Worn out and ready to be home!

I wanted to post a short blog on today's events. We pack up and head out early tomorrow, fly to Houston, and drive to Dallas, so tomorrow will be a big day.

We began our day with a visit to the US Embassy to finalize all we need for Nikita to travel and for his US Citizenship.  They also informed us that when he is between the ages of 18 and 28, he should avoid any trips to Russia or he could be forced to serve in the Russian army. Good to know. We will tell him to avoid Russia if he backpacks around Europe in college.  On a positive note, dramamine seemed to keep Nikita from getting carsick and I'm hoping that will save us on the airplane tomorrow too. 

After the Embassy visit, Brent left with our translator to head to a government office and bank.  This entire adoption has been full of suprises (most of the stressful nature), but when we got Nikita, we found out he had a bank account with some money it it and we were able to collect that money while we were here. Apparently, this is very rare (it was a governement stipend for his needs after he graduated from the orphange as an adult and they don't normally release it to adoptive parents).  We view this as an extra little blessing from God. 

Brent being gone until 7pm dealing with that left me alone for the first time with 3 kids! Very tiring! Nikita is starting to "test" us some.  I think most can be attributed to language barriers, but I have to be firm on certain things (ie, running through the parking lot not holding my hand or refusing to wear a hat in 30 degree weather or refusing to stay in bed). But, I think we made some headway and Maddie and Dylan continued to be AMAZING with all of it. Even the adoption agency interpreter commented that she could not believe how loving Maddie and Dylan are.  We are so blessed. 

I anticipate that it will feel a bit like having a newborn for awhile as we adjust and figure out new routines and how to connect and communicate with Nikita.  We appreciate prayers with this.  Its going to be different than the struggles we had with Maddie and Dylan at age three, and we are going to have to learn the best ways to parent him.  I am trusting God to guide us through this... He has brought us so far and know he will help us moving forward.

Here are a couple of pics from today! Thanks for the love, prayer, and support! Please keep it coming as we begin the next phase of being a family when we come home tomorrow!