I am sorry we haven't written lately, but I am sure you understand how busy we've been! Words can't describe how amazing this past week has been. It's been an emotional roller coaster from first seeing Dima at the airport to my Uncle Dick passing away. The first 5 days of camp were very emotional as well. It's been unbelievable to see how most of these children act after being in an orphanage and not having a family. I will try to do a short version of how camp went.
The first day was a day for the children to get settled in. What was cool about this hosting camp was Lori and Russ Walk wanted the children to focus on just being here to experence camp and not that they may be adopted. We did not tell the children later whom they were staying with. That really allowed us to sit back and watch Dima and how he normally acts. We also were able to enjoy all the children during camp. My Mother in law and my parents were able to meet Dima for the first time this day, very special. It was hard for them to not go up and give him a BIG hug since he wouldn't understand yet.
The second day the children split up while the girls did scrapbooking and the boys went fishing. This day was very special as it was the first time Dusty really got a chance to interact with Dima.
The third day was a bonding day, but not by choice:) We went to DelGrosso's park for the day and Dima decided he wanted to get stitches! He and I were racing down the water slides and he decided to do a flip at the bottom of the slide! When I looked back at his smiling face, I looked in horror to see blood was running down his face. After everyone made a fuss over him, we talked him into seeing our great friend, Dr. Reinhardt. He was awesome with Dima who was being very brave! Through the interpretor, she was explaining how boys are not to show affection after the age of 6 in the orphanage and they are not to cry as it's a sign of weakness. The doctor's visits are different over there and the children are not treated as nice. After the doctor visit, we were able to go back to the park. Dima forgot about the stitches as he wanted to ride the big rides!
The fourth day the girls went fishing and the boys did scrapbooking. This was a really cool day as some of Dusty's relatives that helped with the scrapbooking got to meet Dima. It was an amazing experience as the children do not get to see pictures of themselves. They were loving all the pictures of themselves and we actually ran out of time as they didn't want to stop. I know Dima is really proud of his book. This will be the only thing the children will get to keep for themselves when they go back to the orphanage. All the clothes they go back with will go to all the children so we are keeping Dima's clothes here for when he comes back. This also was the night that we told Dima that he was going to be staying at our house for the remainder of the time. He was so excited and asked if he was able to leave with us then and there!
The last day of camp we went to Raystown Lake. Dusty and I decided we couldn't wait any longer and wanted Dima to understand that we were going to adopt him. We were able to speak in detail with him about this through an interpreter and he was so excited! We explained that he has to go back and we will try our hardest to get him back home as fast as we can. We were able to find out a little more of his past and that he's been in the orphanage since he was about 3 or 4 and that he doesn't remember his parents much as he was taken away because they were alcoholics. Later that night everyone said their goodbyes and went to there host homes. This evening was very touching as when we drove up to our house and we told Dima we were home, he wispered..."America".
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