Riley's First Christmas at Home!!!

Wow, I'm sorry it has been so long since we have posted. I'm going to try to get lots of pics and info on here in the next few days. Riley is doing great. Life is very good at the Shortt home!!!

Here are a few pictures from our Christmas here at home. I posted two of the family pics we took with our camera on a timer. It actually took 9 shots to get one where Riley was looking at the camera instead of her Daddy!

Home Sweet Home...At Last!!!!

Have we actually been home 3 days!? Never have I ever been more happy to see our front door than when we walked in at 1:38 am on Sat. morning. Mike had been sick on Wed. in Russia and had actually passed a kidney stone. Then on Thurs. evening before leaving Mike and I both ordered room service only to wake up Friday morning with food poisoning. We boarded a 10 hour flight, with a baby, with both of us sick as dogs. We took turns holding Riley and throwing up.



This first picture is of Riley getting ready to leave Russia forever!!!

Another picture of the flight between Moscow and Washington.

After an hours delay for takeoff in Washington we finally landed in Charlotte at 7:45 pm. These are all our possessions waiting to be loaded into our car for the trip home. The trip that would normally take an hour and 15 minutes took us 5 hours in the snow storm.

Finally, Riley is carried into her "forever" home!!!! Her family from Virginia and Nc were there to welcome her!!

Riley meeting Brannon and Logan for the first time!!!

These are just a few pictures of Riley getting to know her brothers, They play together, eat together and sometimes sleep together.

Going Home!!!!!

We are heading home. Looks like we are bringing a Russian snowbunny and the Russian snow with us!!!!

A New Baby for Christmas 1997!

Let's see...what is on our minds today....ummmm......oh, yea, HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOGAN!!!!!!!!

Now, for the less important stuff. We have Riley's Russian passport, her US Visa and all her immigration papers in hand and ready to come home tomorrow!!! Check out the video...she is very close to walking by herself!!!

On a final note, twelve years ago we brought a baby home the week before Christmas....tomorrow we will do it again!!

Going to the Doctor

Today began with a trip to the doctor for Miss Riley. She was very socialable and friendly until the time came to have her exam. She hates to have her clothes removed or diaper changed. She screamed throughout the exam. then she screamed some more during her blood test. But as soon as that was over she went right back to being good natured and friendly.

She has really done well with almost everything. She eats very well!!!! I admit that I cried while feeding her because she eats just like a baby bird. She knows to open her mouth whenever food is coming toward her. Sometimes she starts opening her mouth as soon as you start preparing her food. It was very easy to promise her that she would never go hungry again.

She also went to sleep last night very peacefully and slept all night. She does wake during the night and cries out but immediaterly goes back to sleep. I guess I don't have to tell any of you who she chose to snuggle with......

Her adjustment is truly nothing short of a miracle. I'm reminded of the prayer of Pastor Allison before we left to come over here. She prayed that God would begin the work of transition and attachment in Riley before we ever picked her up. Oh my, but has He ever answered that prayer!! It is constantly amazing us at how well she is doing. We laugh and we cry....no, we laugh and then I cry. :)

Gotcha Day!!!

It is 4:33 am over here and we are leaving for Vladimir at 6. I've been up since 3;15....I'm knda excited and can"t sleep! It is crazy cold here, like -16 degrees with a "feels like" temperature -27 degrees. Wow, is Riley ever going to love North Carolina winters!!!

It is now 5:32 pm and we are back at our hotel in Moscow with our daughter. We drove to Vladimir in 3 hours and then picked up Riley's new Russsian passport. We then traveled another hour and a half to the orphanage and picked her up. She was wonderful on the trip back to Moscow. At first she just wanted to be held while she sucked a thumb. Before we knew it she was playing with us and cooing. And Brannon, Dad has won our bet and made her smile first. Now, believe it or not, she is babbling words and laughing!!! We are having a ball with her! It is truly amazing what a little attention will do. She is a completely different little girl than the one we saw in the orphanage.

Journey Christmas Banquet

Last night was The Journey's Christmas banquet. I really missed not being at home to see my two young men off. Thanks to Kyrystal for being their big sister and taking care of everything. Mike and I want to send a big thank you to Josh and Lindsey Nelson and Bryan and Erin Hullette for all the work they have done this past year with our youth ministry. The Journey is going strong because of your efforts.

For those of you who don't know her, the beautiful young lady with Brannon is his girlfriend, Casey Taylor. She is a blessing to him and our entire family. She is just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.

Miss you guys! Email us!

Thanks for the pictures, Kendra! They made my day! And by the way....SLOANE LOOKED GORGEOUS LAST NIGHT!!!

Safe and Sound...Again!

It is 1:15 in the afternoon here and we just wanted to let everyone know that all is well with us.
The first picture was taken just before we took off from Dulles.

Goodbye Washington!!!!

Hello Moscow!!!

One Thing at a Time

We will be leaving for the airport in about 30 minutes. Wow, it is hard to believe this day is finally here! Before we leave, we need to go through the check list.....Here goes!

* Presents purchased, wrapped and under the trees........Check!

* House decorated and ready for Christmas........................Check!

* Luggage packed and ready go out the door..................Check!!

Staying Busy

We are staying busy this week before we travel on Sat. Today after school, Brannon, his friend Xander and I went shopping for the kids our church is sponsoring this Christmas. The three of us then wrapped all the gifts. It is quite an adventure wrapping gifts with two 16-17 year old boys!!!

Logan is staying busy with basketball games, three this week. So far CBDS Cougars are 4-0! Go Calvary!!