Merry Christmas

It is Christmas day and I have finally taken some time to sit down and post an update to this wonderful adventure!

I will just start with a few pieces of our story that we haven't reported yet.

First, the train ride from Donetsk to Kiev on the day we picked up Ethan from the orphanage was the most difficult and the most wonderful time of our lives. Ethan was scared to death and letting everyone in a 50 ft radius know it. He cried and screamed for the first 3 hours of our 12 hour train ride. Unfortunately, he was not comforted by us, which resulted in a lot of praying on our part! We had just pulled him away from the only home he had ever known and then we put him on this big scary train with us, the two people who until that day had only seen him a few hours each day and were merely cookie delivery people.

We discovered later that part of his frustration was that he had to use the bathroom and would not go in his pull-up nor would he go in the bathroom on the train. That train bathroom was disgusting! Even I was scared of that! After several screaming trips to the bathroom, we finally had success. Joe and Natasha worked together, holding Ethan above the toilet and Natasha just kept repeating pecit (Ethan's word for pee). After he finally relieved himself, he calmed down and fell asleep. It was after he was asleep when Joe and I realized...here was our child. Our chosen child, the one we have waited so long to hold. And he was with us, on our way home. We took this time to pray and cry and hold each other and just watch our sleeping son. It was truly an awesome experience.

After we arrived in Kiev, we had two great days with our son. We gave him a bath for the first time. We heard that in the orphanage they would give the kids showers. And that they would bathe 10 kids in 20 minutes. So, Ethan's first bath time was hilarious! He loved every minute of it and so did we.

We finally made it back to Indiana on the 15th and I can't even describe the feelings we had as we saw our parents at the airport waiting for us. It was such a joyous occasion, and we felt so proud to introduce our parents to our son!

The ride home from the airport was a bit rough. Ethan had never sat in a car seat before and didn't want to start on that day either. He screamed a lot, but Mamaw and Papaw and Grandma and Grandpa were there with snacks and drinks and toys to distract him. He's doing fine in a car seat now!

I have to tell everyone about this next part. When we arrived at our home, we brought Ethan into the house and I immediately noticed the smell of my home...I really missed that! The house was clean and child-proofed (thanks to Kari). And, I noticed that my house was decorated for Christmas, complete with a tree and presents for Ethan! The families in our Sunday School class had all bought gifts for Ethan that were here under our tree waiting for Ethan's arrival! That was so cool! But there is more!

After Ethan checked out the main level of our home, we went upstairs to show him his room and his machina bed. When we left home on Nov 19th, his room was blue and that is all. When we came home on Dec 15th, his room was blue, with his car bed - complete with sheets and comforter, a car and truck border, curtain, night light, pictures, and even letters that spelled out Ethan on the wall with little cars on them. Joe's mom started telling me who all had taken part in the preparation of Ethan's room. I was so overwhelmed, I couldn't hold back the tears. It was wonderful. His room is perfect.

And, there is more! Kari had arranged for families from church to deliver meals to us for the whole week!

We can't thank everyone enough for all that has taken place to help us bring our child home. We know that many prayers have been answered. We are greatful and are humbled by the love that was shown for Ethan even before we were home.

We have now been home for 10 days and Ethan is adjusting very well! Even better than we could have imagined. He is learning new English words everyday and we are communicating well with each other. He is truly a joy! And we are truly exhausted! But it is the best exhaustion we've ever felt. Ethan had a wonderful Christmas and already loves his extended family. In fact, today, when we were leaving the house, he was asking to go to "Yemma's and Yella's" house and we had just been there a few hours ago!

Enjoy the pictures and thank you all... for everything. Merry Christmas!