Watching the progress

The boys had a not-horrible day at school yesterday which was a definite step up from some of the days this week. Today they were able to play a good portion of the day, although Dima had a bunch of homework to do as he has decided not to do his work at school. So he doesn't get to play at home until he finishes the work he opted not to do at school. And they're not things he can't do--he's just being a little rebel.

I was able to have a wonderful talk with a friend from church this morning one-on-one, just chatting over coffee. Mark had a base ball meeting and then he picked the boys and me up and we went to the park. The guys played base ball and the boys and I hung out at the playground. I am so amazed at how much Dima's gross motor skills have improved. Both boys can now swing independently, which neither of them could do when we came home (or even 6 months ago). Dima can jump (from about 5 feet up) and land without falling (Zhenya can't even do that yet! ;)). He loves to climb and run--he can climb on the monkey bars and flip his legs up. When we were at the playground last January (2007), Dima could not even hold himself up on the bars--he didn't have the grip strength. It's really amazing how far he has come in the past year.

And that progress makes me super excited to get the girls home and get them the therapy (and possible surgeries) that they need. I'm anxious to watch them grow and progress and develop in their own ways, and to get to celebrate their successes along with the boys'.

I will be heading down to Springfield, MO, tomorrow for my grandmother's funeral. We decided it would be best not to have the boys there, so Mark and the boys are staying home. It will be an interesting time since this will be the first time either of us have been away from the boys overnight.