One month!

Amazingly enough, we have been home for a month. In some ways it seems like it has been longer than one month and then in other ways, it feels like less than one month.  I still stare in awe at these beautiful children God blessed us with everyday.  I love watching Leeza sleep..her long lashes on her cute cheeks.  I don't think I will ever tire of doing that.  I love watching Zhenya absorbing the language and trying to read everything he sees!! . 
Here are some of our accomplishment in the short/long month we have been home:
Zhenya knows all the letters/letter sounds in the alphabet.  He can count in English to 1000.  He reads to me almost daily.  He knows 80 percent of the sight words.  He can spell his first and last name correctly as well as write all the letters of the alphabet!  He is a great helper with his sister.  He has picked up numerous English words....too many for me to count!  He loves school.  Yesterday, he told me that he really loves America. 

Leeza has had three rotten teeth removed.  She can count to 6 without help and to 10 with a little bit of help.  She knows about 30 percent of her letters.  She put together an alphabet puzzle all by herself for the first time yesterday.  She can identify some of the letters in her name...still working on writing them.  She understand 70 percent of what we say to her in English.  She can climb up and down stairs and the jungle gym without any assistance or without tripping over her own feet.  She has stopped falling down when she walks, except when she has been spinning in a circle as she was just doing..LOL.  She fell flat just as I was writing this!!

They both are able to dress themselves, brush their teeth, feed themselves and take their plates to the kitchen without any help.  They are also now participating with GLEE in family chores. Leeza helped her papa put away dishes the other night and she was SOOO proud of herself. 

Tomorrow is a big day.  Leeza starts kindergarten!!!  She is currently in denial about it!!  If Zhenya or I mention school, she indicates that she is not going!!   She has never had any schooling, so I am eager to see how things go.  There are comments in her Ukrainian health records indicating mental defect.  We have been teaching her at home as much as possible, but she often won't try to hard for me as I have seen her try for other people or when I am not asking!  If there are cognitive issues, then we will deal with them.  However, it is difficult at this point to determine low intelligence or lack of development due to neglect.   From my observation (as a Special Education teacher)  I am leaning toward lack of instruction.  Either way,  she is our girl!  We love them both no matter what!!!

I will post pictures as soon as I can!