Grace's 3rd Birthday

We celebrated Grace's 3rd birthday at the end of May.  As you can imagine, birthdays are a little overwhelming when you haven't had one before. She enjoyed opening her presents, but I don't think she actually grasped what exactly was going on.   I imagine by next year it will be something that she can even look forward to. She was a big fan of her cupcakes.   We even got to share our 20th wedding anniversary with Grace, what a gift she is!

Show Hope Reunion

At the end of May, we attended a reunion for all the kids who have spent time in a Show Hope Care Center in China.  We got the invitation while we were in China to bring bring Grace home.  We knew we wanted to go, but doubted if Grace could make the car trip to Tennesee.  We went back and forth several times whether we should go.   We also knew with Jeff having hardly any vacation time, it was going to have to be a quick trip - 36 hours to be exact.  It was so worth it, even during the time we were stuck in traffic, Matthew was car sick and I had to straddle the barf bucket to change Grace's  poopy diaper.

We arrived in Franklin, Tn late Friday night and went to the reunion late the next morning.  We got to meet people who knew and loved on Matthew while he stayed at Maria's Big House of Hope.  We also got to thank the Chapmans.    My heart is so full for all of these people.  They loved my boy, when he didn't have us.  They gave him a home.  They advocated for medical care 8000 miles away to make sure every things could be done for him.  All in the name of love... 

 Joanna visited Matthew in 2012

  

This is the picture Joanna took of Matthew.  Someone else saw this picture and helped me to connect the dots that Matthew had spend time at MBHOH

with Melissa at the reunion

then with Melissa in 2012

  

With David in 2012

Matthew and David

  

There were several families there that we had travelled with to China on our past two adoption trips, too.  How awesome to see these kids have grown and absolutely thrive in their families.  These sweet families will  hold a place in our hearts for what we have shared.  

Families from Matthew's adoption trip, so great to see each other for the first time in 2 years!

These three kiddos met their forever families together.  Matthew and Mayli both spent time together at the same orphanage and at Maria's.  

Our sweet friends from Ohio that we travelled together with to bring our girls home this past March.  We have to meet in Ohio together, but hopefully we get to do that soon! 

The whole day was filled with fun - bounce houses, hay rides, food, crafts and a petting farm.  It isn't often enough that we get to hang out with other adoptive families,  it was nice to be in a huge room with families who look just like ours with kids going through the same things.  Most of our kids have medical issues and we have all travelled the roads through adoption and attachment.  

One month home

Sorry I haven't updated much, as I type I have Grace on my lap and Matt seated closely next to me.  Grace is doing well and adjusting more and more.  She is doing much better in the sleep department.  Right now both Grace and Matt are sleeping in our room, but it's worth it for us to actually sleep.  I can actually formulate a clear thought once in and awhile.  Grace is the biggest goofball and the funny faces never stop - it makes it hard to take pictures.   We have started to be able to go out and join the real world a few times, too.  

Two weeks ago, we visited our children's hospital where Grace saw around 25 people from probably 8 specialities.  Grace was born with a type of spina bifida called a meningocele.  This happens when the outer membrane of the spinal cord slips through the vertebrae during a baby's development in the womb. She received her original repair surgery when she was a month old.   Spina bifida can cause a lot of different medical and physical issues through a person's lifetime or sometimes not so many.     We still have a lot more testing and a few more specialists to see before we figure out how it affects her.  So far the biggest thing we see is her gait.  She has "flat foot" (common with sb) due to some muscle weakness, her right foot is much worse.  Last week she got casted for a brace for her right foot and an orthotic for her left, we should get them next week.   She is very unbalanced and is prone to falling, but that has even been getting better the longer she has been home. She can climb out of a crib in under a minute, so it doesn't hold her back too much.     However, the team that saw her was very impressed with her.  Other than her repair, she really hasn't received any extra medical care or therapy. So along with living in an institution her whole life, she really is doing very well. 

Gracie is on the small side, coupled with her unsteady walking and short haircut - people often think she is a lot younger than she is and/or a boy.    Maybe she needs a baby wig ;) I can't seem to keep a bow in her hair very long though.    She using more words spontaneously and I caught her speaking to Matt in Chinese (she told him to come with her).   It will be so nice when we can understand each other better, she gets very frustrated when we can't figure out what she wants.  She has quite a bit of catching up to do, but we have been excited to see her making progress every day.  

Matt and Grace are still good buddies most of the team.  Matt calls Gracie his best friend and he has been so good to show her how to do things.  They fight plenty too, but make a good pair.  Shelby loves to dress her up and Robbie can be counted on to share a snack with her or lift her so she can look out the windows.  Robbie has been running track and Shelby is getting set to finish her first year of college.  

We have been teaching her to pray, too.  She has resisted at first, but now she will fold her hands together randomly throughout the day and shout "pay!".  Grace has even started to let Jeff put her to bed.  She will start yelling "Dada"when she sees him come down the driveway.  

I am still adjusting too.  My back is a lot better now that I get to sleep in my own bed without my little shadow all over me.  I am often overwhelmed with whiny kids one moment and then completely overwhelmed with thankfulness the next that I get to be their mom.  God is good like that... 

Easter

This only took 20 shots to get a half decent picture

Laughing grandmas

dr Grace

Cousins

Birthday Boy!

Week 2 at home

Every day keeps getting better.  Grace and Matt both finally slept in past 7 today, praying that lasts! Jet lag is so cruel though.  

Grace is doing well.  She is repeating a lot of words and she is even a few English words intentionally.  She still jabbers in Chinese, too.  She likes to give kisses and will point to her cheek when she wants one.  She is much more comfortable with the guys and she is sitting with Jeff, especially if she can share his food. Grace is still not a fan of the car seat though.  She will be in it for about 5 minutes and then realizes she can't get out. Since she is the most stubborn person in the whole world, she thinks she can protest and I will give in - ha!  It makes it rough going anywhere, but she will eventually figure it out.  She had to get blood drawn on Monday and unfortunately had to have many sticks.  They felt so bad for her that they gave her, her first Barbie doll.  Unfortunately dolls are still in the same category with the car seat - not a fan just yet.  When she didn't know I was watching this morning, she did grab her doll and tried to put its thumb in its mouth.  She quickly put it down when it didn't cooperate. Little bits of progress...

Our girl still loves her noodles and rice, she really loves fruit and will try a few new foods here and there.  Hoping to get Grace out a little more.  Screaming car rides aren't much motivation yet.   We have really tried to limit her world, she was used to living in just a few rooms her whole life.  You can imagine how overwhelming it is for her to be even in our typical american home.  Groups of people have been very overwhelming for her, too.  She still isn't totally solid on what family is, she often calls us all mama (the name of all nannies in the orphanage).  Our big kids really like to help to take care of Grace, but we have even had to limit them holding her and giving her food.  She needs to learn my and Jeff's roles and she needs to learn she has more than a bunch of nannies who come and go in her life.   Attachment and bonding are not a sprint, but a long marathon for us. 

We are loving our new crazy life and are slowly adjusting to our new normal.   Grace is really soaking up all this new attention and love, it's neat to see all the positive changes in her.