ZOYA

Zoya arrived home here in America on October 18, 1998. She was perfect on the trip home and enjoyed the plane ride.

When we came out of the gate at the airport, All my children, my father, and my boyfriend was there to greet us. Shayla and Sasha remembered Zoya right away and started talking to her. But by this time, Sasha and Shayla were speaking English so Zoya could not understand them. Zoya still did not let that stop her from telling them about her journey home.

She kept pointing to me and saying "My Momma" and then to them and saying "My momma". Shayla and Sasha just looked at her like she was nuts, But agreed.. I think at that time, all she knew was "My Momma".

While I was back in Ukraine to get Zoya. I had to put Sasha and Shayla in day care. I figured once I was home, they would want to stay home with me again. But they did not. They had loved the day care and the kids that they became friends with and I did not want to take that away from them. So they continued to go.

Within one week Zoya was crying that she wanted to go to day care too. So the following week she started day care. Even though she could not understand them and they could not understand her, it all worked out fine.

Now Zoya is speaking a lot of English and is doing great. The teachers from the day care say that she is ready for Kindergarten. She is a very smart girl.

Zoya's hobbies include:

Riding her bike

Riding rides at theme parks

Playing Dolls with Shayla

Riding her Barbie Jeep

And going to the park.

This child can swing really well. I was impressed by the way that she knew how to get on a swing and swing herself. She goes so high, she makes me nervous. But she seems to like it. And laughs when I get fidgety.

She also would rather play with the older boys Matthew & Brandon. She is a tough kid, and like to play tough. She can do anything that they can do. Including getting really dirty. But a lot of the times, she like to mellow out and play girly things with Shayla.

Zoya is a very good child when she is by herself. But when you get her around the other children, she get's really hyper. She is very loud when she speaks and she loves to scream. She also likes to play "boss".

Zoya's first holiday was Halloween . While Sasha and Shayla was affraid of Halloween, Zoya figured out by the second door what she was doing, and why she was doing it. CANDY! She loved it. She managed to stay up with the older kids and "trick or treated" all night long. She cried when it was time to stop. And said a bunch of things in Ukrainian..(???)

At Christmas time, Zoya was the first one to open all her presents. Even though all the kids had the same amount. She was first. We celebrated two Christmas' here. American Christmas, and then Ukrainian Christmas on January 7, 1999. And again, Zoya was the first one done.

Zoya is a great kid. She is funny, sweet and loving. She is the type of child that is easily pleased, and can get along with anyone. I know in my heart that I am one of the luckiest mothers out there. I was blessed with two of the most incredible biological boys, and then blessed with three of most wonderful children from Ukraine.

And then we are all blessed with a loving and understanding man. My boyfriend Jerry. Jerry is their daddy, and loves them just as much as I do.