We are HOME!!!!

And so glad to be here!
I have a lot to update on.... but one piece of business, Galya, we don't have your email address and would like to email you... if you can please email us at k.zickel@insightbb.com! Thanks... and do you happen to know what "tooka" or "tuka" or "tukya" might be, he says it all the time, and seems to be happy to say it but we don't have a clue what it is!

So, since I last updated here is a very quick run down

On Monday we travelled back to Preluky.
On Tuesday we went to Eli's birth city and got his birth certificate switched with us listed as the parents, then we headed to Cherniv to do something- not sure what and back to Preluky to get Eli from the orphanage, it took a while but by around 4 pm we had him in the car and were out of there for good... we headed back to Kiev and spent our first night together- just Kenny, Eli and me.
On Wednesday- Galya had to head back to Cherniv to get the passport so we spent the entire day with Eli... we played, went shopping to buy him some underwear and took him to McDonalds where he ate his first Happy Meal- and it sure did make him Happy- he ate every last bit of it in no time flat!
On Thursday it was off to the medical exam- where he did excellent with the doctor, totally cooperating and answering all of his questions, he had gained 2 pounds since we had been to the doctor about 2 weeks before! Then off to the US Embassy to get his Visa... we had a few hours to spare before we headed back to the Embassy to find out the great news that his Visa was ready so we were free to fly home on Friday.
On Friday we started a very long trip... it was so sad to leave Galya--- she was so amazing, I couldn't fight back the tears... I admit, I was completely scared to get on that plane with that guy without her there... and then when we got on it Eli totally lost it, he was going crazy... the gentleman next to me asked if it was his first time flying, I explained it was, and it was complicated by the fact that we had no idea what he was saying... well what do you know but this guy spoke fluent Ukrainian and English and was AMAZING with kids... he was able to help us calm down Eli... a TRUE blessing! The next two flights he was fine, well if you call standing up telling everyone HI and waving fine! Kenny and I decided we were going to try to keep him up and get him nearer to US time... and it sort of worked! he is pretty adjusted already to the time... so, we landed in Louisville right around 10pm on Friday and were greeted by a small group of family... we pretty much ran to the gate to see Jake... and the tears were flowing from all of us... (OH- and Jake's hair was cut SHORT--- but he looks so handsome!) Eli was a little timid.... he said hi to Jake but really wanted either Kenny or I to hold him... then we went to the house where they had Papa Johns Pizza waiting for us!!! YUM a true taste of America! Eli was checking everything out but still not talking much, then, he was sitting at the table, just him and Pop (that is my dad) eating his pizza, and Eli bent over to his side, popped back up and said cookoo, which is basically Ukrainian for peeakaboo! it was precious, after that he was Mr Talkative.

So--- we have been home now for 3 days and the little guy is transitioning very well... in the first few days here he has been to 2 baseball games, 1 softball game, a cookout, eaten at Wendy's, been to a Father's Day Brunch, ridden his bike and fallen down the steps. He is sleeping pretty well at night, but isn't much for naps during the day. He is a superstar at the ballpark, first of all he is the Red Sox (Jake's team) good luck charm, they won the last 2 games he has been at and are now in the Championship game... he loves to talk to people, say "hi", wave, throw the ball, play on the playground and is so happy when we are up there!

Not that it has been all great, he is super active, keeping us running at all times, we have had a few communication problems, but he seems to be learning more each day... today he went to the kitchen, moved a chair to the sink, climbed up, got out the cup he had been using earlier, walked over to me and said "WATER" can you believe it!!! I about flipped out... after 2 days! He seems to be understanding some of what we are saying to him... we are making it work some how!

I will post more in the next few days... trying to get back in the swing of things, but mainly focusing on trying to love on this little guy as much as we can and make sure that he knows that he is not going anywhere and like it or not he is stuck with us forever!

Kenny and I want to thank everyone for all of your support... all of your comments on this blog has meant so much to us... I want to keep it going for a while to keep documenting Eli's progress! Hope you continue to stop by and see what we are up to :)

All our Love, Kenny, Shannon, Jake and Eli!