Merry Christmas!

Flower Girls!

I can’t even think how to describe the year 2014 and what it meant for the Luippold Family.  After over a year of hoping to adopt from first Russia and then Kazakhstan, we switched to a Ukraine Adoption Program in March and by July we were on a plane to Eastern Europe!  The first 6 months of the year are such a whirlwind. I took time off working to focus on the adoption and our family. However, somehow the time seemed to fill up more than ever!  The mountain of never ending adoption paperwork contributed to our busyness, as well as traveling to Virginia for Bard and the girls to be in his sister’s wedding, the girls and I dancing in a recital, and starting the summer off with theatre camp and swim lessons.

Meeting Max!

Then, Monday July 7^th I woke up and checked my email at 5am.  And promptly burst in to tears.  Our adoption dossier had been accepted by the Ukrainian government and they had given us an interview date for July 17^th, ten days away.  In fact, we were flying out July 14^th-in one week.  I promptly stopped crying-Bard and I had way too much work to do!  Somehow we packed up our house, the girls, and everything but the kitchen sink and boarded a plane to Kyiv, the capitol city of Ukraine.  There were lots of bumps, prayers, chocolate eating, and subway riding over the next 6 weeks.  But the most important moments were breathtaking and heart stopping.  Sitting in a tiny government office and seeing the picture of our son for the first time.  Waiting in a toy filled visitation room at a rural orphanage while the Director went and woke him from his nap.  Holding him for the first time and playing with him, as a family, during our daily orphanage visits. Sitting in court and hearing the judge grant our petition to adopt him.  And, after 6 weeks and 3 days of living in Ukraine-a memorable and absolutely incredible experience-boarding a plane to come home. Together.

Exploring Kyiv

Introducing Maxim Everett Bard Luippold, better known as Max, now and forever-part of our family!

Celebrating Ukrainian
Independence

We returned home on August 28^th, three days later Bard went back to work and the girls started piano lessons.  The next day they started school-first grade for Evelyn and preschool for Cecilia.  And the following week I returned to teaching dance and the girls started ballet and tap classes while Max started swim classes and a million doctor appointments.  We don’t do anything half way around here J

Overall the adjustment is going fairly well-for all of us.  There have been quite a few (million) moments of stress, exhaustion, frustration, and sadness.    But when I think back to where we were last year, and what a miracle it is that our lives changed so drastically in such a short period of time, it honestly shocks me.  Max has overcome a lot in just the three short months that we have been home-and he has a lot more in front of him.  Overall his health is good but he is delayed and very small for his age so we do therapy and feed him every other minute!  He has been checked and tested for a variety of issues and that will continue as we monitor his growth and health.  Next year will be informative and scary as he will likely need surgery for a congenital heart defect. And while it is easy to be fearful of such a big procedure, when I think of the prayers, support, and blessings that carried us through this year and allowed us to see the power of redemption played out in our personal lives, I have peace.

First Family Christmas Tree!

And that, dear friends and family, is what we wish you this holiday season and for the year 2015.  May you see Love in your lives, like never before.  May you have prayers answered and feel the breath of God all around you. And may you strive for something that is bigger than yourself and watch in humble joy as your dreams come true.