One month!

Wow- tomorrow is the one month date from when we came home with the boys. It's crazy to think back to those times....

- December 22nd- the day we picked them up from the adoption center in Vladimir. We took a direct flight from Houston into Moscow, but the weather was too bad in Moscow to land so we were re-routed to Copenhagen - which is a 2 hour flight from Moscow. It was bad enough having a 12 1/2 hour flight, but then we added another 2 hours plus an 8 hour layover then flew another 2 hours back to Moscow. 36 hours of travel - we ended up in Vladimir and were running around trying to finalize things for the boys- passports, paperwork, etc. We show up to adoption center in Vladimir and we're given the boys. We're asked to change them and get on the road for a 5 hour drive back to Moscow. It was crazy hectic! On the drive back to Moscow, the driver asked us to keep them seated... they don't use car seats. Thankfully Elmo on DVD saved the day to keep them occupied!
- December 23rd- we spent the night in our apartment in Moscow with the boys. First night... Mark and I slept on the pull out couch while Fin was in the crib and Maks was in the king size bed. Decent night sleep, from what I can remember. Now the fun begins... what do we feed them, what are they saying, what do we do with them? ;-). Limited resources, but we made it work! We went through all the toys and books we had to keep them busy in a matter of no time. Again, thank God for Elmo DVDs!!
- December 24th- Christmas Eve~! Fin managed to climb out of the crib that night. whew! This day- we actually had the entire day to ourselves, other than an early visit from the doctor in the apartment. We took the day to get to know each other! We even took them out to lunch at a close by crepes place.
- Friday, December 25th- Christmas Day!!! We fly home with the boys. Early trip to the airport for a 10:30AM flight from Moscow to Houston. Long flight, of course, but all in all- we can't complain. The last 3 hours were the only part we would have changed ;-). We arrive in Houston at 1:50PM on Christmas day. I remember thinking that it didn't feel like Christmas. So many people were around- travelling, working, and out and about. We made it through customs quickly, but then had about an hour wait in the immigration office while the boys were ok'ed on their green cards (we wait about 6 months before getting their actual citizenship). Off the the car we go. Both of them fell asleep in the shuttle to the parking lot which made it difficult for them to sleep on the way home. Whew! What a long trip! We also had to pick up Buster from friends' house on the way home too. Fin was scared to death of him at first... if only you could see him now. Fearless!

Things have come a LONG way in a month. Most of the other adoptive families tell us that by month 3 you feel great and everyone should be adjusted for the most part. These little guys are troopers for what they have done and accomplished in this short amount of time!! One month and counting.. for life ;-).