I lost the fight!

Kremenchuk is still in a cold spell with the sun shining bright.

Monday's big events were the following:

Janine started to give both Martha and I hugs. We did have to put her arms around us but she would lay her head to rest on our shoulders. During the morning play session there was another family in the room with their child - not sure of the reason of why there were there but Janine would not leave my arms to play. She stuck to me like glue and watched their every moves. Once they left the room, she returned to normal and started playing with Nathan.

In the afternoon session, Nathan picked up some battle scars. He got involved in a hockey fight like they did in the NHL the other night with Janine and he got the worse of it. One sucker punch by Janine and he was out like a light.

The reality is that Nathan was getting out of the pool of balls and some how slipped, tripped or stumbled and went head first into the bench leaving a gash above his right eye. Instantly it bubbled like a balloon and I had to run outside to get some snow to control the swelling. The rest of the session (one hour) was spent with one kid covering his eye with snow wrapped in a pillow case (this is what we have been using for our picnic blanket) the other kid playing with the stuffed animal. Luckily no skin was broken and the swelling stopped. I can just imagine me calling for an ambulance like I called for a fire truck two years ago when our instant hot water heater caught fire in our apartment -  although the there was a hospital just next to the baby house but I not sure what type.

Tueday's big events were:

Nathan right back at his nonsense like nothing happened the night before - they seem to forget quickly don't they. Janine right behind him every step of the way. And I mean every step of the way as she took her first steps with no assistance - 4 of them in a row. And we didn't even have to bate her with food. She stood and balanced herself for a while and Martha asked her to walk with her arms way open motioning her to "come to mama". She then took a step and fell into Martha's arms. She was so proud that she wanted to try again. So up she went and she was down just as quick. She quickly crawled to Martha and wanted to try again. This went on for about 1/2 hour and she then made two steps, then three steps, and finally four steps when she finally had enough.

As some of you know, Nathan was adopted from Lviv in 2008. When planing this mission, we said that if we had the opportunity, we would return back to Lviv to visit his baby house, his caregivers and his Church parents if they were available. So after some help from Misha and Natasha, we will be riding the train tomorrow to Lviv and return back to Kremenchuk on Sunday. Janine will not be making the trip with us but will be in good hands with her caregivers.

Pictures to come later.