Our Tiny Sponge

Emilia’s willingness and capabilities for learning have exploded this year.  One thing she picked up in a hurry has been shapes.  The star is her favorite and when she finds one, she usually wants me to sing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star which wouldn’t be a problem except that she sees stars everywhere.  This evening at Kroger, she pointed out the stars on the little donation box by the register to me.  I had no idea there were so many stars in our daily surroundings.

Emilia can also label at least ten body parts now, identify several different animals, and is starting to count though I don’t think she assigns any value to the numbers yet.  She recognizes herself in the mirror and in current photos and she knows the names of our family members (mama, daddy, tha - short for brother).  I can't keep up with her ever-growing, if not always clear expressive vocabulary which I estimate to be around 70 words now.

We are just so proud and amazed by our little girl.  

July In Random Pictures

We've been so very busy here and it's going to keep up for a while, so random pictures will have to suffice to let you know the latest on our family.

Summer dinner on the fly:
fresh garden herbs, fresh garden garlic, butter,
cream cheese, vegetable broth, and angel hair pasta

Key lime cake for Craig's group at work
to celebrate the end of the fiscal year

Look who is wearing his glasses

Our family leadership at its best

Busted: she was caught eating all of Daddy's potato salad

Love this beautiful boy

Love him so much

She needs a haircut,
but I can't part with these locks yet

We always celebrate good news

Cousins

Emilia loves her "tha" (brother)

Taken by a friend at a picnic

My loves

And there you have it, our last few weeks in photos.  The end.

Research Rex

This week Rex had the opportunity to participate in a research study about his rare genetic syndrome, so we traveled to Tennessee for a couple of days of testing.  Spending 16 hours in the hospital over the span of two and a half days was exhausting for all of us, but Rex did so very well.  He charmed everyone we met with his bright smile and energetic personality and endured even the painful and uncomfortable testing without more than tears.

The blood draw was the most invasive procedure Rex had to brave, so you may wonder why I took this picture.  The reason is that this is the moment Rex is being immortalized.  The blood drawn here will be sent to a repository where it will be preserved and continuously grown for research.  Rex's cells will stay alive there forever. 

Scheduling an EEG at 10:00 am was probably not the smartest thing the researchers did. I consider it a minor miracle that Rex was able to fall asleep for the time required to get the necessary data.

The most unexpected news we received from the research team is that they believe Rex is affected by a second complex genetic syndrome in addition to the one we already knew about.  They have a theory on which one it might be, but sent us home with a list of tests that should bring some clarification.  So, once I get through what I anticipate being a scheduling nightmare, my little love will have to undergo more testing.  It really breaks my heart because it changes nothing in terms of his developmental prognosis, but could add a few physical complications that may need to be addressed.

On Friday afternoon we had some down time, so we enjoyed a lunch at Rendezvous Restaurant.  This is the wonderful babysitter who traveled with us and made sure Emilia enjoyed herself while we were at the hospital with Rex.

Then we went to Mud Island to explore the exact scale model of the Lower Mississippi River.  We had fun.

Oh, and we hit two milestones on this trip.  First, Rex took off his own diaper for the first time.  I am very much on the fence on whether this is a good or a bad thing.  And, while we were at the hospital one morning, Emilia, at the hotel, broke down crying and asking for mama, mama, mama.  I love that she missed me and wanted me.

Now on to a new week which, if all goes well, should be rather calm.

Rex's Together Forever Day Anniversary #2

Two years ago today, we took Rex out of the orphanage forever.  I think he knew even then that he was beginning to rule a kingdom requiring a great overhaul which only he could bring about.  The kingdom needed more challenging work for its inhabitants, more patience, more chaos, more flexibility, more courage.  It could do with more laughter and more tears, more noise, more appreciation of the little things, and so much more love.  King Rex set about his work instantly with considerable dedication and in two years has managed to not only change us, but also himself.

Rex is more than a long list of complex diagnoses and bleak prognoses.  He is a little boy with thoughts and feelings, likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses.  What makes him so special to us is hard to put into words, but here are some of the things we love about our Armenian treasure:

When Rex wakes up in the morning, he climbs into our bed and makes sure he gets his snuggles in.

Rex will eat just about anything on a sandwich or a cracker/chip.

The roughest skin on Rex's body is on his palms.

Rex is a guys' guy.

When he's ready to fall asleep, Rex pulls the blanket over his head and is almost instantly out.

Rex loves music, climbing, jumping, and banging stuff.

Rex distinguishes between his parents and the rest of the world.

Rex is all boy, skinned knees, bruises, boogers, sticky hands, sweaty hair, and able to turn any object into a weapon.

Rex's smile stretches from ear to ear and his laughter peals through our life like a priceless reward.

Rex is curious about how things work.

Rex has toy magic.

Rex is confident and strong.

Happy Together Forever Day, my Armenian love.  You are a miracle.

Little Miss Sunshine

We love, love, love our girl.

She wakes up with the brightest smile on her face each morning, doles out countless hugs and kisses throughout the day, showers shoppers everywhere with enthusiastic salutations, balls up her little fists and shakes them when she's mad, tries saying new words all the time, loves her family, and shines like the sun.

July 11, 2011

Two years ago today, I cried my eyes out and literally sweated through my clothes in this Armenian courthouse as the judge grilled me about why we wanted to adopt Rex, how we would provide for him, why we chose a new name for him, why she should waive the 30 day wait, why I was crying, etc.  I think I was on the spot for maybe 20 minutes which felt like an eternity.

After court and with the judge's decision pending until the next day, we went to visit Rex at his orphanage.  He was so happy to be outside, but not sure about the swing at first.

It didn't take long until he began to enjoy it and feel safe with his daddy.

I really cannot believe it's been two years.  These first days in Armenia with Rex are so clearly etched into my memory, it all feels like yesterday.  

Rex spent 863 days as an orphan, 864 days in orphanage care.  Later this year, on my dad's birthday, the scales will tip in our favor and Rex will have been in our family one day longer than he was in state care.  One day and counting to forever.

Our Swiss Miss Adventure

In late winter or early spring, Craig and I happily decided to host a 16 year old girl from Switzerland for the summer.  Swiss Miss was to stay with us for eight weeks and in exchange for free room and board, a small weekly stipend, and the opportunity to experience America, she agreed to help care for Emilia for about 30 hours a week.  I explained that our household was busy with two special needs preschoolers who live loudly and sometimes wildly, but made sure she knew that working with Emilia is not difficult because she is sweet and affectionate and grateful for any attention, from going on walks to having someone sing to her.

Unfortunately, after just over two weeks, our Swiss Miss adventure has come to an end.  During her first week here, we made a lot of concessions to Swiss Miss, blaming jetlag and a lack of experience with young children for her behavior, but we soon realized that the real reasons went far beyond what we could ever have anticipated when we invited her for the summer.  I have been in touch with Swiss Miss's mom on an almost daily basis and know that Swiss Miss asked to be allowed to return home nearly as soon as she got here.  This fact alone tells me that the problems we experienced had little, if anything, to do with us, and are long-standing, reaching much deeper than Swiss Miss missing her boyfriend and feeling out of her comfort zone with our children.

Craig and I are saddened by the outcome of this adventure.  I had an amazing experience as a high school exchange student at 16 years old and was so excited to offer a similar opportunity to another young woman. Of course, having lived it, I understand the stressful and overwhelming nature of joining a strange family in an unfamiliar culture, but I also know that in order to make it work, you have to face your fears and jump in, get through those growing pains quickly and open up to what's offered.  Swiss Miss was not able or willing to do so.  She spent almost all hours of every day in her room on the phone or computer with her friends and boyfriend in Switzerland.  Even when she did join us for a meal or an outing or a rare hour of helping me with Emilia, she was constantly hooked to her technology and not truly present with us.  In ten short days, Swiss Miss turned down a visit to downtown Cincinnati, a road trip to Tennessee, and a morning shopping spree.  She did go on a two hour zipline tour with our teen nephew, but did not interact with him there.  We tried very hard to make her feel welcome and comfortable in our family, but we did not succeed.

Still, Craig and I do not regret opening our hearts and home and would take a chance again with another young woman in the future.  We wish Swiss Miss and her family well and appreciate the learning experience they afforded us this summer.