Sergei

November 2009
Sergei has recently joined a Chess Club. He goes to meeting once a week and tournaments once a month. So far Sergei loves Chess and has placed third in his recent tournament. For a guy who has a difficult time focusing most of the time, Sergei has done amazingly well in the very difficult game. Sergei says he "loves Chess!" and his confidence is building up as he continues to improve his game. The other wonderful aspect of being a member of the Chess Club is Sergei has opportunities to meet other kids with similar interests. Sergei is a very quirky kid, despite doing average work in school his social skills are very poor. These poor social skills has often left Sergei alienated from his classmates. The Chess Club has provided Sergei with a chance to develop his Chess skills while interacting with peers in a somewhat structured environment. When Sergei is playing Chess he is concentrating on the game and naturally reduces his socially offensive habits such as chewing on his shirt and pulling out his hair. We are encouraging Sergei to study his Chess moves and to continue participating in the Chess Club.

August 2009
Sergei finally had his kidney stone surgery! Yahoo!! He has almost completely recovered now and actually was able to attend a week of day camp and a week of sleep-over camp. He is thrilled to be back on his feet and to live relatively pain-free. Sergei is now in summer mode full steam ahead. He is going to Wild Rivers, Knott's Berry Farm, the beach, the Orange County Fair, and other local attractions. Sergei is also looking forward to returning to school in September. Since he missed so much of his fourth grade year, I am worried that he will be seriously behind in fifth grade. Sergei does not have an IEP at this time but may need one this school year. I am just happy that Sergei has an opportunity to enjoy his summer and to just be a kid.
 

April 2009
Sergei has missed the past two months of school because of medical issues. He has a kidney stone "the size of a golf ball" that the doctor is unable to remove until another infection clears up. In the meantime Sergei is in severe pain much of the time which stresses his body and thus the additional infection is healing much more slowly. We are trying to manage his pain the best we can through medication, homeopathic remedies and simple distraction. Despite our best efforts, Sergei is unable to make it through a day of school or a night of sleep. The doctors are taking an aggressive approach to the secondary infection so it will clear up and the kidney stone can be surgically removed. Sergei is looking forward to surgery and getting back to his normal active pain-free life.
 

Sergei and Brad Paisley

November 2008
Sergei continues to do well in school. It seems like every time I turn around he is bringing home awards. Today he received the "Respect" award for his class. When I look back and remember how challenging Sergei was when he first arrived. Sergei was absolutely the most noncompliant child I had ever experienced. Not only was did he loudly refuse to do most everything we asked of him, Sergei would have extreme tantrums several times a day. He was very much like the children shown on a recent 20/20 episode focusing on the extreme behavioral challenges of some adoptive children. It was hard to find anything endearing about Sergei when he joined the family. Today Sergei can be very pleasant and agreeable. He does ask tons of questions but at least now the questions are relevant and appropriate. Sergei's behavior has been consistently acceptable and often extraordinary. He can be reasonable and even easy to get along with at home and at school. I am not sure what caused this huge change but I am not complaining! I am extremely proud of Sergei's progress both socially and academically. With the progress he has made I am sure Sergei has every chance to be a fully independent and successful adult which seemed so unlikely only three years ago!

September 2008
Sergei is doing GREAT in fourth grade. It seems like there are no more trips to the nurses office complaining of pain or falling asleep in class both of which seemed like behaviors to escape the classroom. This year Sergei has already had three notes home from the teacher telling us how Sergei made excellent behavior choices. It is apparent that Sergei has really matured. While he still asks a million questions, Sergei seems more focused and appropriate in conversation. He hardly ever asks redundant or these questions like he did before. It has even become enjoyable to spend time with Sergei. In the past he could really wipe you out with his incessant and nonsensical banter. Sergei has also started helping around the house without prompting! We are very proud of Sergei and look forward to his continuing maturation!

July 2008
Sergei has had a great summer so far. He did not qualify to go to summer school so instead we have scheduled Sergei with summer camp program. So far Sergei has done very well during sleep-over summer camps. In the past we were often called to pick-up Sergei early because of medical problems, chronic pain, and behavioral challenges. This year Sergei has had no unusual medical problems, complaints of pain or behavioral issues. We are keeping our fingers crossed for Sergei's continued good health and spirits. Sergei was so excited to go to camp this year he just couldn't stop talking about before and after his first sleep-over camp. He will have a variety of sleep-over camp experience by the end of summer. Sergei will also attend several day camps as well. In his free time, and when he is not attending a camp program, Sergei is enjoying going to the beach and to Wild Rivers. This is the first summer that Sergei has felt well enough and behaved appropriately enough to partake in all of the great summer activities our area has to offer. We are hoping that this improvement in Sergei's health and in his behavior will carry-on to September when Sergei enters fourth grade.

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.

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!