One week update & Welcome Home pictures.

We've been home for one whole week and things could NOT be going better. Isaiah acts like he's been living with us forever. This has been much easier than bringing home a newborn from the hospital...no sleepless nights, no colic, no spit-up clothes, no bottles, no pumping, etc. He loves his new crib and sleeps through the night and takes a long afternoon nap. Over a year ago I had finally brought myself to take the crib down and store it away. It was so hard to do and I had to fight back the tears. I got as far as taking off one side railing and I noticed how it looked like a day bed so I put a child's bed railing on the side and Joey LOVED it. I was so happy we could keep the crib and this worked up until the beginning of the summer when Joey decided ENOUGH CRIB and he refused to sleep in it as he loved the big bed. That was perfect timing as I knew Isaiah would be here soon and I didn't want to have to take it away from Joey. Of course, like most kids regress a bit when a "new baby" comes home, Joey thought he needed to use the high chair, sleep in the crib (that only lasted 1 minute) and scoot around in the walker before Isaiah did and he took all the baby toys away from him.

Speaking of toys...Isaiah is in the beginning stages of playing with toys where I have to put a rattle or something in his hand and he flings it. He was never given the opportunity to learn to play with toys. He LOVES music and will bounce and dance to it. He is starting to recognize "Patty Cake" as when I start singing he really looks at me and looks for my hands.

Everyday gets better with his "commando crawling" and he will get on his knees and rock back and forth and sometimes take some normal crawls. He did 4 crawls right in a row to get to Josh once. He is also in the beginning stages of taking steps. He will slowly and very seldom take side steps in the crib.

I think Isaiah's favorite part of the day is bathtime. Wow, I've never seen a kid get so excited in the tub. He is NOT afraid of water. I would love to see what he does in a pool.

Joey is adjusting WAY better than any of us ever thought. The first day was the worst and even that wasn't bad at all. Joey has grown up so much this summer and is a big helper to me. There are some commands I give him that I don't think he will understand and he will look at me for a second and then go do it. Isaiah gets lots of hugs and kisses from him. A few days ago I made the comment to everyone at supper time that I think Isaiah is getting spoiled. He doesn't always like being alone and will whine. Darrell was quick to say that he deserves being spoiled. I know he does but after meals everyone leaves but me and I do have other things to do. Orphanage kids have to find their own ways to sooth themselves so I am thankful he is trying to let his needs be known and that he wants/needs someone around. Now and then he will even cry when I put him down for a nap.

The strangest thing I've noticed is that he cries after almost every meal and even sometimes when I get up to get something. I'm assuming he does this because he most likely did not always get enough to eat in the orphanage. He probably never had to go without a meal but it was probably never enough to satisfy. He now knows he gets more to eat with me but still must be worried or something for him to cry. I don't give into it because I know he's had enough and I think he just needs to start trusting and realizing that he WILL get enough to eat at the next snack or meal. I PROMISE...I'm NOT starving him! I don't want him to get into the habit of overeating. I witnessed him being fed by the nanny's and no matter how small the snack or meal was he NEVER once cried for them...no one did. When their meal/snack was done...that was it...back into the pens they went. This could maybe be part of his horrible finger chewing habit...to try to fight of hunger :( It isn't the case now but those habits can be so hard to break :(

I've been asked if I'm going to teach him sign language and the answer is yes. Isaiah is still trying to adjust to this new crazy language so he will have to get familiar with English first. We try to have Baby Signing Time playing on TV alot...he enjoys it. He does babble and has some awesome sounds...hopefully that continues. Joey will most likely be getting diagnosed with Apraxia of Speech very soon...just need the official test from a speech therapist. Apraxia of Speech is where the brain can not "talk" to his mouth and tell it what to do...there is a pathway missing for some reason. This can also affect fine motor skills like writing and cutting, etc. I researched this a few years ago but was told he was too young to diagnose. I totally forgot about it as so much of my life was being spent trying to find out what was wrong with me. Apraxia needs lots of speech therapy and even then some kids never talk. Having Down syndrome makes this a greater possibility. So Sign Language will most likely be his first language. I'm so thankful I started teaching him before he turned one. He is good at it and loves learning it. I will teach Isaiah for more than one reason...along with earlier communication for himself but also to be able to communicate with his brother someday.

Isaiah has been having lots of "firsts" this week...first real fun bath with a super fun bubble machine from Aunt Mikki...




First night in his new crib...



First time in a carseat which he had NO trouble with never being in one...


First bike ride and stroller ride with his brother...



First haircut by mom...


WELCOME HOME

Our day started out leaving our apartment at 4:00am Saturday morning Ukraine time...8:00pm Friday night North Dakota time.


Then a whole lot of airplane and airport time.




And then finally our destination before our final destination...the Bismarck airport after a 29 hour travel day.







We stayed up until about 1:30am playing toys and talking at Grandma Kathie's. I must have been on a high because our bodies were still on Ukraine time...8 hours ahead.



Was Isaiah "worth the wait"???...every minute of it!!!...and this picture was taken minutes before the BIG "blowout" at Denny's.


***all pictures are property of Steph Becker...PLEASE DO NOT COPY!

We are home!

On August 22nd Isaiah Ilya Becker was carried into his new home by his daddy. My "22nd" sign from God happened again. We got our travel date on June 22nd...met Isaiah for the first time on July 22nd (also Joey's b-day) and now he came home on Aug. 22nd.

We had a 29 hour travel day and while there were some moments of frustration Isaiah did really well. I'm sure he has NEVER EVER been held so much for so long. I used a sling instead of stroller and it worked out MUCH better than I had hoped. We went from Kiev, Ukraine to Munich, Germany to Chicago to Denver to Bismarck. I could not wait to get out of Germany. Things were so spendy in the airport after spending so much time in Ukraine and getting used to the cheaper living.

We flew into Bismarck around 11:40pm and were met by friends and family. Isaiah had been sleeping on the last flight but he woke up and greeted everyone with sweet smiles. Joey wanted NOTHING to do with him. He hung on to my neck very tightly and wouldn't look at anyone. We've been talking about Isaiah for 9 months and I think reality hit and Joey was probably thinking...this kid Isaiah is really here. When we got home Sunday afternoon Joey really started warming up to him. Maybe it was because he was in his own territory. Isaiah got hugs and kisses but of course Joey had to try out all the "new" baby toys we brought out from storage first and Joey had to sit in the high chair.

This morning we went to 9am mass in Bismarck then went out for breakfast with our good friends, The Larson's. They also have a 5 year old with Ds. After raising 5 babies you would think I experienced EVERYTHING possible with being a mom but Isaiah decided to "up one" on his new brothers. He had a HUGE blowout IN a Denny's highchair. I didn't realize it until I picked him up to go change him and saw the highchair and felt my whole arm covered in poopoo. I was NOT prepared. I took him into the bathroom and started cleanup. I kept praying for God to PLEASE send my friend Laura in to help as I couldn't leave to get help. Within a couple minutes she came to my rescue. I threw away his onesie and summer shorts. AND to make this worse the Denny's women's bathroom was a BUSY place but I just minded my own business and did what I had to do.

Noah is such a good brother. He JUST hollered from the living room..."Mom, don't worry about us...I'm just keeping these two "activated". LOL. Noah likes using big words but obviously doesn't always get the right one. I think he meant "occupied".

It feels like Isaiah has been living here for a long time other than trying to get his eating habits figured out and lots of reminders to NOT leave Isaiah up on beds/couch, keep the basement door closed, etc. He doesn't crawl but he does roll and slowly gets to places he wants.

Thanks to all who helped out in any way...for those who filled our fridge with food...to my mom for staying the whole week to take my place and all the catering to the boys she did...for all the thoughts and prayers that were being said for us. It is all so much appreciated. It is so nice to be done and home...safe and sound. We feel so blessed to have been given this opportunity. God is so good.

Updates from past couple days.

GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER.
We've had some moments of frustration trying to figure out Isaiah's wants and needs. He is probably thinking he wishes we would just take him back "home" to where everyone knows him. For the most part Isaiah is SUPER good and a fun and happy baby. He is more baby than I thought he would be.

What we are discovering is he likes sweeter foods than I would like to feed him. When I mix baby oatmeal cereal with a baby vegetable he will eat a couple bites and get very upset. Wednesday night while sleeping he got up A LOT and I always gave him water which he guzzled down. I'm not surprised because up until then he hardly drank anything. He's been fighting plain water now. We had some juice here and I gave him some of that and he LOVED it. This will be one area he will need to get over because we aren't a juice family. I will have to slowly dilute it until he gets over it. When I mix a baby fruit with with the baby oatmeal or oatmeal packets he eats the whole cup with no problems. Hopefully he will be fine with mashed up hotdishes or homemade soups once we get home. The first day I tried giving him bites of a slushy and he HATED that. I was told they don't give COLD foods at the orphanage. Yesterday we bought ice cream to put in our coffee because we don't know where to get milk. Isaiah LOVED the ice cream. He does not chew. Somehow he sucks the food back into his mouth and down it does. I've heard others say similar things about the way their kids from orphanages eat. Everytime I saw him eat with his nannies it was ALWAYS mushy food. So we could be working on some oral aversions once we get home and start getting more used to each other.

He definately knows Russian/Ukrainian talk. Today I had the tv on and he was really listening. He also LOVES music. He will rock back/forth (dance) whenever he hears it. I hope he can adjust to Signing Time and Barney videos because I have a feeling that Big Brother Joey will see it no other way.

He's been doing awesome sleeping between Austin and I. I thought he would maybe stuggle as he is used to his plain ol' crib with no one close by. He loves being held and touched and is very cuddly. I heard Austin tell Isaiah the 2nd day we had him that he loves him as much as he loves Joey and he's known Joey for 5 years. I would have to say the same. I so clearly remember back in Nov. 2008 when I first saw his picture on Reece's Rainbow and I would imagine him saying to me..."Are YOU my mama?"...like the children's book "Are You My Mother?" and now he is the boy I'm carrying around in a hip sling...I AM his mama...almost 2 years later.

His thumb sucking and finger chewing are a BAD habit. He actually has scars on some fingers and his skin peels off. We've been putting socks on his hands now and then. Hoping this is a teething thing and will eventually get better on its own.

Oh, almost forgot...he had his first poop Thursday night. We've been waiting for this as he hasn't gone since we took him out of orphanage on Tuesday. I think all moms who have a child with an imperforate anus or other bowel issues knows how important those poops are and I was SOOOOO happy to see a nice, normal BM!!! Sorry if TMI...but that's a big part of my life raising Joey.

WEDNESDAY.
We were picked up at 8:30am to go for Isaiah's medical appointment. The Nance family was with also. We've been warned about the long, crowded, hot hallway which is the waiting room. It was exactly liked it was described. Uncle Niko is so good at what he does in getting us all where we need to be. Yes, this is THE Niko, the driver, that I was NOT too happy with on that drive down to Nikolaev. I don't know how this whole team manages all these adoptions but I'm thankful they do. Both our families were called into the nurses room where Isaiah and their 2 kids were weighed and height measured. Then back to waiting room to wait to see the doctor. We saw different doctors. Ours was an older gal. She explained some of his medical stuff and explained the whole Ds thing. She then examined him. Then she asked some questions and finally the question she said she asks EVERYONE adopting a child with Ds...why would we choose to adopt a child with Ds? I said we have a 5 year old with Ds and that he brings us so much love and happiness and we feel he is one of our greatest gifts. When she heard we already had a child with Ds she nodded her head and said she understands. We were free to go. We all went back to Niko's car while he waited for the papers. It was SO hot in his car and it just started raining so we couldn't open the windows. For the first time Isaiah freaked out with loud screaming. I said before he does NOT like being hot and that is not an understatement. He was probably part dehydrated too as he had not been drinking good. After the appointment we went back to apartment and found a very small grocery store across the street. Got a few things for very simple meals and water. We had Yulia, our facilitator, call us a taxi to go to TGI Fridays to meet up with other adoption families for supper. After that we went to a bigger grocery store and then had Yulia call us another taxi.

THURSDAY.
We were picked up at 9:30am for our first US Embassy appointment. It is a very secure place. We had to go through security and leave all electronical stuff at the head office. We were wanded and scanned. Then we went out another door to get to the main door. Had a few papers to fill out but I had most of them done already. The room was full of people but didn't look like any adoptions. I was confused as to who they were. Must have been for Visa's or something. A taxi picked us up from Embassy and took us back to the shopping area where TGI Friday's is. I showed Austin the underground mall. I'm amazed at how this thing was built and how they got all the dirt out from underground...it seems to go on forever. We ate lunch there.

FRIDAY.
Today was another drizzly day but it doesn't stop anyone from doing what they need to do. About 3/4 of the people go without umbrella's. One nice thing about the rain and cooler weather is that girls are wearing more clothes. Happy that Austin's eyes were spared of the stuff Darrell and I saw. We were picked up at 1:40pm for our 2:00pm US Embassy appointment. We were in and out of there within 35 minutes WITH Isaiah's VISA...which was THE...LAST...THING in this country for his adoption. We are on schedule to leave at 6:45am from the airport in Kiev. Right down the street from our apartment is a restaurant called Mario's. It had an English menu. We ate lunch and supper there since it was so close and we had to walk in the light rain. Isaiah has had a bad day with the thumb and finger chewing that his whole chin and parts of his cheeks are red and chapped. He is NOT a happy camper right now because the sleeves of his pj's are covering his hands.

Some memories Austin and I will never forget...
*always make sure butter is in the grocery bag.
*never touch an interesting type of coffee mug in store.
*keep backpacks and bags from other stores in the locker in front of store.
*make sure you know direction you are walking if you want to save time.
*don't assume you can take pictures everywhere.
*if you need socks while in Ukraine make sure to bring enough of your own. While LITERALLY every other store is a shoe store there are no socks to be found.
*it doesn't matter if we don't know Russian/Ukrainian language or others don't know English when we want/need something because we both talk our own language and most times we succeed at what we want.


Please help pray us home tomorrow. The horrible turbulence on our last flight here has me a bit nervous. Also pray that Isaiah is able to sleep some. Our friends' little boy didn't sleep at all during their 22 hour travel day :( We should be arriving in Bismarck shortly before midnight. God has been SO gracious with the blessings He's given us on this whole adoption journey. My BIGGEST prayer request has always been to bring the whole Becker family together safely at the end of this part of the journey. I hope and pray this request comes to fruition.

~*~*~GOTCHA DAY~*~*~ Tuesday, Aug. 17th.

This was a day of many "lasts" and many "firsts"...a day of joy and happiness and also sadness...a day of freedom, hope and a future. If Isaiah only knew how big today actually was...how lucky and blessed he is...and NOT because he is getting OUR family but because he is getting A family. What we are doing I don't consider to be above and beyond the "call of duty" especially when I meet other families and witness what they are doing. While here we meet 3 families from Reece's Rainbow who all have big families. The one from South Dakota has 6 bio kids (all healthy and no Ds)...they adopted a child with Ds last year and are now in their final stages of bringing home another child with Ds and one with a different chromosomal anomaly...for a total of 9 children with their oldest being 13 years old. Another family has 9 bio's, including a 3 year old with Ds, and they are bringing home two more boys with Ds...making that a total of 11 children with their oldest being 19 years old. And a 3rd family we met has 8 bios, all healthy, and they are bringing home two boys with Ds making that 10 children. This family has friends who have children with Ds and they grew to love them and decided to follow God's calling. They are all so inspiring.

Back to Isaiah...we met a translator at the orphanage at 4pm. Austin and I were a little early but we went inside anyway. The nannies gave us some strange looks. I think they were looks of "are you really here to take Ilya already". There were no English speaking ones there at the time. I said we were there to take Isaiah home. I think we saw looks of sadness. One took Isaiah to the back room...bathroom...and brought him back with a clean diaper on. I took Isaiah and we got him dressed...in OUR clothes. It was SO hot in there and I wanted to leave. The translator said they want to feed him first...better for him and us...they said. One of our favorites took him and fed him. The next minutes were very hard and both Austin and I. We were fighting back tears watching the nanny feed Isaiah one last time...watching all 9 of the other kids in their pens, with no toys, all lined up watching us. I've read stories of orphans and how they talk about "when is MY day coming". That is exactly what we were thinking they were thinking. I asked the nanny who fed him if this was a "happy day" or "sad day". She quietly said "happy day" but translator also said they have known him in this groupa since he was two months old so they will also miss him but they are more happy because they know where he would go if no one adopted him...the mental institution where he would most likely not live very long.


Walking through the front door to orphanage and the door to Isaiah's groupa...one..last..time.


Isaiah being held by his nanny one last time.



Isaiah getting dressed by his new mommy for the FIRST time.




One last meal in orphanage.



Austin and I were "arguing" over who got to carry him through the doors. Austin won and he was even the one who took Isaiah from the nannies arms. It felt like a dream. Isaiah even seemed a bit sad while this was all going on...not smiling at all. I wonder how long he will have the memories of the only "family" he knew up until that day.




Out the front door...and never to return...ever. 147 million orphans minus one.


Moms gets a turn, after all I told Austin I kind of deserve a little bit of it after all the tears, all the convincing, all the prayers, all the waiting, all the paperwork, all the redo's of paperwork, all the more tears, all the heartache, and all the "labor pains" that I went through...and oh, was it ever so sweet.


Calling dad on the phone telling him we are about to leave the orphanage gates.


We walked back to our apartment...finished packing...ate supper...said goodbye to our landlady and her daughter...and off in the taxi to go to the train station.



It is SO hot in the train while we are waiting for it to take off. We always take first class which has air conditioning but it doesn't kick in until about 5-10 minutes into the ride. Isaiah was getting really cranky. He is just like his mama...does NOT like being hot. Here he is HAPPY once it started cooling down.

Isaiah slept very well on the train. Austin slept with him part of the night. I didn't get much sleep because I wanted Isaiah to be comfortable so I had just small parts of the bed to fit into. It was worth him getting a good nights sleep. He woke up very happy.



I will update about the rest of our Tuesday and also Wednesday another time. Those who blog and upload pictures know how longs this takes. I gotta hit the pillow.

We arrived in Nikolaev...once again.

Our flights started at 3:10pm from Bismarck...then to Chicago leaving at 8:50pm. We arrived in Munich at 12:15pm Sunday...aaaaaaand...we made the flight to Kiev as did our luggage!! We prayed before every flight mainly for safety but then also for God's will that he would allow us to use our time the best way possible but we were asking that if it was possible to let us have more time with the orphans vs. sitting in a hotel in another city doing nothing. Our luggage was some of the last to come through and we were trying not to get disappointed. We were also VERY thankful at this time that we even made it to Kiev. We experienced THE WORST turbulence I even had on that flight. We had just been given a meal and I was half done when the HORRIBLE turbulence started that I almost needed that handy dandy puke bag. Oh it was close....and it was so scary. I kept praying over and over to please not allow both Austin and I to go this way. Joey needs one of us. So 3 flights down...4 to go.

Our driver picked us up from airport and took us to train station to buy tickets and then we ate supper at McDonald's which was right beside train station. We had first class again but this time the train was older...and louder...and bumpier...and shakier. Austin slept good...me not so much...not because I was scared but rather all the noise and bumps. Overall it was good though...the air conditioning was great. We even complained a couple times...quietly to ourselves...that it was too cold. Then I remembered how I would be wishing for this air later in the week.

We got to Nikolaev at 6am. Sasha and her husband were there to meet us and take us to our apartment. I had the key from last time so we walked right in like I never left. That was so nice. At 8:15am they picked us up again to start our very long and busy day of paperwork. Sasha already started the process on Friday so she saved a lot of time. She is one very effiecient gal and does her job well. We got Isaiah's birth certificate...went to notary...closed his bank account and donated that money to the orphanage, which all adoptive families are really encouraged to do to help pay for repairs and supplies in the orphanage. There was also paperwork to finish at the orphanage and we also got his passport. This doesn't seem like much but it was...and it was hot...and there was a lot of waiting. But it was worth it...we are done and Sasha is able to go with the rest of her family on their 6 day vacation tomorrow. We also took a big suitcase full of donated clothes, shoes and toys to the orphanage. The clothes had to go to someone who keeps record of all donations. I asked if we could be allowed to give the kids the toys ourselves and they let us. It was such a treat to see how excited they all were.


These two papers are the adoption certificate and birth certificate.




Before one of our stops this morning we had to stop at the orphanage to talk to social worker so while Sasha did that she told us we have 10 minutes to see Isaiah. Austin had been asking ALL morning to go see him. His groupa was playing outside. The nanny saw us coming and she went to Isaiah and picked him up for us. Austin took him and just giggled and giggled. He was so happy and all smiles...Austin that is. Isaiah acted like he always knew him. When we left and drove by their play area the same nanny had picked Isaiah up again and was holding him. I think times like this are bittersweet for them. They cared for these kids all their lives and then one day they are gone. Fortunately for Isaiah he is going to live with a family...not all orphans with disabilities are so lucky. I'm sure it is more sweet than bitter for them though in this case vs. the child being sent to an institution.




Later in the day we went back for the evening visit and we stayed inside with the rest. Most of the kids have a heat rash and no one had this last time. Isaiah's one hand is all sore from him chewing and his chin is rashy too. It looked like they all had haircuts except Isaiah and I was SO happy. I was worried he would be a buzz while I was gone. Nannies kept coming to Isaiah and were talking Russian/Ukrainian. I wish I knew what they were saying. Then one would come get him and sing and dance around. I was crying inside for their happiness and sadness. It was so touching to witness the love they have for the kids.








I was even more touched by what Sasha told me and gave me. Isaiah's birth mom stopped by the orphanage to see Isaiah and me...to say goodbye...but I had already had left to go home. She said that was maybe best then. She had gifts for both Isaiah and Joey! I was shocked. It was 2 bears and 3 outfits, 2 socks and a pair of shoes. It broke my heart as a mother knowing how much she loved/loves this boy I feel she was forced to give up. Even Austin commented on how "she must really care". It does not seem real that I am now the mom to a child born to someone else...now especially to someone else who clearly loves her child. I still do believe he was meant to live with us and be part of our family though. I think it is all such a beautiful thing happening...for what we are getting...for what Isaiah is getting...and for what his birth mom is getting...which I hope is peace and comfort and healing and closure. I pray her and her husband are able to build a strong family as they have a new baby now. They split up sometime after Isaiah was given up.

Tuesday's plan is to go take the bus to the shopping place Darrell and I hung out at. (Don't worry Darrell I won't break the bank...but it could get tempting as I have an empty suitcase I "could" fill up.) We plan on eating lunch at a place Darrell and I planned on but we never made it work. We will then meet some other translator, a friend of Sasha's as she is leaving for vacation, at the orphanage for GOTCHA DAY! We will bring Isaiah to the apartment...pack up...eat supper...and then be picked up by taxi at 6:15pm to head to train station. We will get to Kiev around 6am and either go to hotel or apartment. Don't have that part figured out yet. We need 2 days to finish in Kiev. Isaiah will get a medical exam and then apply for visa.

I'm so pleased and so thankful for how trip #2 has been going. Thanks for all your prayers!!!