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

WE WILL BE ON OUR LOCAL NEWS TONIGHT

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

WE WILL BE ON OUR LOCAL NEWS TONIGHT TALKING ABOUT AVA AND THE ADOPTION. THE NEWS HAS BEEN FOLLOWING OUR STORY SINCE OUR FUNDRAISERS.

CBS12.COM OR WFLX.COM PALM BEACHES.

PRAYERS FOR MY MOM

I have not told too many people that my Mother has been sick for about 6 months. She was having a hard time eating and the Dr's found a tumor in her esophagus. Last week her potassium levels were extremely low so they couldnt do any test. She is due to have a ultasound next week again depending on her tests. She may need chemo but we dont know yet. She is down to 80 lbs because she cant eat.
I am planning to go out to visit herin Dallas within the next month. Please pray for her.

AVA GOT HER EARSPIERCED

WELL LAST NIGHT DAN & I WENT TO HIS CHRISTMAS PARTY. MY REALLY GOOD FRIEND JENNA HAS BEEN WATCHING THE BOYS SINCE THEY WERE IN DIAPERS SO I FELT COMFORTABLE GOING FOR A LITTLE BIT. AVA GOES TO SLEEP AT 8 PM AND IS DOWN ALL NIGHT SO SHE DIDNT EVEN KNOW WE WERE GONE.

TODAY WE WENT TO THE MALL AND GOT AVA'S EARSPIERCED. SHE DID VERY WELL CRIED FOR A SECOND. THE STUDS ARE PINK, I WILL POST A PICTURE TOMORROW WHEN I GET A CHANCE. SHE IS DOWN FOR A NAP AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO A PLACE CALLED HOFFMANS'S CHOCOLATES WITH SOME FRIENDS, THEY DO A BIG LIGHT DISPLAY AT CHRISTMAS TIME AND WE GO EVERY YEAR, ITS OUR TRADITION. SORRY FOR SUCH A SHORT POST, I WILL POST MORE SOON.

NAP TIME FOR MOM

1 Week Home

What a week it has been. Ava has her check up at the Dr. She got two shots, and was fine but started to run a fever after, but we gave her motrin and she was fine. She sleeps well through the night from 8 pm - 8 am. I wish I could sleep like that.
Ava also got her blood work done last night. Since Dan works at the hospital I took her in and had one of our friends draw the blood, she did okay cried of course but thats expected, but after I picked her up she stopped crying.
We go on a walk every night with Ava and look at the christmas lights. I will post a picture of our home, we decorate a lot outside,
This weekend we will be taking Ava to get her ears pierced, and try to get picture with Santa. Dan bought her the most adorable velvet christmas dress. We will be trying to get some pictures this weekend so we can send out our Christmas cards (Late) and our Annoucements of Ava. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE ISRAEL FAMILY

5 days home

Hi Everyone.

Ava is good. She just doesnt like to be put down or left alone. She is growing like a weed. The boys are loving her, Zachary our youngest especially. He takes her on walks in the stroller in front of our house and he reads to her and plays. He cant stand to hear her cry. Today she wouldnt take a nap at all. She will be going to bed early tonight. We are all doing good. Just tired. I will post pictures.

Have a Great Day!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

3 Days Home.......

Hello Everyone!

Everyone here is the Israel house is doing very well. Ava is adjusting okay. She has now become scared of our Great Dane "Lady" I would be too. Lady comes up to her and just licks her and Ava screams.
Ava has a little bit of attachment issue, let me reitterate that a BIG Attachment issue. She wont go to anyone but me. She is getting better but if she see's me forget it. Its been a little rough cant get much done. I know its only been 3 days but its seems like weeks and months at times. Ava had a really rough day today didnt want to nap and cried. She has to be attachedto my hip or she cries. I cant even put her down to play. Dan is off tomorrow so that will make life a little easier until this weekend.

Thank you to everyone that commented about Candy our Dog. She will be missed a bunch!

I will post pictures tomorrow if I have a chance. I got the cutest pictures of Zachary and Allen feeding her and of Ava sitting watching TV in her brother Allen;s lap. TOOOOOO CUTE !

WE MADE IT HOME! GOOD AND BAD NEWS

I WILL START WITH THE GOOD NEWS. WE MADE IT HOME, AVA DID OKAY ON THE PLANE RIDES, SHE SLEPT FOUR HOURS ON THE FIRST TRIP AND THE SECOND PLANE SHE SLEPT THE WHOLE TRIP 1 HOUR AND 30 MINS. IT FEELS SO GOOD TO BE BACK. AVA DIDNT SLEEP WELL LAST NIGHT SO I JUST PUT HER DOWN FOR A NAP WE WILL SEE HOW THAT GOES HER MORNING NAP WAS A FIGHT.

THE BAD NEWS IS OUR OLDEST DOG CANDY IS 9 LOOKED EMASIATED WHEN WE GOT HOME SO DAN TOOK HER TO THE VET AND SHE HAD A TUMOR WHICH THAT IS WHY SHE WOULDNT EAT AND WAS LOOSING WEIGHT. SO WE HAD TO PUT HER DOWN TODAY. THE BOYS ARE AT SCHOOL AND WILL BE HOME IN A HOUR AND DAN AND I HAVE TO BREAK THE NEWS TO THEM THAT THEIR CANDY GIRL PASSED AWAY AND IS WITH GOD NOW. I KNOW THEY WILL BE DEVISTATED, WE GOT CANDY WHEN I WAS PREGNANT WITH ALLEN, WHEN SHE WAS 6 WEEKS OLD.
SORRY SUCH A SHORT POST BUT LIFE IS CRAZY RIGHT NOW. I WILL POST MORE SOON.

We were next to the Building as this happened today.

Russian News
Send to friend | Print version December 10, 2008, 19:29
Two killed in Moscow building collapse
Two men have been killed and a number are reported trapped under the rubble after the ceilings and walls of a six-storey apartment building collapsed in central Moscow.

The building on Starokonyushenny Pereulok, near Moscow’s Old Arbat, a popular tourist destination, collapsed at about 3 pm on Wednesday.

Emergency services say eight people have been pulled out from under the debris, and two have been taken to hospital.

One person has been confirmed dead and two others are believed trapped, said Yevgeny Bobylyov, a spokesman for the city’s emergency services.

Rescuers say the building was undergoing renovation, and no one was living there at the time of the collapse.

It was not immediately clear if the casualties were building workers.

Police say they will investigate whether building regulations were broken.

LAST DAY IN MOSCOW .......GOODBYE RUSSIA HELLO FLORIDA

WE ARE SO EXCITED TO BE GOING HOME. IT SEEMS THAT WE HAVE BEEN HERE FOR MONTHS. AVA IS REALLY DOING GOOD WITH DADDY NOW. SHE HAS WARMED UP TO HIM. AVA IS ALSO ANSWERING TO HER NAME. BECAUSE HER NAME WAS SO DIFFICULT TO PERNOUNCE THE ORPHANAGE CALLED HER ANNA.
TODAY WE WILL SAY GOODBYE TO SOME FRIENDS WE HAVE MET DURING OUR STAY IN MOSCOW. THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT HAS MADE THIS TRIP INCREIDABLE. UNCLE BRENT THAT HAS TAKEN OUR BOYS FOR THE 3 WEEKS DRIVING THEM TO NJ AND DRIVING THEM BACK(HE WILL NEED A VACATION WHEN WE GET HOME) ALSO TO MOM & BILL (DANS PARENTS) FOR TAKING THE BOYS FOR THE WEEK IN NJ, PAULA & BRIAN FOR WATCHING THE HOUSE, ALEX AND KARI, GWEN & JASON AND EVERYONE ELSE THAT HAS MADE THIS TRIP POSSIBLE BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU AVA WOULDN'T BE AN ISRAEL.

OUR FLIGHT LEAVES MOSCOW AROUND 110PM MOSCOW TIME AND ARRIVES IN ATLANTA GA AROUND 5 PM, THEN WE GO FROM ATL TO PBI AND ARRIVE AROUND 10PM.

WITH LOVE FROM RUSSIA
GOODBYE COLD RUSSIA HELLO WARM FLORIDA