Monday, July 30, 2012

1 Week Home Update

Things are going SO MUCH BETTER than we expected that they would be at this point!  All the kids are showing improvements in so many areas.

Keith is growing and such a doll!!!
The picture above with his head resting on his hand is how he sits and "talks"!
Below, you can see him cracking up!  He loves to laugh!


He even laughed while waiting for his 1st doctor's appt!
Big brother, Dayton, went along to make sure he was being spoiled correctly! 
(Can you tell how much they love each other already???)


Keith also love to fall asleep on me now!
That is great, because it means he knows he is safe and loved!
Julianne hasn't shown any jealousy at all yet, which has surprised me. 
She loves to look at him sleeping and stays close by if a visitor holds him!


 Aleshia is doing so well.
She is interacts more each day.  
This laugh was at Dayton, but she also loves to laugh when someone else gets scolded!
She is putting her feet on the floor when she is in the bouncer and can get pretty active in it.
She loves being in the middle of things and then enjoys some quiet time too!
 Anita is hillarious and doing great!
She loves to give kisses and can be so sweet.
She is exploring all the new things to be seen and done.
She is so much like Julianne in so many ways.
She can be pretty princess one minute and our little "sumo wrestler" the next!


Today I took her with me to pick up my glasses, to Walmart, and then to Sam's.
She got an ice cream at Sam's and was very pleased!
Isn't she beautiful?!


Nicholas is improving every single day!
He is willing to play in the family room now instead of just on his bed.
He loves to play outside.

He and Cody are very much the same size, 
even though Cody is only 5 and Nicholas is 9 year old.

Ahnja, well . . . She is on top of the world!  lol
She has a big attitude, but loves being a part of a family!
She loves to play!



She told Jose a whole bunch of stuff about him being on top of that trapeze bar!
I really wish I knew Bulgarian, because she is so animated!
She doesn't seem to mind that we don't know what she is saying though!
She keeps that beautiful smile!

 

So, as you can see, things are busy, but GREAT!!!!  The kids are all doing wonderful.  They are growing and changing each day.  I predict Keith will be crawling in no time!  Aleshia, I think will be chewing food before we know it.  Anita, says "Mama" already when she wants me and who knows she may speak more English by a month home than she did Bulgarian at 7 years!  Nicholas is changing so amazingly with less stemming and more interaction that is appropriate.  He is doing much better with realizing that food isn't a "survival of the fittest" thing here and being calm during mealtimes.  By a month home, I think he'll be able to go to a fast food place and not be noticed maybe!  Ahnja is doing awesome and I suspect that by a month home, she will be communicating much more English and we'll be knowing much more Bulgarian too!

God is amazing and we are so blessed!!


Tuesday, July 24, 2012

We are Home!

We arrived at our last airport very late Sunday night and it was after midnight making it Monday morning arriving home!  The girls got very excited at all the toys so we stayed up until about 3:30 am before they went to bed.  The trip home was just covered with God's miraculous provision thanks to all the prayers.  I can't wait to tell you all about it, but that will have to wait.  Time for a few pictures from home!

Ok, these will be from their first night home - AKA before we went to bed.  I'll get to more later, but I need to catch a little sleep before the opportunity gets away.  lol

Ahnja was so excited once we got home!

Nicholas passed out as soon as he sat down on the couch practically.

 Anita was tickled beyond words!!

Aleshia was sleepy but so cuddly!

Dayton snatched up Keith and has been watching over him ever since!

 And eventually (about 3:30 am) every child was in their bed
and sound asleep
for the very first time!!!

Next chance that I get I will update you on more of the trip and how the first whole day went!
Thanks so much for the prayers, well wishes, support, and for following this journey. 
Now that they are home a whole new journey has begun!
God is so amazingly good!!!


Wednesday, July 18, 2012

And then there were 5 - Nicholas's Gotcha Day!

Guest post by Catherine - Hurry Home Amanda, we need you back blogging about your amazing family!

18th July 2012 and Nicholas's Gotcha Day!



Nicholas Cole Unroe, orphan no more

Gotcha Nicholas!

and here are the famous 5 on tour with Mom Amanda and Doug



Aleshia relaxing



Keith sleeping



Sisters, sisters.....



Never were there such devoted sisters!!

Amanda has lots of video clips to show you but thats for another post!

In the meantime our love and hugs to you all

Godspeed for a safe trip home and we can't wait to see you all together with Brent and the other children, together at last

Catherine, Vince & Nathan  xxxx



Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Grown in my Heart

Guest post by Catherine with more rushes of Anita & Anhnja's gotcha day this time.


Not flesh of my flesh, nor one of my bone, yet still miraculously my own, never forget for a single minute, you didn't grow under my heart but in it

 

Ahnja and Anita Orphans no more!!!

 
Gotcha Anita!






























Gotcha Ahnja!

Her first ice cream ever.....




Anita loves ice cream too!


And those sweet girls already love their new brother and sisters


The Unroe family has nearly all their new members....





Nicholas, we didn't forget you Darling.  Your Mommy is on her way precious boy!




Not long before you will all be together and on your way home to your Daddy and the rest of your new family.

And talking of rush - thats what I have to do now or I will be soooo late for work

Love, hugs and prays to you all,

Catherine, Vince & Nathan xxx









Monday, July 16, 2012

17th July is Ahnja & Anita's Gotcha day


Another guest post from Catherine with the pictures you have been waiting for

Aleshia and Keith are orphans no more!

Amanda is having trouble getting pictures through but did manage to get some to Brent.  So for any that didn't see them on Facebook here are the rushes of Aleshia & Keiths Gotcha Day.....



Aleshia meets Mommy for the first time and soon they are off to start the journey to collect little Keith.

I keep coming back to this picture Amanda, you look so happy.  Its been said before but it was always in God's plan that you would be together, you were literally made for each other.




This amazing picture of Keith & Amanda brought tears to my eyes.  Precious, priceless, what an amazing smile as Keith reaches out to touch Mommy's face. 





Then its off together to sort out the passport photos (or maybe Visa's)? See how the children are leaning into their Mommy?  They have no idea yet about family but they are sure going to find out soon!


And in Brent's words.....'Hey, Aleshia, guess what! We're free!!'
They already look so comfortable in each others company!

And today, 17th July, they get to meet 2 of their sisters.....hang on Anita and Ahnja, Mommy is only a few steps away from you.......today is your special day.......





Today is the day you meet Mommy, Aleshia & Keith.  today is the day you start to learn what its like to be loved and cherished, nurtured and held, to be part of a living breathing praying and praising family.

God is good, we cannot wait to see the pictures as Mommy springs you out...Godspeed Amanda, as ever you carry our love and our prayers with you.  Love and hugs too for Brent and the rest of the children eagerly awaiting news at home.

Catherine, Vince & Nathan xxxx 

ps, Amanda will update you in much more detail when she gets an internet connection!

Sunday, July 15, 2012

16th July is Aleshia & Keith's Gotcha Day

Catherine here, yet another interloper, sorry, guest blogger!

Its already 16th July here in the UK and in Bulgaria and that means its Aleshia & Keith's Gotcha Day

This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!

Time to spring them out Amanda!

First Aleshia........


and then Keith...........


No longer orphans but Unroes - can't wait to see you both in the arms of your Mommy & Daddy!

Amanda, give those sweet babes a kiss from me, Vince & Nathan

hugs & prayers

Catherine x