Half Days Of School

We're trying to work into a routine but the routine keeps changing!
Alex's teacher called and suggested (or rather told me a decision has been made) that Alex attends school from 10-2 instead of 8:25-3:00. The day is just too long for him. I agree completely but it's going to be hard for him as his favorite part of school is riding his bike back and forth with Rylee and Brach. I was hoping for the first half or the last half, not smack in the middle. Oh well. I hope the bike rack will be open at 10 & 2 and I'm not particularly thrilled with the idea of him riding by himself but trust me on this, the bike ride is his FAVORITE part of the school day.
I set up a schedule of Alex and I studying English from 8:45-9:45 each morning. I figure this way we'll get it done and out of the way and perhaps I will not be as distracted as I am trying to help him with four other children vying for my attention? Last night we kept getting interrupted while working on his ABC's and sight words and he'd make exhausting sounds and throw his head back on the couch. I know, it's hard to have siblings...
His arms still hurt from his immunizations and Rylee and Devree have sore teeth from getting their spacers on for their braces next week. So last night was an ibuprofen night.
Austin has dutch oven cook off tomorrow at school and that will be a crazy day. I guess Alex will just have to go with us to set up and then can go to school from there. Good thing the Junior High is a block away from the elementary.
Today every one is getting hair cuts. At one point Alex tried to tell me he wanted to grow a pony tail. Um, that will not fly. He really likes having his bangs down on his forehead and he'd look so cute with a little spike in front but I think we're a ways from that.
Alex went to scouts last night. I asked if it was fun. No. What did you do and he pantomimed him twiddling his thumbs and whistling. But then when we were working on the ABC's the T card has a tent on it and he told me-in his pantomime with a few English word way- "Me" points to tent and the salutes like a boy scout. So I think he's figured out the scouts go camping?
This morning we sit down for "Mom & Alex" school. "Cool, Mom" he tells me. We worked on recognizing ABC's, 5 sight words, sounds of the alphabet and reading his book he was sent home with. It's hard to know if some of the sounds are just hard for him to make as they're unfamiliar or if it is his speech impediment. Like the word "the" he just can't say it. I know the V vs W sound is just a foreign sound and he'll get it in time but it's the "th" sound he really struggles with and the fact that his "s" sounds like he's clearing his throat.
He was very snugly and loving through our study time, sitting on my lap at the end and rubbing his check against mine. When we were done I told him it was time to brush his teeth and comb his hair, it's time for school. "School?" and he's eyes fill with tears. We had gone over this I thought pretty clearly. School from 10-2. He stomps upstairs and gets ready. He's not sad now, he's mad. So I told him I'd drive him to school. (You know-bike rack issue.) "NO BIKE!" he hollers, I told him "No bike when you are mad and grumpy!" and I imitate his grumpy face. Then I tell him "Yes bike when Alex says 'okay school' and smiles" and I show him a smile. He acts like he's thinking then says "Okay school!" and breaks into a grin. I knew he was testing me. Whew...
I followed him to school on his bike, just to make sure the bike rack was open and it was and I confirmed it will be at 2:00. I also set up a plan with the school secretary that he'll check in with her at 10 each morning and if he doesn't, she'll call me. (I could so see him just riding his bike all day.) He held my hand walking into school but immediately dropped it and headed for his class once inside. He seems very happy to go to school and always gives me a thumbs up about school so the tears over school really surprised me.
So here's to four hour school days. I have to agree that a full day would be long and tedious if I couldn't understand what was being said, and it will good to have mom and Alex time.
We've been home almost a week and I asked if he likes America and he says, "America relly, relly good!"

Doctor Visit...

Yikes! This was rough.
My family practice doctor speaks Russian so rather than take Alex to our pediatrician I took him to her. She was wonderful with him and explained everything in Russian and then in English to me. He came through the physical exam with flying colors.
Because Alex's medical record shows he was in a TB "spa" in 2008 and even though his chest x-rays were clear, he was classified as entering the US with a Class B1 or B2 tuberculosis. I've had to contact the board of health and send them all his paper work and apparently now a nurse from the board of health will contact us and we have to have a 2nd set of chest X-rays done here in the States? So we did that today to appease the Salt Lake Board of Health. I left his x-ray from Ukraine with them so the radiologist can compare. They told me if the SL board of health wants to see the X-ray's I can come pick them up later. Good. They can store them until then.
Then it was time for updating his immunizations and blood draw. Since he's almost eleven she ordered all the immunizations that children have to have to attend junior high. THREE shots in the arm and then the additional TB test on his forearm. They had two nurses administer the first two shots at the same time in each arm and he was so very brave but when he got that 3rd burning tetanus shot he turned to me and his eyes filled with tears and then when finished he climbed on my lap and sobbed. He still had to have the TB test and I held him while they administered that-which I just recently had and it's not pleasant either. Then he hid his head in my neck and cried some more. I rocked him and told him it would be okay and he told me "No okay!" He's right. It doesn't feel okay. So then I said "Okay, no more shots. All done." But that didn't make him feel any better either.
James called right then and could hear Alex sobbing and rather than the sobbing decreasing, it increased! I told James I needed to go and right about then they took us to the lab for his blood draw. He didn't even care who was looking-he sat me down (as I was trying to get him sat down) and then climbed on my lap in the lobby and although not sobbing, he was still visibly upset and making sad little sounds and just clinging to me.
I sat next to him through the blood draw and held his other hand. Four vials of blood later and one very upset little boy we were show back to the room so the doctor could explain about the stool sample we need to collect. He's still crying from the blood draw and he's really worked himself up into a frenzy-keep in mind he was poked and prodded in Ukraine too and despite his tough exterior, he's just a little boy. So in trying to distract him from his plight I pull out the funky toilet thing and start reading the instructions to him and it dawns on him that he's going to need to poop in this contraption and then we're going to need to put it in this jar and he begins to giggle and soon is laughing. I'm sure the look on my face as I'm reading the instructions helped him laugh even harder. The doctor came in and explained it to him in Russian, I also had her explain that we'd be back on Friday to check his TB test but there would be no more shots or needles and that he wouldn't need shots like these for a very long time.
We stopped at McDonald's on the way home for a well earned reward!
Whew! Thank goodness poop is so funny to little boys....

Prayer, School & Whoopee Cushion!

This morning I asked Alex if he would say the prayer at breakfast. He asked "Ukraine?" Sure I said. Then he started his prayers with thank you only it was in English, he looked up at me in surprise and covered his mouth then he started again and said the entire prayer in Russian. Hehehee, the English is already starting to sink in!
I went and spoke to his teacher this morning. She said he did great but she thinks the days are a little long for him. At 10:00 he started asking when he could go home. She's thinking maybe a half day might be better, I also introduced myself to the speech teacher and the English as a second language teacher. He'll be pulled out today for testing in English but probably not for anything with his speech until he masters the language better.
I'm going in tomorrow to talk to the reading specialist. I'm hoping she can send me home some books he can start reading. It's sort of like having a kindergartner again only one that can't talk yet!
Last night Alex got out the whoopee cushion (thanks Alex & Ann for this lovely welcome home gift) and he and Rylee giggled and laughed. The were suppose to be in bed but came down to my office to tell me they had my bed ready for me. I decided I better go to bed soon so they could get some sleep. When I went up they were in their seperate beds, both pretending to be asleep or close to it. I went in my room and sat hard on my bed, nothing. I had to peek under my pillow to find the whoopee cushion (like they thought my head would make it work?) then I hit my hand hard on the pillow making the lovely whoopee sound and Alex and Rylee burst out giggling and running into my room. They were sure they got me and of course they did. (Wink, wink!) It was sweet to see them plot and plan together. I know Alex really wants to get Kambree next!

First Day Of School...

Alex attended school today and....
gave it the thumbs up!
(Although he does complain that he has to go for SIX hours!)
I let him ride his bike and couldn't help but take pictures of him and Rylee and Brach as I drove by in my car to meet them there.
Tonight he wrote his spelling words three times and read to me for 20 minutes. We read "Hop On Pop" by Dr Seuss. I think I need to find better reading books.
Yesterday, he did great at church. I think he was relieved to find out that three hours of church is not three hours of sacrament meeting. He enjoyed being with the other children in primary and he tries really hard to sing the songs. He wants to fit in and speak English so badly. He refuses to read any of the Ukraine books I bought for him and he likes to have ice in his drinks and ask, "Me American boy?" He's other famous question is "Mine English good, yea?"
I really can't believe he's adjusting so well. I really thought he would have had a melt down by now of some sort but he's just been so happy about everything. (Expect the long dance concert Saturday night.)
He made us all laugh at the dinner table last night. Kambree's had a cold and he told her she needs medicine then he told Austin he needs crazy medicine. When we were reading our book tonight there's a page that says "Fight, Night, we fight all night!" and he looked up at me and ginned and said "Me-Austin!" He really must have enjoyed that pillow fight on Saturday.
Brach (his cousin) has really taken him under his wing. Last night they took turns playing DS and today Brach showed him the ropes at school. They're not in the same class but can play together at recess and ride their bikes back and forth to school.
His teacher Mrs.Hall is so very sweet and Alex says "Mrs. Hall, relly cool!" She has a daughter that taught English in Ukraine and she thinks she'll come in and help Alex. Wow! Of all the teachers he could have been assigned we sure got the right one! Not to mention Mrs. Hall is so very sweet and patient.
It was kind of lonely driving away from the school today. I've been with Alex non stop for the past three weeks and it was like leaving my baby for the first time. I thought about him and worried all throughout the day but he did just fine.
First thing I did after getting him checked into school was go to the gym-my body will pay for that tomorrow as it's been SEVEN weeks since I was in the gym last!
I did get a hold of the health department. It took numerous calls and transfers but apparently I need to have chest X-rays' done here and then a nurse will contact me from the health department and determine if he needs to come in for TB testing.
I haven't even started the social security number thing and birth certificate, although thanks to Carlin I did email the birth certificate lady.
Ugh...more paper work!
Tomorrow we go to the doctor for his check up. I can't believe how busy this week has become. I feel like I just cross a few things off my list and I add five more! I still haven't got my sleeping down and when I do sleep I dream I'm in Ukraine and when I wake up I'm not sure where I am. I even hesitated today when I was brushing my teeth, thinking I shouldn't rinse my mouth with tap water, then I remembered I was home and our water is safe!
I went grocery shopping and stocked up on "salad fixins" for Alex and he made us a salad to go along with dinner. He LOVED the pork chops I made and asked that we have them again tomorrow. Score one for me! He's also discovered he like Kix's cold cereal, with a banana of course and he learned that if you pour a gigantic bowl, you are going to finish it!
And yes, I still get hugs and loves at least five times a day. He's an early riser and before the other kids are up he'll give me a big hug and say "My Mama." and I say "My Alex." it's a sweet way to start the day...

First Day Of School For Alex

Our Crazy Saturday!

I happy to report we lived through yesterday!
After getting Ry to her first rehearsal we all piled in the van to pick her up and go to Devree's parade & performance in Midvale for Cinco De Mayo. It was lightly raining. By the time we got there it was pouring! We dropped Devree off and went and parked the van in my cousin's driveway-which just happens to be along the parade route and sat in the van while we were pelted with rain. Poor Alex, I had told him we were going to a parade and the park but I'm not sure he knows what a parade is and he's face was so confused, "Why in the world are we sitting in the van, in some random driveway in the rain?" He was probably thinking.
The parade finally started and lame does not even begin to describe it as everyone is just IN their cars driving. We don't even know which car Devree is in but we cheered from all the cars and waved. The best part was that we were one of the only spectators so when the one brave soul walking and handing out candy came by, she just gave us the whole bag!
We then went to the local park for Dev's performance and luckily the rain had let us some. Rylee's shoes were soaked so I had her on my back piggy back style with a blanket wrapped around her feet. I got a "your are the best mom in the whole world comment" from her.
We bought some yummy steak taco's and Alex really liked them, then he asked for a hot dog-a BACON wrapped hot dog-can you think of anything more unhealthy? I knew he would like it as he really likes pork fat and these were wrapped in it! He and Rylee both had one.
He and Austin and Hayden (Austin's friend and accomplice in hanging that stupid "hammock" in the front of our house) went off and played in the soggy grass while we waited in other soggy grass for the performance to start.
Alex asked "da doma?" a few times throughout this adventure, as I'm sure he's thinking, "What the heck? Why are we standing around in the rain? Let's go home!" Not to mention most of the announcements are in Spanish so I'm not even understating what's going on. (Which reminded me so much of being in Ukraine.) But Spanish might just sound the same as English to Alex at this point.
After the performance we rushed home to get ready for Wicked. I came out of my room in a dress and Alex's face was in a panic. "Now where are we going?" I'm sure is what he was thinking. No worries Alex, you're staying home with Kambree and Austin. (Kambree had already attended Wicked with my friend as we switched tickets because my original tickets were while I was in the Ukraine-and Austin would just as soon have a root canal then attend a play!)
The show was fabulous but we got to our car in the Capitol Theater parking terrace at 4:47 and Rylee was suppose to be to Murray High at 5:00 for her call before her 5:30 dress rehearsal. I held traffic for Kammy to back out and fortunately I had enough foresight to throw Ry's costume and makeup in the trunk. So, we dressed & made up Rylee in the backseat while Kammy drove like our Ukrainian drivers-less the potholes-to the school!
We dropped her off at the school and I came home to the front door open and soon Alex running out with a couch pillow in his hands and hiding behind me and Austin quickly following with a pillow as well. Both boys (and Hayden) were perspiring and panting. Apparently they were having an incredibly fun pillow fight. (And had to open the front door because I'd left the fire on to dry out every one's shoes and they had worked up a sweat and needed to air out the place?)
I fed everyone quickly and we once again piled in the car for Rylee's performance. Austin and Alex had to run back into the house to bring electronic entertainment. (Austin really hates dance recitals-I'm thinking Alex isn't going to be much of a fan either!)
Rylee was the 5th performance out of about 20 so once Rylee was done Alex asked in his pantomime broken English way if she would perform again. No. Da Doma? No. Grunt and huff and then he curled up on his chair and fell asleep. I woke him up at one point as he looked so uncomfortable and he got mad at me because his neck was hurting. I know, that's why I woke him up-so he could straighten out. He fell back asleep with his head back and sprawled out in his chair, and he was really asleep. He was even snoring!
The recital finally got over and we tried to hurry Alex home. We ran through the drive through at Wendy's (as I was informed it's a TRADITION to get ice cream after recitals by Austin) and I got Alex a fry-he perked up a little then but as soon as we got home-he put himself right to bed. Between the jet lag, the riding of his bike for probably four hours, the pillow fight and the numerous performances he sat through, he was exhausted.
One funny thing that happened was that he asked if school was tomorrow. No, it's Sunday. He acted distraught by pounding his fist on the bar and making crying noises and saying "English!" Like "How am I suppose to learn English?" This came as a huge surprise for me, I really thought I'd be fighting him about going to school and here he is just anxious to go. That made me incredibly happy.
He seems to be adjusting well, he likes to drink the pickle juice out of the pickle jar and that makes all of us shudder and he's not a fan of my cooking but he does at least try everything.
I'm very proud of how well he handled our crazy day and how well he and Austin are doing. I overheard Austin's friend ask him who's Digi was on the couch and Austin answered "My brothers." then he said something to the effect "Wow, I've never said 'my brother' before-that is so weird!"
Our days are not always this crazy. Often, but not always.
Today, Sunday, should be slower....I'll let you know how he does at church, he already grimaces when I mention it so this might be an adventure....

Cinco De Mayo Pictures

Austin & Hayden's Hammock!

This ingenious "hammock" was made out of the old trampoline mattress. Yes, this is what I came home too... Crazy boys.....

Kambree @ Spartonian Ball

Our first day home...

I woke up this morning at 2:30 am and couldn't go back to sleep so I decided to tackle the checking accounts and the mountain of mail waiting for me.
My mom and sister had cleaned my house & done all the laundry for our return so I don't have any housework besides mine and Alex's laundry. (And I'm washing EVERYTHING. No more crispy hung dry clothes!)
Alex woke up at 5 am all smiles and put on his shoes. Where are you going Lex? It is still dark outside. He just wants to "look" (by making circles with his fingers around his eyes) in the garage (by pointing to the garage) Okay.
Then as soon as the sun peaked over the mountains-it was still gray outside-he was on his bike, in his pajama pants but with a helmet!
He came in and made us all a salad for breakfast. Cucumbers and tomatoes with a splash of olive oil. I made eggs and toast to go along with it and despite my other children's puzzled looks at the salad-they all had some and even liked it. Wow. Veggies at breakfast-I've been trying to incorporate that for years.
Alex got dressed, made his bed and asked "Lets go?" "Where?" I asked. "School?" I wasn't planning on taking him to school today with our jet lag but I figured, if he's ready and excited, let's go. I did have to explain that the older kids leave at 7:25 and he and Rylee don't leave until 8:15. I had mentioned in Ukraine that he could ride his bike to school and he was disappointed when I made us all get in the car, as I had to bring papers and drop off the computer after-wards. He looked excited when we entered the school and sat outside the office while I spoke with the secretary. Apparently going to school will require a lot of paper work on my part, planning on the part of the principle & teacher and waiting until Monday for Alex's part.
So with papers in hand to fill out, we went back to the car and ran errands to the bank, the computer store and then to Shopko for shoes and a backpack. They were having a BOGO 1/2 off so six pairs of shoes later, one back pack and one pair of pajama pants later we were heading "da doma"!
On the way home we drove by that gorgeous gray two story house on 59th South and
Alex said "Cool hu?" pointing to the house.
"Yes, it's a beautiful house" I replied.
"Mine house relly, relly cool" Alex says.
"Yes, our house is really, really, cool."
And he's right! Last night when I walked into our home it felt so big after living in such small apartments. And thanks to the efforts of my mom and sisters it was so clean, I felt like I lived in a little piece of heaven. I have enjoyed every minute of unpacking, folding warm clean laundry, and using my garbage disposal while loading my dishes into the dishwasher.
The rest of our day consisted of people dropping by, me trying to sort out stuff with our health insurance, fix Kambree's cell phone, talk with James, running Rylee to dance rehearsal and a bunch of other busy things.
Alex spent the day rotating between riding his bike and playing Wii. We finally figured out the Digi Michelle gave to him and so now he has another electronic toy to conquer. At some point in the day he made a sign for his room that say's his name and one side I think say's open and the other stay out? Not sure. It's not in Russian or English-or maybe it's in English but Alex's own version?
My friend Lori brought a wonderful dinner of lasagna, salad, cookies and my fav, homemade rolls. Thanks Lori-you're awesome!
Tonight is Kambree's Spartonian Ball and she looked fabulous. (Will post pictures later!)
Austin was at Hayden's working on their dutch oven recipe for dutch oven cook off. I agreed to a sleep over ONLY if that terrible homemade hammock is removed tomorrow. I don't care if they have it on the side yard, but seriously, right in front of the house?
My brother stopped by with Zach to welcome Alex and they visited for awhile. Alex, Rylee and Zach played Wii while I talked with Troy about our adventures. He had refused to read my blog as he wanted to hear about it first hand-which was actually nice because I didn't have to worry about if he had already read about what I was talking about.
The kids (well Alex, but Austin, Hayden, Rylee & Devree were there too) put in a movie around 9:30 pm and I went to bed. I had been up since 2:30. Alex put himself to bed where as Rylee and Devee fell asleep on the couch and when I got up this morning-at 3:30-whootwoo and hour later than yesterday-I had to get them into their beds.
So today, Saturday is quickly approaching. It consists of:
A rehearsal for Rylee from 9:13-10:15
A parade performance for Rylee and Devree at 10:30
A performance for Devree in the park at 11:30
Wicked Tickets @ 2:00 (good thing I decided to look at the date yesterday!)
Dress rehearsal for Rylee @ 5:00
Performance for Rylee @ 7:00
And amongst the chaos and running around, a little salad making boy will tag along.
Welcome to your new life Alex....hope you like dance concerts!