DECEMBER 3RD GOTCHA DAY

1 YEAR SINCE WE GOT AVA FROM ORPHANAGE

It been 1 year since we were in Russia

Its hard to believe that its been 1 year since we were in Moscow Our Family is complete.
Our Gotcha day is Dec 3rd....

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AVA MCKENZIE

WELL THE TIME HAS COME AVA'S 2ND BIRTHDAY IS HERE. TOMORROW OCTOBER 3OTH SHE WILL TURN TWO YEARS OLD. TIMES FLIES WHEN YOUR HAVING FUN! WE WILL BE HAVING A PARTY ON SATURDAY (HALLOWEEN).

ALLEN & ZACHARY'S BIRTHDAY IS NEXT MONTH ALLEN WILL BE 10 ON VETERAN'S DAY (NOV 11TH)AND ZACHARY WILL BE 8 ON (THANKSGIVING NOV 26TH) BUSY MONTHS AHEAD.

FOOTBALL SEASON HAS STARTED

New Start

It's august and the Kids are back to school. Ava of course home with me. Dan lost his job in July and thank God he just got another one. Its been a little stressful around here the past month but its getting better.

Ava will be 2 soon cant believe how time goes so fast. It will be 1 year we met her next month.
Things are great.

Ava on CHI Website page check it out

I didnt realize Ava was on CHI website. Below is the link

July 2009

Hi Everyone! Its been a long time since I have updated our blog.
Let's see where do I start.....
Ava is just Great! I cant believe Sept will be one year since we first met her. Then her 2nd Birthday is Oct 30th. It's amazing how time fly's. Allen is good he will be starting 4 th grade next month, he is becoming an independent little man he will be 10 in November. Zachary will be starting 2nd grade next month and turns 8 in November ( Busy Month).
Dan is good, unfortunatly he in jobless right now but we are praying he will get a job soon.
Me I am studying for State Boards for Financial Services.( Insirance Annuity's, etc) I am trying to cut down my hair clients because my shoulder has been hurting and I will need surgery soon.
All is all we a hanging in there.

Back from Dallas

Ava and I went to Dallas Texas to see my mother whom has been ill with cancer. She had a tumor removed May 21st but is doing okay. Angel met me there My sister from California. I saw my Brother Chris, my other sisters Kim & Kelly too. It was a good visit. Here are some pictures of our trip.

END OF MAY ALREADY......WHERE DID THE TIME GO

Well it's the last weekend in May and a busy one at that.
My mom is doing very well, her surgury to remove the tumor in her esophogus went great and she will be released tomorrow after spending a week in the hospital.
Tues Ava and I will be heading to Dallas/FT. WORTH, TX to see her, she has not seen Ava yet do to the Cancer.
The boys last day of school is Wed June 3rd. Allen passed the FCAT and will be moving on to the 4th grade, Zachary is well and moving to 2nd Grade.
Ava is growing so fast I cant even explain how tall she has gotten.
Needless to say she likes to eat.
Yesterday I took the boys and Ava to the Library that was an experiece. She doesnt know how not to yell and scream like her brothers. She threw a tantrum ,I was so embarrassed. Hello Terrible two's.

Ava from 1 year- Now 18 motnhs

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

RENEWAL PICTURES

FINALLY I AM GETTING A CHANCE TO POST SOME OF OUR RENEWAL PICTURES. IT WAS WONERFUL DAN FOR ALL OF US AS A FAMILY AND TO HAVE FRIENDS HERE WAS GREAT! THE DAY AFTER WAS EASTER WE LEFT TO NJ BECAUSE UNFORTUANTLY DAN'S STEP FATHER PASSES AWAY EASTER SUNDAY. HE NEVER GOT THE CHANCE TO MEET AVA WHICH I WAS REALLY UPSET ABOUT.
THINGS ARE GOING BETTER NOW. DAN'S MOM IS DOING EXCEPTIONAL WELL. WE BOUGHT HER A WEBCAM WHILE WE WERE IN NJ SO WE CAN TALK THROUGH SKYPE VIDEO FREE EVERYNIGHT. ITS VERY COOL.
AVA IS WELL SHE IS 1 1/2 NOW GROWING SOOOO FAST I THINK SHE WILL BE TALL. WE JUST FINISHED HER FIRST POST PLACEMENT, ONLY 3 MORE TO GO 12,24, 36 MONTHS HOME.
WELL THATS ALL FOR NOW.

Spring Time

Hi Everyone. Hope everyone is well.
Dan & I are good. We renewed our vows last Saturday the 11th. It turned out so nice. Dan & I wrote our own vows and as Dan was reading his vows he pulled out a black box with another wedding band with all diamonds I was shocked. Dan got on his knee again it was so romantic. One of our friends did the pictures which he does on the side so I am hoping to get them soon.

Dan & I had to go to NJ this past week too. We left Easter Sunday (night) His Step Father Bill passed away Easter Morning. We were hoping that he would hang on to meet Ava but unfortunalty that was not God's plan. He is in a better place now and not in pain RIP WILLIAM ACKERMAN. WE MISS YOU. Dan's mom saw Ava for the first time and it was such a joy for her.
Dan & I will return this Thurdays to NJ until Sunday. We are hoping to get together with Stephanie & Dennis which we met back in Moscow and they adopted a girl named Cassidy. I will update with photo's of the wedding once I receive them. Dan & I will also have them posted on Facebook.

Best Wishes

Hello Everyone

I know I have not been good with updating our blog. Just so many things are going on in our lives its been a little hectic.

One thing I need from everyone is Prayer's. I havent really told too many people but my Father-In- Law was diagnosed with Lung Cancer a couple months ago and now it has spread and its not looking very good. Dan and I will be flying to Philadelphia in 21/2 weeks.

Also we are planning our 10 Year vow renewal which is next weekend. I have been busy trying to get everything ready and the boys had off this week for spring break.
Here is a picture from a wedding we went to last weekend.

Ava and her pigtails. Her hair has gotten so long in 3 months. Its seems like she has been home longer. Ava is doing well, we are getting ready for her 6 month post placement in April. Russia requires post placements at 6, 12 24 & 36 months. Another reason to spend more $$$$$$.

Allen & Zachary are really good too. They have spring break next week, which of course they are excited about. Allen took his FCAT testing this month. If you dont know what it is, its a test that they give to 3 rd- 8 th grade and this one test determines whether they go on to the next grade level, which I dont agree with. We wont find out until May how he did.
Zachary is great he is excited he made Honor Roll again. I am so proud of my boys doing so well in school.

Dan and I have only a couple weeks until we renew our vows. Busy... Busy... Busy...f
I will post pictures. Ava and my dress are the same color.

BEST WISHES

Ava walking

It been a long time since I updated

Hi Everyone sorry its been so hectic here. With Allen being in the hospital with pneumomia, then I got it and Ava and Zachary. I am finally finding time to get things done.
Then blondie me decided to use my new slicer that I got and took off the tip of my right index finger. OUCH!!!! It is so gross. Dan took good care of me and got some stuff from the ER to fix it. He had to use a foam to stop the bleeding and unfortunatly there was nothing we could stitch back on. So needless to say it will take a long time to heal.

Ava is Great! She is running all over the place. She has learned to say Cat and Meow its cute if I ask her what a cat says she says Meow, and she has a little accent with it. She says Dog, Dad, Mom, and other things but dont know what.

Dan and I are planning our renewwal and it is coming up fast. I have 4 weeks. We are Paving the backyard and putting new sod in. I will have to take pictures before and after.

AVA IS OFFICALLY WALKING

WOW IT DIDNT TAKE LONG. SHE IS ON THE GO. SHE STARTED WALKING THURSDAY MORE AND NOW SHE IS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

ALL THREE KIDS HAVE THE SAME THING UNFORTUNATLY ALLEN GOT IT WORSE BECAUSE OF ASTHMA Mycoplasma pneumonia IS WHAT ITS CALLED. HE HAS MISSED ALL OF LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL AND NOT SO FAR THE LAST TWO DAYS. HE HAS BEEN SLEEPING SINCE 11 AM AND IT IS NOW 4 PM. I GUESS THE INFECTION IS REALLY TAKING IT'S TOLL.

AVA IS GOOD HER FEVER HAS SUBSIDED BUT SHE HAS A COUGH, & RUNNY NOSE
ZACHARY STARTED WITH HIGH FEVER LAST NIGHT AND NOW HAS A COUGH
AND ME I HAVE A COUGH. WE ARE ALL ON ANTIBIOTICS SINCE Mycoplasma pneumonia IS CONTAGIOUS. I CANT WAIT UNTIL WE ALL FEEL BETTER.
DAN IS GREAT HE HASNT GOTTEN IT YET !!!!! (YET IS THE KEY WORD)

Allen in the hospital

The last week Allen our oldest son had a fever, and cough. His fever broke on Thursday and we started him on anitbiotics but his cough has gotten worse.
Last night Dan & I went to his 10 year work banquet. We got home fairly early, but I had a little to much wine.
So this morning needless to say I was hurting alittle,
we were suppose to go to football but didnt make it instead we came to the hospital where Dan works and had Allen evalutated. He always get cough when the weather changes. Today he has a croupe cough but even with breathing treatments it wasnt subsiding. Poor Allen couldnt even get a breath in. So they did blood work and x ray. Allen's x-ray came back okay but his blood work showed signs of walking Pnemonia.
So Dan stayed with Allen from 11 am -5 pm while I took Zachary and Ava home then we switched. Now I'm at the hospital with Allen resting. He is doing better cough is calming down. I just hope he goes home tomorrow.

Best Wishes

April
PS Here is the picture from Last Night. It turned out good.

Ava is Walking..............

Well Yesterday Ava started to be more confident with her walking now she is all over the place. Today she is gotten even better with walking. She falls here and there but I think she will be walking and running in no time. Everything is good here. Dan and I are planning our renewal. Since we are getting married through our church this time we have to do Pre Marital couseling even though we have been married for 10 years, it doesnt hurt. I will post more soon.

Hi Everyone

Hope everyone is well. We are all good. Ava has started Speech therapy and will begin Physical therapy for fine motor skills tomorrow. She is growing so fast and really coming around. She has decided already to give me difficulty with eating, and has starting to decide what she likes and doesnt like. I have been having her watch baby einstein and she loves it.
Some days she will stand-up and try to take steps but then some days she just doesnt want to. She knows bye bye, hi. She says eyes, I ask her where her nose, eyes ears and hair are and she points, oh and mouth.
We are getting ready to do her post placement in April (ALREADY) Time is flying.

Dan and I have decided to renew our vows coming up in April. OUr 10 year anniversary is on the 10th but we dont know if we will have it that weekend or not. Of course its going to be kinda small, we are still trying to get our of debt from the adoption.

I will post more soon.

AVA AND FAMILY

HOPE EVERYONE IS WELL. WE ARE ALL GOOD. ALL OF US ARE GETTING OVER COLDS. WE HAVE HAD FOOTBALL NIGHT WITH THE BOYS. AVA JUST LOVES TO GO TO THE FIELD AND PLAY. SHE HAS STARTED A NEW THING TODAY. FROM THE CRAWLING POSITION SHE PUSHES HER LEGS UP STRAIGHT WITH HER HANDS ON THE GROUND AND GOES INTO STANDING POSITION. SHE HAS TRIED TO TAKE A COUPLE STEPS BUT SHE ISNT THERE YET. I SAY WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH SHE WILL BE OFF AND RUNNING.

TONIGHT WAS SO CUTE. DAN PULLED UP IN HIS TRUCK ( HIS TRUCK IS LOUD) WHEN EVER AVA HEARS A TRUCK SHE THINKS ITS DADDY AND STARTS WAVING AND GETTING EXCITED. WELL TONIGHT SHE HEARD HIS TRUCK AND I SAID DADDY'S HOME AND SHE DID THIS LOUD HURRAY SCREECH AND THREW HER BODY ON THE FLOOR AND DID THIS WHOLE SHOW OF HAPPINESS. THEN SHE GOT UP STOOD AND TOOK A COUPLE STEP TO DADDY. IT WAS PRECIOUS. ITS DAYS LIKE THIS WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TOO.
OH DID I TELL YOU SHE IS A DADDY'S GIRL NOW.

THINGS SHE LOVES TO EAT: PIZZA, FRENCH FRIES.
SHE TRIED COLD CEREAL TODAY AND LOVED IT.
WELL THAT IS ALL FOR NOW. ONE OTHER THING.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE PRAYERS. TODAY WE FOUND OUT DAN'S STEPFATHER BILL HAS STAGE 4 LUNG CANCER. WE WILL KNOW MORE TOMORROW WHEN HE GOES TO THE DR. WHAT WILL BE DONE.
MY MOTHER IS DOING WELL. SHE IS STILL DOING RADIATION AND CHEMO.

DAN SAID SOMETHING TO ME TONIGHT THAT HE HAS SAID MANY TIMES BEFORE AND I DIDNT WANT TO HEAR IT. HE SAID "WE ARE ALL DYING". IT REALLY SUNK IN THIS TIME. COMING FROM A PERSON THAT WORKS IN THE ER AND SEE'S PEOPLE PASSING ITS LIKE HE IS NUMB TO DEATH. I DONT KNOW IF I CAN BE SO NUMB.

“For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; ..”
I WISH EVERYONE A HEALTHY YEAR

Time is Flying........ Fast

I cant believe Ava will be home 2 months on the 11th of this month. Time has gone by so quickly. This past weekend my sister Kris, Angel and my nephew Matthew came to Fl to visit. It was such a short trip but Im glad I got to see them and they got to meet Ava.

Its been really cold here is Florida, not like Russia of course but close enough. We went down to the 20's and 30's last night, that is COLD for Florida.
I cant wait until it gets warmer.

Dan and I are talking about Renewing our Vows since our 10 year wedding Anniversary is on April 10th. We are trying to payoff debt first.

My mother is doing good, but we were told the other day that Dan's step father Bill has lung cancer. Now for those of you that dont know Dan's father passed away when Dan was a teenager of Lung Cancer due to Asbestos. Please pray for our families.

I KNOW I HAVE BEEN A BAD BLOGGER.....

SORRY FOR THE DELAY IN UPDATING OUR BLOG. LIFE HAS GOTTEN HECTIC WITH A NEW LITTLE ONE AT HOME. WHILE SHE NAPS I FIND MYSELF DOING LAUDRY AND CLEANING.

AVA IS REALLY GOOD. SHE HAS STOPPED EATING SO MUCH, I GUESS SHE FINALLY KNOWS THAT SHE CAN EAT THROUGHOUT THE DAY. SHE HAS GOTTEN A LITTLE ATTITUDE ABOUT HER JUICE, THATS ALL SHE SEEMS TO WANT AND WHEN I TAKE IT AWAY SHE HAS STRUCK ME HITTING ME, WELL I NIPPED THAT IS THE BUD REALLY FAST. SHE IS REALIZING WHO IS BOSS. SHE IS STILL REALLY ATTACHED TO MY HIP, I CANT SEEM TO GET MUCH DONE BECAUSE IF I LEAVE THE ROOM FOR A SECOND SHE SCREAMS. I HAVE PUT HER IS HER PLAY PEN WITH TOYS AND NEAR TV AND SHE STILL SCREAMS AND BOY OH BOY IT DOESNT STOP UNTIL I PICK HER UP.

AVA HAS STARTED TO TAKE A COUPLE STEPS BY HERSELF AND I BELIEVE SHE WILL START WALKING SOON MAYBE A MONTH UNTIL SHE FEELS COMFORTABLE WITH HER FOOTING, SHE STILL TRIPS OVER HERSELF BUT LOVES TO WALK WHILE HOLDING MY HAND.

WELL HERE ARE A COUPLE PICTURES FROM THIS PAST WEEK. SHE IS GROWING LIKE A WEED.

BEST OF LOVE FROM FLORIDA

Ava's Fever is getting better

So for the last 3 days Ava has run a high fever. This morning Ava woke and was good until after her nap she had 103.9 fever. We took her to the Doctors yesterday and we think it is a throat and ear infection so she is on anitbiotics. Right now she is doing better, but she is still wiped out. She is staying asleep through the night and I dont know if that is because she is so use from soothing herself in the orphanage.

My mom has had her fist dose of Chemo and is doing radiation everyday for the next couple months. Thank you for all your prayers it means allot to me. As I am close with my mom.


Lord please heal my Mother and anyothers who are in pain at this time.

6 WEEKS HOME.......ALREADY

WELL NEEDLESS TO SAY TIME GOES BY FAST. I CANT BELIEVE AVA HAS BEEN HOME 6 WEEKS. SHE IS DOING WELL. SHE HAS LEARNED HOW TO SAY "HI" SHE BLOWS KISSES GOODBYE AND CAN WAVE HI AND BYE. I HAVE BEEN SAYING THESE WORDS IN ENGLIGH AND RUSSIAN SO EITHER WAY SHE KNOWS WHAT WE ARE SAYING.
AVA WILL START SPEECH THERAPY AND THERAPY TO HELP HER WALK. THIS IS PAID FOR BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA IF INS DOESNT COVER IT WHICH IS AWESOME, THE PROGRAM IN FLORIDA IS CALLED EARLY STEPS. SHE WILL START THAT SOON.

THIS PAST WEEKEND DAN AND I WERE IN OUR FRIENDS WEDDING, DAN WAS THE BEST MAN AND I WAS A BRIDES MAID. WE HAD ALOT OF FUN. AVA STAYED HOME WITH UNCLE BRENT BECAUSE HER BEDTIME. AVA MET VICKI AND GREG WHICH THEY ADOPTED 3 FROM KEMEROVO.

AVA HAS STARTED A FEVER OF 102.00 TODAY THE FIRST TIME SINCE GETTING HOME. SHE IS STILL VERY HAPPY AND PLAYFUL. I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS.

ASLO MY MOTHER HAS STARTED HER CHEMO AND RADIATION TODAY PLEASE SAY PRAYERS FOR HER.

GO EAGLES !

AVA HAS LEARNED GO...............EAGLES!!!!!!!!!!!! SHE HAS BECOME A TRUE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES FAN.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

SORRY I HAVE BEEN A BAD BLOGGER THIS WEEK. AVA IS DOING GREAT! SHE HAS THE BEST LAUGH AND SMILE. EVERYONE STOPS US TO TELL US HOW CUTE SHE IS. WE ARE JUST IN AHHH RIGHT NOW.
AVA LIKES TO EAT. IF I DONT FEED HER FAST ENOUGH SHE HAS STARTED THIS NOISE LIKE A SCREAMING YELL UNTIL I FEED HER MORE. ITS FUNNY. SHE ALSO HAS A LITTLE ATTITUDE ALREADY. IF I TAKE HER CUP AWAY SHE TRIES TO GRAB IT BACK AND SMACKS MY HAND, I TELL HER NYET "NO" AND SHE CRIES.
AVA HAS STARTED TO STAND AND WILL TRY TO WALK AS LONG AS SOMEONE IS TOLDING HER HANDS. SHE RECIEVED A COUPLE PUSHING TOYS TO HELP HER WALK BUT SHE WONT ATTEMPT TO STAND WITH THEM SHE SITS AND WOULD RATHER CRAWL.
ALL HER TESTS CAME BACK PERFECT. SHE IS JUST PERFECT.

I NEED SOME PRAYERS FOR MY MOM, SHE HAS A TUMOR AND THEY WILL BE STARTING CHEMO AND RADIATION SOON, SHE HAS TO ALSO GET A FEEDING TUBE. I AM REALLY SADDENED BY THIS NEWS, BUT I KNOW THE LORD WILL TRY TO KEEP HER SAFE.

Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan