Baby Steps

Yesterday with Mr. GQ was different than anything we had experienced thus far....good and bad. It started off good because we were playing with him and he was laughing and smiling. He greeted us both with a hug and a kiss when we got there...which was also good.

However, about half way through the visit the rest of the children in his group went outside and we stayed inside. This was fine until one of the boys from his group snuck inside with us. He came upstairs where we were and started saying things to GQ that we couldn't understand. All of a sudden GQ started crying and screaming. It was horrible. We couldn't understand what he was saying or what the other boy was saying but we gathered from the body language from everyone that the boy was claiming the caregivers sent him upstairs to get GQ and that we had to leave. GQ was screaming because the boy also told him that we didn't love him. After about 5 to 10 minutes of this one of the caregivers finally came upstairs looking for the other boy. She started yelling at the boy for saying those things to GQ and finally got GQ calmed back down. A little while after that it was actually time for us to leave and he threw another fit. He started collecting all of his things and putting them in my bag. It took us a minute but we finally figured out that he wanted to go with us and that is what the fit was about. We were able to communicate enough by hand signals with the caregiver that she was able to explain to him why he couldn't go with us yet and that we would be back tomorrow to see him. He calmed down after that and gave us a good-bye hug and kiss. He can be such a sweet boy.
Today with Blue Eyes was GREAT! He repeated every English word that we asked him to say and seemed to remember it. I keep telling Ben that he will be the translator for GQ when we get home. He seems to understand almost everything that we say. He usually answers our questions with Russian but they are always the correct answers...so we know he understands English, he is just not as comfortable saying it. We are totally ok with that because we know it takes baby steps. Blue Eyes started calling our names for our attention today. We heard a lot of mama and papa today. I love to hear him say mama with a smile on his face. It melts my heart because he has the most beautiful blue puppy dog eyes. He's gonna be my heartbreaker. He has a way with the ladies. We also won't have any trouble out of Blue Eyes in the eating department. He eats anything we give him.
Oksana was back with us today, so we were more optimistic about visiting GQ. He still acted out a little today but it was better because we knew what he was saying. Oksana asked him if something was bothering him and he answered yes but when she asked what it was he said nothing. We can tell he is torn inside but we have no way to help him. When she asked him if he was glad that mama and papa came to visit him he also said no. But she immediately asked him if we should leave and he said no. We can see his mind working like that but he will not allow us to help him yet. We're understanding but it also tears us up inside to see him hurting. I think it is harder on us than it is him. We were able to stay with him longer today than we have been able to before. We had plenty of time for snacks and playing. He ate a lot today compared to what he normally does. He had two bananas, two apples, yogurt, and a small bag of cheeze its. He typically only eats one of those things. We were also able to get him to say two English words today. He wanted the soccer ball from on top of the shelf and he couldn't reach. We made him say please before we would give it to him. He stomped his feet for a minute, refusing to say it but he finally gave in. A few minutes later, Oksana asked him what he would like us to bring for him tomorrow and he said bubbles. She asked him to say it in English and he did. A little later in the afternoon he used "please" again and this time it came quickly. He started playing a game with Left Brain for the yogurt. Left Brain asked him to say please and he did. As soon as Left Brain gave him the yogurt he would blurt out "not please" and giggle. Then Left Brain would take the yogurt back. Mr. GQ kept laughing and doing this over and over again. He got to where he was just laughing histerically. It was good to hear him laugh so much.
We ate at an authentic Ukrainian restuarant again tonight. They play Ukrainian folk music over the speakers. Let Brain laughs at the ridiculous music. I had dumplings filled with mashed potatoes. They were delicious. Left Brain ate chicken stuffed with peaches and he said it was very good but he couldn't taste peaches. He said it was more cheesy.
We are looking forward to our court date. It is officially next Monday at 2pm. It looks like we will be able to pick up the boys on Friday October 23rd! They will be ours from then on! YAY! It is looking like we will be home around Halloween or a few days before! Come on Halloween! I wish that I could close my eyes and wake up and it be the 31st. I know that time will fly because we are busy and it will be here before I know it.
We finally got the internet hooked up at the apartment where we are staying and Oksana brought her laptop back to Nikolaiv with her, so now we have internet whenever we want it and we don't have to go to a cafe. It's very nice.
We hope for a good day tomorrow and will update again tomorrow night....well, about 2 pm in the States. We hope everyone is well!