A lot of the focus has been on Daniel for the past 19 days.  I have to get used to not saying “girls” all the time.  Now it has to be “kids”.  I admit I have called Daniel “little girl” and “baby girl” a few times.  Anyway, Kathryn and Amelia are as cute as ever.  Here is a picture of Kathryn all ready for church, and Amelia all ready to stay at home with Daniel and me.  She loves to wear her boots, and has to put them on if anyone is leaving the house.  And she loves to not wear clothes.  And she loves to wear a blue bow in her hair.

One of their favorite Christmas presents was a Little People Palace.  It was officially for Kathryn, but Amelia actually plays with it more than Kathryn.  She calls the prince “boy” (she is really into who is a boy and who is a girl).  And she calls the princess “palace”, I think because we call the whole thing the palace.  So she plays with the boy and the palace. 

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Now for a couple language/cultural differences.  I went in for an appointment a couple days before Daniel was born.  Darryl came with me.  I was ready for him to be born any second, done with being pregnant, etc.  The doctor told me that I could go at least 10 more days with no problem, and he said it like it was the best news ever.  Of course I was glad there were no problems, but that is not what I wanted to hear.  So while we waited to have a nonstress test, I sat down and bumped my head against the wall.  It didn’t really hurt, but that was the trigger to make me start crying.  Of course then I couldn’t stop, so when we got to the doctor again they asked what was wrong.  Darryl tried to explain but he said I fell on the floor and hit my head.  Wow, the nurses were very concerned. 

During recovery, I was anxious to have a stool softener pill.  I had always had those before, and I didn’t want my stitches to come out or something.  After Darryl had left for the evening a nurse came in with a pill.  She tried to explain what it was, and I couldn’t hardly understand a word.  But I did hear “poop”, and thought this must be my stool softener.  So I told her I understood and after she left I swallowed the pill.  The next day when the English speaking doctor came to see me I found out that pill was for something else, and was supposed to be put somewhere else… 

I had several meals at the hospital.  They brought tea with each meal, and kefir sometimes, too.  Kefir is like liquid sour cream to drink.  Everyone seems to think it is so wonderful here, and healthy.  I drank a few sips.  Most of the meals had buckwheat (I think).  And it was actually pretty good.  Either that or I was really hungry.  Also some yummy cheeses.  Each meal included “meat”.  I put that in quotes because I don’t know what kind of meat.  I could not tell if it was chicken, pork, or what.  It was just meat.  Like in a big chicken nugget form.  Darryl has told me that at work when people order food for lunch, they just say “meat”.  They don’t specify what kind they want. 

Our favorite was the packet of instructions for newborn care.  It was very specific, such as what foods I can eat on the first day after the birth, second, up to about 10 days.  No rice until the third day.  And guess what I got on the third day for my lunch?  After 12 days I can go outside for a walk.  But in the winter if it is below a certain temperature, wait until 15 days.  Over a few weeks, build up to taking the baby out for 3 walks a day, up to an hour each.  Anyway, there were pages of this stuff and Darryl and I just had to laugh. 

Kyiv Adventures | 4 Comments »

I expected to have more of an adventurous story about Daniel’s birth.  I am SO GLAD it was so normal!!  Truly we hardly knew we were in a foreign (developing) country, besides the language thing. 

Here are a few highlights.   We went to the hospital about 3 in the morning.  A senior missionary couple had volunteered to come in the middle of the night if we had to go to the hospital then.  We are very grateful for them!  We took a taxi to the hospital.  I had been a little nervous to get an epidural here, but it hurt a lot, so I went for it.  It worked great.  The only difference was Darryl actually saw them give it to me this time and almost passed out. 

The English speaking doctor was there for the actual delivery.  Apparently his head came out pretty easily, but his chest was bigger than the head.  He arrived at 9:15 in the morning, a much faster labor than with Kathryn or Amelia.

The birth of a baby is truly a miracle for me.  How does it happen?  I don’t know.  When I saw Daniel the first time I fell in love!  I am so happy to have him.  It was a hard pregnancy, not because I was so sick (I was less so than with the girls), but because I just wasn’t ready for another baby.  I didn’t know why he needed to come now, instead of when we are back at home.  I still don’t know why, but I’m so very glad now. 

I’m also glad to finally have a Daniel.  I’ve wanted to have a son and name him Daniel for several years.  Daniel is my father’s name and his father’s name.  I hope my Daniel grows up to be as wonderful as they are.

He was so cute in his outfit today, I even ventured to use Darryl’s camera to take some pictures. 

And this one is to get his dimple.  He has one on his right cheek, just like Kathryn.

Amanda, Daniel | 7 Comments »

I joined facebook a few days ago.  I was against it at first.  I thought I was too old, like only people born in the 80’s could do it.  Or that it would take up too much time (which may end up being true).  Or I don’t know.  But I am LOVING it!  I have found lots of old friends, from BYU, from my mission, from high school that I had lost touch with.  Its been so fun to see pictures of their kids, etc.

Amanda | 4 Comments »

After 10 days, I thought I would update everyone’s progress on the adjustment.

Amanda – got some good sleep the past couple of nights.  Daniel is following the pattern of Kathryn as a newborn, sleeping pretty long stretches.  Luckily some of those have been at night!  I’m feeling pretty well and trying to take it one day at a time.  I really enjoyed a visit by some women in our branch earlier this week.  And I’ve gone almost 24 hours without crying!

Darryl – deserves an award.  Any man who deals with a pregnant wife, and an emotional post-partum mother deserves an award!  He worked this week, but went in late a few mornings to help me.  He is taking lots of pictures, you can see some on his photo blog.

Kathryn – having a harder time than I thought.  She was used to some special time with Mommy during Amelia’s nap.  But she is also very sweet with Daniel and is excited to start preschool again.  I hear she is a VERY cute sunbeam at church, excited to participate and sing the songs, etc.

Amelia – is doing great!  She is so adorable, and gets excited whenever Daniel is awake.  “Eyes open”, she says.  Amelia suddenly got HUGE!  I haven’t thought of her as a baby in months, but now she is definitely a big girl.  She talks a ton, even more than Kathryn at this age.

Daniel – what a cutie!  He sleeps a LOT, typical of a newborn.  We thought he would have light hair and blue eyes like his daddy, but his eyes already seem to be turning brown and his hair is also brown for now.  He is smaller than I thought!  When I looked at the baby clothes, I thought there’s no way my baby will be that small.  But he is swimming in most of the clothes.  I love being able to hold a little baby.

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Daniel Clayton Melanchuk joined our family today at 9:15am.  Daniel is Grandpa Harrison’s first name and Clayton is Darryl’s and Grandpa Melanchuk’s middle names.  He weighed 8 lbs 3 oz and was 20 inches tall.  Both Mommy and baby are healthy and have enjoyed some needed rest.

I’m sure there will be more to tell about this sweet little boy.  Until then, here are some pictures:

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Kathryn went to Primary (for kids ages 3-11) instead of nursery (for kids ages 18 months -3) for the first time at church today.  We’ve been talking about it for weeks.  Yesterday when I told her she would go to primary at church, she reminded me that first she would go to Sacrament Meeting.  Unfortunately Amelia was sick, so I stayed home with her.  However, Darryl was able to take a picture of Kathryn before primary started, and when they got home Kathryn burst in the door and said, “I went to primary!”  She was so excited and so am I! 

мебели 

There are 8 kids in the primary, one if them is a new sunbeam with Kathryn.  The other kids are 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9.

Kathryn | 5 Comments »

Darryl and I are still in a stage (which I’m sure won’t last long) where we wake up before the kids on Christmas morning.  We’re so excited and can’t wait for them to wake up!

Here are a few pictures from the festivities.  Kathryn was impressed that Santa knew the kind of orange she liked for her stocking.  The rest of us got mandarins.

I love Amelia’s expression when Kathryn opened this present (it was Amelia’s present but Kathryn wanted to help).  Also, a picture of us doing webcam with Darryl’s family.  We did the same with mine.

The markets are full of fancy dresses for girls young and old this time of year.  Last year I resisted, but this year I decided to get one for each of the girls.  They love dressing up in their “princess dresses” and I’m hopeful at least one will use it for a Halloween costume this year.  Amelia and Kathryn also both love the Little People Palace.

And, of course, the boxes are a highlight.

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