into the room, and there is a resident Dr for Psych alongside with regular Dr, sicne childrens is a teaching Hosp, that was ok. The Dr wanted Julias history from scratch from the time we arrived in Ukraine until we got home 14 monthes ago. After I was done answering the attending Dr questions, he tells me what an amazing thing we have done for Julia, and that we really did save her life, pat myself on the back for fighting for her to get meds back on board, even though the meds were completly wrong, so she wouldn't continue to have withdrawls, giving her life as she didn't have any. He reminded me of last year when he first saw Julia, the tiny, frail, sickly, malnourished, didn't even know her name, unable to make eye contact, just existing, no sparkle in her eyes, dull affect, less communication than she even has now, and seeing how she now has life, the medical care she has received, a loving family, she has really done well. I told him about the Neuro note, and how I interpreted that as all of Julias issues are DS related, I told the Psych I didn't think that was the case. I asked him if the antipsychotic she was on in Ukraine for yrs could have caused some degree of brain damage, he said yes, probably in her case, I asked about the possiblility of atrophy to her brain from severe neglect and barely any stimulation, "yes, this could be another possibility, and she has some abnormality of her brain as she is really unable to speak, even in Russian., just 2 clear words in English, eat and knees. The dr wanted to check this out more, and called Translator services, but the person that spoke Russian was unavailable, bummer. That would be interesting if she started speaking to him/her in Russian than we would know it's an English language barrier perhaps. Before we got there, the Dr spoke with one of his collegues, who had done his residency (many moons ago) in a Turkish institution, said it was a very scary place, and has never forgotten it and would it be ok to meet Julia, this other Dr eventually came into the room, very nice older gentleman, has worked in Eastern Europe, Israel, Turkey, Greece, has lectured around the Globe, etc. At one point he started to get teary, and left the room, and came back after hearing about Julia and how she lived. He was very moved by her strory. Than a med student knocks on the door, and says "oh sorry, wrong room", and the Dr's invite her in, they tell her of Julias story, she asks if it's ok to listen, guess the Dr's have the authority of who stays and go's, but I said sure, come in, the didn't object either. Turns out she is a med student in Psychology, and hearws about Julias story, the Dr tells her Julia has a brother with DS, who is a great kid, very high functioning, etc..etc. The student would really like to do a Psych paper on Matt and Julia, differances of kids living in the US with DS, and kids in Eastern Europe with DS, loving families V orphanage living. We will keep in touch about that, I don't mind. The dr also feels just give Julia some more time about her "funkiness" after all she has been out of Ukraine only 14 monthes. He feels that she is need of way more speech, he wants school to increase speech time, and see if insurance will cover speech for her and he will contact Children speech dept on our behalf for more. Also sees how she will do in the future, and think of some communication devices with voices for her if she's not really speaking. As we were leaving, the Psych Dr told me "maybe you should have been a Dr" I told him "maybe I should have". I felt pretty good after this appt, it was a really good thing WE, not just me, did for Julia, we really did save her life.

Matt had a tough day 2 days ago at school. His aide was out in the morning, so he gave this a run for her money. Walking down the hall, and Matt darts into the boys room, and turns on all the water faucets. There aren't any men around to go in, didn't want to leave him alone, and finally coaxes him out. So than he says he didn't use the bathroom, he has to go to the SPED room or the RN office. He chooses the RN office, proceeds to lock himself in, turned on the water, soaked himself head to toe, flooded the floor, and finally came out. I read this in his school note. I was surprised no one even called me. His clothes came home in a bag soaked, and weighed about 10 lbs from the water. He was happy watching Everyone Loves Raymond on his DVD player, than I told him the deal, took away the DVD player, he lost his mind, sobbing screaming, not fun. Thurs was ok, except his ADHD behavior was rearing it's ugly head, we weaned him off the med he was on, and hoping to keep him med free. Yesterday was a good day at school for him, hope today is too. Oops, have to get the kids off the bus soon. Julia had a very good appt at Childrens today, will type about this after the Banshies are home.

Today is Matts 8th birthday, can't believe it. I'll never forget the dreaded call from my OB-GYN Dr, "there is a possibility your baby could have DS" Than Matt was born with a heart defect called an AV Canal, when we found that out, DS took a back seat, we just didn't want Matt to die becasue of his heart. He had open heart surg at 2 monthes of age, and only weighed 9 lbs. God answered our prayers and helped guide the great cardiac surgeon, other Dr's, RN's, and other staff involved, and Matt made an amazing recovery, and was home in just 4 days. The baby with the dusky skin color was now a beautiful pink, not being exhausted just from a bottle. Fast forward, he has done remarkably well. He has the ability to make others around him happy and smile. He is loving, sweet, kind, nice, very outgoing, very charming, very funny, just an awesome kid who we thank God for. I love you Matt.

I was reading this blog from last year while in Ukraine, realized that I was strong there, getting julias medication back, dealing with all her withdrawls, the boredom when alone, only had the adoption worker-translator to speak English with and we weren't together alot, just a few hours a day. The only to rely upon was myself, as Frank and the kids were home 10 days before us. In order to get home: train from Kharkov to Kyiv, Kyiv to London, and the last leg was London to Boston. I was so determined to get home, ran through Airports to be right at the terminal, people who saw me probabaly thought i was insane, or a good runner while pushing Julia in a stroller at the same time. Even though more than a year has gone by, still so fresh, guess the whole process, what we saw, and did made such an impression on me, and us. All 3 kids are at school today, Julia started kindy in the morning, SPED in the afternoon. The 2 buses should be here at the same time, Ashley got on her bus fine, and waited in the driveway for the small bus to get here, kept looking at my watch, no bus, finally at 8:50, and the bus hasn't shown with school starting in 9 mins, packed them up in the van and drove them to school. Don't know what the prob was, not happy, as the past 2 morning, the bus has been very punctual. Poor Matt, he was sobbing, "the bus..the bus..need it..want it.." tears flowing. Felt bad for him, but he will take it home. Guess I should get a move on, despite the banshies being gone all day, have to be home around 3, that will fly by.

Took the kids for a couple trips to the beach for school started. I took them to a small beach where I could watch Ashley collect periwinkles and stay knee deep with Matt and Julia in the water. School FINALLY started for Ashley and Matt yesterday, and Julia starts kindy tomorrow. I can't belive she started 4th and he's just about completly integrated into 3rd grade. They're happy to be back, Matt has the same aid from 2nd grade, she's great with him, I like her alot. I finally deceided that Matt and Julia can take the little SPED bus to school, so done driving them from last year this was my routine last school year: get Ashley on the bus, pack Matt and Julia up in the van by 8:40, drive him to school, bring Julia to school by 12:30. Afternoon left at 2:50 got Julia, 3:10 got Matt as they're at differant schools, get home quick to get Ashley off the bus at 3:35, not fun. Got the SPED bus all arranged for this year, checked out the town school website, swear it said "ALL staff, kindy, and students return Sept 7" Got Matt and Julia on the bus, and went to coffee with a friend when they left. Enjoying the peace when my cell rings, jump out of my skin, not a school #, it can wait. Head over to the school for Julias kindy orientation and listen to the phone message, I thought to myself, this numer is familiar but can't 100% place it, listen, my friend, AKA Julias SPED teacher, "coming to orientation, kindy starts thurs, but we will keep Julia here until you come in" They were ok with it, I was so embarrassed. I walk into school, nearly bumped into the Principal, he's really nice, "did you speak with teacher about kindy starts thurs, it's ok that you sent Julia in by mistake, I figured you were probabaly out having coffee enjoying the peace, as he knows Matt well too as he is at that school, he just laughed, so that was ok. He is my peer, so that was ok, think if he was much older, maybe wouldn't see the humor in this. Met the kindy teacher, she seems very enthusiastic, all of the kids that came in were familiar with the routine, as they all probabaly went to pre school and had a good head start, unlike Julia. There is an adorable little girl with DS in there as well. Julia refused to sit with the SPED teacher, new aide, on the rug, just me. The staff took the kids out of the classroom so the teacher could speak with the parents, poorJulia, getting her into line, she kept signing "mom" and babbling, I told she was fine, I'll be right here, ta ta, that's her words for good bye. Think she was a little stressed, new school, new staff, no aid from camp. Back to the bus yesterday, she saw it, refused to get in, screamed like a cat, almsot ran into the back of the van, tried to make a run for the house. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. She hasn't been in any other vehicle than our van. Great news on the Hep C front: we have eradicated the virus from Julias system, the weekly injections are done, last one was last friday, and the liquid med will be done this friday as well. She will need labs done in about 5 monthes and we'll go from there. Her thyroid level is still off, so that lab maybe done sooner than later, as it's higher than normal. Hopefully her immune system will be much better as the med clears her system, as it's surpressed now. I also took pics of the kids before they left yesterday for school. As I have typed on here before, Matt is quite the character, and can't get enough of "Everybody Loves Raymond" There is an episode called The Model, where Ray takes pics of Robert doing modeling poses for a portfolio, it is very very funny. Matt decides he want to do poses like "Robert Barone" he wanted pics taken in front of a fan like on the show, Matt was so funny imatating this episode, I was in tears from laughing, and taking some pictures. About it from here, I'm having some wheezing, coughing, chest has a little burning, hope it's not bronchitis again, fine otherwise, life is good. God Bless America.

Julia finally had her dental work taken care of on July 23, we didn't have to stay overnight, but was a real long day. We left home at 9am, returned by 6:30-7pm. She had her teeth cleaned, 4 extractions, cavities filled, gums were ok fortunatly, scrapings, and x rays. She had a post op appt July 30, dentist felt all looked good, and will see her in 3 monthes. Camp ended Aug 5, which meant a month out before school starts. We went down to Cape Cod for a week of vaca. We went to the beach alot, explored, the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, wherwe Matt and Julia were on the obnoxious side and had to be taken out, but Ashley really enjoyed it. We tried to wear out the kids everyday. Today Julia was scheduled to have a home EEG to see if she is having seizures, as school, us, Ashley, and camp had noticed her staring, even though it wasn't picked up on the hospital EEG last March. Leads are placed on her head, and we push a button when we see her stare. That would show if she is having seizures or her funky self. After reading the Neuro Dr post appt note, I deceided to bag it for now, canceled it. I didn't want to drag Ashley and Matt in there. The Dr note said that he didn't think she has CP, but has an abnormal gait,with staggering, and twisting of wrists and arms in close or halfway extended, closing of fists, cranial exam was remarkable since she has glasses with vision challenges, but Dr didn't stress what that was, and that the Encephalopathy was just.. DS related, depite not knowing Julias previous orphanage or birth history. If the home EEG shows no seizure activity, no further follow up needed. The Dr note meant to me that the Dr didn't seem concerned at all, despite his use of "abnormal gait with staggering, crainial exam was remarkable (whatever that means), and just DS" So this can wait too. I may contact the International Adoption/Developmental Dr and get her input. As she felt that we should get a consult for school for children and school with brain injuries. She also felt that the Encephalopathy is not "just DS" when we spoke in June, this was befoe the Neuro appt. Julia has her last Hep appt, hopefully on Aug31, she will have labs done at the hospital and that will tell us if she is DONE with Hep C, and that this 6 month treatment has successfully killed off the virus. She will need to have labs 2x a yr, than once a yr, than every 2 yrs for probabaly the rest of her life. Matts 8th birthday is in 3 wks, what to do? I think he wants to go to the movies, or get gluten ree pizza with some friends. We;re heading out to the western part of the state where there is a HUGE Yankee Candle store, they have theme rooms, gazillion candles, dip candles to make, it can take about 3 hrs just to browse around, the kids really like it, Julia could care less, think she may get a little over stimulated, but just give her a few jelly beans while in there for a distraction. They even have Santa Claus in there, Matt never fails to ask for a few seasons of DVD's for "everyone Loves Raymond" he has also asked for Bruins hockey tickets too. The Banshies are watching Sponge Bob Square (crappy) pants while i type. Shut that off and get moving.

time for me to get a little sentimental: Frank the kids have been home from Ukraine for a year on July 22, and Julia and I left her city of Kharkiv on the over night train to Kyiv a year ago this evening with our translator/adoption worker. 5:30 am Kyiv time, a year ago, would be on the train asleep after having some wonderful Ukrainian wine and chatting for hours with Angelina. Julia was pooping her head off since she had 3 types of parasites floating around making themselves at home in her intestines, but sleeping comfortable. that morning at the Dr's office in Kyiv, met a great woman from Texas and her adopted daughter. Rhonda, have to reminise again. July 31 will mark a yr sicne Julia and I got back home to Massachusetts, and she began her great life, we and she had no idea as to what was in store. She has done remarkably well over the past year, despite her significant challenges. Her birth parents really missed out, their loss is our gain. Seems ike Julia has been here for yrs. since last yr when Angelina (translator-adoption worker) said our crying good byes, we have kept in touch still via E mail and got her beautiful wedding pics, she knew we couldn't be there, but I was in spirit for her that day. I see a brand of cheese and /or yogurt called "Presidente: imported from France at our local grocery store, and we ate alot of that cheese/yogurt and I immedialty think of the grocery store in Kharkiv where we went grocery shopping there. where has a yr gone?