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| Hollis Selfie at the end of a Camping Trip - 2014 |
All and all we have had a very busy summer. As soon as we returned from Bulgaria, we were in full swing of baseball and did not finish the season until mid-July. Then it was time to take some time off for a family vacation. Then next thing we knew Amy and all three kids were back in school (Amy teaching and the kids learning).
Enough with the excuse of a busy summer! You all want to hear how Zoya is adjusting to being a Hollis.
Where to start......oh yeah, from the end of the last blog.
Our friends and family threw a shower for Zoya and it was a beautiful day! It was such a pleasure to see all the love and support for Zoya's new beginning. She loved all the attention! She received many gifts of toys and decorations for her room. She would open a new gift and ask, "Ha Зоя?" (pronounced nă Zoya, and translated "for Zoya?"). You could see the excitement in her face when we would tell her yes, it is for Zoya. A child that pretty much had nothing of her own and had to share everything now has her own things. She even had to share her clothes at the orphanage. Not any more! All this was just for her! She is now a princess in her mind! She was very appreciative as well, telling everyone thank you. And I am pretty sure all those that attended received multiple hugs! Thanks to all that came see Zoya!
Zoya enjoyed the baseball season, not because she wanted to play or watch baseball, but because many of our friends would be in the stands and she could play with their kids. It is so cool to see other children play with Zoya even though they do not share the same language. The other kids would all try to speak basic Bulgarian to her. So every now and then you would hear other kids saying Da for yes and Neh for no.
Communication improves every day. During the first couple of months, we communicated well, but had to rely quite a bit on Google translate to get our point across. For the basics, even though Zoya spoke in Bulgarian and we spoke in English, we knew what each other were trying to say. During the last month, communication has improved greatly! Amy and I only need to use the translator for things we have never discussed. Zoya more and more is using English words when talking. I joke that some of her sentences are in Bulgenglish. Today, Amy asked her what an apple was in Bulgarian because we had forgotten, and Zoya had almost forgot as well.
Zoya started summer school in July and she absolutely loved going to school. We were so happy that Sunset Elementary, the same school Amy teaches at and where Coen attends, was offering the 6 week summer program. This was summer school to help children keep on track and hold onto the education normalcy. So we decided that this would be a good step in getting Zoya prepared for the actual school year. We decided to start Zoya in the 3rd grade. She is 5th grade age, but as I may have stated in a prior blog, she could not read or write Bulgarian. In orphanages, the tendency is not to ensure all the children progress with their education. They just ensure they make it to and from school. There is no accountability ensuring that homework is completed and/or if they progress as they should. Zoya was tested when she started school and her education level was at a pre-kindergarten level. Summer school was a true positive for Zoya. Not only did she enjoy school, she was getting prepared for the school year. School started mid-August and Zoya started in the 3rd grade, but spends the majority of her day with the special education teacher. In all, Zoya has done well in school. The positives are that she is progressing with her education. It can be difficult at times, but she is progressing. In regards to behavior, she is pretty good. There have been times when she has acted out in displeasure, but most of the time she displays good behavior. When she gets tired and frustrated she starts to shut down. If she is held accountable and there is perseverance in instruction, she continues to try. If she is allowed to get out of working, she takes that opportunity. The downside of being in special education is that there can be multiple types of personalities and attitudes. A couple times, Zoya has tried to act like one of the other children in class that is in continuous trouble. After Zoya learned that the teacher will just go get mommy down the hall and that daddy and mommy do not appreciate bad behavior, she has been much better. Zoya does aim to please, so that is a true positive in her education and behavior patterns. In summary, Amy and I have told all, whether it be her teacher or any adult, treat her as they would their own child. Just because she spent her life in an orphanage and is the new kid, she needs to be treated and taught the same as every child. If you show favor or become lax, she will take advantage of it and will think she does not have to try hard and can act in less desirable ways. Zoya spent her first 10 years without structure and stability. Now that her life is stable, we pray her education will strive in the way she needs. Her recent test show that she has improved to kindergarten plus 6 months. This is a definite improvement and we are so proud of our Zoya!!! She is a smart and intelligent child! It is only a matter of time.
Before school started, we took time to go camping. Camping is one of our family favorite things to do. We love nature and getting away from daily life and distractions. We camped for four days at Monjeau Peak, near Ruidoso, NM. The four days were awesome! We dealt with some rainy weather, but that did not dampen our fun together. Zoya got to experience many more "Firsts." Zoya got to go fishing, sit by the campfire and roast marshmallows, and of course eat her first smore. Zoya even got to go for her first hike in the mountains. We learned quickly that Zoya's opinion to hiking was less pleasurable. She kept wondering where are we going and when to we get there. For her sake, the rain started to come in and we had to cut our hike short. Again this was a great time with the whole family!!
Zoya got to celebrate her first Independence Day for America on the 4th of July. It was so cute hearing her walk around the house saying it is America's birthday! She enjoyed the fireworks and playing with sparklers. She looked so pretty in her red, white and blue!
I took Zoya to the eye doctor for her first examination in the states. In Bulgaria, they did an exam and they were going to put her in glasses. When we arrived to pick to get her, we noticed she was not wearing glasses. When we inquired about her glasses, they said Zoya intentionally lost them as they were bulky and heavy. I am pretty sure they were free or very cheap glasses and not kid friendly or comfortable. Zoya does have a lazy left eye and after ten years, her brain has started to just rely on focusing with her right eye. The exam went well, long, but well. The staff was absolutely wonderful at the Eye Site. In fact, they even started to speak some Bulgarian by the end of the exam. Zoya has been fitted with glasses and must wear them all the time, except when on the playground. The glasses should help her left eye strengthen and may eventually correct her overall focusing.
Zoya has been to the dentist and I will not get into to many details, but we are pretty sure she will be an expensive child in regards to her teeth. In short, she will need to have braces in the future. But first, Dr Simmons is having to research something we have not seen before. Zoya's front two teeth are fused together. Next step is to see if the two teeth share the same root, or just fused above the gums. Not sure of the fix, if any, but all will be good. Zoya is already a beautiful girl, so regardless if her teeth can be 100% corrected she will continue to be beautiful!
Zoya has also gone to our pediatrician for one vaccination and a general physical. All is well with her health.
Zoya loves going to church as well. She loves being around the other kids! One Sunday she was ill with a horrible cough and congestion so we decided she should stay home. She agreed to the decision but after I left the room and came back she had tears in her eyes. It broke our heart! She was so sad she was not able to go to church.
As you can read above, we have had a very busy four months and I most likely forgot to share all the stories. But the reality is that our life with Zoya is a blessing! The relationship between Stephen, Coen and Zoya is amazing! It is like they have been brothers and sister their entire lives. Stephen and Coen are such great brothers! They help Zoya out when she needs help and play with her when she is bored! Zoya looks up to her brothers and likes to spend time with them; even if it is only to watch them do their thing. With Coen and Zoya only 3 months apart in age, they are exactly what you would expect from a brother and sister. They aggravate each other (in a fun way), support each other and most important, laugh together! My, and Amy's, favorite sound in the world is hearing our children laugh. You can hear them laughing in the same room, in their bedrooms and in the back seat of the car. It is such a contagious laugh! If you want to put a smile on my face....have a laughing child near me! But the thing that has made me respect Stephen and Coen the most...They love their sister, Zoya and they look after her. They always make sure she is ok! They know that Zoya is our little princess and their job is to help protect her. Without hesitation, they look after her best interest!
As I just said, Zoya is my little princess! I tell her as often as I can that she is my princess and in return I get that smile I love to see! Amy and I love hearing her say "I yuv you!" She struggles with her "L's" but it warms your heart regardless!
While typing this blog, Zoya has done more than she was probably able to or allowed to do in her whole life. She has spent time playing with her brothers and cousins. She has been sitting at the table practicing her writing by spelling all our names, her grandparents' names and her cousins' names (and doing very well with it). And I just heard her ask Amy..."Mom, can I have a snack?" all in English.
Life is good in the Hollis house! Our love for each other is stronger every day! And watching Zoya live with the life she deserves is priceless!! GOD is GOOD!!
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| Zoya enjoying her first 4th of July! |
