We Went To The Zoo!

     The zoo has always been one of my all time favorite places to go, so I was especially excited when I...I mean my beloved son...got a zoo pass for Christmas.  I wasn't sure how Isaac would respond, but as we passed each exhibit and I pointed to each animal and repeated the sign we've learned together over the last few months, you could see the light bulb switch on:  "OH!  That's a tiger!  Look!  An elephant!!  FISHIES! They're real!"  It was a real Helen Keller moment...and fun to share with Gramma & some cousins.

We are at the zoo!!
(Look at all those teeth!)

Cousin Magdalene feeding a Budgie Buddy

Cousin Vaughn wasn't so sure about being this surrounded by birds bit.
"Whet's wawk past the burrds next time, Grammy"

 

Up close with the Anoa

A couple of monkeys chilaxing

I made the mistake of loudly saying "I need the all White kids to look here!"
Gunna have to figure out a different way to say that next time.

Isaac knows the sign for this pretty lady!

Sneaking a drink from Cousin Vaughn

He somehow figured out how to procure snacks & drinks from everyone in the group.

Sneaking a drink from Cousin Magdalene

Checking out the sting-ray touch tank

Awwww...he reached out for his big cousin's hand all on his own.
(and didn't attempt to bite her once!)

Riding the Carousel
(Note Cousin Vaughn's death grip on Gramma in the background!)

She named her carousel cougar...Rebecca

I think he may want to go back to the Budgie Buddies.

 

Yeah carousels!!

A fun afternoon at the zoo!
(No, I'm not drunk...Isaac had simultaneously just yanked my hair & attempted to gouge my eyeballs out. Still working on that gentle-touch concept)

Forty-One Weeks Together

     We've been walking through the Valley of Chronic Ear Infections since mid-March: five infections, six antibiotics, eight weeks.  Yucky!! I think we are one more pharmacy co-pay away from having a timeshare in that Valley! Just hours after his re-adoption finalization at the court house, we were back at the pediatrician with a fever of 104 and a very miserable little boy. So sad! One of the very many things I appreciate about Isaac is his ability to FEEL. When he is happy, he is HAPPY! The whole world is his oyster and I adore sharing that world with him! When he is sick...he is miserably SICK, and then I don't sleep. Needless to say, last weekend was rough but I continue to be thankful for the Great Physician working through our local physician. Isaac's middle name means "healthy"---I continue to claim that over him every day. We'll be seeing the ear-nose-throat specialist soon to schedule tubes to be placed in my little guys little ears and hopefully we can all move on with our lives.

     We'll also be talking to the specialist about the possibility of a hearing aid. Isaac's special hearing test showed mild to moderate hearing loss in his right ear. (Which explains why he always turns to his left when he responds to my call.) Hearing deficiencies can be common in Down syndrome, but we truly won't know the extent of the loss until we get these pesky ear infections under control. Ultimately, if using a Super-Ear is what is going to help Isaac succeed in life, then a Super-Ear is what we'll use. I'm excited to see how his speech explodes once we all stop sounding like Charlie Brown's mother to him! 

Some photos from our week:

 

Not feeling so hot.
A good time to get caught up on some Elmo.

 

Sometimes you just need a snack UNDER the table

Vacuum suction is AWESOME!
(Yes, I did put the vacuum on his head. Yes, he did go to Kollege with a vacuum hickey on his face)

Playing with his new art easel from Gramma

The new fun game of the week

Practicing putting on (my) pants...on his head.
Apparently, I need to revisit these lessons with my son.

Found a perfect Isaac-sized chair to read the Sunday paper.

What's better than playing with the water with your cousin?
Hosing down Gramma's kitchen with water with your cousin!
Ahh...boys.

It's Just Not Ok

     Just recently I came across two videos & and a book that has ramped up my "it's just not okay" attitude regarding the orphan crisis.  As if I needed any more fuel on that particular flame!!  Good gravy, I'd bring 147 kids home right now if I had the physical space to do so. Every single time I look at my sweet boy, I just can't get over the miracle of who he is and how God put us together as a family; how much I adore him; how much he has grown and is thriving in a healthy home; the amazing plan God has for him and how he is already touching the lives of so many people...then I think of the millions of other precious ones still waiting for their forever families.  SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE. It's. Just. Not. Ok.

      I've added the two videos below. I'll admit, the first one by Eric Ludy is pretty in your face. And...I'm okay with that. :) We should be wildly uncomfortable with 169million children in the world without families. That discomfort should move us to act quickly & compassionately. The second is a BEAUTIFUL new song by Audio Adrenaline. I broke down into tears in the car when I first heard it. These perfect children are the Kings & Queens in God's royal family. We need to care for them EXACTLY has Jesus would...pulling them into our arms and pushing all those away who would dare to block their access to God's heart.

    

Depraved Indifference by Eric Ludy

Kings & Queens by Audio Adrenaline

 

     It's not national adoption month or save the children day or anything like that. I'm just overwhelmed by the unique situation I am in to spread the word about caring for God's children. How can I share our story to help others to be as passionate about the orphan as God has called us to be?  To do something!  To get angry. To get involved. To do anything, but to DO. Not everyone has been called to adopt a child into their home, but everyone has been called to care for the orphan (James 1:27). The book I just finished is Orphan Justice by Johnny Carr and focuses on the Church's call to care for the orphan beyond adoption. Adoption is just one form of justice that God's promises to provide for His children (Deuteronomy 10:18). It's a heart-challenging read and I had to ask the Holy Spirit how to respond several times through the book. I HIGHLY recommend it to those who are seeking the Lord on how to get involved. Practical ideas for involvement on many levels are presented in every chapter: "No one can do everything, but everyone can do something" (I love that!!)
Here are some practical ideas from the book and a few extras:

• Ask God to give you a heart that breaks for the orphan.
• Pray with faith & righteous anger. FIGHT for God's justice to find these precious children.
• Give faithfully to an agency or ministry that is fighting to care for the world's orphaned and lonely.
• Support a adoptive family with finances and practical care.
• Open your heart and home to foster children.
• Support Royal Family Kids Camp (a week long loving camp for kids in state foster care).
• Build relationships with at-risk children in your church, area schools, and community.
• Seek out & build relationships with kids whose parents are incarcerated or absent.
• Start or support a Dream Center in your community.
• Become an active member of a special needs ministry in your church.
• Use your skills and resources to support families who have been called to adopt.
• Seek God's wisdom as to whether YOU are called to adopt.

     Isaac and I will be sharing our story this evening at Northwest Church's first Adoption & Foster Care Info Night. I am SOOO excited. I pray that this will be the first of many, MANY opportunities to share of God's incredible heart for His sweetest of children...one is my son.

photo courtesy of Cassandra Hamilton Photography

It Is Finished!!

Today at 9:15am in front of the honorable Judge Falnagle in the Pierce County Juvenile Adoption Court, Isaac was officially re-adopted as my son in the United States. This gives him an American birth certificate and puts an ultimate end to our adoption process...exactly two years in the making. No more paperwork. No more money. No more consultations. We are done. It is finished!  God has seen us through. Hallelujah!!

   The actual re-adoption was very quick. I swore to keep & protect my sweet boy and then we took pictures. (THANK YOU Auntie Jessie for capturing this fun event on film!!) That was it.  I had read once that adoption is more like a marriage than a birth...two pasts to become a new future, so I was touched when judge Falnagle said, "Now this process is more like getting married; do you swear to care for your son?" "I DO!!!!"

    The Judge was AWESOME. He acknowledged Auntie Ange that was skyping in from her classroom in Minnesota (LOVE technology!!) Then he included all the cousins who were there to support their Auntie & cousin, asking them to stand if they wanted Isaac to be their cousin forever. (They were quick to stand up!!) Then he invited them up to his chair for pictures and gave them his donuts.  I wasn't aware of the Traditional Post Re-Adoption Celebratory Donut. Now I am!

Judge Falnagle

Isaac's making sure I mean it.

Someone is excited to be re-adopted!

The judge gave Isaac the gavel  :)

 

 

The cousins doing their part

Celebratory donuts!

Ange skyping in from Minnesota
(Special thank you to Auntie Tavia who was the official holder-of-Ange)

Hi Auntie Ange!!

 

The five local cousins.
(Under STRICT warning that this better be the ONLY time I see them in Juvenile court!)

(matching shirts)
Adoption DOES rock!

 

Nine Month Update--An Interview with Isaac Himself

Happy Family Day, Isaac!!!

We've been a family for NINE MONTHS!

 

 

May 2013

Today is a special day, Isaac. What day is it?

Today is Momma's Day! We get to celebrate that Momma is my Momma forever and I'm her boy forever and Gramma's my Gramma forever and she has four grand kids and we all give lots of kisses and hugs today.

 

Did you give your Momma anything special to celebrate?

Sure did! I made some special projects at Kollege with my teachers & friends and I got to give them to her. She really liked those and she gave me one of the big squishy hugs that makes it hard to breathe.  Me & Momma also asked Miss Cassandra to take some pictures of us as a family. I was really tired that day, but Miss Cassandra always takes super pictures...even when I try to run away. You can look at the pictures HERE. We are a pretty good looking family, uh?

 

Yesterday was also a special day. Can you tell us about it?

Yesterday was Birth Momma's Day! That's the day we celebrate how special my Birth Momma is. I don't know much about her, but Momma says she has beautiful dark hair and big almond eyes just like me and she loved me SO much that she wanted me to always be healthy. We love her very much because she let Jesus give me to my Forever Momma! Yesterday we got two flowers...a red one for my Birth Momma & a yellow one for my Foster Momma and we put them next to the pagoda at the Chinese Park near our house. Me & Momma talked about how special I am that I have so many mommas that love me and that someday we'll see them in Heaven and we'll be one great big family. That'll be a wonderful day!

 

 

What did you think of your fun trip with Momma & Gramma?

We did a lot of things on that trip!  I got to go on an airplane again...I'm getting good at that. I like to wave and say hi to all the people and sometimes grab the hiney of the stewardess' walking by (don't tell Mom!). Then I got to spend some special time with Gramma while Momma went to her classes. THEN, we went swimming!!! That was my FAVORITE part. I REALLY want to do that again now that we are home. We also went to the "park" with the big cartoon-people who kept trying to give me a hug--that was weird. At this "park" there was no grass to run in and it was really hot, but we went on lots of boat rides though and Momma put water on my face & neck...that felt REALLY good.  The parade was a lot of fun!  You just sit there and happy people walk by and dance & wave at you. That's great!!  I wonder if they have swimming-pool parades...???

 

Do you  know what is going to happen in the next month?

I think I have to have a special test on my ears soon while I'm sleeping. I'm learning LOTS of new sounds & signs, but Miss Michelle, my speech therapy friend, wants to make sure that my ears at working the way they are supposed to. Right now, I REALLY like making a sound like a tiger. ROAAARRRRRR. It's the same sound as a lion & a bear, but don't tell.  Hopefully, the sun will stay out and I can keep playing with the hose in the backyard with Momma. That is SUPER fun!



Thirty-Eight Weeks Together = Disneyland!

     I know what you are thinking.  Isn't the traditional thirty-eight-weeks-together-as-a-family-post-adoption-celebratory-trip kids eat free at Olive Garden or something?  Yeah...probably. But when you've got a work conference literally across the street from the Happiest Place on Earth AND Gramma is available to come help out AND you've just read a blog about giving kids an 'epic childhood'...the kid is going to Disneyland! 

     The epic-childhood thing has kind of stuck with me (the Eicher family brought their son home from Bulgaria last year, also with Down syndrome and have kept a fascinating blog as 'a journey to an epic childhood...and motherhood'). The reality is, I don't know what life is going to be like for Isaac and I. I know we are trusting our Heavenly Father for the bread of each day and believing that we are in the safety of His hand. I have proof that we are! Just look at His faithfulness through adoption attachment, four ear infections, the stomach flu, heart surgery, and an 11-day hospital stay, just in our first nine months together. Already, it's been a big year for us! And as we continue to follow the Lord's leading, I want to make the parenting decisions that I can that will lead to our own epic life together. I don't want him to look back and remember "the year of the terrible hospital stay". I want him to look back & say "oh my gosh, that was the year we went to Disneyland with Gramma!" Or..."we have pancake breakfast dance parties in our pjs every Saturday morning!" (we haven't done that yet...but doesn't it sound awesome?!) Everyday won't be Disneyland, but I think when there is opportunity to capture some EPIC...we are going to grab it!

     Here are some photos from our trip. Isaac did AWESOME by the way. He was pretty leery of any giant 3-d cartoon-people trying to get in on his space...as he should be. The look on his face on the Small World ride is classic to most of what he was probably thinking the whole time we were there: "what are you people smoking?!" :)  The heat got to us all, and we figured out quickly that Isaac didn't like any jerking movements on rides, especially if they were in the dark, so we spent most of our time on flat-water rides and had a great time.  

 

Disneyland 2013

He tolerated at best the obligatory Mickey ears.

Yeah for family trips! 

Look at Isaac's face!!
(Costco Travel has AWESOME Disney deals if anyone is looking. It includes dinner with all the characters at Goofy's Kitchen)

There is a CHIPMUNK at our table

Um...what the??

Just trying to eat my chicken nuggets lady.
Don't care about your spindle-picking-finger or a dragon-fighting-prince.
And back off the corn.

The park was actually pretty empty; we didn't have to wait more than 10minutes for any attraction, which was awesome. This cracked me up though...the stroller brigade.

This picture cracks me up!

You have to admit, Small World is pretty overwhelming.

The temperature had just his 97 and we were feeling it!
Giant sleepy and/or drunk bear?  Yeah, I don't know either.

Woody!

We stumbled upon the live animal section and let Isaac run free with the goats for a while.
He proceeded to honk the nose of every goat in the corral and nearly got us kicked out!

Seriously, people...what is going on?!

Yeah for water cruises!

Somebody is all-done

This I loved...strolling along Main Street holding hands.

Blending right in

Rocking the shades

Cars Land

Snack time!

Getting ready for his first parade

This was a big hit!
  The rest of the trip became Isaac's personal parade...everyone got a wave and a smile.

Cooling off in Bugs Land. 
We skipped the hot part of the day...100 degrees!

Wet hug!!

Staying up late for the World of Color (Isaac is asleep in the exowomb)

California Adventure at night...BEAUTIFUL.

 Isaac's all-time MOST favorite ride at Disneyland....the hotel pool!
This kid is a NATURAL and would have swam off on his own if I'd let him. Looks like swim lessons are in our future!

A great trip.