Second Week Home

We started to venture out of our temporary apartment a little more during Anna and Alexander Ruslan's second week home. Mom got really ambitious at the beginning of the week and took them to Mount Rushmore on Monday morning, knowing full well that the children would have a big afternoon with someone from the Early Intervention program coming over for a visit. But the children were up for everything that week, including going over to visit Miss Julie, the wife of Mikel's publisher, shopping, looking at Christmas trees, etc. Some highlights:

* Miss Bridgette from the Birth-to-3/Early Intervention program visits with the children at our place Monday afternoon. This program helps parents assess where their children are developmentally and offers solutions and referrals if "experts" are needed to help a child along in their development. Because Anna and Alexander Ruslan had spent so much time in a baby home/orphanage and had not received that individual attention so crucial in developing, we know they are behind in some areas. Bridgette brought her bag full of goodies to help her determine where the children are. They stacked blocks, imitated her in drawings and finding shapes and even kicked balls. Basically, the children seem to be pretty much on track with everything except their speech. Bridgette feels it is too early to get a true picture of their developmental capabilities, however, since at that time they hadn't even been home for two weeks. She wants to come back in January after they've been immersed in the English language and had time to learn. If at that time, they haven't sufficiently picked up enough words, then she will likely give us a referral for a language or speech therapist. I think they'll be just fine, as Anna is already saying quite a few words such as ear, nose, mouth, pee pee, poo poo, peeze (please), "nee" (her pronunciation of "nyet" -- as in "no, don't unplug lamp;" or "no, don't hit your brother;" or "no, don't play with your dirty diaper; that's nasty.") Bridgette also provided some great tips on how to use sign language with the children as a form of communication until they talk a lot, how to talk to them so that it is easier for them to learn langueage, as well as how to make time-outs effective, etc.

* Before the big Michigan-Ohio State football game Saturday afternoon, we took the children to the civic center plaza to see the Festival of Trees, a display of elaborately-decorated Christmas trees, and other holiday stuff.

* The Big Four look down on Anna and Alexander Ruslan. Fran found some bravery and decided to take the kids up to Mount Rushmore, just about a 25 minute drive from where we live, for the dedication ceremony of the new South Dakota state coin. The director of the U.S. Mint and Gov. Mike Rounds put on a big to-do in the outdoor ampitheater under the faces of Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt and Jackson. The kids also got a shiny free quarter!

* Even more bravery was needed to take the kids on a shopping excursion. Actually, we went to two stores in two days. This photo shows the easier day -- as you can see that with the right containment device anything is possible. The first store, a department store, offered carts but only one seat per cart (with the area to put your goods more of a canvas bag type deal); so Fran put the kids in two different carts and somehow managed to push them both around. A short visit, to say the least.

* It's papa time. Mikel spends time with the children in their room after work. Anna loves being read to and Alexander Ruslan likes being tickled.