Making Progress & Lots of appointments

Big step forward made this week, on Monday, I was able to get Corban to eat some vanilla yogurt off a spoon for the first time!!!  He accepted it more than once - I was so very thrilled.  Tuesday, we didn't have much luck. Yesterday and today he has eaten from a spoon. I have also given him little bits of freeze dried yogurt melts.  He wasn't a fan when I first did it but I have been able to increase the number of bits he'll tolerate during each seating which is great progress for his oral progress!!!  We are praising the Lord for answered prayers. 

Our calendar has just become fuller as well.  We have four appointments/evaluations coming with Corban over the next 3 weeks. Next week we have a consult over his "doesn't really matter" issue, on Monday.  On Tuesday, he goes for a physical therapy evaluation. Then on the 13th he has a hearting/ENT appointment.  Then finally, for now anyway, he has a feeding evaluation on the 20th.  They also want to get him set up for a speech evaluation but they don't have an opening till middle of January and that won't work for us because he and Tegan are having tissue expanders placed (and Angel is having the final bit of her nevus excised) around that time so we will have to push that off for now.

The boys are learning more and more each day.  Tegan seems to understand the majority of what we say and is attempting to repeat many words.  Corban has learned what "no" and "uh-uh" mean as he is constantly on the go and exploring everything he can get his hands on. He wears me out just watching him run from one place to the next. The kid does not sit/stand still. I do love his smile and giggle though, they light up my heart.

Both boys are now OK with co-habitating with the dog.  We are teaching Tegan to tell her "uh-uh" when he doesn't want her near him. Tegan is still terrified of the cats.  The cats, for the most part, hang out in our laundry room which is our entryway into the house and where we keep our shoe and coat rack.  What amuses me is that even though he cries when he goes near them, he will still go get his shoes when we ask him to.  I praise him each time he does it.  I'm sure eventually he'll figure out that they really don't have any interest in him.

Corban and Tegan still don't interact much with each other.  Tegan is sweet and will at times attempt to give Corban a toy.  I do my best to praise him when he shares, even if Corban doesn't take the item. What a precious boy he is. 

Tegan's "I didn't get my way" fits have lessened and become shorter, so very pleased about that. He is a big "ham" when it comes to taking his picture, he says "cheese".  Cracks me up.

I am still in awe that the boys are finally a part of our family. It seems so surreal at times yet it is very real. Our world has been turned upside down in so many ways. Not in bad ways, just in ways that require a new mind set and new routines which all seem to be falling into place, I think. It is taking some adjusting on my part as my day has to be better planned out now. 

I am pleased with each of our children and how they take time to play around with each of the boys. I wasn't sure how Michiael or Logan, our 12 and 10 year old boys, would interact with them but they really handle them well. Sometimes, they will even take the boys to the downstairs play area when they are down there.

With Angel, it didn't take long to feel that "it seems like she's always been a part of our family".  I can't say I've felt that yet.  I still struggle with "missing" the "freedom" I had and that I feel more "tied" to the house right now. I know these are all normal, post adoption or even after birthing a child, feeling.  I'm sure as time goes it will get a little easier. My heavenly Father will see me through, I lay my struggles at His feet.

Puppy

One of Tegan's first words - puppy.  This does not mean that he likes puppy, just that we've made a big deal of talking about puppy (our 2 year old, Pit bull/Boxer, Jewlz) and showing him how much we love puppy that when I brought Tegan downstairs this morning and we passed the office, which is where Jewlz is quarantined to right now, he pointed and said "puppy".  It's progress and I'll take it!

The dust is beginning to settle...

We made it home, unscathed Saturday night, shortly before 9pm.  My husband and 5 kids were anxiously awaiting at the airport for our decent out of the "secure" area to greet us.  It was so wonderfully great to see them. I teared up many times during the travel back to the US knowing that the day had finally come that I would be reunited with them.  I could not wait to give each of them a big hug and kiss.  Three weeks is way to long to be away from my kids.
I thank God for the journey, for the experience and for all he has done for us. The hardest part of this entire journey has been the extended time away from my kids.  I can handle a week, that is therapeutic for all of us, but much more than that is torturous.

My husband did a great job with managing the house while I was away.  I have to say everything appears to be intact other than the messes of our unpacking from a long, long distance trip.  As of today, I still have some unpacking to do - little by little it is getting done.  We have been pretty busy with daily life, post adoption reviews, doctor appointments and new routines. 

Thankfully, everyone is getting along well and we are each discovering how we will all "fit". Angel is showing some jealousy but we expected that. Kailey is a little momma hen, loves carrying the boys whenever they want picked up.  We are working on getting her to not carry them all the time.  I do appreciate her help though.  I believe she has even changed a wet diaper or two.

Corban's willingness to consume bottles has been going well over the past 2 days, I hope it stays that way.  I began adding a little bit of baby puree and milk to his bottles in attempts to improve his nutrition and calorie intake.  So far, the little changes I've made have not detoured him from the bottles!!!! PTL!!!  I plan to increase the amount of baby food and milk I'm adding every few days.

Yesterday, we took the boys for their first physicals.  We met with our Chinese pediatrician, Dr Zhou who has been Angel's pediatrician since our return home with her.  Overall, the appointment went well.  Tegan is 35 inches tall and weighs almost 26 pounds.  Corban is 34.5 inches tall and weighs 23 pounds.  I really though there was more than a three pound difference between the two of them, it sure feels like it.

There are no concerns regarding Tegan.  Corban, on the other hand, is being referred on for several evaluations.  We are being referred to speech and occupational therapy for his eating, verbal and developmental delays.  To an ENT to be sure there are no issues with his swallowing. A CT scan of his head is being requested to be sure there are no brain issues, pediatrician has some concern of this due to his delays and misshapen head. Then the final referral I'll not publicize, it's nothing of concern - let's just say he really on needs one anyway.

We have been blessed with many dinners since returning home.  This had been such a blessing and really had made the days a little easier.  Thank you to all who have taken the time to prepare and drop off meals.  We are extremely grateful for your generosity. We sure are blessed to have so many caring friends.  Thanks be to God, may he be as generous to all of you!!!!

Thank you also to those who have sent size 18 months clothes.  We now have a few pants that actually stay on Corban.

  

                                    Corban                                                             Tegan

2011 Nov 18 Day 19 Home and Homeward bound

Tegan and daddy have arrived home!!! Sounds like overall Tegan did pretty well, didn't sleep much so hopefully he sleeps through the night and will have flip flopped his night/day on his own!  That would be fabulous. He took well to the kids, not so much the cats. Our dog comes home from the kennel tomorrow. I'm sure that will be a shocker to him too but he'll learn to love them by watching us.
In an hour, Corban and I will check out of the hotel, meet our guide in the lobby, head to the US Consulate to pick up Corban's passport with US Visa and head to the train station.  From there we will board the 4:56 train bound for Hong Kong. I am so ready to go home but also dreading the long flight, long layover and final flight home.  I pray Corban does not get over stimulated by all this, I'm not sure I can handle outbursts on the long flight, my nerves are pretty much shot.  Just being home will be a big weight off my shoulders.  I'm ready for a normal routine, (whatever that is with two new toddlers) on my own turf.

This will likely be my last update till we are home and settled. Thank you all for following our journey and praying us through it all.  This journey is far from over so you are welcome to continue to check in on us as we all adapt as a new family of 8. 

I have been blessed beyond measure. 

Chorus from my favorite praise band song at church: "Never once did we ever walk alone, never once did you leave us on our own, you are faithful, God you are faithful!!!!" This line brought me to tears the last Sunday at church before leaving for China, even now it brings me to tears because I know it is oh so true.

Another line that resonates from this song, "Never Once" and mirrors this past week and a half with Corban:

"Kneeling on this battle ground, seeing just how much you've done, knowing every victory, was your power in us. Scars and struggles on the way, but with joy our hearts can say, yes, our hearts can say" (leading into the chorus above)

2011 Nov 17 - Day 18 Corban's CA Day!!!

We had Corban's US Consulate appointment this morning.  Upon receiving his US Visa tomorrow afternoon, he will be ready to become an official USA citizen.  Once we step foot on US soil, the process is complete!!!!  Only two and a half days till that happens.

Corban and I will just chill on the island for the rest of today.  We've taken one short walk, will venture out again after nap time. We check out of the Victory tomorrow afternoon, meet out guide at 2:30pm for a trip back to the consulate to get his passport with US Visa and then we are heading to the train station, bound for Hong Kong.

I will miss China, the birth home of half my children, it's beautiful gardens and landscaping but I can't wait to be reunited with my WHOLE family!!!!! I won't miss the rude people who stare and especially those who take pictures - ugh.

2011 Nov 16 - Day 17

This evening I sent Tegan and his daddy on their way to Hong Kong to begin their journey back to the USA.  I was sad to have to say "goodbye" to my husband for a second time on this trip but I know their going means Corban and I are not far behind. 

Our final family photo in China.

Corban has come along way....

Corban has come a long way in a weeks time.  A week ago, I worried that his development was beyond what we had prepared for and wondered if we were going to be able tohow were going to handle all that were likely to endure. A week of hugging on him even when he didn't want hugged.  Touching him even when he didn't want to be touched.  Playing with him when he prefers to play alone seems to have worked wonders. We still have a lot of progress to make, especially with eating, but as I write this I began doing Eskimo kisses (nose to nose rubbing) with him, he giggles, runs away and keeps coming back for more - it melts my heart. God works wonders and I know all these sweet moments will get us through the tough times we will face.

Adoption entails the same unknowns we face when we give birth to children. We pray and hope for a child who is healthy and has no concerns but we know even if they do, we will love and care for them, even through the difficult trials of life.  Thank you God for blessing us with these precious miracles of life. You chose us to be their parents for a reason and for that I am thankful and will love them to pieces.