Hang in there!

[Brad and Vika 129]

I spent most of the day one-on-one with my nine week old today. Vika and MIL were at a girlfriend's house for a day filled with Ukrainian food and gossip. Two feedings, three diaper changes, several naps (hers), and lots of rocking and baby talk (mine ) later, I am feeling pretty tired. More tired than I remember last time, twenty years ago . At least my memory appears not to have suffered over time.

Watching my wife and MIL walking around with my daughter as we wind down the weekend got me thinking. It is easy sometimes for me to forget the risk she took coming to my country. She didn't do it to take care of her kids, or get a green card, or provide for her family back home. This is her home, and she came here to be with me. That is commitment, and even more amazingly her entire side of the family got behind it.

When I was still in the middle of the process somewhere, it was pretty frustrating at times reading all the posts about delays and problems with documents, USCIS, NVC, or the State Dept. Not to mention all the weirdness around members posting about the personal details of their relationships, their relationship problems, or their SO's body parts.

If you are still in the process, take my advice. Don't sweat the small issues, and keep your eye on the prize. The prize I am talking about is a strong family, and the life that comes with it.

[Thomas&Cleofe 358]

SO's body parts......what the....???

I am so happy that you are all together as a strong knit family.

God bless you and yours

[X Factor 1,112]

I spent most of the day one-on-one with my nine week old today. Vika and MIL were at a girlfriend's house for a day filled with Ukrainian food and gossip. Two feedings, three diaper changes, several naps (hers), and lots of rocking and baby talk (mine ) later, I am feeling pretty tired. More tired than I remember last time, twenty years ago . At least my memory appears not to have suffered over time.

Watching my wife and MIL walking around with my daughter as we wind down the weekend got me thinking. It is easy sometimes for me to forget the risk she took coming to my country. She didn't do it to take care of her kids, or get a green card, or provide for her family back home. This is her home, and she came here to be with me. That is commitment, and even more amazingly her entire side of the family got behind it.

When I was still in the middle of the process somewhere, it was pretty frustrating at times reading all the posts about delays and problems with documents, USCIS, NVC, or the State Dept. Not to mention all the weirdness around members posting about the personal details of their relationships, their relationship problems, or their SO's body parts.

If you are still in the process, take my advice. Don't sweat the small issues, and keep your eye on the prize. The prize I am talking about is a strong family, and the life that comes with it.

Well said Brad!

[TBoneTX 45,319]

Well said Brad!

Si, man -- as usual, and particularly here.

[Brad and Vika 129]

Thanks TB, and welcome to the team

[TBoneTX 45,319]

Thanks TB, and welcome to the team

Thanks, si man, if I don't up-screw it...

[lynndy38 64]

Really lovely post Brad, have a wonderful life with your family!!!

[Brad and Vika 129]

Thanks, si man, if I don't up-screw it...

Doubtful. Long past due man.

Really lovely post Brad, have a wonderful life with your family!!!

Thanks, and we will do

[*Snowdrop* 604]

Awww - you're making me feel broody for another baby thinking about a teeny tiny nine-week-old.

Hope you are all doing well and managing to get some sleep every now and then. I took all the night shifts for my little one (now 2 years old) as my husband has a huge commute and a really long work day. I went 18 months without sleeping for more than 4 hours at a time. (She's not a sleeper)

But now those seem like the easy days - terrible twos are truly terrible! But I know I am going to miss these days soon enough too.

Now I look back at the 'frustrating' visa days and think "wow - all that sleep and personal time I was getting back then" Happy days!

I think the visa process is a little bit like childbirth - once you're through it you forget how bad it was

[Brad and Vika 129]

Awww - you're making me feel broody for another baby thinking about a teeny tiny nine-week-old.

Hope you are all doing well and managing to get some sleep every now and then. I took all the night shifts for my little one (now 2 years old) as my husband has a huge commute and a really long work day. I went 18 months without sleeping for more than 4 hours at a time. (She's not a sleeper)

But now those seem like the easy days - terrible twos are truly terrible! But I know I am going to miss these days soon enough too.

Now I look back at the 'frustrating' visa days and think "wow - all that sleep and personal time I was getting back then" Happy days!

I think the visa process is a little bit like childbirth - once you're through it you forget how bad it was

I tell my wife the same thing! All the stuff (well, most) that she is struggling with now will seem like the good old days in a few years. Thanks!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I spent most of the day one-on-one with my nine week old today. Vika and MIL were at a girlfriend's house for a day filled with Ukrainian food and gossip. Two feedings, three diaper changes, several naps (hers), and lots of rocking and baby talk (mine ) later, I am feeling pretty tired. More tired than I remember last time, twenty years ago . At least my memory appears not to have suffered over time.

Watching my wife and MIL walking around with my daughter as we wind down the weekend got me thinking. It is easy sometimes for me to forget the risk she took coming to my country. She didn't do it to take care of her kids, or get a green card, or provide for her family back home. This is her home, and she came here to be with me. That is commitment, and even more amazingly her entire side of the family got behind it.

When I was still in the middle of the process somewhere, it was pretty frustrating at times reading all the posts about delays and problems with documents, USCIS, NVC, or the State Dept. Not to mention all the weirdness around members posting about the personal details of their relationships, their relationship problems, or their SO's body parts.

If you are still in the process, take my advice. Don't sweat the small issues, and keep your eye on the prize. The prize I am talking about is a strong family, and the life that comes with it.

So VERY True.