Home Sweet Home!

Okay...so I know I said I probably wouldn't get to post today, but I am completely addicted to the internet.  LOL!

The kids were great on the airplane!  It was such a long flight with changes to three airplanes, but they were troopers.  Leeza had a minor meltdown on the Paris to Atlanta flight when she fell asleep on me and I moved.  It woke her up and she wouldn't go back to sleep even though she was so so tired.  She is a silent crier..which is completely pitiful and heartbreaking and I hated it that I couldn't comfort her.  Only her papa would do...so I switched seats with Jeff and she cuddled him with a big smile while waving at me across the aisle.  Then promptly fell asleep in his arms.  Zhenya stayed awake most of the flight.  He slept maybe an hour and a half when Jeff was holding Leeza.  Jeff and I did not sleep at all for over 24 hours.  We got to bed about 2am Central time...and wouldn't you know it...I woke up at 6am and could not go back to sleep!!!

When we were in our layover in Atlanta, I was on the phone with my mother when I saw my assistant principal, Pam, standing in the waiting area for the Nashville flight!  She had attended a conference and was on the same flight back home that we were on!  I was so surprised.  I teased and said she came all the way to Atlanta to meet us at the airport.  So she was the first one to meet our children!  When we finally got home, my fabulous Ed Assistant, Kasey and her boyfriend Josh were waiting with a sign, gifts, and balloons for the kids.  It was great to see her.  Glad I was missed!! I think she is as excited about my kids as Jeff and me. Then we went down the escalator where my mother was waiting with our friend Ryan (he rode with her to airport to pick us up) and Amanda, our home study social worker.  I was so happy to finally be home that I had a hard time holding back the tears especially when I got to hug my mama!!  Zhenya and Leeza took it all in stride even though they probably were a bit overwhelmed.  I was happy that they were still just as excited to be in America about traveling for 20 hours as they were before we left Kiev.   Leeza and Zhenya warmed up to my mom right away.  I am glad we got to skype Mom a couple times while we were in Ukraine. I think it helped them to feel comfortable with her right away.  Leeza is already running to her for hugs and kisses....which of course thrills my mother!

They were so happy with their bedrooms and their new toys.  When it was time for bed..Leeza cried a little bit when she found out she was not sleeping in the same room with Zhenya.  I stayed in the room with her until she fell asleep.  Zhenya went right to bed and sleep right away.  My mom spent the night in case the kids woke up early, so Jeff and I could sleep.  She found Leeza in Zhenya's bed this morning!! I guess when she woke up this morning, she didn't know what to do so she got in his bed. He was completely zonked out so he had no idea.  Mom got her up and took her to the bathroom.  I happened to wake up and called her in to our room to cuddle.  She is a great morning cuddler!  She loved getting on our big bed too.  Zhenya sleep until about 8:30 and has been going since.  He should sleep good tonight.  I am still completely exhausted even though I took a nap.  Leeza took one too but was not happy about it. Guess she thought she was missing out on something. 
We will hopefully crash early tonight after bathtime.   Our home will never be the same...it is completely full of life and NOISE!  But we love it!