I love your website. Seeing all the pics of Max is great. I can't believe how big he is getting. Let him know I miss him. Abby does too!
 

Hey Christy and Byron,

Hope Maxim is doing alright. Also I am glad your housew isn't destroyed.

Bradley
 

Just now catching up with you = you have been on my mind for days since the "big one".   We are so thankful that you are in better shape than thousands of others. Your web sight is a god send.  We lost it for about 3 months - so needless to say I've been reading everything in your journal --and I love the picture of your new house.  You should have done my kitchen when I had a chance to get your advice.  Your kitchen looked wonderful.  What a difference =---I see Amy every once in a awhile - I yell at her when she's out cutting the grass.  She keeps really busy - and of course - I'm semi-retired so I'm not out and around.  The house next to you (the one like mine) went on the market for 250,000.  It appraised at 230,000, but the owner wanted try.  I told Amy to please sell it to some nice people.   Our a/c neighbor -finally got a place to keep all his trucks, so it been so nice not to look so junkie. Now he's bought a boat - and he parks it right in the front yard.   Minor things - I know.  I'm sure you have gotten many messages from our area.  My personal thoughts are - like a lot of my freinds - I'm ready to get out of this area.  I have cried  over all these poor souls - and feel upset that we can't do anything to help except give money.  Your little family is the only bright thing that I have heard about.  And I appreciate you taking the time to let us know how you are.  I pray everything will work out ok - house- job and everything else for you all.  Give our little MAX A BIG HUG AND KISSES FROM US.  i SURE MISS SEEING YOU AROUND.   GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU SAFE.   Billie & Bill
 

Just a short note to let you all know that we have been praying for you and have been keeping up with you through your website.  I wish there was something I could say to express my feelings, but frankly I cannot find the right words.  We miss you and love you all.

Tracy and the boys
 

This is the first I heard of your page. This is wonderful. I hope and pray for the three of you everyday and thought about you all immediately after the storm hit.  I am glad you are at Dale's place in Texas, definitely a good call going west must be the old Air Force mentality, bigger is better or is that the Texan mentality?  Hope you are doing well and if there is anything you need, call Melinda! I sure as hell can't help from Baghdad...just kidding. Keep in touch and keep the website going it will keep you busy when you are bored. If you decide to head towards Atlanta for a visit just you can saty with us for awhile and check things out. talk later Bob 

Just getting around to catching up on everything.  So glad that ya'll are at your mom's and that you weathered the storms.  Christy, I loved talking with you the other day, and am so glad that you made it to your Dad and Jaci's.

We think of ya'll often, especially the holidays, and look forward to meeting little Max (and Byron) someday soon!  If you come east, you know that we have plenty of room for you!

Hug your mom for us.  Love 5Ms
 

Hi Byron and Christy.  I am glad to hear that you all are okay.  We are fine here in Daphne.  We feel very fortunate and blessed.  Take care in your travels to Dallas.

Phil
 

All of St. Luke School and Church are praying for you and the people of Slidell and the rest of the region.  It sounds like Slidell was hit pretty hard.  Thank God that ya'll were able to evacuate.  I can only imagine how you must feel while you are awaiting news of the damage.  If there is anything we can do fo you let us know.

Give Max a big hug and kiss for me.

Keep us posted!

Love,
Nikki
 

Hello Brights!
I love taking a minute to get updated on your beautiful family and new adventures!
The job sounds great---Folgers, what a welcome change from AF politics....:)
Great to "hear" how everyone is doing.  Drop me a line when you get a free minute!
Wedding plans are eating all my time but 10 Sep will be here before we know it!
Take care,
much love,
Jen Cleveland
 

Thanks for your updates , God bless your family, sounds like rural Russia can get very rural. Good luck to your little manny man !

Just a Canadian
 

I am glad to hear from all of you.  Glad everything is going great, job, house, etc.  I cannot believe Max is growing so fast and learning so many new things. Everybody in Ga seem to be okay.  We just hope everything in Destin is still standing. Thanks for keeping us informed

(It's midnight and I hit the "submit" button before I finished the message - brain shuts off around 11pm!)  Anyway, I lost the cell phone numbers you gave me, and the Careys, the Zednicks, Tracy and Rich and I were crazy trying to figure out how to get in touch with you.  The week between when you went house-hunting and the end of May flew by, and you were gone before we could blink.  We love you!  Please be in touch!

Deb

HI Christy and Byron I'm Jennifer's mom I met you both when Jen was stationed at Elgin AFB.  She had given me your web site last fall and I'm just updating myself on how well you guys are doing.  Congratulations on your little guy, he appears to be doing quite well thanks to his parents.  I wish you both all the best and good luck with your little MAX he looks like a keeper.  God Bless you and good luck. Norma Cleveland

Congratulations, Notso & Christy.  Welcome to parenthood.  You guys are pretty brave to go through this whole adoption process.  Max is a cutie.

Best wishes

Rudy

Hello, I just wanted to say 'Hi' and have just enjoyed seeing Max's pictures!!  He's handsome and adorable!!  Rocket had sent me the link and I had forgotten until I saw Byron at the OG CC the other day.
Hope you are all doing well and I'll keep checking in for new pictures!
See ya,
Gail

Sabra Maslin told me about your web site.  We are waiting for a referral from Perm, Russia (we care working with Commonwealth).  We are hoping for a 6-12 month old boy.  Max is beautiful.  What a great story that the other two children found homes in the United States as well.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience via the website.  Your family is an inspiration to us.

Jim & Kelley Tackett

Hey, Brights!  I was in the mall last week (just before christmas) and it suddenly hit me that Max had a birthday recently!  I felt so stupid that the date had just slipped by without my notice.  I would love to have celebrated his special day, and am mortified that I FORGOT!  Nonetheless, I ran into Gap to see if Christy was working, so I could apologize, but did not find her there.  Christmas has come and gone, but not without our thoughts of you three.  YOu are so special to us.  We LOVED the opportunity to babysit Max recently, and hope that we get many more opportunities.  We love you!

Deb (and Rich)

Your son is beautiful.  The web page has been a wonderful source of information.  We began our adoption journey Nov. 3, 2004 and are just now in the Home Study process. Best wishes to your family, and I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Byron and Christy and Max,
I love reading about your adventures as parents and normal little boy!!!  I "check in" on you regularly and hope you know you are in my prayers and thoughts daily.
Life here in Wichita is going well. Job is good and Andy (love of my life) is amazing. I finally know what it feels like to experience little miracles myself everyday.  Love is such an awesome thing!

I hope your first Christmas as a family is everything you hope for and more.
All my best!
Jen

Happy Birthday Max!  I can't believe you turned one yesterday.  I love the picture of you eating your cupcake!  I hope you enjoyed your day.  Have fun with all of your new toys!

Love,
Aunt Nikki

How the hell are you guys!?   Got your web address from John and Allison.   Congrats on the little one.  Not sure if you heard or not, but Treasa and I are expecting a little boy in Feb 05.  I was wondering why her belly kept getting bigger.  Are you still in the AF?   I pinned on Maj in June.   Let me know what's up.

wes

Hey guys!
Very nice web site!  Wonderful pictures.  Congratulations,
Chris

Great news.  You are so wise to demand only the best from your doctors and PT.  Max is a living doll.  I know that one day we are all going to look back on this and say "What was all the fuss about".  What a lucky little boy to have you and Byron.  Happy Holloween.  The fun of having a son has only begun.
Tina
 

Hi Christy, you probably don't remember me but I used to work at K-C with your Mom and Clairene. Clairene gave me your web page address, hope you don't mind.  It's great and sure happy for you and your husband!  Give my love to your Mom, miss her. 

Kathy & Joe Friend
 

Thanks for sharing your beautiful family.  I have just celebrated 1 year home with my beautiful children.  I adopted twins from Russia a boy and a girl.  Thye have just celebrated their 2nd. birthday.  They also were slower in development than (normal) kids the first few months, now they are running all over the place.  My advise to you would be to listen to what the Dr's say but rely on your own natural instincts.  I wish you and your family the best. 
 

I loved reading your journal!  Thank you so much!  I'm keeping one of my own but as we've just started, it helps to read others.  I'll keep you and Max in my thoughts!
Wishing you peace,
Brenda

Byron & Christy:  Our prayers are with you.  I agree with you Christy.  Keep the faith.  You know Max better than anyone.  Don't give up getting to the truth.  Healthcare providers are only people and are not God.  Make them put their money where their mouth is. I would demand answers and not be put off.  There , that is my two cents.  Love to all.
Tina

Hi,

We are in the process of adopting from Russia and have been told that we might be going to Udmurtia.  I did a search and found your website.  Thanks for the information.  It has been helpful.  We will be checking back from time to time and especially just before we travel.  Thanks again!

Paula
 

I just wanted to say we took went to Izhevsk last December and your story makes me laugh out loud. So many memories. Also - our soon takes the same pacifiers I saw in Max's crib! Enjoy every minute with that sweet baby. Which agency did you use?

Stephanie Bavaro

I noticed your website on the Russian adoption listserve, and read through your journal and looked at your pictures (yes, instead of working).  Your story is very touching.  My husband and I are in the research phase of adoption.  We can't have biological children and have only recently decided on international instead of domestic adoption.  I enjoyed reading about the many issues that surrounded your adoption and the creation of your family, and I liked the way your cited everything, not just the good.  It definitely helped me to see what could be ahead.  Your son is beautiful!  I'm sure you feel like the luckiest parents in the world.

Tracy Moran     

enjoyed your site.  We just returned in late July, 2004 with two children from Komsomolsk, Russia...so I related to a lot of your apprehension, etc. during your trip!
You can look at our journey at www.picturetrail.com/dmumm5
Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for sharing your story and the pictures of your BEAUTIFUL baby Max!  For those of us still praying and wondering about making the commitment to adopt pages like yours are really helpful!  All the best to your family!
Elizabeth

What a lovely family and an exciting adventure.  Thank you for sharing your adoption, it really helps us who are going through the process to know there is a light at the end of the paperchase tunnel.  :)  Congratulations!

What a beautiful boy!  I'm so glad to hear that CAI was able to help your son find his 'forever family'!! Thanks for the email :)

Congratulations on your handsome boy.
We also adopted from Russia.We have been back for 1 year. My husband and I are considering going back for a second daughter.
 We adopted from Izhevsk. Victoria was in Neuro, which is the city orphanage.
 Again congratulations and we will keep enjoying your webpage.Thanks for sharing.

Hi Christy,

It is September 21st and I noticed no updates to your journal.  We (the Romes and Kouns) have had you and your family in our prayers. And let us know how you are doing.  Kisses to Max!

Jill Rome

Thanks for posting this page, we are waiting for our referral, a boy, and our region is Izhevsk to, reading your Journal help us a lot. We are also using CWI.
PD. We’re praying for you, that Ivan to do not get there with a destructive force.

Thank you so much for sharing your journey!  I'm a FRUA member, almost paper ready for a Russian adoption.  I've been starving for details on just what the first few days/weeks are like with a new child.  You've given me such a gift in sharing your experience.
 

I saw your post on FRUA and had to check out your website.  Max is adorable!.  We also went to Izhevsk in March of this year through Commonwealth and adopted a 10 mo little girl. I think we are the reason Alfia does not use the Metallurg hotel anymore - we had a few problems there.  Anyway, reading your journal entries (with the exception of the turning down of referrals - sorry you had to go through that) was like reading my own journal from our trip.  And I agree - the flight from Moscow to Izhevsk is AWFUL!  I have never prayed so much in my life - and I am a praying person!!!  Hope you are doing well since coming home.  Feel free to e-mail me - I'm sure we could swap some stories! Leslie Wise - Lexington, Kentucky   

Hi!

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and experiences of your Russian adoption.  Max is adorable!  My husband Mark & I are in the process of adopting a baby girl from Russia.  We live in the Orlando area. We received our first referrals just before Hurricane Frances.  It is so difficult to know what to do - I am worrying about some of the same things that you wrote about in your journal.

I hope you all come out of Hurricane Ivan without a scratch and that Max continues to grow stronger every day.

Sharon

Was looking at FRUA and saw your post with your URL. What a great story! I am so happy for your family. What was funny is that my cousin lives in Sandestin and we visit ALL the time! And Bone Fish is one of my families favorites! I also am adopting a boy from Russia...and have decided on the name Max. I put on my referal a boy aged up to 36 months. So anyway, it is good to know there are good folks down there...I love Destin, my cousin actually lives right in Sandestin where BayTown Wharf is...and they have some really neat things to do in there. It seems all we do is drive up and down Rt. 98! Best of luck to you and your family, Denise

Hi Christy and Byron! I am Gloria B's sister, she shared the link to your page(s)...I was bawling reading your journal.  Thank you for the encouraging words about Dimitri.  Your Max is just wonderful! God Bless.
 

Hey guys,

It seems like such a long time since I've talked to you.  I read your journal tonight, sounds like everything is going great for your family.  The boys and I have been really busy since school started, but things are finally beginning to slow down.  We hope to see you at church soon!!  Give Max hugs and kisses from us.

Tracy and the boys
 

Max, I loved the video of you on the beach.  Can't wait to see you again.  I will be there on Friday September 24th.  See you then.  Love, Nannie

What a fabulous adventure. It is only the beginning! May God continue to bless you and yours. Stop by the old Air-to-Air hangar sometime; I'd love to see you... ...and bring Max!!

I enjoy your website, the updates of events, and the pictures of Max and family. I know you are enjoying Max. Little ones are such a blessing.
 

Congratulations. Our family increased by 1 when we adopted an 8.5 month boy from Novosibirsk in December of 2003. He couldn't sit, either. Now it is August and he is running so fast we can barely keep up with him!

Enjoy Max. They grow up so fast!

Congratulations on the adoption your wonderful little boy. He's so precious and so lucky.

Jardee Stanley
(Lizz and Earl Stanleys' sister-in-law)