Kids Update

We did the bloodwork and chest x-ray on Friday night. We found a place that was open until 8PM. It went well. Chest x-ray - no problem. Bloodwork was a little different. Only a couple of tears but we felt awful for the kids - they had to take 9 vials of blood from each of them. The kids were troopers though. We have not gotten back the results yet.

Saturday we took the kids to their first football game. Keegan's high school team is still playing for the state championship so we went to the game as a family. John took a nap and Kristina tried to. All in all it was a great afternoon. In the evening we went to a Turkey Raffle at the Monee Fire Department with some of the nieces and nephews. Fun was had by all.

Kristina seems to really be enjoying school. We are still having a tough time with the lunches but when the school offers pizza, she is in heaven. We have found her favorite food!

So until later.........................

Our Kids

Our beautiful kids!

Keegan loves to be with them!

They love to be with him!

The best one of the bunch!
This is actually how they normally look together.
Smiles from ear to ear on all three of them.

Doctor Appointment

John had his first doctor appointment yesterday. Doc says he is in the 50 percentile for both height and weight. He said he looks great! Got a couple of scripts for some tests. Blood work to check 9 different things (Kristina got the same one) and for a chest x-ray (for his inactive TB). So Saturday morning we are off to lab for blood work and the hospital for a chest x-ray. Doc does not feel we will have any problems with the TB but he just wants to make sure. For anyone that does not know about TB tests, once the scratch test is positive, it will always be positive. So the only way to test for it in the future, is a chest x-ray. We will keep you posted on that. Next appointment is the dentist. So until later.................

New things!

Kristina started school on Friday! She loves it! Her teacher is very excited to have her in the class. The kids have welcomed her with open arms, so everything is going great! We just need to get her to eat her lunch. We think she is just a little overwhelmed by all the kids in the lunch room - there are at least 100 and she was used to maybe 30 in the dining room at the Children's Home at a time.


Social Security Cards - can't get them until we receive the "citizenship papers" on the kids.

MID Registration - getting ready to send off to our agency. This registers the kids with the Russian Consulate.

Appointments - John has a doctor appointment on Wednesday (First). We have to make an appointment for the dentist and another appointment for Kristina to get some cavities taken care of.

So everything at the Duda house is coming along wonderfully! Big brother loves it and loves the fact that the kids adore him!

So until later................

More Appointments......

Home at grandma's!

First bath at home! Our little butterfly!

First bath at home with our little dinosaur!

In Russia, our little animal lover!

Outside the little store near the Vlad Inn!

All appointments went well yesterday. The doctor said Kristina is a petite girl but her weight is good. He said she looked real good and that we did well. Blood work is scheduled for next week. The blood work will confirm that all is good and that all of the inoculation levels are where they need to be so she won't need any shots just yet. John's appointment is next week. After that we hung out at the house for a little while then off to the eye doctor. The eye doctor was a little challenging due to the language barrier but we got thru it okay. Her glasses were ordered and she appears to really like them so hopefully she will wear them all the time. She will still need to see an opthomologist but we can wait a little while for that appointment. Today Kristina goes to see the dentist. We are also going to go to the school and get her enrolled. Tomorrow is the social security office to obtain social security numbers. So many things to do, but this sure is a lot of fun!

So until later................................

Appointments, appointments, appointments

Today Kristina has to go to the doctor. The school will not register her until she has a physical. So today is the day. Then after that, she has an appointment with the eye doctor. Another Illinois State requirement for school. Tomorrow she sees the dentist. Another requirement for school. Kristina is really an easy going little girl so I do not for see any problems with any of the appointments, but I am prepared if there is. John will be going with us so I have to make sure I have stuff to keep him occupied. His appointments haven't started yet, but we have a little while because he will not be starting school until next year.

Yesterday was uneventful as far as it goes. We just went thru our normal routine and had a great day. I took the kids to my work yesterday again to get them acquainted. They had a blast playing with Kalie (the boss's granddaughter) and all is good. They seem to like it there - I have a cat there and they get to play with him. All my friends at work are great with them and they have all been on this journey with us from the beginning. They have all heard the rants, the tears, the fears and the rest. I am referring to the process, the wait, not the kids - they have been GREAT!

So until later................

Just another day as a Duda

Well things have been great around here with the exception of Kenny being sick. He finally went to the doctor on Monday and no swine flu just a respiratory thing. He actually is feeling better and went to work today - Tuesday.

So as far as pictures from the homecoming- nothing from the airport - I think there was too much excitement. As soon as I find the camera I will download pictures that have been taken.

Halloween was fun! The kids enjoyed it. Keegan took them trick or treating and they had a blast. John was a yellow transformer - but would not wear the mask. Kristina got to be Snow White (thanks to her Aunt Nancy that found it at another store). Sorry no pictures - both Kenny and I thought the other one took pictures.

The kids loved carving pumpkins and when I would say pumpkin in Russian they would say no "pumpkin".

On Sunday they explored the back yard with Keegan and a family friend, Kelly. They loved it. They jumped on the trampoline and played on the swing set. Again, great times had by all!

So until later........................