May 2008
Sergei started out a little rough this school
year. He had a difficult time following directions,
completing his homework, and at times even staying
awake in class. He suffered from quite a bit of pain
and discomfort related to the effects of his bladder
exstrophy. After working closely with Sergei's
doctors we have been able to resolve some of
Sergei's severe pain, at least temporarily. This has
allowed Sergei to spend less time in the nurse's
office and more time in his classroom learning, We
have also adjust some of Sergei's medication which
has helped with Sergei's focus in class and his
sleep on-set disorder at home. Usually Sergei can be
a very challenging little boy with his attention
seeking behaviors and his high energy. Lately,
however, Sergei has been much more compliant and
easy to get along with at home and at school. No
only have we and his teacher noticed a huge
difference both his brothers and his classmates have
complimented Sergei on his recent attitude change.
We are keeping our fingers crossed that Sergei will
begin to develop a cycle of enjoying the positive
attention for positive behavior and will reduce his
desire for negative attention.
Update: November 2007
Sergei is looking forward to another Young Marine's weekend encampment in mid-December. Although sometimes Sergei balks at attending the Young Marine meetings he always returns from the meetings with a positive attitude. Sergei is also up for a promotion of which he is very proud. Sergei has become more compliant at home since joining the Young Marines. He is better able to follow directions and comply with adult requests. That doesn't mean that Sergei doesn't question authority anymore, but at least now we know that he will eventually comply! Sergei is slowly learning to trust adults which has really helped with his attachment issues. We are happy to see such positive growth in Sergei.
September 2007
Sergei is still struggling with the pain associated with his birth defect, bladder exstrophy. It is very difficult for us to watch our son in almost chronic pain. This pain effects him in every area, at home, at school, in the community, and even how he feels comfortable sitting on a chair or sleeping in bed. We have seen all sorts of specialists (urologists, dermatologists, and nephrologists) and are now waiting to get Sergei into the pain management clinic. So far no one can figure out how to relieve Sergei's discomfort for any length of time. We are hopeful that the pain management clinic will have some answers but if not we will continue to aggressively pursue other avenues to help Sergei less a less pain ridden life.
August 2007
Sergei did graduate from the Young Marine recruit training. He was very proud of himself and seems to enjoy the structure the Young Marine program provides. Sergei still struggles with complying with adult requests without asking "why?". As you can imagine the Young Marine leaders don't take too kindly to that type of behavior! We think a year of Young Marines might cure Sergei of his compliance that problem! Besides participating in with the Saddleback Young Marines, Sergei has enjoyed a variety of summer camps over the past three months. Sergei has been able to participated in my camps with only minimal additional adult support. After spending most of his life in a Russian orphanage, Sergei still has many institutional type behaviors. We continue to work with him on his independent-living skills, self-determination and his peer relationship skills. This three areas of weakness often limit Sergei's success in camp activities. We hope that all of these camp experiences with typical children will help Sergei mature and increase his appropriate behaviors.
April 2007
pliance that problem! Besides participating in with the Saddleback Young Marines, Sergei has enjoyed a variety of summer camps over the past three months. Sergei has been able to participated in my camps with only minimal additional adult support. After spending most of his life in a Russian orphanage, Sergei still has many institutional type behaviors. We continue to work with him on his independent-living skills, self-determination and his peer relationship skills. This three areas of weakness often limit Sergei's success in camp activities. We hope that all of these camp experiences with typical children will help Sergei mature and increase his appropriate behaviors.
April 2007
Sergei is struggling with the new recruit program with the Saddleback Young Marines. Sergei was the first one of the boys to register to become a Young Marine. I suppose
that he didn't start off on the right foot when he told the Sergeant Major that "American's are soft!" Sergei also has a difficult time following directions at school and at home. Being a part of the Young Marine recruitment encampment was no exception. He struggled the entire weekend to simply follow directions. Even with his other brothers prompting him, Sergei continued to be noncompliant! It will be interesting to see how Sergei does after his second weekend encampment with the Young Marines. The joke around the house is who with break first? The Young Marines or Sergei...more to come!
March 2007
Sergei started the month off right with a trip to his favorite place for pizza and games, "Chuck-E-Cheese." Sergei loves it there and never seems to get tired of playing video games and collecting tickets!, Sergei could spend hours going from one game to the other!
Thanks to Anne Dudziak, from New Hampshire, we are well supplied with Chuck-E-Cheese coupons!! To Sergei's delight, Anne takes the time to gather her Sunday newspaper coupons and send them to us. Every bit of savings really helps our family out!
Since Sergei joined our family, we have probably hit most of the Chuck-E-Cheese restaurants throughout Orange County! So far, Sergei says he likes the Chuck-E-Cheese in Fullerton the best! :-)
February 2007
Sergei just finished the MYART production of "Peter Pan." While Sergei enjoys theater he has decided that he wants to try out for the Young Marines like his big brother Phillip. The Young Marine program might be just want Sergei needs to increase his compliance and decrease argumentative nature. Ever since we have known Sergei he has been interested in the Military. He is excited to have the opportunity to participate in the Saddleback Young Marine program and to even own uniform and field jacket. New recruit training is tentatively schedule for this April. We are not quite sure that Sergei understands how grueling the program can be but at this point Sergei is so excited that even if he did understand, we don't think it would matter. In the meantime Sergei will use his Saturdays to go on long bike rides and practice his skateboard moves.
December 2006
Sergei is getting quite good on his skateboard. Sergei only started riding skateboards this September and at first he was very off-balance. Sergei was easily frustrated and many times wanted to give up. After several months of skateboard riding lessons and almost daily trips to the skate park in Costa Mesa, Sergei is now quite the skateboarder. Sergei is now ready to learn some fancy tricks.
He will resume skateboard riding lessons in January 2007 thanks to a generous donation from our friends at Scuba.com.
Just wait, in the next several months Sergei should be doing Ollies and Kickflips!!
October 2006
Sergei is so excited about Halloween. He simply can't stop talking about the holiday. Sergei keeps changing his mind about the costume he wants to wear and the neighborhood he wants go for trick-or-treating. As of this writing Sergei thinks he wants to be a pirate and go trick-or-treating with Grandma Sue.
Sergei is speaking English almost perfectly. Watching him ride skateboards, roller skating, reading and playing with his friends its hard to imagine Sergei living in a Russian orphanage a little over 18-months ago! Sergei continues to make strides academically and socially. He is less anxious about changes and seems to accept the answer "no' much easier. Medically, Sergei continues to have some serious side effects from his bladder exstrophy. We continue to struggle with reducing the severe pain Sergei goes through when he passes bladder stones. Likely Sergei will require further surgery after the new year.
July 2006
Sergei is having a fantastic summer. He had his first experience at residential summer camp when he attended Camp Footprints. Although he said that he wanted to go to "sleep-over camp" Sergei was pretty nervous about spending the night away from home. When we arrived at camp and Sergei noticed that the camp t-shirts were orange he was ready to go home! Poor Sergei, it was any excuse not to have to stay at camp. The good news was that after Sergei met his one-to-one counselor and some of the other campers he forgot all about being nervous. At the end of the week Sergei told us he had an "awesome time" at camp and wanted to go back the next week! Sergei is looking forward to a week at Sports Camp and a week at Jay Nolan Camp in August.
Sergei's adoption was completed April 27, 2005. He arrived on
May 28th.
Update: May 2006
Sergei is excited to have a "best friend," Sergei loves to hang out with his friend Scotty at school. They have been described as "inseparable." Sergei even went to Scotty's house after school on several
occasions to play and hang-out. Its great to see Sergei developing friendships with his classmates. In the past, Sergei had a difficult time developing positive relationships with peers. This time last year Sergei could be argumentative and bossy, and was basically on "survival mode" when around other children. Today he is learning how to take turns and to share. It is wonderful to hear people talk about how far Sergei has come along in his appropriate social behavior and his ability to make and maintain friendships.
March 2006
Sergei (8)
continues to be one of the more energetic Silcock boys. Sergei is on the go morning through night. Not only is Sergei's body on the move but so is his mind. Sergei is always full of "good ideas." When we here Sergei say he "has a good idea" we always brace ourselves for something creative. Like the time Sergei asked if hamsters could swim. After one of the boys told Sergei that hamsters couldn't swim, Sergei got the "good idea" to take the hamsters outside and give them swimming lessons in the gutter. Thank goodness Ann quickly saw what was happening from her bedroom window and abruptly closed down Sergei's Swim School before there were any hamster
causalities.
Another time Sergei was very excited about an up-coming Whale Watching field trip scheduled that day at school. Sergei had tons of questions about whales during breakfast. One of the questions Sergei asked was "what do whales eat?" One of the older boys explained that whales eat small fish. Well, shortly before the school bus arrived we found Sergei standing on a chair next to our 175 gallon marine aquarium. Sergei had a small net in one hand and a lunch bag in the other hand. When asked what he was doing, Sergei said he "had an idea!" Sergei explained that he was "packing a lunch for the whales." Yes, that's right! Sergei was trying to catch our aquarium fish so he could feed the whales on his field trip! As one can imagine, we are always on our toes when we hear Sergei say he has a "good idea..."
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January 2006
Sergei is really growing up. He now can ride a two-wheel bicycle, roller skate, and continues to learn Tae Kwon Do. Next month Sergei will start skateboard lessons and he will return to swimming lessons in March. After school, Sergei continues to take art lessons and attends the Science Adventures program. Sergei loves to be busy and almost everyone notices how eager he is to learn. Sergei has been described as a "sponge" and we have no doubt that he will eventually "catch-up" to his peers.
Now that Christmas is finished, Sergei is counting the days until his 8th birthday on February 9th. This will be Sergei's first birthday since joining our family and the first birthday party he has ever had. Sergei has watched several of his brothers have birthday parties and he cant wait to have one himself. We are planning a fun afternoon at the skating rink with friends, hot dogs, cake and of course presents!
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