Corban continues to amaze us!!!

I've been horrible at keeping up with this blog.  I really wanted to document the developmental progress of the boys, especially Corban as he continues to make huge strides but I'm not doing so well at it.  With that aside, in the past week he has surprised us and I don't want to miss out on making these notes so here is a quick note of progress:

In the past week, Corban has begun to tell us when he is done going #2 and needs help (prior to this he would just sit in the bathroom till someone noticed he had been in there for a long period).

Without prompting, he has been singing the lyrics to his Sunday School Christmas program song, which he didn't even sing at the program two weeks ago, he just danced on stage.  I have also noticed that sometime he will start singing a song because of a related word, such as, a week go, while putting his socks on, he started saying "I got my socks on, I got my socks on" which is portion of a silly song our older kids have been singing, over the last month.

Then today, for the first time, he sat down on a stool at the kitchen island and told me he was hungry!!!!!

As we opened presents Christmas morning, we all mentioned how different he is this year.  Last year, he threw huge fits each time it was his turn to open presents.  He had no interest in following along in the "fun" of opening presents, he just didn't get it.  This year, other than his stubborn side showing a few times, he took his turn and understood the concept!!!

He has come so far in the past year.  There was a time during the first 18 months that I wasn't sure he'd ever even get to where he is today!  I really believe that the Medability, multi-sensory therapy, program that we have been doing with him for the past year has made a huge impact on his progress!      

I hope you all had a blessed Christmas and pray you all have a New Year filled with much Joy!

Somewhat Organized Chaos

The title pretty much sums up our life now a days. 

Tegan is a non-stop talker, singer, or noise maker.  He does his best to keep up with his sisters and is very disappointed if he is not allowed join them.  He is in his second year of PreK and will be more than ready for Kindergarten next year, despite having a June birthday.  The only special service he is receiving is a little work with a speech therapist.  He is understood my most people, but we are concerned that he is a little lazy with certain sounds and want to be sure it doesn't stem from the Chinese he was already speaking. At this point it just a short term intervention.

Corban is a totally different child than just a year ago.  I believe the multi-sensory therapy (Mendability) we have been doing with him has really helped in that process.  A year ago he was saying only a few words and did not do any requesting of anything.  Today, he can put together short sentences, knows the letters of the alphabet and each of their sounds, colors, shapes, numbers, and has recently been saying "I want ....", which I was beginning to wonder if he'd ever request things!!!!!  PTL!!!!  He is in a special education preK class, works with a school speech therapist and a private speech therapist.  He catches onto things pretty quickly and keeps his teacher on her toes to challenge him.  He still has a long way to go in socializing, he still prefers to do his own thing, most of the time; therefore, he will probably go to PreK for a third year.  

Corban's demeanor has improved quite a bit, as well  He still gets upset for the weirdest things but it is much less than it was and he rarely does any sort of self-abusing anymore.  He seeks our attention and asks for hugs or kisses.  He rarely plays with toys like they are meant to be played with and gets mad if you try to show him how to play with it.  Lately, he just sits on the couch with a book, flipping through the pages and rubbing them.  I have gotten to the point of encouraging him to play because I'm not a fan of him just sitting all day but then he breaks down.  This is beginning to wear on me.  He was beginning to do imaginary play at one point but seems to have reverted (if anyone has any experience with this, please give me some guidance).  Redirecting him to play with something does not work for him, he just gets upset and shuts down

I'm sure I've forgotten lots of things but those are the highlights. Please let me know if you have any specific curiosities about how things are going.  Since I decided to pursue grad school last year, I just haven't had the time to keep up with the blog.  I am currently almost half way through my first internship, which allows me a little free time and will then start my second round of 6 classes in the spring.

We had both boys baptized in July just before their final (I'm hoping so, anyway) round of expanders were removed.

  

Two years ago I stepped foot in China for the 2nd time!

Corban's 1st day of PreK - Sept 2013

Tegan enjoying Family Fun day at Church - Sept 2013

Two years ago from today, I arrived in China to meet two precious boys - I was tired from the long flight and half day time change, anxious for the three weeks ahead of me, still yearning for the little girl that was so close yet so far away that I just wanted to hold and say "we love you",  already missing my family, and unbeknownst to me at the time, in for a major life change.  I am so extremely thankful for the two beautiful women (,y mom and aunt) who traveled with me and helped me get through the first two weeks of that trip.  They were my rocks when I was unsure if our family was prepared to handle the unexpected challenges that Corban presented.  Today, although the journey has not been easy, I am grateful that God chose us to see the potential within Corban; that all he needed was a family who would be his rock and would challenge him to bloom into the person God made him to be!  Tegan and Corban - God has BIG plans for you and we are blessed to watch both of you blossom!