I haven't blogged in quite awhile, so I figured I should give an update on how life is going here in the Springs!  Jeff has started school, and we don't get to see much of him except on weekends.  We always plan something fun for family time when Jeff is home.  I have been having meeting after meeting after meeting with my new job.  I have never heard of a teacher having to attend so many meetings.  A large amount of them are all before or after school, not to mention all the committees and teams I am on through out the day.  It is pretty exhausting, but I am of course very happy to have a job.  I am also blessed to have an administrator that was in special education, so I have someone nearby to go to for help.
The kids are doing well, and adjusting to their new school.  Leeza is making gains in everything, and I am happy that I made the choice to keep her in kindergarten this year. Zhenya is enjoying school, but I am concerned about his level of instruction at school.  From what I can tell, his work is entirely too difficult for him right now.  I have been pretty upset about it considering I know what kids are suppose to get when they are language learners.  Parent conferences are coming up, so I intend to continue my pursuit at getting the services he needs in order to be successful and make the gains he needs to make.  He is doing pretty good in math, but the requirement to read and understand 4th grade text is more than he can do right now. He can read some pretty long words, so I think it can be deceiving on his reading level.  He has an ESL teacher, and he sees her and her paraprofessional throughout the day.  However, I don't feel his regular teacher is making the appropriate modifications for him in reading and writing.  I have never been a big fan of inclusion for my SPED students and in the area of language arts I am not excited that they use inclusion for ESL students too.  I have been missing the educational services Zhenya was receiving in Tennessee.  I hope to get the situation taken care of right away.  Considering the number of committees I am on in our school system, I have met a number of people in positions to ensure we get what he needs. 
Leeza has had nose bleeds 3 days this week.  I think it is the dry air, but I am concerned about it. We are going to the doctor to make sure it is nothing else.  She is still not gained any weight.  Her little rib bones just stick out regardless of how much she eats.  We have had her checked for everything we can check.  Maybe she is just a naturally thin child.  Other than being too thin, she is perfectly healthy.  She hasn't even had a cold.  Zhenya had a fever for two days last week. Thankfully, my mother is working from home babysitting, so I didn't have to take off work.  He stayed home and in bed with Gigi.  Leeza was jealous, but Zhenya said it was boring.  
Today we took the kids to an event with the local FRUA chapter. FRUA is Friends of Russian and Ukrainian Adoption.  They had a good time, and I was excited to let me meet kids who were adopted from Eastern Europe. 
That's all for the update for now!   We appreciate any prayers sent our way.  Things are great, but also a challenge!