Orphan Justice

Oh the places you'll go

This week was one full of appointments. 

As you can see, Noah was  not to pleased about the poking and prodding.

Mommy was happy to see some tears after the needles, as, sometimes Noah seems a little bit too tough for a little guy.

We are getting closer to be caught up on immunizations.

Noah does not have TB(hooray)

And our pediatrician is back from maternity...so, she has requested more extensive testing to see why his thyroid is not working properly.

Noah was tested for receptive language and came out age appropriate..however, his expessive language and articulation are severe.  We are so thankful he is receiving speech once a week at the cleft lip and palate clinic.

On Monday we have a morning full of more appointments at the cleft lip and palate clinic.  I can see a tube that seems to be falling out.  Hopefully, his ear drum is moving properly, or he will need a new tube put in.

Gotcha-one year with Noah

 

On March 5, 2012 we first met Noah, in cold building(literally and figuratively) in the city of  Zhengzhou, Henan China.  The waiting was about to come to an end, two stories were about to interwoven into one.  When we first layed eyes on him, our guy was scared and in shock.  One thing we did have, was, one VERY HUNGRY little boy.  Up until March 5th, we were pretty sure all he ever had eaten congee and drank formula.

 

 

 

 

 Photo for our official adoption documents

 

 

 

 

So fast forward to March 5th 2013 (okay 4th, I am writing a day early...Noah has an exciting gotcha day planned.  Filled with speech therapy and immunizations) and we have one very active, mischevious son(yes, he did take off his sock today and put it in my coffee...bleh)  Noah's attatchment has gone very well, we have worked very hard at bonding, being very conscious of our relationship and attatchment the first six months home.

 

Our story is a beautiful story, inspite of the fact that we are average parents, with average patience(okay, I may be below average some days ;)  a regular home in a regular community.  No, our story is a beautiful story because of a love that goes far beyond my or Kevin's capabilities.  And because of His great love for us, and because He adopted us and grafted us into His family, we are able to graft Noah into our  family.

 

  1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.

 

Noah is a joy and a blessing.  What a wonderful son and brother he is.  He is full of love and life.  We are so in love with our little guy.

 

 

HAPPY GOTCHA DAY NOAH!!!! ONE YEAR IN OUR ARMS...WE LOVE YOU!!!!

 



Theraplay

To have a picture of these two little boys, close in proximity to one another, both smiling, is a wonderful moment in this house.
We read about attatchment of parent to adopted child, and adopted child to parent.  Either, I have not looked hard enough or their is no books read on sibling attatchment to a toddler or older child adopted sibling.
Attatchment cannot be forced, it cannot be faked by siblings.  It has to be real.  Most of the attatchemnt issues that arise between these two boys, is
A) a pesky big brother
B) a non-verbal big brother, who LOVES his little brother, but who does know how to engage a toddler to play.
C) a toddler, who can be well, very twoish, and screechy.

so what have we been "playing" to help foster attatchement
1) face painting with a dry brush
2)"popcorn" people hold corners of a blanket, put balls on the blanket, and shake the blanket to make the balls pop.
3) blanket race. take a corner of the blanket, puff it in the air. one person lets go of their corner and crawls to the other side.
4) brother/sister tortilla/sandwich.  use pillows or blankets and make a person sandwich..do not forget the toppings :)
5) serving pretend food ( we have used the melissa and doug birthday cupcake set) one child asks what kind of cupcake the other would like, kind of icing, color of candle etc.  It helps promote listening and taking turns.

Of course, with a two year old our games have to be at his level.  However, as a family we have had lots of fun playing them.  I love having my face painted...it is like a mini facial.


I have no doubt that these two will grow closer as Noah grows older.  Micah had trouble enaging Anneke in any sort of play when she was a toddler as well.  Now the two of them play great together.

As we continue to build a brotherly bond between these brothers, I am thankful to have the help we need to help them grow in thier relationship

Good Mom!!!

 

 

 

Good moms breastfeed.
Good moms formula feed.
Good moms vaccinate their kids.
Good moms don't vaccinate their kids.
Good moms co-sleep.
Good moms use cribs.
Good moms have hospital births.
Good moms have home births.
Good moms adopt.
Good moms have natural births.
Good moms have epidurals.
Good moms have c-sections.
Good moms have 10 kids.
Good moms have 1 kid .
Good moms use cloth diapers.
Good moms use disposable diapers

snap shot sunday

my baby boy is getting so big :)

THE GUILT

Please read this very well written article.

 

http://myimperfectextraordinarylife.com/2013/02/21/the-guilt/